Graustraked in the Awesome Color of the Satin Hooks

Sunday, the most dreaded of music nights, where the vile spectre of another workday hangs over every note demanding you be responsible and just simply go to bed. Yet, every once in a while there is a line-up that demands your ass be at the bar and last Sunday was one such show. Yeah, for verily I speak of the brilliant bill of Graustark, Satin Hooks, and Awesome Color courtesy of Johnathan and Shawna - you know those two people who are as cool as they are nice.

Now, I was in a bit of a shock when, after a day of family high jinx, I just happened to turn on the Mac and jump online only to notice that the show time was 9PM! Fuck the bath! I've got to run to Rudz if I'm gonna catch Graustark!!! I just couldn't want to miss any of this bill and if I was going to be a bit stinky and unkempt, so be it.

So, I raced out to Rudyard's and got there at 9pm only to find that the poster along with the HUH/ Myspace posts were wrong and only Satin Hooks' Kerry and a handful of people were there."Sorry," said Kerry, "there was a mix-up." Oh well that was fine because Kerry and I got to talking about 12" LPs and how the Satin Hooks were looking at releasing a 12" LP of their first full length which I thought was admirable. The Hooks are always just fucking on live but, for me, their CD-R had some trouble living up to those live performances so I'm hoping the upcoming LP can do them justice because they are so great to watch live. Kerry is a great rhythm guitarist, Lucas is all over his bass, and then there was their former drummer Gomer. This night though they were trying out a new drummer as Gomer had only recently departed the Hooks. That night's drummer was adequate (technically proficient and a nice guy) but I really missed Gomer behind the kit and ended with a greater appreciation of his contribution to the Hooks. But even though they were underpowered by the drums (I swear the kick drum had to be the same size as my son's toy drum kit) and the performance seemed guarded and less powerful than others I'd seen, it had its moments particularly the fact that I'd likely never heard Kerry's vocals sound so good. But hey it's Rudz where the sound is always good; Joe O is simply a sound genius. Whoops I skipped ahead didn't I? Well I guess I should wrap up this Hooks review by saying that it was a fair performance but given what I've seen these guys do, it was hardly what I expect from them which is a thorough musical ass whoopin'.

Before the Hooks though there was Graustark whose CD melted my brain so much that I'd been dying to see them live ever since and they did not disappoint. Bill did his loose and sloppy drumming style which I love to death while Will played some fat and heavy guitar tones that were just gorgeous. I was surprised at how much of the CD was actually charted and not just pure improvisation. The CD is basically their current live set so, since it's such a good representation of what they do, it's no surprise that they deliver the goods in spades. After the performance, I asked Will about his bad-ass tone and he proudly pointed to his Analogman Beano Boost which is a version of the Dallas Rangemaster. It's a pretty sweet effect that may be the answer to all my Superfuzz's compression issues. Hey, how can I go wrong stealing ideas from Will Freed? So here are some schematics I found on-line [Dallas Rangemaster Schematics]. I'll see about building one this summer and let you know how it goes. Did I mention that Graustark was unbelievable?!!!

Well, after the Hooks played, Awesome Color hit the stage. Now I'd stumbled upon them about two years ago on Myspace, was excited they were coming to play Super Happy Fun Land, and then got totally ill the night they were to play. Their second go round in Houston saw them opening for Sonic Youth but that was a bit steep for my blood so this was my third time to try to see them and, H-O-L-Y F-U-C-K, they were the hottest shit I'd seen in a long time and I remembered why I was so excited about them the first time I heard them! Unlike the wimpy limits of a CD, here, you had the added bonus that they were loud and unrelenting. They understood the primal nature of the "dumb" rock song and, just as importantly, understood (as Albert Collins one told me and some friends) the importance of a kickass tone. Derek, the guitarist, had this 3 combo-amp set-up that was enough to make Ron Ashton weep and my rushing to capture every wave of sound emanating from his rig upon hearing that first godhead note's tone may not have been the smartest thing to do; let's just say my right ear was totally shot the next day. He and bassist Michael (who had this full/fat tone) played these fluid licks that just crushed your chest but the thing that stood out was Allison the drummer. Oh my fucking god! It was almost criminal what she was doing; she was just beating the fuck out of the drums while you simply stood stunned and awed at her endurance while pitying her poor snare. I mean a whole night of BOMPA BOMPA BOMPA from that engine just drove this band like a locomotive and reminded me why we love drummers here on NAP so much! [Guitarists, we love you and all, but you are nothing without the power and soul of a great drummer behind you.] Really she was such a Cromag drummer that, for me, she stole the show. I say that given that Derek's Funhouse inspired guitarwork was spectacular. Awesome Color had to be one of the best national shows I'd ever seen in a long time. Really, if these guys come to your town, go see them and tell 'em NAP sent you.

PS. New Dimes Video

The Dimes, who we've praised often here, this week unveiled their first video Directed by Mark Armes. I just couldn't help posting it for those outside of Houston.




Links:
Awesome Color
Satin Hooks
Graustark

The Dimes
Mark Armes (Dir.)

Rudyard's

Credits:
Dimes Video: Director/Producer- Mark Armes, Director of Photography - Donny Hall
Awesome Color picture by Stephano Giovannini
Satin Hooks photo uncredited from their Myspace
Graustark photo uncredited from their Myspace