Travis Barker on the Warped Tour 2005 photo by Gary Miller - Contributing Photographer
Former Blink-182 Drummer Travis Barker and DJ Adam Goldstein are being treated for burns and are in critical condition following a plane crash late yesterday in South Carolina. The two survived a crash that claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot as well as 2 un-named passengers. MSNBC has reported and Club Kingsnake has confirmed that the night before they had performed together with Perry Farrell, the former Jane's Addiction singer, as well as Gavin DeGraw at a charity event. DeGraw and Farrell were NOT passengers on the flight that was scheduled to land in Van Nuys, California.
More details as they are released...
UPDATE: 11:37a.m CST - According to Yahoo Music News "The Lexington County coroner said Saturday that pilot Sarah Lemmon of Anaheim Hills and co-pilot James Bland of Carlsbad died. Also killed were passengers Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, and Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles."
In the wake of Canada's national Broadcaster "The CBC" dropping the ball puck and losing the iconic "Hockey Night in Canada" theme song Moe Carlson and Luke Hoskin of Canada's Protest The Hero have submitted an entry to "Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge". The contest was launched after The CBC failed in negotiations with the song's copyright holder and the music was snapped up by rival Canadian network CTV. The winner of this contest will become the closest thing to royalty we have in this country (Next to the Queen of England that is).
Paul Collins and The Beat at SXSW 2007 - more photos photo by Jaime Butler - Staff Photographer
It may not be SXSW but many of the bands slated to appear at the upcoming Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival have appeared at SXSW and some of the bands are coming to Austin on August 29th and 30th from as far away as Spain to perform. From bands that pioneered the genre such as Paul Collin's Beat and 20/20 to the younger set that keep the sound alive today like The Ugly Beats and The Boss Martians, there will be lots of bands representing several eras of the genre. I remember owning The Beat and 20/20's debuts on vinyl back in the 80's and I saw The Beat open for The Jam at the Dillo circa 1980 or so.
For those not familiar withe genre called "Power Pop" imagine a sound that combines the sticky sweetness of a Beatles pop melody with the harder driving edge of The Ramones and you have it. From Wikipedia:
Power pop (or powerpop) is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are usually kept to a minimum, and blues elements are largely downplayed.
We are hoping to get invited to cover the show so stay tuned.
Here is the schedule for the Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival:
Thursday, August 28th
Official Festival Pre-Party at Beerland:
DJ Sue (Fuzz Club)
DJ Mike Hooker (Ready Steady Go!)
DJ Novelas (Albuquerque, NM)
Treehouse Radio DJ's (Emily and Hydro)
Angel Von Ripper (ATX)
Plus very special guests!
$5
Friday, August 29th
Night Show at Mohawk (All Ages):
Paul Collins' Beat
Pointed Sticks
Nikki Corvette
Ugly Beats
Black & Whites
Electric Shadows
$25
Day Show at Beerland (21+):
Grand Champeen
Power Chords
Prima Donna
The Pleasure Kills
The Red Hearts
FREE!
Saturday, August 30th
Night Show at Mohawk (All Ages):
The Boys
20/20
Boss Martians
Tranzmitors
Cute Lepers
Gentleman Jesse And His Men
Baby Shakes
$25
Day Show at Beerland (21+):
Poor People
Luxury Sweets
Greatest Hits
Beach Patrol
Avenue Rose
FREE!
For more information on how to attend Austin's Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival or to buy advance tickets check out their MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/wildweekendaustin
Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes at The Backyard - more photos photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer
Well Bonaroo has officially started and club kingsnake writer/photographer Clint Gilders is somewhere in Tennessee living in a tent hoping to shoot pics of bands like Metallica, Pearl Jam, and a handful of other notable acts. Somewhere, also in Tennessee, is sometime club kingsnake contributor and Austin Chronicle staff photographer Gary Miller. It is not without a great deal of jealousy that this reporter sits at his computer minding the store, but hopefully they will find a way to check in and give us a few updates.
Not that I won't be keeping busy here myself. Tomorrow I will be doing a podcast interview with Filter bass player John Spiker and then following up later with a concert shoot with Rancid down at La Zona Rosa.
In other Austin concert news, at The Cure show at the Austin Music Hall on Sunday, there were posters announcing a Black Crowes gig at the hall on November 22nd. Also recently announced are a Bullet For My Valentine show over at Stubb's on August 2nd and then Seether at Stubb's on August 8th. Austin favorites The Toadies will be doing a show at Stubb's on September 3rd.
