No openings this weekend, but next weekend will make up for it. Check next Thursday for info on openings at Conduit, PDNB, Holly Johnson, and other places to booze it up for free and look at shit.
In the meantime, take advantage of your last week to catch stuff you may have missed:
Triple Vision: Ted Kincaid, Tom Orr, and Susie Rosmarin (Marty Walker)
Sunday
Phil Collins: The World Won't Listen (DMA) Check this one out before your artsy friend makes you feel like a dumb ass. It is worth going just for the Amy Sedaris doppleganger.
EDIT: Kettle co- founder Frank Campagna will have some prints up at Magnolia Gallery (in the theater) opening tonight 8-10.
Scream Club | Rival Gang | Fire Nation | Sticky Buns (Rubber Gloves) Scream Club is a hip hop duo from Olympia with an irreverent emphasis on gay issues and politics, but are fairly light hearted in execution. Rival Gang is now a duo as well, and as a result the group has grown increasingly experimental with more drum machine as well a necessarily more minimal sound. Sticky Buns is always good, even when they accidentally play music by the band that's setting up and about to perform. Lost Generation With Wanz (Fallout Lounge) 80's Night With DJ G (Hailey's)
Despite an initial performer list seriously lacking in wow factor, it seems like this year’s SXSW just kept getting better the more little things came to light. In the end, it was everything it was supposed to be, a year of discovery and revelation. It seemed like everybody played even more times than usual, leaving tons of opportunities to experience a wide variety of world-class acts at intimate bars and houses.
The biggest revelation overall had to be Saturday night’s Load Records/Deathbomb Arc showcase at Red’s Scoot Inn. I was reeled in by all the great things I’d heard about Sightings and White Mice, and to fully eradicate any urge to make a suicide Sunday night drive to House of Tinnitus after the drain of Austin. In the end, both of these groups totally matched or exceeded my high expectations, yet somehow they didn’t even crack my favorite three acts of the night. It was that kind of night.
The best thing about it (other than the $5 cover(!)) was the location, tucked away safely on the east side, a mile away from all the downtown moronity. The large fenced-in grounds consisted of an outside stage and bar with a very nice craft-brew selection on tap, and a small inside venue room that had the steamy, dangerous, and insane atmosphere of an out-of-control House of Tinnitus at 4am.
After missing a set by glass-blowing/smashing/eating monster Justice Yeldhamthat was reportedly far bloodier than his Tinnitus appearance, I got there in time to see Japanese breakcore noise clown DJ Scotch Eggengage the crowd outside to the point of stage dancing and audience karaoke to some (not very) remixed Bon Jovi. Inside, Kevin Shields(female noise artist Eva Aguila, not the Bloody shoegaze slacker) played one of the most dynamic 10-minute noise sets one could hope for. Violently spinning some sort of amplified/circuit bent metal wheel apparatus that looked like a reject from grandpa’s shed, Aguila blasted lively buzzsaw timbres, thrashing back and forth, fully puzzling and captivating all onlookers.
Back outside, Sightings played an almost psychic brand of stream-of-consciousness avant-rock that was equal parts texture and aggression, anchored by an intense drummer using a hybrid of standard and electronic pads. Seemingly improvisational to a high degree, they were about as challenging and free form as a three-piece guitar/bass/drums/vocals heavy rock format could go. Inside once again, Foot Villagewas the closest thing to Crash Worship I’ve ever seen, and probably in terms of sheer penetrating tribalism it was a step ahead (if not quite on the same scale as far as riotous carnivals go). The small, packed room was brimming side to side with a battalion of drum heads and Cali dudes well-versed in the art of tribal frenzy, with a small, hyper girl with a megaphone running around the crowd blaring out all sort of distorted chants and siren blasts in people faces.
