It’ll sound odd, but I really can’t express how happy it makes me to see that they’re now sporadically showing movies outdoors downtown at Discovery Green. Stupid, I know, but in movies of “cool” cities, the thing that always kills me is when Protagonist & Love Interest manage to end up at an outdoor showing […]
Written on April 5, 2009 | Posted in
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Still one day to go for the weekend, and while there’s not a ton of shows, again, this is quality vs. quantity here. The two shows that do look to be good this Sunday, April 5th are relative biggies: Jandek @ Rudyard’s ($4; 2:30PM!) This will be absolutely, completely sold-out; I’d just about bet on […]
Written on April 5, 2009 | Posted in
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Like I said before, not enough time to hit everything — and even on a relatively light weekend, there’s a lot to hit. Sunday’ll have to wait, though, because honestly, the stuff going on both Saturday and Sunday deserve special attention. First (er, second) up, then, is the stuff for tomorrow, Saturday, April 4th: The […]
Written on April 3, 2009 | Posted in
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While I’ll admit this weekend isn’t as insanely jam-packed with show-going goodness as some in recent days, you’re making a big ol’ mistake if you dismiss it & decide it’s DVD-renting time. We’re talking quality here, folks, not quantity. I can’t get it all listed right now, but here’s some more of what’s up tonight, […]
Written on April 3, 2009 | Posted in
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Yep, we’ve got a pile of new reviews up online as of late-late-late last night, so I figured I’d better point ’em out, esp. since one of the bands reviewed, Austin’s Grady, is playing tonight (Fri., April 3rd) up at The Continental Club. I honestly hadn’t heard of these folks ’til this Houston visit, but […]
Written on April 3, 2009 | Posted in
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[Ed. Note: And here, a few days late — sorry about that, y’all — is the last installment of SXSW coverage by SCR/Houston Calling writer David A. Cobb. As before, all photos are David’s.] I had an early start to my last day at South By Southwest, catching up on email and loading up on […]
Written on March 27, 2009 | Posted in
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I heard through the grapevine the other day that the Merge+Music Festival that was slated for April 11th had been cancelled — which would’ve been a real shame — so I got a hold of Austin-dwelling organizer Andy (also of Your Kisses Cause Crashes, a fine, fine, synths&guitars crew who’ll be playing tomorrow at the […]
Written on March 27, 2009 | Posted in
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I’ve often suspected that there’s some kind of quasi-Newtonian Law of Houston Scene Coolness Equilibrium at work here, y’all. Every time something genuinely good and cool happens, bad shit follows. sigh. Naturally, right after posting about Something Fierce gearing up to put out stuff on Dirtnap Recs, I get word that another one of my […]
Written on March 26, 2009 | Posted in
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UPDATE: After long and careful consideration, I’ve added my own little recommendations to the graphic over there on the right (click it for the larger, easier-to-read version, btw). Bands/musicians with a red star next to ’em are folks I’m going to frantically attempt to see, either because I know they’re badass (i.e., The Western Civilization, […]
Written on March 25, 2009 | Posted in
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It’s been a rough week for the out-of-towners — Kevin Seconds & Kepi Ghoulie were no-shows at their scheduled date, The Queers didn’t end up getting paid for their recent show, and San Antonioans (and SCR faves) Girl In A Coma got in a fight with the H-town police and ended up in jail on […]
Written on March 25, 2009 | Posted in
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For a while now, I’ve been passing around mix CDs of music made by Houston-based bands & musicians, forcing the CDs on friends & family with the manic, “why don’t you all understand?” zeal of a fresh-faced missionary kid knocking on apartment complex doors at 9AM on a Saturday so he can spread The Good […]
Written on March 23, 2009 | Posted in
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Er, forests. I spent the day frantically trying to meet a biggie work deadline and gather/pack all kinds of camping gear for the midget’s first-ever family camping trip the starts tomorrow, up in the Sam Houston National Forest (where they let you have actual campfires — woo-hoo!), and I have flat run out of time. […]
Written on March 21, 2009 | Posted in
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[Ed. Note: The second installment e-mailed-in by SCR SXSW correspondent David A. Cobb; all photos by him…] Unfortunately day two didn’t get off to a great start. Smacked in the head and guts (and feet) with the fact I am not, in fact, 25 years old anymore, I was in hell for the better part […]
Written on March 20, 2009 | Posted in Uncategorized
[Ed. Note: David Cobb‘s been running nonstop since getting up to Austin, not too surprisingly, so I’ll be posting his emailed-in updates in his stead. All photos were taken by David, too…] The first day of South By Southwest always starts with travel of some sort. This one was a cheap, early bird flight to […]
