August Recession Thursdays Revealed!

Tonight's Recession Thursday

2 piece drum and bass outfit Female Demand has been added to lineup. It shall be clutch.

Houston Resists Recycling, and Independent Streak Is Cited

HOUSTON — While most large American cities have started ambitious recycling programs that have sharply reduced the amount of trash bound for landfills, Houston has not.
The city’s shimmering skyline may wear the label of the world’s energy capital, but deep in Houston’s Dumpsters lies a less glamorous superlative: It is the worst recycler among the United States’ 30 largest cities. READ MORE

ArtStorm present Green Drinks at Beavers Tonight

Tonight, ArtStorm will host a Green Drinks Night at Beaver's. Every Wednesday throughout the summer, Beaver's features a happy hour featuring drink and appetizer specials from 5-10pm, $4 appetizers, $3.50 beer and $5 cocktails.

25% of all proceeds from the special green drinks and appetizer menu will go to ArtStorm. Support visual art in Houston! Come and meet the friendly ArtStorm crew that keeps enthusiastically bringing you the work of innovative artists, live music, and fun, art-inspired events!

Beaver's Icehouse
2310 Decatur Street
Houston, TX, 77007
713.864. BEAV (2328)
www.beavershouston.com

Engine Room Closed outta bitness

Well, we all saw it coming. The folks at the Engine Room gave it a good run despite not posting any shows on their site for the last year or so. Here is what they said on their myspace.

"Hey everyone Yes the Engine Room is closed down now. All dates have been canceled. We know it's frustarting to some but we are doing our best to let everyone know who has a date booked with us. We are having a hard time getting a hold of everyone who has a date booked here so please spread the word. We apologize for the inconvenience and any confusion this may have caused anyone. The Jet Lounge will remain open. Once again the Engine Room has been closed down and ALL DATES HAVE BEEN CANCELED!!!"

Local Filmmakers at Rice Media Center

SWAMP presents local filmmakers in a program of short films at Rice University, Tuesday night starting at 6:30 pm. Light snacks and drinks will be provided, admission is free. Donations for food and beverages are appreciated. Following is the list of films being screened. The theater is located at University Blvd at Stockton, or Rice entrance #8. There's usually free parking behind the Capos station across the street from the Rice Media Center

"The Artist"
by Taylor Risien
"Disastroworld"
by David Purdie
"Mitosis #2"
by I-Aoi
"Nature's Path"
by David Courtney
"Sisters"
by Bob Works
"The Old Mill"
by OTE Films
"Orange, Not Apple Green"
by IMM
"The Ballad of Frank Gilroy"
by Tim Eggert
"Mourning Sunrise"
by Michael Kahlil Taylor
"Time Travel"
by Leisure Learning Documentary Class
(instructor, Doug Kilgore)
"Historic Houston"
by Rice University School of Continuing Studies
Documentary Class (instructor, Doug Kilgore)

Music review - The Houston Press Music Awards.

Why is Mr Adams confuddled? It's the Houston Press Music Awards and we still can't figure out the deal with the experimental category. Nonetheless, we scored passes from our friends down at the Houston Press and bring you back a review. (Read it in the Music Section)

Hootenanny II in review

Rampant Frito chomping, Andrew Lee in Drag, wardrobe malfunctions, lost of hootin', lots of hollerin', a whole lot of fun, and a whole lot of hurt on Sunday morning. Yes, awesomeness thine name is Twotenanny and the Free Press was there. (read about it in the music section)

E3 08: Sony Press Conference

By Tyler Barber


On the same stage that Jack Palance did his famous one-armed push-ups at the 1992 Oscars, we saw the comic-book artist Jim Lee do the same. Touché Jim, and touché Sony. Last year's E3 was really a bad year for everyone. Each of the big three press conferences had at least one major embarrassing moment, but this year Sony and Microsoft managed to save face 100 percent (read my write-up on Nintendo's press conference to get the dish on their embarrassing moment. Here's a hint: it was the entire show). And while I would say that Microsoft stole the show, Sony wasn't far behind. Their main shortcoming: not showing enough new games, gameplay, and the lack of surprising announcements (also don't forget that little blight called Home).

Sony's Jack Trentton did an excellent job hosting the event, and set the tone at the start by basically saying: "every PlayStation console takes a few years to hit its stride, so forgive us for not blowing you away this year." Which is true, historically. If you look at the PS1 and PS2, it wasn't until year four or five that we saw games like Final Fantasy XII, Grand Theft Auto III, and Metal Gear Solid. So with that out of the way, they continued to show a line-up of expected, but exciting titles.

First was what most people are calling game of the show: Little Big Planet. Last year I gushed about this game, and now my enthusiasm has intensified. This year, they used Little Big Planet as a Power Point presentation. That's right, they presented their sales numbers and projections in-game, in a custom-created Little Big Planet level. I've never heard such a long applause for sales numbers in my life. Youtube it.

