Thursday, January 11. 2007
This little gem of alternative rock came out last October, just when I was in the middle of moving, and I only sat down to listen to it the other day. Too bad, because its angsty folky geeky jangly dissonant vibe would have been the perfect soundtrack to my hellish move.
Some people find Nathan Willet's voice annoying, others worship it. It's perfect for songs such as "Hang Me Up to Dry" or "We Used to Vacation," perhaps more on the annoying side of the spectrum on cuts like "God, Make Up Your Mind," sung in his falsetto. Or maybe you'll love his falsetto.
I don't know if they're really doing anything new here, and I'm kind of easy for bands that give me the jangling chiming guitar sound, but their music is clever and fun.
"Hang Me Up to Dry" is the free download of the week on iTunes if you want to check it out for free.
Wednesday, January 10. 2007
Coming up on their 25th anniversary with a collection of records behind them any band would be proud of ,Vader still continues to release nothing but top notch death metal perfected with their signaturistic song writing.
There are many reasons to support this band. Live, they are just about perfect, and their sound is always audible. The songs are memorable and follow the tried and true formula this band has stuck with since the beginning. They do not ignore their past, and include songs from many older releases in their set list, which is something fans, including me, really appreciate. Many bands push newer songs from the most recent release, which is understandable, but fans always want to hear the classics. Vader is the type of band that delivers them with a fresh ferocity that makes their music timeless.
Continue reading "Vader-Impressions In Blood"
Tuesday, January 9. 2007
Linea 77 at SXSW 2006 photo by staff photographer jeff barringer |
No, we aren't giving away tickets, but the SXSW festival organizers have made their annual call for volunteers. Every year the SXSW show employs approximately 1200 volunteers to handle a bewildering variety of tasks. SXSW is looking for people to help put on Austin's biggest entertainment event, and is looking for volunteers willing to work on either the conference crews or music production crews.
Volunteers must work either a minimum of 30 hours on a conference crew or 4 nights on a music crew. People interested in helping may volunteer to work on either crew, but not both. For more information on how you can be a part of this year's SXSW event in Austin, or to submit an application online, visit the SXSW website at http://2007.sxsw.com/volunteer/
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news, rumors, and buzz compiled from around the web by the club.kingsnake staff
Monday, January 8. 2007
This years inductees include Van Halen, The Ronettes, R.E.M., Patti Smith, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The induction ceremony will be at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on March 12, 2007. The ceremony will also honor the late Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, and one of the founders of the museum.
This years finalists who did not make the cut included The Stooges, Chic, The Dave Clark Five, and Joe Tex. The list of finalists was released in October of last year and the inductees were selected by 600 music industry professionals. Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record.
Still unknown - which of Van Halen's lead vocalists will attend. Currently the Vegas money is on Dave. R.E.M. will also have to re-unite if they plan on performing, though they are currently working on a new album together and played a re-union show last year.
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news, rumors, and buzz compiled from around the web by the club.kingsnake staff
I just got back from New York, and if there's one trend I picked up on in the clubs, it's that the 80s have made a massive resurgence on the dance floor.
Between the remixes and remakes of 80s songs, and just plain old playing 80s hits - I swear to you, I heard "Billie Jean" FIVE TIMES - it was completely frightening.
They say New York is the city that never sleeps, and that's both true and apparently contagious, since I got roughly four hours of sleep over the course of four days. It's been a long time since I got home from a night out, changed, and went out dancing.
The hotel I stayed in had a DJ.
Please consider this my application to renew my lapsed membership in the "I Love New York" club. Thanks.
Sunday, January 7. 2007
Tom Araya of Slayer at Freeman Coliseum in 2006 photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer | Slayer will be hitting the road with a North American tour that starts in Tucson on January 24 and ends on February 24 in Ft. Lauderdale, with Metal Blade artists Unearth opening.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are also touring, starting in Dallas on January 12 and ending back in Texas in Houston on March 9th. Rumors that they will make a "surprise" appearance at Austin's SXSW for a secret show have not been confirmed at this time, though the next leg of the tour begins in Osaka Japan and doesn't start until March 19th, after SXSW has ended, leading to speculation.
Confirmed for SXSW so far, however, is rocker Pete Townsend who will be performing and is a keynote speaker, also confirmed to perform so far is Iggy Pop & The Stooges. The annual " Morrisey is coming" rumor is also afloat but details of the remaining 1498 acts has yet to be released. We will bring you more SXSW 07 news as the showcase list starts to gel.
