Liberty Lunch, Saturday 6

Now that her hubby Gordon Fowler no longer runs the show at La Zona Rosa,
Marcia Ball’s live appearances here in town seem few and far between. Here
then, is your chance to join the back-to-school crowd, for a lesson in
pianistics from Austin’s version of Professor Longhair (at least it looks long
in the picture). Natalie Zoe opens.

WAYNE HANCOCK

Flipnotics, Friday 5

Just as there’s no shortage of real trains zig-zagging through Austin, Wayne
the Train can be seen anywhere and everywhere here in town. Still, we like the
cozy Flipntoics Coffeespace for this Hancock gig `cuz there’s less room for
that voice to travel on its way under your skin. Rick Broussard opens.

TAILGATORS

Hole in the Wall, Friday 5

Don Leady and his Tailgators are like gators in the swamp – easy to forget about, but always there to put the bite on you if you wander too
close to the roots-rock water’s edge. They’ve come out snapping a low-down,
greasy, Tex-Mex, spaghetti-surf-western sound on their new Upstart CD, It’s
a Hog Groove, which should make up the bulk of their set at the Hole in the
Wall.

KORN, LIFE OF AGONY, G/Z/R

Liberty Lunch, Friday 5

Korn may not be a household name, but in metal circles they’ve been a
hip underground build, taking their radio-unfriendly debut on the road as Ozzy
Osbourne’s hand-picked opener (he’s in San Antonio this weekend). And while
Ozzy surely saw a little of his former self in Korn’s brooding grind, it’s the
scary dynamics of Korn’s offbeat rage that makes them far beyond alternative
and the most promising heir to the coveted Metallica/Pantera throne. NYC’s Life
of Agony also knows its way around a twisted hook, but the real twist on this
bill may be how oddly modern Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler’s collaboration with
Fear Factory crooner Burton C. Bell comes off. Since it’s actually g/z/r’s
first gig ever, that could be reason enough to show up early. – Andy Langer

EL FLACO, FUCK EMOS, DADDY LONGHEAD

Flamingo Cantina, Friday 5

Cerebral distorto punk? Sure, why not. That’s what happens when your band
splits time between Sixth Street and graduate school – as is the case with Austin’s El Flaco. It’s then fitting that the hard thubbing
trio kick off another semester at UT (youse guyz didn’t graduate yet, didya?)
at the Flamingo Cantina with the decidedly uncerebral slo-mo, drug-stomp of the
Fuck Emos, and Jeff Pinkus’ guitar-wheedling Daddy Longhead.

CAFE NOIR

Waterloo Ice House 6th, Saturday 6

Before there was 8 1/2 Souvenirs, there was Dallas’ Cafe Noir,
serenading Austin with the occasional importing of their European sidewalk
chamber jazz. Caressing a violin, sawing a viola, and tickling a mandolin are
what this Big D quintet is all about – decidedly less rollicking than Austin’s own 8 1/2 Souvenirs, though
their Eurofeel is from the same general region as that of our local gypsy
winestompers.

ELVIS IS NOT DEAD
Continental Club, Sunday 7 & Monday 8

Not by a long shot. He’s up from a Mexican vacation (well, L.A. really) in the
guise of El Vez on Sunday, and then he settles into his Ted Roddy Graceland
Revue mode on Monday night.

MICHAEL BALLEW, WALT LEWIS

Saxon Pub, Monday 8

It’s last year already – last year that local cowpoet Michael Ballew had his third CD, You Better
Hold On, released on Germany’s Bear label. His collaboration with steel
player Buddy Emmons and fiddler Buddy Spicher was a slice of Texas country pie
with a dollop of Jimmy Buffet a la mode, and while we’re not sure of his
band for this Saxon gig, Ballew’s easy-gallop voice is a mighty fine way to
easy out of the stormy Monday blues – something the clean C&W sounds of Walt Lewis will also do.

CO2 WITH ALEX COKE

Waterloo Ice House 6th, Thursday 11

The Endangered Music Society – also known as the Creative Opportunity Orchestra – does it monthly gig at Waterloo Ice House 6th right on schedule, only this
month they get one of their favorite saxmen to join them, Texpatriate Alex
Coke. These shows which find Coke on leave from his regular gig with the Willem
Breuker Kollektief (based out of Holland) are always special, and there’s
nothing like a reunion of musical brethren to bring out the best in jazz
musicians. Show starts at 9:30pm.

SKREW

Emo’s, Thursday 11

First there was Skrew – Austin’s entry into the industrial chaos sweepstakes. Then there was dissension
among the ranks, followed closely by several local off-shoots of the band. Now,
after a long hiatus, they’re back. “They” could be anybody at this point, but
there’s only one way to see how the new Skrew tips the rage-and-nihilism scale.
Nosebleed and Dropkick open.
ALSO PLAYING

Friday: Don Walser, Dale Watson, Emo’s

Saturday: David Halley, La Zona Rosa

Sunday: Guy Forsyth, Antone’s

Monday: Scabs, Steamboat

Tuesday: Alanis Morissette (Sold Out), Austin Music Hall

Wednesday: Beto y Los Fairlanes, Continental Club

Thursday: Windsor for the Derby, Blue Flamingo

This article appears in January 5 • 1996 and January 5 • 1996 (Cover).

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