There most certainly is. On Friday, Houston will see whiny, emo, AP darlings, Hawthorne Heights at Warehouse. Make sure you get your tickets to that one early or those kids’ parents will first. A better choice however would probably be kickass multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Wesley at Dean’s Credit Clothing. Walter’s on Washington will also have a smorgasbord of local bands including B L A C K I E, Fat Tony, and Ghost Town Electric.
On Saturday the dashing Young Mammals will be kicking off their tour with Eastern Sea and Buxton. But if you feeling like partying as if it were your birthday then 50 Cent will also be performing at the Arena. The Wild Moccasins will be playing an intimate mid-day show at Cactus Music. And making a surprisingly unheralded appearance will be the Village People at Sam Houston Race Track. To finish the weekend up we also have a little Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special. Happy hunting!
]]> I hope you guys had as much fun as I had this Saturday. I sure had a blast listening to great music, running into just about everyone I know, and it’s nice to see Westheimer with some hustle and bustle on its sidewalks.
Some highlights? OK! The Wild Moccasins played a great show outside Mango’s on a rickety stage that seemed to be on the verge of collapse from all the hopping and general Moccasins shenanigans. The added amusement for me was watching as my very serious and artistically minded six-year-old tried in futility to find a spot on stage stable enough for him to draw the five popsters. Damn it, how can I express myself artistically if you guys keep hopping around up there! Hearing Paul Winstanley and Lucas Gorham perform outside La Strada was wonderful too. I hadn’t heard Paul take a bass guitar to the edge like that in ages and it was wonderful and challenging to hear it again. Also fun was the (this time official) Cop Warmth and B L A C K I E gorilla set. Cop Warmth, for the uninitiated, is the musical equivalent of children running around the playground in pure chaotic frenzied joy. My favorite moment of the set was when Craig, running into the audience, made a woman squeal in fright. B L A C K I E meanwhile doesn’t so much a rap as spout words like a steel-driver laying down iron with every ounce of energy at his disposal. Balaclavas, at the acoustically pleasing space behind the Austin Layne Hotel, performed one of the best sets of the day as they kicked-out amazing new material that reminded you just how unique their sound is and how furious their shows can be. How they are not one of Houston’s biggest draws, I’ll never understand. Over at Mango’s, as we were waiting for Tambersauro, we got some drama as some drunk Asian woman was challenging another woman to some fisticuffs. Unfortunately, the fisticuffs did eventually occur outside but while no one was getting hurt, it was pretty amusing theatre of the absurd. Tambersauro though wasn’t about to be upstaged by a lone drunk and proceeded to tear into a raging set that almost made me forget that I was trying to see five bands in that time slot. Luckily a friend who knew this, poked me and pointed to her watch. Thanks mon ami! The McKenzies were quite a sight surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of fans who had joined them on stage. Ah, those Houston pop bands sure know how to work-up a crowd. Buxton closed out the outdoor shows with an amazing set that had the entire crowd at the Austin Layne Hotel enraptured. After the first set, the audience clearly wanted more and thankfully JD (Secret Saturday Shows, Guitars, Lenny Briscoe, etc) demanded they play a few more and Sergio Trevino somehow agreed to it in his typical sheepish manner then proceeded to treat us with a work in progress that was much better than I think they realized. I think Trevino and company work their music with such expert care that they seem a bit worried about showing some rough edges. That’s OK because there is a bit of excitement about seeing a band not exactly knowing where they are going with a song and that vulnerability – that putting yourself out there with no net – is charming when you are as good a band as Buxton. Now for me that was pretty much the proper end of the Block Party for me. I was pretty tired by then but, like the Terminator, the Block Party just wouldn’t quit. Don’t get me wrong, I saw some amazing sets afterwards like Something Fierce laying down some serious and furious pop-punk and Satin Hook’s Lucas Gorham using a Tuvan throat singing technique for backing vocals but by the time the Jon Benet plowed into their set, I was physically fatigued. I’ll admit it. Another Block Party has left me beaten and bloody on the canvas. So, what’s new? At least I had fun getting pummeled.
Now one last thing before I get to the photos: Kudos to our heroic and fearless FPH leader Omar. Omar is the general behind all these operations; he books all the bands and gets everyone involved to little acclaim. That’s largely because he’s not one to self-aggrandize but, instead, seriously believes in the community of artists and people that live in this city. I for one, seeing a small bit of what he does behind the scenes, am always impressed at how the guy pulls it off twice a year. Of course Omar can’t do it himself and it’s only because of the efforts of all the local businesses, bands, artists, and the community in general coming together that makes these things so special. That’s also because, unlike the latter years of the wholly unrelated Westheimer Street Festival, this event isn’t just about attracting sponsors but about building and celebrating a community. That’s the way these things should be. So thanks everyone who helped and came out. I don’t know about you but I’m ready for another round next Spring.
irked that the stage shook from all the jumping while he was trying to draw.
Ironically, he then went and jumped in a trampoline for the next hour.
a gorgeous improvisational set.
hey, look it’s John Sears peeking past Zahira as B L A C K I E rages.
The Wizard lays down magic sounds on Westheimer.
never rocked this hard…
amongst these rambunctious fans on stage.
very very proud of his bleeding for his art.
found your back bumber smashed at the end of the evening.
