Off the Record
By Austin Powell, Fri., July 20, 2007
Random Play
• The Concert to Save Town Lake, hosted by Kinky Friedman and featuring Bob Livingston, Stephen Bruton, Dale Watson, Bob Schneider, Bill Oliver, Jimmy LaFave, and special guests, happens Friday at Stubb's and will be dedicated to the memory of Lady Bird Johnson. "This event is helping us bring attention to our cause, to rally support, and send a message to our city government that something must be held sacred in the fast-track construction boom," says Thomas Cooke, SaveTownLake.org director. The musicians also recorded Oliver's anthem "Save Town Lake: Taking Our Stand" at Murray Music, now available at SaveTownLake.org.
• Local Maiden troopers Ignitor have inked a European deal with Cruz Del Sur to release their crushing new LP due in September, Road of Bones, a collection of epic battles and journeys told through dual guitars and the siren shriek of Erika. The black-clad quintet destroys Red Eyed Fly on Friday. One week later, metalcore mavens At All Cost unleashes their Century Media debut, Circle of Demons, at Red 7.
• Do you watch NASCAR, laugh at Rodney Carrington jokes, or own a bumper sticker proclaiming, "Screw the tractor, ride the cowboy"? The black stallion Cowboy Troy invites you to the "Miss Hick Chick USA" competition at Graham Central Station in Pflugerville Wednesday. Contestants square off in tobacco chewing, watermelon-seed spitting, and line dancing (to the tune of Troy's "Hick Chick"), plus the chance at an all-expense-paid trip to Nashville in October to compete for a $3,000 cash prize and the "Miss Hick Chick USA" crown. If that ain't country …
• Before making his way to the Backyard two weeks ago, Matisyahu stopped off at the Tequila Mockingbird Studio, site of Spoon's new "Underdog" video, to film his contribution to the Concert to End Slavery with Executive Producer Justin Dillon. The promotion, whose release coincides with other like-minded media projects like Lions Gate's Trade and the Harper Press release of Not for Sale, features performances and interviews by T Bone Burnett, Moby, Imogen Heap, Nickel Creek, and Cold War Kids intermixed with information regarding the harsh reality of human trafficking around the world.
• There's more going down at the Whisky Bar than straight bourbon. The Fifth Street venue, known for its renowned DJ sets, is hosting a series of free shows on Thursdays, beginning tonight with a double shot of indie rock, Lady Pterodactyl and Learning Secrets, followed next week by local broken social scene/ninepiece collective Til We're Blue or Destroy and Horse + Donkey on Aug. 2. Alternatex Solar Events continues its free Solar Powered Concert Series on Saturday with Dr. Zog and Unk Funk at Opal Divine's Penn Field location.
• Following the success of the I Heart Daft Punk night at Red 7 earlier this summer, Party Ends and Vice Magazine have partnered with the Alamo Drafthouse Lakecreek for a free screening of the French duo's Electroma, which chronicles the quest of "Hero Robot 1" and "Hero Robot 2" to become human, on Tuesday, with live DJ sets from Markus With a K and Ocelot.
