Cactus Cafe, Tuesday 8
The last time Charlie Hunter brought his guitar/sax/drums trio to Austin it
was for a SXSW that some jazz fans are still talking about two years later.
Since then, this San Francisco-based band has signed with prestigious Blue Note
Records, and their recent debut, Bing, Bing, Bing!, has met with
across-the-board critical acclaim. Their decidedly left-of-center,
groove-oriented sound is a refreshing departure from the young, suit ‘n’ tie
neo-classicists who currently rule the jazz roost. I’m anxious to hear this
band in the intimate space of the Cactus. – Jay Trachtenberg
TODD RUNDGREN
Liberty Lunch, Friday 4
So I finally plunk down two grand for a computer complete with CD-Rom and
microwave, only to sit down with my Todd Rundgren Individualist
interactive CD and not know how to work anything. Fortunately, all I have to do
is stand at Liberty Lunch and let Todd do something I understand: sing and play
music from a 20-year backlog of pop brilliance.
HERITAGE FEST
Sixth Street, Friday 4 – Sunday 6
With names like Todd Snider, Little Sister (Friday), Robert Cray, Storyville
(Saturday), Chris Duarte and George Thorogood (Sunday), the 2nd Annual Sixth
Street Music & Heritage Celebration will see even more people than the many
thousands who flooded Sixth Street last year to shop, eat, and boogie. Look for
a complete list of acts and prices in “Dancing About Architecture.” The music
keeps coming.
LIVE, B.A.D., BUFFALO TOM
South Park Meadows, Saturday 5
York, Pennsylvania’s Live began playing music together in high school in
order
to forget about life in an isolated, industrial town. Many years, and many
shows later, Throwing Copper smelted that away with its angry, anthemic,
blue-collar rock and sales of 3 million records. Headline pastures they will.
Having replaced Veruca Salt, Mick Jones makes a very welcome swing through with
Big Audio Dynamite, whose new one, F-Punk, indicates this band is not
dead, and neither is the ex-Clash guitarist’s vision of sampled disco-punk.
Opening are Buffalo Tom, who still aspire to intellectual garage rock a
la Mould, Kirkwood, and Westerberg – check the new Sleepy Eyed.
FUCK EMOS, MOUNT SHASTA, SPACE STREAKINGS
Emo’s, Saturday 5
Since every other show sportin’ more than a couple of bands now has a name, I
dub this Noise Fest. Headlining are the Fuck Emos, who push their designer drug
of the afflicted (downers, of course) in heavy doses of mind-bending
lumber-groove. Supporting are a couple of bands from Chicago’s Skin Graft
label: The windy city’s Mount Shasta have been through before with their
screaming and raved-up guitars, while Space Streakings are four “totally-wired”
crazies from Japan, who subvert cartoon mania into high-tech chaos.
MOJO NIXON
Continental Club, Saturday 5
The wild man returns. Yup, it’s Mojo’s annual “Booze Suckin’ Sin Binge”
residency in which he plays Austin on four consecutive Saturdays (this show,
Steamboat on 8/12, Antone’s on 8/19, and back to the Continental on the 26th).
Hollerin’, twangin’, roots twistin,’ and all-around musical mayhem will be had.
KIRK WHALUM
First Baptist Church, Sunday 6
Quiet-storm tenorman Kirk Whalum, in town for Aqua Fest, recalls his long
Sixth Street residency by playing a Sunday Service (11am) at this house of god,
and later that same night (7-9pm) out front of this church, which is located at
901 Trinity.
DANIELBULL
Headliners East, Sunday 6
In a note to the Chronicle, Danielbull describes his act as “kind of
like Hamell on Trial with hair and cancer.” Yes, Danielbull suffers from and
sings about cancer, but his quirky acoustic songs are more insightfully witty
than depressing, and more Warren Zevon or Lies-era Guns ‘n’ Roses than
Hamell on Trial. Cancer, Lust, Vive, Folly is Danielbull’s cassette
title and lyrical premise – one that comes off as strangely life-affirming for
both artist and crowd alike. – Andy Langer
LUMINARIOS, CARY BOWMAN
Hole in the Wall, Monday 7
Prior to being known as the brother of a dead Gin Blossom, guitarist Rich
Hopkins was tearing it up with Arizona’s Sidewinders (later the Sand Rubies).
The Luminarios are his new project, and sure to be a good hard-hitting Hole
band. Ex-Coffee Sergeant Cary Bowman opens with an acoustic set.
LOUNGEAPALOOZA
Electric Lounge, Tuesday 8
Lollapalooza performers have the night off in Austin to roam the streets and
the smart money bets on stars galore orbiting the Electric Lounge Tuesday
night. Entertainment will be provided by the Shangri-La’s of punk, the Muffs.
Now stripped of their rhythm guitarist to reveal a three-piece, they can still
raise a mighty ruckus with a growl and buzz that will keep your ears ringing
all the way home. Other performers include Bay Area’s Queers, Canadian trio
Cub, Steve Shelley’s second stage project Blonde Redhead, and Austin’s bad girl
garage threesome Pork opens the show. Bring your autograph book.– Kelly Petrash
JAMES MCMURTRY
Saxon Pub, Thursday 10
This benefit for the Open Door Pre-school (central) finds spinner of tales
James McMurtry doing an acoustic set. His first local appearance since the
release of his wonderful new Where’d You Hide the Body? Olin Murrell
opens. $10 cover. ALSO PLAYING
Friday: Loose Diamonds, Continental Club
Saturday: Sebastian Whittaker, Symphony Square
Sunday: Kevin Salem, Grover, Gourds, Electric Lounge
Monday: Camel Lips (L7!!), Emo’s
Tuesday: Breedlove, Meg Hentges, Steamboat
Wednesday Abra Moore, Cactus Cafe
Thursday: Laurie Freelove, Chicago House
This article appears in August 4 • 1995 and August 4 • 1995 (Cover).