with cheese, please

Melt Banana!

Thumbs Up: I love me some Melt Banana! They are like an early 80s video game experimenting with meth, going out of control. Brilliant!

Bonus Thumbs Up! Does It Offend You, Yeah? Holy shazzzzzbot! I can’t believe it took me so long to listen to this buzz band. I LOVE it. Love, love, love. See video for “We Are Rockstars” below.

The closest I’ll ever get to Bob Dylan?

Thumbs Up: One of the reasons I still appreciate the art of songwriting, Mr. Dylan and his records will always have a special place in my heart.

Justice Yeldham

Thumbs Up: This year’s SXSW actually brought a show I couldn’t bring myself to watch from beginning to end. It was musician/performance artist Justice Yeldham, whose sole instrument was a jagged piece of glass. I’ll tell you this much. The noise coming from the mic’d glass was strangely beautiful, but the visual spectacle of Mr. Yeldham’s face ooozing blood - willingly sliding the glass in his gums between his teeth and upper lip. Ewwwwwww! Warning: youtube video follows. Rod bless America!

Todd of Deal’s Gone Bad

Thumbs Up: They may not know how to use an apostrophe, but these Chicagoans sure can create solid grooves that rumble the earth only to shoot into the sky. I’ve been pals with Todd for longer than the internet has been around. He has always impressed me as one of the greatest living soul singers…seriously. Great to see him tonight.

Bryan Nelson of Gorch Fock, Australian Cattle God, Jane Awesome and an all around good guy (?).

Thumbs Up: Friends. I love my Austin friends. Bryan Nelson is certainly one of them, as is Daniel Perlaky of Indierect Records and City On Fire. Today, via Twitter, Daniel led me to www.supermemo.net . From what I can see so far, supermemo is a (largely) free site with educational opportunities. For example, I’m finally learning Spanish through this innovative site. Rod bless the internet!

Blackholicus!

Thumbs Up: sometimes a metallic kick in the rear is just what a person needs… Blackholicus are there to fulfill that need with thundering drums, a shredding female bassist/lead vocalist and twin guitars sharp enough to make yr ears bleed. Trust me, this band is one of TX’s best metal acts AND they are good people.

Bonus Thumbs Up: Hummus as natural anti-depressant. I can dig that, yo.

The Great Outdoors!

Thumbs Up: I just got home from seeing Genghis Tron at Red 7. Whew! I love those guys. Three men and a feisty drum machine make for some serious progressive metal. Go see these fellas, on tour now!

Casino, of Casino el Camino

Thumbs Up: Austin’s best bar, Casino el Camino. One of the first places I stepped into upon visiting before we moved here in 2000, Casino el Camino has; 1) Austin’s best burgers, 2)affordable drinks, 3) a bitchin’ jukebox, 4)Mr. Lifto as a bartender and 5) the kind of crowd I feel comfortable around.

Bonus Thumbs Up: I simply can’t get enough of Captain Ahab. For two weeks in a row, they’ve been my most frequently listened to band. Nice! Enjoy this great video for “Snakes on the Brain” below…

Inspired by both William Carlos Williams and This American Life, I’ve written a poem I’d like to dedicate to my wife. True and heartfelt, I’m sure it will make your day more complete.

I have sipped

The Sauvignon Blanc

That was in

Our fridge from Sears

And which

You were probably

Saving

For dinner

Forgive me

It was delicious

Like grapefruit

NEGATIVLAND

Thumbs Up: I went to the Alamo at the Ritz Friday night to see the legendary NEGATIVLAND, which was one of the coolest things I’ve done thus far, this year. (You may know them for their controversial work, as in songs like Car Bomb,  Mashin’ of the Christ, Christianity is Stupid and their nefarious relationship with U2). They handed out dandy Pinata Blindfolds (see pic) to remind us that this was a “radio show” and it’s all in our head. I actually wore the blindfold for 3/4’s of the show, which helped me to focus on the audio mind screw going on rather than the weak visuals of three grown men twiddling knobs and whatnot. The theme of this rare live appearance was religion in general and “god” specifically. The trio’s bizarre delivery was extremely effective, often swirling my neurons and synapses into a hurricane of sonic tomfoolery - sonic terrorism - if you will. This show articulated my inner thoughts in an extremely creative fashion, unfolding the harsh truths of life through an incredibly satisfying performance.

DJ Scotch Egg

Thumbs Up: SXSW is the cash-cow of the music industry in many regards, but my favorite is how it craps forth lots of new and unexpected talent each year. As much as I hate trendsters from NYC and L.A. invading my sweet little town full of hipsters*, SXSW surprises me every time with something brilliant.

This year, DJ Scotch Egg stole my little heart with a wacky one man show full of gameboy-induced mayhem. It was hard to stop smiling during this guy’s set - including the second time I went to see him in one day. This was his first trip to the US, I’m hoping he’ll return soon.

*Note: My beloved Austinist.Com has both the “guy’s guided to snaggin’ an Austin hipster” as well as a corresponding guide for the ladies.