Today is Halloween, the only holiday I celebrate. I consider it THE HOLY DAY of the year. The problem, though, is that I've already celebrated. You see, on Saturday, the 29th day of October, there was a party. And OH, what a party it was: clowns, arabs, flowers, bocephuses, toilets, g-men, bathing beauties, russian princesses with long legs, female floor crawlers, hippies, yippies, hoppies and harpies, what a PARTY! Ostensibly, the reason for the party was halloween. Ostensibly. The real reason for the party was because Team America and Arab League wanted to play a show together. Both bands were incredible. AL opened with their ripping, foreign-policy bashing, bouncing and jamming set which transformed the masses into writhing, bouncing mad people hell bent on...something. After shredding for a good 20 minutes, it was time to yield the floor to the Defenders of the 'Merican Way O' Life, AKA Team America! Seeing these guys and gals play the music from the movie is like being in the movie, defeating terrorists, living the apple pie dream we all were raised on. I loved it! And so did everyone else. Saw a show the other day, but will refrain from reviewing cuz it's our belief that, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. So, it being H-hour today and night, should be some good shows and beautiful people to go hear and look at, respectively. What are you doing tonight?

Been inside lately, working on our DVD promo with the editor, the Boss. But all work and no play makes me a jackass, so I try to get out when I can. This past weekend was one of those times. Me, the Boss, and some friends from Houston all met down at Port Aransas for a relaxing weekend of sun, sea, sand and sloppy drunk. It was fun. The Boss has a house down there and it's our retreat from the city. Which is not to say that the city is overwhelming, but only to say that variety is nice, especially if your hair is being pulled out by the job you're working on. So we chilled at the coast for the weekend and saw not one show. But upon our return, it was back to work. And we worked. The DVD promo should be out soon, like 2 weeks. In the meantime, we focus on other projects, like the Arab League. Last post, I told you about them and that they were meeting Al Ayash that night, last Wednesday. That happened and much progress was made on the new CD. Alas, it was not finished. A new date was scheduled and that date is upon us. Tonight, ladies and dudes, will see the birth of Arab League's second album. They hope to sell even more of these than their first album, which means 6 total. Magic Number 6, here we come! So, no new shows lately, but last night, the other member of this blog (there are 3 of us), Santos, went to a local restaurant to view a private screening of The Austin City Limits taping of Franz Ferdinand and What Made Milwaukee Famous from a few weeks ago. He said it was a nice turnout and it was cool to see himself on TV. You see, we videographers and editors usually prefer to be on THIS side of the camera but occasionally, rarely, we like to be on THAT side, just to see how the other 99% live. And boy, do they live good! Just look at my partner up on that stage, dancing and singing with the choir, helping to make What Made Milwaukee Famous even more famous than they are now. Congrats, yo! So, austinmusictonight has been out of the scene but is soon to be back...

Queens of the Stone Age had an in-store at http://www.waterloorecords.com/ yesterday. I wasn't able to attend but my unstoppable, unflappable, "won't take no for an answer" business partner was able, and willing. He reports that it was over the top, a true taste of the music that has everyone screaming. I'm not personally familiar with QSA but the buzz about them is strong. Hopefully, next time...Tonight, though, should be good. I represent a band from Hiphopistan called Arab League. These guys are a hip hop rap trio from the Island of Hiphopistan in the Gulf of Oman (look it up). They have been in the States, and specifically Austin, for the past 2 years or so in an attempt to educate the American people about the US foreign policy. They're working on their second album and it should be finished very soon, perhaps tonight! Tonight, they are working with the unparalleled Al-Ayash, the gifted producer/engineer who they had read about in trade magazines while on the Island. They traveled here and cut a deal with Al-Ayash to produce two records for them, and this he has done. Their first record was a smashing success, selling well over 5 copies, that's right, 5, around the world. Creating their second album is where we find them tonight. Two songs, Days of Penitence and Will of Allah, are already in the can but two more remain. Tonight, laying down tracks for Evil Empire and finishing the vocals also for that song and the last one, Phase IV. So look out, America, cuz straight outta Hiphopistan, via Austin there is a band coming to take over. Look, listen, understand. Recognize!

