Thursday, December 25. 2008
Norwegian Band Grande Will Play At SXSW 2009
Photo: Tiril Hjelmeland |
Norwegian psychobilly outfit Grande dropped us a note this week to let us know they will be snapping on the snowshoes to trek from their hometown of Oslo over to enjoy some barbq at SXSW 2009 in Austin in March. Buzzy, twangy, these guys sound more like some strange European spawn of Horton Heat than the light ultra-pop alternative bands or the shaggy Nordic viking metal I've come to expect from Norway. I bet they land over at Beerland for their gig. Beerland seems to be the epicenter of all things rockabilly in this town. Thanks for dropping us a note to let us know your coming!
I spent some of my Christmas eve tracking down rumors and confirmations and as of this morning the confirmed SXSW 2009 bands and artists list already stretches from A to Z (A Day To Remember to Zoroaster), with every letter except Q represented. With the total confirmed bands at 324 so far, it is a varied mix to say the least. There are already 6 bands with the word "black" in their name, 4 bands with "white", 1 band with "red". Some of the band names are odd, disturbing or intriguing. Hot Pink Delorean sounds neat, but I Set My Friends On Fire sounds, well, disconcerting.
Thanks to Erik and Ingrid for sending in their tips. Keep the tips coming and check out the SXSW 2009 Confirmed Band List at http://club.kingsnake.com/index.php/pages/SXSWBands09.html
If you know a band that's coming to SXSW 2009 click here to drop us a note.
Monday, December 22. 2008
John Dee Graham at the 2007 Skunks Reunion - more photos...
photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
It's been a tough year for Austin's legendary guitarist Jon Dee Graham, and Christmas hasn't helped. Not fully recovered from his July 31st car crash that left him hospitalized and under a surgeons care, Graham apparently fell from a ladder while hanging Christmas lights and injured himself further. According to a Facebook post made by Skunks bandmate Jesse Sublett the guitarist was "bleeding internally from cracked ribs puncturing his lung and liver".
Though it appears that Graham will not require further surgery, he has been hospitalized again and he will have to lie still for a while, and that has forced the band to cancel their reunion show at the Continental Club. The reunion show, which has become an annual holiday tradition, is a favorite among Austin's older punksters that still remember Raul's and Club Foot and draws lots of fans young and old to hear songs like "Earthquake Shake" and "Cheap Girl", long considered Austin punk classics.
Club Kingsnake would like to wish Jon Dee Graham a speedy recovery and hope that his injuries heal quickly. I always look forward to the reunion show, and it will be sad to miss it this year.
Sunday, December 21. 2008
Kirk Hammett of Metallica at Ozz Fest 2008 - more photos...
photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
I think that if I died on January 1st 2009 I would leave here with a huge smile on my face. I don't know if it would even be possible to come close to shooting as many bands or so many major bands again. All told I was invited to shoot 231 artists and bands, covering everything from local talent to top shelf acts such as Metallica, ZZ Top, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty, Judas Priest, Motley Crue and more. The list just seems to go on forever. Along the way I got to do some great festivals such as Mayhem Festival, The Warped Tour, Ozzfest, and the massive SXSW festival, and in turn I got to talk to, meet or just hang around with lots of cool musicians, culminating in a few rounds of jaeger shooters with Kerry King and his wife in the fall.
What a great year.
It would be hard for me to pick which one show was my favorite, there were so many good bands, so many good shows. Hand's down the messiest and probably one of the funnest was the GWAR show at La Zona Rosa. Probably the best show I saw this year is the only one I couldn't photograph and was extremely lucky to get invited to at all, the Foo Fighters Austin City Limits taping down at the studio on the UT campus. Playing in a small studio to a standing room only audience comprised mostly of Austin's music industry elite, we were treated to an unbelievable performance that I can't wait to experience again on HDTV when it airs on PBS in January.
I probably blew 100,000 raw photo frames and culled around 20,000 of the best to hang in our galleries. To check out all the bands I shot this year click on the link below to view the thumbnail gallery.
http://club.kingsnake.com/2008gallery.html
Wednesday, December 17. 2008
I started putting together our list of confirmed SXSW bands today and after a couple hours of searching have been able to confirm 175 artists and bands making the trip to Austin in 09 so far.