Read the full article here.

E3 08: Nintendo Press Conference

By Tyler Barber

Zzzzzzzzzz. Zzzzzzzzzz. No, seriously: Zzzzzzzzzzz. I slept through Nintendo's press conference. Or as I like to say: "Min-tendo," because all they make now are minigames. I know that there's already a ton of backlash from Nintendo's showing at E3, and for that I almost feel like I should be the contrary voice. Even after the conference, when the show-floor opened up, I walked into Nintendo's booth to give them a chance, and walked right back out. There was nothing there for me. Of everything they announced -- known quantities like Animal Crossing City Folk, Shaun White's Snowboarding (using the Wii Fit balance board), and the actually good looking first-person-shooter The Conduit -- nothing spoke to me. It's clear that Nintendo is abandoning the "hardcore" gamer for the more lucrative alpha-mom, and "casual gamer."

I don't intend to sound like a whining gaming nerd, but when their biggest announcement, Wii Music, was shown I almost puked and swallowed in my mouth. That game looks re-fucking-dick-ulous. It's basically a pantomime music game (DO NOT think: Guitar Hero, Rock Band) that emits horrible atonal music while the player flails around with imaginary instruments. They did say that this game was a hit in the office for 4-6 year-olds, but seriously, if you want to get that audience don't waste my time at 8:30 a.m. I spent the previous night hanging out with grown-up gamers playing grown-up games. Wii Music easily wins the most embarrassing moment of E3 '08.

Echoing the success of Wii Play (the collection of minigames bundled with a Wiimote), Nintendo announced its new controller cash-in with their new one-to-one Motion Plus controller add-on. The Motion Plus basically allows developers to make games that track the full 3D movement of the Wiimote, instead of what we have now which is up/down, side-to-side (including diagonals) and acceleration inputs. This is great for that Lightsaber game we all want, but it comes at the cost of splitting the market with those who have the add-on and those who don't. The Motion Plus controller will ship with Wii Sports Resort, which will use the add-on in minigames like Fencing and Jet-Skiing.

All I can say is Nintendo is the ubiquitous game maker. It's just a shame they're not making games for those who made them so.

E3 08: Microsoft Press Conference

By Tyler Barber



Peace, freedom, and bacon and eggs: the opening line from Bethesda's new (and hilarious) Fallout 3 trailer cued the Pavlovian-salivation response that remained high (for the most part) throughout Microsoft's E3 press conference. Last year, in Santa Monica, Microsoft came on stage and reassured gamers that '07 was the year of Microsoft. They were hyping up surefire games like Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, and Mass Effect, but what we saw then were mostly trailers, not gameplay. So, to my surprise, Microsoft followed the excellent Fallout 3 demo with on-stage demonstrations of three more AAA games. Maybe you've heard of them: Resident Evil 5, Gears of War 2, and Fable 2? All of the games demoed great, and the hype was high for all. My hands-on impressions for all these will follow shortly.

After the heavy-hitters, they followed up with what was, for me, the most impressive line-up of games for E3: the Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) downloadable titles (yes, the Playstation Network games are in that category too -- more on them later). First, we saw Geometry Wars 2, which instantly reminded me how bad-ass Geometry Wars Evolved was. In GW2, you now have not only new single player modes, but also 16 mutliplayer modes with both inventive verses and co-operative play. Next we saw something no one anticipated, Glaga Legions, developed by the same Namco-Bandia team that created the excellent Pac-Man Championship Edition. The mid-conference low followed after that with two cock-teases: Portal Still Alive (extra downloadable stages sans GLaDOS) and a strange flash of a screen for the South Park XBLA game.

Read the full article here.

This Week's Preview! In patented Hoot-o-rama

Yes, it's finally here - Hootenanny II: Twotenanny !!

If that's not bad enough there's also the HPMAs, and pretty much a whole week of bad-ass show after bad-ass show. Papermoons, Paris Falls, Gold Sounds, Antarctica Starts Here, Gold Sounds, Western Civilization, Two Star Symphony... Well shit! If you have infinite money and the ability to go without sleep this is your week! (read more)

Former NASA astronaut and moon-walker claims alien contact cover-up

FORMER NASA astronaut and moon-walker Dr Edgar Mitchell - a veteran of the Apollo 14 mission - has stunningly claimed aliens exist.

And he says extra-terrestrials have visited Earth on several occasions - but the alien contact has been repeatedly covered up by governments for six decades.
Dr Mitchell, 77, said during a radio interview that sources at the space agency who had had contact with aliens described the beings as 'little people who look strange to us.'
He said supposedly real-life ET's were similar to the traditional image of a small frame, large eyes and head.
Chillingly, he claimed our technology is "not nearly as sophisticated" as theirs and "had they been hostile", he warned "we would be been gone by now". READ MORE

Tonight's Recession Thursday Line-up

Gonna be a great show tonight with The Sweaters, Generation Landslide, Muzak John, Skeptycynic, Mesus the Thesis, and hank from Southern Backtones.

