Dancing About Architecture

Lollapalooza? Whassupwiddat? Famed trouper Spitwad O'Connor has split the scene (you remember the Irish lass' last appearance in Austin consisted of four songs, a sore throat, and promised-but-never-issued refunds), claiming she can't sing and be pregnant at the same time. David Yow of the Jesus Lizard was recently arrested for waving his Jim Morrison in front of a large crowd of fans, and Courtney Love has been doing her damnedest to get herself arrested for assault. The latest update on the Lolla show scheduled for Austin (8/9) has Elastica (isn't that really Devo being fronted by the chick from Mary's Danish?) taking O'Connor's place, according to Pace Concerts. Everything else should be hunky dory as long as Yow manages to keep it in the pants. Swim, another local mystery band (friends of Lucifer Wong?), will be making their debut on the third stage, as well.

Aqua Feats

Say what you will about Aqua Fest, at least it doesn't have any of Lollapalooza's problems. In fact, since the move from competing to complementing Austin's club scene, Aqua Fest has returned to being a good way for non-clubgoers to be introduced to some fine local music. Your best bet when deciding which nights to go, however, is to ignore the titles of the theme nights completely. I don't know who came up with these, but if you don't like Tejano music, well, hard rockers Thunderfoot and Pushmonkey are playing on the Rock Stage on Tejano Night (Friday), and I sincerely doubt that yodellin' Don Walser will be performing a tribute to James Brown on Sunday on the Country & Western Stage, just because it's Black Heritage Night. There's a complete schedule elsewhere in this issue.

Headed for the Heights

New Yorkers Crown Heights will be taking leave of our town and heading back home following their Friday Emo's gig opening for Sixteen Deluxe. Going with them will be their newest member, former Deluxe drummer Bryan Bowden, who says they keep picking up more gigs to go with their trip back north, including shows with Versus and Polvo (the former may net them a guest spot at Lollapalooza's Richmond, Virginia, stop). They're starting to wonder how long it'll actually take them to get all the way back up to the Big Apple.

NARAS News

The Texas Branch of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences is holding a "Global Song Marketing Summit" this Saturday at the Omni Hotel. Featured guests include the Presidents of both MCA and Arista Records, Richard Perna from Hamstein publishing (the Summit is being held in conjunction with Hamstein's annual in-house International A&R Conference), and assorted music industry folks from as far away as Scandinavia and Australia. (Note to bands: If a guy in a suit wanders into your gig this Saturday night, be nice to him.) Registration for the Summit is $75 for NARAS members, $100 for non-members. Call 328-7997 for more information.

Caught in the Web Site

Here's an idea: Rather than point you to whatever random cool music sites on the World Wide Web that strike my fancy on a given week (like the Shiner Beer Live Music Scene at http://www.shiner.com or Michael Nesmith at http://www.primenet.com/~flex/nesmith.html), how about we just post the whole humongous list that Casey Monahan at the Texas Music Office sent me on our Chronicle Home Page, and let those of you with computers and Web access take it from there? Point your browser at / and have fun! (Give us a couple of days if it's not up when this issue comes out).

The Hall of Records

Time to catch up on some current and upcoming releases that I haven't got around to mentioning yet: Willie Nelson's new Just One Love album on Houston's Justice Records has already received a succinct but forceful rave from Billboard magazine and for good reason; the new collection of Kimmie Rhodes originals and tried and true (Sorry, JJW) oldies is a treat, and features an eclectic lineup including Rhodes, famed Titty Bingo drummer Freddy Fletcher, and the just-as-alive-as-Abe Vigoda banjo picking of Grandpa Jones. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' first album for Private Music, Roll of the Dice, hits stores next Tuesday. The new fab five (Kim Wilson, Fran Christina, Mark Carrino, Gene Taylor, and Kid Ramos - no relation to Kid Bangham) will be playing a big free show at Shady Grove next Wednesday to celebrate, starting at 8pm. Gary Primich has finished recording his next Flying Fish album and has a release date of September 15 set. Big Drag's self-titled album is the latest to sneak out on the Only Boy label. Look for the "wet T-shirt" cover. Michigan-based Perris Records have just released the debut CD from Austin act Freak House. You can check out the House when they open for Dokken at the Back Room on August 3. Arista Texas' latest signee, Tejano/country singer Joel Nava, won't have his debut out until September 12, but that's not stopping Arista from continuing their tradition of debuting new acts at Aqua Fest and showing off Nava this Friday on the Country Stage there. Last year's debut artists La Diferenzia return to the Aqua Fest stage next Thursday. Freedom Records' True Sounds of the New West compilation album, out on August 17, includes cuts from Wayne Hancock, High Noon, Marti Brom, Libbi Dwyer, and 13 more. Previous to that, Freedom has the debut album by Schwaggert, consisting of current and former members of Mojo Nixon's Toadliquors, out next Thursday. Paul Minor, he of the Sunday night Free-for-Alls at the Hole in the Wall, has a comp coming up in mid-September featuring bands that have played the Free-for-All, and Unclean Records has a lo-priced collection of cuts from bands that have appeared on that label due in a few weeks. Both include cuts by the Orange Mothers, who I had forgotten I hated until Britt Daniel (two "t"s, no "s") brought it up.

Mixed Notes

Nix that Mixed Note from last week that said Dan Carney was joining the Hormones. At this point, Brit Jones (one "t," one "s") of Cattleguard is the one taking that post. Carney apparently couldn't afford to take the time out from completing his collection of XTC bootlegs... Killing America got a visit on July 15th at the Electric Lounge from Michael Gallelli of Private Music. Following the show, the band was also approached by Jonathan Weiss, Manager of Creative Services at MCA, who requested a demo. The band is planning to do more recording over the next few weeks, along with some nervous pacing... Well, given their close friendship with Greg Hetson, it looks like it's only a matter of time now before the League of Nuns guys get to hang out with Debbie Gibson... On the subject of more violent celebrity sightings, none other than swingin' Sean Penn was spotted at the Tower Records in-store and subsequent Liberty Lunch concert by Jewel last week. Penn was reportedly sporting a fresh new shiner; no word on if he got it in town or from whom... Phil "Heather" Hurd's latest cassette, VII, finds him back out of the dress as just plain Phil. The tape is available at Local Flavor... The Stubbs benefit last week at Antone's finally did the trick, raising $2,500 and clearing up all the funeral expenses. One well-known local writer/benefit-phobe was seen actually paying to get in - but was also observed regularly sneaking outside to attend his private beer stash... The 1995 edition of the ever-growing International Hispanic Entertainment Directory (formerly theTexas Entertainment and Hispanic Music Industry Directory) is out. Call 800/445-3618 for more information... Veruca Salt are off the Live bill at South Park Meadows, due to guitarist/vocalist Louise Post's neck injury. Big Audio Dynamite (or whatever variation of the name they're currently going under) will take the supporting slot... Javelin Boot, Fabu, Cotton Mather, and others are playing a benefit for Casa Marianella next Wednesday at the Hole in the Wall. Cover's only four bucks. Go... Some in-stores: El Flaco is at Tower Records this Friday at 4pm, while Santiago Jimenez, Jr., plays at Music Mania this Saturday at 3pm. Look for Michael Elwood & Beth Galiger at Waterloo Records next Thursday at 5pm... The City of Austin Music Liaison Office is looking for used musical instruments, mostly of the school band variety, to give to needy schoolchildren. Call Bob Meyer at 499-6386 for further information... Next Week: New information on Pearl Jam appearing? Maybe, but I can't promise anything. Of course, this is assuming there's anyone left out there who doesn't hate their guts... n