A few beers later, one of the craziest dance parties I’ve ever seen erupted inside, courtesy of Captain Ahab, a shirtless, sweaty metal dude with a laptop, and another even sweatier guy in nothing but briefs whose sole function was to get in peoples faces and make them uncomfortable. Actually, it failed miserably, as they had the entire room (the ubiquitous Yeldham included) leaping in unison to their twisted version of techno frat music littered with over-top-hypererotic parody, filtered through the spastic lens of the Providence art-metal scene. Outside, White Mice closed out the night with an all-out sensory assault, massive crests of fuzz and rifle-shot drums kicking out unexpectedly lively beats as their incredibly bulky trademark costumes were suitably surreal -- think Sta-Puff marshmallow man invades the sewers of Chernobyl. In a fitting nightcap, the bassist ended up wrestling with an audience member in front of the stage.
Other Highlights:
Health at the Side Bar Friday: Believe the hype. I’ve never seen anything quite like this tightly orchestrated orgy of instrument swapping, with the band jumping around like madmen, jabbing microphones into amps in rhythm, throwing basses and drums around, and chanting on cue, all behind an unyielding aggro-tribal beat that ebbed and flowed but never faded. MUCH more satisfyingly organic and urgent than on record. Uncluttered but texturally interesting at the same time.
Nice House Friday house party on the East Side:Indian Jewelryproved they can conjure virtual strobes and fog even in broad daylight. Blues Controlproved that their muddy interplay is even better with more playful sound-tweaking and less noodly guitar licking accompanying the smooth, morphine-drip piano flow. Rahdunes proved to be master conjurers, their custom-built modular consoles emanating ornate webs of raw, rhythmic electromagnetics, seemingly hijacked straight from some extra dimensional netherworld. And I wasn’t even shrooming at that point.
Pink Reason at the Slitbreeze showcase at Soho Lounge Thursday: Imagine if the Dead C were from Columbus and were slightly more punk and less drone …. and actually a tighter band. They were the spot-on masters of a night that also featured strong showings from Times New Viking (infectious, fun, noisy/chaotic … vintage Matador. I get it now.) and abstractly rhythmic Aussie post-postpunk art duo Naked on the Vague.
Steve Reich presents at St. David’s Episopal Church on Wednesday: After a bewitching, pulsating “Electric Counterpoint” by guitarist C.E. Whalen, So Drumming performed four consecutive Reich numbers, one of which was a quartet of mallets on wooden blocks, and the last of which was nothing but handclaps. About as wonderfully whimsical and of course rhythmic as serious, high-minded music can get. Special bonus: public interview with Reich himself in the lobby during the intermission.
Gowns at Habana Calle 6 on Wednesday: Weird, compelling hardscrabble song-stories by a female vocalist behind violin, analog keys, and some very tasty, unorthodox drumming. A perfect buildup for the release by Parts and Labor, whose unyielding loud, melodic, and smart saturated hook-rock showed far more emotion and warmth than on record.
Gogol Bordello | Skindred (the Granada) Apparently, people who don't even like Gogol Bordello end up liking their live shows, so maybe there IS a reason to try this show out.
Tacks, the Boy Disaster | Silent Years (Hailey's) Silent Years were in a car accident and have thus canceled their show for tonight. I'm guessing they are ok since they had time to post it on their Myspace page.
Yells at Eels (Mountain View College, 7pm) I've seen this gig listed, but it doesn't appear on the Yells at Eels Myspace page, so proceed with caution.
Acid Mother's Temple | Danava (Hailey's) Trying to explain what AMT sounds like is pretty difficult considering that they rarely sound like even themselves, splitting off into several "sub-bands" and pulling from completely different influences at different points during their career. If I had to try, I'd probably mention names like Sun Ra, Faust, 13th Floor Elevators, Os Mutantes, Soft Machine, Sun City Girls and Spacemen 3, but the fact that many of their quiet songs also remind me of World Party kinda throws my whole attempt in the toilet. Fuck off, I like World Party. Anyway, the above description would probably only suit AMT's Melting Paraiso UFO moniker anyway, as much of their other material leans much farther toward heavy psychedelic rock and prog. There's no telling what you'll get from this band this evening (after all, they have like literally 30 albums or something), but their reputation for amazing live shows is enough of a reason for me to drive up to Denton and space out for a couple hours.
