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RIP: Sky Saxon

John Michael — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:33:06 +0000

Yesterday word came that Sky Saxon, who had moved to Austin only a couple weeks ago, had been admitted to St. David’s Hospital on Monday and was in critical condition. The cause was suspected to be an infection of the internal organs. This morning, the Statesman sends word that Saxon has passed away.

Sky Saxon (born Richard Marsh) was a legendary space cadet, fronting the Sixties garage rockers the Seeds, and recently finding an appreciative home here in Austin. He had already been playing with a number of local bands backing him, including Shapes Have Fangs at this year’s Psych Fest. The post from his wife, Sabrina, on her Facebook page offered the following this morning: “Sky has passed over and YaHoWha is waiting for him at the gate. He will soon be home with his Father. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep him here with us.” We wish we had had the time to welcome him to Austin more fully.

Video: Riverboat Gamblers – “Victory Lap”

John Michael — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:30:06 +0000

The Riverboat Gamblers have been out on tour for the past the past month or so (actually, it seems their always on tour!), so the video for “Victory Lap” feels especially appropriate, capturing the local punks on stage and on the road. We’ve been following the Gambler’s tour adventures through Mike Wiebe’s twitter (@mikewiebe) and have decided that of all the local bands and musicians we follow, Wiebe has to be the most amusing. Of course, it helps when you are constantly getting pulled over and stripped searched at the Canadian border! And yes, a cop makes an appearance in the “Victory Lap” video.

The song is off of the band’s latest, Underneath the Owl, and premiered on Altpress.com. It was directed by JJ Castillo, and we love the live footage capturing the Gamblers in all their flailing glory. They’ll be rolling back home here to Austin on July 15 with a show Antone’s, and then heading over tour Europe. We should also mention that you can download the Gamblers’ cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” as part of the Purplish Rain tribute over at Spin, so there’s that, too.

Video: Riverboat Gamblers – “Victory Lap”

The Riverboat Gamblers “Victory Lap” (Altpress.com exclusive) from Alternative Press on Vimeo.

Websites:
www.riverboatgamblers.com
Myspace

Spoon to Release Surpise EP Next Week

John Michael — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:32:19 +0000

It’s strange that no one heard about this, especially given the extreme devotion of Spoon fans. Stereogum just announced that Spoon will be dropping a new EP next Tuesday, June 30, called Got Nuffin’. The band is still clearly on a campaign to seek grammatical revenge against middle school English teachers (they seem to be winning!). The EP consists of three new tunes, the title track, “Tweakers,” and “Stroke Their Brains,” and you can apparently listen to them right now on Amazon, though we couldn’t figure out how, cuz Spoon haz rotted r branez! Better yet, you can undoubtedly catch them performing the songs live in a couple of weeks at their big SpoonX3 shows at Stubb’s on July 9, 10, and 11. That lineup is below, if there are still tickets available.

SpoonX3 Fest:
7/09: Spoon w/ Quasi and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
7/10: Spoon w/ Low and Dale Watson
7/11: Spoon w/ Atlas Sound and The Strange Boys

Websites:
www.spoontheband.com
Myspace

Car Stereo (Wars) Farewell Show Tonight

John Michael — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:57:45 +0000

For the past several years, Chris Rose has packed the dancefloors here in Austin with Car Stereo (Wars) phenomenal mashups, but tonight he bids adieu to the scene for bright lights of New York City. We know, who would want to leave this wonderful weather, right?! Tonight’s show at the Beauty Bar will no doubt be a packed, sweaty, crazy dance party, with lots of great tunes (Rose has promised some awesome new MJ mixes) and folks out to see Car Stereo (Wars) go bumping out in style. We posed a few questions to Rose to find out what’s next for him, and what’s in store for tonight. Also on the bill at the Beauty Bar are locals Neiliyo and Zeale, along with the phenomenal freestyling of Astronautalis. Car Stereo (Wars) goes on round midnight, and that party will probably roll until the noise police come to shut it down! Also, if you happen to be up in Chicago for Lollapalooza in August, you’ll be able to catch him one more time at the big fest. Jump for some words of wisdom.

Austin Sound: What has prompted your move to NYC, and what are you planning on doing up there?

Chris Rose: Well I’ve always wanted to live in New York, ever since I was a kid. I’ve been planning on going for several years, but just kept delaying it because I love Austin so much. And I needed to finish up my last few credits at school. I’ve done that now, so it just seemed like the right time.

I still plan on DJing some up there, maybe release another album. But the main reason for the move is because I want to pursue television/comedy writing. New York is the only place besides LA you can do that.

AS: You’ve had some pretty crazy and great shows the past few years – what have been some of your favorite Car Stereo (Wars) moments?

CR: Sure. My all time favorite show was Fun Fun Fun Fest 2007. The stage was so cool, it was the perfect time of evening, everyone there was awesome and having a great time, and I had a bunch of my friends on stage dressed as Pirates dancing.

Some of my other favorite shows – going out to Marfa with Ghostland Observatory to play at the ballroom and seeing 70 year old cowboys dancing with 20 something hipsters / playing a tiny club in Madrid, Spain but seeing everyone there loving it / getting added at the last minute to play in a cave with Bill Murray.

AS: What do you have planned for the big blowout Friday?

CR: hmmm. Well I’m really trying to work in the “Top That” rap from Teen Witch somehow. Astronautalis and Neiliyo will be joining me during my set at some point, maybe for a freestyle or something. who knows.

AS: Finally, we’re wondering what’s your plan for keeping it Austin cool up there among the hipsterati of NYC?

CR: Haah. Well, I’m planning on bringing about 10 jars of El Chile salsa with me. And I’m going to try to start up my country night somewhere in Brooklyn. Other than that, I think I’ll just have to figure it out as I go along.

Website:
Myspace