Doors at 9ish
Just 5 Bux
Dollar Beers
Free Hand Relief by Tim Dorsey

Tonight at Rudz: The McKenzies, Luxury Sweets, and Fire Team Charlie

Just 5 Bux
Rudyards
2010 Waugh
713-521-0521

Live Review: The Eastern Sea, News On The March, The Wild Moccasins, & Elaine Greer at Walters 22 July 08

Daaaaaaang! Did you miss the party on Sunday night with Elaine Greer, The Wild Moccasins, News on the March, and The Eastern Sea? Well no need to worry your poor little head. We've got words and pictures for you documenting where you should have been Sunday. (Link to article)

The Joannaversary: Parachutists are the Loneliest People

This weekend is so chock-full o'crunkness that we will slowly trickle fantastical info your way. This Saturday, help the Joanna celebrate their one year anniversary!! This little space has put some pretty clutch art shows together, including this celebratory exhibit featuring work by Mark Flood, Erin Ickler, Raymond Uhlir (shown), Monica Vidal, and Joanna founders Brian Rod and Cody Ledvina.
4014 Graustark
Houston, TX 77006
713-825-1976

(Thanks Glasstire)

Tonight: Teeth Mountain/The Super Vacations/Wicked Poseur @ Boondocks

Psychedelic Trance Fusion clutch-masters Teeth Mountain will be making grand moves tonight at Boondock's for the clubs free Monday live music series. The Super Vacations and the always tasty Wicked Poseur will be along for the ride.

FREE
Boondocks
1417 Westheimer
Twanky-one and up kiddos!

This Week's Preview for the week of July 18

This week The Hates turn 30 (That's them on the right 30 years ago), Elaine Greer is everywhere, Alarma Tag Teams with Something Fierce, The Mathletes return leaner and meaner and a hella lot more!

You think this is bad wait until next week when things really start to get crazy!
(Read More in Our Music Section)

Photo uncredited from the Hates website

Come join us for tonight's recession Thursday

Riff Tiffs are out Come See My Dead Person are in and Pale, Lisa's Sons, and The Takes are holding steady. (more deets)

Gov. Perry makes corruption look sexy!

Poultry king paid for Perry's airfare, gave to campaign

Wowo. The same folks who donate to Perry's campaign are illegaly flying him place to do dirty work on their behalf. But with a hair-do like that, how can you be wrong for anything?

"AUSTIN — Poultry producer Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim spent more than $9,000 on airfare in June so Gov. Rick Perry could attend a news conference promoting a waiver from federal ethanol mandates that Pilgrim wants." READ MORE

The Dark Knight

You'd think Batman had fists of fury with the constant shellacking he gives baddies. It's not unlike they took the thought balloon exclamations (Pow! and Biff!) from the 60s television show and replaced them with steroid enhanced sound tweaks. Nolan brings an exuberance to this although there's a PG-13 mojo at work that dictates little actual blood or gore. Still if you're thinking about taking a pre-teen to The Dark Knight prepare to deal with their nightmares. (cont.)

The Twotenanny Marketing Onslaught begins

Twotenanny kicks off a music crazy end of July with an amusing promotional video. (read more)

FYI: Next Westheimer Block Party October 11th

That's right infidels. October 11th it is my friends!
We have a few tricks up our sleeves on this one but are inviting the public to let us know what you think we should include in the next go round. Let us know...

Clutch-tastic photo by Anthony Rathbun

Music review - Young Mammals at Artstorm's Creature Comforts

A fine night of music and art proving that, contrary to what other papers may tell you, you can and should get out of the house. (Link)

This weeks shows for the week of 11 July 2008

OK, see the guy on the right? That's John Nova Lomax. He's actually a sweetheart, a super nice guy, and honestly does care about music. But just like anyone - myself included - he can talk out of his ass. His article (link) about how the Houston Scene sucks both bored me and irked me to no end (admittedly I dozed off and stopped reading before the last few paragraphs). If you buy into his idea that the local scene is weak, local bands are sub-par, and that nothing of worth comes to our city then I invite you to look at our preview and tell me things are as lame as he suggests. Just keep in mind, as much as I give him shit in this preview, the guy is really a cool "calling it how he sees it" kind of guy and I still think that Houston is, despite my disagreement with him on this, a much better place for what he contributes. Anyhow, here's what out there for you this week. (Link)

Joe Horn Indictment Rally at Harris County Criminal Justice Building

What a lovely afternoon in front of the Harris County Criminal Court Building. Scores of people rallied outside the court building to protest the Grand Jury that failed to indict Joe Horn for killing a man suspected of robbing his neighbor. The man was unarmed. Of course. READ MORE

Tonight at Numbers it's Studemont Project, Wicked Poseur, Wolves at the Door, and Trusty Tape Recorder

We've got a pretty solid line-up tonight for tonight's Recession Thursday - Studemont Project, Wicked Poseur, Wolves at the Door, and Trusty Tape Recorder. It will be as Omar says "Clutch!". Want more details? The follow the link to our music page. (link)

Joe Horn: Hero or total scumfuck redneck? ( Hint: the latter)

I am right. You are wrong. Let us know either way.