Tyvek | Little Claw | Koji Kondo | Wax Museums (Club Dada) A rather excellent show in a strange location this evening. Tyvek brings that sloppy, fuck all Slitbreeze aesthetic that we saw so much of at SXSW to Deep Ellum this evening, with a lo fi approach that takes from American hardcore, classic British punk, the amateurish post-punk/pop of early Television Personalities, the bare bones minimal slop of the Germs, and a healthy dose of stinging, harsh avant garde a la Red Crayola. The result is a compelling and exciting noise that almost always maintains a proper connection with guitar based pop, albeit a reckless version. Portland's Little Claw is also rather compelling, taking a muddy, less defined guitar driven sound to a darker place, with noise and traditional blues based psychedelic as general reference points. A very enjoyable and unique sound that I'm interested in hearing live just to see where some of their atmosphere comes from.
Silver Rockets | Jeremy Yocum (Space, 2814 Main St. Dallas) Show starts at 8pm. Silver Rockets feature Mercury Rev's Paul Dillon.
Disqo Disco (Fallout) Greg from Panda Toes will be joining the DJs this evening. Haven't had a chance to get out to this yet, but I might just try this week.
Peelander Z | The Dutch Treats | The Hack and Slashers (Doublewide) The first of two area shows this week for Japanese cute-trip punk band Peelander Z. Expect some of the urban cowboy regulars at Doublewide to be none too thrilled about this. Party on, ironic facial hair!
Iceage Cobra (803 Coit at the corner of Coit and Panhandle in Denton) This house show starts at 7:30 and it's BYOB.
The Lads | Paul Slavens (Dan's Silverleaf) The Lads are a new Denton group fronted by Wallace Campbell of Cornhole and Hot Link Records. I imagine that Irish influences and dirty lyrics are involved. Speaking of dirty lyrics, Paul Slavens will do his usual Monday request/improv performance where he makes up songs on the spot with subject matter provided by the lowest common denominator thought processes of Denton drunks. What this man is able to do with such thin material is unbelievable enough to often appear staged. It's not.
Die! Die! Die! | Terrordactyls | Mike Bones | Sian Alice Group (The Cavern) This lopsided lineup features mostly pop acts but culminates with New Zealand's Die! Die! Die!, a group that has garnered acclaim for its live antics and its uptempo dark, punk tinged rock sometimes similar to Mclusky and vocals reminiscent of Guy Picciotto or even Nation Of Ulysses. Mike Bones sounds like an indie rock Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I don't know if the Cavern has always had an occasional 18 show, but it's good to see a venue allowing people who are actually going to care about attending shows for the next ten years, as opposed to the ones who have already given up. Cool Out is upstairs, and I'm interested in going to see who survived the pedestrian bridge show in Austin.
SXSW basically ruled for us this year. We had two wonderful day shows at comfortable venues and got to see a lot of great bands all over Austin each day. We'll have pictures of everything posted ASAP, but some of the highlight shows for me were: Mika Miko, Diplo (at a house party), the Carrots, Death Sentence Panda, New Bloods, Health, No Age (on the Lamar pedestrian bridge), Pissed Jeans, Jay Reatard, Atlas Sound at Ms. Bea's ( Bradford Cox claimed it was Atlas Sound's final show and that Deerhunter will be coming back to life soon), Dan Doyle, Karl Blau, Old Time Relijin, Yellow Fever, Crime Novels. What were some of your highlights? Discover anything new?
