Finally..... It's finally here. After expected release dates in August 2007, and then September and November Fortress is set for release on Jan 29, 2008. I promise.
How exactly does one follow-up something as genre defining/defying as 2006's Kezia?
From the first dissonant bleats of "Bloodmeat" you know PTH has not strayed far from what made their debut album a masterpiece. Songs shoehorned together by an ADHD sufferer performed by idiot savants with mind numbing musical prowess. Over all the mayhem, potty mouthed Rody Walker manages to sing/howl/growl surprisingly smart lyrics.
What they have done is increase the production values, pen even smarter lyrics, and Rody's vocals have developed an admirable range. No longer limited to metal growls or nasal whine we get actual singing and layered harmonies (along with the metal growl and nasal whine).
The album is divided into two distinct parts. The first, entitled "On Conquest and Capture", is seven songs deep. The lead off track, "Bloodmeat", just owns from the seizure inducing into to the outro riff which grinds and chugs begging for raised fists and flying bodies. Then it's on to "The Dissentience" which raises the intensity level and teeters on the edge of some tricky time signatures. Only two songs in and I can't begin to count how many distinct riffs and time signatures have been thrown at the listener. This is Protest and they continue to weave an enthralling tapestry before crescendoing on "Spoils".
"Isosceles" is comprised of only three songs and has a much more flamboyant rock opera type vibe. I can't get into this as much as the septet that came before. It is a cool look at Protest The Hero exploring some new ideas and directions.
If you didn't like Kezia you probably won't like Fortress. If you didn't like Kezia you probably need to get a clue anyway.
What the boys in Protest have done is craft and album which is an evolution from Kezia not a reprise . What I love about Protest is that they mix jaw dropping musical prowess with intelligent lyrics, and just enough pop sensibility creeps in to afford them a wider appeal.
Robin Trower at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - staff photographer
If it wasn't for Austin's anti-smoking ordinance tonight could have been 1974 all over again as Austin's Van Wilks and the legendary Robin Trower (founding member of Procol Harum) burned down the house at Austin's La Zona Rosa. During Trower's roaring 20+ minute epic "Bridge of Sighs", all that was missing was the roiling clouds of stale, cheap, pot smoke wafting onstage. Don't let Robin's age fool you, his fingers are as nimble as a teenagers. Lick for lick I think you could put him against any blues guitarist on the road today and he would leave them hacking in his dust. Not too bad for a guy that started his music career in 1962, played Woodstock, and just plain survived the trials and travails of the industry, unlike so many of his peers.
Robin will be on tour here in the states until April 5th and then he hops the pond to do a European tour that doesn't wind up til May 31st. For a complete look at his tour schedule check out Robin's web site at http://www.trowerpower.com. To check out pics from the show, check out our photo gallery.
On to SXSW 2008 news...
Well according to my sources it looks like the place to be Saturday night for most people will be Stubb's, IF you can get in and IF you can stand the packed crowd. First off you have the psychedelic stylings of Austin's poet-laureate-guide to the 60's, the incomparable Roky Erickson, with The Explosives. Then next up you have the brothers Robinson, and their wayward gang of musicians, The Black Crowes. Finally, the talk of SXSW, this years up and coming band from Athens, Ga., and the only man in the U.S. that can match Morrisey blow for blow in angst, Micheal Stipe and R.E.M. will close the showcase. What a neat show if you can get in. Only in Austin. Only during SXSW!
I have that as confirmed. Something I don't have confirmed yet, and I am working on, is the Ice Cube SXSW gig at Auditorium Shores. I have it from 2 sources that he is playing, just not 100% firm on the venue. Can't mark him as confirmed yet til he or SXSW announces.
I regret I have not updated the big list in a few days, but promise to spend a few hours updating it. I
want to thank everyone out there that linked to me, especially the guys over at showburner.com.
Arif Mirabdolbaghi of Protest The Hero - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
Protest The Hero
Genre: thrash/progressive/metal
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario http://www.myspace.com/protestthehero
Saturday, March 8 8:00 p.m.
w/ Silverstein, Devil Wears Prada, A Day to Remember
Emo's (Main Stage) (6TH AND RED RIVER)
One of the loudest bands I have ever heard, Canada's Protest The Hero has a new record, Fortress, and a new tour. While they won't be here for the music portion of SXSW, patrons of the film and interactive portions of the festival can check out their set at Emo's on the opening Saturday night. We got a chance to talk with Arif Mirabdolbaghi, who provides the deep bass thwack for the band, about the new album, their tour, and their influences. Click on the "continued" link below to listen to the interview.
