Dean Beadles Credit: Photo by Shelley Hiam

The Ape-Shits

Beerland, Feb. 15

Throughout its short history, punk has existed as the scab that just won’t heal, constantly picking itself and exposing a new layer. Whereas the genre sprung from societal and political disenchantment, a punk band trying to express genuine disgust in 2008 has to pick a little harder. Local quartet the Ape-Shits has crystallized its bleak world-view in the manic, disheveled energy of its debut on Austin imprint Super Secret Records, La Pollution Culturelle. Celebrating its release Friday, the Ape-Shits picked with gusto, their shows always one lobbed beer can away from total chaos. A shambolic “I Come Alive” and “I Want No One” whipped the soused Friday night crowd into a frenzy, but it was LP highlight “(I See) White People,” spit by guitarist Shawn Carpetbagger with a great sing-along chorus, that could become an Austin classic: “They’ve got blond hair. They’ve got blue eyes. They watch reruns of Friends and drive north on 35.” As the 45-minute set progressed and more libations were consumed, there was an impromptu rendition of “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)” and a couple of G.G. Allin covers. Maybe the stars were aligned just right that night, because a fight broke out near the front of the stage, which resulted in guitarist Dean Beadles and a handful of others escorting a man out of Beerland and the end of the show. The Ape-Shits ripped the scab so fast we didn’t feel a thing.

This article appears in February 22 • 2008.

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