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Thursday, July 24, 2008
CD review: Micky and the Motorcars
Micky and the Motorcars
‘Naïve’
(Smith Entertainment)
Is it fair to call a singer-songwriter derivative if the person he sounds like is his older brother?
Micky and the Motorcars, led by Micky Braun, come off even more like Reckless Kelly understudies when you consider the head Kelly — Willy Braun — co-wrote title track “Naïve” and the album, which comes out Tuesday, was produced by R.K.’s David Abeyta and Cody Braun.
But what sets Micky and the Motorcars apart, albeit slightly, is that Micky is a more tenderhearted kind of country rock singer, as evidenced by the originals “Grow Old” and “Seeds.” On the Jon Dee Graham cover “Twilight,” Micky’s voice provides the vulnerable counterpart to Kris Farrow’s guitar of wiry confidence.
On “Naïve,” the Brauns are joined by another musical family, this one called Welch, which gives the album another dimension. New Wimberley resident Kevin Welch, the former Nashville major label act, has a couple of musical kids in Dustin and Savannah, who both contribute co-writes (Savannah’s “Amber” is a sweet standout), as does Randy Rogers (“Long Enough To Leave”).
Image courtesy of myspace.com/mickyandthemotorcars.
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Weekend Picks: Furious death metal, killer rap and fake guitars
Friday: Aesop Rock at Emo’s. The lyrics on last year’s Aesop Rock (born Ian Matthias Bavitz) album ‘None Shall Pass’ were typically verbose and bright. But for the first time, the beats were almost as crafty. It’s way too long, but what album isn’t these days? This will probably not be a problem at what should be a tight show with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. This show is 18 and older, not all ages. — Joe Gross
Friday: The Krayolas at Jovita’s. Speaking of power pop, this San Antonio band was present at the creation back in the ’70s. ‘Best Riffs Only: The Krayolas 1977-1988’ goes back to when they were teens; their new album, ‘La Conquistadora,’ is their first full-length in two decades. The Krayolas perform in-studio on KUT 90.5 at 2 p.m. today and play an in-store at Antone’s Records (2928 Guadalupe St.) at 5:30 p.m. Friday; Augie Meyers might stop by for their first Austin club gig in more than 20 years, 7 p.m. Friday at Jovita’s —-J.G.
Friday: Wolf Parade at La Zona Rosa. ‘At Mount Zoomer,’ the second album from these Montreal indie rockers, is made up of little pieces knitted together to make one of the season’s proggier hipster-directed albums, essentially a meeting of the minds between singer-keyboardist Spencer Krug and singer-guitarist Dan Boeckner. It’s a hairy little record, but has the potential to be awfully powerful live. —-J.G.
Friday: US Air Guitar Championships - Austin Regionals at Stubb’s. If you check out our excellent video from the ‘Dark Horse’ Qualifying Round that went down at the Alamo on Tuesday you probably get a sense of the general awesomeness that can be produced by fake guitar gods doing their thing. The winner in this round moves on to the Air Guitar nationals in NYC. No doubt any of these air virtuosos could put you to shame in a round of ‘Guitar Hero.’ —-Deborah Sengupta Stith
Friday: Indieroke at the Mohawk. Bored by watching others live out their rock star fantasies? Join in the fun yourself and recreate your favorite indie rock ditties at the Mohawk, where our friends from the Austinist host Indieroke. —-D.S.S.
Friday: Ahmed Garcia and Muse Oasis at Ruta Maya. Of Columbian descent and raised by belly dancers, Ahmed Garcia dubs the music he makes “American Desert Fusion.” It’s a trancey blend that pulls in elements of Middle Eastern fantasy and drum and bass with an occasional crash of heavy metal. Good sounds to help get your shimmy on, which, no doubt, at least a few lovely ladies will do throughout the show. —-D.S.S.
Saturday: Killer Mike at the Parish. With his Outkast affiliations and hard rhyming, not only is Killer Mike (born Michael Render) one of the hotter MCs in Atlanta right now, he also plays rapper/President of the United States Taqu’il on ‘Frisky Dingo,’ one of the best cartoons ever to air on Adult Swim. With Rapid Ric, Gerald G, Dred Skott and more. — J.G.
Saturday: Origin at Red 7. Furious, state-of-the-art death metal. You either know this is a must-see or, well, you don’t like furious, state-of-the-art death metal. With Misery Index, Abysmal Dawn and more. —-J.G.
