#caddywhompus

Caddywhompus

News on the March (03/13/2010; Cactus Music, Houston, TX) Caddywhompus / sIngs / Somosuno (03/13/2010; Ponderosa, Houston, TX)

This was a pretty fun day. I remember getting up early and running down to Cactus Music, one of the great local record stores in Houston, to see News on the March. They were just putting out a record and they had some friends of friends in the band so I definitely wanted to hear what they would do. It was a fun time, though I've mostly forgotten what they sounded like after all these years.

Later that night, I headed over to Ponderosa for the second of these shows. Ponderosa was a weird place. It was an old, beat up house close to Last Concert Cafe. They were also called “The Green Hour” and basically what I remember about it was a lot of booze, a lot of cocaine, and the fact that it had a full bar that operated illegally after hours. And I wasn't 21 but I could drink there, cause hell, it's all illegal anyway.

Well, anyway, I don't think I'm snitching cause I'm sure the place no longer exists. Caddywhompus were always a cool band to see, and sIngs was one of my favorite projects in Houston, whether it was a full band or just Brett Taylor doing his thing solo. He made such incredibly moving music. I'm sure he still is in whatever project he's working on.

The Saddest Landscape / Former Thieves / Code Orange Kids (03/13/2012; Gypsy Lounge, Austin, TX)

2012's South by Southwest was interesting because I had just moved to Austin a few months prior, but I still wasn't 21 so I couldn't go to a lot of the good shows. This was a good one though. This was the only time I've ever seen the Saddest Landscape and man, they really kicked ass, even when they busted their guitars and could only play at half capacity. It's a shame they've never gotten more popular, because I think they're one of the best “screamo” bands out there.

Code Orange Kids. That was the real highlight of this show though. Okay, so probably everybody has heard of them now, as Code Orange, but back then as Code Orange Kids, they barely had a demo out, and they blew me away. Their performance was pure energy and chaos and their sound was so dense and heavy. I had to text friends immediately upon seeing them. Is it any wonder they're now one of the biggest bands in hardcore and metal today? I feel so lucky to have discovered them on this night.

Power Trip / Trash Talk (03/13/2013; The Mohawk, Austin, TX) A Life Once Lost (03/13/2013; Six Lounge, Austin, TX) The Mornings (03/13/2013; Headhunters, Austin, TX) Single Mothers (03/13/2013; The Metal and Lace Lounge, Austin, TX) The Coathangers (03/13/2013; Holy Mountain, Austin, TX)

We really wandered around Austin on this day, catching shows all over the place. Friends of mine had just gotten into town and we met at the Mohawk early in the day. Trash Talk was already playing, and front man Lee Spielman was up on the fucking wall of the place, with a walking boot on his leg, walking around up there and screaming down at those of us in line to get the fuck inside. It was incredible. We didn't make it in in time to see much, but we went into the small room and caught Power Trip's set. I've seen them half a dozen times and they're always fun.

Next we wandered over to a rooftop bar that no longer exists to see A Life Once Lost. They broke up shortly after this, but they still delivered. They were mostly playing newer material none of us cared about, but they closed with their heavier stuff that hit us hard.

Headhunters and Metal and Lace Lounge were basically the same place, so we went there to catch Single Mothers and ended up seeing the Mornings. The Mornings were an insane Japanese hardcore punk act that really caught my attention. I had to buy their album after hearing them. Single Mothers, who have quietly made a name for themselves over the years but were basically just starting out here, were every bit as wild. Their front man was recently missing teeth and was all over the tiny bar while screaming in our faces.

VOL. 78: A BASKET YOU WOVE FROM A PICASSO YOU STOLE

1. Superorganism “Something For Your M.I.N.D.” 2. Caddywhompus “Salmon Run” 3. SQÜRL “Pink Dust” 4. Grass Is Green “Sammy So-Sick” 5. I Smell Blood “Taxidermized Bear Claw” 6. Mathew Lee Cothran “Cherry High” 7. Galaxie 500 “Strange” 8. Keeping “Single Wire” 9. Carbonas “Phone Booth” 10. Priests “JJ” 11. Miguel Mendez “A Hole” 12. Oberhofer “Bleeding Love” 13. CLOSENESS “More Romantic”

5. AZD- Actress

Essentials: “VISA”, “X22RME”, “THERE’S AN ANGEL IN THE SHOWER”

4. Odd Hours- Caddywhompus

Essentials: “Waiting Room”, “In Ways”, “Decent“

3. Damn- Kendrick Lamar

Essentials: “Fear”, “DNA”, “Yah”

2. Arca- Arca

Essentials: “Piel”, "Saunter”, “Castration”

1. Narkopop- Gas