Did I say I was going out this past weekend? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH. I'm lame. Stayed in both nights and watched movies and baseball. Had fun, but didn't go out. My business partner, though, did go out on Sunday to The Hole In The Wall to catch Bo Bud Green. Whether you know these guys or not, the show was over the top! Or so I heard. Expecting just a regular kinda show, my friend was unprepared for what happened. A full-on rock show ensued, complete with dancing people, drinks flying and splitting eardrums! WOW! Must have been quite a sight! Heard Gang of Four rocked Emo's the other night and Go Team was sold out. Austin is crazy, ya'll. So much to do, not enough tapes to record it all!

This weekend is shaping up to be something special. But then, with all the music here in Austin, one is bound to find something one likes, can enjoy, and maybe even bug out to. Here's a sampling of things going on: Hickoids, Beto y los Fairlanes, Veruca Salt, Audiophile, Handsome Charlies, Guy Forsyth, Scott H. Biram, Glass Family, the list goes on and on and on. Check out
http://www.austinchronicle.com/ to see it all. BUT, what am I, your humble writer, doing this weekend? Non-music related: test driving a couple cars, finishing a DVD we've been at for 3 months, learning Flash and exercising. The real stuff, though, is music related, and for that, all options are on the table. Tonight, I'm thinking, not live music, but DJ beats at Tambaleo or something. I want to DANCE! Did you ever see "Caligula" with Malcolm McDowell? I love the part when Peter O'Toole, playing Tiberius, makes Caligula dance for him. He had dementia, you know. Caligula couldn't dance. But I can shake it like no one is watching. Oh wait, they are watching, and everyone is laughing!! Anyway, girls love a man who dances, and can actually dance. I digress. Tomorrow, probably will go to Headhunter's on Red River and see Black Joe Lewis. I saw him for 5 minutes years ago with Scott Biram. If the 5 minutes I saw is any indication of what a full set is like, I want in! He rocked and, I suppose, still rocks. Won't know till I go. What are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, make it ROCK!!

Friday was a great day...and night! The weather finally turned around here so it's no longer 105. Friday was actually cool and the weekend was awesome, 80's and sunny. A perfect setting for Friday night's show: Hobble and the Dicks, at the Ritz on 6th Street. Now, years ago, the Ritz was THE place in Austin to see shows. We used to see all the bands there: deadhorse, dread, nuclear assault, fear...so many more. But then it closed down and re-opened as a bar downstairs and a small club upstairs. It's still this way except now, the live shows have returned to the bar part and that's good for many reasons: the Ritz has a great space with plenty of room, great acoustics and is frequented by very beautiful women. Sure, there are men there, but, you know, I'm a guy and...Anyway, Hobble and the Dicks played and what a show it was! Hobble opened and played their standard, quality set to their loyal fans. Then, it was time for the Dicks. These guys are legends from 20 years ago and, though a bit older, still are able to rock it with intensity and passion. Age, it seems, is irrelevant to great art. If it's great, and can be performed as it was created, then it's timeless. Timelessness and general applicability are key elements of great art, IMHO. Does it transmit across time? Is it still relevant today? Then it's great! Art is a favorite topic of mine. In university, I had an art teacher. On her office door was a one inch x one inch piece of paper on which was written: this is art. That little fact hit me like a ton of bricks. If that is true, then art truly is subjective. If the artist says it's art, then it is, in fact, art. I like that. And the two bands we saw, Hobble and the Dicks, are true artists performing art. This is art.

