Jun 29
DaraGlam, Heavy Metal, Rock and Roll
A Waterloo in-store was just what I needed – such happy early evening events with all of Austin’s finest gathered: semi-homeless guys there for the free beer, old hippies still glazed from too much acid, random music fans, and nonchalant Waterloo employees. This was not your typical in-store though: instead of the usual 3-song set, they played 5 or more; if they really weren’t plugged in, they sounded plugged in; and in contrast to the generally mellow vibe, this was a real rock show with dancing girls and stage-diving guitarists… into the rack of CDs. They’re from San Francisco, they’re glam rock revivalists, and although they border on cheesy with alarming frequency, I think they might make it. They’re just so much fun. The musicians were proper rock stars with teased mullet-esque dos, tight black clothes and sunglasses indoors. The girls looked like burners in be-glittered and be-feathered finery, but their sexy-surly burlesque reminded me of The Flametrick Subs’ Satan’s Cheerleaders – I overheard them tell a fan after the show that they’re “really inspired by Vegas.” The lead singer has a genuinely great powerful voice, often singing in falsetto – he was also seemingly genetically blessed with the saran wrap lips that long-time-drug-using rockers get although he otherwise looked young. When he climbed on top of the railings surrounding the tiny stage and jumped off, an old guy next to me told his buddy, “Yeah, you can do that when you weigh 110 pounds.” Their sound was heavy-riffed glam rock – I kept hearing death disco but I probably imagined that because they’re from San Francisco, home to all my favorite death disco bands. While they had some catchy one-liners: “live fast and die beautiful” and “it’s not too late, we can still die young, it’s all the same…” the songs themselves, and especially the lyrics, were trite and repetitive. They could do better. They had bubbles too.
Jun 07
DaraBlues, Glam, Punk, Rock and Roll
an accessible mix of post-punk, blues rock, glam, and punk n roll sounds but in reality proto-punk which makes them even more amazing: the sounds are rightfully theirs – basically a genuine classic old-school rock band insofar as the music, the talent, the stage presence and the look, especially Mick-Jagger’s-doppelganger David Johansen singing in his frilly shirt – only other original member of the band was Sylvain Sylvain in a little salmon-colored beret (he charmingly joined Black Joe on stage) – my favorite might have been the heavily eyelinered goth-esque guy on bass guitar who was wearing an incongruent pinstriped shirt and black vest and baseball cap (?) – enjoyed the lack of pretension and posturing – “Stranded in the Jungle,” “Personality Crisis,” original version of “Trash” followed by a reggae version of it
Sep 19
DaraAlt-Country, Glam, Indie Rock, Singer/Songwriter
knew them from one song that I really liked on Pandora but was more interested when I found out that Stephen Malkmus of Pavement is a member – turns out they’ve been around since the late 80s – the lead singer David Berman is very engaging – he’s thin (a la melancholy drug abuser) with swagger and sunglasses and a speak-singing low voice that alternated between sounding like Lou Reed and David Bowie – they’re like a lo-fi country or indie rock band with a poet/glam rocker fronting them – Emo’s was overflowing with random people – the whole band had class and I am a new fan
Apr 29
DaraBlues, Country, Glam, Indie Rock, Performance, Singer/Songwriter
Friend3 and Friend2’s band of four months – they both sing though Friend2 is more Mountain Goats while Friend3 is dramatic rock, Friend1’s ex-roommate is on trumpet, “burner” on incongruent V-shaped guitar, long curly hair on drums, band includes some three other members-mostly brass, so as the vocals/songwriters varied did the music, from witty-lyric silly-voice songs to dramatic rock opera numbers to a rock-medium when both sang together, distinctive diverse band with musical talent, they’re disparate right now plus can’t judge them fairly because I know them
May 06
DaraGlam, Goth, Punk
went with protest because this would be my 3rd time but Rockboy reminded me he did what I wanted to do night before, they are an entire concept and a production but they’re a boys band and a party band, the lead clearly worships Hunter S. Thompson/Fear and Loathing… what with his persona and silly monologues, held back from telling Rockboy that they are in essence a cover/dance band for the aging punk set as in the detested Brew who do 80s/90s Top 40 on 4th street
Apr 22
DaraGlam, Goth, Rockabilly
such a class act, really respect them this time, Cramps covers and others but more important is the attention paid to whole show what with lighting energy and satan’s cheerleaders
Sep 21
DaraBlues, Glam
very happy random stop, sounded and looked Detroit to me, bluesy 80s glam rock, then found out they’re from Memphis and the children of Dusty Springfield and the “son of a preacher man”—plus one cousin, very good
Mar 11
DaraElectronic, Glam, Indie Rock
lead female rocker (shock of light brown highlight in bobbed hair—kind of a soccer mom), female guitarist with frizzy white hair, males are a blur, good
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