Bo Diddley - photo by Gary Miller - Contributing Photographer
The legendary Bo Diddley died today in Archer, Florida, of heart failure. After suffering a stroke while on tour last spring, he then had a heart attack last August. He never fully recovered from either. From NPR:
Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates in Mississippi and grew up in Chicago, where he played guitar on street corners before being discovered by Chess Records. He leaves behind a sound that helped build a musical movement.
Diddley's signature rhythm, among the most distinctive beats in rock 'n' roll, can be heard on songs like "I'm a Man" and "Bo Diddley." Scholars trace the pattern to church tambourines, West African drumming, and a hand-patting rhythm called Hambone that goes back to slavery. But Diddley told the public radio show American Routes that he found it someplace else.
"I was trying to play 'I Got Spurs That Jingle Jangle Jingle' by Gene Autrey, and stumbled upon that beat," Diddley said.
The beat may have come from a television cowboy, but later, Diddley described it as "basically an Indian chant."
"Just picture dancing around a daggone big fire, dancing around with their spears," he told Morning Edition in an interview.
Regardless of the beat's source, music historian Peter Guralnick says that Diddley made it big enough for everyone.
"That was just an invitation for people to step into," Guralnick says. "Lots of people imitated it; lots of people carried it on."
These people included Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen.
Full obituary here, and see the great man in action under the jump...
The Michigan Metal community is going to the dogs for a good cause. Mid Michigan Boxer Rescue and Grand Rapids Boxer Alliance have teamed together to bring out the most powerful force on earth (that would be where the metal comes into the picture) to help dogs in need. Not just boxers, but also the bull breeds, rotties and whatever else manages to find their way into these two rescues.
Cover is a mere $7.00, but bring your checkbooks kiddies. There will be a silent auction, raffles and much more to indulge in. And I hear there will be some great drink specials. All Proceeds are being split between the two rescues and will help dogs like the beautiful Shamrock from Mid Michigan Boxer Rescue find great homes.
A Full line up isn't quite ready but here is the important information along with confirmed bands.
I had heard way back in December that R.E.M. was going to headline SXSW in 2008 and immediately began hearing rumors that they were going to be this years surprise guests at Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social. As the date's grew closer more and more confirmations came in, from very, very reliable sources. By the day of the Ice Cream Social the tension was palpable, everyone was hoping, and in fact the production schedule had an hour slotted for them right before Roky. Listed as "Special Guests" everyone had their fingers crossed.
It was just not to be.
It turned out that Austin City Limits had invited them to film a set and it was at exactly the same time they had been slotted to be at the picnic.
Instead of ME filming an intimate performance of R.E.M., the lucky bastards over at KLRU got the privilege. My loss, however, is definitely the worlds gain. Instead of my grainy, bouncy YouTube videos everyone will get to watch R.E.M.s performance on Austin City Limits in rich H.D., with excellent production quality audio, starting this Saturday on your local PBS stations. It's a great set too, R.E.M. was in rare form the night before and the energy just carried over to the ACL set.
Maybe next time Austin City Limits will invite me too.
To check out the set list, see pictures, and watch streaming video from the show online check out the Austin City Limits page at http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/
Well, I didn't get approved to cover Iron Maiden down in San Antonio tomorrow, but I did get approved to cover last Thursday's ZZ Top show at The Backyard.
It was hot, humid, and sticky from the preceding days storm's. With the parking area muddy, Jay West, Gary Miller and I all hopped a shuttle bus over at Home Depot for the last 5 minutes of our trek for what turned out to be a jam packed show. We all chuckled when the Direct Events valet admonished us with the "Remember no cameras" as we boarded. Between the 3 of us we probably had $20,000 worth of Cannon and Nikon gear, and what turned out to be the only 3 photo passes.
Great set. I took lots of pictures and had a lot of fun, even though I tripped in the mud in the pit and almost skidded to the ground. Billy saw me lose it from onstage and reacted. Ouch!
While we were busy out at The Backyard, club kingsnake photographer Jaime Butler was over at Stubb's BarBQ covering the Nylon Magazine Tour. She got to check out and shoot some neat bands including Be Your Own Pet, The Virgins, and the Switches. Look for more Austin concert pics from Jaime throughout the summer.
Gee whiz, another venue bites the dust. One of my favorites too.
