Backyard, Saturday 22
Saturday night in Texas and Monte Warden is playing under the oak at the
Backyard. He’s not Lyle Lovett yet, but locals still wait for that day, and
until then we’re satisfied to do that drive-in thang out in Bee Caves. One
carload of kids and kinfolk is $20, and if you’ve got Monte’s new Watermelon
releaseHere I Am it’s only $10. You dance, I’ll just have a beer.
Michael Fracasso & Kelly Willis support.
WANNABES, CHER U.K.
Hole in the Wall, Friday 21
Expect keg rock anywhere the Wannabes can demolish a small bar. When egged on
by a Kansas City trio like Cher U.K. – same basic garage layout as the
Wannabes, only coed – that can only make it worse. With a second K.C. band,
Pamper the Madman, tapping the evening’s activities, you’re advised to bring
light cottons to soak the beer and sweat.
ARTIFACTS, KAOTIX, SHABAZZ 3
Catfish Station, Friday 21
With lyrics that blow the dust off of hip-hop’s archives to reveal the
forgotten artifacts of the culture, like B-boying (breakdancing) and graffiti
writing, Artifacts’ debut Between a Rock and a Hard Place was the flavor
up and down the East Coast for most of last year, and for good reason. Jams
like the aerosol-inspired “Wrong Side of the Tracks” and “Flexi Wit’ da
Tech(nique)” have just the right chopped-beat flavor that gives true heads
whiplash. It’s ’95 now and Tame One and El the Sensai are armed with more tour
experience and even more beats. Houston’s own masters of ripping shit, the
Kaotix, will keep the flavor tight along with Dallas’ smooth Shabazz 3, and
Austin’s very own Tee Double. – Ben Plimpton
SNFU/EXTREME NOISE TERROR
Eco Action Warehouse, Friday 21/Saturday 22
Endangered Species Productions tells me this outdoor, 500-or-so-person “venue”
is South on Congress, past Ben White ’til you see the signs that say
“Industrial,” and then toward the warehouses. I suppose this is the only way to
see one of Epitaph’s (and Canada’s) premiere punkcore bands on Friday, SNFU-
with Bouncing Souls and HSL – and Earache’s death-metal speed freaks Extreme
Noise Terror on Saturday with Grief, Soilent Green, Bound ‘n’ Gagged, and
Default. Both nights are all ages. Time to check out the new place.
TRIPPING DAISY
Liberty Lunch, Saturday 22
When Dallas’ Tripping Daisy recorded Bill, their Island debut, they’d
been together only eight months, which explains why their lava projection
backdrop had become a necessity to their live show; it served to distract
attention away a band who’s songs and stage presence were little more than
quick-fix Nirvana. Three years later, the band’s second album blows up with
nasally pop every bit as explosive as the album’s title, i am an ELASTIC
FIRECRACKER. And as their first back dropless Liberty Lunch show indicated
in April, Daisy’s now got the songs and swagger to entertain gimmick-free.– Andy Langer
HUMPERS
Emo’s, Saturday 22
Punk rock isn’t a flag that needs waving, and my feeling is that the Humpers
don’t give a shit anyway. They just want to uncross your arms, and bring a
smile to your stoned face with their atomic live show. Woggles, J.C. Superfly,
and Phantom Creeps support on this all-ages bill.
BUTCH HANCOCK
Electric Lounge, Sunday 23
If Walser, Hancock, and Cash can play Emo’s, the least Butch the Bard can do
is play the Electric Lounge, and the operative word here is “electric,” as
Hoboken’s Health & Happiness Show open and then support Hancock with none
other than Richard Lloyd tearing it up on guitar. This oughta be good.
THE SURFING BRIDES
Steamboat, Sunday 23
Three English blokes and one Austinite (drummer Aimee Walden). That’s The
Surfing Brides, and they’re giving their catch-all pop a breather here in
Austin after finishing a European tour with Simple Minds (Kerr’s still got a
career there, remember). Their IRS debut Sparkys Dinner hints at a live
edge that should do nicely at the ‘Boat, and later that same night at Hole in
the Wall.
BLUE JAM, BREEDLOVE
Antone’s, Monday 24
Whoa. Who’s the skinny guy with the goatee and new haircut sneaking in the
back door during Antone’s Anniversary? Why, I do believe it’s Derek O’Brien.
Where’s the guitar, brother? On, Monday nights with the regular blues crew of
Fucher, Osborne, and Moeller? Got it. Good to have you back, Derek. Now play
the blues. Breedlove opens.
MONSTER MAGNET, COC
Back Room, Tuesday 25
A coming-of-age show at the Back Room? In 1992, before all four of Austin’s
rock stations began dreaming up ways to play Monster Magnet’s “Negasonic
Teenage Warhead” into the ground, MM nearly upstaged Soundgarden and Pearl Jam
at the City Coliseum. Back then, they got pretty far on gloom and riffs. Now,
they’ve got a much stronger grasp on catchy hooks and dark melodies, as evident
at this year’s SXSW showcase. And although touring mainstays Corrosion of
Conformity have floated of late on their reputations as punk-metal innovators,
their new Deliverance finally sports a hook-based song worth
remembering, “Clean My Wounds.” Season to Risk, with its post-hardcore, opens. – Andy Langer
TAD, CLUTCH, DOG EAT DOG
Back Room, Thursday 27
Nice to see Mr. Grunge, producer Jack Endino, back at work felling
Northwestern timber with the likes of titanic, chainsawing Tad Doyle. The
Seattle trio’s new Infrared Riding Hood has the trademark Endino rawness
scared across layers and layers Tad’s lumbering riffs and horse, angry
bewailing. Children of the pit, awake. Clutch, with their equally nasty
riffage, is a well-chosen accomplice for this ax-murder scenario. NJ’s Dog Eat
Dog opens. ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Sponge, Letters to Cleo, Liberty Lunch
Saturday: Omar & the Howlers, Symphony Square
Sunday: Emily Kaitz, Chicago House
Monday: Pato Banton, Liberty Lunch
Tuesday: Tony Campise, Elephant Room
Wednesday: X-Cops (GWAR), Brutal Juice, Back Room
Thursday: Teddy & the Tall-Tops, Austin Outhouse
This article appears in July 21 • 1995 and July 21 • 1995 (Cover).