TCB

Punk Goes South

Granted, in South Austin "punk rock" could be anything not carrying a heavy Merle Haggard or Albert King influence, but thanks to Ego's ongoing "Punk Rock BBQ" series on Saturday afternoons, the loud stuff finally has an authentic toehold south of the river. This past weekend, it was the Smashing Pumpkins/Spiritualized/ Jawbreaker hybrid Watching the Moon, aka members of local threepiece Valorem, stretching out while guitarist Al Shire investigated his brand-new effects pedal. Attendance at the barbecues, which began in April, ranges from packed houses to scattered friends and family, but either way, the hideaway takes donations for local charities -- right now it's the SIMS Foundation -- in lieu of a cover. The only catch is that currently there's no actual barbecue at these barbecues due to an ongoing dispute with the TABC. The state alcohol regulators weren't satisfied with the roped-off area Ego's set up by the barbecue pit. "They said that wasn't good enough," relays employee T.J. Brown. "You're not supposed to go outside a certain area with your beer." Providing an outdoor gathering area was important because, laughs Brown, "it gets a bit loud inside." The food may be on ice for now, but the music continues Saturdays at 3pm.

Hanoi Rocks!

And apparently so does Cambodia. This from local rocker Jean Caffeine, who recently returned home from a yearlong stint teaching elementary art in suburban Bangkok. During her stay, she discovered that "the expatriate community is starved for live music," so a friend with the Associated Press set her up with a gig at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Phnom Penh. Although some of her expat band had to ferry their gear to the club on bicycle taxis, and despite the "many negotiations" necessary to secure a PA, Caffeine says the show overlooking the Tonle Sap River was "a regular Jean Caffeine show -- just on the other side of the world." A second show near temple Angkor Wat fell through, and though Caffeine notes, "you really have to look for rock & roll over there," she didn't do too bad. A trip to Hanoi revealed more expats playing Clash, Stooges, and Ramones covers; a Russian band with a girl on flying-V guitar; and a Vietnamese group playing U.S. metal. In Thailand, Caffeine, who plays her first local show since her return Oct. 26 at Opal Divine's, discovered the natives are obsessed with "Hotel California." "Most bands in Thailand cover that song," she puzzles.

Mr. Kite's Corner

Hobble, instigators of the explosive new CD, God's Work -- and its packed Room 710 release show last weekend -- play a benefit Friday at the Ritz Upstairs for Marshall, the Ritz bartender who recently chipped his front teeth trying to break up a fight. Admission is $3; also on the bill are Holy Happy Hour Charlie and the Bad Apples.

"London Homesick Blues" singer Gary P. Nunn, along with the Cosmic Dust Devils, Pauline Reese, and Shelley King, plays a fundraiser Sunday night for the Treehouse Project, which helps kids with special needs. The show is at the Candlelight Ranch, nine miles west of Lago Vista on Highway 1431, and is $25 in advance (call 512/323-5300) or $30 at the door.

Bullet the Blue Sky

Talullah is the new group featuring Fastball southpaw Tony Scalzo, Matt Hubbard Band members Hubbard and Jason Enright, plus Soulhat rhythm section John Vogelsang and Darin Murphy. The mellow fellows play next Thursday at Easy Rhino's, before Scalzo warms up the new Fastball album with newlywed Miles Zuniga.

The deadline for unsigned Texas musicians to submit demos to the Recording Academy's Texas chapter is Oct. 17. A panel of industry folks will choose 10 finalists, who'll appear at Houston's Engine Room Nov. 17 for a chance to win the $10,000 prize. Call 512/328-7997 for details.

Chrome, Smoke & BBQ, the long, long, long-awaited ZZ Top box set hits stores Oct. 14. Included on the 4-CD set are dance remixes of "Legs," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Velcro Fly."

Former 81/2 Souvenirs and Govinda vocalist Chrysta Bell has been selected for Switched, the new ABC reality show filming in Austin this week. She then heads West, where she's recording songs with Eraserhead himself, filmmaker David Lynch, in his L.A. studio.

Donations in memory of recently passed local historian/musician Tary Owens can be made at www.grammy.com/musicares and/or www.mdanderson.org/departments/development .

Congratulations to Texas psych legend Roky Erickson for recently getting his first driver license in 25 years.

Second-generation singer-songwriter J.T. Van Zandt has moved back to Austin and says he'll soon start doing open-mic nights Mondays at the Long Branch Inn. Van Zandt opens for Ray Wylie Hubbard Saturday at the Cactus Cafe.

Slipped Disc

ROCKLAND EAGLES, Rock Fight Win

Be aggressive, be, be aggressive The Rockland Eagles are hardly some Class 3A high school footballers -- it's former Pocket FishRmen guitarist Cris Burns and friends paying tribute to KISS, UFO, Rainbow, and similar Seventies codpiece warlords.

Will fans of Austin's other denim-rockers Young Heart Attack enjoy the CD? Yes, unless they've suffered an actual heart attack.

Approximate number of times the word "rock" is sung over the 33-minute running time: 238

So does it rock? Have you not been paying attention?

Release party Friday at Room 710 with Dixie Witch, the American Idles, and Black Earth.

Mona Lisa

Yes, she's Elvis Presley's daughter, and no, she doesn't like to talk about it. But she does have a strong new album, To Whom It May Concern, and is playing Stubb's tonight (Thursday), so a guarded, succinct Lisa Marie Presley is on the phone from Omaha, Neb., where she's hours away from playing her first rodeo.

TCB: What kind of music did you like growing up?

Lisa Marie Presley: I liked a pretty wide variety. Any strong female vocalist like Ann Wilson of Heart or Pat Benatar. I'm a huge Elton John fan, early Elton John. Pink Floyd. I went through various phases.

TCB: What's the funniest thing you've read about yourself in a tabloid?

LMP: Funniest ... I think there's one right now that's saying I'm pregnant and moving back to Graceland.

TCB: Was there a lot of music around Graceland when you were growing up?

LMP: Always. Always.

TCB: What kind?

LMP: Usually gospel. And pop, too. All kinds of music. Everyone would break out singing, or start playing something and singing. There was always something happening.

TCB: What's the coolest thing about being Elvis Presley's kid?

LMP: I don't even know how to answer that question.

No Limits

While Austin City Limits celebrates its new season with a free screening of the Steve Winwood premiere episode at 8pm on Tuesday in Republic Square Park, we're sure wheels are already turning for next year's fest. To help them out, here's the "TCB" wish list for ACL '04:

U2

Radiohead

Bob Dylan

David Bowie

Dixie Chicks

White Stripes

Interpol

Beck

Travis

Tom Petty

PJ Harvey

Grandaddy

Lyle Lovett

De La Soul

Elliott Smith

Bobby Blue Bland

My Morning Jacket

Cheap Trick

Van Halen with David Lee Roth

OutKast

George Clinton

Devo

Zykos

Pong

Scott H. Biram

Grand Champeen

Elizabeth McQueen

Grupo Fantasma

James Hand