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails will launch a 40 date European tour February 10 in Lisbon, Portugal, and ending April 10 in Helsinki, Finland, with multiple dates in some cities. No U.S.tour dates have been announced as yet.
Finally Lamb of God is headlining a North American tour starting in Dallas on February 16 swinging all the way up into Canada before ending in Cincinnati on April 5th. They will then head down under for 5 dates in Australia ending on May 1st.
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news, rumors, and buzz compiled from around the web by the club.kingsnake staff
Friday, January 5. 2007
Lower Class Brats at Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Geez, this one is going to be hard!
I saw so many good bands and performers picking 10 sets from among the hundreds I have seen this year will not be easy.
I went to SXSW, ACL Fest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, plus dozens and dozens of other shows, usually with multiple bands. I saw punk shows, emo shows, 14 flavors of metal shows, acoustic sets, electro-dance, brit-pop, reggae, and on and on. I also visited many of Austin's major and minor venues from the legendary such as Antone's to the occasional like The Jackalope and The Ritz.
Picking my list from 2007 will probably be even harder
1. James Brown at Stubb's - What can I say about the legend?
2. The Zico Chain at SXSW - I still keep coming back to the Zico Chain. Hope they come back for SXSW again. If they do I will be there and so will the ghost of Kurt Cobain.
3. Drums and Tuba at Austin Music Hall - These guys are so good it's spooky. Dark, moody, Tool with a Fluegelhorn.
4. Dropping Daylight at La Zona Rosa - Could teach Billy Joel what a piano is really used for.
5. Linea 77 at SXSW - These guys prove that Italy knows how to rock.
6. Deadboy and the Elephantmen at Emo's - Stripped, raw, basic.
7. Broken Teeth at Red Eyed Fly - McMaster and crew still have it and know how to work the crowd.
8. Buckethead at La Zona Rosa - I am still picking the feathers out of my camera bag.
9. Lower Class Brats at Fun Fun Fun Fest - These guys alone were worth the price of admission.
10. Les Claypool and His Fancy Band - I couldn't decide between this and Primus but I think Gabby La La and her sitar make the difference.
So many others deserve mention like Ghostland Observatory, Slayer, Teabag, Mower, Peaches, Trish Murphy, and so many more. Austin just has so so much great live music, both home grown and touring, I can't hope to cover it all by myself, but I am willing to die or go deaf trying.
Tuesday, January 2. 2007
Tie-breaking photo contest judge Alice Cooper photo by clint gilders - staff photographer |
It came down to three.
Three judges, three photographers, and three photographs. Each judge chose, out of the 500+ pictures in the contest, ten photos. There was a total of 27 finalist photos, and of those, only three were selected by more than one judge.
Luckily Alice Cooper was willing to step in settle the issue. Our choice to cast the tie-breaking vote is no stranger to being viewed through the camera's eye. Having performed onstage since the 60s, he has been photographed thousands of times, in fact appearing in at least one contest entry, and the subject of a concert photo session with our own Clint Gilders. We sent him the three photos and HE made the final selection.
The winner of the 2006 club kingsnake concert photo contest is.....
(You would think I could find a drummer when I need one)
(Winners announced below the jump!)
Continue reading "News: Deadlock BROKEN - Photo Contest Winners Announced"
Photo fans anxious to hear about club.kingsnake's concert photo contest results will have to remain anxious a bit longer it seems as the judges are hopelessly deadlocked between 3 photos/photographers. While we considered such unorthodox tie breaking methodology as jello wrestling, hot dog eating contests, and naked wind sprints to resolve our dilemma, I am afraid we will have to resort to something a little more mundane to resolve the tie and we have asked a celebrity judge to step in and make the final selections.
While we are waiting on the results, those of you interested in debating the merits and issues of the 2006 contest and wanting to put your 2 cents in on how the 2007 contest is run before it starts may do so by posting to our new Music Photography message board
I want to thank everyone participating in this years contest, its been a lot of fun. The 30 finalist pictures selected by the judges were tough decisions to make because there were so many good photos. Eight photographers from around the world made that list of 30, and I don't envy our tie-breaking judge having to make his decision. This year, once we announce the contest at SXSW in March, I expect it will become infinitely harder.