This summer will be the last season for Austin's The Backyard, at least in it's present location. Tim O'Connor owner of The Backyard and Direct Events announced back in April that the venue would close at the end of the summer and that they are working with the City of Bee Cave to develop a new Backyard. Until then we have all summer to enjoy a bunch of neat shows.
First off will be ZZ Top this Thursday and tickets are still available. We have a request in to shoot the show so we've got our fingers crossed that we will be there. I got to shoot Billy Gibbons backstage at Rocky Ericson's Ice Cream Social during this years SXSW, but have been dying to shoot the whole band for a long long time, and this might be my last opportunity for a while.
On June 1st The Backyard will host The Steve Miller Band along with Joe Cocker, then 311 and Snoop Dog will be pulling a 2 nighter on August 2nd and 3rd. I got to shoot 311 at The Backyard last year and it was a great show. In fact I saw a bunch of great shows at The Backyard last year including The Black Crowes, Incubus, Chris Isaac, Dream Theater. Redemption, Into Eternity, David Alan Coe, and Widepread Panic. I will really miss The Backyard. For tickets to any of their upcoming shows see http://www.thebackyard.net/
Geddy Lee of Rush- more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer
by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Ok, music photographers out there know what I am talking about. We all have bands that we would like to shoot but haven't yet either through lack of touring, not having the stones to get the credentials, or draconian photo policies.
I got to take one of those bands off my list last month when I got an opportunity to shoot Rush, a band on my list since the 70's when their album 2112 was one of my first album purchases. What a fantastic show to shoot too, I want to thank Alex, Geddy, and Neil for giving me the opportunity and for inviting me to stay to watch the whole show. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to shoot the gods of my youth, and how appropriate that I should get to shoot their Snakes and Arrows tour!
That got me to thinking, again, about all the other bands that are on my "must shoot before I die" list, who ranks, why, and just how far would I go to shoot them. After much internal dissension, here is my list, but I am terribly conflicted. Now a few disclaimers, the majority of the important band members must be alive, and there must be more than a small hope that they will either tour or play together again.
1. Led Zeppelin - I would go anywhere in the world for an opportunity to shoot them. I don't see it happening
2. The Rolling Stones - When they played Austin they only allowed 3 photogs to shoot. Next time I plan on being one of these 3.
3. U2 - They will never play Austin, but if I had a photo pass I'd fly to either coast.
4. The Sex Pistols - I would go anywhere in the states to shoot them. I would fly to London if the photo shoot included at least 2 minutes of verbal abuse directed at me by Johnny Rotten.
5. Pink Floyd - Who wouldn't want to shoot an inflatable pig? Got to be the whole band though.
6. KISS - This would be a can't miss for me, BUT it would have to be the original 4 members.
7. Judas Priest - This one may come true this summer! Not bloody likely, but it might.
8. ZZ Top - This one may come true THIS MONTH! YAHOO! And at The Backyard too, one of my favorite venues!
9. The Cure - This one may come true in June! Got my fingers crossed for their stop at the Austin Music Hall. If I don't get it I will be hosed all the way around since the show is way sold out and I didn't get a ticket.
10. Motorhead - This one may come true this summer, but very unlikely. They clamped down on photogs like the hand of god reaching down from the heavens to smite them at their recent Stubb's gig during SXSW
What bands would be on YOUR list and how far would you go to either shoot them or see them?
There have been so many good bands coming to Austin the last couple weeks it almost feels like SXSW again... almost. Some of the shows I have covered in the last 10 days include The Mars Volta, Ministry, Dimmu Borgir, Saves The Day, Pepper, and Say Anything, just to name the headliners.
Coming up this week we have Canadian prog-rockers Rush making their first stop in Austin for a long, long time tomorrow. We have been invited to cover the show, but if you want to go you'd better hurry because tickets for their Frank Erwin Center appearance have almost sold out.
Filter will launch first tour in 6 years NOT at Stubb's BarBQ in Austin as planned, but over at Emo's instead on Thursday. Filter frontman Richard Patrick last played Austin heading up the band Army of Anyone with Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots back in January of 07. The DeLeo's are off touring with the re-union of Stone Temple Pilots. Considering Scott Wieland's tour track record of late, I am glad I don't hold the insurance policy for that. I'm laying odds that STP won't make it through a third of their tour. Any takers? I would much rather see Filter than STP so look for me over at Emo's.
David Alan Coe brings outlaw country back to Stubb's on Friday, on Sunday the "Get A Life" tour plays Stubb's with Army Of Me, Straylight Run, and Street Drum Corps, and on Monday My Chemical Romance and Billy Talent also play Stubb's. You can also catch Joe Jackson on Monday over at The Paramount.
