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RECKLESS KELLY
Hang 'Em High Saloon/Wednesday April 1
Dessau Music Hall/Friday April 3
Cactus Café/Friday April 17
Backyard/Sunday April 19
Backyard/Friday April 24
After being named Best New Band and Best Roots-Rock Band as well as showing up in about 20 other lists at the Austin Music Awards, you'd think maybe the guys in Reckless Kelly would take a little break. Thing is, if the Awards had a Hardest Working Band category, they'd have won that one too. The Hang 'Em High gig has RK paired up with Chris Wall (who contributed liner notes to their fine CD Millican). To my knowledge the Dessau and Cactus shows will be the first for the band in those venues and both are worth checking out. A pair of Backyard gigs follow; the one on April 19 will be a special afternoon show, and Reckless Kelly return on the 24th to open for Robert Earl Keen. |
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EL FLACO
Steamboat 1874/Friday April 3
To those of us used to seeing El Flaco under the stark white lights of the Emo's stage, the dazzling stage effects at Steamboat might be a little distracting. In fact this show finds the best band on the planet a bit out of their element on several levels. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how the mainstream 'Boat crowd reacts to a band that may be new to them but has been knocking the "alternative" crowd in Austin dead for years. I wonder if they'll get it. Good to see Steamboat booking something beyond their status quo for a change (if you don't count M.C. Overlord). |
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MEGADETH
Ranch Studios/Saturday April 4
Megadeth are surely used to being compared to Metallica, who are almost like their "big brother" band. When it comes to becoming a big, bloated, oversized, lazy, corporate mess, Metallica wins. Megadeth have also mellowed a bit over the years, but unlike Mascarica, they still remember and feel what it was that got them started. Some would argue (and I woule probably agree) that Megadeth hasn't been the same since Dave Mustaine stopped trying to destroy himself, but Cryptic Writings is as good as or better than anything else the stable version of Megadeth has done. This will be a nice, loud, intimate look at a band who helped write the book and then didn't sell it. Life Of Agony and Coal Chamber - both longtime fans of the headliner, I'd wager - open the show. |
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GODZILLA MOTOR COMPANY
Backroom/Friday April 10
Stubb's BBQ/Wednesday April 22
Dangerous Toys this definitely ain't. Since those days vocalist Jason McMaster (who acts not at all like the rock star some think he is) got a haircut, picked up a bass, and brought it back to the street. He picked some good cats to hook up with, all being soundmen of good repute at some of Austin's finest music spots, including Stubb's and Emo's. GMC does a pound and grind that is seen way too rarely in an Austin band, and I'm hoping they can help get a good thing going around here. Congratulations to Mr. McMaster for his recent induction into the Texas Music Hall of Fame (I voted for him). El Insecto and Shovelnose open at the Backroom, and my band Human looks forward to opening at Stubb's. |
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SON VOLT
Liberty Lunch/Thursday April 16
Alt-country kings and Austin faves Son Volt are much more entertaining live, in my opinion, than on any of their records, and are a better bet than their fellow Tupeloid descendants in Wilco (also my opinion). This show would've been better set somewhere outdoors, but at least it will take place before the real sweating season begins at the Lunch. The Seymores open. |
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IAN MOORE BAND
Antone's/Thursday & Friday April 23 & 24
The venerable Mr. Moore and his side project Yummy have been gigging quite a bit more around Austin lately, perhaps a last hurrah before Ian splits for Oregon (or was it Washington? I forget). No longer associated with Capricorn due to what they perceive as a lack of commercialism in his latest recording (to me, that can only
 be a good thing), I'm impressed with Ian for following his own path and being true to his muse. You wouldn't have heard this from me a year ago, but I'll be sad to see him go. I hear from those who have heard Ian's last batch of songs (including my contact at Capricorn) that they're excellent as well as innovative. It's nothing new to radio, but it's truly sad to see even the smaller and supposedly more artist-oriented labels pissing away quality material that they think they might have to actually lift a finger to sell. Go see Ian before he's gone. A pair of gigs at Liberty Lunch are on the way in May.
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Austin's Harder Edge!