With only roughly 10% of the bands identified, we have a long way to go til March, but we will be searching daily for new listings to add. If your band is playing SXSW 2009 and you don't see your name on the list please drop us a line. If you have a tasty rumor (please, no more Brittney Spears rumors) send them my way. You might just get yourself a club kingsnake T-shirt! To check out our list of bands that are either rumored or confirmed for SXSW09 please go to http://club.kingsnake.com/index.php/pages/SXSWBands09.html
Monday, December 15. 2008
I wasn't surprised that my request to review Kanye West when he came to town a few months back was turned down. Kanye has a notably rough relationship with journalists and you virtually have to sneak in. No one I know was allowed to cover the performance. I was surprised when he signed on to do Bonaroo this spring, since there were so many journalists in attendance, but not surprised that it turned into a debacle. I was absolutely shocked when I found out he was slotted to perform on SNL. I have watched SNL since season 1 and over the years SNL has had the ability to make or break not only artists but entire genres of music into the main stream based on a single appearance. You gotta be packing a set to play SNL.
It's too bad that Kanye didn't have the stones to pull it off.
In what ranks as possibly the worst performance I have ever seen on SNL, Kanye danced around in front of a video screen, by himself, while he caterwalled a Capella and off tune, missed words, and botched his national TV appearance. Not even burying the vocals with all that vocoder Autotune was able to mask his shaky performance. The whole thing reminded me of a bad home made hip hop video from the 80's shot in the local high school gym and run at 4 in the morning on the local cable access channel. It's no wonder that Kanye needs a huge stage setup for his road shows, the crowd won't notice how bad the vocals are if they are too busy watching a spaceship land. Lip syncing could have only helped his performance, at least right up until he started dancing with himself. Even American Idol would have sent him home. Why is this guy important again?
Sunday, December 14. 2008
The Devil Wears Prada MIGHT be playing SXSW 2009 - more photos...
photo by Clint Gilders - Staff Photographer |
It's not just snow that has been fluttering around Austin over the last week, as flurries of more SXSW rumors blew into town as well.
All you Morrissey at SXSW rumor fans can take heart that the mighty meatless one has left space in his current tour schedule for a trip to Austin in March. On the prowl and with a new album to promote, and back from Europe as well, odds are running high that he will do a SXSW stop. Look for this to be a Stubb's show most likely.
It is true that I have heard rumors of both Elton John and Billy Joel making SXSW appearances in 2009, though others in the industry consider it "unlikely". Still if you review the tour schedule, they are touring together, and if you check closely they are in Houston on Thursday, then San Antonio on Saturday,which leaves them both free to do SXSW sets on Friday night. Elton already has a back end connection to Austin, being a regular performer at the Andy Roddick Charity Benefit down at the Four Seasons. Logistically all it would take is a piano and a hall big enough to hold them. Look for this to be an Austin Music Hall show, if it happens.
Finally some other bands that are known to be "penciling in" SXSW09 gigs include The Devil Wears Prada, A Day To Remember, and The Airborne Toxic Event.
Have you got a tasty SXSW snowflake you'd like to share? Drop me a note! Maybe we'll get enough to make a snowman.
Thursday, December 11. 2008
by cindy steinle
club kingsnake staff
Suicidal Tendencies
Hometown: Venice Beach, CA
http://www.suicidaltendencies.com
December 10th, 2008
House Of Blues
Chicago, Il.
Also: Madball, Whole Wheat Bread
Last night I went to church. After a 4 hour drive to House of Blues Chicago, I had a sermon. A sermon in life if you will, with the greatest preacher to ever walk the planet. The preacher was none other than the great Cyco Miko Muir. And I didn't have to miss my wedding to do it.
Its been around 16 years since I last saw Suicidal. I believe I was 17 at the time, but time passes and years fade. It was the old Suicidal, Miko was laid up with a broken leg and both ST and Danzig were opening for Metallica. I was insane for those first 30 minutes. Of course then I slept through the majority of Metallica. Go figure. I have spent the last two weeks counting down days. I have checked both the ST website and HOB website to make sure there was no cancellation daily.
I had been planning my trip to Chicago carefully, watching the weather, hoping I wasn't going to have to plan 7 hours for the trip. Massive snow and freezing rain started the week, but just cold came today. Yes I was damned near possessed with this show. This was as close as a religious experience as I am going to have. Suicidal for me is one of those bands that speak to me. Their lyrics have evolved my life, helped me during the rough patches, brought me up when I am down, calmed me when I am angry. There is nothing ST can not do for me. Well other than make me a millionaire so I can do nothing but reviews for Club Kingsnake, but hey, Miko has lots of years to figure that out.
