Notes from Austin, Volume 2 #18

Including:

Things to do this Week in Austin (5/26-6/1)

Hobble and Dragstrip Syndicate at the Red Eyed Fly

Fuckemos at Emos

Aedrms and Betty Ford at Emos

Hollywood News Blurbs

AFS' Douglas Sirk Retrospective at the Paramount

LubeTV Controversy

and mucho more!

Things to do this week in Austin!

thru-5/27 - TRUE ROMANCE - MIDNIGHT - Alamo Draft House

thru-6/4 - Pride's Crossing - Zach Scott Theater

thru-7/30 - Soul Picnic (The music of Laura Nyro) - Scottish Rite Opera House

5/26 - - Films Released Nationwide

SHANGHAI NOON (JACKIE CHAN, OWEN WILSON)

8½ WOMEN (TONI COLLETE, PETER GREENAWAY - DIR)

SUNSET STRIP (ADAM GOLDBERG, JARED LETO)

5/26-28 - Casablanca/The African Queen - Paramount

5/26 - Rev. Horton Heat - Stubbs

5/26 - Punchy - The Deli (Norman, OK)

5/26 - Kelly Willis - Antones

5/26 - Dale Watson - Continental Club

5/26 - Antebellum, Those Peabodies - Red Eyed Fly

5/26 - Beau Geste - Central Market

5/26 - Buck Jones and the Haggards, Flounders w/o Eyes - Triple Crown

5/26 - Knife in the Water, Gloria Record, National Skyline - Emos

5/26 - Un Loco, Everyday Hate, Endevor, Knuckledragger - Back Room

5/26 - FreeBridge - Waterloo Ice House

5/26 - Sugarwall, Love Supreme, 100 Days - Babes

5/27 - SATURDAY MORNING FILM CLUB - ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN - 12:00 NOON - Alamo Draft House

5/27 - Punchy - Rocket Bar (St. Louis, MO)

5/27 - Willie Nelson & Family - UT - Bass Concert Hall

5/27 - The Force - Boomers - Pasadena

5/27 - Human, Inhabit, Shovelnose, Drawn Under - Flamingo Cantina

5/27 - Hellafied Funk Crew - Lucy's

5/27 - Boxcar Satan, Mudstack - Red Eyed Fly

5/27 - Shelly King - Central Market

5/27 - King Slim Blues, Headhunters - Triple Crown

5/27 - KLBJ Summer 6 Pack (Nixons, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, more) - Waterloo Park

5/27 - Sub Oslo CD Release Party - Stubbs

5/27 - Asylum Street Spankers - Stubbs

5/27 - Against All Authority - Emos

5/27 - Rex Banner, Yella Belly Sabsuckers, Yardarm, Lucious - Back Room

5/27 - Dexter Freebish, The Guest - Babes

5/27-5/29 - Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - Houston MFA

5/28 - Cinemaker Co-op Monthly Meeting, 7pm, Artplex

5/28 Punchy - Beat Kitchen (Chicago, IL)

5/28 - The Commies, Teen Cool - Emos

5/28 - Soulhat - Mercury@Jazz

5/29 - Yellowman and the Sagittarius Band - Flamingo Cantina

5/30 - VIDEOS Released Nationwide

MAN ON THE MOON

SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS

5/30 - Douglas Sirk Film Series - Paramount - There's Always Tomorrow

5/30 - Poetry Slam Final - Mercury@Jazz

5/31 - THE TEXAS DOCUMENTARY TOUR - A WELL FOUNDED FEAR - 7:00 - Alamo Draft House

5/31 Punchy - Blind Pig (Ann Arbor, MI)

5/31 - Dead End Cruisers - Flamingo Cantina

5/31 - Boss Hog - Stubbs

5/31 - Wu Tang's Killer Priest - Emos

6/2000-7/2000 - Summer Youth Theater 2000 - Vortex

6/1 - Savoy Brown - Antones

6/1 - Fireballs of Freedom, Gospel Swingers - Emos

6/1-6/3 - THE TERMINATOR, MIDNIGHT - Alamo Drafthouse

Ongoing:

Fridays

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Saturdays

Atomic Cafe - Industrial Night

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Sundays Atomic Cafe - New Wave Night

Flipnotics - Shorty Long

Mondays

Caucus Club - Swing Night

Spiros - Service Industry Night

Tuesdays

Atomic Cafe - Fetish Night

Flipnotics - Erik Hokkanen

Spiros - Salsa Dance Lessons

Wednesdays

Atomic Cafe - Swing Night

Blind Pig Pub - Pitcher Night

Flipnotics - Rubinchik's Orkestyr

Mangos - Southern Fried

Mercury - Hip Hop Humpdays

Thursdays

Atomic Cafe - Service Industry Night

Caucus Club - Phuz - DJ til 4am

Earl Campbells - Service Industry Night

Saturday night I was going down to Red Eyed Fly to see Hobble. I have been gelling my hair and stuff since I cut it. I think it looks pretty cool. I painted one hand of fingernails black and put on some mascara (sloppily). I need some lipstick I think, to even out my face if I'm going to wear mascara. It's such a chore to be pretty.

