shows this weekend

When did the mash-up become the preferred stylistic choice of wanna-be DJs everywhere. Doesn't anyone scratch anymore? Is this really becoming a lost art form - I really thought after the release of Scratch a few years back, there would be some sort of renewed interest in scratching itself. What about crate digging? How is taking two pop songs from different genres and "mashing" them really that awesome? I mean, on the awesomeness scale, it would say it's somewhere between R Kelly and these guys:



Just kidding. My boy Tito is the publicist for these kids. Must be hardwork. Who says boy-bands are dead? ... ... ... well, just about everyone. But don't damn them for trying!

Oh yeah... the point to my ramblings about mash-up DJs. Radioland Murders played a party of Friday for our good friend Mason and his company, The Screamer Company. They publish a art/poetry/randomness magazine bi-monthly. Friday celebrated the release of issue 2, aptly titled, Two. Really good stuff. Looking for me in issue three, hopefully. Working on some new poetry to submit and hopefully Ivan will be contributing art to this one as well (to accompany my poetic musings.) Radioland played a good, toned down set, that "got the party started" in the words of maseman.

In better news:

The Swellers
http://www.myspace.com/theswellers

The Swellers are about as proud of their home state (Michigan) as Texans are of ours. "Michigan - America's High Five" they say. So true. So so true. This band played fast and sugary pop-punk. Somewhere along the lines of Near Miss, Gameface, old New Found Glory. Their guitar player was having so many technical difficulties it was border-line cute. One couldn't help feeling sorry for the kid. First his Marshall head went out (what a bummer - can't imagine how much that'll cost to fix), then his guitar strap came lose mid-song. I was waiting for a string to break or for the guy to just spontaneously combust. Neither occurred.

Joining The Swellers in Austin (Red 7) was Only Crime. "Featuring former members of All, Descendants, Bane and Converge" ... ... what a way to bill oneself. The band did feature Bill Stephenson, former drummer for All and Descendants and the original guitar player from Converge who started Bane, was kicked out of Converge, and continued on with Bane for a few years longer.

Let's just say that in the case of Only Crimes the sum was not as great as the parts. Not nearly.

Also, City of God is the most amazing movie ever. Add it to your Netflix queue immediately.