Unfortunately due to an emergency, Brian couldn't make it out to see the show and do photos. We did try to get the pass transferred, but I am guessing we didn't get ahold of the PR people in time. My biggest regret is all I will have is the memories. I got there later than planned so I missed openers Madball and Whole Wheat Bread (for those catching later dates, these openers are only on the bill until tomorrow and then you get Death By Stereo and Whole Wheat Bread for the last few dates). I actually arrived just as Whole Wheat Bread was finishing and by the time I got through the security and into the bathroom (4 hours in a truck is more than my bladder can handle) I had time to go Christmas shopping for myself. I got a couple of longsleeves and then I noticed the sign for the NEW CD.
WHAT WHAT WHAT?!?!?! OHHHH Must have, haven't seen it in stores or online. Apparently this is a special CD for those who come to the shows! ROCK ON! I snaked up the CD and managed to actually find a seat towards the back. The CD is called "Year of the Cyco" and is a compilation of sorts with new music from ST, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Mike and a bonus No Mercy song. I did listen to some of it on the way home and was very happy with it. ST sounds like they are going back a bit more to their initial roots.
Short of the mix needing a lot of work (vocals were next to impossible to hear at times) the show was amazing. I can't complain about the set list a whole lot other than to say is was simply too short. Honestly, I was mildly bummed not to hear "Join the Army".
New drummer Eric Moore had an exciting evening, breaking his stool during one of the songs (I forgot to write it down, but I am pretty sure it was "Send Me Your Money") but put on an fun drum solo. Initially I was concerned with the bass. I really have to say, it didn't sound right. By the second song I realized what was different was Bassist Steve Brunner was putting his feel into each and every song. While initially this threw me for a loop, I realized how very cool it is that an established band (these guy have been around almost 30 years in some form or another) allowed someone to put their own personal touch. The bass part of "Send Me Your Money" was amazing and I realized, while I do miss Robert, Steve does a helluva job filling the shoes of the worlds most amazing bassist. There was a more funky feel to the classics rather than the straight punk or thrash that they originally started with.
Mike Clark is still there and rounding out the band is Dean Pleasants on lead guitar. Muir is truly a frontman. I missed his rants between and during songs, I only wish the vocals were better where I was (and so did the folks around me from the screams I was hearing). Mike has always added almost motivational talks mixed in with the music. Either prowling the stage or ranting, all eyes are on Muir. He is amazing and he captures each and every person. It was really great to see him moving as well as he was, I had concerns that this would be a subdued performance, with his multiple back surgeries, but nothing holds him back.
Much like always, ST marches to its own drummer, touring before releasing the full CD. I can only hope that the tour comes back again after the release. It was well worth the 16 year wait I have had. I joined the Army over 20 years ago and I remain Suicidal For Life.
Set List
You Cant Bring Me Down
We Are Family
War Inside My Head
Subliminal
Send Me Your Money
Drum Solo
Living or Along for the Ride - New Song
Cyco Vision
Lovely
Possessed
I Saw Your Mommy
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
Encore
I Shot Regan
Fascist Pig
Pledge Your Allegiance
Monday, December 8. 2008
Beefcake the Mighty of GWAR at La Zona Rosa - more photos...
photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
by harrison davis
club kingsnake staff
GWAR
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
http://www.gwar.net
December 5th, 2008
La Zona Rosa
Austin, TX
Also: Toxic Holocaust, Kingdom Of Sorrow
GWAR has become an institution in thrash metal purely due to their ridiculous live shows and I had heard so many things about GWAR shows that I had to see it for myself. I am in no way a fan of GWAR’s music, but their show was one of the most awesomely ridiculous things that I have ever seen.
I showed up late to the show and not only missed the openers, but the first few songs from GWAR. I walked into the room just as a wrestling ring was being set up on stage. I knew that someone was about to die. I quickly discovered that the ring was there for there for the Intergalactic Wrestling Tour which, of course, was set-up for GWAR to award the rightful owner of the Frank Sinatra Belt of World Domination. The first match consisted of a green monster named Bonesnapper and presidential candidate John McCain.
