Paul Collins Beat
Genre: Rock Hometown: New York NY
www.paulcollinsbeat.com
Friday, March 16 12:00 a.m.
Habana Calle 6 Patio (709 E 6th St)
(subject to change)
Back in 1980, when both Paul Collins and I had a lot more hair and Austin was just becoming the hotbed of the alternative music scene that it is today, some interesting tours came to town. One of these included a gig by Paul Weller's UK band the Jam, at the old Armadillo World Headquarters. Opening that gig was a band called the Beat that I expected to be the ska band of the same name, also from the U.K.
Instead it turned out to Paul Collins' Beat, or the L.A. Beat, a slick, buzzy powerpop foursome whose sound showed a variety of influences. Lead by Paul Collins, who along with Peter Case was one of the founding members of the Nerves, the Beat bounded from Beatlesesque harmonies, to almost a pure Ramones rip, to Stray Cats -nfluenced guitar twang, each song seemingly hookier than the next. The influences came honestly, with Paul and the Nerves touring with the Ramones in 74, and the Nerves even penning the song "Hanging on The Telephone" later made a hit by their friends in Blondie.
After a 10 year hiatus from the music scene, Paul Collins will return with the Beat to Austin's SXSW festival with an official SXSW gig as well as several other local sets. We were lucky enough to get a chance to talk to him about his SXSW gig and what is was like back in the day before there was an "alternative" or "indie" music scene. Click on the player link under the fold to listen to the interview.
The Paul Collins Beat SXSW/Austin Schedule
WEDNESDAY MARCH 14
KOOP Radio Live internet broadcast air time 7pm
THURSDAY MARCH 15
4:30 cd signings for the South by Bookstore Entire Band
in the SXSW Trade Show. The book store is located in the trade
show along the back wall, Booths M18-O18.
SATURDAY MARCH 17
Havana Calle 6 Patio 709 E 6th St.
SXSW SHOW TIME 12 a.m. (Midnight)
Antone's Record Store
2928 Guadalupe
Austin, TX (512) 322-0660
FREDDIE STEADY'S FRONTIER A GO GO
7th Annual Showcase & Rock & Roll Hootenanny
PAUL COLLINS - 7 PM
THE FREDDIE STEADY FIVE - 6 PM
THE UGLY BEATS - 5 PM
EVE & THE EXILES - 4 PM
JENNY WOLFE & THE PACK - 3 PM
THE TEXCENTRICS - 2 PM
RUBY DEE & THE SNAKEHANDLERS - 1 PM