The Drive home from Toronto on Dec, 16th, 2007 photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
The Drive home from Toronto on Dec, 16th, 2007 photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
If you were among the few brave souls who made it to the Alexisonfire show in Toronto on December 16th, well guess what? You don't get to come on Friday!!
Those who wussed out and didn't make it to the Arrow Hall during the worst snow storm in recorded history can redeem their ticket this Friday at The Sound Academy (formerly The Docks).
I was one of those that wussed out. I was in Toronto on the 15th with plans to take my wife home to Peterborough on the 16th, and then head back to T.O. for the show. When it took 3+ hours for the usual 1 1/4 hour drive I thought better of my return to Toronto.
Opening for Alexisonfire are upstarts Arkells and Quest For Fire. On their choice of openers Alexisonfire had this to say:
We thought that since this was a fun show to do, we would pick two bands that don't sound anything like us. Two bands that are just getting their feet wet. Two bands that are local and that we are all big fans of.
We'll see you there. Fingers crossed for decent weather.
Jason McMaster of Broken Teeth - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer
Broken Teeth
Genre: Rock / Rock / Rock
Hometown: Austin, Tx http://www.myspace.com/brokenteeth
Saturday, March 15 10:00 p.m.
Headhunters (patio) (8TH AND RED RIVER) (subject to change)
Longtime Austin resident Jason McMaster, frontman for hard rocking locals Broken Teeth, spent time with us to talk about Broken Teeth's new album and tour, as well as his days touring with Dangerous Toys and the infamous Watchtower. Along the way he drops hints about about some upcoming Dangerous Toys reunion dates, as well as some new tracks Broken Teeth is laying down and the bands post SXSW plans. Click on the link "continued" link below to listen to the interview.
Alex Lifeson of Rush at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater San Antonio 2002 photo courtesy Gary Miller - contributing photographer
As expected Canadian rockers Rush have confirmed an Austin date on their spring tour at UT's Frank Erwin Center. Continuing with last years "Snakes & Arrows World Tour", they will stop in Austin on April 23rd, one of 45 tour stops announced so far. Touring in support of the soon to be released Snakes & Arrows Live CD, Rush's track "Malignant Narcissism" from the band’s 2007 release Snakes & Arrows has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
La Zona Rosa has announced a couple new shows for April as well. On Weds. April 9th Say Anything along with Manchester Orchestra, Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves and Weatherbox will bring their tour to LZR, The following night, April 10th The "Bamboozle Road Show" pulls into town with Saves The Day, Armor for Sleep, Set Your Goals, Metro Station and Lydia for an early, early show with doors at 6:00 and the show starting at 6:30. Tickets for both shows are available at GetTix.net.
While I didn't spend any time yesterday looking for more confirmed SXSW bands, I did pop down to Emo's down at 6th street to catch the late set by Austin punk pioneers Sharon Tate's Baby. While there I ran into Avery of the Applicators(she is even cuter as a blond) and had a chance to say hello. Roaming the streets between sets ran into someone I know who is VERY well connected while I was buying a slice of pizza. Asking him for any good SXSW rumor fodder he was more than happy to offer up a couple big names.
Little Steven may show up, but if he does it will be in the first couple days. He's been working with a band that got a showcase and he will be on the backside of a short 4 day down time from his touring with Springsteen. If he squeezes it in, look for either a surprise set or a walk-on. It would be unlikely that Bruce would join him but during SXSW anything is possible. I will add Little Steven to the rumored list, I will leave
Bruce off for now.
Iggy Pop, who is also working with a band that is showcasing, liked SXSW so much last year he is almost certain to show up and do either a surprise set, private party, or a walk on. He will be leaving the Stooges at home. My source told me he gives this a 90% chance of this happening, so keep your eyes out for Iggy roaming the streets.