As McCain was mutilated and dismembered on stage, sending blood flying throughout the whole room, I couldn’t help but completely forget the fact that the band was still playing. The band was entirely forgettable, but the show was anything but. I don’t remember a thing that GWAR produced musically at any point that night, but in this situation that just might be a good thing. I was busy having too much fun. Every note they played floated right past me as I thought about how cool guitarist Balsac the Jaws of Death looked with his massive head or bassist Beefcake the Mighty’s awesome gladiator outfit.
The audience represented a diverse GWAR following. Judging from the look on many faces, they were there for the same reason I was, because everyone has to see GWAR at least once.
The show remained consistently awesome until the very end. The sole complaint I had was with the Intergalactic Wrestling tour storyline. It started off with the killings of John McCain, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton (it’s the Electile Dysfunction Tour) but when it came time to actually fight for the Frank Sinatra Belt of World Domination, GWAR’s manager Sleazy P. Martini brought out two monsters that I had never seen before. It was a letdown after the previous bouts. In the end we walked out happy, covered in blood, and wondering what exactly just happened.
Sunday, December 7. 2008
Cancer Bats at SCENE Fest 2007 - more photos...
photo by Clint Gilders - Staff Photographer |
Well it looks like one of our first SXSW 2009 rumors has already proven true, legendary music producer Quincy Jones has confirmed as next years SXSW keynote. We are still hearing that the re-united Faces are planning on doing a SXSW headlining showcase which will probably put them at Stubb's or the Austin Music Hall. Definitely will want to watch for the members, or the whole band, to do walk-ons all over town all week. Would be neat to see them do a surprise in-store at Waterloo.
Still strong on the Katy Perry appearance, she plays Houston on 3/20 and Dallas on 3/21 so that puts her in the neighborhood for a Wednesday or Thursday SXSW gig, probably at Stubb's or the Austin Music Hall, maybe La Zona Rosa. Look for Alphabeat to be here as well as they are supporting Katy on her current tour.
Friday will probably see some or all of the bands on the "Taste of Chaos" tour making SXSW stops. Those bands include the Cancer Bats, Bring Me The Horizon, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil, and Thursday. That seems like a good Emo's main room or La Zona Rosa lineup for a Friday night, but they may split them up and put them in different venues. That tour has a stop in Houston on Saturday, and San Antonio on Sunday.
Other bands rumored to appear at next years SXSW include Bloc Party, Santogold, The Ting Tings, Crystal Castles, Tiesto, Carl Cox, Roni Size / Reprazent, Busy P and The Presets.
I will be starting our annual SXSW band list which will contain both confirmed and rumored bands, as soon as I get my first confirmed band. Keep sending in those tips!
And to the guy that sent me that Britney Spears rumor, her only open nights are Thursday between her gigs in Toronto and Montreal, or Saturday before her gig in Washington D.C. Considering the logistics involved it is highly unlikely that she will make such a big detour. It's possible, but unlikely. Besides, SXSW is already a zoo, and it's unlikely she is brave enough to do a show in front of so many music journalists. It would be the biggest "event" at SXSW, but I wouldn't bet on it happening.
Saturday, December 6. 2008
Wednesday, December 3. 2008
Murder My Sweet at Stubb's BarBQ - more photos...
photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
by James West, Contributing Writer
Murder, My Sweet
Hometown: Austin, TX
http://www.myspace.com/murdermysweet
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q (inside)
November 29, 2008
Also: Ultraviolet Index, Mocktigers
The indoor stage at Stubb’s Barbeque got another going over this weekend with three bands and a full house of different effects and sounds. It was an all night affair with the music lasting well into the morning. The Headliner was “Murder, My Sweet,” but there was a long and raucous road to travel before they got to the stage.
The first band of the night was a surprise in retrospect; a five-piece with both electric piano and organ, drums, rhythm and bass guitar. When I asked them what the name of the band was three of the members had to consult each other to make sure they got it right—The Ultraviolet Index—apparently it was their first time all on stage together. Aside from some slight hesitation in some of their pieces, the rich notes from the piano carried well over the vibrations from the organ. I felt the keystrokes float all the way through to people tapping their feet and listening to the lyrics. Most of the songs were devoted to apparent heartbreak. The honest and un-shrouded pain the words conveyed was appreciated by more than one lonely soul in the crowd. They reminded me of a Beatles inspired troupe of urbanites looking for a place to sing it all out. Theirs was a welcome sound though, followed by something much, much harder.
