Whenever I travel I try to check out the music scene, either live or by patronizing the local record store. I recently spent some time in Houston, Texas and although my schedule didn’t allow for me to see a band live or buy records, I did do a bit of digging into what was happening there.
Houston is just two hours from the music mecca of Austin (where SXSW is happening this week) but man, the city has a rich musical history: Lightnin’ Hopkins, Archie Bell and the Drells, ZZ Top, DRI, Pain Teens, and ah, Destiny’s Child are all from HTown. Names like Townes Van Zandt, and Roky Erickson will be forever associated with Houston and the city is home to the legendary SugarHill Recording Studios.
These days the local scene is vibrant and here are a few of the local highlights.
American Fangs, well holy crap, where have you been hiding? If you dig The Bronx these guys are in your wheelhouse. Straight ahead, kick-ass heavy duty punk and roll. Brilliant!
Young Mammals – Sneering Jangle punk ala Parquet Courts/Eddy Current Suppression Ring with a little Replacements thrown in for good luck. I freakin’ love this song!
How to describe Indian Jewelry? How about the offspring of Jesus and Mary Chain, Sisters of Mercy and Siouxsie and the Banshees. You get my drift? 80s flavoured psych-pop at its fuzziest best.