Bullet the Blue Sky
It’s like Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, only without P.J. Soles: The Austin Music Network’s High School Battle of the Bands, showcasing 21 bands from area learning institutions, holds its preliminary rounds Feb. 14 and 21 at the Flamingo Cantina from 2 to 6pm. Two to three winners per round will advance to the March 20 finals. All ages (duh).
Major label alert: Patty Griffin‘s new ATO CD Impossible Dream, produced by Craig Ross, hits stores April 20 and includes her cover of the Dixie Chicks‘ cover of her song “Top of the World.” Lending a hand (or a voice) are Lisa Germano, Ian McLagan, Emmylou Harris, and Buddy & Julie Miller.
Tripped Into Divine, local pop-rockers Dexter Freebish‘s follow-up to 2000’s A Life of Saturdays, is available now on Sixthman Records. Like Saturdays hit “Leaving Town,” Tripped features a John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner in recent KLBJ add “Prozak (Be Like Me).”
Feliz cumpleaños to Beerland co-owner Donya Stockton. The club’s three-day bash continues tonight with husband Randall doing double duty in the Bloody Tears and Miss Rae & the Royal Family, plus Five-Way Action and John Schooley’s One Man Band, and Friday with the Ends, the Cruel & Unusual, the Mood Killers, and Jackie Ono. Dyn-o-mite!
When she’s not crooning for Austin indie-pop aces Masonic, look for Leah Bogan slinging drinks at the brand-new Coyote Ugly. Joining her behind and atop the bar will be current Rank and Revue centerfold Lana Lindsley.
After decades of playing Austin so often he might as well live here, former Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen guitarist Bill Kirchen has made it official. Also new to the Travis County tax rolls are East Coast émigrés Porterdavis and Stephanie Fix. Welcome to Texas, y’all.
This article appears in February 6 • 2004.