Top Music Events- Late April Parlez-vous Texan?
The French record company Musidisc is going into business with San Antonio garage rockers Sons of Hercules. The Sons are signed to Unclean, the indie label that recently relocated to the River City from Austin, and if things work out the deal could also lead to French exposure for other Unclean bands, like Stretford or the Dropouts. For now, though, the Sons can look forward to gigs in Tuscany (or at least Paris) instead of Tacoland. And they may well generate a little sales action too--Shoulders, the last Austin band to work with Musidisc, actually found their way on to the French charts. Tres bien!Peglegasus
These Houston-to-Austin transplants are one of the most underrated post-punk bands in the state. They also have famous friends like Mike Watt (of the Minutemen and fIRehose) jamming with them occasionally. So it's too bad that a few months ago Peglegasus' second CD, "So Much for King Tut," hit the stores at the same time the label that released it went out of business (that would be Sector 2, if you're the sort of person who has time to keep track of failing independent record companies). But despite this lack of infrastructure, you can still find the disc in local record stores, so if slinky, part-funky, part-poppy, part-arty indie hyperactivity is your bag, check 'em out.Moontower Madness
Alejandro Escovedo has been added to the bill of this big outdoor extravaganza, which takes place April 20 under the moontower at the Austin Music Hall. Los Lobos, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Dallas madman Reverend Horton Heat top out the line-up. Special budgetary note: tickets are a mere $5, but only if they're purchased in advance. If getting dressed up in safety pins, bow ties and leather is more your thing, that same night is the second annual "Punk Prom," to be held at Liberty Lunch with the Hormones, Gomez and several other Austin underground luminaries.Jackopierce
The Dallas folk-pop duo have officially expanded into a full band with the recording of "Finest Hour," their second album for A&M Records . Co-produced by Don Smith (Cracker, Keith Richards) and Tom Petty alumnus Stan Lynch, the disc is due out on June 18. Since the release of their A&M debut "Bringing on the Weather" the band has toured incessantly (with Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Blues Traveller, Hootie and the Blowfish and Better Than Ezra), moving 100,000 copies of that record and a combined 100,000 copies of their three previous independent efforts. Nevertheless, we'd have to say their biggest accomplishment remains the presence of a framed Jackopierce poster in one of the "Melrose Place" apartments--Billy's, if memory serves.Meg Hentges
The hard-rockin' former Two Nice Girl is reportedly signing a deal with Robbins Records, a new BMG-related label founded by Cory Robbins. He got his start as the head of Profile , the company that launched the career of Run D.M.C. in the early '80s. Robbins is said to be more interested in alternative rock this time around, and apparently Hentges, who previously recorded for the independent Tim/Kerr label, fits that bill.Spoon
"Telephono," the Austin trio's debut record, comes out April 14 on Matador Records. It's a gritty, moody and downright marvelous collection of knife-edge guitar hooks, snarling vocal echoes and crackling pop dynamics that stands tall next to any other American alt-rock record released so far this year. Spoon will head to Europe with their labelmates Guided by Voices later this month; their "All the Negatives Have Been Destroyed" single has already gotten favorable notices from the British music press.The Toadies
The Fort-Worth psycho-rockers are currently filling the opening slot on the big Red Hot Chili Peppers tour. The band's "Rubberneck" LP has been certified gold (500,000 copies and counting), and in addition to their new video "Away," they were recently featured on a segment of MTV News.Pork
Austin's best-loved female warriors of garage-pop have signed to the Emperor Jones subsidiary of Trance Syndicate. As you read this, they may well be in the studio making their second record, which will be produced by the band with assistance from Butthole Surfers guitarist Paul Leary as well as Alejandro Escovedo. Escovedo produced the last Pork opus, "Strip."Plum
The Dallas label Carpe Diem has just released "The Luxury of Wings," the new record by this Austin trio. It was produced by Jay Hudson at the Hit Shack, and features a dozen gleaming examples of tough, radio-ready guitar pop in the vein of the Posies, or a more slicing version of the Gin Blossoms."Edson"
Austin plays a minor role in this spare, semi-autobiographical first novel by New England singer-songwriter Bill Morrissey, a Cactus Cafe regular who recently spent a month in town--he was shooting a video at the Continental Club and producing the second record by up-and-comer Peter Keane. Published by the hallowed house of Alfred A. Knopf, "Edson" is an old-fashioned, story of elegy and redemption, telling the tale of a talented but long-dormant folkie, a soul-searching young working class woman and the dying New Hampshire mill town they live, love and soak up music in.Read Jason's Previous Column
