Top Music Events- Late March/ Early April The Austin Music Awards
"Best Alternative Band" winners Sixteen Deluxe couldn't quite blow the roof off of cavernous Palmer Auditorium, but they did blow the power out, temporarily interrupting their own set. Joining them in the indie-rock winners circle were the Wannabes and Fastball, who came in at a dead heat in the "Best Pop Band" category. (The latter group was formerly known as Magneto USA, and received much of their voter support under the old name.) Of course, we always thought - and we're sure both winning combos would agree -- that the best pop band was the Beatles, but they don't live in Austin. The Fastball boys considered challenging the Wannabes to a drinking contest for sole bragging rights, but they know better than to pick a fight they can't win. Instead, everyone headed over to the Austin Rehearsal Complex for loose late-night sets by Fastball and Spoon.John Croslin
Former Zeitgeist-cum-Reivers frontman Croslin, meanwhile, took "Producer of the Year" honors for his work on the Wannabes' "Popsucker." And that's only the beginning for the busy Austin knob-twirler. His job on Spoon's upcoming Matador release, "Telephono," is downright stunning, so much so that the New York indie label has thrown a mild flurry of work his way. In February Croslin spent a day in the studio with Pavement guitarist Spiral Stairs, where the two men did up a mix for the song "Painted Soldiers." It will appear on the soundtrack of "Brain Candy," the upcoming movie from reunited Canadian comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. Then Matador biggie Liz Phair came to town for SXSW, and Croslin ended up doing some work with the forthright alt-rock diva as well, presumably for Phair's still-in-progress third album. We hereby nominate John to produce the next Guided by Voices album.Little Sister
SXSW is designed in part to help bands hook up with managers, labels and lawyers, but it's usually more about the laying of groundwork than actual mid-conference dealmaking. Nevertheless, during the festival bluesy hippie-rockers Little Sister, Dallas products who've been living and playing in Austin for most of the '90s, announced that they were on the verge of signing a contract with Arista Records . That ought to take the sting out of the band's aborted stay on SBK, which resulted in the release of the "Free Love and Nickel Beer" CD but not much else. In addition, word is Arista also wants to scoop up beloved Austin solo chanteuse -- and former Poi Dog Ponderer -- Abra Moore. Between Moore and Little Sister vocalist Patrice Pike that could be two female Austinites in a month for Arista -- and to think this is the same label that was so clueless when it was home to Kris McKay.Old Faithful
One final SXSW postmortem: As they took the stage at Tropical Isle (a vile 6th Street establishment where, hoo boy, every night is Mardi Gras!), the Texas Instruments proposed that they are probably the only band to play every single South by Southwest... ten years in a row and counting. This is both inspiring and depressing. Inspiring because TI are better than they've ever been, a living tribute to sharp songs, stinging guitars, the band as a collective unit and all that other good stuff. Depressing because at their 10th SXSW they were just like any other (young) band, struggling to get by and looking for a deal. It's high time the Texas Instruments put out another record, but they never let the fickle vagaries of scenesters and bizzers get to them. They just stick to their unassuming pursuit of excellence, letting their feisty, eloquent, and considerable body of work speak for itself.No Depression
For some reason he had to move to Seattle to make it happen, but former Austin American-Statesman writer Peter Blackstock has found a rich vein of enthusiasm for "No Depression," the magazine he co-founded with fellow writer/editor Grant Alden. Call it "alternative country," or "outlaw," or "twangcore," or "Americana," or "country-punk", or maybe just "post-Uncle Tupelo," but whatever it is, "No Depression" is right on top of it, with an assortment of long features, regional profiles, live reports, and record reviews. And yes, the mag really did gets its name from the Carter Family standard famously covered by Uncle Tupelo. The third issue, out now, features native San Antonian Steve Earle on the cover; for purchase or subscription info send e-mail to NoDepress@aol.com. Incidentally, there is in fact a really cool alternative country scene in the city that's better known for grunge.Slobberbone
