Happy Happy Birthday to Me!

"Happy Happy Birthday to Me" happens to be a great little indie record label out of Athens, GA, but it's also my self-promoting manifesto for the coming week. I'll be entering a new decade on Thursday: the dirty thirties. I like what Fitzgerald's narrator of The Great Gatsby has to say about turning 30--

I was thirty. Before me stretched the portentous menacing road of a new decade...Thirty--the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning brief-case of enthusiasm, thinning hair.

To ease the pain, I'm throwing (or rather, my friends are throwing) a hellacious party in my honor. Chances are you already received an evite invitation informing you of said party, but it's possible that I missed some of you. If that's you, and you aren't terribly offended and would like to attend, then leave a comment, I'll shoot you the details, along with a groveling apology.

Events for the Freakin' Weeken'

Sorry for not posting activities for this week. (Johnny, I hope you've found other Internet fodder to feed yourself with.) I'm house/dog-sitting in Lorena for the folks this week, and I didn't really want to look at all the fun stuff I'd miss out on. But here are some things for the weekend. I'll be able to join starting Saturday evening.

THURSDAY (which isn't exactly the weekend unless you live in Austin)

Spider House Cafe 2908 Fruth. 512.480.9562.

pinkslipfestival.com

Pink Slip Festival

The Pink Slip Festival is an “Austin-style” response to the economic downturn where one person can help another in a fun, casual, family-friendly setting. This event will be a "shot in the arm" for job seekers and their families affected by job losses. Enjoy 25 cent hot dogs, 50 cent beer/soda and 10 cent snowcones!

FRIDAY
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
300 Colorado. 512.495.6504.
sullivansteakhouse.com
Reverse Happy Hour/Summer of $69
Sullivan's Steakhouse is now hosting Reverse Happy Hour from 9pm til 12am seven days a week! During this time they feature half-priced bar entrees, $5 featured martinis and selected wines by the glass. Join them for their signature Knock Out Martini and the Best Burger in Town! Or enjoy a three course dinner for two people for only $69 in their dining room. Summertime, and the livin’s easy…

SATURDAY
Magnolia Electric Co., Loxsly at The Mohawk

Cookie Lounge 22 ½ Between Pearl and Rio Grande. 512.478.BAKE.
austincookielounge.com
Late Night Snack
Open late on the fun days. Everything you ever wanted in a cookie from 11am 'til 2:30am.

SUNDAY
Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.
Brunch: at like 64 different restaurants around town.

Dirty Projectors @ Red 7 Tonight

Firstly, Summer Weed apologizes for shirking his duties as of late. He lost hope, and then focus, and ultimately his mind. But he's good now. Resuming summer-tainment responsibilities as of now.

This is pretty late notice, but there is an excellent band playing tonight (Wednesday) at Red 7. The Dirty Projectors (funny name, serious music) hail from Brooklyn, are fronted by a Yale dropout, and specialize in frenetic yet whimsical freak-folk-rock for the ADHD. That probably doesn't sound too appealing, so check out their myspace page and watch the video below.

It's also birthday party central tonight. Parties for Meredith C. and Weston W. If you know either or both of them, but don't know about their parties, then I recommend calling them up (or Facebooking them) and, firstly, telling them happy birthday, and then, secondly, asking them where and when said parties will be.

Dirty Projectors - "Knotty Pine" [Song begins at 2:06]

Summer Fun Schedule (7/6-7/12)

This Week
Monday 7/6
-- The Lovely Houses, The Lennings, Kacy Crowley, Drew Smith @ The Mohawk

Tuesday 7/7
-- Trivia night @ The Flying Saucer

Wednesday 7/8
-- Summer Hallmark's birthday [What'll it be, sir?]
-- Cool Hand Luke @ The Paramount

Thursday 7/9
-- Deer Tick @ Waterloo Records [5 pm], Emo's [9 pm]
-- Balmorhea @ Cactus Cafe [8:30 pm]
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Friday 7/10
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Saturday 7/11
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Sunday 7/12
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.

SPOON!!!

When: Saturday, July 11th
Where: Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre
Cost: $28 (individual) or $20 (if purchased in a 4-pack)
Opening bands: Atlas Sound, The Strange Boys
Confirmed attendees: Summer Weed, Party Boy

It's Spoon. Need I say more? They're playing 3 nights at Stubb's--Thursday, Friday, and Saturday--but Johnny can only make the Saturday show (right, Johnny?). As noted above, tickets are $28 unless you buy a 4-pack, in which case tickets are $20 a piece. Assuming Johnny's in, we only need two more folks in order to get a 4-pack. (Although, more are certainly welcome.) So, as soon as I have two more confirmed attendees, I'll buy a 4-pack. Hopefully this one won't sell out on me like the crappy Iron & Wine concert.

