Secret Saturday Festival in Pictures

This was probably one of the most fun weekends EVER. JD is mayor of good times. (I think Airon might be chief of police of good times for his stylish bouncing of underaged drinkers.) I tried to get pictures of everyone but missed out on one or two each day due to my camera being in a location other than in my hand. But everyone was above and beyond good and at $5 for a two day pass probably provided the biggest bang for your buck of all time. So here it goes (click on the pictures to go see the rest of the sets)

DAY ONE

CO-PILOT - I forgot to grab my camera out of Pope Jon's truck before he left so unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of these guys but their set can be summed up in two words: FUCKING EPIC.

THE GOLD SOUNDS - I had heard these guys at JD's the night before and was ready to be blown away. I was not disappointed. Guitarist, Chris, not only played with his teeth and behind his head, but smashed his guitar.





LENNY BRISCOE – Though I see JD and Stacey more than I see my parents, I have yet to see a full Lenny Briscoe set and I was very happy when they played Saturday. Here’s a video of them playing the Jessica Six song “Vendors of Greater Things”





THE TONTONS – Though I’ve technically played a show with The Tontons I had yet to actually see them in action. After Saturday’s set I can see how it was smooth sailing for them to win best new act. Nicely done.




LAZY HORSE – Oh Lazy Horse, how do you always guarantee a good time? Even down by one member this weekend you guys are still the best.




HEARTS OF ANIMALS – It was also my first time seeing Hearts of Animals and I was not disappointed. Very sweet sounds for a very sweet afternoon.



LIKE YEAH – Tess is a SSS staple and continued the vibe of sweetness into the late afternoon.



SOMETHING FIERCE – Duh, this is always good, do I have to tell you that? The addition of a surprise dancer kicked this afternoon back onto the high intensity party wagon.



PERSEPH 1 – I had been meaning to catch her set for a while now. I’ll admit I’m not the hugest hip-hop fan, but I heard her tracks on myspace and I was down. This was the perfect set for the early evening.



BAREFOOT AND THE BEAR – I saw him just as he was ending his set that apparently was a private performance for Neil from Lazy Horse. I’m sorry I missed you.

UME – This is another no-brainer, do I need to tell you that Ume was good?



GUITARS – From the stage I missed out on some of the action behind the scenes. Apparently, the former drummer for ¡ALARMA!, up to drunken jackassery, was stealing tambourines, etc, which was quickly ended by our hero Neil from Lazy Horse. Nice bouncing, my friend.




YOU (GENIOUS) – Very entertaining hip-hop, I’m sad that I didn’t get to see his full set but I loved what I saw but then I believe I had to make a detour to India (code wordz).



LISTEN LISTEN – As the sun came down, Listen Listen brought us all to a mellower state of mind for a post-cop-calling rock festival.



ELAINE GREER – I am always so conflicted whenever I see or hear Elaine play. There are two voices inside my head one that is just pure jealousy and envy, I always opt to listen to the other voice which tells me that this is the most wonderful thing I could possibly be hearing at that moment.



SEW WHAT – Another familiar face for SSS regulars, Rachel is always bringing more and more to her performances and this evening it was with the addition of Cory Durden, the best one man band I know!



AIRON PAUL DUGAS – Taking a break from his doorman duties, Airon closes down Saturday night with a set that literally brought me to tears. This man has a voice like southern angels. If you didn’t stick around for his set, you blew it.



Here are some shots of some of the various people hanging around, this one pretty much sums up the whole weekend:





DAY TWO

DUNNOCK’S ILL ADVISORY – I got to the Shady just as he was starting and had a torta to tend to during his set, I wish I had seen more but I would like to know if he played a song that I think is called “Hate”.



PARIS FALLS – Here is a challenge for Paris Falls: be more wonderful. Seriously elegant and beautiful. Stellar.



EVAK 1 – I only caught the very beginning of their set, I had another trip to India to make, but fortunately I did get these shots.



GIANT PRINCESS – Yet another one of those no-brainers, these guys are never going to disappoint you.



NEWS ON THE MARCH – Much hyped and much worthy. Their entire set was a big fuck-you to Lomax’s Press article about Houston sucking.