Fitting firmly into the "No Depression" category is this dreadfully monickered Denton band, who lit up their SXSW showcase at the Split Rail with kindred bands like Whiskeytown, the Waco Bros., and Dallas's song-strong balls of energy the Old 97s. "Crow Pot Pie" is the name of Slobberbone's upcoming release on Doolittle Records, and while the world probably doesn't need an epic hillbilly rock song (the Neil Youngish "16 Days," which at ten minutes and twenty-eight seconds seems like a month at least), the rest of the record dishes out frenetic helpings of edgy bar-band sweat and amiable corn-fed twangin'.Texas Music Industry Directory
In the "Yes, Sometimes Your Government Works Especially For You" department, the 1996 edition of the Texas Music Office's all-encompassing guide is now available. $18 gets you a 400 page tome with listings for more than 7500 music-related businesses, cross-referenced by 94 different categories. Link on over to the TMO's web site, or send a check or money order to the Texas Music Office, PO Box 13246, Austin TX 78711.Our Bi-Weekly Butthole Surfers Report
Turns out the reason Austin's grand old weirdos couldn't call their record "Oklahoma!" was the threat of a lawsuit from the Rodgers & Hammerstein estate. And we were so looking forward to hearing Gibby Haynes warble through "Surrey With the Fringe on Top. "Meanwhile, having helmed the new Euripides Pants effort as well as the upcoming disc by California ska-punks Sublime, Buttholes guitarist Paul Leary might next turn his production talents towards Capitol labelmates Dink. He's also due to work with Austin gal-trio Pork, who are signing with Emperor Jones/Trance Syndicate. But somewhere in there Gibby, Leary and Surfers drummer (as well as Trance owner) King Coffey have to go out on the road with their band Incidentally, Gibby likes to say that there are two kinds of people in the world, those who abbreviate the band's name to "Buttholes" and those who'd rather say "Surfers." Which are you?Literary Doings
Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys once said that rock'n'roll is whatever terrifies your parents, so with that in mind we bring up "Preacher: Gone to Texas", a DC Comics graphic novel from Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. Writer Ennis throws vampires, angels, gunmen, and priests together in one dusty, corpse-ridden Lone Star landscape, then for good measure he tosses in unfortunate shotgun-blast victim "Arseface," whose existence is a cheeky, chilling tribute to both Kurt Cobain and troubled Judas Priest fan Raymond Bellknap. All this from an Irishman, though the introduction was written by Nagadoches author Joe Lansdale.Miscellany
The Austin music scene loses a friend - and a potential deliverer of major label bucks - this week, as Mercury Records A&R representative Ruth Richards relocates to Los Angeles. The only major label scout living in Austin full-time, Richards brought Hamell on Trial and Prescott Curlywolf to the label, which means she'll have to come back and visit often. It's only in the rumor stage at the moment, but ecstatic Austin rhythm kings The Horsies might find themselves recording for a Japanese company in the near future, while a couple of Texas underground bands have reason to be brushing up on their French. The Ugly Americans have bounced back from their divorce with Giant Records to land at Capricorn, with a record, produced by Don Gehman (R.E.M., John Cougar, Hootie and the Blowfish), due out at the end of May. Besides the Uglies and the Buttholes, um, the Surfers, the next two months will bring us new full-lengths from Spoon, Sincola, Fastball, Prescott Curlywolf, Bob Mould, Lyle Lovett and Bedhead. Rock journalism parlor game: First, find every article you can about Steve Earle, and don't worry, there'll be plenty of them, as the man is currently promoting his superlative comeback record "I Feel Alright." Then grab a highlighter and go to the part where he discusses Austin's famed "velvet rut" aspect -- specifically the fact that "the weather's too good, the dope's too cheap." We promise you won't be disappointed -- it's hard to stay fresh for all those interviews, y'know.Jason's Previous Column