I got downtown a little early, so I went over to Casinos and had a couple beers. They were playing "Good Morning Vietnam" on the monitors. I hadn't seen that film in aeons. It was still funny with the closed caption on.

At a little before 11 I went over to REF. It was pretty dead. At least REF serves my favorite bottled beverage, Hard Core Cider. After a few minutes, a band took the stage. They were called the Dragstrip Syndicate and they were from either Virginia or West Virginia, I can't remember. Wherever Richmond is. These guys all looked like rockabilly auto mechanics (did all of them have muttonchops?) but they rocked really nicely. They had that sort of southern rock mixed with 90's sensibilities that put them one step after The Black Crows on the musical evolutionary scale. They weren't as rockus as Voltage or as raw as The Titz, but they had great chemistry, a great look and a great sound. I liked them quite a bit. They did a tune called "Black Eyed Angel" that was really nice.

I found out Hobble was playing last and since the Fuckemos were playing almost next door at Emos, so I decided to check that out since the Fucks are one of my fave Austin bands. They were playing on a bill that was supposed to include the last Fang show ever, whoever they are.

Got to Emos and cover was $5. This seemed high but I paid it gladly. The Fucks are worth at least that much. Went inside and it was pretty packed. They had the bands playing in the barn out back, so I headed out there and saw the end of the set by the Hellions. They were loud and, thankfully, their songs were short. They were okay, nothing special. One of those bands that plays 90 second songs where a phrase like "Fuck this Shit" is repeated over and over.

Within short order, The Fucks were up and playing. Russell was his usual unusual self and the band lazily kicked into playing their set. Even though it wasn't the best performance I have ever seen them give, it was still awesome. I love this band! Some guy kept trying to start a pit and close to the end of the set succeeded in doing so. I got on the edge of it and enjoyed the close proximity of so much frenetic young male flesh. There was a cute young guy with an earring (probably just got it that day) ahead of me and I kept getting smashed into the back of him. The pit rules. The pit will provide!

The Fucks had to end their set by 1am, but they did do a new song called "Something Stinky This Way Comes." It was nothing special but a nice addition to the Fucks' arsenal of wicked and weird anti-rock rock songs.

By the time I cashed out my tab and walked the block, it was 1:15. Went back to Red Eyed Fly and Hobble were already into their set. This pissed me off. I missed half their set. Fuck! Oriah was already sweaty and drained but he still kept pumping out the tunes. He is a little fucking rock star. If this guy is not MAJOR within two years, there is no purpose to life. He is primed. It's no accident that the band, too, is top quality. They rock with the same never-ending energy as their front man. These guys are one tight little quartet that have "sign me" written all over them.

I finally got to hear the title of one of there songs too. The sound was a little better at REF than it was at Emos Monday night. I love the stage at REF, it has red curtains as the backdrop and seems very Lynchian. Hobble's tune "Suicidal Blunder" was awesome in this setting. Oriah ended up dead and beat on the floor, his last ounce of energy wasn't gone though. Even when the band quit and left the stage, the frontman remained, long enough to entertain the throng (which was quite large by now) for one final minute with a acapella kiddie song. What a fucking crowd-pleaser. And what a chick magnet. There were women everywhere. Awesome looking women too!

After the set, as I was finishing my Cider, Oriah came over and said hi. He's such a cool guy. He told me he had had some sort of dream that me and Max were in but I can't, for the life of me, remember what the hell it was. (No, it wasn't a sex dream - Jesus, people). Anyway, Oriah introduced me to Andrea, as the show was in honor of her birthday. She was talking to the guys in Dragstrip Syndicate. I told them how much I dug their set. I realized while they were on stage and said that they were from Virginia that this is what bands do to get laid. Sure, "Hi were from Virginia." Why don't they just say "Hi, were from out of town and our girlfriends aren't with us. If you fuck us, we'll be gone by sunrise. No strings attached." What red-blooded American groupie girl could resist that?

Hobble is supposedly taking June off from playing gigs. I'll try to get by somehow.

Did you hear it here first?

HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN, who was in the indie hit "The Virgin Suicides," has been hand-picked by director George Lucas to star as Anakin Skywalker in the next two installments of the "Star Wars" prequels. Were you still hoping for Leo?

Austin fave VIN DIESEL has joined "The Skulls" star Paul Walker in "Red Line," a film about street racing. They also want Diesel back for the sequel to "Pitch Black."

