Liberty Lunch, Friday 16
Consider Juliana Hatfield the anti-Courtney, says one critic. Good
idea, right
down to the producers who channeled Hole’s rage on Live Through
This,
thenturnedHatfield’s Only Everything into a
bittersweet
valentine of melodic heartbreak, ebullient romanticism, and damaged
optimism. Let her radio-friendly “Universal Heartbeat” light the
way;
Hatfield’s axiom that it’s better to have loved and lost than to have
never
experienced angst at all is achingly apparent in her luminous
performances.
Fledging Boston posters Cold Water Flat open. – Margaret Moser
THE HOLE ANNIVERSARY
Hole in the Wall, Friday 16 – Sunday 18
Now I’ve been accused of hexing the Hole. Seems the doomed Outhouse
and the
Hole were mentioned in the same breath last week, and that meant I’d
whammied
the latter. If that’s so, I’ve already left town so don’t look for me.
Austin
would be no place to live without that crummy dive at the corner of
Guadalupe
and 26th, and that hasn’t been the case for the last 22 years. Friday
night ya
got Carey Bowman, Texas Instruments, Sidehackers, and Javelin Boot.
Saturday,
it’s Meg Hentges, Death Valley, and the Wannabes. Sunday, Paul Minor
hosts
Wookie, Starfish, Spoon, and El Flaco. That’s pretty much an A-list of
what
Austin has to offer.
THUNDERFOOT, PEACEMAKER, KING FRIDAY
Back Room, Friday 16
Although Thunderfoot’s crunchy chords and witty writing are beginning
to break
down Austin’s indifference to things that don’t twang or buzz, Johnny
Law may
have had the right idea in packing their bags for Atlanta, adopting a
new
moniker (Peacemaker), and finding a home that actually appreciates the
Austin
roots and work ethic so apparent in their crash & boogie take on
wine,
women, and song. As a result, their visit to SXSW ’95 felt like an
event –
equal parts stellar new songs and healthy nostalgia. Opening is King
Friday,
whose new Get It record on dos/DMZ is definitely worth doing so.
– Andy Langer
VICKI PRATT KEATING TRIO
Chicago House, Saturday 17
Loitering around Austin since her appearance at Kerrville, D.C.’s
Vicky Pratt
Keating is still the folkie singer-songwriter with the crystal- clear
mountain-stream voice that’s destined for VH1 crossover pop fame. Her
visits to
our burg occur once or twice a year, and they always leave Chicago
House
tongues wagging.
REGGAE SUNSPLASH
Backyard, Saturday 17
It’s free, baby. Free. Praise Jah, Rastafari, who presents island
superstar
Buju Banton, Wailing Souls, Freddie McGregor, DJ Sister Carol, dance
hall
Worl-A-Girl, Junior Tucker, and a slew of others. All you have to do is
show up
and start enjoying the weekend. Show starts at 3pm.
ELIAS HASLANGER
Cedar St., Monday 19
Wonder where everyone goes Monday nights if they’re not getting it
on at
Melrose Place? Try Cedar St., where saxman Elias Haslanger and
his red
hot band play jazz as if Austin were New York.
TOTAL CHAOS
Emo’s, Tuesday 20
Perhaps the best thing to come from this bubblegum punk explosion
is that it’s
certain to bring hardcore back to the foreground. And the label that’s
been
sugaring up the market, Epitaph, pays for some of its sins by throwing
SoCal’s
Total Chaos into the fray. If they’re as corrosive as their new
Patriotic
Shock , this one could be a massacre. Battalion of Saints and the
Chumps
open.
CHOCOLATE USA
Electric Lounge, Wednesday 21
Yes, it’s true. More musicians have moved to Austin. Hard to believe,
I know.
These two – Julian Koster and Liza Wakeman – probably moved to Austin
to be
closer to Daniel Johnston or at least that’s what Bar None record
Number #2
Smoke Machine would have you believe with its lo-fi tangle of
musical
odd and ends. Names like They Might Be Giants and Ween pop up a lot
when
Chocolate USA are mentioned. Welcome ’em or show up with flaming
torches, and
light their way to the city limits. They play between the headlining
Echoing
Green and openers Bam Bam.
DEBBIE DAVIES
Antone’s, Wednesday 21
Sue Foley is outta town, so they’ve brought in a ringer. This one
sharpened
her guitar chops with the Iceman himself, Albert Collins, and that in
turn has
opened all blues parlor doors for Davis. And since she’s heavily into
Texas
blues, guess where those doors are located?
MEREDITH MILLER
Cactus Cafe, Wednesday 21
Well, Austin, you won’t have Meredith Miller to kick around anymore.
She’s
moving back to Dallas. And though she’ll be back to visit, this
fare-well show
is good opportunity to say goodbye to her sweet, somewhat melancholy,
slacker
folk songs.
TILT, SMOKING POPES, BRACKET
Liberty Lunch, Thursday 22
Tilt is the second Fat Mike (NOFX) band to hit Austin in several
weeks – No
Use For a Name was the other. Before Fat Wreck Chords, on which we find
Tilt’s
recent ‘Til it Kills, this Berkeley quartet used to be on the
Lookout
label, which spawned… Green Day. Now the puzzle comes together,
especially
when you consider that Tilt, led by punk chick Cinder, emerged from the
same
Gilman St. club scene (Berkeley, again) that brought the world… Green
Day.
Supporting, and possibly stealing the thunder are Chicago’s Smoking
Popes,
who’ve just made the jump to a major label, and with some push for
their
forthcoming Born to Quit, may just introduce the world to a real
garage
punk band who does the Beatles better than all but maybe Oasis.
Bringing up the
rear but by no means outta the race are another group of Bay Area
punkers,
Bracket. Good triple bill. ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Bill Kirchen, Mary Cutrufello, Continental
Club
Saturday: Brannen Temple’s Atomic Soul, Elephant Room
Sunday: Don Walser, Gingerman Pub
Monday: Chris Gaffney, Ted Roddy, Hole in the Wall
Tuesday: Carolyn Hester, Crow Jackson, Cactus Cafe
Wednesday: Austin Lounge Lizards, Auditorium Shores
Thursday: Janis Ian, Alejandro Escovedo, Austin Music Hall
This article appears in June 16 • 1995 and June 16 • 1995 (Cover).