Month: December 2015

Modfag (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/Modfag/

MODFAG a name that will go down in infamy or bring much amusement at dive bars. This is reverb party music that is perfect for those that like to cavestomp. A perfect mix of classic 60’s garage with some 70’s glam to taper off the kick. Featuring members of Born Liars, The Freakouts, The Wrong Ones & Gun Crazy.

Talk Sick Brats (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/talksickbrats

3 piece 70’s style punk attack from Houston. DIRTY JEFF BASS. DIRTY STEPH GUITAR. TALAL FUNBOY DRUMS AND VOCALS

Frog Hair (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/FROG-HAIR-351639865029621

Dead Roses (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Roses/232683603420051

“We’re not just a band…..we’re a fucking tragedy” – with these immortal words, they launched into their debut set on Valentine’s Day of 2004, and H-town’s infamous DEAD ROSES were born. Since then, they have played shows with notable acts such as the DEMOLITION DOLLRODS, GLASS CANDY, DEAD MOON, BOBBY CONN, LOST SOUNDS, LES GEORGES LENINGRAD, FATAL FLYING GUILLOTINES, MEAT PUPPETS, and DIRT BOMBS. Heart broken, sleep deprived, glam damage is this group’s forte. Their formidable line-up includes former members of the LEPERS, INTROVERTS, CULTURCIDE, PAIN TEENS, TRUTH DECAY, VULGARIANS, NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE, THE HAUNTING ALLURE OF ELKE PALLENBERG’S VOID, SWARM OF ANGELS, HIGH ALMOND CONTENT, NTX PISTOLS, DISCOMFORTRON, BALACLAVAS, FUTURE BLONDES, DIAMONDS AND PEARLS, AFTER PARTY, UNGARISCHE DEUTSCHE FREUNDSCHAFT, DOTS, MYSTERY FLAVOR, and BRIDE OF PINBOT to name a few. DEAD ROSES have recorded and re-recorded their epic first release nine times, but refuse to put it out until it absolutely meets their impossibly high standards of excellence. Other activities/interests include socializing with international superstars, needlepoint, speaking with fake foreign accents, experimenting with eyeliner, and getting kicked out of ALICE COOPER concerts.

Killer Hearts (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/TheKillerHearts

Project Grimm (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Grimm/121509194528707

A decidedly less experimental group than its most direct predecessor, the Mike Gunn, Project Grimm was formed in 1995 by Gunn frontman and guitarist John Cramer to satisfy his urges to be a bit more straightforward in his approach to guitar rock. Interested in looking to build a band around this new direction, Cramer called local drummer Rick Costello (…of Houston band Bleachbath) who volunteered his services straight away. Drew Calhoun joined on bass, and former Schlong Weasel (University of Houston “branch”) member Jim Otterson rounded out the lineup as second guitarist. Their first show, on July 3, 1995 was followed by recording sessions that would result in their first album, Lying Down out on Linus Pauling Quartet’s Ramon Medina (also a former Schlong Weasel-er) Worship Guitars label in 1996. The pace of recording and releasing would slow down considerably for the band, which wouldn’t quite get around to releasing the follow-up until 2003. In the meantime, Bo Morris would take over on drums for the kicked out Rick Costello, and Cramer would work with former Mike Gunn colleague Scott Grimm on his Dunlavy project. July 2003 would see the release of Project Grimm’s second album, Huge Beings (released on Camera Obscura’s Australian sister label Camera Lucida), but it would also see the band split — on the very day of the album’s release. Leader John Cramer would later appear as a solo artist working under the name the Powers of Light & Darkness, and played sporadic shows around Houston. – Chris M. True via allmusic.com

Slow Future (Houston, TX)
https://www.slowfutureband.com/

DeLorean Rising (Houston, TX)
https://youtu.be/8it7ARPJlPo

Tupilo Jones and The Circus of Misery (Richmond Rosenburg, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/Tupilo-Jones-And-The-Circus-Of-Misery-687742481327845/

Sounds like next door bar, Rudz, and that corner store with the really nice smelling food and great deals on cigarettes! Oh and BADVICE

The Ex-Optimists (College Station, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/theexoptimists

“I’m honestly kicking myself now for not listening to this sooner. College Station band The Ex-Optimists have been on repeat in my headphones for a while now, drowning me in a turbulent squall of Sonic Youth guitars, driving ’90s indie-drone-rock melodies, and hazy, softspoken vocals, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it.