NOSAPRISE – Another very entertaining Hip-Hop set. He opened with my favorite song of his and delivered hit after hit.



THE MCKENZIES – I’ll keep it short, this was hands down my favorite performance of the weekend. Amazing. Wonderful. Fantastic.



AWAKE – I believe I’m fated to never see Awake in their natural state. I played a show with them once and they brought the noise, this time they brought the acoustic. And it was great. Droney and intense and oddly wonderful in the open-air setting.



THE MONOCLES – Hey I heard 15 people asked for a copy of their unmastered album. One of them was Gar Wood.



THE MATHLETES – Another set that got cut short by a trip to India, but I was glad to hear their Wire and Talking Head covers!



TEENAGE KICKS – I was super bummed that I missed the beginning of their set, but I edged my way up to the front behind the monitor and got the shit rocked out of me.



ROBERT ELLIS – Let’s just go ahead and call him the most pleasant surprise of the entire weekend. I suggested that Pope Jon and Airon start a band like The Band with this guy. SHIT!



CORY DURDEN – Cory beautifully ended the weekend with his man-of-many-talents act. Multiple guitar effects, a trumpet and beer bottle slide. It was a magic moment when at the end of his set he stepped into the audience only singing, loops of sounds piling into layers as the first raindrops fall as the festival comes to an end.



Upon the end of the festival JD thanked everyone, including the neighbors who called the cops.




Here are some folks from day two:




All in all this was one of the most fun music festivals you could ever hope to be a part of or attend. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

What is a song?

Conversations, not conclusions

By Omar Afra
I am not an asshole. This is not a thesis, just a rant. Take it for what it is.


Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it. ~Henry David Thoreau

What is a song? Sounds like such a simple question? You may say there is not a simple answer. What is simple is the fact that what constitutes a song has really been lost. There has been much discussion in Houston lately pertaining to the music scene and what folks can really do to make it better and convince people to go to more shows. What better solution than to write stellar songs? Well, to do this people need to know what really makes a song. Therein lies the tricky part. A song is more easily recognized than defined. To understand this, you need to erase all of the baggage that contemporary culture attaches to the word song. Forget about singer-songwriters. Forget about top 40. Most importantly, forget about ‘structures’ like verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus. Then what is a song? I am not sure I can tell you but I am very sure I can tell what is not a song. A song is not a collection of ‘riffs’ in the same key. A song is not a melody smashed on top of musical masturbators rocking out. A song is not a catchy hook with unfortunate verses crowded around it. Fact of the matter is that many critically acclaimed bands, even local heroes, have everything it takes to be a great band except for the elusive song. Bands spend decades honing their chops, developing their own sound, deciding on the coolest pair shoes, and playing before thousands of people. Many a great local band here in Houston make it just short of the mountaintop but fall short because they have no songs. Now a ‘piece of music’ can be great and popular yet not be a song. Huh? Ya see, there are great bands out there with no songs. Shitty bands write great songs. There are also terrible pieces of music that are indeed songs as well. Conversely, many great bands do not write songs. Know what I am saying? Neither do I. Now, you may be saying to yourself that experimental and fringe music takes the blame here. Not at all. This is not a genre specific argument. Band of all breeds differ on this one critical detail. For lack of a better example take Jimi Hendrix for instance. There were legions of hyper-talented guitar players during hat era that get not an iota of the same credit as Jimi does yet were comparable guitar players. Why did he get the kudos for revolutionizing the instrument? Simply said, because he put his wondrous playing in the context of great songs. Another example would be the world of indie rock. With countless new bands born and dying every 15 minutes, why are only a handful remembered despite us living in an age where recording, producing, and delivering music has become so easy thanks to technology. Again, songs. So many of these bands are so focused on peripheral factors like aesthetic, soundscape, identity, and novelty that they lack a vehicle to deliver these things. As I see it, counter-culture music was once leaning more towards literature and has veered to lean way too far towards entertainment. Not just that, but learning music has become frowned upon by the masses. Which brings me to my sad yet sobering hypothesis. We are entering an era where our brightest days are behind us just as literature was in Europe shortly after the apex of Shakespeare or Star Wars after Jedi. Yeah, there is more to come but it won’t be is good as it’s predecessors. Where are the Stevie Wonders of our generation? The Ramones? The Willie Nelsons? Now, I am sure I sound like a cantankerous old man and I have to mention that amazing songs are being written everyday around the world d and here in Houston. Local artists like Fat Tony, The McKenzies, Craig Kinsey, Satin Hooks, and countless others all push the song-peddling envelope. Nonetheless, the problem of putting songwriting on the backburner persists. Do I have any solutions? Shit no. But I can make a few suggestions to the many musicians that complain to me of the status of their band, scene, or city? Do yourself a favor and study music, listen to the greats, and dig deep in your soul and internalize what a song means to you. Who knows, you just may prove me wrong. I actually need that. I pray to Allah you do so.

