New Song: “Lipstick Smile”

Going Back to Cali SXSW…Yo, I Totally Think So

Ryan Gosling went to Fun Fun Fun Fest. Could he be at SXSW? A girl can dream!

There’s something about the annual South by Southwest music, film and nerd festivals. To quote Agent Smith from the Matrix, “It’s the smell.” Ok, it’s only partially the smell. Mostly, it’s the smell of music! HO HO!

Once again, we will take our caravan of anti-hipsters up 290 and/or 71 — depending on if you prefer the Dairy Queen in Giddings or Hruska’s in Ellinger…mmmm, Hruska’s — to our state capital in March to play during the annual festival and claim glory in the form of Home Slice Pizza.

We’ve played this particular showcase twice in the past and it has always been fun. The showcase itself is at Guero’s, which is pretty good Tex Mex, but even better Tex ROCK! What?

Assuming it doesn’t rain — with the way the drought has been the last year, there’s a better chance of a wildfire breaking out on South Congress (or in our pants…HEY OH!) than a thunderstorm — we’ll be on that outdoor stage on at 8:30pm on Saturday, March 17. (underlined and bolded because this whole post makes no sense and we want you to have the details about this actual show that is happening) Not a bad time slot either.

There are a bazillion (actual number) bands playing over that weeks worth of events. One we want to see is The Akabane Vulgers on Strong Bypass, a Japanese all-girl band that, in the photo below, look like something out of The Ring. A co-worker of mine, when seeing the photo, simply asked, “Why do they look all wet?” We don’t know. Maybe for Ryan Gosling…ahem.

Also, the name sounds like an American movie title translated into Japanese and back into English. It’s like The Tourist came back after translation as Putrefaction Jolly Rancher, which totally makes sense.

Anyway, while you’re in Austin catching The Akabane Vulgers on Strong Bypass, be sure to swing by Guero’s, have a taco and watch some live ass kicking rock and roll. Konichiwa.

Chris Gray Benefit Show This Saturday at Continental Club

Ok, it’s been a little while since we last spoke. We have a tendency to be a little lazy sometimes. Maybe it’s the drought. You can’t say it’s not. YOU DON’T KNOW!!!

Anyway, we’re back, baby, and this weekend we are participating in a very special Blossom benefit concert along with 49 other great local bands. For the last two months plus, I’ve (Jeff) been filling in for Houston Press Music Editor Chris Gray editing the Rocks Off blog because Chris had a heart attack. It’s frankly a miracle the guy survived, but he’s doing GREAT and will soon be back working.

Even with insurance, his medical bills are mounting and he needs help. Chris is a friend and a guy who has done a tremendous amount for the local music scene over the years. He deserves our respect. He certainly has mine.

This benefit isn’t some lame three or four bands jamming for nickels. This is a full blown day-long party featuring some of the best bands in Houston, a MOUNTAIN of killer silent auction items (hands off that signed Steve Earle poster or I’ll cut a bitch!) and a performance by Houston native and alt-country ass kicker Hayes Carll.

We’re going on a 4 p.m. on the Continental Club stage, but the whole thing starts at 10 a.m. with breakfast with the Allen Oldies Band. Carll is on two slots after us and the whole thing is gonna kick freaking ass.

You can get more information on the whole deal here and here. Even if you can’t go, please consider donating to the cause, which you can do on the website.

See you at the show!!!

“Screw You, We’re from Texas” – Live at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar

This is our version of the Ray Wyllie Hubbard classic. If I’m not mistaken he wrote the tune as a “screw you” to the folks in Nashville because of their elitist attitude when it comes to music and everything that is allegedly right. We changed the words a bit, added a few chords to the chorus and kind of made it our own. Isn’t that what any good Texan would do? We hope to see y’all at the next gig set for Friday, Aug. 5 at Bohemeo’s in southeast Houston. Like the kids say….”dey be serving up ‘dem fish tacos.” See ya at the gig.

Homeless: The Quest for a Rehearsal Space

Will work for rehearsal space!