Finally, someone big has rented out an old print shop down in the entertainment district for an event during SXSW. I don't know if it's for showcases or for private parties but will keep my ear to the ground for more developments.
Our list of bands and artists scheduled to perform at Austin's 2008 SXSW Music Festival has zoomed past the 400 mark all the way up to more than 540 confirmed so far, slightly more than 1/3 of the acts that are supposed to perform. The list includes a seemingly endless number of DJs and MCs, as well as a huge quantity of singer/songwriters. Click here to see the latest SXSW 2008 Rumored and Confirmed Band List.
One singer/songwriter whose name has not appeared on the confirmed list but has unexpectedly burst onto the rumor list today is the legendary Ringo Starr. Starr is in the states promoting his new release Liverpool 8 and has just announced a surprise set in L.A. at The House Of Blues on January 25th. As a bonus if you buy a copy of the new CD at Amoeba Music in Hollywood you can get a free "bypass the line" pass to get you into the party for free. For more details on how to see Ringo check out his web site at http://www.ringostarr.com
Ringo is not actually "touring" but word on the street from my sources is that he has a few more of these party stops planned around the U.S. and there may be a SXSW stop on that schedule. Considering that SXSW is fast becoming one of the U.S. premier events and attracts more press than a Brittany Spears court appearance, this would be a perfect event to showcase the new album. I contacted his U.S. publicist for confirmation on this or any other U.S. dates and got lots of "no comments" and "can neither confirm nor deny" though they did promise to send me a copy of the new disc. SXSW had Robert Plant in 2005, Pete Townsend in 2007, Ringo Starr in 2008 certainly has a nice ring to it (no pun intended).
As I Lay Dying at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - staff photographer
I took a break Tuesday night to let the LCD screen burn in my retinas reset. Vince over at Metal Blade Records invited me out to check out a couple of his bands playing down at La Zona Rosa. Evergreen Terrace and As I Lay Dying and they tore it up at La Zona Rosa. The band requested no barrier and no security and the show turned into a free for all. I spend all night ducking and snapping pictures from the crowd trying to avoid getting clotted over the head by the dozens upon dozens of crowd surfers. The bands and the fans had a blast. It was great to see Austin's metal crowd out on a drizzly Tuesday in such numbers. Check out my pictures of all the stage diving craziness in our photo gallery.
On to SXSW 2008 news...
The lineup for the Japan night set is up, and once again it's fronted by The Emeralds, moving them from the rumored to the confirmed list. At least 30 more (just a hair under 400 total now) bands have been added to the confirmed list including Carbon/Silicon with Mick Jones (The Clash) and Tony James (Generation X) and 80's band Was (Not Was). I did get a chance to talk with Roky Erickson's people about the benefit but they refused to divulge this years performers and would neither confirm nor deny the R.E.M. rumor. No new rumors as yet but as I always, if I hear it you'll here it. To check out the latest rumors and confirmed bands coming to SXSW Click Here To Check Out The SXSW 2008 Band List!
Les Claypool and his Fancy Band at Stubb's BarBQ, Austin, Texas on 6/19/07 - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - staff photographer
Moving from the rumored list to the SXSW confirmed list today is Dolly Parton, who confirmed her SXSW appearance on her web site. Added to the rumored list is Eric Clapton, which would please many local guitar slingers. Clapton does have a local connection in Doyle Bramhall II, who plays in his band and is a river city local. Imagine the dustup at the door if he played Antone's! The SXSW 2008 unofficial band list has grown again, and we are rapidly approaching the 400 band mark. Keep those confirmations and rumors coming!
Primus frontman, and club kingsnake favorite, Les Claypool has announced more dates on his spring tour and though he does not confirm a SXSW appearance, his schedule includes a "mysterious gap" between the Langerado festival and his show in Seattle that would leave him available for a Wednesday or Thursday appearance at SXSW. Here is his tour schedule so far...
