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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Intraband violence puts damper on Hancock release party
Wednesday was supposed to be a big night for Wayne “the Train” Hancock, who had a CD release show for “Viper of Melody” in Chicago, the home of his label, Bloodshot Records. Instead a “shocked and angry” Hancock spent the afternoon rehearsing a new steel player and guitarist.
On Sunday at about 2 a.m. in Kansas City, Hancock and bassist Huck Johnson rushed steel player Tony Locke to the emergency room with his face badly swollen and bloody, after an altercation with the band’s guitarist Izzy Zaidman.
Zaidman said it was a fair fight; Locke said he was suckerpunched, then kicked repeatedly in the face when he was down.
“Tony was drunk and belligerent and he picked a fight with me,” said Zaidman, who was fired from the band after playing a show in St. Louis the next night. Locke said he pressed charges in Kansas City on Tuesday. He returned to Austin on Wednesday.
“That’s a blatant lie,” Locke said, when told of Zaidman’s version of events. “We had a verbal disagreement in the hotel room and I turned around to leave. That’s when Izzy coldcocked me from behind. He then kicked me repeatedly in the head and the face and the ribs.” He said he was in and out of consciousness during the beating.
Locke said Hancock and Johnson encouraged him to check out of the hospital before the cops arrived. “They said there’d be no more gigs for the band if I filed a police report,” Locke said. Hancock said that’s not correct, that it was Locke’s decision to not press charges at the time.
A gruesome photo of Locke’s face in the aftermath has been circulating around Austin, stirring much outrage against Zaidman, a native New Yorker. “I know it looks bad, but I didn’t coldcock him, as some people are saying, and I didn’t kick him in the face. He had his fists up and was ready to fight.” Zaidman said much of the facial damage happened when the two were wrestling on concrete. “Did I lose it? Maybe, but my fight instincts kicked in and I felt I was defending myself.”
Hancock said his guitarist went too far. “I regret that I didn’t fire Izzy on the spot in Kansas City,” the country singer said. “You have to understand that we’re on tour. We have a new record. The label doesn’t want to see us canceling any shows.”
Zaidman said he’s aware there’s a lot of anger toward him and he’s made Austin Police aware of some of the threatening emails he’s received.
“I am truly sorry for what happened,” said Zaidman, who had been in Hancock’s band about 10 months. “I’ve been trying to apologize to Tony, but he won’t take my calls.”
Hancock said he stands by his steel player. “The first thing I want to make sure is that Tony’s medical bills are taken care of,” said Hancock, who added a benefit concert may be in the offing. “As for Izzy, I hope they send him to jail.”
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Spoonx3 in July, but are they hinting this will be an annual event?
Spoon is playing a three-night stand July 9, 10 and 11 at Stubb’s. …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of the Dead, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears open July 9, Low and Dale Watson open July 10, and Atlas Sound and the Strange Boys open July 11.
Expect to hear a mess of new songs from Spoon’s next album, which is being recorded nowish.
The e-mail from the publicist calls the three-night stand a “festival” and referred to the gig as “inaugural,” which in this context usually means more will follow next year, right?
Spoon’s publicist at Nasty Little Man said, “No, I don’t think so, but maybe! Lets not rule that out.”
Which clears up nothing.
Ticket go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday via Frontgate Tickets.
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Weekend picks: Metal thrash, Scottish rock and hard-core Southern soul
Pictured: Franz Ferdinand / ASSOCIATED PRESS
FRIDAY
Etta James and the Roots Band at the Austin Music Hall. Her material ranges from soul to jazz to classic pop. Leonard Chess thought of her as a torchy ballad singer, but her 1967 album, ‘Tell Mama,’ is a stone classic of hard-core Southern soul. At 71, she still can sell a song. This is a reserved seat show. $62-$82. — Joe Gross
Also recommended
- The Kills at Emo’s
- Foot Patrol, Baby Got Bacteria at the Scoot Inn
- Black Label Society, Sevendust and more at Stubb’s
- Stan Ridgeway at the Cactus Cafe
- Arc Angels, Dustin Welch at the Continental Club
SATURDAY
Franz Ferdinand at La Zona Rosa.This Scottish rock band blew minds at ACL Fest back in 2005. But their newest album ‘Tonight’ doesn’t seem to be reaching the critical or commercial heights of the two preceding. Nevertheless (and perhaps because of the venue’s small size), this show is technically sold out. 9 p.m. — J.G.
Also recommended
- Pennywise at Stubb’s
- Angry Samoans at Red 7
- Acid Mother’s Temple at Emo’s
- Chris Riley/NadaMoo Ice Cream Social with Dikes of Holland, Peel, Follow That Bird! and more at United States Art Authority
- Magic Jewels at the Parlor
SUNDAY
Napalm Death/Cattle Decapitation at Emo’s.This is quite a deal; two great metal shows for one price. The earliest incarnation of Napalm Death all but invented grindcore — metal thrash at hard-core’s speed — in the mid-’80s. Several lineup changes later, they are still a powerhouse. N.D. play the outside stage with lightning fast Canadian death metallers Kataklysm, thrash revivalists Toxic Holocaust and modern metal acts Coliseum and Trap Them. Inside, Cattle Decapitation headlines with Rose Funeral and more. 9 p.m. $15 advance, $20 day of show. — J.G.
Also recommended
- The Weird Weeds, Ralph White at Room 710
- Old School Austin Fish Fry Jam hosted by Chris Burns with Pocket FishRmen and Sexy Finger Champs, Roger’s Porn Collection, and more at the Scoot Inn (4 p.m. start).
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Austin music news
If you thought Natalie Maines would be the first Dixie Chick to record a solo album, you’re wrong. Producer Gary Paczosa has been working with Martie Maguire at her studio near Lake Travis. The project harks back to Maguire’s bluegrass roots, when she was known as one of the Erwin sisters. No word yet on a label or release date, though Maguire has been booked to play the Telluride Festival in Colorado in June.
Randy Reynolds’ band Leatherbag will tape an episode of Austin City Limits Stage Left at Studio 6A (where “ACL” is taped) Thursday April 30 at 7 p.m. Go here for more info and to RSVP. Reynolds has drawn comparisons to Buddy Holly as a modern rocker.
The SIMS Foundation raised $25,000 with its “I’m With the Band” party at the Copa Club last week. T-Bird & the Breaks charmed the crowd of local music luminaries, but backup singer Stephanie Hunt, the 19-year-old younger sister of Phoebe Hunt of Belleville Outfit, wasn’t there. Under her Hollywood name Ariel Hunt, Steph has become in demand as an actress after her stint as the cute lesbian bassist of Landry’s band in “Friday Night Lights.” Hunt had been auditioning for new parts in L.A.
The Greencards have signed a management deal with C3 Presents, the folks who bring us ACL Fest, where the ‘cards first turned heads in year three.