You probably don't need any motivation for this one, but just in case, here is a kick-ass video that should push you over the edge.

Spoon - "The Underdog"

Summer Fun Schedule (6/29-7/5)

This Week
Monday 6/29
-- Brice's last-day-of-work, last-night-with-tonsils Extravaganza [Postponed and likely to be renamed]

Tuesday 6/30
-- $1 Tecates @ Lavaca St. Bar
-- Trivia night @ The Flying Saucer

Wednesday 7/1
-- Last day of summer school [Where do you summer school teachers want to get befuddled?]

Thursday 7/2
*Emily Schmidt's half-birthday [Emily, how do you want to celebrate your half-birthday?]

Friday 7/3
-- Jenny & The Corn Ponies @ Ginny's Little Longhorn [Summer Hallmark (and anyone else interested in attending this event), I'll be meeting my family for barbecue in Cyclone, Tx, where my sister will be announcing to our grandparents that she has been knocked up (nobody tell them before Friday), so if I attend Jenny at Ginny's, I will be getting there late.]

Saturday 7/4
-- Celebrate America responsibly. [If you have a party you'd like me to advertise, let me know.]

Sunday 7/5
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.
-- Brunch @ Sagra [$.75 Mimosas & Bellinis]

Next Week
Monday 7/6
-- The Lovely Houses, The Lennings, Kacy Crowley, Drew Smith @ The Mohawk

Tuesday 7/7
-- Trivia night @ The Flying Saucer

Wednesday 7/8
-- Summer Hallmark's birthday [What'll it be, sir?]
-- Cool Hand Luke @ The Paramount

Thursday 7/9
-- Deer Tick @ Waterloo Records [5 pm], Emo's [9 pm]
-- Balmorhea @ Cactus Cafe [8:30 pm]
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Friday 7/10
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Saturday 7/11
-- Spoon @ Stubb's

Sunday 7/12
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.

Jenny & The Corn Ponies

You have two chances this week to catch Jenny & The Corn Ponies (myspace) at two pretty great venues. The first chance is today from 3 to 7 at Uncle Billy's Brew & Que. The second is Friday night at Ginny's Little Longhorn from 9 to 1. You can also listen to them live on the rade-yo Thursday morning on the KOOP 91.7 at 9 am.

Jenny & The Corn Ponies are steeped in old timey material. Heck, they're silly with it. Their self-reported influences include Loretta Lynn, Bob Wills, Buck Owens, and Patsy Cline. And they are good. You must see them.

Check out the below video. The breaking beer bottles at the 24-second mark means it's authentic.

Jenny w/ The Horton Brothers at Ginny's Little Longhorn

2 Live Crew on Thursday

• At The Mohawk [Doors @ 8, Show @ 9]
• $15 online; $17 at the door
• Confirmed attendees: Summer Weed, Summer Cook

Did you know that the Crew's 1989 album As Nasty As They Want to Be was considered so controversial that it was actually declared illegal to sell? Seriously! At least one record store owner was actually arrested for selling a copy to an undercover cop. Of course, nothing sells like controversy, and the album eventually sold over 2 million copies--mostly to teenage boys and curious mothers. The album's lead track, "Me So Horny" (posted below), was given very little radio play, but thanks to MTV, which was still relevant in '89, the song will probably bring back memories of adolescent pining and pimples for you.

WARNING: The below video is NOT SAFE FOR WORK (or around mothers, fathers, grandparents, anyone below the age of 16 or above the age of 43, women, small animals, potted plants, fine china, anyone striving to be a better person, or celibates)

Summer Fun Schedule (6/22-6/28)

* Be sure to take a look at the previous post: Iron & Wine @ The Paramount

This Week
Monday 6/22
-- Jenny Lewis @ Stubb's [Lead singer for Rilo Kiley; also starred in The Wizard; one of the best live performers I've seen; she never misses a note.] Looks like tickets are still available.

Tuesday 6/23
-- Fader Soundcheck Party @ The Scoot Inn (8-11pm) [Complimentary beverages; RSVP here]

Wednesday 6/24
-- Royal Tenenbaums @ The Alamo Ritz [7:00]
-- Washer Tournament @ Freddie's Place [Every Wednesday]

Thursday 6/25
-- 2 Live Crew @ The Mohawk [Tickets]
-- Built by Snow w/ SPEAK @ Stubb's [A Fat Caddy Records endorsed show]

Friday 6/26
-- Big Lebowski/Fargo Double Feature @ The Paramount (7:45) [A Big Lebowski-themed scavenger hunt will precede the show, starts at 6:15.]
-- John Vanderslice and The Tallest Man on Earth @ The Parish

Saturday 6/27
-- O.J. and the Broncos @ Beso Cantina [9:30] Show Canceled

Sunday 6/28
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.
-- Jenny & The Corn Ponies @ Uncle Billy's [3-7 pm]


Next Week
Monday 6/29
(Suggestions needed)

Tuesday 6/30
-- $1 Tecates @ Lavaca St. Bar

Wednesday 7/1
-- Dart Bowl anybody?