02/14/08 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
02/29/08 Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre
03/01/08 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
03/03/08 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
03/06/08 Big Cypress, FL Big Cypress Seminole Reservation
03/14/08 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
03/15/08 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
03/18/08 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
03/21/08 Milwaukee, WI The Rave Eagles Club
03/22/08 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
03/25/08 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
03/27/08 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
03/28/08 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
03/29/08 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
04/01/08 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
04/02/08 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
04/04/08 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
04/05/08 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
Megadeth at The Rave, Milwaukee WI; September 19, 2007 - more photos... photo by Brian Rampacek - staff photographer
Dave Mustaine and the crew at Megadeth have announced this years GIGANTOUR 2008 dates with the tour launching on April 12th in Denver and ending May 22nd in Phoenix, Arizona. Joining Megadeth this time out will be In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job For A Cowboy and High On Fire. Megadeth hits the road with new guitarist Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer), who replaced Glen Drover. Tickets are available at http://www.gigantour.com/
4/12 Denver, CO The Fillmore
4/13 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
4/15 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre
4/16 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Pavilion
4/17 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
4/19 Louisville, KY Louisville Gardens
4/20 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
4/22 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
4/24 Worcester, MA Palladium
4/26 Baltimore, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
4/28 Quebec City, QC Pavilion De La Jeunesse
4/29 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
4/30 Toronto, ON Arrow Hall
5/1 London, ON John Labatt Centre
5/3 Detroit, MI DTE Music Center
5/4 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheater
5/6 Chicago, IL Aragon
5/7 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
5/9 Minneapolis, MN Myth
5/10 Winnipeg, MB Convention Center
5/11 Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Exhibition Hall
5/12 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Center
5/14 Calgary, AB The Corral
5/16 Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
5/17 Salem, OR Salem Armory
5/19 San Jose, CA Event Center @ San Jose State
5/20 San Diego, CA Cox Arena
5/21 Los Angeles, CA Long Beach Arena
5/22 Phoenix, AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
And the list seems to grow by the hour. People are asking "how did you come up with this list". The majority of the artists on the confirmed list have either come from SxSW, the band's web site, the band's myspace, and pollstar. A few have been sent in by the bands, a few from publicists, and a few from very well connected friends. The artists on the rumored list are also divined by a variety of methods. Some are artists that have asked me not to be "confirmed" yet, most came from "secret sources".
The oddest rumor? Far and away Dolly Parton is the strangest rumor, yet it comes from one of my best sources.
The most unlikely rumor? That would be a toss up.
Lou Reed and John Cale don't get along so the chances of any sort of Velvet Underground reunion are slim, but at SXSW stranger things have happened. The Foo Fighters are also pretty unlikely but there is a week's gap in their tour schedule so the possibility exists. For all you Pearl Jam fans, there is a strong chance that either Pearl Jam or Eddie Vedder will play. Not only was the rumor given to me by a good source, Eddie did the soundtrack for one of the films premiering at SXSW and Pearl Jam has no tour schedule listed freeing them to play. As I have mentioned before, The Beastie Boys and Matisyahu have both played SXSW before recently, they are both playing the Langerado festival in Big Cypress the week before, the same one R.E.M. is headlining, and both of them have gaps in their tour schedules where SXSW would appear. The same could be said about Les Claypool, a repeat-returning SXSW veteran, also at Langerado, also with a blank space in his tour schedule.
New on the rumor list tonight? Deep Blue Something, who scored with the single "Breakfast At Tiffanies".
Joining R.E.M. as bands moved from the rumored to the confirmed list are The Frantic and All Time Low.
Just how big a band can play SxSW? Really, anyone could play at this point, and ruling out a band as being
"too big" for the festival would be a mistake. Huge bands play small clubs during SXSW but even if say
a Led Zeppelin announced a tour stop, between Zilker Park and Memorial Stadium we would surely have
a venue for them. Bands don't play SXSW for the money. They play for the buzz, the press, the experience.
SXSW really is the new Sundance, without all the snow. Movies, Internet, Music, SXSW is the one place where everything comes together. It's like an upscale Disneyland for adults for a week.
