The TCBender Is Gathering Steam

It's Friday, Feb. 9, Depeche Mode is on the box, and TCB is on day two of a four-day TCBender. Maybe longer... It's payday too! Brand-new super awesome cover band the Promise Breakers (Faces, Stones, T.Rex, Mats) and bluegrass fiends American Graveyard loosened the bolts last night, and there's nothing like a Red River auto-pedestrian accident at 2am to make you want to sustain the buzz. Tonight it only gets worse with Vietnam - and a family-size bottle of 44D with TCB's name on it - and the Hickoids. Saturday is the Chumps, Pong, and the Black Angels. Sunday, rehab, which would still be more pleasant than reviewing Lucinda Williams' snoozer of a new album. Shins, Smiths, SXSW, and Valentine's Day tunes coming up.

In the news, everyone's favorite band the Shins announced a March 7 Backyard date (tix on sale Feb. 17), Rolling Stone wondered if SXSW booking current American Idol Taylor Hicks is "the End of Austin Cool" (that's a big 10-4, especially now that Interpol has dropped out), and TCB and Trailer Space proprietor Spot are in the early stages of planning the first-ever TCBFest on March 13. More on that soon; by the way, Spot says he'll be open for SXSW, as will Randall and Donya Stockton's new watering hole, Rio Rita. Eastside! Be sure to stop by the Mohawk tonight to say happy birthday to KOOP cutie Diedre (and hear the eminently blogworthy Black Before Red, Peel, and Operator), and if you have an extra Bob Saget ticket lying around, email TCB immediately at tcbaustin@gmail.com. You have no idea the depths he is willing to stoop to score one. (Or maybe you do.) Short of, you know, actually paying for it.

TCB often wonders if his lifestyle might have something to do with his chronic bachelorhood, but surely that can't be it. That's just how he rolls. Solo. As promised yesterday, here's a list of songs to keep you company this Valentine's Day, since nobody else will. You know Morrissey feels your pain, and this random Smiths lyric generator will tell you how much. Let's spin the wheel...

Boy afraid
prudence never pays
and everything she wants costs money
"But she doesn't even LIKE me!
and I know because she said so
in the room downstairs
she sat and stared
in the room downstairs
she sat and stared
I'll never make that mistake again!" ("Girl Afraid")

Perfect. Anyhow, these songs go out to anyone who was ever, as Velvet Jones once said, "Kicked in the Butt by Love." Enjoy.

The Smiths, "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now": Only Morrissey can sound blase and suicidal at once.
Elton John, "Love Lies Bleeding": Technically about a funeral, but a brilliant image courtesy of Bernie Taupin.
Dwight Yoakam, "Ain't That Lonely Yet": But he's getting there.
Police, "King of Pain": Sting's little black spot still preferable to his recent Renaissance album.
Candlebox, "Far Behind": Shut up.
Cure, "Pictures of You": Tough call over about three or four dozen others, but about as abject as it gets, and beautiful.
Social Distortion, "King of Fools": Where the only crown comes straight up or on the rocks.
Guns 'N' Roses, "Used to Love Her": He had to kill her, and she still won't shut up. Poor Axl.
Echo & the Bunnymen, "Killing Moon": So gorgeous it's worth having your heart broken.
Cher, "We All Sleep Alone": Some more often than others.
U2, "Love is Blindness": Achtung Baby sleeper is Bono's dark night of the soul.
Temptations, "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted": Obviously, they spend far too much time writing blogs.