by Ken Lieck
Sorry if I missed your band this week. I was out having a big bony thing
removed from my skull. Okay, it was a tooth. Still, I’m a little more woozy
than usual right now so forgive me if all of my words out don’t come right in
the order.
Out of Luck
(and Into Luckenbach)
A lot of people were in luck this week. Luck, Texas, that is, the official
name of Willie Nelson‘s wild west town out lakeward of here commonly
known as “Willieville.” Friday, in fact, marked the wrap party for Tales Out
of Luck, Texas, a series pilot starring Willie and Johnny Rodriguez (shown above are (l-r: Rodriguez’ manager Randy Willis, Willie, Miss San
Marcos Holly Mills, and Johnny). I couldn’t get out there myself, thanks
to that damn tooth, but as I understand it, the program is a sort of variety
show with a storyline, wherein the two Texas troubadours play their modern day
selves in the Old West town. No news currently as to where or when the show
might air. This weekend, the gang heads for a big party out in the similarly
named Luckenbach, Texas, where on May 26-27, the First Annual Johnny Rodriguez
Memorial Day Weekend Celebration takes place starring Rodriguez, Paula
Nelson, Chad Hudson, Jimmy Day, Doc Mason, and other guests. Doors open at
6pm both nights and all acts play both nights. Tickets are available from Star
Tickets or at the door.
Kerrville Koncert Kriteria
The 24th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival starts today (Thursday) and runs
through June 11. This week’s lineup is as follows: Thursday: Michael Camp,
Dan Sebranek & John Smith, Jana Stanfield, Erik Hokkanen, Anne Hills,
and Tom Russell. Friday: Alan Rhody, Tom Kimmel, Rory McLeod,
Cheryl Wheeler, Bill Morrissey, and High Noon. Saturday: David
Rodriguez, Dar Williams, Dana Cooper, Stephan Allen Davis, Kelly Willis,
and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Sunday: Ellis Paul, Tom Prasada-Rao,
Trapezoid, Susan Werner, Trout Fishing in America, and Jimmy Lafave. Monday: Theresa & Joseph Brunelle, David Buskin, Melissa Javors, Cliff
Eberhardt, Caf� Noir, and Bobby Bridger. Tickets are
available through 800/435-8429.
Huns Across the Waters
That new Huns live album on Existential Vacuum Records is selling
“pretty damn well” at Sound Exchange (of course, considering the pressing was
only 800 vinyl copies, it doesn’t have to sell too well), but the odds
are that not all the Huns will personally have copies. This isn’t the usual
cruel record company scam, though; EV’s Ryan Richardson points out that
he always has trouble locating band members when he reissues rare, old punk
material. “A lot of these bands were thrown together at the time,” he says, by
people who may never have seen each other again since the band broke up. (The
Huns were a first-wave punk band busted for obscenity onstage at Raul’s during
their maiden performance; the incident brought international attention to
Austin’s burgeoning punk scene.) Richardson found drummer Tom Huckabee in time to have him write the album’s liner notes (where he notes that the
“excellent” recording “only magnifies our ineptitude”), but guitarist John
Burton strenuously objects to what he considers unauthorized release of the
recording. This brings up touchy questions about copyrights, reissues, and the
legalities thereof (though DejaDisc’s Steve Wilkison successfully dealt
with five acts over the impending Live at Raul’s compilation
reissue).Then there’s former Huns vocalist Phil Tolstead who, as
a televangelist, used to show Huns video footage as a visual aid for what Jesus
saved him from. He was last seen heading off on a mission to deepest South
America. Next up for Existential Vacuum: a subsidiary reissue/rarities label
for non-Texan acts, with the first being California punks the
Authorities.
Mixing Notes
Ministry has finished recording their next album and Al
Jourgensen is off to Chicago for a month of mixing. Again, expect some
changes in the trademarked Ministry sound on this one. Meanwhile, drummer
Rey Washam is taking advantage of the break to record a couple of TV
themes with his fellow Euripides Pants members for an upcoming
compilation of same for the hot new label Slapaham Records. The numbers they’ll
be doing are the themes from Mod Squad and The Price Is Right! I
wonder what Bob Barker will think.
