The Local Music Crumudgeon's preview - March 27 2008

RECAP

Damn people, I was still recovering from SXSW so I was sitting on my ass last week. But this week the ass comes off the sofa! Just dig this week's spotlight!

THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT IS ON
Rudyard's Friday and Saturday!

FRIDAY MARCH 28
The Dirtbombs / Kelley Stoltz / Dead Roses
@ Rudyard's
Ultraglide in Black is a classic of garage fuzzed out energy and pretty much seals The Dirtbombs as a must see band. While there's a new album that I haven't heard yet, I'd be pretty stunned if the album blows and, even if it were to suck, it should be a great live experience. The Dude in the middle slot, San Fransisco's Kelley Stolz, has a catalog that is somewhat eclectic but in a general sense favors a more poppy approach and should be also worth catching. Local kicking it old school punk bad asses Dead Roses, who are always solid, will be ripping up an opening set with Houston Ex-pat drum master Danny Mee filling in on the skins. Be there early. No, wait don't! I want to get myself a good parking spot.

SATURDAY MARCH 29
The Fleshtones/The Ugly Beats/Born Liars
@ Rudyard's
Hey, remember when Peter Zaremba used to host The Cutting Edge? Of course not, you're not you're not a million years old like me but his band, The Fleshtones, have been making classic garage rock for over 30 years with little hint of losing their spark, slowing down, or even knowing how to stop. They alone would be brilliant enough but the lovely pairing of them with Austin 60's purists The Ugly Beats and local garage gods the Born Liars will make for a great night for those of us who like our rock genres vintage and our shows exploding with energy and sweat. Don't completely burn yourself out on Friday because this will be a perfect second course to your weekend.

ALSO THIS WEEK:

THURSDAY MARCH 27

The Future of the Ghost/Program @ Boondocks
Salt Lake City's FOTG plays that poppy punk thing. It's very cute fun stuff. Local cats Program approach their pop from a more textured keyboard indie pop angle but also can make for a nice show worth catching.

Fu Manchu/Burning Brides/Max Cady @ The Meridian
Charlie Naked of Defenestration Unit will kick my ass if I don't mention Fu Manchu's show. That dude loves Fu Manchu.

The Umbrella Man @ The Big Top
Jazzy Bluesey Rootsy Country well, they have an upright bass a violin and an accordion... you do the math. A friend of mine told me they put on a great show.

FRIDAY MARCH 28

File under this just in from Hand Up Houston
"Warehouse Party
American Sharks /Limb / Young Mammals (with Mlee Suprean) (cover Pixies songs) / Celebrity DJ Jacob Mutha ####in' Calle / DJ Psychedelic Sex Panther
and more.....
DIRECTIONS:
2220 Commerce (right across the street from Bootleg)

Turn right on Commerce
Go over railroad tracks
BAM! ON YOUR RIGHT!

ERIN'S BIRTHDAY WAREHOUSE PARTY! BRING HER GIFTS! BUY HER BEERS! BUY HER CONDOMS! 10PM-??? FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE PLEASE BUY ME ONE CAN OF SPARKS. THIS IS A 90's THEME PARTY! YOU KNOW THE DRILL! DRESS 90's IF YOU GUYS CONTRIBUTE THIS I WILL GET AWESOME! PLEASE REPOST AND SPREAD THE WORD. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS. "

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Anal Blast/Uncleansed/Engaged in Mutilating/Cerebral Rot/Diminished/Infernal Butchery
@ Walter's on Washington

Anal Blast are likely one of the premier metal feminist bands with such socially conscious songs as "High On Cunt Blood", Uncleansed are a Houston Christian Metal Band...and...what? You're not buying any of this? OK, yeah, it's knuckle scraping metal. Ya got me.

Dengue Fever
@ The Orange Show
I had a bit of trouble describing LA's Dengue Fever but they say it's "A Cambodian Pop Rock Psychedelic dance party!" OK sounds good to me.

(This Just In)
Poor Dumb Bastards / The Hickoids / Scorpio Rising
@ NOTSUOH
You know the score Byron will likely get naked or damn close and all insanity will ensue. And the Hickoids are Texas Cow Punk royalty.

Bret Michaels
@ The Meridian
NO! I will hate you forever if you go see this!

SUNDAY MARCH 30

Something Fierce/Born Liars
@ Dean's Credit Clothing
TwoOne of Houston's premier rock bands. Something Fierce covers the pop punk thing like nobody else and Born Liars play garage like motherfuckers. I know it's Sunday and you will be killed by Rudyards on Friday and Saturday but it should prove to be a sweet show and a great bookend to the weekend!

MONDAY MARCH 31

Pink Razors/Erin Tobey/Teenage Kicks/The Holly Hall
@ The Mink
Pink Razors rip some sweet blazing high energy indie pop with guitars that sound like Superchunk on speed. Nice stuff. Teenage Kicks ride that line where garage and pop meet. The Holly Hall is the local supergroup that includes recently featured singer songwriter Elaine Greer. No offense to the KTRU folks who do a great job but the tracks on the Holly Hall's myspace doesn't compare to how good they band sounds live.

Nick Jaina/The Wild Moccasins
@ Notsuoh
The Whim of the Ruling Class is a lovely example of Nick Jania's simple and lovely pop song styling. It should be nice. The Wild Moccasins make lovely pop and features members who also play in the Holly Hall....wait a second! Aren't the Holly Hall also playing at the Mink? OK that should prove to be interesting.

Basses Loaded
@ Boondocks
Thank goodness Basses Loaded didn't just stop at just the gimmick of having all basses but instead went ahead and wrote great songs and combined that with a great live show. Always recommended.

TUESDAY APRIL 1

Saul Williams/Dragons of Zynth
@ Warehouse Live
Saul Williams' and Dragons of Zynth are a good pairing as both suffer from a similar flood of ideas and a nervous energy. It may not always work but it's at least interesting.

Eisley/The Myriad/The Envy Corps/Vedera
@ The Meridian
OK so sue me. So I think The Winter Song from three years ago is a brilliant little nugget of pop with gorgeous harmonies. Sorry, I also have to admit that I kinda like that damn New Soul song you hear on the Apple Air commercial. I suck, I know.