Written on March 20, 2009 | Posted in Uncategorized
Just a quick, quick mention of where you should probably be this evening — 7PM! free! — and that’s up at Sound Exchange on Richmond, (gently) rocking out to the quirky, ridiculously clever (yet not pretentious) nerd-pop of The Mathletes. Imagine the sweetest, friendliest bunch of people you know, throw in large heaping helpings of […]
Written on March 19, 2009 | Posted in
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The site-watchers out there (yeah, I know there’re a few of you) may’ve already noticed, but just in case, we’ve got a new batch of reviews up on this here site, and we’re pretty darn proud of ’em… First and foremost, yours truly reviewed the debut self-titled full-length from Canadians Women, who happen to be […]
Written on March 18, 2009 | Posted in
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Well, we’re just about there — the lucky, non-work-having bastards among us, that is. Yours truly blew all his time off flying to London & back earlier this month, so he’s once again going to have to miss the SXSW shenanigans once again…I’m gonna make it there one year, I swear (still working on the […]
Written on March 18, 2009 | Posted in
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Whoa…almost completely forgot to mention all the insanity going on tonight, which is a ridiculously bad thing, considering how good this stuff is. Before I lose my mind again, here’s the pile of good things with which to while away your Happy Irishy Day evening: Beach House/Jana Hunter @ The Orange Show (7PM; $10) At […]
Written on March 17, 2009 | Posted in
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Despite feeling all week/weekend like a truck’s run over me repeatedly (I’m blaming the heavy doses of antibiotics I’m on thanks to an infected tooth I had to get root-canaled on Wed.), I ventured out last night (Sat., March 14th) to check out Adele at Warehouse Live, in the pseudo-scuzzy converted warehouses of Old Chinatown. […]
Written on March 15, 2009 | Posted in
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Crap. This one sounded like a very cool deal, and I was getting all ready to enthuse-enthuse-enthuse about it (no, really). The Heartworn Highways show was supposed to take place tomorrow (Sat., March 14th) over at The Orange Show, but due to the nonstop rain we’ve had these past 48 hrs. or so in various […]
Written on March 13, 2009 | Posted in Uncategorized
Plenty to do this weekend, folks, so much that I’m having (again) to split it up somewhat… Here’s the best & brightest hopes for this here Friday, March 13th evening, for all those inclined to brave the abruptly chilly weather: Forests (album release)/Co-Pilot/Robert Ellis/Golden Cities @ The Mink ($5; 9PM) I’m not real familiar with […]
Written on March 13, 2009 | Posted in
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Yes, it’s that long-awaited moment: H-town prodigals (now dwelling in Austin, apparently) Papermoons have returned, albeit temporarily, to grace us with their amazingly cool presence. Last year the duo put out their debut full-length, blowing away folks here and elsewhere with their gentle, comfy-blanket, folk-fringed indie-pop masterpiece New Tales (and since I’m all about the […]
Written on March 12, 2009 | Posted in
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Yeah, I’m so dang behind I hadn’t even listed it yet (sorry; dead tooth = much pain + infection + vomiting + etc., etc.), but just in case you read about it elsewheres & were planning to run on over to the U of H Satellite this afternoon from 11AM-2PM, the inaugural Indiehouston.org UH showcase […]
Written on March 12, 2009 | Posted in
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Whoo, boy. Late night last night, so I’m damn behind (again) on the ridiculously huge pile of shows going on tonight; trying to make up for lost time now, so here goes: Pajama Kegger Party, featuring The Tontons, Heptic Skeptic, Female Demand, B L A C K I E, Babel Fishh, Evak1, & Nosaprise @ Analog Warehouse (2010 Commerce; $8 in […]
Written on March 7, 2009 | Posted in
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Yep, yep, yep — Friday night, and so here I am again posting this last-minute little note to mention that we’ve got a pile of brand-new reviews up (along with the excellent MI Ami interview I blathered about a few days ago). The reason for the hurried posting? Well, because this latest batch includes a […]
Written on March 6, 2009 | Posted in
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First we got local indie/punk supergroup Guitars, then the buzzy, trippy, extremely loose confederation calling itself Time Machine Veterans (any hope of an actual release, y’all?), and now we have brand-spankin’-new local crew Bolt, comprised of Jeoaf of The Monocles, Chad of Black Black Gold, Aaron of Pirate Bones, & Mike of American Sharks — […]
Written on March 5, 2009 | Posted in
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I know there’ve been a few false starts, but this time all the paperwork’s supposedly in order, so hopefully this is the real deal. First got the word from Omar over at Free Press Houston, and the place’s Website seems to confirm it: artspace/venue/random cool/quirky place Super Happy Fun Land has lurched back to life […]
