Liberty Lunch, Saturday 17
Hurtbox drummer and Chronicle editor Julie Weaver sits across from mydesk here at the paper and tells me to fuck off all the time. Shelley
Lucksinger, Hurtbox guitarist and Weaver’s fianc�, has been my
teammate/opponent on our volleyball court for many moons. They were both
seriously injured in a car wreck on New Year’s Eve, and now neither can fulfill
their duties as I see them. For this reason — and because Austin’s music
community is the same sort of family we are here at the Chronicle — the
cream of Austin’s alternative scene, Ed Hall, Sincola, Swine King, Jesus Christ
Superfly, and Tallboy cram Liberty Lunch on a Saturday night. Thank you, Austin.
POSSUM DIXON
Electric Lounge, Friday 16
To call Possum Dixon an alternative act is to miss the point altogether. Theirsecond album, Star Maps, is first and foremost a great pop album that’s
embroidered with zig-zaggedly caffeinated riffs that evoke Sixties garage rock,
as well as a harder New Wave punk. Infusing it all with some lounge latitude,
and perhaps some stand-up bass, this foursome is alternative mainy because
they’re a unique musical commodity fast on the rise, and one that should put on
a great show. Lifter and Cling open.
ROADHOUSE REVIVAL
Continental Club, Friday 16
If you dropped a bomb on the Continental tonight (Thursday 15) or Friday,you’d not only wipe out Dave Alvin, Dale Watson, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite
Boys, Buddy Miller, and the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, you’d also obliterate almost
the entire roster of Hightone Records, which kicks off its “Roadhouse Revival”
tour with these two shows. That means three-hours-plus both nights with the
cream of what Gavin calls “Americana” music.
BILL WATROUS
Elephant Room, Friday 16
As a jazz instrument, the trombone is under-utilized and underrated. Fewartists take advantage of its singular ability to swoop and slip and splash
around in the golden undertones of the musical scales, and few fans appreciate
just how boozy and ripe a sound it supplies. That’ll change this week as L.A.’s
Bill Watrous hits town with a couple of decades experience. Friday, he’ll teach
everybody: The slide rules! — Robert Faires
SNOOKY PRYOR, LAZY LESTER
Antone’s, Friday 16 & Saturday 17
It’s really gonna blow at Antone’s for this show, as harmonica mastersSnooky Pryor and Lazy Lester double-bill for an evening of incendiary blues.
Pryor’s Chicago edge gets honed by Lester’s Louisiana muscle for the ultimate
harp-and-soul combination. — Margaret Moser
TOO SLIM & THE HIGHTAILORS/SUBLIME
White Rabbit, Saturday 17/Sunday 18
Two different enchiladas on consecutive nights at the same club. Saturday,Spokane’s answer to the Tailgators slop up the White Rabbit with their dirty,
swampy, rockabilly blues, while Sunday finds SoCal’s Sublime doing Beck one
better, scratching their funky rocking hip-hop with dub and ska — a weird,
loopy amalgamation that’s just gotten the trio signed to MCA.
LOS PINKYS
Jovitas, Sunday 18
Bradley Jaye Williams is looking forward to getting out on the road soon, andhe’s especially licking his chops over his Los Pinkys’ invite to play San
Antonio’s Conjunto Fest in May. All this thanks to the band’s second Rounder
release, the festively, conjunto-challenged Esta Pasion, which has three
separate release fiestas this weekend: the throw-down begins Friday 16 at
Jovita’s, resumes the next afternoon at the band’s MusicMania in-store, and
tops off with a late-day return to Jovita’s on Sunday.
NASHVILLE NIGHT
Hole in the Wall, Monday 19
First, the Rock & Roll Free-for-All, and now this; “Unplug This” Mondays.The folks at the Hole must want it quiet after Paul Minor wrecks the place on
Sundays. Acoustics are the name of the game for this weekly series, whose theme
this week is Nashville, and features a trio of well-versed songwriting acts
with Kevin Caroll, Beaver Nelson, and Troy & Scrappy.
AC/DC VS. MINNEAPOLIS HOOT NIGHT
Electric Lounge, Tuesday 20
Minneapolis we already know about — the Replacements, H�sker D�,Soul Asylum, Prince, etc., etc. AC/DC though, there’s the secret. More
musicians from more walks of music attended AC/DC at the Erwin Center than I
could list here, though we will mention a certain frontman for Buick MacKane
who was there, and will be here with his band, along with Gomez, Fastball,
Orange Mothers, Javelin Boot, and Superego.
KINKY’S NIGHT OUT
Steamboat, Thursday 22
Who better to be Master of Ceremonies than the renaissance man himself(author, songwriter, stogie-sucker) Kinky Friedman, who serves up a trio of
acts. Billy White Trio opens with an acoustic set, Killer Bees follow with
ragga riddems, and Chris Duarte tops the bill. Kinky should guest with all.
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD
Hang ’em High, Thursday 22
Wanted: Country outlaws to play Hang ’em High’s Thursday night series. Found:Redneck mother Ray Wylie Hubbard. Rewards: All yours. ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Anders Osborne, White Rabbit
Saturday: Delbert McClinton, Lumberyard
Sunday: Hip-Hop Night, Voodoo Lounge
Monday: Headhunters, Emo’s
Tuesday: Forrest Jourdan Band, Headliners
Wednesday: Rubber Bullet, Flamingo Cantina
Thursday: Dale Watson, Broken Spoke
This article appears in February 16 • 1996 and February 16 • 1996 (Cover).