Thursday 7/2
*Emily Schmidt's half-birthday

Friday 7/3
-- Jenny & The Corn Ponies @ Ginny's Little Longhorn

Saturday 7/4
-- Explosions in the Sky, Octopus Project, Wooden Birds @ Stubb's SOLD OUT

Sunday 7/5
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.

Iron & Wine @ The Paramount

• Monday, July 27th [Doors at 8, Show at 9]
• w/ Special Guest: Glen Hansard [of The Frames and Swell Season; also starred in Once, which, if you haven't seen but own a soul, you should see]
• Cost: $36.50 [kinda pricey, but hopefully worth it]
  
• Confirmed attendees: Summer Weed

If you're familiar with Iron & Wine's music, you should probably do yourself the favor of attending this concert. If you aren't familiar with Iron & Wine, then you probably should be. Sam Beam, who basically is I&W, is one of our finest modern songwriters. Case in point:

Even the last of the brown-eyed babies see
That the cartoon king has a tattoo of a bleeding heart;
There ain't a penthouse Christian wants the pain of the scab,
but they all want the scar;
How every mouth sings of what it's without so we all sing of love;
And how it ain't one dog who's at fucking and denying who he's thinking of.

-- from "Innocent Bones"

I realize it seems expensive, but keep in mind that, in addition to 2-3 hours of stellar, possibly life-altering music, you are also paying for a seat and (most importantly) for air conditioning. So that we can all sit together, if you decide you would like to go, then just let me know, and I'll buy the tickets together and you can pay me back. The show is over a month away, but I want to purchase tickets soon so as not to be stuck in the nose-bleed section. Therefore, I'm imposing a strict deadline of Thursday the 25th. If, by that time, I haven't heard from you, then you are officially dead to me.

Sunset Rubdown on Saturday

At The Mohawk
Show starts at 9pm
$10 advance/$12 at the door [though I expect this one to sell out eventually]
Opening bands: Midday Makeout and Dinnertime Footsies [not really; that's a joke]
Confirmed attendees: Summer Weed, Holly K., Katie C., Little Summer Weed (Maybe)

If you're already familiar with this band and its music, you really should go to this show. Excellent live band. If you're not, then you have a few days to acquaint yourself. Check out the band's myspace; several songs are posted. And check out the videos below. Watch the one for "I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands That Have Been in the Grave" and tell me the music and images don't remind you of playing Zelda.

Summer Fun Schedule (6/15-6/21)

This week
Monday 6/15:
-- Camera Obscura @ Antone's [This was AWESOME! Sorry if you missed it.]

Tuesday 6/16:
-- Dinner @ The Pattillos'

Wednesday 6/17
-- Hump Day @ Cuatros--7pm to close [$1.50 pints & $6 pitchers of Lone Star, Miller Light, and a few other crappy light beers]
-- Buy a Pint, Keep the Glass @ The Draught House

Thursday 6/18:
-- Bee vs. Moth @ Austin Moose Lodge #1735 [This is more about the venue than the band; I've been dying to check this place out.]

Friday 6/19:
-- The Bellamy Brothers @ Midnight Rodeo [Contact Mark S. for more info.]

Saturday 6/20:
-- Sunset Rubdown @ The Mohawk [There will be a separate email about this show soon.]

Sunday 6/21
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways
-- Brunch @ Taverna [$1 Mimosas & Bellinis]


Next Week
Monday 6/22
-- Jenny Lewis @ Stubb's [Lead singer for Rilo Kiley; also starred in The Wizard; one of the best live performers I've seen; she never misses a note.]

Tuesday 6/23
-- Dinner @ The Pattillos'
-- Fader Soundcheck Party @ The Scoot Inn (8-11pm) [Complimentary beverages; RSVP here]

Wednesday 6/24
-- Royal Tenenbaums @ The Alamo Ritz

Thursday 6/25
-- 2 Live Crew @ The Mohawk
-- Built by Snow w/ SPEAK @ Stubb's [A Fat Caddy Records endorsed show]

Friday 6/26
-- Big Lebowski/Fargo Double Feature @ The Paramount

Saturday 6/27
-- O.J. and the Broncos @ Beso Cantina

Sunday 6/28
-- Go to church and repent of your heathenish ways.
-- Jenny & The Corn Ponies @ Uncle Billy's [3-7 pm]