"We don’t do genre. We’re not a psych band nor an industrial band nor what have you. Never were." - Tex Kerschen Read More »

That fog, That accursed fog.  It was everywhere.  Nobody could escape the heated glycerol mist that enveloped Mango’s on Friday night.  I know you don’t believe it, but I tells ya I saw it with my own two eyes.  First a band from Washington state, Christmas I believe their name was, went on the stage.  They were a female fronted post punk affair, and quite good really but no match for the fog.  It’s seemed that no amount of jagged bass lines or reverb washed guitars could hold back the mist and they were the first to disappear. Weird Party, ... Read More »

By Alan Smithee Conservative talk show host, former Houston City Councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Berry opened his mouth and, once again, hurt the image of the City of Houston. On his show last week Berry was answering a caller that he described as “belligerent” who asked about a planned Islamic Cultural Center that was recently approved for construction near ground zero. Instead of responding that he feels that opening a Cultural Center so close to the site of the World Trade Centers might allow for dialogue on Islam, the perceptions of Islam in the west as well as extremism ... Read More »

Yes, you’ve probably been wondering where our posts have been over SXSW. Well, first off, only I was supposed to to do daily blogging; Levi and April were going to do theirs this week as recaps. So why no posts? Well, lets just say that the rest of my posse showed up Thursday and when you are in the middle of a hurricane you just try to make it through alive. See here is the thing about SXSW, sure you have all the issues revolving around this big overblown marketing beast where small independent bands scream to be heard above ... Read More »

What do you do when you have two great shows next to each other? Why, club-hop of course! Now sure, this makes for a somewhat more frazzled experience and sure peeps prefer to just stay put but, given the artists performing and the intense contrast, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Over at the Mink’s Backroom you had Indian Jewelry, Dizzy Pilot, and The Wiggins while over at The Continental Club you had Archie Bell, The Mighty Hannibal, and Barbara Lynn. In short, this was the best juxtaposition of generations and genres one could hope for and ... Read More »

Well here it is, Monday, and not only did I survive the Hootenanny (link) but I also survived the Houston Press Music Awards. Having these two things back to back, admittedly, is pretty rough. So Sunday, being a bit worse for wear, I stayed away from the free booze and stuck to the vitamin water. One thing I have to say about the HPMAs this year is that the venues seemed farther apart than in previous years. Whereas last year you could step out of the Rice Hotel and immediately walk across to see say Insect Warfare, this year you ... Read More »

No Beer or Jameson fueled review this week folks. This week I’m keepin‘ it straight edge. But even if you weren’t abstaining, I hope you were able to make it out yesterday to the Block Party! I kicked around until 5pm and had to leave due to some other obligations but five hours was still quite the overdose of music. In those five hours I caught 20 acts and the stupid thing is, when I had to leave, I was bummed about having to miss Elaine Greer, The Papermoons, Oh Pioneers, Young Mammals, Rusted Shut and a whole host of ... Read More »