Written on March 5, 2009 | Posted in
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I’ll admit that I’m tempted by tonight’s show at Fitzgerald’s, because The Hudson Falcons are pretty great, but honestly, The Mink is The Place to Be this evening. Local boys Tambersauro will be opening this evening (Wed., March 4th), starting around 9PM, for Baltimoreans (Baltimories?) Thank You and San Franciscans (and ex-Black Eyes members) Mi […]
Written on March 4, 2009 | Posted in
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Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to SCR homey and longtime contributor Marc Hirsh, who in addition to being an all-round great writer and reviewer, killer foursquare player, and funny guy, is currently on the air on NPR’s “Here & Now”. He’s talking about his latest project, exposing the “Sensitive Female Chord Progression”, the […]
Written on March 4, 2009 | Posted in
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Well, it’s better than that, really — tonight’s looking pretty damn good to my homebound ass. If you have yet to decide your evening, well, it’s not too late; enjoy those chilly evenings while you can, y’all… No Idea Festival, featuring Mario de Vega, Jawwaad Taylor, Annette Krebs, Jason Kahn, Bonnie Jones, David Dove, & […]
Written on March 1, 2009 | Posted in
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I’m all for helping folks out when you can, and when it comes to local art institution The Orange Show, that help is well-deserved & beyond. It’s a cool place, one of the most unique of H-town’s many (no, really) unique things, and on top of that, the upcoming bands they’ve got scheduled are pretty […]
Written on March 1, 2009 | Posted in
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Attention all band folk — want to play South By Southwest this year, but you didn’t get the coveted nod from the festival organizers? Well, don’t get too down on yourself, ’cause relatively few (23 in total, I’m told; see the full list here) of your H-town compatriots are; not sure if that means fewer […]
Written on March 1, 2009 | Posted in
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The last 24 hours have been somewhat of an up-and-down experience. The clutch on the car died last night, leaving us dead in the water on Chimney Rock and requiring two new parts that I can’t get put in ’til Monday night; gah. At the same time, though, my faith in humanity was somewhat restored […]
Written on February 28, 2009 | Posted in
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Okay, so there’s a crap-ass-load of good things going on this weekend (tonight being no exception), but I’m still staggering back to my feet, so I’m going to have to give the quick-fast, mile-high overview. I am behind, behind, behind, folks, and it’s a sad thing. sigh… At any rate, here’s my picks for the […]
Written on February 27, 2009 | Posted in
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A bit of administrative-type news first — I’m heading out shortly for a much-needed vacation to the wife’s sister’s place in London (well, Ealing, actually, but it’s technically London, although that’s a bit like saying Surfside is technically Houston), so things’re likely to be a bit quiet on the blogging/reviewing/etc. front for next week-and-a-half or […]
Written on February 15, 2009 | Posted in
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I know, I know — spent the last two days running around like a chicken with my head cut off, for reasons I’ll hopefully enumerate soon in another post, and so I’ve been slacking big-time on writing up the good shit going on this weekend. And yeah, there’s a ton of it (hell, that almost […]
Written on February 14, 2009 | Posted in
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Got two updates for the week, although if I get my shit together, there’ll hopefully be a few more reviews going up soon… First of all, I owe a big thank-you to new writer Michelle, who tracked down Scottish free-improvisation vocalist Maggie Nicols for what turned out to be an intriguing interview (check it out […]
Written on February 14, 2009 | Posted in
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[UPDATE: Okay, so I apparently jumped the gun; sadly, the Dead Roses crew had to cancel tonight’s festivities due to weather & Bronwyn being sick. Dang. They’re now pushing it back to after SXSW & the Rodeo are both over…] Got an email warning that tonight, in honor of the anniversary of the band’s founding, […]
Written on February 13, 2009 | Posted in Uncategorized
This illness thing has me way, way behind — I’m still pissed that I missed this Tuesday’s reportedly-excellent Loney, Dear/News on the March/Alkari show, not to mention the fact that I totally blanked on awesome post-hardcore guys A Wilhelm Scream coming to the Javajazz. Argh. But dammit, I am determined — I won’t be in […]
Written on February 12, 2009 | Posted in
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Damn. Just when I thought being sick as a dog would have to be the worst part of today (for me, at least), things get even worse… I just found out in a roundabout way (i.e., Facebook and Jeoaf Monocles’ post on the Hands Up board) that ADR (aka Ryan Clark) has taken down his […]
Written on February 12, 2009 | Posted in
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