Roky Erickson at the 2007 Ice Cream Social - more photos... photo by jeff barringer - contributing photographer
Talking with Roky Erickson's people over the weekend I have confirmed that the Ice Cream Social is on again this year. Roky's annual event is scheduled for Thursday March 13th from 2:00pm until 7:00pm at Threadgill's World Headquarters
at 301 West Riverside in Austin. Last years event saw Peter Buck of R.E.M, Robyn Hitchcock and Spoon show up to do sets, but as of yet there is no word on who this years lineup will be. I know that we will be there eatin
chicken fried steak and ice cream and enjoying the sunshine and the music. When we get the word, you'll get the word. In the mean time, swing on by Roky's web site over at rokyerickson.net
Well It's time to move the SxSW 08 list to its own page. I must have added another 20 or so bands since Saturday, and doubtless will be updating it again soon. To see the latest list of bands and artists both rumored and confirmed to be playing SxSW in Austin this year check out the SxSW 2008 Band List
Just when you think you can put the keyboard down for a day, I have a whole list of more confirmed bands sent in by users. Keep em coming and I will keep posting them! And keep sending in those rumors too!
More SxSW 2008 Confirmed bands
Vancougar
Alina Simone
KAM
Film School
Sean Hayes
elephone
Magic Bullets
The Dodos
LoveLikeFire
Loquat
Nyles Lannon
The Heavenly States
Mud
Built For The Sea
Sugar and Gold
Poor Bailey
Bedroom Walls
Tungsten Coil
The Voom Blooms
Le Concorde
AM
THE BROTHER KITE
SECRET SHINE
KOSHA DILLZ and C RAYZ WALZ
BLAGGARDS
telling on trixie
The Western Paradise
dreamend
Lebanon
Your Favorite Enemies
Akala
Ivy League
IDLEMINE
Carlis Star
Intrinzik
Pinstripe
Colin Gilmore
Kate Bradley
They came from Taiwan
Ari Shine
Wussy
Tripdavon
Varo
Popup
CopaCrescent
At this point artists announcements and rumors are coming in faster than I can collate them into posts so its time to revert to "the list". Below is every confirmed band that I am aware of as well as all of the rumors that have crossed my desk. If you know a confirmed band that needs to be added, or hear a hot rumor or even want to start one, let us know!
Marilyn Manson at OzzFest 2003 - more photos... photo by gary miller - contributing photographer
Cruising Pollstar today looking for new SXSW announcements I was surprised to see Marilyn Manson has scheduled a gig at the Austin Music Hall on March 1 and Joe Jackson has scheduled a show at The Paramount on April 28th. Also if you have a thing for U.K. music, a neat band called Beat Union all the way from Birmingham will be playing down at Emo's on Feb. 1 with Bedouin Soundclash. The songs I have heard sound a lot like The La's crossed with The Specials, and they are really neat. Can't wait for their new CD. If you don't want to do the Flogging Molly set at Stubb's on February 1. or can't get in, Beat Union would be a great alternative.
Speaking of SXSW, It wouldn't be an Austin music news post without putting out the latest rumored appearances. This time a NEW source has told me to keep an eye on the The Frantic, All Time Low, Thievery Corporation, Ani DiFranco, Minus The Bear, Umphrey's McGee, and here is an interesting one, John Waite, formerly of The Babies. Another odd one to watch, The Foo Fighters. I'd love to see Dave Grohl and his band perform. Another source has told me to watch for an R.E.M. surprise show in addition to their showcase, most likely at Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social over at Threadgill's, but it could also be an instore at Waterloo Records. Last year's instore with Iggy Pop was insane. That would be incredibly awesome.
Also keep an eye on Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, rumored to have a spring tour in the works with a rumored stop at Bonaroo. Plant is a former SXSW keynote speaker so that would increase the odds.
Bands known to NOT be doing SXSW this year include Austin locals Grupo Fantasma, My Chemical Romance, The Whigs, Jimmy Eat World, Slayer, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, and Liza Minelli. Finally, the Meat Puppets will not be at SXSW either, they will be embarking on a tour with Built To Spill that starts in L.A. on February 22nd, goes all the way to the east coast and then ends almost back where it started, in Solana Beach, Ca.
Finally..... It's finally here. After expected release dates in August 2007, and then September and November Fortress is set for release on Jan 29, 2008. I promise.
Our list of bands and artists scheduled to perform at Austin's 2008 SXSW Music Festival has zoomed past the 400 mark all the way up to more than 540 confirmed so far, slightly more than 1/3 of the acts that are supposed to perform. The list includes a seemingly endless number of DJs and MCs, as well as a huge quantity of singer/songwriters. Click here to see the latest 
