The Last Roundup
It’s TCB’s farewell column next week, so strap in for two weeks’ worth of news in one. Better make that two months: Austin sunshine kids Li’l Cap’n Travis‘ Twilight on Sometimes Island comes out Tuesday, and singer/guitarist Christian Braafladt will return from Colorado for the July 7 Continental Club release party. Beyond that, says bassist Jeff Johnston, “We’ve never sat down to decide what the future of the band is going to be before, so I don’t think we’re going to start now”… Brawny bashers Those Peabodys have finished their latest album but lack the means to master or release it. Someone please help them… Youngmond Grand, Til We’re Blue or Destroy, and Dumptruck frontman Seth Tiven likewise have new albums in the can. King Tears, playing Fridays this month and next at Flipnotics‘ new Triangle location (4600 Guadalupe), has two… Jeff Klein‘s next album is done as well, but lately he’s been playing with Greg Dulli, Mark Lanegan, and Zykos drummer Cully Symington as the Gutter Twins. They’ve just recorded an album for Sub Pop… If you see Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. in Club Listings, go see them: It’s Roky Erickson backed by Summer Wardrobe. “Obviously, we’re pretty thrilled,” says drummer George Duron… Car Stereo (Wars)’s DJ Chris Rose, diagnosed with “Musical ADD” in the current Blender, is working on a solo CD as the Bandit. “I want it to feel like a smoother and slightly less chaotic Girl Talk,” he says… Power-pop combo Sparkwood‘s album Kaleidoscopism is “selling really well” on Japanese indie Colourfield/Excellent, says frontman Bart Padar. He hopes for a domestic release later this year, but Sparkwood is on injured reserve until guitarist Mark Doroba recovers from a broken arm… Former Emo’s general manager David Thomson, seeking investors for a combination record store/coffeehouse for years, says he had an interesting conversation with former Sound Exchange manager Craig Koon last weekend. Coincidentally or not, SE’s old location on the Drag happens to be vacant right now… Former Shindigs spitfire Melissa Bryan just recorded a three-song demo with Grand Champeen‘s Michael Crow, who also did the upcoming Secret Weapons CD, and left this week to busk in Europe. She plans to catch the Ugly Beats in Rotterdam, Holland, while she’s there… Jesus Christ Superfly‘s Rick Carney is taking 20 students from the local Paul Green School of Rock to the first-ever School of Rock Fest in Asbury Park, N.J., this weekend. Ween and Bad Brains headline… Foot Foot and Hit Space are in various stages of recording new efforts for Bunkhaus Records; Baby Robots‘ 10-year retrospective drops next month… Because being The Onion Austin city editor just isn’t enough, Sean O’Neal apparently still wants to be a rock star and is close to reforming the Arm.This article appears in June 22 • 2007.