A bit of a slow-down this Tuesday evening. But there are still a couple of quality shows worth checking in on...
Kevin Seconds at The Double Wide (Update: This show has been completely canceled now.)
With the cancellation of the
performance of former X frontwoman Exene Cervenka on this bill, opening act Kevin
Seconds has been thrust forward into the headliner's role. And it's not like
the guy is new to topping a bill: As the leader of 7 Seconds, one of the
best hardcore punk acts of the early '80s, Seconds was an anomaly
in that he could actually sing -- not that anyone noticed in the early
days, as the band's typical punk roar obscured Seconds' nice set of
pipes. After slowing things down by 1989, 7 Seconds released Soulforce
Revolution, a wonderful mixture of U2's arena-friendly alt-rock and
punk's political spirit. Derided by narrow-minded skinheads as a
sellout, Soulforce is easily the best thing in 7 Seconds' lengthy
catalog. For several years now, Seconds has been doing the acoustic
singer-songwriter thing. And, hey, the lower volume suits him (and his aging
audience) just fine.
Pass Kontrol at Lola's Saloon in Fort Worth
Hailing out of
Brooklyn, Pass Kontrol are a clever and catchy quartet that plays a mix
of soul and rock that is just nerdy enough to remain indie. With a
singer who goes two octaves higher than what's comfortable for him,
songs like "Twins" and "I'm All Alone" come across like a garage band
getting drunk and covering Prince. And even though such a description
sounds awful, Pass Kontrol is anything but. Funky and raw, the music has
an undeniably weird spirit that goes beyond four white dudes trying to
find some true soul.
The Secret and The Funeral Pyre at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio in Denton
The
Secret (despite the generic moniker) are actually an Italian metal/punk
outfit that has been around for nearly a decade. Certainly capable of
tearing the roof off just about any venue, the band's bass-heavy roar is
a guaranteed headache-inducer for the uninitiated. Song titles like
"Death Alive," "Double Slaughter" and "Pleasure in Self Destruction"
tell you just about everything you need to know. Also on tonight's bill
are The Funeral Pyre, a black-metal band from California that is just
as intense as the headliner. This is definitely the loudest show of the
evening.