The James Van Der Beek western "Texas Rangers" has moved up a couple weeks. Now look for it to bow 8/11 rather than 8/25

Meanwhile, the Gary Sinese thriller "The Impostor" has been pushed back from late summer to early October. Not a good sign.

"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy that Peter Jackson is spending his 30's making will bow at Christmas 2001, 2002, and 2003... Or at least that's what New Line is saying now.

Bill Murray on his role as Bosley in Charlie's Angels (due November) with tongue firmly planted in cheek: "The toughest, most demanding crap I've ever done."

Kevin Bacon on taking the lead in Paul Verhoeven's invisible man thriller "The Hollow Man" (due August): "I took the part to play a mad scientist and be directed by one."

After screening a bit of his film "Vertical Limit" to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd at the ShowWest exhibitor's convention in Las Vegas earlier this year, director Martin Campbell told festival goers, "That's just the boring parts..."

The Mohammed Ali biopic seems to be a go with Michael Mann as director and Fresh Prince Will Smith as the lead...

Mel Gibson on making "The Patriot:" "The most fun I've ever had standing up..." Leading us to believe that boring ole' homophobic Mel would never consider anything except the missionary position.

Stephen Spielberg seems to be set on making "Minority Report," "A.I." (the much discussed Stanley Kubrick project may now star Haley Joel Osment as a boy robot), and "Memories of a Geisha," presumable in that order.

Jim Carrey is dating Rene Zellweger. The summer film from the Farrelly Brothers, "Me Myself and Irene," which stars the duo will be rated "R."

Say it isn't so. NATALIE PORTMAN is in talks to star with Ricky Martin in a in an updated version of the 1987 hit "Dirty Dancing" to be set at Miami Beach.

GWYNETH PALTROW may join Ralph Fiennes in director Neil LaBute's "Possession."

DENISE RICHARDS will star with CHARLIE SHEEN in the romantic comedy "Good Advice," about an columnist who quits her job.

KATE BECKINSALE, who is currently filming Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor, is in talks to star with JOHN CUSACK in the romantic comedy "Serendipity."

ARI LARTER ("Final Destination") will join Scott Caan (Yep, James' son) in the comedy "Jesse James." The funniest part is when he gets shot in the back.

SUSAN SARANDON, TOBEY MAGUIRE and MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN! Yep. They'll lend their vocal talents to Warners' live-action/animated combo "Like Cats and Dogs."

TIM ALLEN is in negots to star in "Big Trouble." The Disney film would be based on the novel by columnist Dave Barry, the comedy centers on the effect a bomb in a suitcase has on various characters. Barry Sonnefeld is set to direct.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS may join Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz in Martin Scorsese's much anticipated "Gangs of New York."

BRAD PITT is in final negotiations to join Robert Redford in "Spy Game" about a CIA agent who must mastermind the rescue of his young protégé. Who will play which role?

By the time you read this it may be official. RAY LIOTTA is in final talks to play an FBI agent in "Hannibal." He will join Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore.

WES BENTLEY will play Montgomery Clift in the biography "Monty." Now how much gay stuff do you think they'll put in that? I bet he kisses Natalie Portman or Anna Paquin or some other starlet playing Liz Taylor. I can see the interviews now... "We wanted to show Monty's confusion and angst over living in the heterosexual world. We didn't want this to be a 'gay' movie."

JOHNNY DEPP will star in Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote," the story of a modern-day man who is whisked back in time. How original!

DENNIS QUAID will star in and produce "Stranger Than the Wheel," the story of a man who goes on an emotional journey in dealing with his father's destructive legacy. (AKA "Affliction Part 2?")

JEREMY DAVIES, forever known as the wimp in "Saving Private Ryan" will join Nick Nolte, Neve Campbell and Robin Tunney in Alan Rudolph's comedy-drama "Investigating Sex."

CHOW YUN-FAT will star as the title character in "Bullet-proof Monk," a live-action film based on the comicbooks about a Tibetan martial arts master.

CHRISTIAN BALE, now becoming famous for his role in "American Psycho," will join Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz in the epic World War II romance "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." If it makes it to theater marquees with that name intact, I'll eat a mandolin!

HUGH JACKMAN will join Ashley Judd's lips in "Animal Husbandry."

JEREMY IRONS will star in the remake of author Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana." Kirk Douglas and Thora Birch are also in negotiations to star in the film.

ROBERT CARLYLE will join Kiefer Sutherland in the World War II prisoner-of-war drama "To End All Wars."

Rapper DMX, who made his debut in "Romeo Must Die," will star opposite Steven Seagal in "Exit Wounds."

Nicolas Cage's next flick (after the soon to be released "Gone in 60 Seconds") is "Windtalkers," the true story of a Marine who must protect a Navajo soldier who is a "code-talker."

