At 56, Graham Parker has lost little of the caustic bile that informed so much of his best work of the mid- to late ’70s. Always mislabeled as “angry,” Parker’s songs can better be described as surly and intellectual. A potent songwriter with an eye for hypocrisy and mistaken vanity,…
Mary J, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys take note: All Amy Winehouse did was hire a live band, have Mark Ronson put a retro, ’60s girl group/Motown spin on the sound and produce an album that’s remarkably fresh. Nothing is really new, but because contemporary R&B has been so slickly packaged,…
Girls are different from boys, example No. 926: all-gal rappers Northern State vs. old-school fools the Beastie Boys. Both groups come from New York (although the State hails from the mall-ridden sprawl of Long Island, while the Boys are from the mean-ish streets of Brooklyn), both have three very white…
Southern Culture on the Skids A little more than 10 years ago, I actually proposed to my girlfriend at a Southern Culture on the Skids New Year’s Eve show in New Jersey. Why not, I figured—there was the onstage limbo contest, the fried chicken the band threw into the crowd,…
There’s a reason why radio stations still play classic rock, why Led Zep riffs still send fists pumping through the air, why a chunky 4/4 bass drum beat still resonates through the chest like no other: The shit is good. Sure, you make fun of mullet meatheads and music from…
The VIP card is a delicate and dangerous thing. Obtained via one’s prestige, wealth (parental or personal) and ability to shamelessly schmooze, it can open doors to many exclusive experiences. But recent evidence suggests overuse can result in mental breakdowns involving panty-forgetting and head-shaving. Rehab, ahoy! But I am no…
With the passing of Jerry Garcia, not only did the Grateful Dead (thankfully and belatedly) end as a functioning unit, but also hordes of imitators wasted little time in vying for the mantle of chief jam band, top purveyors of nonstop guitar noodling contained in epic songs with absolutely nothing…
There’s no easy way to sum up a week without vegetables. There’s plenty of one-sided banter, live audio and interviews on our daily SXSW podcasts. But, in short, here’s what I’m still thinking about, two days home from South By Southwest.Best Show: Cold War Kids Click the photo to watch…
Riverfront Times freelancer Jaime Lees is a huge Stooges fan. Here’s her report on the group’s set at Stubbs. It’s hard to find the line between journalistic appreciation and gushing fan girl. There have been quite a few occasions when I’ve had to put aside my love of Converse-wearing guitarists…
Click the photo to watch an audio slideshow of last night’s show featuring live audio from KOL’s set. Kings of Leon: After Palo Nutini; before Spoon; even more before The Stooges Would Meatface Approve? Yes. And he’d give a kick to the Scrabble bag to any hipster who said otherwise…
His hat says, “Fuck y’all I’m from Texas.” His shirt says, “Drunk? Free Breathalyzer Test, Blow Here.” And his body language says, “If you talk to me, I will spit on you.” Excuse me, sir? [Looks up from his romance novel. Grimaces.] . . . Oh. Sorry? . . …
The sign of a damn good time. Somebody fucked up. Hard to read, but it says, Ha ha! I’m in Austin and you’re not!…
Last year, it was Lady Sovereign. This year, it was supposed to be Lily Allen. But boozy blues chanteuse Amy Winehouse was the name that emerged as the next hot U.K. diva-to-be at SxSW. We’re happy to say we saw her a few times. We’re sorry to say that none…
We figured that most of the people packed onto the patio at Red 7 on Friday, March 16, were there to see seminal punks J Church. The SxSW Pocket Guide listed “special guests” as the act that would follow J Church, and we hadn’t a clue as to who the…
The water here in Austin isn’t helping the delicious nappyness. It’s simultaneously sticky and slippery, can leave a film, and leaves conditioner obsolete. And no matter how hard you try, that shampoo ain’t coming out of your hair. Once the sweat sinks in, you’re facing sticky fingers and an afternoon…
Stalking. Shimmying. Hands-on-hips swivels. Tight-ass visible through blinding glitter pants. Just play one of the old ones and we’ll eat out of your hands. Perry Farrell’s back catalog gives him the right to make those giant gestures onstage –grandiose, tai-chi movements, arms cutting through the air as if altering time…
Names: Chris Juargo (left) and Mikey Bielecki (right) Spotted: 6th. Chris, handing me a flier: Come to our show tonight. We’re in a band called Fight the Quiet. Only if you let me take your picture. Mikey: You have to get in the picture with us. We like hugs. There’s…
Click the photo for an audio slideshow for Rev.’s set. Please forgive my brevity, but I just fell asleep for 10 minutes with this computer on my lap and I can’t afford to let that happen again. I hear the computer-in-lap consequences are a lot worse than if I bored…
On Friday, March 16, Phoenix-based band The Breakup Society rocked the patio stage at Habana Calle 6, during the Get Hip Records showcase. It was a miracle the garage/pop/rock band made the gig at all — the group left Phoenix to make the drive to Austin late on Wednesday night,…
Our associate, Victoria Renard, was all up in Iggy’s grill when The Stooges played (Seattle radio station) KEXP’s broadcast from Austin City Limits. Click the photo for an audio slideshow…
The Bravery slept through their set at the Village Voice Media Party But, I have to say, they appeared well groomed and clean. They probably got a shower this morning. Maybe that’s why their set lacked in the rock category. Although, I’m willing to be convinced otherwise. I could only…
