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.