Saturday: Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters at Stubb’s BBQ. Their look is a little confusing. Are they ’60s mods worshipping at the altar of the Kinks and early Stones? Are they a honky-tonk band giving their lives over to St. Hank Williams? Find out for yourself at 7 p.m. — J.G.
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Live Review: Harvey Milk at Red 7, Canadian Rifle and more at Emo’s
You know how you can tell European punk bands on sight?
Shorts on stage. Especially when the whole band wears them.
Solid Decline hail from Germany, and boy howdy, could you tell when they took the stage Wednesday night at Emo’s. The sparsely attended show featured a decent set from Austin’s own Sacred Shock before the Germans took the stage.
Now there were a few folks in Sacred Shock wearing shorts, but they looked self-conscious about it and with good reason. Not since Fugazi rocked D.C. church halls in the late 80s has it seemed socially acceptable for punks to wear shorts on stage. And rarely does the entire band participate in such leg-bearing behavior.
Solid Decline sure did; cargo shorts no less. Their set was fine, nothing all that shocking, just solid meat-and-potatoes European hardcore. Somewhat aggressive, but not so much that one felt much heat, tension or even that much overflowing power. Maybe it was the tiny crowd; Wednesdays are tough.
Canadian Rifle was a stronger proposition. A power trio that traded on well-defined riff-construction, their tunes owed much to the hefty, catchy punk of British legends Leatherface as anything else.
I found them to be in a proud tradition of Chicago shout-along punk, not as memorable as, say, Pegboy (a personal favorite) but solid nonetheless; I look forward to a potentially killer album from them in the future.
Things moved a little slower over at Red 7. Harvey Milk was supposed to take the stage at 12:15, but didn’t make it until 1 a.m. The Athens, Ga., band has enjoyed a somewhat shocking resurgence in (relative) popularity, thanks in part to such taste-making retailers as Aquarius Records. Their current lineup, augmented by former Melvin Joe Preston on second guitar, slogged (I mean that in a good way) through loud, slow dirges that didn’t quite fit with metal, punk or obtuse noise. These were songs, but slowed down and pulled apart. Occasionally, the pace would pick up, but slow and low was the tempo most of the time.
Guitarist/singer Creston Spiers sounded like suffering was his lot in life, while bassist Steven Tanner’s look surfed that line between underground rock life and guy who might ask you for spare change. The whole thing was a balm for the soul, really.
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Live Chat With Statesman pop critic Joe Gross at 2 p.m. TODAY
Check out our weekly live chat about music (Austin music, Texas music and otherwise) at 2p.m. today, July 24.
Kickoff topics include the Harvey Milk show, new albums from the Hold Steady, Sugarland, Bowie and more and upcoming shows we’re looking forward to (Origin! Luis Miguel! Jay Reatard!)
And again, these topics are mere jumping off points.
Chats take place from then on in every Thursday at 2 p.m.
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The O.P.E.R.A. House to close
After three show-packed years, the O.P.E.R.A. House, the performance and retail space located at 2209 S. First St, behind End of an Ear, will close its doors in August.
It served as a gallery, shop and venues to all sorts of small-bore acts around town, but quickly became a home for the more avant-garde strain of noise acts.
The final show is Aug. 10. Bands include Night Viking, Ich Ni San Chi, Nano Bang Bang and more.
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Luis Miguel plays the Frank Erwin Center Oct. 15
Luis Miguel, known to many as the Mexican Sinatra (a bit like the way Neil Diamond is the Jewish Elvis, but moreso), is playing the Frank Erwin Center Oct. 15.
That said, his career is more like that of the Mexican Micahel Jackson, sans all the scandal. Miguel began performing at age 4 and releasing albums at age 11. In his 27 year recording career, he has sold over 90 million albums worldwide. (I recall with fondness trying to translate one of his concerts in real time as an exercise in Spanish 1 class in eighth grade. Dude put on a show, even then.)
Also, he (like Neil Diamond, frankly) he has truly spectacular hair.
Tickets are $49.50, $59.50 and $79.50 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes select H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Kyle, Leander, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos and Temple; Ft. Hood ITR and Renaissance Records in Killeen). They can be charged-by-phone at 512-477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or ordered online at utpac.org or TexasBoxOffice.com.
