Ahoy, I Can’t Wait For Summer!

Captain Ahab!

Thumbs Up: the party-tastic stylings of Captain Ahab, a duo from L.A. that I was lucky enough to stumble upon at SXSW. Twas at the previously mentioned Scoot Inn during the Deathbomb Arc showcase. I remember a lot of sweat, the desire to shake my rump and the drive to get the above pic. Although I only caught the tail end of their set, Captain Ahab won me over immediately.


If you like nasty (probably NSFW, depending on yr employer) lyrics that are also incredibly silly…you might be a Captain Ahab fan. If you like homo-erotic throbs of disco and four on the floor…you might be a Captain Ahab fan. Finally, if you like to shake yr ass to ear blistering noise in a zombie like state….you just might be….a Captain Ahab fan. enjoy!

Thumbs Up MP3: Captain Ahab’s “I Can’t Wait For Summer” from the wonderful Deathbomb Arc. All hail, Deathbomb Arc.

D4! Auckland, New Zealand!

Jimmy of D4!

Classic Thumbs Up: A few years ago, D4 came to SXSW and blew the crap out of everywhere they played.

Zombie Garden! WOOT!

Thomas.WOOT

Thumbs Up: I was fortunate enough to be spotted on the street by a key figure of one of my favorite sites, Shirt.Woot.Com . . . Thomas spotted me on the street at SXSW, wearing this fantastic WOOT shirt. This shot is of me and Captain Thomas of Shirt.Woot.Com . . .a great example of the wacky sorts of meetings that happen at SXSW. Love it! Bought another WOOT shirt last night, Zombie Garden. WOOT!

Mice, Mice, Baby!!!

Carl Satan Cosmouse!

Thumbs Up: The ridiculously ferocious onslaught of the White Mice! Spectacular. I know I’ve already blogged about these lovely Rhode Island rodents, but I just can’t resist doing it at least one more time. Their SXSW show at the Scoot Inn a couple weeks back left me literally bleeding and smiling while proverbially knockin’ my ass through the roof. In addition to their blistering live set, I really love the band’s recorded work. Beautiful noise. I recommend starting with their latest, Exreamantraintraveinanus, and working backward. Buy their stuff!

Speaking of the venue,I need to give the Scoot Inn both props and an apology. THANKS so much for not raising yr prices during SXSW. Also, yr service was fantastic all night long on March 15th, which is why I need to apologize. After going through receipts a few days ago, I realized I had grossly under-tipped. Ouch! I hate that. I blame it on my drunkenness and distracted mind. I’ll be back to make it up to you soon.

Gowns! Red State!

Ezra of Gowns

Thumbs Up: I was fortunate enough to bump into Ezra of Gowns at the Load Records / Deathbomb Arc / Cock Rock Disco showcase at the Scoot Inn a couple weeks ago during SX. He once slept on my floor as a member of the Mae-Shi, and I truly love his new record, out now on Cardboard Records. If you like the drone (and I think you know what I’m talking about), check out Gowns’ Red State. Great stuff.

Best Fwends Forever!

Best Fwends!

Thumbs Up: I love the Best Fwends in a way I don’t love most of the other bands I love. That is to say, I resonate with these dudes. They make me grin to ear from ear and simultaneously rock my socks off! Whoooooop! Their SXSW showcase was short and sweet as the dynamic duo were way too excited for Daryl Hall’s performance at the Convention Center at the same hour. At any rate, my Best Fwends packed in about 15 minutes worth of over the top energy, zazz and punk rock! The highlight was their set closing cover of the Toadies “I Come From the Water.” Beautiful.

Board Up The House, Genghis Tron have arrived.

Mookie from Genghis Tron

Thumbs Up: Board Up The House, the excellent new Genghis Tron record, out now on Relapse (home of my beloved Pig Destroyer). Apparently the boys recently suffered an accident in their van…consider helping them out. Buy the record, one way or another. It is certainly these dudes’ best effort thus far, and one of 2008’s early greats. I love it! Whooooop! Besides having one of the very best names in rock and roll, Genghis Tron play a mesmerizing mix of atmospheric psychedelics and uber-hard hitting’ metal. Nice! Check out their MySpace for samples.

Kathy McCarty!

Kathy McCarty

Thumbs Up: One of the first things I knew about Austin was that it was the ‘home’ of Daniel Johnston, a genius in his own right. Fun was my first musical exposure to Daniel, a Atlantic Records‘ released disc recorded with the help of the Butthole Surfers, Captain America and Johnston’s love for a girl named “Laurie.”

At any rate, I was lucky enough to see Speeding Motorcycle at the Zach Scott Theater last Wednesday. Even luckier, I met Kathy McCarty afterward and was able to express my enthusiasm for how she has forwarded Johnston’s childlike knack for delivering sober themes through simple means.

photo from http://www.kathymccarty.info/

Kathy in action during Speeding Motorcycle

Shiner Bock, y’all!!!

Spoetzl Brewery!!!

Thumbs Up: My wonderful wife and I took a day trip today to parts of Texas previously unknown to us. What we found wasn’t necessarily pretty, but, it gave me more of an idea of where some of my medicine come from. Cheers! The only ‘light’ beer in the world I enjoy is Shiner Light, one of my standbys. Love this beer, buy the beer. Whooop!

Human Giants!

Aziz Ansari

Thumbs Up: Human Giant and the hilarious Aziz. Whoop. Check out Aziz’s recommended clip for Detroit Octane’s Barack Obama-sistible!