OVERHEARD AT SXSW:
1. "My girlfriend tells me I'm too intense about fashion, but I'm a hipster, so I'm actually pretty chill about it." -- completely serious comment from some dude watching Angelo Spencer at Ms. Bee's... he was wearing Von Dutch
2. "I tried to take the SATs once, but I opened up the packet and looked at all those pages and was like 'nah uh!'" -- some white trash chick in a bikini top and shorts at a gas station on South Congress... she more or less screamed the "nah uh" part
3. "Man, the most important dude in the history of punk rock ain't me, it's Fat Mike from fuckin' NOFX man." -- Keith Morris talking to the singer of Fucked Up at Waterloo Park
So now that we're done planning shows for a little while, we can actually start writing reviews and articles and stuff again. We hope to have something good for you this week. Here's a video and some shows for the week:
SHOWS OF NOTE THIS WEEK:
MON: DIE! DIE! DIE!/Sian Alice Group/Terrordactyls/Mike Bones (The Cavern)
TUE: Acid Mother's Temple/Danava (Hailey's)
WED: Gogol Bordello/Skindred (Granada)
WED: Peelander Z/Last of the Interceptors/The Lash Outs (Rubber Gloves)
Dude, we've been schoolin' Austin like it ain't no thing for the past couple of days, and now we'd like to have a contest. The winner of the contest will receive free tickets to a local show of their choice once we get back in to town. Just leave your answer in the comment section or something.
1. How many times have the members of WSJR collectively seen Mika Miko in the past 48 hours?
2. How many times have the members of WSJR uttered the phrase "wake n bake" over the past 48 hours?
3. How many times have the members of WSJR asked aloud whether they "need a change" in their lives over the past 48 hours?
4. How many guys has Sally Glass made out with on the top of a tower in the past 24 hours?
First of all, we wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out to the show at Strawberry Fields last night, and thanks to all the bands that played. Everyone was fantastic, and it was an honor to be involved with such a great line up.
A lot of us from WSJR HQ will be heading down to SXSW today to check out our day shows and have some fun. We're not sure what we'll be doing as far as posting for the rest of the week, but we do plan on getting a few It Lists together, posting pictures from our shows, and telling dumb stories about our adventures in Austin. We may post a lot, we may post a little. We don't know. But we'll have something for you over the next couple days, so stay tuned for.... uh, something.
Man, Denton's jumpin' with that hot shit tonight, yo. Respect:
We Shot J.R. Presents- Times New Viking | Psychedelic Horseshit | Fight Bite | Wax Museums (Strawberry Fields) I'm really impressed with our blog yet again. Some time last November, I heard two new records on the same day, and both of them completely blew me away. That NEVER happens. One was Times New Viking's Present the Paisley Reich, and the other was Psychedelic Horseshit's Magic Flowers Droned. Both instantly swept me off my feet, and I couldn't decide which one I liked more. But luckily I won't have to make such a decision tonight, because I'll be able to see both bands at one of my favorite venues in the metroplex. I'm certainly glad we nabbed this show too, because after receiving Pitchfork's Best New Musictag in addition to tons of other positive press all over the blogosphere, Times New Viking could have totally big timed us. But they didn't. TNV's sound is simultaneously innocent pop and harsh, destructive noise, featuring the rare combo of sing-a-long lyrics and ear piercing feedback that gives the music a power that you don't often find in pop or avant rock. Taking cues from lo-fi and punk, TNV will probably please Guided by Voices and Shaggs fans alike. Psychedelic Horseshit takes this pop/noise combo to an even greater extreme in my mind, and the results are quite thrilling too. Their most recent full length is honestly one of the most adventurous yet cohesive rock records I've heard in a very long time, and I'm really excited to see how loud these people get. Our local openers are no slouches either, so get to this by 830 to catch them both. Oh yeah, it's $5, BYOB and All Ages, so bring the kids*. AND PS- PLEASE TREAT STRAWBERRY FIELDS WITH RESPECT. THROW YOUR DAMN TRASH AWAY, SMOKE OUTSIDE, AND DON'T PUKE INSIDE PLEASE. ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING WILL GET THE SHIT KICKED OUT OF THEM BY SALLY GLASS AND HER CAMERA.