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: Part II - Sharks and Sailors, Ume, & The Jonx @ Walter's 01 August 2008

My pulling up to Walter's couldn't have been less graceful. Upon exiting my car, my cellphone fell out of my pocket and right into the gutter. Thankfully, Team Science mastermind Aaron Danger and Amy's Ice Cream slinger Peter Lee were able to rescue my cell phone with a tire wrench and a discarded fountain drink cup. Coolness! If I loved the Team Science label before now I really really love it! Thanks Guys.

Inside, The Jonx were just about to launch into their set which was par for the course of a Jonx set. For those of you not familiar with this band, it's a trio that combines sharp proggy skills with a punk energy and droll melodic lines. It's a great combination and one that always kills. Much like everyone playing on Friday, what you had was sharp players employing their skills to deadly efficiency. I suffered a worse mix by being at the front of the stage than a few feet back where I could hear the room mix but it's too much of a kick to see Trey's bass runs, Stuart's guitar work, and Danny's drum assault up-close. Closing with Highway at Night was particularly smart as you got a full helping of the fat bass, the post punk guitars and the unrelenting drums pulsing around one groove to great effect. Right afterwards some joe I'd never seen before at the bar was commenting to his friend, "Hey you having a good time? Yeah, I guess I picked a good night. That was pretty good not like that band the Guilloteens I saw at Christmas. They just broke their instruments. That was their talent breaking shit. What kind of kiddie crap is that?" This discussion was hilarious as across the way on the other side of the bar was the FFG's own Roy Mata. Ha Ha Roy, you suck!*

Ume also falls into the category of bands whom I've seen doing what they do so well and without equal for so long now that it's easy to take their brilliance for granted. Lauren and Eric told me that the finishing touches are being put on their new album which is great to hear. The newer material they play live has some lovely pop hooks without sacrificing the elements that made this band so mind blowing on their first release so bring it on. So what did you get if you saw them Friday? On the drums, a straight and powerful beat from Jeff and, on the bass, Eric swaying away as he held down the melodic bottom and then there was Lauren. I think every time I see this band I have to go on about Lauren's incomparable marriage of impeccable technique and jaw dropping performance. It's really easy to mock performance as a distraction from the music but Lauren's thrashing and posturing never feels put-on and act as a focal point for the music's energy. Let's face it - it looks cool as shit but it also never detracts from her guitar playing which is as impressive for its skill and ingenuity as it is for running the gamut of melodic hooks and pure wild-abandon noise. I put her up there as one of my favorite guitarists. Cody Swann of the Wild Moccasins, someone who'd never seen Ume before, said that it made him want to reevaluate what he does. Yeah, that was my initial reaction too.

Last but not least, closing the trio of trios, was Sharks and Sailors who were celebrating their new album Builds Brand New. Like everyone else here, Sharks and Sailors are a band whose skills I think are top-notch as musicians and writers who can deliver the goods with seeming ease. The nice thing about Sharks and Sailors is how they've evolved over the years and brought along a lot more space into their songs and incorporated a fresh melodic sense with the addition of Melissa on lead vocals. The new album doesn't pull any punches when they get brutal on the show-stopping heavy Rickshaw but it also takes time to get a little spacey with a song like Condor. Friday's performance ran that gamut with grace and skill by taking a mathematical aesthetic and backing it up with power and emotion. Mike's guitar playing is sonic goodness, Melissa's bass always has this wonderful fat tone that fills the room, and Phil's drumming can be powerful and brutal but he knows how to hold back and not overplay when the song calls for it. With each person bringing their unique talents to the whole, they are the A-Team band. Hmm, lemme see, that would make Mike Hannibal, Melissa would be Face, which leaves Phil to be BA Baracus and Murdock rolled up into one. That may be about right as, during the set, one person shouted out "Your drummer scares me!" As one whose seen his expert skills outside the drum kit (e.g. his awesome dance moves and rapping) I will second that.