On “Nitemare City,” the guitars are watery and sharp-edged in equal measure, drifting around you like psychically-controlled knives that periodically dart in to gouge out a chunk of your flesh. In the meantime, frontman Kelly Minnis serenely murmurs and croons like he’s already lost in the swirling murk; that is, until the whole damn thing explodes in a ball of fury partway through before coalescing back into its more stable previous state. The closest thing I can come up with is Houston’s own Muhammad Ali, except that this quartet sounds like they’re fueled less by beer and more by green, leafy substances.

Then there’s B-side “February,” which dives sideways into nearly Dinosaur Jr., quick-stepping along through an insanely-catchy melody while the overfuzzed guitars set fire to the scenery. Occasionally feels like I’m listening to a rougher-edged Silversun Pickups — there’s definitely a hazy, shoegaze quality to it, beneath the out-and-out noise. “- Space City Rock

Electric Astronaut (College Station, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/electricastronaut

Electric Astronaut is a four piece band out of College Station Tx. With rock roots and Game of Thrones influences Electric Astronaut shows are something to see. Up coming Album release June of 2015. Stay tuned my friends.

Brian Zeolla (Houston, TX)
https://www.brianzeolla.com/

Brian Zeolla is a comedian and writer, who channels his own inadequacies and ordinary life through personal anecdotes sprinkled with intense honesty, act outs and some yelling (but not too much). A 2014 Nominee for Best Comedian by Free Press Houston, Brian has performed with Neal Brennan (co-creator/ head writer of the Chapelle Show), Jay Chandresekhar (Broken Lizard, Super Troopers) and David Huntsberger (Professor Blastoff), among many others. He began touring in 2014, as a host and featured comedian on the Altercation Punk Comedy Tour, as well as a coheadliner and producer on the Vacation Time Tour. He has performed at festivals all over the country including the Cape Fear Comedy Festival (NC), Free Press Summer Festival (HTX), Fun Fun Fun Fest (ATX), Come and Take It Comedy Festival, Houston WhateverFest, HellYesFest (NOLA) and the Trill Comedy Festival (HTX). Brian’s album, OK You Got It; a Series of Jokes Regarding Pizza and Sadness, is available online,　most easily at　brianzeolla.com. In addition to performing, Brian books and produces two popular stand up comedy shows: The Level Up and Choke! The Comedy Game Show. Based on the Myers Briggs scale, Brian Zeolla is an idealist! He enjoys pizzas.

It’s that time of the year again, December bdays! Come celebrate the aging of Art, Ghetto and the fabulous Brandon Barger!

Oddfellows (Austin, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/oddfellowsofficial

Oddfellows. Eclectic rock with a taste of doom, blues, and old school metal. Featuring former members of Honky, Whorehound, and A Thousand Knives of Fire.

Flamin’ Hellcats (Houston, TX)
https://www.reverbnation.com/theflaminhellcats

When you get right down to it, perfect rock and roll is a pretty simple thing. All too many people forget that, and cut pure rock with all kinds of additives in the name of creativity. Some of these divergent blends are interesting in their own right, true, but sometimes you just need it straight. Enter the Flamin’ Hellcats. Reveling in the perfection of rock and roll in its most basic forms, the local trio prefers the swagger of swinging eighth notes and walking bass lines, clean vocals and twangy guitars to the snide, overly self-conscious muso embellishments that often drain rock music of its very rock-ness. Paying homage to proto-rockers like Bill Haley and Carl Perkins, but with an ethos born of punk, the Hellcats sound a bit like the ‘50s on fast-forward. Hey, if you prefer your rock with mixers, that’s just fine. But if you want it strong and neat, The Flamin’ Hellcats – whose first album in several years is due soon – serve “101% Texas Vato-Billy,” which equates to about 200 Proof rock and roll. – Houston Press

Donkey Punch (Houston, TX)
https://www.myspace.com/donkeypunchtx

Where addiction, alcoholism and filth meet loud guitars.

Killer Hearts (Houston, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/TheKillerHearts

The new band featuring members of Electric Frankenstein, Texas Terri & The Stiff Ones, Down & Dirties and The Wrong Ones. Killer Hearts play rock ‘n’ roll. Loud, sleazy, crass rock ‘n’ roll with a bratty tinge that only guys with their pedigree can.