Mocktigers at Stubb's BarBQ - more photos...
photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer |
Mocktigers were next, the lead singer pummeling the worn-wooden stage with every part of his body by the time the set was finished. The music was dark and fast with the drummer obviously working out some aggression issues in the back. Mocktigers stole the show though with mesmerizing guitar playing in and out of the lyrical assault on stage. The sound was loud, the singer a black-magician feeding the crowd his poison and us loving the bitter and maddening taste that rang between our ears. The ritual unfolding before us had the singer pounding the floor with his fists to praying on his knees with the mic between his clasped hands. “Battlecry!” is the name of their debut album, I suggest you get it and listen to it as soon as possible.
With the crowd shaken to bits yet thirsting for more, Murder, My Sweet took the stage and gave everyone a dose of what they came for: a wailing heavy rock sound akin to Soundgarden and dripping with synthetic effects in the background. The lighting stepped up as a major player for the late-night crowd with changing patterns drawing us in and mimicking our poor throbbing livers. The lead guitarist was truly unrivaled here with excellent sessions over whatever else was happening. One song blurred into the next and created a kind of cohesive mood that kept us with it and moving into the night—a night to be remembered.
Monday, December 1. 2008
Peter Iwers of In Flames at La Zona Rosa - more photos...
photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
by harrison davis
club kingsnake staff
In Flames
Hometown: Gothenburg, Sweden
http://inflames.com
November 29th, 2008
La Zona Rosa
Austin, TX
Also: Gojira, 36 Crazyfists
The In Flames tour came to Austin like a metal United Nations. No bands from the continental United States makes for a great night of metal. We’ve struggled with the whole metal thing ever since Pantera ended, but the Europeans still know what they’re doing, and they showed us.
The first band on actually was American, but from Alaska so I’m not sure it counts. 36 Crazyfists was a decent, but not incredible band. Their metalcore style was good for what it was, but in the end it wasn’t anything that I haven’t heard before. That said, 36 Crazyfists put on a killer show, really getting the crowd into it. When they first started their set singer Brock Lindow tried to get the crowd into it, but ended up with limited results. Things really got going when Lindow got the 4-way Wall of Death going. The Wall of Death is of course when a mosh pit is split down the middle and then, upon the singers command, they charge at each other. I’ve been in a few Wall of Deaths but this was by far the best. From that point on, the band completely had me.
Mick Whitney of 36 Crazyfists at La Zona Rosa - more photos...
photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer |
France’s Gojira was the only band that I had seen before and they have really improved sinceI first saw them back in February ’07. A big part of the improvement came from the setlist. Back then they were still supporting the From Mars to Sirius record, this time they were supporting one of my favorite metal albums of the year, The Way of All Flesh. With their expanded catalogue, the band ripped through a killer set. The show was undoubtedly less calm than 36 Crazyfists but the music was fantastic here. Even though the band generally stood still for the entire show, I found myself really getting into the music.
The band kicked off with the killer opener from Way of All Flesh, Oroborus. Right from the start I was extremely impressed by drummer Mario Duplantier. The set only got better as it went on as the band continued to showcase its excellent blend of death and progressive metal. The crowd agreed with many calling for an encore as the band left the stage. The numbers calling out for one more song showed that Gojira had nearly as many fans present as In Flames did. Pretty impressive for a band that’s only been around for a few years.
In Flames is one of those metal bands that doesn’t get the credit it deserves from the general rock community simply because they are a metal band. They formed in 1990 and have been the leading name in melodic death metal ever since. In Flames is one of the most influential death metal bands in the short history of the genre.
Highlights of the nearly 2 hour set were fan favorites Take This Life and Satellites and Astronauts but the set covered both old and new material. It was a fantastic show. The only complaint I have is that it did run a little long. Many in the crowd began leaving well before the show had ended. The extended set was understandable due to co-headliner All That Remains cancellation but it was still a bit much. I was never bored enough to leave, but I did lose some interest around the 90 minute mark. Fortunately, the band picked it right back up again for the last few numbers and really brought it home for me. Few people look as cool headbanging as In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén does with his insanely long dreadlocks. The Swedish death metal legends had no need for an encore as they got everything they cover in their main set, but had they decided to play a few more, the crowd absolutely would have been down.
Joe Duplantier of Gojira at La Zona Rosa - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer
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