You may want to contact Ryder truck rentals
and find out who was renting truck 445161 that night.
Styrofoam peanuts behind them ready to pounce!
Styrofoam death, Kerry was not so lucky.
Links:
Complete Sets on my Flickr.
* Westheimer Block Party (Link)
* Bonus: B L A C K I E & Cop Warmth’s Guerilla set (Link)
Oh and look:
Breakfast On Tour posted some pictures on their Flickr too (link)
Peeps! Heat! Sweat! Dancing! Great Music! Mystery Beer! Awesomeness!
Chris Gray was going on a while ago about alternative venues and I have to say that a sweaty hot warehouse is a nice change of pace from the usual club de rigeur. I have to admit that I had a little problem finding 2220 Commerce so I went across the street where there was a hardcore show to ask and they really nice and pointed me in the right direction.* Once I found the warehouse entrance there outside were the Wild Moccasins, Elaine Greer and Austin Lloyd, John Sears, Tom Martinez (Tontons), Carlos Sanchez (Young Mammals), Joe Mathlete, and…well let’s just say it was a party – an over by curfew party! Hell even 21-year-old Carlos Sanchez said “Am I the only one who feels old here?” Right Carlos! Not that anyone paid him any mind because the moon was full, the night cool, and the Astros even throw in some fireworks for good measure – good omens all.
The Eastern Sea started the evening with a sweet set. I really loved their set at Walters a few weeks ago. They are clearly having a ball making music and that enthusiasm carried through both performances. The songs are sharp and clever folky pop with great harmonies and some nice guitar work. The only thing is, this was a warehouse party and as such, you weren’t going to get the nuanced mix that Terry gave them at Walter’s a few weeks back so I felt that some of what makes them great was lost (particularly the harmonies). Regardless of any limitations, the music carried though to the point where people were swaying to the music and enjoying it and that is all that matters. I’ll say this about the Eastern Sea. I’ve heard a few tracks on myspace of their EP but there is something restrained in those recordings and what is missing is the playful energy and joy of their live performances. Perhaps that’s asking for a lot out of a recording but a band as good as the Eastern Sea deserves a recording that captures the energy of their music living and breathing in front of you. All of this is just a long way of saying that I really get a kick out of the Eastern Sea and hope they make their way down to Houston more often.
Next up was, yeah, you guessed it, The Wild Moccasins. Yes, I may have to purposefully have a Wild Moccasins review blackout because this is getting ridiculous. But it’s so hard to do because they are so much fun. Friday they were as great as ever and they even threw us a few curve balls with a secret weapon – the dude! Yes, to the left sat a guy with a black garbage bag whose job it was to toss out what looked like sealed pastries and balloons. Now that’s a freaking special effect! Balloons above a crowd are the great equalizer! Even the biggest thuggiest tough guy will invariably smile and bounce it back in the air. Sure, it’s silly and childish but you know what? That’s OK. It’s not dark or ironic, or heavy – it’s fun. Fun is OK folks! And fun music doesn’t mean it’s vacuous or cookie cutter fluff. There is craft and care put into what the Moccasins do. If you abhor the Moccasins or my “Mickey Mouse” taste in music that’s fine. I’ll tell you what; you keep going to “adult” rock shows and I’ll keep hopping and singing the Wee Ooo Eee Ooos with Joe Mathlete on Fruit Tea.
Last up was The Riff Tiffs. I’ll make a confession, I didn’t particularly get into the Riff Tiff’s album Afflictinnittus. To me, it sounded pretty but something just seemed to be missing. I could never put my finger on it so I shrugged off seeing them until this show. The thing is, like the Eastern Sea, the Riff Tiffs are a better band than their studio work would suggest. The Riff Tiffs are all about the sonics they produce live and Afflictinnittus just misses it totally. Live it’s this big wave of notes that ebb softly then build into a tsunami of sound – I’m talking brilliant dynamics. Compare that expansive sound to the recordings and the band in the recordings sounds isolated from each other and compressed. Capturing the energy and force of their live show is what some engineer needs to capture – anything less and they fail. So what I’m saying is nice set guys.
Attention Eastern Sea!
We give-in to your cuteness!
YES! Pale sweaty shirtless dudes!
Eastern Sea Hotness!
The Moccasins are the party!!!
state of the art light show!!
If you read Hands Up Houston this week you likely saw this:
“I don’t like the local kiddie indie pop bands or freak folk bands that are now all the rage. They need to go join the Mickey Mouse Club on the Disney channel. Usually any band that Ramon LP4 jerks-off about every time he posts I know not to listen to.”
Andrew, of course, dressed appropriately.
You decide!
Some bands spend millions on lights, props, and sets.
Fuck that! The Wild Moccasins
just had this dude toss out pastries and balloons!
Hell yeah! Balloons!
You can never go wrong with balloons!
Neil Diamond “Hot August Night” FAIL!
The Riff Tiffs doing their best
Mudhoney impersonation!
Links:
More pictures on my Flickr (Link)
The Eastern Sea (Link)
The Wild Moccasins (Link)
Riff Tiffs (Link)
*Andrew Ortiz later ran me a breakdown of who was playing and it sounded like a pretty sweet bill. So hey hardcore promoters you need to give me a heads up; we love the hardcore too.
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