• Big enough to support the largest band using the room comfortably.
• Reasonably priced – about half the cost of a moderately-priced apartment is about right.
• Central location – unless everyone lives in one part of town, this is essential.
• 24/7 access for everyone – this is what usually rules out the room in someone’s house, unless it’s a detached garage
• Reasonable security measures – a door lock in the worst part of town is not acceptable
• A/C and Heat
• A limited number of bands in one space to share rent – 2 is ideal, 3 is ok, more than that is pushing it

After you find a space, it should be outfitted accordingly:

• A good PA system that is only used for the space – nothing sucks more than having to set up a PA system every week after a gig
• A good drum kit everyone can use – two if you have enough room
• Decent soundproofing material

At that point, you are good to go. Now, here is what I’ve found in searching for spaces in Houston. First, there are only about five commercially available rehearsal spaces. One, as Prince once said, “is, was and always will be” a total shithole. Two are located in areas that are not remotely central. One is nearly impossible to contact. And the best one is central, expensive and has a long waiting list.

Needless to say, the options available are not good.

After that, the next option is to look for non-traditional spaces – artist lofts, commercial warehouse space, Craigslist ads for random commercial spaces. While these can be appealing if you find the right one, mostly they are rare and, if they do exist, they probably won’t allow a band there.

Finally, we come to the residential options. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using someone’s house, but if the space is a spare bedroom or game room, the limitations on how late you can play, the impact on the neighbors and/or family and the lack of access to people who aren’t living there makes it difficult if not entirely prohibitive.

As I searched and found very little, I started to wonder why someone didn’t start a legitimate rehearsal/artist space in Houston and then I remembered when I helped to manage a single room with 5 or 6 bands in it. As George and I have said to one another on more than one occasion, “Music would be great if it weren’t for the musicians.” Truth is, far too many of my musical brethren (and sistren?) live up to the stereotype of the burnout who mooches off his girlfriend and sleeps on people’s couches. The times I saw people try to manage rooms, all I remember is how tough it was to collect money, to keep equipment from being broken or stolen and to clean a room that routinely appeared as if it had been the unwitting victim of an F4 tornado.

This was in addition to complaints from the building managers about damage to the overall facility, especially the bathrooms, God help them, and countless other violations like smoking, drugs, garbage, etc.

It was, and is, disheartening.

But, the search continues because every band needs practice and the better the place, the more conducive it is to making great music. If you hear of anything, you let me know, k?

“Shutting It Down,” Live at Bohemeo’s

“Dividing All We Are,” Live at Bohemeo’s

Great gig at Bohemeo’s in southeast Houston the other night. This tune is from our first CD, Another Lame Semi-Tragedy. Here was the set list if you couldn’t make it..

Hello There
Suzanna
Let It Flow
Someone Came To Help Me
Shutting It Down
Dividing All We Are
Run Towards the Warmth of the Sun
Rain on the Scarecrow
Time Is My Enemy
Father’s Day
Guess Again
My Town Is Gone

“Let It Flow” live at SXSW

This is one of our smokin’ new tunes, Let It Flow, from our performance at Guero’s Taco Bar during SXSW.

“Time Is My Enemy” – Live at SXSW

“Rain on the Scarecrow”/SXDE/SXSW

We dropped this John Mellencamp classic about the plight of the American farmer into the setlist a few gigs back and the version we cranked out at Rudyards the other night is killa. We’ll post some other songs from the gig in the coming days.

We’ll be hangin’ with the hippies at Dan Electro’s, 1031 E. 24th St., this Sunday, March 13. We’ll hit the stage at 8 p.m. as part of South By Due East (SXDE), Houston’s answer to SXSW. Just a word of warning, if you walk out on the patio, it might smell a little funny.

Speaking of SXSW, if you’re up in Austin for the music industry’s big party on Saturday, March 19, we’ll be at Guero’s Taco Bar ,1412 South Congress, at noon. You simply cannot beat tacos, chips and salsa and orange is in. Free copy of our first disc, Another Lame Semi-Tragedy, for whoever wants one.