Backyard, Friday 14
I’ve always said that if country artists with mainstream potential just stick
to their guns, eventually they’ll be able to call their own shots. Krauss was
offered many seats aboard the Nashville train, and she turned them down and
stayed with Rounder. Now her greatest hits collection, Now That I’ve Found
You, has soared above 100,000 in sales, a figure that few bluegrass
performers can dream of. Instead of giving in to producers who would homogenize
her work into bland garbage, she gets to play real music like what she’ll
deliver this night at the Backyard. Patience, grasshopper. David Garza opens. – Lee Nichols
BAD BRAINS, DEFTONES
Liberty Lunch, Friday 14
Considering that in their heyday, thrashcore godfathers the Bad Brains were
one of the most incendiary live acts within or without the punk world, this
could be incredible. Considering their new Maverick release God of Love sucks hard enough for me to vacuum my floors, this could be incredibly bad.
Just don’t be expecting to see any ex-Big Boys in the audience. Deftones open.
– Tim Stegall
FOETUS, HALCION, ULTRA BIDET
Back Room, Friday 14
With the release of Gash, his major-label debut on Columbia, NYC’s
Foetus, aka Clint Ruin, aka Jim Thirwell brings his gritty, sick,
and thoroughly outlandish industrial filth-wave back to town. Before NIN,
Ministry, Godflesh, and yes, even Auschwitz 45, there was this legendary East
Village miscreant, fiddling with Rolands and spitting out some of the most
vitriolic, sample-laden creepiness yet committed to CD. Genuinely disturbing in
ways Al J. can only dream of. The soothing PJ Harvey-meets-Prong melodies of
Halcion support, and Ultra Bidet open what will undoubtedly be a very nasty
show. – Marc Savlov
K. McCARTY, CHOCOLATE USA
Electric Lounge, Saturday 15
Rockin’ drama meets dramatic rock. For those whose rock & roll Eucharist
comes in the wafer of theatre, this bill is positively sacrosanct. Kicking off
the evening is Salvage Vanguard’s punk-rock play Kid Carnivore, which
premieres here in preparation of its West Coast tour. K. McCarty, fresh off her
own tour, follows with her mighty expressive combo. New Austinites Chocolate
USA caused quite a buzz in their previous Tampa, Florida, home with their lo-fi
eclecticism. Let’s see what they do in their new digs. –
Kate X Messer
MULESKINNERS
Flipnotics, Saturday 15
It’s a busy week for percussionist Kristy Knight – she comes back to town for
multiple Horsies appearances, which also necessitates a Muleskinners reunion.
This funky old-time band runs a gamut of hillbilly, jug band, bluegrass, and
kazoo music – probably the sort of thing R. Crumb would love. A nice
alternative for Bad Livers fans weary of overflow crowds. Look for the
‘Skinners at the Hole in the Wall Wednesday 19, and at the Continental Thursday
20, as well. – Lee Nichols
DRUGSTORE
Electric Lounge, Monday 17
Last time we gambled with a Monday roadshow at the Electric Lounge we got the
Apples: rotten to the core. This time, we expect the rewards to be much sweeter
with goodies from Drugstore, a London-based trio (wo)manned by Brazilian-born
Isabel Monteiro, who’s got the Cowboy Junkies/Mazzy Star ambient swirl down pat
on the band’s evocative London/Go Disc! debut. Like Sleeper, they come from a
long ways away, but for you, it’s only a short drive and a couple of bucks.
Cotton Mather, Wheel, and Acumen all support.
BILLY WHITE TRIO
Steamboat, Tuesday 18
Having taken a touring break, guitarist Billy White is back at the house that
Strat built, and will be holding back the floodwaters from that broken levee
with titanic guitar sounds that heave-ho without the metal clich�s, and
imbue their blues with the grungy drone-tones of Now. Austin’s most underrated
guitarist? Only one way to find out – besides his DMZ EP
Sistershootingstar, that is.
ASYLUM ST. SPANKERS
Austin Outhouse, Wednesday 19
The giant-lunged Guy Forsyth and Christina Mars lead a band that’s old time
blues with a touch of jazz, a sprinkle of gospel, and a dash of vaudeville –
all with no demon electricity. Audience participation is required. This regular
Wednesday gig is up with the Outhouse’s lease. – Al Kaufman
PETER MURPHY, JEWEL
Liberty Lunch, Thursday 20
No matter how many solo albums Peter Murphy releases, he’ll always be the
goth
dreamer behind Bauhaus and Dalis Car, and thus able to draw crowds with a
single eyeliner pen and mood lighting. Or has that crowd groan-up and given way
to Mazzy Starettes? That, at least, would explain why his recent Cascade is less shrouded in gossamer than most of his previous solo efforts.
Twenty-year-old Alaskan folk singer Jewel will cut through the crap with her
frank confessions and accusations, so get there early.
TRUCKSTOP LOVE, CROWN HEIGHTS
Emo’s, Thursday 20
One listen is all it takes to figure out that the Manhattan this trio hails
from is in Kansas not New York. What’s that supposed to mean? Only that
their straightforward garage rock is tempered by a laconic, Midwestern musical
drawl that recalls Hank Williams as well as H�sker D�. Wait, that’s
the Replacements. Oh, nevermind. Their new How I Spent My Summer
Vacation is somewhat of a disappointment in the face of their solid little
’93 EP, and their stand-out contribution to last year’s Tom Petty tribute, but
this is still my favorite sleeper since Naked Soul. Crown Heights (from the
other Manhattan) and Enduro support. ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Joe Ely, Terry Allen, Austin Music Hall
Saturday: Bad Livers, Emo’s
Sunday: King Valentine, Cedar St.
Monday: Don Walser, Babes
Tuesday: Bruce Robison, Hole in the Wall
Wednesday: Don McCalister, Jr., Filling Station
Thursday: Mike Hall, Cactus Cafe; T.D. Bell & the Blues
Specialist, Shady Grove
This article appears in July 14 • 1995 and July 14 • 1995 (Cover).