Wednesday April 30th ends the month with Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. over at the Frank Erwin Center. What a busy end to April!
Wednesday. The dogs got me up at 7:00am. The music festival officially starts at 9:00am. My plan is to get downtown by noon and get a fast start on the day parties. In fact I don't get there til about 2:00pm, and even that is slowed by parking issues. Finally finding a spot by The Mohawk I gear up and spend the afternoon sliding back and forth on Red River, dropping in at The Mohawk, then Emo's Annex, then Emo's Lounge, then back to the annex, then the Mohawk, then back to the lounge finally ending up at Paul Collins and The Beat's set at Beerland.
I saw a lot of interesting bands, the crowds were light, the lines nonexistent. The biggest problem was sorting out who I was seeing as the bands sometimes didn't match the order on the list. I still have 5 bands from Wednesday's day parties to identify but some of my favorites included The Forms out of New York and Zykos from here in Austin.
I had to cut my day partying short at 5:00pm. I had set a goal of trying to see a few of the headliners and I was going to have to hoof it to catch my first, Van Morrison, scheduled for an early 7:00pm set at La Zona Rosa, 10 or 12 blocks away. I knew he would be prompt as the venue was to going to "flip" genres after his set. By the time I got to the gate the badge line was already 20 deep, the wristband line even larger and by the time they let us in the lines were of epic proportions, stretching far around the building in both directions. I doubt all the badge holders made it in, much less any of the wristband holders.
With all the bands we shot during SXSW we were bound to have problems identifying a few of them, especially during the day parties. We have been able to figure out all the bands except for the ones listed below. All of them played day parties at either Emo's Lounge or Emo's Annex. If you know who any of these bands are please let us know and we will upload the rest of their photos.
Well it took a while but we have most of the SXSW 08 photos posted. I still have at least 4 bands to identify from some Wednesday day parties, but so far we have over 3000 photos posted from this years event. Click on a link below to check them out.
Moby at SXSW 2008 - more photos... photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer
by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
I was neglectful in my SXSW reporting by not posting as often as I should but my 2 hour round trip commute ate more posting time than I thought it would, and I spent all my free time trying to get my memory cards cleaned up. Or sleeping, sometimes. That said, here is the start of a day by day, blow by blow account of my SXSW 08 adventure.
Tuesday - Moby, Moby everywhere, I think I need a shrink. I guess you really never realize how many guys (and I shall note a few girls) look surprisingly like my nemesis Moby. After sitting through most of Moby's interview, listening to him name drop celebrities one after another, and leaving after he discussed his support of the HSUS (more on this later, on one of our other sites), I walked outside, and I swear Moby walked by. Ten minutes later, another Moby, then another, and another. I was surprised at just how many people are either taking fashion clues from him, or just happen to look like him. I mean there must be hundreds of people at SXSW that resembled Moby. Maybe I am just paranoid, but would somebody please tie a bell to him so I can at least know which one is the real Moby?
Billy Bob Thornton and The Box Masters at SXSW 2008 - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - staff photographer
I stopped by the Dell Lounge to sit in on a Q & A with Billy Bob Thornton, actor and musician. He was taking questions from the crowd and they were surprisingly reticent to ask anything. After asking 3 or 4 times for a question, I stuck my neck out and asked him if he preferred to be a rock star or a movie star. With a laugh and a big smile he answered that he liked being both but there were definitely differences in the fan base.
Later Clint and I managed to get into his set with his band The Boxmasters over at Antone's, which was a lot of fun. Luckily there was no line and they even managed to sell a few tickets. Billy Bob has a world class band backing him and he had some neat friends in the audience as well. I ran into Paula Nelson and had a chance to say hello, and up in the V.I.P area you could just make out Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Billy stepped on stage to say hello but didn't play.
Speaking of world class bands the SXSW escalators seemed to offer a treasure trove of music celeb's both minor and major. On Tuesday I ran into Micheal Des Barres on one trip up, and then on the reverse trip down I ran into Paul Collins and the Beat. Everywhere as far as you could see, tattooed rail thin musicians dressed in black trundled up and down the escalators as they got all checked in for the start of the music festival.
I called it a night after the Boxmaster set, leaving Clint in front of his hotel. I got to bed about 3:00a.m. after clearing my email, downloading photos and starting some laundry. The music festival will have started when I wake up and get down there.