WE ARE THE CHAMPS – PREVIEWING THE WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2008

Neil “The Real Deal” Higginbotham (Diggin’ Bottom)

Over the past year or so I have had the unparalleled pleasure of becoming acquainted with one of the finest indie rock powerhouses to which this fair city could hold claim. With strains of Guided by Voices, Sebadoh, Mudhoney, and etc etc etc etc etc, Lazy Horse delivered non-stop jams with a hearty dose of rock and roll gymnastics. Lead by heir to the throne of Pollard Neil Higginbotham, backed by the magnificent Katy Poland on drums and kicked into high gear (literally) by Charles Larrabee (ex-Mathletes), Lazy Horse pound out the drinkdrankdrunkiest of rough and ready indie rock and roll. Along the way they sloughed off the barnacles and changed the game with the acquisition of Jake “Snakey” Hayward (Monocles, Guitars) on bass. Perfection achieved, the time seemed prime for that step into the big leagues…but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.

I always blamed this city’s indifference on the assumption that nobody cared about the sweetest and purest of indie rock, you know, that mid-nineties sound. But as it turns out, good ol’ Lazy Horse were merely ahead of their time as is evidenced by a stroll past an Urban Outfitters display.

Exhibit A: Lohan

Exhibit B: Click here and check out the Neil-Jake collaboration Fizzy Bubelch doing a sweet little take on Sebadoh's "Happily Divided" (Called "Happy Times" here.)

Even though the times may finally be catching up with these killers, this week sees the final two shows by the best band you never saw. But there’s still time change that, time for this city to redeem itself! I recommend with every stitch that you go to Rudyard’s this Thursday night to see this band that cannot be forgotten. Go to this show and then go back and tell your friends what you heard and bring them to Boondocks on Monday (with Lenny Briscoe and some other special guests).. You. Will. Not. Be. Sorry.

I would also like to recommend emailing secretsaturdayshows@gmail.com for the secret location of the first post-Shady Tavern Secret Saturday Show which is going on Saturday (duuuuuuuh) during the day. It features Mathletes, sings, Time Machine Veterans, Sew What, some band that you can’t do internet searches for and many more.

And here’s the rest…

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 28, 2009

listenlisten at The Mink – The fact that few bands in this town boast such beautiful instrumentation is just one of the reasons to attend this after party for Coffee

THURSDAY JANUARY 29, 2009

Los Campesinos with Titus Andronicus at Walter’s – Ok, so maybe you already bought tickets to this and think you can’t see Lazy Horse, well, it’s Rudyard’s those shows always start later. You can go to both.

Los Campesinos at Cactus (5:30PM) – If you didn’t buy tickets to the show come out and have some free St. Arnold’s at a sure to be killer in-store.

FRIDAY JANUARY 30, 2009

Tax the Wolf, Ellypseas, and We Are Halffnelson at Aztecas - Margaritas, nachos, and rock and roll sounds like a great combination!

Hell City Kings, American Fangs (EP Release!), Arcane Flowers, and The Backalley Sluts at Rudyard's - Bring some soap because you know things are gonna get dirty!

Wild Moccasins at Cactus (5:30PM) – What a great week for in-stores!!!

Fucked Up, Iron Age, The JonBenet, and Black Congress at Walter’s – John Baldwin highly recommends that you go see Fucked Up.

SATURDAY JANUARY 31, 2009

MV+EE, Linus Pauling Quartet, and Wols Rudyard’s– I’m pretty ecstatic about these Ecstatic Peace-ers doing their thing Saturday night. A perfect post SSS activity.

Ume CD Release with Bring Back the Guns and Woozyhelmet – I swear I’ve seen this line-up on a Proletariat flyer…

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers at The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston means you’re one day closer to Houston!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2009

Ska Fest at The Meridian – Is 2009 the year that ska re-breaks? How crazy is it that the Slackers are now considered “elder-statesmen” of the rocksteady sound?

Annihilation Time, No Talk, ANS at Rudyard’s – Come see what these dirty dudes do when they’re not keepin’ it on the “DL”.

Pasadena is Burning featuring B.L.A.C.K.I.E. vs. Cop Warmth, The Sporatics, Giant Princess, sings, Trainwreck Albania, and The Caprolites at Omar’s House (5109 Eula, Pasadena) – Those kids in Chemical City really don’t need us to get things done, do they?

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2009

Broken Social Scene at Numbers – The retroactive indie rock supergroup.

The Killers with M83 at Verizon – Come for the M83 stay for the $12 Bud Light!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2009

The Appleseed Cast, Hungry Villagers, and Golden Cities at Rudyard's - Having a Rudz Burger while blasting off through the aural cosmos is surest bet for Tuesday night.

That should keep you busy, right?

