Steamboat, Saturday 10
A fortnight ago it was The Mermen (whom Dick Dale has written kind wordsabout) who grabbed their boards and ran down to our shoreline. Now —
now, boys and girls — it’s the Big Kahuna, the progenitor of surf
guitar who’s waded into the water, playing the ‘boat, where no guitar has ever
sounded bigger, louder, more totally erect. Twenty years down the tunnel
haven’t slowed Dale, and this is the Sixth Street show to close it down and
post flood signs for. NYC’s country-rock twister, 22 Brides, and Austin’s
hard-rocking Vallejo open the evening.
FUNKY METERS
Liberty Lunch, Friday 9
The Meters recently returned to their original appellation of Funky Meters,but they really didn’t need to — their name has been synonymous with the genre
since funk`s earliest days. Give up the funk tonight (Thursday) after Innocence
Mission and 16 Horsepower (doing a separate, earlier show), or Friday night,
all night. Omar & the Howlers open Friday. —
Christopher Gray
GEORGE STRAIT
Erwin Center, Friday 9
Comprehensive as it is, George Strait’s recent 4-CD Strait Out of theBox is only the beginning. Strait’s loping Western swing has ruled country
music for over a decade, and he shows no signs of stopping. His Ace in the Hole
band is live gravy to Strait’s chicken-fried steak. —
Christopher Gray
LA BOUCHE
Icon, Friday 9
This is one of those shows that by all rights shouldn’t be here, but ratherconfined to both coasts. Yet some computer screen has blipped up the fact that
Austin and San Antonio actually have vibrant dance scenes, so this German dance
duo — with their hit “Be My Lover” having already climbed to the top of the
dance charts and currently riding high on the pop charts (#8) — is whirling
through Icon with a frenzied, glitterball rush of pounding drum machines and
heart attack rhythm & screaming. Studio 54, where are you?
URBAN SHAKEDANCERS
White Rabbit, Friday 9 & Saturday 10
Atlanta’s Urban Shakedancers are a southern boogie rock band whose musicalresemblance to the Black Crowes — and in particular the similarity between
frontman Robert Paige’s singing and that of Chris Robinson — is probably why
their Atlanta benefactors have taken them on a couple tours. Then again,
Paige’s slide playing sounds more like harp on record, evoking Blues Traveler.
Darn, now I’m lost in the whole H.O.R.D.E thang — did I mention this jamming
quartet also did H.O.R.D.E? It’s two nights in Austin, whatever the case, so
bring on some hempilation.
NEUROTIC OUTSIDERS, HOG
La Zona Rosa, Sunday 11
I know La Zona Rosa, and it’s no Viper Room. So whether the appearanceof the Viper’s house band, the Neurotic Outsiders, winds up anything more than
a gawk-at-has-been-celebrity orgy remains to be seen. Reportedly, they’re
recovering rockers looking for a sober side-project, but the Neurotic boys are
also rumored to be a punk tribute (Damned, Sex Pistols covers) looking for a
quick touring tune-up before they record their own album. And although the
project may reek of a desperate “day job” search, it also might just plain
reek, because Guns `n’ Roses’ Duff McKagan has butchered punk too many times
before while Duran Duran’s John Taylor is clearly more new wave than punk. But
the fact that ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones is on guitar and Guns’ drummer Matt
Sorum is aboard as well, makez this show well worth a gamble. Hog, who’s
upcoming Geffen debut,Nothing Sacred, manages to be Dookie and
Appetite For Destruction rolled into one, opens. — Andy Langer
NOFX, HAGFISH, SNUFF
Liberty Lunch, Monday 12
There’s a guy fondling a sheep on the cover of NOFX’s new album, HeavyPetting Zoo, but don’t let the bad taste fool you. Underneath the de rigeur
Epitaph wall of noise, there’s Beach-Boys tight harmonies and serious ska. Less
dour than Bad Religion and less derivative than Rancid, this is punk rock that
smokes — and that you can hum along to real easy. Hagfish in the middle, and
Snuff opens. — Christopher Gray
KIM RICHEY
Continental Club, Monday 12
While the Mary Chapin Carpenters of the world have moved on to biggerand better venues, the Kim Richeys on the scene (the Nashville scene of course)
are still kicking up dust at little ol’ honky-tonks like the Continental Club.
Good place for her to let that purdy Carpenter/Rosanne Cash voice recreate the
smooth, smart, and spunky songs (yes, they’re her own) of her most recent
release, Kim Richey. If it don’t fly at the Continental then you best
send it back to Music City.
SUPERSUCKERS/TENDERLOIN
Emo’s, Wednesday 14/Thursday 15
Well, well, well, what have we got here? Two of Emo’s most consistently crazedclub favorites playing consecutive nights. Man, there goes Wednesday and
Thursday. Ornery, obnoxious, redneck, fist-pumping post-punk — done Seattle
style by the Supersuckers, and Southern swamp blooze style by Tenderloin. Fuck,
yes. Spank me! ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Jonathan Richman, Electric Lounge
Saturday: Pavement, Spoon, Dumptruck, Liberty Lunch; Kris McKay, Cactus Cafe
Sunday: Monte Montgomery, Saxon Pub
Monday: Bill Carter & Will Sexton, Pearl’s
Tuesday: Don Walser, Jovita’s
Wednesday: Savoy Brown, Antone’s
Thursday: Dave Alvin, Billy C. Wirtz, Big Sandy & Fly-Rite Boys, Buddy
Miller, Continental Club
This article appears in February 9 • 1996 and February 9 • 1996 (Cover).