bachelor party weekend pt 2

Just having realized that my last Saturday as a bachelor was gonna spent with INsite Austin Magazine editor Sean Claes and long time, live rock video enthusiast, and documentor of all things metal and awesome in Austin - Dave "Dave TeeVee" Prewitt, I might as well review some shows.

We went down to the Red Eyed Fly on Red River in Austin, Texas. Pretty much in the heart of the entertainment district. There were 2 bands performing on their nifty outside stage this nice evening.

As you walk in the Red Eyed Fly (http://redeyedfly.com/events/) there is a wall that immediately greats you upon stepping in the entrance. As you walk around it to either side you discover a very decent sized bar area. Lots of tables and seating and a long bar on the wall to your right. As you walk through the club to the back, the bathrooms are to your right also. Out back is where the magic happens. A large stone area with a stage set directly in front of you and another bar to your right. It either stays very cool out here in the fall and winter time or humid as hell the other 11 months of the year, as the bar backs up to Waller Creek.

The first band on stage was Austins own Burn Ban (https://www.facebook.com/burnbanatx). A local 2 piece punk band with all the balls needed to make you believe. Although the crowd was ridiculously small for a Saturday night, I can tell you it had nothing to do with the band. Burn Ban was fun. You couldn't see the drummer but you could hear him. The vocalist/guitarist was definitely running the show. Nothing flashy about these guys...except for the singers socks. This is punk as punk should be and sometimes is. Short 2 minute songs. Fast paced, loud, and harsh. With lyrical content the may or may not e something to laugh at (e.g. - their song 'Suck My Dick' is not what you think it is about....or is it?).

The second band we saw was Whiskey of the Damned (https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyoftheDamned), and Damned fine these guys were! I would have so loved to seen this performance on St Patrick's Day with a crowd of 2000 drunken revelers enjoying the performance. They are an Irish band from Wisconsin(?), Celtic Rock for real though. This was another one of those shocker performances you dream about. When it was over you looked around and realized that the hundreds or thousands that should have been in attendance just missed out on something they will never aurally be able to experience again.

Whiskey of the Damned was about as kick ass and fun as you can get. A touring band that Austin got lucky enough to have stop here, and sad enough because a promoter fucked them over. It was fun, it was entertaining, it was a down in the crowd experience. If you have ever been to a St. Patrick's Day celebration with one of THOSE fun rock bands everyone seems to love and enjoy....they wish they could be as great as Whiskey of the Damned. I usually like to talk about how much fun the audience had at a show. Seeing as the crowd was made up of their roadie, some wives or girlfriends, the bar staff, and some riff-raff that writes about music...you will just have to settle for my experience.

THEY WERE GREAT! The drummer came out and played drums on an empty keg. They rotated guitarist/drummer/singer/bassist. They were all over the place in the most fun and chaotic fashion. And it all circled around some absolutely great music.

Sorry everyone missed this. Look them up and I will see you at the show next time they hit Austin.















Laters

Rockin it SXSW style

pt.2 of my day 1

Red Eyed Fly ( http://www.redeyedfly.com/home.html ) is just down the street from Blue Moon. Still within the Music District, on Red River. Now for anyone reading this understand that Red River is more of the Rock/Metal/Punk area of the music district. With clubs/venues like Red Eyed Fly, Mohawk, and Red 7...this is definitely the faster paced, pulse pounding side of the district. The two bands experienced this nite were undoubtedly on the metal edge.

This club if you haven't been is more or less typical in the set up. Meaning and two stages, one inside and one outside in this case. Got a small seating area in the front to the right and a pool table to the left. Once you enter around the partition, you see a nice sized area with the stage to the left back corner and the bar on the right. All the way to the back and outside the doors was where the action was happening!

Through the double doors in the back opens to a large area with a bar to the right and the stage dead ahead. It is an uneven surface with steps and a slope leading up to the stage. A tree (wtf? really?) on the left and another seating area/merch area/green room (HA!). This backs up to Waller Creek so it stays cool or really fuckin humid depending on the time of year.

Hyde Park Showdown (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hyde-Park-Showdown/111771925540162) was throwing it down like crazy men. Originals that kicked you in the nuts and an attitude that matched. You can tell these guys were all business and loved the grinding guitars and pounding rhythms. I look forward to catching these guys again when I want to just yell and get my metal on. Ending with Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" was very fuckin cool and nice that they did it justice. Putting their own twist on the vocals, but keeping the music honest and original. AWESOME! Much respect.

and then there was one...Snake Skin Prison (http://www.facebook.com/SnakeSkinPrisonMFATX). This three piece puts it out like there were 5 guys onstage. Non stop action and sound the whole time they are onstage. They are our version of metal gods here in Austin. With a good ol' boy, hellbilly accent from the lead singer/guitarist, to the crazy, all over the damn place bass player...WOW! The music is nothing but pure whiskey drinking, hell raising metal. Audience interaction is a must and expected, so be prepared. If the lead singer is coaxing you to raise your glasses, the bass player is in the audience pushing, shoving, and dripping sweat EVERYWHERE! 

Laters

He Had bells...really!

