Comments on: Hi, How Are You?

Hi, How Are You?

swift — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:24:40 -0800

Austin music scene ~1990-1995 (an unscientific survey): 8 1/2 Souvenirs ₁ - American Analog Set ₁ ₂ - Bad Livers ₁ - Bedhead - Butthole Surfers ₁ - Duckhills ₁ - Ed Hall ₁ - Fuckemos ₁ - Furry Things - Gals Panic ₁ - Glass Eye ₁ - Johnny Goudie ₁ - Hamell on Trial ₁ - The Horsies - The Impossibles ₁ - Daniel Johnston ₁ - Motards - Pocket FishRmen ₁ - Poi Dog Pondering ₁ - Pariah - Pushmonkey ₁ ₂ - The Reivers ₁ - Retarted Elf - Scratch Acid (yes, I know -- late 80s...) - Shoulders - Sincola - Sixteen Deluxe ₁ - Sons of Hercules ₁ - Soulhat ₁ - Spoon ₁ ₂ - Starfish ₁ - Storyville ₁ - Twang-Twang-Shock-a-Boom ₁ - Ugly Americans - Wild Seeds ₁. Previously: 1 2 3

By: googly

googly — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:40:19 -0800

In the late 80s I saw the Butthole Surfers at the Metropolitan Opera House. They were preceded by a group of Senegalese drummers and the World Saxophone Quartet. They played Cherub. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. I am a man of simple needs.

By: snofoam

snofoam — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:41:20 -0800

Asylum Street Spankers, and The Gourds started only slightly after your time period.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:41:57 -0800

I thought the Surfers and Scratch Acid were Chicago bands, on the Touch and Go label. Or are they here because they played Austin a lot?

By: swift

swift — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:46:14 -0800

I think the Surfers were technically a San Antonio band, but they caused an inordinate amount of damage in Austin.

By: Faux Real

Faux Real — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:47:04 -0800

Twang-Twang-Shock-a-Boom is one of my favorite bands of all time.

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:51:05 -0800

Oh my freaking god. My ears and my unwavering sense of nostalgia for my college years thank you.

By: pomegranate

pomegranate — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:56:37 -0800

I kiss kiss kiss you. These make me so happy and so old. I lived with a Sincola-er and had a girlfriend who lived on a farm in East Austin with a bunch of Horsies and Poi-doggies. I still love and go see Poi Dog in Chicago once or twice a year. Liberty Lunch and Chances were the very best places to see live music in the world, terrible acoustics aside. I 'd only add Two Nice Girls and Girls in the Nose or pretty much anything by Gretchen Phillips to my personal live music constellation at that time.

By: Oat

Oat — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:00:09 -0800

What no Muleskinners?

By: freshwater_pr0n

freshwater_pr0n — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:01:28 -0800

Fantastic post! I sing that Horsies song to myself every time I hear about Chomsky. And American Analog Set, along with the Golden Arm Trio, was my first ever show in Austin. This is before the era that this post covers, but we can't forget the Big Boys.

By: surplus

surplus — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:03:40 -0800

I'm no expert on Austin music but I thought Timbuk3 would get a mention.

By: porn in the woods

porn in the woods — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:04:15 -0800

holy CRAP - Pocket FishRmen?!? Killer post

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:16:18 -0800

During this same period I was also a big fan of Little Sister, which was fronted by Patrice Pike. They were Dallas-based but played a lot all over the state, and especially in Austin. Little Sister eventually morphed into Sister 7, and I think Patrice was a contender on that rock star reality show with Dave Navarro, but I will always love her, and them, for their awesome brand of bluesy hippie funk rock. She was amazing. Here are a few Sister 7 tracks I dug up on the Tubes of You. I keep hoping to stumble across a copy of Little Sister's eponymous release, which was on some indie label, but 16 years later I still got nothin'.

By: Devils Rancher

Devils Rancher — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:16:50 -0800

Whoa, for a moment, i thought that was my old client list! 2 things: 1. Scratch Acid ruled. Utterly. 2. There is no second thing.

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:18:59 -0800

Well, fuck. That first YouTube link should have been this.

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:19:51 -0800

Also: paging fourcheesemac, paging fourcheesemac...