REVIEWSDAY (Boooo, Hissss)

By now everyone has weighed in with their opinions on Microscopic Metronomes, for the readers of this blog there is nothing new or revolutionary that could be said that would set yet another review apart from any of the others. We have all come to a general consensus that this EP is a good thing. Many in this city have pegged Wild Moccasins as the little band that can. Wild Moccasins are the Barrack Obama of local bands. You open the dictionary to “people’s choice” and it’s the same picture of Cody Swann that your weird-ass dictionary has for “mustache”. (Where the hell did you get that dictionary?) What holds me most in awe is not so much the music, which shimmies through you like your own private Rilo Kiley dance contest, but it’s the machine that these little guys have built. As a musician I can’t help but take notes on how incredibly savvy these guys are. Plenty of bands are young and cute and have good music and many are even incredibly nice people. But what sets the Moccasins apart is that they have all of these qualities and to paraphrase a Houston band of years past they “know how to use them”. Only a jaded fool would not seek to be caught up in the joyful world of Microscopic Metronomes, of the Moccasins themselves and all of the hope that they entail.

Speaking of jaded Fools…(boooo,hissss again)

Also in rotation this morning is the new Born Liars LP Ragged Island. It seems that unforeseen transitions go hand in hand with each of Born Liars releases. That by the time the music hits the shelves it becomes a historical document never again to be precisely recreated in a live setting. In the case of Ragged Island it is a double shame as this stands as a memory book of all the awesome party times we had in 2008. And though it is a permanent document to carry forward, nothing can beat the Liars in the flesh. But with the pending personnel changes it is what we have to hold on to. Spilling beer and indiscreetly smoking inside just isn’t the same without Scott Snot wielding his guitar like Thor’s Hammer above a sea of pumping fists. But I digress. Ragged Island is the sound of a band unconsciously in flux. They start off with a story of where we have all been but then set off in a new direction so subtly that it does little to detract from the album as a whole, but still manages to let the listener know that things will be different from now on. And like it said on my 10^th grade history teacher’s wall “the only way to be better is to be different”. Though I was seeking rock and roll comfort in the arms of Ragged Island, I received mixed signals, but found myself far from disappointed and look forward to Born Liars 2k9.

Making the Wild Scene

Before I get into the night that was the legendary blowout that was the Microscopic Metronomes CD release let’s get a few things out of the way…An EP of epic sincerity was released and little is needed to preface this band. They are THE Wild Moccasins, cute as a button and sweet as apple pie. They aim to please, and please they do. To counter balance this release, our dear friends the Homopolice release the cute-as-a-bottom-sweet-ass-pie CD-R single “Bottom of the Chain”. That makes for a pretty satisfying week for those with their “fingers on the pulse”. Where the Moccasins document this time in their sure and stead rise to national consensus, the Homopolice up their tongue-in-(ass)-cheek cache as the dudes that can give as well as receive. So let’s hear about this above and beyond ridiculous feat our young friends the Wild Moccasins pulled off.


Local musicians take note, a young and ambitious local band brings together strong openers (and often headliners in their own right), throws that together with free and limited offerings and brings in every “name” in town. When was the last time you saw a sold out all local show? For me? Thanksgiving 1999 at Instant Karma, and that’s a time and place uninhabitable by us all, I will readily admit. Between the show-only silk screened shirts, fucking adorable alien cupcakes, CDs as part of admission, and bases loaded line up there was compensation far beyond your meager $7. These kids did not just do one but many better than the unprecedented success that was The Monocles/News on the March release of Halloween.

So here’s some pictures, dudes…

The Teenage Kicks started off the evening by playing an all together too short set. C'mon guys, we all want to hear more!!!

Next up, Buxton were kind enough to stop short of bringing down the entire house with a set every bit as magic as their mind blowing Block Party set back last fall.

And if you thought it couldn't get any better, you were delightfully mistaken when Cody and Zahira joined Buxton on stage.

By the time Wild Moccasins took the stage the energy and anticipation of anyone and everyone in the 713/281/832 had built to an unprecedented frenzy. The kids delivered what has to be date not just their finest performance but perhaps the most passionate performance delivered to Houston audiences in a good long time.

And then everyone in town got down just like we all knew we would.


Awesome show, phenomenal job my friends.

THE NEW RAMON – PREVIEWING THE WEEK OF JANUARY 21, 2008

What are you looking at? You knew Ramon wasn’t going to be here. But don’t worry, I am. And I’m going to tell you exactly what to do for the next few days.

To start off, here’s the big ticket item for this weekend. Friday the 23^rd sees the release of Wild Moccasins’ highly anticipated Microscopic Metronomes at Walter’s on Washington. For a mere $7 you get a free CD and free pizza and cupcakes (while they last) and to top it off, if you’re one of the first 50 people through the door you will get a hand screened poster commemorating the event. And if that’s not enough, bring in a t-shirt and get it screened with a design available only at this show. Even without all these enticements, this show would be can’t miss. Rounded out by the sublime country folk of Buxton, the KERSMASH! power pop of Teenage Kicks, and DJ service provided by ADR of The Skyline Network, you should have worked out your Friday night plans by the end of this sentence.

I also suggest going out to Notsuoh Saturday night for the Future Blondes, Venison Whirled (ATX), and A Thousand Cranes show if for no other reasons than to knock your eardrums down a couple of notches after all that mollycoddling on Friday.

And here’s the rest…

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2009

Giant Battle Monster, The Delta Block, The Nightmare Affair, Campfire Stories at The White Swan – If you’re into the jazzy-spazzy stuff, some rough and ready politi-punk or some instrumental sadcore, you might be down for this.

