Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
http://www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com
The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Concert Photos
Friday, June 15th, 2007
La Zona Rosa (Austin, Texas)
Also: Sarabeth Tucek,The Cobbs

After days of rain left a summertime Austin hot and sticky, it was a refreshing break to partake in the air conditioning of Austin's La Zona Rosa on Friday. I had gotten approved to shoot the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on short notice and had been racing around all day trying to tie up loose ends to make the set. By the time I made it down to La Zona Rosa, I was hot and a little exasperated with the rush hour traffic, but ready for a good band and a good night of clubbing. I was expecting to see at least Jay West shooting for Insight at the show but I knew Moondog would be covering Nora Jones at the Backyard for the Chronicle and wouldn't be there. I had not seen BRMC before but had heard lots of good things about them and had been looking forward to the show all week.

The Flatlanders at John McCall's - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

The Flatlanders
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
http://www.TheFlatlanders.com
The Flatlanders Concert Photos
Saturday , June 9th, 2007
John McCall's House (Austin, Texas)

Back when I was much much younger if someone said, "There's a party at so-and-so's house and they have a band," you immediately knew that whoever was giving the party's parents were out of town, the liquor cabinet would be emptied in the first thirty minutes, the band was going to be terrible (unless it was Watchtower), and if the cops showed up everybody was supposed to jump the fence and cut out through the neighbors back yard.

Now that I'm an adult, my orthopedist requests that I refrain from the occasional fence jump, and my insurance agent concurs. Luckily, due to my sister being the plugged-in supermodel, my party invites of late have been a bit more upscale in nature. A couple of weekends ago, it was my pleasure to receive an invite to attend John McCall's birthday party. John and I share many common traits, aside from the fact that we both never seem to age beyond 39: John is a successful entrepreneur, has a love of Austin music stretching back to the days of the dillo, we sat next to each other at my sister's wedding rehearsal dinner, and we are both friends with Kinky Friedman. Ok, so John is a much more successful an entrepreneur than I am, but what's six or seven zeroes on your net income between friends?

When John has a party, though, it's almost the complete opposite of my high school experiences. A catered event, with sheriff's deputies providing security and keeping an eye on John's extensive and expensive collection of original artwork and memorabilia, and John's idea of a "party band" -- a private acoustic performance by Lubbock, Texas' legendary Flatlanders. Good food, good music, good company; the only thing missing would be Kinky Friedman, and that was only because a prior speaking engagement kept him away.

Jesse Sublett at Flipnotics - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

Jesse Sublett
Hometown: Austin, Texas
http://jessesublett.com
Jesse Sublett Concert Photos
Friday , June 8th, 2007
Flipnotics(Austin, Texas)

Flipnotics, the uber hip hippie coffee kahvehane in the heart of south Austin's artist-poet district along Barton Springs, seems to be turning into something of a second home for Jesse Sublett. Once again they hosted another of his acoustic performances last night, and despite the stifling 100 degree heat outside, and performing in a small un-airconditioned room to a packed audience of about 35, he sounded great and everyone there seemed to enjoy themselves, despite being drenched in sweat.

Cris Kirkwood of The Meat Puppets - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

The Meat Puppets
Hometown: Austin, Texas
http://www.themeatpuppets.com
Meat Puppets Concert Photos
Friday , June 1st, 2007
Republic of Texas Bike Rally(Austin, Texas)
Also: Podunk, Butcherwhite

With a stiff wind blowing from the east and channeled down 6th Street like a great air conditioner sweeping the heat of the day away, I arrived at the main stage for the downtown portion of the Republic of Texas Bike Rally. It was a 10 block walk from where I had parked, and I was hot and tired after lugging 70 pounds of camera gear and wheedling through the thousands of motorcycles parked between my truck and the stage, hoping desperately not to clip one and send a stack of bikes over like some nightmarish domino set.

On arriving, it became obvious that there was no green room, no real backstage, and no way for me to do a video interview with Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets with the roar of motorcycles competing aggressively with the sounds of the bands playing. I would have to be satisfied with just filming the concert instead. I had already cleared filming the show with Curt earlier and was able to get the assistance of some helpful audience members to get a good, bump free, spot to set up our video camera.