Backyard, Saturday 28
Saturday night in Texas and Monte Warden is playing under the… oak… at…
the Backyar -. Hold it. This looks familiar. Stop tape. !@#$*@!!*
We ran the same *&$#%@!! thing last week. Get me the producer… Okay,
rolling, take two: And action… Saturday night in Austin and Monte
Warden is playing under the big ol’ oak at the Backyard. Monte’s the shit. If
he’s not famous yet, wait’ll you see his pretty mug on TNN, or is that VH-1?
Hard to tell which one, with those pop smarts and country twang. Then
again, the way Toni Price did his “Just to Hear Your Voice,” maybe we should be
looking for Willie or Bonnie to do one of his songs, and make him a rich man.
And if you personally ain’t rich, cash in on the drive-in special by paying $20
for per carload (lots of Suburbans in Texas), or flashing Monte’s newHere I
Am and paying $10.71 (KGSR, get it?). Michael Fracasso and Kelly Willis
kick off the evening.
KYUSS, MESCH, DMA
Back Room, Friday 28
It doesn’t get much more straightforward than Kyuss, a band that has
consistently improved over the course of three records, which all sport a
downright hypnotic, ugly, and detuned Sabbath groove. And although their
latest, And the Circus Leaves Town, displays band’s cleanest overall
production yet, the brand new rhythm section is exceptionally murky, making it
a good bet that their live show ought not be that different from a hip-hop jeep
ride. – Andy Langer
TEISCO DEL REY TRIO, EARTHPIG
Flipnotics, Friday 28
Recent stories on guitarist Evan Johns serve as a reminder than Austin
axe-slingers aren’t just Strat-wielding hair gods. Case in point is longtime
local favorite and national surf guru Teisco del Rey, who hasn’t been playing
out much lately. Here’s your chance to a see a true guitar innovator, and just
say no to hairy blues. Earthpig is no slouch himself when it comes to the
guitar. Good double bill.
SANTIAGO JIMENEZ
Jovita’s, Saturday 29
Santiago Jimenez plays border music that leaves you wondering what decade it
is. Chief’s command of all things conjunto – from redovas to
rancheras and chottises to corridos – recalls early
Tex-Mex/European styles that one would have found in boiling border towns in
the Thirties. Yet his new album, Musica de Tiempos Pasados, del Presente, y
Futuro makes it clear he’s taking all these styles and more into the next
century. Come along for the ride at his MusicMania in-store on Saturday (3pm),
and later that night at Jovita’s.
WILL TAYLOR & MARYANN PRICE
Waterloo Ice House 6th, Saturday 29
Swing music is for lovers, dancers, and even children. Jazz is for people who
aren’t afraid to actually listen and absorb their music. Cole Porter is for
anyone who ever had a heart. Well, that’s just about everyone, so violist Will
Taylor and vocalist Maryann Price can expect a full house.
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH, DON DIXON
South Park Meadows, Sunday 30
Who’dda thunk it. Five million records sold and counting. Cover of Rolling
Stone, and all over the radio dial. You’d think people had never heard
R&B filtered through pop music. Maybe the 10K people who’ve already bought
tickets to this show haven’t? Two hundred acres out at South Park and plenty of
tickets left. “Hey Hey, What Can I Do?”
RAGGAMASSIVE
Flamingo Cantina, Wednesday 2
Featuring members of the Killer Bees, One Destiny, and Dah-Veed, Raggamassive
is one of the better riddem-riding rasta bands in town. And with the open-air
Flamingo being the capitol of Austin reggae, the hot, sweaty, bump ‘n’ grind
atmosphere of a Raggamassive show there makes aerobics and Stairmasters
obsolete.
THE SWANS, REX
Electric Lounge, Thursday 3
From their inception in 1982, the Swans have made a practice of continuously
reinventing themselves, pushing and mixing the basic elements of sound into an
amorphous state. Longtime collaborators M. Gira and Jarboe have a prolific
output of material, ranging from industrial skullfuck of old to the more
electro-acoustic, textural sound of today, where their vocals intermingle to
provide the light and dark needed for the full development of each piece.
Somber and elegant with a ray of sunshine peering through the clouds, their
live show will hopefully communicate a full spectrum of sound to the observer.
Rex open with their cough-syrup pop drone. – Kelly M. Petrash
MICHAEL ELWOOD & BETH GALIGER
Cactus Cafe, Thursday 3
The pairing of Michael Elwood and Beth Galiger and DejaDisc is such a natural
one, that one forgets the duo’s previous two releases were not on the small but
stellar San Marcos label. Rolling Valentine, like Scarecrow’s
Prayer and Hemlock Smile before, finds the Austin pair again doing
what they do best: fortifying their literate, modern folk with Elwood’s
shimmering tenor, and Galiger’s flute, and sweet backing vocals. Come help
these two celebrate a union that seems long overdue.
BAILTER SPACE, POLIO
Emo’s, Thursday 3
Until recently, the chances of catching Bailter Space performing in Texas was
about as likely as the Stones calling it a day. However, time marches one, and
so do the Stones, and Bailter Space’s signing to Matador Records has influenced
the three-piece into trading New Zealand for New York, and new audiences.
Touring behind their second full-length release Wammo, one can expect
them to turn any given venue into a sonic communications center filled with the
hum of big, pre-microchip machines that will fill your ears to the point where
you find yourself being sweet-talked into the void. Polio and Andromeda Strain
support.
– Kelly M. Petrash ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Sons of Hercules, Blind Willie’s Johnson, Altamont ’69, Hole in the Wall; Sixteen Deluxe, Crown Heights, Andromeda Strain, Emo’s
Saturday: Better Than Ezra, Menthol, Liberty Lunch
Sunday: 8 1/2 Souvenirs, Gingerman Pub
Monday: Don Walser, Babes
Tuesday: Jon Blondell, Cedar Street
Wednesday: Naughty Ones, Palmeras
Thursday: Tomas Ramirez, Elephant Room
This article appears in July 28 • 1995 and July 28 • 1995 (Cover).