By: Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:30:48 -0800

The Butts and Ed Hall - in one post! Favorited.

By: lumpenprole

lumpenprole — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:30:50 -0800

Vaguely related. After the ass-kicking Scratch Acid reunion tour a while back comes this bit of happiness: Jesus Lizard reunion tour

By: kyrademon

kyrademon — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:42:18 -0800

If you hadn't added Two Nice Girls, I would have, pomegranate. Truly, they were the Beatles of the early 90's Austin-area lesbian folk-music scene.

By: Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:44:36 -0800

The last time I saw the Butthole Surfers, they were on tour with the Flaming Lips and Stone Temple Pilots - who were the opening acts. The show was an outdoor concert, in a grassy field within a horserace track. It made my old punk heart swell with pride to see the frat-rock also-rans STP be the warm-up act. I had as yet never heard of the Flaming Lips before, but they were quite good. STP played a predictable, lack-luster set, and all two hundred shirtless backwards-cap wearing Abercrombanoids frolicked and bumped chests with glee. UNTIL their set finished. For it was then, not moments after STP had left the stage and the frat boys began to shuffle away, that a very drunk Gibby Haynes stumbled onto the stage brandishing a shotgun, grabbed the mic and bellowed, "Fuck ALL ya'll who left after Stone Temple Pilots!" He then raised the shotgun and begun firing into the crowd - pop! shk-pop! shk-pop! - as two hundred screaming and terrified frat boys scrambled to get away from the giant long-haired Texan with the shotgun on stage. Everyone else laughed at their terror because, having at least known about the Butts a little, we knew beforehand that Gibby was fond of this trick, and that the shells were blank. They went on to play an amazing set, full of the cartoonish, manic energy those guys were known for. Probably one of the best shows I've ever seen.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:47:57 -0800

Whoa. You have just recounted pretty much everything I learned as an undergrad. (But you left out the part about the extreme thrill of moving from a North Texas town whose population was less than that of Jester Center's and suddenly having all this unfamiliar, slightly intimidating culture available -- with beer -- a mere mile away. And the anxieties of drinking in that culture surrounded by people who were So Much Cooler. Except that now, in retrospect, I realize that they weren't. I wish I had known that then, so I could have enjoyed the experience more.) You also left out Slacker, but since this is a music post, that can be excused.

By: Saxon Kane

Saxon Kane — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:00:44 -0800

Ah, the good old days. I saw many of these groups when I lived in Houston in the early 90's and Austin in the mid-90s to mid 00s. Others of note: El Flaco Hominy Bob Drums & Tuba Ant Man Bee Hot Buttered Rhythm I'm sure there are many more that I just can't think of right now...

By: Saxon Kane

Saxon Kane — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:02:18 -0800

And the anxieties of drinking in that culture surrounded by people who were So Much Cooler. Except that now, in retrospect, I realize that they weren't. I wish I had known that then, so I could have enjoyed the experience more. mudpuppie: GIVE BACK MY COLLEGE ANGST!! Seriously, how many MeFites went to UT-Austin? I was an English & History major there from 1994-1999...

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:03:32 -0800

awwwwwww, it's like I'm 20 again and watching someone break into my co-op to leave us 2 dozen donuts because he had a crush on a girl who lived there. When I go into the kitchen to get chocolate glazed, this post in playing from a one-speakered stereo.

By: shecky57

shecky57 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:08:48 -0800

Thanks for the memories. Fabulous stuff. I left a good part of my youth (and hearing) at places like the Hole in the Wall, Liberty Lunch, Electric Lounge, Cannibal Club and Saxon Pub. I wish there was footage of Hamell on Trial at the Electric Lounge. Great venue and great shows. Also, you forgot my personal faves, Buick Mackane. And here's some Shoulders video.

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:10:15 -0800

This is awesome. I saw a lot of shows with various combinations of these bands. The Motards were one of my favorite bands ever. Thanks for this.

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:17:25 -0800

Liberty Lunch That was my favorite music venue of all time. I saw so many great shows there. Many of the bands on this list, Rev. Horton Heat innumerable times, the Descendents reunion tour, I could go on. I miss that place.

By: youcancallmeal

youcancallmeal — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:25:50 -0800

This was the music of my high school career. I came in here to add Sister 7 / Patrice Pike, but i see that's been done. Good stuff.

