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Scott Biram
Continental Club, August 1, 2003

“You can’t keep a good man down,” so the old adage goes, and Scott Biram is just such a man. Being hit by a freaking 18 wheeler and living proves the above adage, and Biram’s intensity on stage proves my own little adage, you can’t keep a man who doesn’t care about anything else but playing music down either. Wendy WWAD and I caught Biram’s solo acoustic set at the CC on Friday night. Although Mr. Biram has been playing gigs around town the last few weeks, this was the first time I had seen him perform since his accident.

Biram, using a cane, got up on stage around 10:30, took his seat and commenced to A-Rockin’ with his guitar and amplified stomp-board. Utilizing an old portable Pignose amp to sing through, Biram’s vocals achieve that am/short-wave radio fuzz tone that puts you in mind of those out-of-the-way backwoods honkey-tonk bars where anything can happen. Biram’s experience with the punk band The Fangs shone through his renditions of Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” and an old Stanley Brothers tune. Rock and Roll possession had taken over Biram by his fifth song, and began humming along the musical Rock highway just like the 18-wheeler portrayed on his truck stop baseball hat. Biram showed his multi-instrumentalist abilities, playing harmonica as well as pickin’, stompin’ and singing on a few songs throughout his set. Biram introduced one of his original songs as “a religious revival type thing;” during which Biram’s face appeared to be part of his microphone as he sang, his eyes hidden under the brim of his hat, his voice sounding like a revival tent preachers’ fire and brimstone sermon from a crappy over-driven PA. Biram delighted me by incorporating Booker T and the MGs “Green Onions” into the intro for a song using the same key and chord progression.

Let it be known that Scott Biram is back, if not completely healed, at least he can play, go see him some Monday night up at the Parlor on North Loop, you will walk away a true believer.

-James E


Barfield
Continental Club, July 31, 2003

When my surly friend Rob called to tell me that Barfield was playing at the Continental Club Thursday night, I was all over it. I had seen them once before on my way downtown to see the Bloody Tears and was ready to see them again.

This is the kind of music that you would like to hear at a wedding. Not Kool and the Gang or anything lame like that, but it's definitely uplifting, high spirited kind of stuff. If I liked to dance, which I do not, this would be one of the bands on my list.

Mike Barfield is obviously heavily influenced by soul music. His voice goes from sounding like Kim Wilson to Van Morrison. I love watching him perform, just for the dance moves alone. This band is infectious. They make you want to spend all your money at the bar and make out with some random dude. Maybe that's just me. Anyway, at one point guitarist Bobby Horton of the Hustlers came up and did a guest spot. I liked the harmonica because it wasn't constantly being used, thereby making it annoying. Favorite songs of the evening were the subtly titled 'Pink Adobe Hacienda', and 'Do You Have What it Takes to Take What I Got?'

I like this band a bunch and will go see them again. I think a show with them, The CrackPipes and The Bloody Tears would be an awesome time. A whole evening with a bunch of bluesy/rock/dance music? Well, there ain't nothing wrong with that.

-Corri Mava


The Jolly Garogers
Backroom, August 2, 2003

I raced around the back of the backroom as AC/DC kickassness blasted through the backdoor. Running into the dark smokey club, I only caught two songs of Big Balls, AC/DC cover band. Damn it!!!! All hopped up and no idea what I was getting into with this pirate band, I secured a Lonestar from a smiley bartender and came back to find a black curtain covering the stage and a few eye patches and frilly necks peering out from behind. You can imagine the frenzied state of the metal patrons after an entire set of AC/DC. There was excitement in the air when the curtain fell and we were all magically transported to the one act play of treasure island complete with the steering column of a ship.

Ahoy mates. All Ye swashbucklers and loose women pack yer shit and climb aboard with the Jolly Garogers! Captain Phleabag (possibly Captain Morgan's twin brother) shall walk the plank and put a hook square in yer eye whilst The Dread Pirate Stagedive, RedBeard, Darrenger and Fremont (the cabin boy) deliver the rock that will get them all the booty they desire.

