Howling Hex

A true musical nomad, the random tangents and musings of Neil Michael Hagerty have led to more than a few puzzled looks and general WTFs over the years. After spending the past two decades fronting two of most cacophonous and engaging rock 'n' roll outfits, first with Pussy Galore and then its '90s spin-off Royal Trux, Hagerty has toned things down considerably under the Howling Hex moniker, where random musicians assist in creating barnyard boogies. In 2005, for instance, Denton's The Theater Fire added some swoozy country flavor to the mix as the backing band for You Can't Beat Tomorrow, a CD/DVD combo that featured the one and only episode of Hex's "variety show" of the same name and its accompanying soundtrack. Its full-length follow-up, Nightclub Versions of the Eternal, released last year on Drag City, reverts to drug-riddled, drawn-out jams led by Hagerty's swaggering guitar. Proceed with caution, expect the worst and then find yourself pleasantly surprised. Locals Tame...Tame and Quiet will kick things off.