By: Devils Rancher

Devils Rancher — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:25:57 -0800

Jesus Lizard reunion tour Oh, but there is a third thing. I'll go if they make Austin. I haven't seen 'the two Daves" since they played the Cannibal Club, in probably 1991. Those guys were a hoot, and Sims is an incredibly good bass player. One of the overlooked greats of the instrument, if you ask me. Go ahead-- ask.

By: mds35

mds35 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:29:47 -0800

You forgot Crust. 1

By: freshwater_pr0n

freshwater_pr0n — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:31:51 -0800

Here's askin', Devil's Rancher. Not that I won't agree with you - that guy's a monster.

By: mds35

mds35 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:32:37 -0800

...and thank you for this awesome post.

By: mds35

mds35 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:37:15 -0800

Reminds of me the serious hangover I nursed on the ride home from SXSW '92.

By: mds35

mds35 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:39:04 -0800

...on the subject of Texas music, I heard that the Ft. Worth Cats played a reunion at the Hop. Any D/FW Mefites can confirm?

By: jonp72

jonp72 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:45:33 -0800

Anybody remember when The Reivers used to be called Zeitgeist?

By: mds35

mds35 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:46:15 -0800

Things I miss about Texas besides the food: Ed Hall Hash Palace Drain Crust Pain Teens Lithium X-Mas Bedhead Factory Press The Banes Dooms UK Hominy Bob Killbilly Trio of One Wayward Girl Agitators Skatenigs Slipped Disc Studios/Common Ground/Easy Street Theatre

By: Robert Angelo

Robert Angelo — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:54:43 -0800

This makes me very very old. Take me home to the Armadillo...

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:58:41 -0800

Someone needs to do this for Houston now. 30FootFall, Latch Key Kids, The Hates, Manhole, Monster Soup, Blueprint, The Suspects, Los Skarnales, i45, River Fenix/FenixTX, etc. etc. Houston had an awesome music scene in the early-mid 90s.

By: activitystory

activitystory — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:05:39 -0800

Slipped Disc Studios/Common Ground/Easy Street Theatre indeed, mds5! Add to the list: Caulk Baboon Rubber Bullet Schick The Texas Instruments

By: swift

swift — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:46:48 -0800

Also forgot Bouffant Jellyfish and Coffee Sergeants.

By: smartyboots

smartyboots — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:20:27 -0800

Oh how I love seeing Danny Barnes flipping his hair back like a young girl. Those were the days.

By: Devils Rancher

Devils Rancher — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:15:17 -0800

Anybody remember when The Reivers used to be called Zeitgeist? My band opened for 'em once in '85? '86? or so. I had such a crush on Kim Longacre. She was from San Francisco too! We talked! Wow! (okay, maybe I was tipsy, but she was nice, and Zeitgeist was a better name. One of my best friends recorded and produced their first album)

By: adamrice

adamrice — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:24:36 -0800

I attended a Gretchen Phillips gig just a few weeks ago. "Manlove." It was great. I graduated UT in '87, and my connection to Austin's music scene back then mostly revolved around blues at Antone's, when it was where I ♥ Video is now—back when it was actually a blues bar. The decline of the blues scene here can probably be attributed to the incarceration and death of Cliff Antone. (I recently observed that there is an Antone Dr in the Mueller redevelopment. I love that Austin has named a street after a convicted pot dealer.) But it was a hell of a time and place to be a blues fan. I missed out on the Cobras, but did see just about everybody else.

By: Cletis

Cletis — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:35:31 -0800

LeRoi Brothers Joe Ely Tailgators Evan Johns and the H Bombs Jimmy Dale Gilmore (Continental Club) and of course, the Lounge Lizards at the Hole in the Wall

By: extramundane

extramundane — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:49:46 -0800

Bedhead, the soundtrack of my (very recent) undergrad years. Got my username from a song of theirs too.

By: Unicorn on the cob

Unicorn on the cob — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:12:54 -0800

My favorite (though they're from Dallas they played all over Texas): The Toadies. They were awesome live and still are. I worked with Clark Vogeler at one job and Mark Reznicek another place. mds35, I totally moshed with you at Slipped Disc. This is like a freaky college flashback. Anybody remember seeing Teenage Filmstars at SXSW?

