Houses of the Holy
VICTORY MARCH: The Victory Grill, the oldest noncontinuously operating music venue in Austin, celebrates its 60th birthday 10am-12mid Sunday with a three-pronged program: a gospel brunch, storytelling and spoken-word performances, and a Clifford Antone-hosted jazz/blues blowout with the Ephraim Owens band, Blues Specialists, Hosea Hargrove, “Blues Boy” Hubbard, and more. “I want people to know it’s a party,” says owner Eva Lindsey. “We’re gonna dance, make noise, and have a big birthday cake.” It’s also a fundraiser for the Grill’s ongoing renovations, which Lindsey figures will take at least another year. “Unless we get some folks to say, ‘We’re ready for the Victory to be done,'” she says. “I know I’m ready for it to be done.” Tickets are $25 per event or $60 for an all-day pass.
FERTILITY RITES: “Vegas is clouding my brain,” admits Zykos frontman Mike Booher, enjoying a few days at the Bellagio with his family. When he gets back, the local indie rockers will continue breaking in new arrival and former 1986 drummer Cully Symington. “Just in a few practices with him, there’s been a ton of ideas,” Booher says. “It’s probably the most stuff we’ve ever had to sort through.” The quintet plans to spend the rest of 2005 writing and recording their third album; since they don’t have a label right now, they’re free to set their own pace. “Both [previous] albums, we weren’t able to take our time,” says the singer. “We want to be natural and not freak out about it.” Zykos warms up for their first-ever ACL Fest appearance at a free Emo’s show Sept. 9 with Phosphorescent, Voxtrot, and Loxly.
ARMED TO THE TEETH: Austin’s INDIErect Records will follow up Ghostland Observatory‘s delete.delete.i.eat.meat with another CD destined for heavy KVRX rotation: a five-song EP from the Arm tentatively titled Call You Out. Recorded in February and scheduled for release late next month or in early October, the EP would be the abrasive post-punkers’ first output since their self-titled November 2003 LP. But it doesn’t stop there: Frontman Sean O’Neal says he’d also like to put out an album before year’s end, “provided the material and the backing come together by then.” Catch the Arm Aug. 23 at Beerland with Attack Formation and Those Peabodys.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE: Room 710 is having a benefit Sunday for the family of Reloaded magazine publisher Joe Claytor, who was killed in a car accident last month. Honky, the Black Novas, and the High Divers play for $5… Gregarious, heavily tattooed Hole in the Wall bartender Waldo has been unable to work after knee surgery, so his friends have organized “Waldofest” Sept. 4 at the Hole to help him out. Stickpony, Elvis on Speed, the Nortons, Floozy, the Passed Out Fliers, Texacala Jones & Her TJ Hookers, 20-Eyed Dragon, Two Hoots and a Holler, and the Rockland Eagles take the stage starting at 4pm.
This article appears in August 19 • 2005.