False. From 1997-2000, I saw the following bands there: Superchunk, Low, Yo La Tengo, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Dandy Warhols. But yeah, that place is a dump. Rudz is the bomb. I can't wait to move back to Houston!
Does anybody remember when they used to do Monday night Lounge Night at the Satellite before they moved it to the Continental. The El Orbits would play from 9-11. Free Bingo with fabulous prizes called between songs by a rotating cast of glamorous Bingo Girls. $2 martinis. That's right TWO-FREAKIN'-DOLLAR MARTINIS.
Ha! I knew there was another Ten Hands fan somewhere around here besides Jeff. Pray for Rain was my first song of the first show I ever saw. It was in College Station, but I've seen them at Fitz's at least 10 times. Good times. Pole, I've never been to Ricks in Denton. Is it a club?
Yah....it burned down if I remember correctly. The same guy who owned it had Muther's, Side Bar, and Fat Daddy's (I think that's right). When I was younger and dumber, I was in a frat, and so was the guy that had these clubs. We weren't all that tight, but his younger brother and I are still the best of friends. Anyway, I only brought it up because Ten Hands used to play there.
Got to agree with the Fat Cat's/Mary Jane's assessments already given: $hit-tastic sound, $3 beers, 3-inch stage and I think 1 toilet for a couple hundred people. I saw Darkest Hour there a while back and they actually blew a fuse... TWICE. If your business is promoting live music, it'd be nice to ensure that your electrical grid can handle, I dunno, music. During the show, my buddy's jeep was robbed, since they have dick for parking and the neighborhood's got a few characters lurking about. Walter's on Washington seemed like a decent little joint that was small enough that the PA didn't need to be so good and the beers were a bit cheaper than Fat Cat's, so I guess it passes. The Engine Room is a good place to see a show, and I've seen numerous sellouts and near sellouts there, including a recent show by the Dillinger Escape Plan. I'm not sure I've ever seen the soundman sober and the mix is very hit or miss down there, but it has a huge bar, decent toilet conditions and a nice ambiance. I always liked Fitzgerald's because you could either join the mayhem on the floor or chill in the balcony and have the floor be part of the show. Not really a bad spot/seat in the place. Nobody I'm into has played there in a long time, though. Numbers is what it is. DanHiggsBeard, I was at that same Cave In show at Notsuoh's. I didn't appreciate the decor as much as you. Then again, I was basically just bummed about the show. As an incorrigible thrasher, I rather disliked Cave In post-Jupiter. I've been to plenty of other joints, but those places are where I see most of the extreme stuff I like so I won't bother discussing clubs I'm not as familiar with.
Man, I totally miss the Satellite. I did a few gigs there back in the 90's when the fire marshall was turning people away because it was so packed. It had loads of energy for shows like that. Anyone remember when Club Hey Hey was across the street and Mary Jane's was still the Bon Ton Room? Bon Ton ruled.
hippieloser: that Cave In show was on the Jupiter tour, so I don't get what bummed you out about it. I personally love that record, but can't stand the newest one. I'm really into their "metalcore" early stuff, too.
For blues, I would check out Shakespeare's Pub on Sunday nights, hosted by local legend and Dukes of Houston bass player Eugene "Spare Time" Murray. There are usually lots of good players that come out to that jam. I would also keep an eye out for the Houston Blues Society monthly jam, held the last Thursday of each month at the Big Easy.
As an aside, one of my bands - Slap.Shifter - is playing at the Rhythm Room tonight opening for the Stone Coyotes. We go on about 9:30. We are also doing an afternoon gig tomorrow at Super Happy Fun Land in the Heights at 2pm. These will likely be opposite shows in that there will probably be a packed house tonight and about 6 people there tomorrow including the band and there are 5 of us!
They are most likely the worst band in the universe. I would rather eat glass than ever hear them again. From what I can tell, they are popular only in Houston. What the hell is wrong with you people?
They have a pretty big following on the college circuit. I don't really care for their music, but if playing in front of them means playing in front of a big crowd, I'm all over it.
Hey, absolutely - I didn't mean to imply otherwise. I'm just mystified as to why anyone would like a band that can't sing, play or write. I was minding my own business in Cactus a year ago or so and suddenly the band that had been setting up in the front started playing. I hadn't paid any attention to them, so I had no idea who they were. The band was so incredibly awful (the singer was terrible and the drummer was wildly off time) I naturally assumed that they were some sort of amateur band made up of Cactus employees or something. Imagine my amazement when I discover that these monkeys are not only a functioning, touring, 'professional' band but championed by Cactus and KPFT and regularly draw big crowds. AND, I don't like fruity St Arnold's beer, so the whole thing was a total wash-out.
Man, I knew they weren't that good. I'd heard them before. But, my goodness, I just listened to them on their site. That drummer is beyond bad. I can live with the lazy, garage rock thing from the rest of the band and the bad vocals from the singer. Sometimes, that can even be endearing. But, wow, that drummer is really God awful.
Wait until you see them live tonight or tomorrow or whenever it is. I'm a recovering professional musician myself, guitar player mostly. I'm sure this happens in all bands, but when you take a break the bass player picks up the guitar and begins noodling and with total disregard for compassion the guitar player slips behind the drum kit. I was no different. I loved messing around on the drums. I was totally unskilled - I can't do a roll and keep the kick in time, for example - but I am without question better than the SC's drummer.
Jeff, Might be careful about talking negatively about a band for whom you're opening. You never know who might be visiting the board.
Wow, what a flashback you just gave me, ima_drummer2k! I spent many a sweaty night with 10 Hands at Zedla's/Fitzgerald's (not to mention in Denton). Brings back a lot Pavement, Stereolab and Sebadoh memories of that place, too. Good times!
I only went to the Satellite once -- to see Whiskeytown when my friend Caitlin used to play fiddle for them. The show was alright but the crowd was annoying. Went to Rockefeller's a few times way back (most notably to see Gil Scot Heron, who was higher than hell on heroin and kept taking long breaks to disappear into the back). Place was good to see music, but there was no regular scene there. I spent a lot of time at Fitz/Zelda's way back. Saw tons of shows by Fleshmop, Joint Chiefs, elevator up, Sprawl, de Schmog, etc. I have a great recording of Fleshmop at Zelda's. Had some good times hanging out in the green room backstage upstairs, but I never liked the place. Always heard bad things about the ownership, hated the pay to play policy though most of my friends' bands weren't affected by it. Also it was hotter than hell upstairs and, as the guy said in Dazed and Confused, I kept getting older and the crowd just stayed the same age. Got tired after a while. I had the best times at Catal Huyuk (before I moved in and started booking it) til it closed. Rudyards all the way after that.