By: Potomac Avenue

Potomac Avenue — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:12:58 -0800

ZOMG Jesus Lizard reunion. Hammell on Trial wasn't very good, EXCEPT for Choochtown, which was freaking amazing.

By: ambient2

ambient2 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:56:30 -0800

Another U.T. mefite.... Yeah, used to see Twang Twang on the West Mall... and always lived within walking distance of Antone's, when it was on Guad & 29th or so. Loved Antone's. Exceptional musicians, good sound system--something sorely lacking in a lot of Austin clubs--and reasonable cover charges. Oh, decent drink prices and people who'd generally act like responsible, considerate adults. (Would be interesting to see which schools have the most mMefite alums.)

By: buzzbash

buzzbash — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:22:13 -0800

How about STRETFORD? And how about "No Reply," Carl Normal's free fanzine? And how about the Cavity Club? Sniff, sniff...I miss those days.

By: DiscourseMarker

DiscourseMarker — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:30:44 -0800

Ok, so they've been around since 1979 and technically they're from Denton, but they play Austin all the time and they are full of win, so I submit for your consideration Brave Combo. Also, UT Austin grad here (PhD, 2006) as well as my hubby (MLIS, 2001).

By: Item

Item — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:43:35 -0800

Ahh, crazy crazy Austin music'll have a tentacle around at least one of my legs until the day I die. I graduated from high school in '95 & moved right on down to Austin, by no means too late to catch a coattail's ride through the epicenter of the scene. I'd admired a bunch of the groups since way before I moved there, I roomed with members of several of this post's bands, I played in fiery young combos of my own, I somehow got lucky & collaborated with Daniel Johnston on & off for an interesting amount of time. A lot of these groups were, unfortunately, a bit washed up & out by the time I met them. Drugs tore that scene apart, as they have done to many a scene before & will do to many a scene in the future. Edgy, subversive music gave way to boring-as-fuck bar rock. Working at the video store to pass the time between nights at the clubs got old after a while for everyone but the most stringent proponent of slackerdom. Hangovers hurt more. A new class moved in, grew up, & washed out only to see a new class move in, grow up, & wash out - then again and over once again. Great post, though. It's always neat when a trip down memory lane is arranged by someone else.

By: Clay201

Clay201 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:01:17 -0800

Good God. I went to school in San Antonio in the early nineties, then ended up back here in Alabama. A good friend of mine from school ended up in Austin where he learned the ins and outs of every band in the region, it seemed. Over the years, he sent me nearly a dozen compilation tapes. I encountered a few performers I'd heard before, but most of it was entirely new and infinitely educational. Here's a list of all the performers who (I think) haven't been mentioned already. James McMurtry Robert Earl Keene Steve Earle Dahveed Garza and The Lovebeads (evolved out of Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom) Michael Fracasso Alejandro Escovedo Whiskeytown Trish Murphy Toni Price Steve James David Rodriguez Stephen Doster Splinter Iain Mathews Roky Erickson Fabu Michelle Solberg Meredith Louise Miller Oh, and from Houston, there was David Rice; from Lubbock Terry Allen; and from Dallas (SMU), Jackopierce. I once went to a lesbian club in Austin to see Dahveed. The following year, he played my school's cafeteria. When he saw the wireless mic, he said he was going to be the first person to sing and order a cheesecake at the same time. The Duckhills played the same venue. I'd never heard of them before, but after the show bought two of their tapes. I still think "Freaky Transactions" (off the Remembering Spongecake album), though it's not meant to be taken one hundred percent seriously, has something original and useful to say about the notion of the outsider popularized by bands like Pink Floyd and The Violent Femmes. Something I didn't think was possible. Fabu and Splinter have, apparently, fallen completely off the radar. If anyone can point me towards any of their CDs or, like, their myspace page or whatever, I'd appreciate it. A few of the bands formed at my school went on to gig for quite a few years afterwards, mostly in the Austin area. One was called Evergreen, became first Lowdown Son, and then Pacifico. Another was Youngin'. And then if you wanna get completely, absurdly obscure... I don't suppose anyone here would remember another San Antonio band called Pennywhistle? I don't think they got very far. Probably broke up after graduation, if not before. But they had a song called "Vanity Lane" that's still stuck in my head fifteen years later. I never owned a copy; would just about kill for one now. And there's even less chance you've heard of Light Baby Strange, Creative Anarchy, or The Surprisingly Delicious Jug Band. Oh, and regarding Hammel On Trial... if you think Choochtown is his only good album, try Big As Life (particularly "Pep Rally") and Songs For Parents Who Like To Do Drugs (particularly "Pretty Colors.")