Thursday nights in Austin are always interesting. Typically, Thursday nights are mostly college students and other younger types. The tourists don't usually arrive til the weekend and the older crowd who live in Austin usually wait til the weekend to get funky. So Thursdays, at least on Red River where most of the clubs are that we go to, are special cuz what you have are the hard-core music fans that simply must go out and get some! Last night was such a night. The plan was to go to Room 710 to see The Shim Shams, The Cooties and finally, the headliner, Attic Ted. Missed the first band and caught most of the Cooties. They were a pleasant and simple 3 piece that harmonized well and had a catchy flavor about them. The ties rule on the guys and the schoolish uniform on the bassist, the only girl, was subtle. Went across the street to Red Eyed Fly during their set to check on some other acts and came across The Hosty Duo, a guitar and drum combo that played like an old time reality check. He strummed the strings and the drummer spanked the skins, painting a picture of reality with a musical twist. I really enjoyed these guys. Finally, it was time: Attic Ted. If you don't know this band, it's time you met them. AT is a musical cacophony of mesmerism, combining an organ, drum, sound effects, cello, a free floating trumpet and the best guitar licks this side of the South Coast. The masks they wear, oh the masks... I'm not sure of the signifigance of the masks, but each member wears a papier-mache mask that, I suppose, represents a certain aspect of the band. But the music...the organ just does it for me, providing that gospel, velvety, churchy feel that is the underlying theme. Hypnotizing, the organ and guitar provide a rhythmic cadence that is simple, and yet, it takes you there, wherever "THERE" is for you. There...You know, that place where you are not here. THERE. I like to be there. The cello is a new addition for the band, and she is complementing beautifully. The drummer, faithful and sure, provides the backbone, smashing and powerful, yet not overdoing it or heavyhanded. Just right. The sound effects give the music a post-mod rush of technology-fueled adrenaline, challenging the listener to classify them. I've attempted to classify them here, and, I believe, have not succeeded. They really do defy classification. They wear masks, play organ rock, sing about old men and spiders and provide a forum for the audience to also be Attic Ted: they bring along several extra masks and encourage folks to put them on and dancedancedance!! At 130a, I was tired, and AT tried to finish. After their last song, the crowd called out for more and would not take no for an answer. The last song was "transformer" and it was the capstone. Of course, I filmed the whole thing. AT is based in San Marcos, a little south of Austin, and we welcome them to Austin every time! Thanks, guys! So, tonight is the Dicks show, first in a while, I believe. Don't know yet about Saturday night. Though I got the paper, I didn't read it. Yet!

Unbelievable! The Box Spring Hogs, South Austin's Finest Tom Waits Tribute Band, just might be better than the original. Got to Beerland around 10p and BSH were already on stage. I listened to the song they were playing and when it was over, I pulled out the camera and set to recording. I thought I was late and might get only 15 or 20 minutes but in fact, I was on time, for once, and managed to capture almost their whole set, about 45 minutes. What kind of music is it, you ask? As I was filming, I was asking the same question of myself: self? what kind of music is this? The answer? I don't know...Strong guitar, subtle and steady bass, lively drums and keyboards that fill in the small parts. The singer, though, is key. His voice, low, guttural, deep, yet soothing, is the linchpin of the band. His voice takes you places, providing a mood and setting a tone for the show. It takes passion and confidence to sing like that, on key, yet bassy. It's not easy. Besides the entertainment factor of the live performance, it's always a thrill for me to see the band members enjoying themselves on stage. These four in this band were having a great time, cracking jokes between songs, having fun. Live music is such a wonderful forum for expression, especially for a tribute band. Why? These guys aren't doing it for money, as the songs are not theirs. They're doing it because...well, hell, I don't know exactly why they do it, but I can imagine they do it cuz they love the music. That simple. And they do it very well. So, Box Spring Hogs, a great time at a cool place. What's up for tonight? I'll let you know, after these important messages...(roll commercial)

So, what's on the agenda for tonight? Tom Waits, of course. Not the real one, but South Austin's finest Tom Waits Tribute Band, The Box Spring Hogs, live at Beerland. Caught one of their shows a while back at Trophy's on South Congress. Honestly, I had never heard Tom Waits before and in fact, still haven't. But Ellen, BSH drummer, told me that their singer loves TW and attempts to emulate him. So, if Tom Waits sounds like The Box Spring Hogs, then count me as a Tom Waits fan! The show tonight is at 930 or 10p. Will let you know how it was! This weekend, 3 days away, is shaping up to be good. Won't know for sure til the Austin Chronicle comes out on Thursday. This paper has it all: food, dance, theater, events and of course, music listings. One time I counted, on a Tuesday, how many different live bands were playing that night. Guess how many there were, on a Tuesday. Go on, guess. Give up? There were 170 different bands that night. Did I mention it was a Tuesday? Texas is blessed, but Austin is the crown jewel of the Southwest. Go ahead, move here already...

Friday night was a bust but Saturday night rocked! First, went to Boomerz in South Austin and saw Both Feet and Joe Richardson Express. Both are hard-charging, soulful bands steeped in the blues tradition that has a home here in Austin. Filmed 30 minutes of both bands and then went downtown to Red Eyed Fly to see Maneja Beto, a Latin band that's been around a few years. The following they command at all of their live shows prove their talent, depth and skill. They can start a dance floor unlike any other band I've seen lately. If you can't be here to see any of these bands, well, I'm sorry. But I suppose you can purchase stuff online and maybe, just maybe, take a trip here to see some live music and if you like it here, I suppose you can stay! Eat at Dan's Burgers!