Red Eyed Fly ( http://www.redeyedfly.com/home.html ) from the outside seems a little unassuming. It looks really small, but goes to prove that looks can be deceiving. With room inside for a pool table, a lounge by the entrance, stage in the back corner and a long bar on the side there is plenty of room here to check out a band and still have a conversation. Outback....HOLY SHIT! This place has got a GREAT area off of Waller Creek with a stage in the far back and a very decent side area for the crowd to watch shows.

Strolled on in with mijita on my arm to check out The Noble Prize ( http://www.facebook.com/thenobleprize?sk=info ). These guys are a 3 piece relocated from Harlingen and bringing their own brand of music to the capital city. I hate to make comparisons to cause what I hear may not be what you hear. In fact when I commented on the sound to Mariza she kinda just stared at me (don't think she agreed), so I will leave it to you.

BUT DUDE, THEY HAD BELLS! That's right, bells...like marching band bells. I was very surprised. Don't think I have ever run into that one yet, so there is another first. Performance wise the sound, tempo, vocals, and music was very much on the mellow side. Not what I would pick for a Saturday to set it off, BUT during the week, during a happy hour I could chill out to this while having a beer. The lyrical content and song titles may be misleading, i.e. - "Nightmares", but then it's mellow with bells. It is as their ReverbNation page says and there FB page...Indie and alternative, great descriptors. Each part of the ensemble was solid, but as a whole they are still growing. I do believe the bass player said they have been playing together 1-12 months (the Lonestar may have my memory slightly off).

Give them a listen on the web, then check out a location and make your decision.

Laters

Enough Metal for the Airport detectors

Saturday nite at the Red Eyed Fly. The Kids, myself and 4 1/2 hrs of metal. Although we did not make it in time for the first band we still had 4 more bands with plenty of kick to make us forget! Cannon ATX, Butcherwhite, Holy Hell Rod, AND Snake Skin Prison! The variation of metal was the sounds of maybe some old Judas Priest and Metallica (ala Cliff) to Pantera and Lamb of God. Not all together that different, but different enough that I think every one was pleased, and as a metal fan (if you are) any one of these groups would be good enough to stand on their own and be a worthwhile $5 for some fun and thrashing.

Cannon ATX ( http://www.myspace.com/cannonatx ), so these guys are from right here in the ATX and as in the forward, these were the guys that seemed  (IMHO) to have a very old school Metallica sound. NOT the vocals, but the sound, and it was definitely mixed with some other influences that escape me, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Lead singers voice was totally unexpected and had a quite lyrical quality to it. There was actually a decent crowd enjoying, a mixture of the musicians from the other bands as well as fans. So if ya got a couple o'bucks or there is a no cover night when you happen upon a club where they are playing, stop in, have a beer and a listen.

Butcherwhite ( http://www.myspace.com/butcherwhite ) was up next and of the three bands prior to SSP, these guys kicked it the way I like to hear it. DO NOT give me any shit about this comparison as it is my own and it is what I heard ( it has NOTHING to do with the fact that the lead singer is follicley [sp?] challenged, LOL). This was a very Judas Priest - British Steel kind of sound, of course their Austin originality shines through, but it was awesome with the dueling lead guitars. Just a great old school metal sound. I had a lot of fun listening to this band and apparently this is where Billy started to get his second wind, got up and started enjoying and moving through the crowd. Even here, the crowd remained consistent and showed that they were definitely down with this sound too. These guys will have my couple of bucks anytime I get to catch them around town, for sure!

Holy Hell Rod ( http://www.myspace.com/holyhellrod ) is from Houston and I, as well as Angelina and some other crazy boys in the audience, were definitely up for this. Somewhat of a cross between Pantera and Lamb of God, these guys really blew this shit up. At one point the lead singer even apologized for being so different and heavy...WTF! Dude we may be in Austin and keeping it weird but we STILL know how to rock. Angel really, really liked this band for the night and even commented that the vocals were reminiscent of Devil Wears Prada, I guess, but I think she was just hearing the singing from the throat. Hopefully they will be able to make some other shows here in Austin. Holy Hell, I think they could support a show as a headliner. SO, in Houston go find a rock bar, and if they are playing, step in and you will thoroughly enjoy.

With all of that said, Snake Skin Prison ( http://www.snakeskinprison.com/index2.html ) was the specialty on the plate for the night. As irony would have it, I heard an interview with these guys on the radio about a year ago and heard some of their songs, yup I was imprisoned, HA! Anyway, after BS'ing with a buddy at work, he totally snapped and put Matt (lead singer and guitarist) of SSP and I together on Facebook. So to you Dave TeeVee ( http://www.rawtime.com/ ), los ninos y yo salute you. Thanks for the heads up and we all three loved the performance. Matt to you and your bad ass fuckin hillbilly accent, can't wait til you break out and become a rock god. IN the meantime for the rest of you reading this, you HAVE TO go see SSP when you get a chance. From the looks of the crowd and all the damn SSP shirts, they already have a helluva following, but you can join TOO! Matt makes a baddassss story teller onstage, makes it completely fun for the audience. The bass player makes a point of getting down, roaming the crowd, and being completely interactive. The music was like this...a mix of Molly Hatchet and Matts own brain farts...so it was awesome. You don't have to know any of the songs because by the chorus you would be screaming along with the rest of the audience. Just awesome!

all photos by: Angel Skye and Billy

Laters