Team Science cell phone rescue Squad!
Peter Lee (l) and Aaron Danger (r)

The Jonx at battle stations

Drummer Face #1 - Danny Mee

DJ Under Warranty shows off his wares.

Ume
The Three Amigos of ass whoopin'

Lauren makes even
Jimmy Page's guitar moves look lame!

Lauren belting it out!

Sharks and Sailors before the show
Note that Phil is already sweating
from just the soundcheck.

Bassist Melissa in mid-flight.

Drummer Face #2
Phil "Your Drummer Scares Me" Woodward

Mike dodging yet another
blast from the paparazzi
(OK actually it was his very proud dad.)

The crowd "Oh here here! Jolly Good that!"

LINKS:
More pictures on my Flickr (Link)

The Jonx on Myspace (Link)
Ume on Mypsace (Link)
Sharks and Sailors (Link)


* I kid of course.

Music with Jameson & Lone Star: PART I: Papermoons & Elaine Greer @ Boondocks 30 July 2008

Wednesday the Papermoons were playing their last show in Houston before their departure to far off lands. Their new album New Tales has been spinning endlessly at work, in my car, and in my head. So, given my obsession with the music (not to mention the good and endearing nature of Daniel and Matt), this was required attendance. This show could have been bittersweet and sad but it was instead a very joyous affair of friends and fans there to celebrate the 'Moons and their talents. If you missed out on seeing the Papermoons live or haven't heard their new album of Team Science, you have and are missing out on one of Houston's best bands - ever! Let me just take that up a notch. While people like (well, you know who I'm gonna pick on so let's not name names. let's just say) Mr. L. have taken so much time complaining about how so and so touring act misses Houston or how our bands are second rate and nothing more than a den of hipsters, right under his and many other self-fulfilling prophets' noses lie bands like the Papermoons who have taken their art and polished it into a Zen-like perfection that can go against any touring band. Those of you who missed them live because you bought this line have no sympathy from me but I do recommend you listen to the new album (which, for me, is shaping up to be in 2008 what Lemming Baby was for me last year ) and to catch them whenever they return.

Opening was local chanteuse Elaine Greer who played a great set backed up by bassist Travis Smith and the multi-talented Austin Sepultavo. The former I think is likely the world's happiest bassist - bouncing on the stage with a "look at me Ma" glee. Austin meanwhile is the Swiss Army Knife of sidemen employing guitar, lap steel, and accordion as well as taking backing vocal duties throughout. Elaine performed a set of her folky pop with a sweet voice and a charming disposition. She goes on stage and sings her songs with a combination of humility and joy that immediately draws you into what she's doing. Combine that with music that is lovely and smart and you have a winning combination. It was a sweet show even if we never figured out just what the hell those weird sounds were that rose from the PA at inopportune moments.

At about 11:30 the Papermoons took the stage and it seemed that everyone was downstairs prompting Matt to shrug an "Oh well" before launching into the set. He needn't have been worried as the second the first notes hit, as if by magic, the entire room was filled. And what a set! The last time I saw them at the Mink Backroom the sound was somewhat dodgy (at least from where I stood) but this time the sound was perfect with the drums sounding gorgeous, the guitar painfully beautiful, and the vocals soul-melting. And you wonder why I abhor large venues? Here is why you can't beat the intimacy, immediacy, and connection of a small room like that of the upstairs at Boondocks. Here you could simply submerge yourself in the songs and sing along (though in my case, singing very quietly since the songs are too good to ruin with my singing). And the crowd ate-up what they had to offer which was most of their short catalog. Matt's ability to play little loops and similar small touches with his delay pedal at times was a detail I'd missed previously but, perhaps because I'm now so familiar with the new album, I was quite taken by it this time. That kind of texture I'd always figured was a nuance only to be found in the studio but Matt clearly is a clever enough guitarist to pull it off live. That kind of attention to sound is what makes this simple duo so much more than many larger ensembles. It's the sound of two people who are of one mind about the music they are creating and have carefully thought about what they are doing. If Buddha were in the crowd, he'd likely say they have achieved "the true Dharma eye...the subtle dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters" and found himself singing and clapping along with the rest of us as they played an encore of "Bad Nope" from their 7" debut. Mind you, the crowd wasn't just singing and clapping along, they were hitting all the stops just right which prompted Elaine Greer to turn and say in jest "Nah, we've never heard these songs before have we?" Nope, Elaine, why would you think that?