Stay tuned concert fans for the results as soon as they are known, because we really are having a "photo finish" as the horses cross the line....
Primus
Drums and Tuba
The Rave Ballroom, Milwaukee WI
November 18, 2006
Les Claypool always seems to find an opening act that is unique. This time it was Drums and Tuba, a trio consisting of Brian Wolf on tuba, Neal McKeeby on guitar, and Tony Nazero on drums and lead vocals. I didn’t know what to expect from them, but after the first minute of hearing them I was pumped. The sound reminded me of the Screaming Trees combined with the guitar of Rage Against the Machine, all mixed in with the deep, meaty sound from the tuba. What a great sound.
This is my second time seeing Primus this year. As always The Rave seems to pack 'em in, the floor was nuts to butts by the time Primus was ready to take the stage. The lights came down and the chant started “ PRIMUS SUCKS.� As with all general admission shows, as soon as the lights come up, the crowd surges forward into the barricade. Less than a minute into “Here Come the Bastards,� the show came to a halt, a young kid was lifted over the barricade, and security enforced). Les stopped the show and had security bring the kid back to him. Les then brought the kid on stage and announced he would be watching the rest of the show from the side of the stage. Les Claypool loves the little people. Even the kids!
Primus is out on tour to support their latest release They All Can’t Be Zingers, a greatest hits CD of their work from Frizzle Fry up to Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People, as well as their new DVD Blame it on the Fish, an Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour de Fromage. The show was amazing. Les Claypool’s style of bass playing is like no other. They started out with “Here Come The Bastards� and “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweakers.� Les brought out his “Whamola,� a stand up electric bass, and went into “Seas Of Cheese.� Then Larry brought out the banjo, and they played “De Anza Jig,� which I don’t think I’ve ever seen done live. The show continued with a great mix of songs like “Frizzle Fry,� “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver,� “Southbound Pachyderm,� and “Mr. Krinkle.�
And yes Primus did suck.
Monday, January 1. 2007
Jesse Sublett
Hometown: Austin, Tx.
http://www.jessesublett.com
Tuesday, December 29, 2006
Flipnotics Coffee House (Austin, Texas)
Let me start this off talking about Flipnotics.
Squeezed into a crook on a bluff on Barton Springs Road, across the river from and just South of Austin's entertainment district, Flipnotics Coffee House is the hip South Austin hangout for artists, musicians, and students wanting to grab a hot cuppa.
Located upstairs over the Flipnotics clothing store, the coffee shop has a small room tucked all the way in the back, smaller than my first apartment, that serves as one of Austin's most intimate music venues. A great room for one-on-one sets, the venue only holds about 30 people, and it's perfect for an artist wanting to showcase new material before moving on to larger audiences.
That was both the setting and the premise for Jesse Sublett's solo acoustic performance on a rainy night last week. Invited by Jesse, I arrived just in time to get my video camera out and set up. Jesse wanted to try out some of his new songs, and play a few old ones as well.
Sublett, former frontman for Austin's locally legendary Skunks punk band of the 70s/early 80s, has of late been doing a lot of writing, and needed a small audience to work out the kinks on a few songs. That said, it was understandable that some of the polishing was still going on and dropping a line or two, or fumbling the fingering once in a while was to be expected.
Starting out for the first songs on an acoustic guitar, he launched into "The Ballad of Jean Harris," "That Love Thing," and "Razor Blade Man." I have always though that Jesse's vocals sounded like a cross between David Byrne, Lou Reed and Bryan Ferry, and in an acoustic solo environment, those similarities are magnified. He also did "Her Heart Belongs To Crime," and one of my new favorites, "Who Put The Sting On The Honey Bee."
Switching to an enormous stand up double bass that barely cleared the ceiling, Jesse covered an old Skunks tune, "Earthquake Shake," and then a modified version of the old blues/jazz standard "St. James Infirmary."
Moving back to guitar, he started to close out with a new song, "One Murder Ballad (You'll Never Hear on Austin City Limits)," a scathing tune about growing up punk in small town Texas, that, although not autobiographical, certainly draws on his own personal experiences growing up locally in the 70s. The songs "S-O-L" and "Pissing in the Wind" ended the set after roughly an hour.
It's good to see Jesse out and about in Austin's music scene again.
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