Woods | Blues Control | Teenage Cool Kids (715 Panhandle) If I didn't have my own totally sweet shit happening tonight, this is the place I would be for sure. For me, the highlight here is Blues Control. I first encountered Blues Control a few months ago when I downloaded the two most recent releases, Puff and Blues Control. Both are extremely captivating in a highly hypnotizing manner, as blues leaning psychedelic rock riffs float rather quietly in a background of dreamy haze, distant percussion, krautrock ambience and an array of samples. It's sort of like what it would sound like to fall asleep with video games and Physical Grafitti playing in the background at the same time. Very unique and a lot of fun, Blues Control's music seems to exist in a world of its own creation. Woods, featuring members of Meneguar, is a jangly, acoustic psyche-folk influenced band that does quite a bit with a fairly familiar set of influences, pulling from artists such as Six Organs of Admittance, Feathers, and even Sandy Bull, all with a rough around the edges and loose approach that really seems to work as pop music.
BLK JKS | PPT | The Party (Green Elephant) You know what totally blows balls about SMU? The fact that you could put this show (featuring this month's Fader cover artists BLK JKS and a bunch free booze) at a college bar near pretty much any large campus in the country, and you'd be guaranteed a good party and a huge crowd. Stick it at a college bar near SMU, however, and you're forced to wonder a) how many young republicans have ever heard of Fader, and b) whether the ones who have are willing to park their cars on the east side of 75. But I guess if anyone could inspire such things in Dallas, it's Central Booking and Gorilla vs Bear, both of whom are sponsors of this show. Johannesburg's BLK JKS are a pretty unusual group to say the least, and I'm having a little trouble finding reference points to describe them. Ok, here's a try: take little bits of late 60's and early 70's African High Life pop, mix with Jeff Buckley (I know, whatever, right?), add a dash of really strange Ska, a touch of some guitar heavy traditional African music and blues, and a pinch of avant punk, and you'd be pretty close... to sounding like an idiot. Whatever, I tried. Interesting stuff though, and if you're kickin' cans around Dallas tonight, you might want to think about taking this opportunity to see some truly experimental and captivating music while drinking free booze and trying not to appear in a DON'T, as Vice Magazinewill apparently be in the house as well. Do they still do those?
Neptune | Geistheistler (Fra House, Oak St., Denton) Geistheistler is David and Justin, formerly of Notes from Underground, doing a two piece noise improv beginning at 930 this evening. Neptune will go on at 1030, and unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to hear them. However, you can use the miracle of technology to click on the damn link above and listen yourself.
Why?/Cryptacize | Sunburned Hand of the Man | Astronautalis | Bangs (Rubber Gloves) I really can't get into Why? for a number of reasons that I don't have time to detail here, but I would definitely be interesting in checking out Sunburned, whose recent release Fire Escape (produced by Four Tet) is easily one of the best things they've ever done. The album focuses much more on rhythm and groove than most of their previous material, and a lot of it reminds me of some ungodly combination of Liquid Liquid, Can, and Miles Davis'On the Corner.
Sorry, No time for links on these:
Blue Cheer/ Blood of the Sun (Granada)
Evangelicals/Headlights/Gentleman Auction House (The Cavern)
And Check the Monday Morning Rock comments sections for the massive line up at 1919 hemphill
Disqo Disco (Fallout Lounge) New underground and classic disco night featuring members of Syndney Confirm and Pretty Vacant spinning records.
