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|  Sniffy
(Last Show)
Room 710, August 29th
Old
soldiers say that they still scratch their amputated leg years
after it’s gone, their minds trick them that it is still
there. It might take time for my mind to realize that I’ll
never (reunions excluded) enjoy Sniffy live again. Saturday
August 29th, the popish threesome called it quits on the eve
of bassist Rebekah Whitehurt’s departure to the Big
Apple.
I’ve
seen this band many times and their “last” show
did not disappoint, the triplets ripped through the set playing
almost the entirety of their playlist. Every song I wanted
to hear they delivered, from “Spaceship” to “Porn
Song”, three minute slices of pop heaven.
 It
doesn’t ever do justice to write and describe the energy
or emotion of a live performance, the context can never be
duplicated and usually falls on deaf ears. I’m not saying
Sniffy’s death toll ranks in the pantheon of rock’s
great performances, but for a night, for me, my itch was scratched.
Sniffy was Jimmy Bradshaw (guitar), Rebekah Whitehurst (bass)
and Gene Loncon (drums). To relive Sniffy checkout their release
No Secrets in Sweatpants.
-Beky Hayes
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|  Brown
Whornet
Room 710, September 7th
Ladies
and gentlemen, Brown Whornet! The ten-year anniversary tour
concluded with a homecoming Saturday night at Room710 to a
packed house. It’s hard to believe that after ten years
and an almost two year hiatus that any band could still be
as popular as Brown Whornet. But those who have heard any
of their music are sure to be as captivated with this band
as I was. When I found out that the defunct super group was
going to reunite for a new tour I was so excited that I almost
peed my pants. (Surely I’m not the only one)
Brown
Whornet live shows are legendary, and anyone that has lived
to tell the story can attest to the energy and pure chaos
that is Brown Whornet. When I discovered that new lineup consisted
of five rather than the original eight, I have to admit I
was a little disappointed. Especially since my favorite member,
the only female was not to be at the show, I knew that classics
such as “Ice Knife” or the “Working Song”
would probably not make it on the set list without her. But
with Tyler coming back from San Francisco to front the band
I knew that some of that ole’ magic would still be intact.
 Never
a disappointment, old and new fans alike were treated to nearly
two hours of musical madness. Some old favorites such as “Pope”
and “Cutting Myself” were enjoyed by the massive
collective of Whornet fans that some how managed to cram themselves
into the small area in front of the stage at Room 710. A lovely
rendition of “God Bless America” was accompanied
by taunts from the vocalist, Tyler. The audience was won over,
not only by the music, but also by the stage performance.
The frenzied show was completed by a semi strip tease by Tyler,
complete with ass and crotch rubbing. I was once again reminded
why I fell in love with Brown Whornet. I suggest buying any
of their albums to get a taste of Saturday’s show.
-Rhiannon Dillon |
Dum
Dum and the Smarties/Johnny Vortex/Black Cock
Room 710, September 3rd
Up
to this point I’ve been nice. For the sake of the readership
that may or may not pay attention to the reviews in this magazine,
I’ve tried to represent the bands I’ve seen with
an unbiased viewpoint that represents the show from an audience
vantage point. Blame it on my childhood or my current state
of unemployment, but it took every ounce of restraint in my
being to keep me from running out of the venue clutching my
ears screaming “ you can’t hurt me anymore!”
That being said, I would not advise seeing these bands unless
you have a death wish.
I
had the misfortune to catch the first band, Black Cock. Being
an enormous fan of the cock, I was intrigued, to say the least,
at the audacity of any band to name themselves after such
an infamous body part. I need not bore you with the details
of the Cock, but I can say that I saw more than one person
wincing and holding their ears.
The
remaining few that stuck around for Johnny Vortex were treated
to a second-rate Traveling Wilbury’s show. These guys
boasted about their “single” that they released
in the eighties, and even covered a Pariah song. Their lone
fan seemed impressed, but maybe they would have gotten a better
response if they played to an audience that was closer to
their age group. Surely, there are nursing homes that allow
live music in Austin.
Finally,
the last band! Though Dum Dum and Smarties monotone music
was easier to listen to than the previous acts; my eardrums
had long ago resigned to writing me hate mail. They didn’t
care that they were heavily promoting their compilation album,
Garage Justice Volume I- Austin vs. New York City. At the
evening’s end my eardrums, offended yet intact, had
indeed survived the sonic battering.
-Rhiannon Dillon
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