All pirate punning aside, you are an old fart if you can't find something to love about this scurvy pack of dogs in tights belting out ditties like "Calling in Dead (on Monday morning)" a weird Al meets Megadeath tune with the greatest excuse for missing work next Monday. I fell in love with Scurvy Dave during "God Save the Queen" but knew our love could never last when I learned of his plans to start the world's first moo-cow band. There was really only one traditional pirate song and it was the pre-recorded beginning of a song, ended by a pirate passing gas.

Don't misjudge these scallywags because they are pirates, unless you think pirates ROCK. After years of raping and pillaging, the Jolly Garogers have obviously redirected their efforts to their music. Don't be afraid to wear your own frilly collar or eye patch and some of you pussies might even need earplugs. What did you say? These guys have already appeared on "Late Night with Carson Daly" so you better check them out on August 18th at Beerland and August 30th at Red Eye Fly before the have to get out of town. Keep in mind these shows are rate a[R]rrrrgghh! Check out MP3s and photos at http://www.jollygarogers.com

- Beth Sams


Opposite Day
Flamingo Cantina, August 9, 2003

Imagine Primus, They Might Be Giants and Victims Family all rolled into one and you’ll have a pretty decent idea of Opposite Day’s sound. Slated in the middle of the 5 band bill christened “The Schizo-Rock Show” by the Flamingo, the guitar-bass-drums 3-piece played their brainy brand of rock/funk/punk/jazz to a crowd that seemed to grow more enthusiastic with every song. Over the last 2 years of their existence, this band has grown tighter (if that’s even possible) and more entertaining. This show seemed the culmination of their ability to simultaneously blow other bands out of the water with sheer dexterity and cater to the interests of non-musicians in the audience. That’s not an easy feat.

Guitarist Sam Arnold played some of the most well phrased solos I’ve ever heard. He’s not just moving his fingers around as fast as he can in a blues pattern, he really knows what he’s doing. All three of these guys are masters of their instruments. Blistering licks that’d take most of us years to learn are just on tap in these guys’ brains. Fantastic.

Phenomenal musicianship, stop-on-a-dime accuracy, weird time signatures galore and silly lyrics… sounds like something that’d be right up Red River’s alley (specifically the one in between Stubb’s and the Red Eyed Fly). So why can’t Opposite Day get a show on everyone’s favorite boulevard?

Unfortunately, it’s probably the fact that they don’t have enough (or any) tattoos and don’t fall in to the And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Imitators scene. It’s not news that the underground rock world is just as elitist and fashion-oriented as the sorority sisters we loathe. This band is completely bad-ass and always draws a decent crowd. Why is it ok for retro-pop bands like Pong and Summer Breeze to play Red River clubs but Opposite Day gets the “you’re too mainstream” bit?? These are the woes of many a band in Austin that are too weird to play Momo’s but not gritty enough to play Emo’s. Watch out for the fashion police.

For those of you who like prog-rock, math rock or local bands like Pong, Brown Whornet and Golden Arm Trio – I implore you to give Opposite Day a listen. They may not use as much distortion or have as much facial hair as Gorch Fock, but their musicianship, arrangements and hilarious lyrics are just as impressive. Isn’t anyone else sick of listening to 20 year- olds play power chords all night long on Red River? If so, Opposite Day is one of many underrated Austin bands you may find refreshing to the ears.

- JJ Robins

EMO'S
beerland
room 710
elysium
Artist Spotlight: Robzar
off the streets and in the parking lot
chump change
photos from aroudn the way
guerrillart
wendy's wwad, what would ace do?
comix gallery
off-sides with chad holt

Barfield

the jolly garogers

the jolly garogers

the jolly garogers

the jolly garogers

big balls

 

 

 

electric cock

 

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