Phosphorescent | Bowerbirds | Sarah Jaffe (the Cavern) Discovering that I liked Phosphorescent was sort of a happy little accident. Typically, when I hear about some artist who is compared to Will Oldham and Band of Horses and stuff like that all the time, I tend to think "yeah, another dude with a beard, just what we need," and then I usually move on and forget about it. But for some reason, I downloaded Phosphorescent's Pride several months ago and happened to be in just the right mood when I listened to it for the first time. I don't know if it's the disorienting sunshine production values on some of the tracks or the cool, highly visual lyrics on others, but something about the record really struck me and continues to strike me as I listen right now. Most of the material feels very classic and immediately warm, drawing from the most basic blueprints of Americana and incorporating a kind of uneasy, post-industrial weariness in delivery that serves as both a line in the sand and a reminder of how little some things have changed over time. The tone throughout Pride often seems spiritual and resigned, tired yet wide-eyed and curious. Lot's of beautiful, hypnotizing background vocals sway in and out of simple melodic folk songs that seem to find the amazing in the little things, all with a touch of loneliness and yes, creepiness, that gives everything enough of an edge to keep listeners on their toes. Anyway, I'll be the first to tell you that this kind of quiet folk show usually isn't the most exciting, but if you've heard this record like I have, then you're probably not really giving a shit about past experiences with similar artists. Highly recommended.
And Good Records will be hosting Phosphorescent for an in-store at 7pm.
Justice Yeldham And The Dynamic Ribbon Device | Atwa | Aunt's Analog | Dromez | White Bitch/Poisoned Birds (House Of Tinnitus) Some familiar faces here with Austin's Aunt's Analog and Dromez making another welcome appearance. Special thanks to Dromez for helping WSJR with our second day show at The Opera House this Thursday. Atwa is the new project from the man behind Fort Worth noise act, Judas Cow. Poisoned Birds features a member of Animal Forces, a noise duo who terrified some of the crowd at And/Or last Saturday, who perhaps are a little more accustomed to wine and cheese as opposed to two women creating ungodly amounts of volume from behind what appeared to be voting booths. Genius idea and hats off to the person who decided to invite them to the gallery opening. I thought it was one of the more fun and interesting things I'd randomly caught in Dallas in some time.
Justice Yeldham's Youtube clips are frighteningly intense, and by all accounts the Australian noise and performance artist will put on an unforgettable show. His setup involves a contact microphone attached to a piece of plate glass which Yeldham rubs across his face, bites, pushes and just generally attacks. Though the expected consequence of blood loss has been sensationalized in regards to his work, more importantly the sound that is produced and manipulated is apocalyptic and convincing. I was going to write a long essay about why this is the only valid artist playing at SXSW, but I didn't have time. Too busy RSVP'ing to another shitty day party.-DL
SHOWS OF NOTE THIS WEEK MON: Justice Yeldham/ATWA/Poisoned Birds/Subsun/Aunt's Analog/Dromez (House of Tinnitus) MON: Phosphorescent/Bowerbirds/Sarah Jaffe (The Cavern)MON: Foreign Islands/Modey Lemon/These Are Powers/Prince William (Pastime Tavern) TUE: We Shot J.R. Presents- Times New Viking/Psychedelic Horseshit/Fight Bite/Wax Museums (Strawberry Fields) TUE: Woods/Blues Control/Clock Hands Strangle/The Eastern Sea (715 Panhandle) TUE: Blue Cheer/Blood of the Sun (Granada) TUE: Why?/Crypticize/Sunburned Hand of the Man/Astronautalis (Rubber Gloves) TUE: BLK JKS/PPT/The Party (Green Elephant) WED: Islands/Supreeme/Bridges and Blinking Lights (Hailey's)THU: White Mice/The Coathangers/Pleasureboaters/Dj Scotch Egg (Pastime Tavern) THU: Digitalism/Prince William (the Loft) THU: Lemonheads/Airline/Last Days of April (Granada)SAT: Yo La Tengo (Dallas Museum of Art) SUN: Jens Lekman/Hanne Hukkelberg (Granada) SUN: Crystal Castles/Health/Faux Fox/Wolf Versus Bear (Hailey's)SUN: White Mice/Sightings/Rahdunes/God Willing/Secret Abuse (House of Tinnitus) SUN: MSTRKRFT (The Loft) SUN: An Albatross/Apes/Eat Avery's Bones (Rubber Gloves) SUN: Parts and Labor/Torche/Pterodactyl/Shooting Spires (Doublewide)