VINCENT D'ONOFRIO will play a parish priest and soccer coach in "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys," starring Jodie Foster. What makes their lives so dangerous? The priest or the soccer?

CHRIS NOONAN, who penned the original "Babe," will adapt and direct the film version of Russell Banks' coming-of-age novel "Rule of the Bone." I can't believe they are going to make this a movie. It's Bank's best novel but highly unadaptable. Expect disgruntled fans all around.

ROBERT ZEMECKIS will direct "Macabre," a remake of the 1958 William Castle horror film about a doctor's daughter who is kidnapped and buried alive.

GEORGE ROMERO will write and direct "The Ill," a modern vampire tale about a slacker college student who falls in love with a beautiful exchange student who has a secret. I'm assuming the secret is --- she's a vampire!

RICK BAKER has been signed by director Tim Burton to create the special makeup effects for the remake of "Planet of the Apes."

In my CD player:

Ben Lee - Breathing Tornadoes

Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat

Fuckemos - Black Helicopters

P Furs - Mirror Moves

On my nightstand:

Transformer: The Lou Reed Story by Victor Brockis

Monday I had a horrid day at my real job. By the evening I was pretty pissy, but decided to go out anyway. I spent forever trying to get my haircut gelled correctly. It was a nightmare, but I finally got it to look okay. My hair is a constant surprise.

I went to Casinos. Even though it was a Monday, they had no DJ, which was surprising. They usually do. They were playing ABBA, which, apparently, has just been added tot he jukebox. I like ABBA, a LOT! but not at Casinos. It just didn't fit. I got a beer, said hi to Ivan the bartender and did "the bump" with Kathy to the ABBA and went upstairs for a bit. There were some really loud and obnoxious people up there and I just wasn't in the mood for it. In fact, I wasn't in the mood for being around anyone I knew, even slightly, like the Casino staff, so I had a couple beers and headed over to Emos, just to see what was up.

At Emos, they had a free show. After being there 3 seconds, I could see why. The band onstage was one of the most pretentiously hilarious outfits I have ever seen. The lead singer seemed to have gone to the Adrian Belew school of intellectual musical geometry. And failed. The band was so reminiscent of a bad King Crimson (of the "Discipline" era) rip-off, that it was just amusing. The lead singer whined and wailed his way through the lyrics with the aplomb of a substitute teacher. The drummer rocked but was so busy trying to follow the intricate lead of the tightly-wound frontman that he couldn't stretch out and play. The bassist was so infatuated with Tony Levin that he fit right in. The frontman used feedback with the precision of a mathematician. In fact, as he played you could almost see him calculating the mathematical aural arc of the sound he was about to attempt to make.

The band was called - as if this weren't the perfectly pretentious name for them - Aedrms. That ain't in my dictionary. These guys were either so far ahead of their time, or so far behind it, as to be hopelessly out-of-touch for ages. They did, however, cheer me up a bit as their pretentiousness was highly amusing.

After a short intermission, Betty Ford took the stage. This is another in those loud, angry, screaming bands that have absolutely nothing to say. This isn't Rage Against the Machine, it's more like Rage Against My Dad. The lead singer was a chunky, shaven headed, little troll who had the sexual charisma of a dead rat. He screamed. And that's about all he did. The band was fairly congruous but drab. They did nothing. I'm not even sure why I stayed except, again, it was slightly amusing to me. Towards the end of the set, the lead singer hooked on the guitarist's instrument and the guitarist took the mike and things perked up a bit. At least the new singer had a bit of a whine in his voice. He tried to be angry as well but you could see he got the joke. I liked them better in this configuration. I went home during what they claimed was there last song.

Tuesday afternoon Rich and I went to Baby Acapulco's at Barton Springs and had a liquid lunch. Our waiter was awful which he blamed on several rounds of Wild Turkey the night before. Rich and I had a great discussion about his short film, "Love with the Appropriate Dramatic Ending" and it's numerous problems. We also discussed his new relationship. (With a woman, dammit!). Rich is an awesome guy. It's hard not to fall for him. We rode around in his convertible Mustang which was just awesome.

Afterwards I did my laundry and hung out by the pool here at my industrial wasteland known as an apartment complex. While I lounged in the chlorinated water, I listened to Bowie's "Station to Station" on my walkman. Most relaxing.

And that about wraps it for this weeks folks!

This "Notes from Austin" is dedicated to my friend Maggie Sauceda, who lost her battle with kidney problems this week. Maggie was a crazy, outrageous, unpredictable girl who made every day interesting and joyful. I hadn't seen her in far too long and now it may be far too long before we meet again. Maggie, babe! This one's for you! I'll miss you for a lifetime!

lodger2000