Thanks to the archival specialists at Austin Music Weekly, here’s proof that the Skunks rank among the finest regional punk bands anytime the local legends choose to plug in.
At The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology release party, their first show in close to five years, the Skunks – guitar strangler Jon Dee Graham and walking bassist/vocalist Jesse Sublett with drummer George Duron – ripped through an incendiary set of Stooges decadence (“Gimme Some”), gothic noir (“St. James Infirmary Blues”), and wicked blues (Howlin’ Wolf’s “Commit a Crime”) that exceeded even the infamous Live at Raul’s compilation.
The Skunks “St. James Infirmary Blues”
The Skunks “Commit a Crime”
Candi & the Strangers “Glide”
The Vimeo description for Candi & the Strangers’ latest, single “Glide,” taken from last year’s 10th of Always, says it all: “A non-sentient android seems to be making his own decisions to save an injured subversive leader from the futuristic police state that’s after her.”
The Boxing Lesson “Three”
Not sure what’s behind the Boxing Lesson’s obsession with cats, save for the fact that it makes for an irresistible Internet meme. This was directed by Nathan Guy and culled from the local trio’s instrumental cassette, Fur State.
This article appears in April 8 • 2011.