Go n-éiri an bothar leat, Papermoons.

Elaine Greer's lovely and smart songs
got the house moving.

Austin Sepultavo
the Swiss-Army Knife of sidemen.

If you missed the Papermoons this time 'round,
you missed on one of Houston's best bands - ever.

Matt Clark - He may not be playing Malmsteen-
like arpeggios but I guarantee, if you listen to
what he does, you'll come away with a lot more
about what a guitar can do beyond empty scale runs.

Daniel Hawkins' drumming
emphasizing emotion over complexity.

Ben Murphy of
Bright Men of Learning & Tody Castillo
joins in on Lazy Bones.

LINKS:
More pictures on my Flickr (Link)

Elaine Greer on Myspace (Link)
Papermoons on Myspace (Link)
Team Science Records (Link)

The Music Crumudgeon's preview for the Week of August 1st 2008

THIS SHARK WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT
The endless music feeding frenzy!

Fuck it! This is like a Bataan Death March! We are overwhelmed with good shows that we don't know where to start! I feel like a drowning man with all these solid shows so let's just go down the list here....


BADASS SHOW #1

Friday August 1st

Sharks and Sailors (CD release)
with UME, The Jonx, and DJ Under Warranty
@ Walter's on Washington

Yes, that's right, the clever lass and laddies at Sharks and Sailors chose Shark Week to release their Builds Brand New CD. If you are like me, this is seemed like way too long between releases - nigh 3 years (2.5 years to be exact). Thankfully, it's worth the wait and the band has done a wonderful job of using the studio to expand their sound, songcraft, and interplay into realms the first EP would have never suggested. Required! As if this weren't enough to seal the deal, Houston Ex-pats Ume will be playing. Essential! If you've read my columns by now you know that I think Lauren's guitar skills make her as deadly as Itto Ogami. Enough said! Then, they have the nerve to throw in The Jonx who throw out great melodic hooks then juxtapose them with jarring rhythms and dissonance - one of the most painfully great bands this city's ever heard. Imperative! Bonus DJ Under Warranty is none other than ADR of Skyline Network! Requisite! See you there!

BAD ASS SHOW #2

Saturday and Sunday, August 2nd & 3rd

Secret Saturday Shows Festival,
featuring
Guitars, You(Genious), Hearts of Animals, Teenage Kicks, the Monocles, Cory Derden, Listen Listen, Elaine Greer, News on the March, Airon Paul Dugas, the McKenzies, Evak 1, Lazyhorse, UME, the Mathletes, Nosaprise, Giant Princess, the TonTons, Sew What, Lenny Briscoe,the Gold Sounds,Dunnocks Ill Advisory, Like Yeah,CoPilot,Perseph One, Awake, Bigfoot and the Bear, Ledaswan, Robert Ellis, Paris Falss, and more
@ The Shady Tavern
This is a killer show that will make the Houston Press Music Awards showcase look wimp-ass in comparison. First you have a shit load of bands but unlike the HPMA showcase (who we do love so don't take this badly) there's none of that crappy stuff (like bands who look to the Buzz for musical inspiration). No, my friends, this is an all-beef Kosher dog compared to the mystery meat filler you can find at the HPMAs. Umm...OK, well maybe that's a bad analogy as they will be serving vegan food but you get the point. Two days of non-stop incredible music that sticks a finger in the eye of any writer that thinks Houston doesn't have shit going on and that its music is second rate. Consider this the final nail in that line's coffin! Kudos Secret Saturday Shows!