Sedition Books New Location

Our favorite community lending library, Sedition Books has found a new home. Next door to where the Proletariat used to be on Richmond and Montrose, Sedition Books has begun settling into its new location and will officially open on July 12th, 2008.

901 Richmond Ave. Montrose, Tx

2008 Houston Talent Drain.

Quite a few solid musicians have announced their departure from Houston and we're pretty bummed. Find out who is leaving and where/when you can hear them perform before they leave us. (Link)

Live Review - 500 Megatons of Boogie, The Jonx, Together We Are Instruments, and Jeremy Jay

What the hell is that guy in that Godflesh shirt holding? I dunno but it had lights and pretty colors.

Q & A's like that suggest we are back
to reviewing shows. This week we hit Jeremy Jay at Caroline Collective and head on over to Rudyard's for 500 Megatons of Boogie, The Jonx, and Together We Are Instruments. (Link)

This month in the Free Press - Papermoons

This month Papermoons are going on tour to support their new album New Tales on Team Science. [That's the album cover by local artist Michael Rodriguez on the right.] We caught up with them one Sunday afternoon and here is the result (Link to article).

Mister Lonely

The first images of Mister Lonely had me convinced it was the second coming. The opening moment is a slow motion long take telephoto shot that follows a Michael Jackson impersonator on a mini-cycle towing a kite of a monkey while the titular song warbles. This one-take credit sequence cuts to a nun, in a pleasant light blue habit, holding a spider monkey. At that point Mister Lonely had me enthralled, and then the drugs wore off .... (continued)

Keane Street Shindig Cancelled Moved to Notsuoh

Andrew WK cancels. Rained out Bldg w/no roof. Oh well. What to attribute it to? I think the Illuminati definitely had a hand in putting the kaibosh on this one.


UPDATE: MOVED TO NOTSUOH

Note: The Welfare Mothers are not playing (ouch)

This week's patriotic music preview

Woo! Go USA! Happy Birthday! It's 4th of July! You know what that means? Yeah yeah yeah we adopted the Declaration of Independence sure but like any birthday it's a huge excuse for a party - Beer, BBQ, and Explosions and general good times. But the fun doesn't just extend to today - this whole week is crazy with musical options! Check it out some highlights and enjoy the three day week-end. (Link)

Geto Boys at Warehouse Live July 4th

Bald Headed Hoes? Mind's playin' tricks? G Code? Sounds to me like the Iliad of Gangster rap from our local heroes.
Doors at 8.



Doors at 8

Tonight's Recession Thursday for 3 July 2008

The Dow keeps falling, gas prices keep rising, and even Starbucks is closing stores. Well I say invest your money where you know you'll get the most return and that's recession Thursdays. Hell $5 to get in, Cheap Booze, and the ROI on the bands playing has consistently beat the S&P 500. Check out who is playing tonight (Link)

It is okay to shoot criminals. Yeah you.

Piss.
Joe Horn is a free man today after a grand jury found him innocent in the shotgun shooting deaths of 2 men in the back who broke into his neighbor's house. The men were neither threatening Horn or carrying any weapons. Ya know what this means? I can shoot anyone I please who happens to be breaking the law. Illegally downloading music? I will blast ya. Expired registration? 2 shots to the dome. Tearing the tags off of mattresses? A red, belly full of jelly. (Thanks Bun B) But seriously, this fucked up situation sets a precedent. Watch you back, get strapped. Welcome to the new wild west.

Breaking the Beast: The Abuse of Circus Animals

The circus is coming to town.

"Tear that foot off! Sink it in the foot! Tear it off! Make 'em scream!"

"When I say rip his head off, rip his fucking foot off...it's very important that you do it."

In 1999, Tim Frisco, a Carson & Barnes circus elephant trainer was caught on video by an undercover PeTA cameraman during a training demonstration for new employees. As he screams, curses, and stabs at the elephant students he is 'training' with bullhooks and electrically charged prods, his goal is to evoke cries of pain and fear from the giant beasts.

READ MORE

OOOOPS!

Today's new issue, July 08, states the Ka-nives will be playing the Hootenany. Unfortunately, they have cancelled but the lin-eup has been rounded out with some clutch-time performers.