Bates Recital Hall (UT), Saturday 23
If Texas Folklife Resources had only brought in former Texas Playboy Johnny
Gimble to play solo, this would be a don’t-miss show. But having him share the
bill with fiddle masters Claude Williams (jazz) of Kansas City, Brian Marshall
(Texas-Polish), Rufus Thibodeaux (Cajun), Jose Moreno (Mexican-American) and
Norman Solomon (Texas-style) requires new superlatives that haven’t yet been
invented. Sell your children if that’s what it takes to get to this show. – Lee Nichols
MISS UNIVERSE
Hole in the Wall, Friday 22
Austin’s Miss Universe are at two different stages in their development. On
the local level, they’re well above the fledgling stage, yet still not packing
’em in like some of those Trance bands. On a national level, the band is still
working on their touring circuit, and there’s no better booking tool than the
band’s debut on Rise, Duh!, which should help take the band to the next
rung. Magneto USA, and Hot Wheels Jr., give Miss U., a leg up here.
SOULS OF MISCHIEF
Catfish Station, Friday 22
Souls of Mischief are a three-MC crew out of Oakland, CA. In ’93 they dropped
their debut ’93 til Infinity which still represents the Hieroglyphics
crew’s finest moments on wax to date. They came with ballistic lyrical and
freestyle skills, and managed to translate their raw rhyme weight into a solid
vinyl product that appealed to hip-hop connoisseurs from coast to coast to
third coast. While their effortless sounding style has influenced hordes of new
groups, Souls have wisely bided time, and are poised to drop what will probably
be another bomb, boyeee! Heads & Dreads, and Shabazz 3 open. – Ben
Plimpton
FRINGE FEST X/XX5
Electric Lounge, Friday 22 & Saturday 23
Though Sheela Murthy and Liquid Mice are no longer the flag-wavers of this
annual union of performance art and music, the Electric Lounge has taken the
fallen standard, and set up three separate stages. Friday features, among
others, Lump, Brown Hornet, and the Gourds. Saturday, look for Starfish, Moist
Fist, Enduro, and many others. Multimedia blitz.
THE BRAMHALL BOYS
Antone’s, Saturday 23
In its 20th year, Antone’s has set aside one weekend of every month to
continue the party. On Friday 22, ex-Gear Daddy Martin Zellar kicks things off
with an early show, followed by Marcia Ball and special guests such as Doyle
Bramhall, Jr. And it’s the pairing of Doyle Jr., and his father big Doyle on
Saturday that has us the most interested. With those family veins pumping blues
blood, the Bramhall boys should be cooking up a storm.
THE DELPHINES, LUCKY
Continental Club, Sunday 24
What she really wants, Kathy Valentine says, is to not be remembered
as
just one of the Go-Go’s. And with a string of exes behind her – Textones, Blue
Bonnets, World’s Cutest Killers – that were as glittery as they were
short-lived, Valentine may well have finally hit her groove with The Delphines.
The trio includes fellow Bonnet vocalist Dominique Davalos on bass and drummer
Paul Crowder, who cross-breed tough L.A. rock with brawny blues. Look for them
with Will Sexton at Steamboat Saturday 23. – Margaret Moser
KILLDOZER
Emo’s, Sunday 24
Blackjack rock. Beats you silly. Slow, grinding riffs with Danzig-brutal
vocals. Blues of the afflicted for nearly 10 years now. The world is still a
sick place, and this Madison trio will grind it into your eye with a stilletto
heal on their new Touch & Go bucket of slop, God Hears Pleas of the
Innocent. …Not if you go to a Killdozer show. Daddy Longhead and Nipple 5
open. Thwack. Ugg. Thud.
JON BLONDELL
Cedar Street, Tuesday 26
Jon Blondell has been Austin’s most consistently tasteful session bassist and
trombonist for so long that he’s become all too easy to take for granted. His
new quartet and popular Cedar Street Tuesday residency is busting jazz
boundaries on both the spectrum’s traditional and avant-garde ends. But it may
be Blondell’s flair as a fireball frontman, and incorporation of rock &
roll grooves that makes even his most oddball funk/fusion attempts musically
worthy.
– Andy Langer
ADRIAN LEGG
Cactus Cafe, Wednesday 27
This bespectacled leprechaun spins instrumental tales on his blue acoustic
that takes you deep into the forest, and enchants you like a Tolkien story.
BO BUD GREENE
Flamingo Cantina, Thursday 28
Quietly, quietly bo bud greene landed themselves a label in SoCal’s
Backyard/Scotti Bros., the latter label half being the famed house that Eddie
& the Cruisers built. They have money, and several good bands (Truck Stop
Love, Naked Soul). And who better on whom to spend said cash than an Austin
band like bbg, whose debut, Whatever, can definitely find a home on the
embattled radio format of the moment amidst all the rest of the hard swirl and
lurch. Better still, the band keeps improving their live show, which here is
free.
BURNING SPEAR
Liberty Lunch, Thursday 28
In a recent record review, I wrote that Ziggy Marley was better than 90
percent of rastas out there. Meet the top 10 percent: Winston Rodney and
Burning Spear. Helps to have your own horn section. Friday 29 is night two for
the Spear.
ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Ed Hall, Horsies, T.I., Los Pinkys, Liberty Lunch
Saturday: Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Continental Club;
Santiago Jimenez, Jovita’s
Sunday: Ballet Folklorico, Backyard
Monday: Boy’s Life, Mineral, Boiler Maker, Blue Flamingo
Tuesday: Lucky Strikes, Mangia
Wednesday: Dale Watson, Babes
Thursday: Willie Nelson & Family, The Backyard
This article appears in September 22 • 1995 and September 22 • 1995 (Cover).