By: breakfast_yeti

breakfast_yeti — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:42:07 -0800

the live music capital of travis county god rest her filthy soul

By: fourcheesemac

fourcheesemac — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:55:52 -0800

Lovely post! Ex-Austin musician (1988-95) here, so this really hits the spot.

By: Devils Rancher

Devils Rancher — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:30:12 -0800

Iain Mathews I played bass on that studio album (Pure & Crooked) in '89 or '90 -- I forget the year... Highlight of my "career." Iain's moved on, but he was a really mellow, nice guy. Still see the producer, Mark Hallman, from time to time. He runs a great little studio.

By: fore

fore — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:21:10 -0800

Bedhead, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. One of the things I regret the most, music-wise, is that I never got to see them play. Sure, there's always The New Year, but it's not quite the same.

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:21:33 -0800

Holy crap, Clay201, thank you for reminding me about Jackopierce. I had completely forgotten about those guys. And seriously: if anyone on this thread has access to the self-titled Little Sister album, circa 1993, I will do just about anything to get my hands on a copy.

By: threeturtles

threeturtles — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:24:45 -0800

I second Decemberboy, someone do this for Houston. There was a golden age of Houston music and I MISS IT. Give me a few months and I might be able to put a Houston post together.

By: Unicorn on the cob

Unicorn on the cob — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:25:46 -0800

Shiu mai baby, is this it?

By: swift

swift — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:51:39 -0800

One of the things I regret the most, music-wise, is that I never got to see them play. Bedhead was a great show -- one of the few bands that really knew how to be loud by being quiet, if that makes any sense. I dug their beards.

By: Seamus

Seamus — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:12:09 -0800

Saxon UT Alum, English and History Major from '92 to '97 Weird i miss Liberty Lunch i miss seeing the Fuckemos frequently (80 sailors . . .!) Some of those names made me nostalgic, then I realized that I really fucking hate Austin. Pity that I still live here.

By: shiu mai baby

shiu mai baby — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:44:17 -0800

Unicorn on the cob, I wish it were. I know the LS album I'm thinking of has a track on it called "Everybody Got the Funk," and also a really gorgeous song about a sailor and a dancer. I think it was called "Story," but my memory is kind of fuzzy on that. Thank you so much for the link, though.

By: cyphill

cyphill — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:13:20 -0800

Best Impossibles Song

By: bluishorange

bluishorange — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:47:17 -0800

This post is freaking out the part of me that went to UT for awhile in the nineties. I think I saw Retarted Elf once in Houston.

By: Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Marisa Stole the Precious Thing — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:25:58 -0800

Just revelling in more Butthole Surfer memories, I saw that someone mentioned Drain upthread. This was probably one of the better known side projects, but who remembers The Jack Officers, or Beme Seed? Paul Leary is still kicking around, doing all kinds of things, too, apparently. Beme Seed ... Jesus, what that band did to my brain ...

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:53:22 -0800

Holy CRAP, how did I miss this thread? I couldnt find any videos of Euripides Pants or Swine King (Randy "Biscuit" Turner's band.) I couldn't find any decent videos of Brown Whorenet. I can't believe nobody mentioned Cherubs. There were a bunch more, too. I think I was at shows with most of you, as I resided at Emo's and the Electric Lounge during this entire time period. Holy crap.. good times. P.S. - Sons of Hercules were most definitely from San Antonio. I saw them nearly take out the ceiling fan at the Hole in the Wall. It was grand.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:18:59 -0800

Also, or the rockabilly fans - Flametrick Subs who I think fit into this time period, although they've been active later. They had a regular Saturday gig at the Black Cat (which, BTW - grossest bathrooms ever. THEE WORST.)