BAD ASS SHOW #3

Sunday August 3rd

Hell City Kings, The Trian Woodburns, and Whiskey River Revival
Benefitting Texas Children's Hospital
@ Rudyard's

This is the kind of story we love to hear. Given that Hell City Kings guitarist (and Born Liars bassist) Bill Fool may be the personification of Rock and Roll excess, you may ask how does the hard drinking/hard rockin' master fit-in with a benefit for Texas Children's Hospital? Well, in case you were not aware, Bill is also a proud daddy who just dodged a scary bullet. Picture this, here you are a with your newborn and you find out that your child has a heart defect that will require surgery. Not only do you have to deal with the fact of your newborn is going under the knife but then the massive bills that will follow loom on the horizon. (Let's face it Rock and Roll rarely pays the bills.) But here's where the story takes a wild and unexpected good turn. At the 11th hour the doctors check the wee Fool and, miracle of miracles and to the doctor's amazement, the condition disappeares. Somehow the heart fixed itself and the surgery was canceled. So, given that the benefit was already set-up, Bill simply changed the benefactor to the Texas Children's Hospital and we can all shout "Hooray!"


ALSO THIS WEEK
EVEN MORE BAD ASS SHOWS

Friday August 1st

Leave Your Genre at the Door!, featuring
The Ton Tons, Perseph 1 & Andacc, Hueman, Kam, Evak 1, The Television Skies, Satin Hooks, Lower Life Form, Babel Fishh, Two Star Symphony, Peekaboo Theory, B.B. Aeroplane, & Dirty Dez
@ Fitzgerald's ($10; 7PM)
A shit-load of many of the finest Houston bands because we just don't have enough going on this week. Ton Tons, Perseph1, Kam Satin Hooks, babel Fish, Two StarSymph...Oh get it over with and just kill me!

Saturday, August 2nd

Cop Warmth, B L A C K I E, The Delta Block, Cheney Youth, PWI
@ Francisco's (basement)
Fransisco's? As in The rehearsal studio at McKinney? Neat!

Giant Princess, B L A C K I E
@ Notsuoh
If You are not dead from day one of the Secret Saturday Fest and can handle Jim Pertle's acerbic wit, here you go! Neatness!

Data vs. Data, Flowers to Hide, Wicked Poseur
@ Rudyard's
Alternately, if you are still up for more music after hours and want to avoid downtown, eat some great food, and catch some sweet jams this may be your option.

Texas Ska Fest, featuring
Los Skarnales, LosP2, 2Ten11, La Dona F, The Failed Attempt, Molotov Compromise, & The Pocket
@ Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
If you can handle day one of Secret Saturday Fest and can still dance to this, you are unstoppable!


Soul Blues Festival, featuring
Betty Wright, Bobby Bland, Willie Clayton, & more
@ Arena Theatre
Bobby Bland's 1961 album Two Steps from the Blues is Houston R&B gold and if you've never heard him sing Cry, Cry, Cry I suggest you do so. Damn that's good stuff!


Sunday, August 3rd

Despise You, Naw Dude, Pretty Little Flower, Chocolate Crucifix, Satannabis
@ The White Swan
I don't know much about the first two acts listed but PLF, Chocolate Crucifix and Satannabis are worthy of anyone's hard earned money! UPDATE! Chocolate Crucifix will be bringing Smarties!

Monday, August 4th

The McKenzies/Earnie Banks
@ Boondocks
Woohoo, indie pop thine last name is Mckenzie!

Wednesday, August 6

Valient Thorr (in-store)
@ Cactus Music (5:30PM)
HOLY SHIT! MY HEAD JUST EXPLODED!

Valient Thorr. Early Man, Skeleton Witch, Golden Axe
@ Rudyards
Just found out about this. My head just exploded again!

Thursday August 7th

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Balaclavas (LP release), The Wiggins
@ Walter's on Washington (8PM, $10)
BLACLAVAS LP RELEASE ALERT! Yes, I already bought my copy of Inferno at Sound Ex last week! The CD is it's wimpy little brother by comparison. God Vinyl sounds sweet! Go! Buy! Rock!

The Points, American Sharks (Record Release), The Monocles
@ Rudyard's
This show was looking pretty bad ass but now I find out it's going to be an American Sharks release as well? Awesome!

Recession Thursday
featuring,
Guitars, The Annoysters, and more
@ Numbers
More details on this week's Omar fest this Thursday!