Credit: Photo By Felicia Graham

Meat Puppets

The Parish, Thursday, March 15

When Curt Kirkwood announced he was reassembling the “original” Meat Puppets last year, he hadn’t actually seen his brother Cris in over eight years. With Cris Kirkwood now heroin-free and Ted Marcus filling in for founding drummer Derrick Bostrom, the Kirkwood brothers regrouped, ready or not. Marking their 26th year, the ‘Pups are hardly pups, and though it shows in their faces, the guitars are still sludgy and the jams still monstrous. With both brothers flailing fizzed ‘fros, the packed Parish paid homage by waving beers and pumping fists through classics like “Plateau” and “Up on the Sun,” which was capped with a sprawling barrage of reverbed riffs. The trio also worked material from their upcoming LP, Rise to Your Knees, recorded last year and due out in June on Anondyne. As Curt acknowledged, “We finished it awhile ago; now we’re learning it.” Closing the hourlong set with “Lake of Fire” proved the ‘Pups still have Huevos.

This article appears in March 16 • 2007.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.