Pay attention kids, because the shows are coming at you like a meteor shower
and there’s only one place to go for cover; the clubs. Electric Lounge is one
of several shelters that has a couple of hot ones on its hands on consecutive
nights. Friday,
ex-Spaceman 3 astronaut Jason Pierce flies in from another
galaxy with his bubblegum trance trio, Spiritualized. Trippy droning never
sounded so happy. SXSW ’95ers Polara open with their Caroline rock. Saturday,
brace yourself for another British flag on our moon when Supergrass bring their
Oasis-do-the-Beatles pop to the Lounge, on a bill that includes more
across-the-pond popsters The Daisies, and Replacements-rockers the Figgs. Bring
the aircraft carrier and helicopters, the modules have hit the water.
JUDE COLE, MICHELE SOLBERG
Cactus Cafe, Friday 20
Mr. Cole hasn’t only been around the block, he built it. Work with Del
Shannon, The Records, and Moon Martin highlights his resum�. In the late
Eighties, he recorded three LPs for Warner Bros., scoring two hits. Now with
more creative control at Island, he’s just released I Don’t Know Why I Act
This Way , a brilliant LP that pulses with the same genius
guitarist-cum-songwriter savvy as Robbie Robertson, Daniel Lanois, and Adrien
Belew. This will be a night of big, powerful music in a small, powerful room. – Joe Mitchell
IVAN NEVILLE, LEE PERSONS
La Zona Rosa, Friday 20
When you come into this world with a name like Neville, there’s only one thing
you can plan on doing with the rest of your life, so the multi-talented Ivan
Neville has dedicated himself to the pursuit of funky, rockin’ soul music, and
though we have no idea what the second-generation Neville has in mind for this
show, that there’s a show at all at La Zona Rosa is enough to draw us in.
MOSE ALLISON
Cedar Street, Friday 20 & Saturday 21
Ah Mose, venerable ol’ Mose. We are honored, sir, that a jazz legend of thy
statue has taken shine to our humble township. The years have been kind with
your visits, and Cedar Street, hub of the wobbling West End Arts district, is a
new conquest we’re happy to concede you. Woo us then, sir, with the black and
white waltzing maidens of your piano.
DANGEROUS TOYS, CONTRADICKS
Back Room, Saturday 21
Whoa! What’s happened here? What’s changed? Oh. Everything has. Perhaps that’s
why these local boys, once doomed to haunt the sunset strip in eternal
mid-Eighties metal limbo, have risen from the grave more times than Elizabeth
Taylor. With their new DMZ burner, the r*tist 4*merly known as dangerous
toys, Jason McMaster and crew have blowtorched their whole previous sound,
and created some craven industrial, metal-angst-grunge beast that’s friggin’
scary. One of this year’s most surprising albums, and probably one of the best.
Boys, you’ve done us all proud.
DAVE ALVIN/PHIL ALVIN
Antone’s, Saturday 21/ Sunday 22
All the way from the Southern California desert trek the Alvin Brothers – a
journey to which they’ve become accustomed. What a shame they aren’t playin’
together. Friday, the Derailers open for their producer Dave on an evening that
brings together black leather roots-rock, and crew cut ‘n’ clean C&W.
Saturday night, brother Phil rouses his latest incarnation of the Blasters, who
go head to head with two other blasting bands, San Diego’s wild and ride ’em
Beat Farmers, and Bruce & the E Stre – er, Butch Hancock & the Health
& Happiness Show. Now, if we can just get Dave and Phil on stage together.
How ’bout it guys?
TRIPPIN’ IN AUSTIN
Chicago House, Sunday 22
Peg Miller sez it’s official (see the entire Music section), and that it’s out
of the Chicago House space by the first. There’s time for tears later, right
now it’s time to raise a few dead presidents to pay for evacuation costs. So,
cable access show Trippin’ in Austin is taping a couple last unplugged
gigs that’ll feature Abra Moore, Quartropaw’s Beth & Jason, Alise Clar
& Phil Rheinstein, and Miller’s “pick to click,” J. P. Allen.
SPEAKING CANARIES
Emo’s, Wednesday 25
Well, no wonder. No wonder The Speaking Canaries, a band on Cleveland’s finest
indie, SCAT (the nice folks that brought you Guided By Voices) – an indie
distributed by indie landowner Matador – sound more like Van Halen than some
dorky tweak-rock band: It’s Pittsburghian guitarist Damon Che, who’s pulled a
Grohl by coming out from behind the drum-kit of his former kick-ass,
guitar-grueling band Don Caballero, to front his new kick-ass, guitar-grueling
band, The Speaking Canaries. Let’s see if it flies live and at Emo’s.
MERL SAUNDERS
White Rabbit, Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26
Like Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders creates a parallel universe with his music –
only he does it with synthesizers not guitars (their album together, Blues
From the Rainforest, is still magic). Nice to see that Saunders has found
such a friendly place to land as the White Rabbit, which should be just the
right atmosphere for his other-worldly space blues. Like Phish and MMW, two
nights o’ fun.
GARY PRIMICH
Continental Club, Thursday 26
Man, everyone in Austin is releasing great albums, and harpcat Gary Primich’s
new one, Mr. Frost is no exception. Charlie Musselwhite, look out!
ALSO PLAYING:
Friday: Joe Rockhead, Steamboat
Saturday: My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Eve’s Plum, Big Stick, Liberty Lunch; Los Pinkys, Jovita’s
Sunday: Red Aunts, Emo’s
Monday: Finis Tasby, Antone’s
Tuesday: Down, Cotton Mather, Hole in the Wall
Wednesday: Ponty Bone, La Zona Rosa
Thursday: Professor & Maryann, Barnes & Noble
This article appears in October 20 • 1995 and October 20 • 1995 (Cover).