Whiskey Bolt, The Dragliners, Sideshow Tragedy at The Continental Club – If you’re looking to get a mid-week alt-country fix go down to Main Street, hit up Tacos a Go-Go and go to this show.

THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2009

I suggest watching the Lost that you DVR’d the night before. Feel free to leave any other suggestions in the comments.

FRIDAY JANUARY 23, 2009

KRS-ONE at The Meridian – If you’d rather not take my advice on Friday night, you might consider dropping some knowledge old school.

Killola at Chances – This listing caught me by surprise, but if you like kitschy new wave influenced pop, you’ll probably have a great time…maybe not so much if you're sans-lady-parts.

The Caprolites, Battle Rifle, 50/50 at The White Swan – This is the bizzaro version of the show at Walter’s.

SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 2009

Leave Your Genre at the Door 2 with Sad Gorilla, Heptic Skeptic, Satin Hooks, Brains for Dinner, Perseph-1, Fat Tony, Nosaprise, News on the March at Fitzgerald’s- The continuing battle in the “taking back Fitz” campaign.

Houston Press Artopia with Sideshow Tramps at Winter Street Studios– What? Do you hate fun?

Houston Music Revival with Memphis May Fire, Runner Runner, Before…There Was Rosalyn, Driver F, Scarlett O’Hara, A Kid Named Thompson, Visceral, Otenki, Novista, Skyscrapers Walk Among Us, Love She Wrote, Bonne Blue, Set It Off at The Meridian – I’m not sure if this is a music festival or a Screamo Band Name Generator is set to explode all over Chartres Street. Anyhow, further proof that there is a lot more going on in this town than we want to admit.

HYPA Fire + Ice Gala with Glasnost at the Downtown Pavilion – Dancing in the streets, for real.

The Last Place You Look CD Release with Nothing More and Glass Intrepid at Warehouse Live– The kids are going ape shit!

The Opium Symphony (1PM) and The Gougers (3:30PM) at Cactus – For those of you who love in-stores…St. Arnold’s is presumed but not guaranteed.

Skyrocket! At The Continental Club – Hey! A cover band? From Tom Petty to The Clash to ELO…covered.

The Oak Ridge Boys at the Grand 1894 Opera House – In case you’ve got a date with your dad.

SUNDAY JANUARY 25, 2009

The Oak Ridge Boys at the Grand 1894 Opera House – Did you stand your dad up last night? Here’s a chance to make things right.

MONDAY JANUARY 26, 2009

Flowers to Hide with Dizzy Pilot at Boondocks – Ease back into that workin’ week.

Alright, that should keep you busy for a few days. I’ll be back on Monday to let you know how your weekend should have gone.

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: Final Transmission.

Well folks. I've sure had a great time here at the Free Press. I've met a lot of great people, made some wonderful friends, and have been inspired by many local artists. It's been a lot of hard work and it's been fun but the fact is there has been a sea change over the years and it shouldn't be documented by some guy who actually saw the Replacements play Lawndale back in the 5th century BC. No, it should be documented by someone in the eye of the storm. So, I'll finish up this Really Red article I'm working on for the next issue but beyond that I'm just going to go back to writing my dumb little stoner rock songs with my little band and glory in our irrelevancy and the fact that only stoners in the E.U. like our music. (That's a picture of my band taken by Rosa Guerrero at Terrastock this last Summer; I'm in the shadows on the left) But someone out there in our fair city should pick up the mantle and here is all you have to do:

1) Write a preview for upcoming shows every week.
2) Go out to one show every week and take pictures then post a review every Monday.
3) Interview a band every month for a feature in the print paper (which you also will post on line).
4) On occasion do an e-mail interview of touring bands that will be coming in to town as a way to get people interested.

That's it. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? Well, it is but here are my self-appointed ground rules:

1) Take the musicians and their art seriously.
2) Get out to a show once a week and create a historical record with reviews and pictures.
3) If you don't like a band don't mention them. An opinion is simply that and just because you don't like something does not mean it is bad; it means it just wasn't meant for you. Plus, what worse insult is there but to be ignored.
4) Never insult or put down any band just because you have the microphone.
5) You can't discover the scene from behind a desk or through Myspace - get out!
6) Drink copious amounts of alcohol.

Why do I mention my own ground rules? Well, let’s just say that as great as things are right now just a few years back things were pretty awful for local music coverage. Nowhere was this more obvious than at the Houston Press who almost seemed to thumb its nose at those “hipsters” and their music but their snarkiness eventually gave way to some real and honest coverage. I can’t help to think that that was largely a response to blogs like this, Skyline, Space City Rock, NAP, and others doing what The Houston Press should have been doing all those years. And that explosion of blogs has been great for the local scene. Hey, now you could have a band and people now will actually give a shit! Imagine that - bands are being taken seriously, they are getting coverage for their music and not their sales or how sexy the lead singer is, writers aren’t “discovering” the scene from behind a desk, and the writing has moved past schoolyard insults as a measuring stick. That is pretty damn great if you ask me.

So keep up the good work kids. Keep it DIY and left of the dial.