Mixed Notes
Actually, here’s more mixing notes. That’s what’s being done on the 8 1/2
Souvenirs live album that was recorded on the Continental Club’s new A-DAT
system. More on that later… This just in: Sneakers on Sixth, having gotten
the Ritz crowd, closed Tuesday night anyway, citing a lack of hair – er,
patrons.. Meanwhile, that same night, Austin’s City Parks and Recreational
Department voted to keep Pease Park open to Eeyore’s and the Clarksville Jazz
Festival, citing the ol’ grandfather clause… A new hip-hop/dance label has
opened up shop in Austin. United Front Records, run by two UT grads, have
sealed a distribution deal with Midwest Records in Dallas, and their first
release beads and bass, by Courtney is out now along with a
single entitled “Eternal Euphoria”… Banana Blender Surprise‘s
“long-awaited first album in over four months” has arrived. Entitled No
Shower Week, the new album is also available in vinyl in addition to the
CDs so you could see the nice Ron English painting on the cover. They’ll
be giving away some of those 12-inch copies at their Liberty Lunch show Friday
(with Kathy McCarty and Earthpig)…Drumquest ’95 is a
four-day clothing-optional, heavy thing taking place over Memorial Day weekend
in Dripping Springs with Crash Worship, Machine Screw, and a cast of
thousands (of drummers). Call 477-4009 for more information… Looking to
concentrate on more time on the road, Sunflower end their Black Cat
residency with this Saturday’s show. Openers Steamroller will “inherit”
the main slot as of the next week… Next Tuesday at the Electric Lounge is the
last Cattleguard gig to feature former Standing Waves member
Larry Seaman (the Waves were the “polar opposites” of the Huns in the
Raul’s scene, as long as I’ve still got Tom Huckabee’s liner notes here).
Andy Thomas of the Gay Sportscasters will take Seaman’s place,
starting with a late June gig… Sixteen Deluxe have an in-store gig at
Sound Exchange this Friday at 5pm. Wonder who’ll be drumming?… Caf�
Noir have a release party for their The Waltz King CD this Sunday at the
Waterloo Ice House on Sixth Street… Out from Only Boy Records is a new live
album from Evan Johns… The lineup for the Austin Women in Music show
at Fat Tuesday’s on Sunday has been in flux, but I believe that Pam Mayo,
Marie Swan, Natalie Zoe, and others will be there… Meanwhile, a
contingent of women are trying to get out of Austin – to attend a United
Nations forum on women in Beijing in September. Libby Roderick‘s
performance at the First Unitarian Church this Friday is a benefit towards that
goal… More benefits: There’s one for Antone’s soundman Steve France next Wednesday at Antone’s of course, with Toni Price, Paul Ray, Sue Foley,
Donna Pearl, The Moellers, Kim Wilson, Sleestaks and Wayne Hancock.
Did I mention that Wayne’s just signed with DejaDisc? Look for an album by the
end of September… Terri Lord‘s back gets support from a benefit
Thursday, June 1, at Liberty Lunch, with Wannabes, Noodle, Stretford,
Hormones, Meg Hentges, Gomez, and more to be confirmed… The Fourth Annual
Mother Earth Festival this Sunday at Liberty Lunch is a benefit for AIDS
Services of Austin with Little Sister, Gingbreadmen, Sunflower, Billy White
Trio, Patrice Pike, Rhythm Child, “Earthpig & Fire,” and more at 2pm…
Finally, if you thought you saw a down-and-out Jimmie Vaughan at the
Capital Area Food Bank last Wednesday, what you were seeing was him personally
dropping off the check for $80,402.00 that his May 12 Austin Music Hall show
raised for the Food Bank… n
This article appears in May 26 • 1995 and May 26 • 1995 (Cover).