The Zoltars-Walking through the Dark LP (2013)

This band has a real knack for writing quirky, off-the-cuff garage tunes. Their Live Like Dragons EP had me jazzmatazzed and their second LP don't disappoint, neither. The sound is much the same, but there's more of it and the songs feel more focused than on said 3-song effort.

You get the feel, listening to this LP, that the Zoltars are playing more for their own enjoyment than 'cause they really wanna sell records or impress the girls. The production (recording? Same shit to me) gives it a hushed, almost subdued feeling that suits the lyrics well. Topics usually focus around lonely night trips, and wanting to get out of yr house simply 'cause it makes you feel alright. Sentiments I'm certainly familiar with, and the instruments are balanced just right on tunes like "Here in My Room," the opener. But let's take "Fear not Death" for a showpiece: constrained, restrained instrumental layouts, menacing guitar notes, and a singer gently, menacingly, repeating "fear not death." Ok, fucker, gimme that 6-shooter, the gin, and whatever pills you've got.

Make of that what you will, Zoltars are one of the few smash-it-up stellar reps of what passes for a garage rock scene in the States these days. Unlike most of the other groups in that category, they deserve garage star status because of their restraint: this band understands how much drama can be packed into build-up and the rising-action part of the story, and use the climax scenes very sparingly. They're best to blast when starting your evening. That means when you're on your 3rd drink of a 10-godknowshowmanynight, and you haven't done any (hard) drugs yet. Have fun, kids.

The Zoltars-Live like Dragons 7" (2013)

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Of course this band is from Austin. There’s a certain something-not a sound, but a vibe perceptible even from this distance-unique to Austin bands. Maybe it’s the Roky-esque guitar chug or the dead-insect vocals (reminds me of ? & The Mysterians, I know they weren’t from Austin but you get the idea), or the slight country shadings of the production, but yeah these are Texans from the good part (good city) of that beshitted Lone Star Republic.

As soon as I heard the nullnode talk-singing and scratchy, thin guitar sound on “All my Friends”, I knew this was a winner. Or at least a winner by DrugPUnk standards. Which is a loser by most peoples’. If you’re a frequent reader of this fine e-publication, you’re gonna dig the Zoltars, if'n you don't already. It’s got what we all love. A crude, minimal-by-design garage sound that plays like Roky getting fucked on gin and hanging out with Johnny Thunders; a subtle note of country menace giving the EP more presence than it would otherwise possess; and  great song titles like “Heroin Thunder.” What’s not to love? In fact, “Heroin Thunder” is the real winner here. The guitarist chugs along like a slow-moving Greyhound to Odessa, Texass, and the singer doesn’t bother finding a melody (harmony? I was too busy hitting on this really cute J.A.P. in high school music class to learn the difference) appropriate for the riff, he just talks, neutrally, over the noise. The bassist and drummer hold the whole fuckup of a tune together in a sorta understated way. This is the song that shoulda been the theme song for “That ‘70s Show” but never was, since it’s less flashy than said show’s theme song, while catching the apathetic boredom of being a teenager in a perversely enjoyable sorta way.

The Zoltars is on the same label that gave us the Bad Indians LP, but I like this thing more. It has all the promise of the Indians’ early work and none of the burdensomely front-forward psychedelic flair of their LP.  Visit mom for dinner, smoke some dope in her basement, and listne to this EP. Also look for it on my best-of list in December.

You can listen to the EP here. Then go buy it at the same page. Keep up with what the Zoltars are doing here.

Crooked Bangs-s/t LP (2012)

I stopped following the Austin scene around when WorldBurnstoDeath dropped that monstrosity of a second LP  and Storm the Tower broke up, but Crooked Bangs has piqued my interest anew in Austin punk.
  Crooked Bangs' debut LP offers just the catharsis I need on a washed out Thursday night: midtempo glum rock that wears its Misfits influences on its sleeve, especially in regards to the vocals. As it happens, I can't stand about 95% of the Misfits' recorded output, but that's intended as a compliment to Crooked Bangs. They dish out eleven tracks of mid-tempo punk that reveal them to be much better songwriters than Danzig and co. ever were: this LP confirms my view that punk bands stand or fall based on their rhythm section.

Whereas most punk bands spew forth a mess of guitar squall with the drummer thudding away somewhere in the background, CB's drummer and bassist converse with the guitar: the result is an album's worth of songs, as opposed to a gurgling mess masquerading as such.
"C'est Iutile" is a precis of the Bangs' talents: the song opens with a measured riff that fights for space with the lockstep drumming, while the singer intones about..uh...something useless?
"Le Beau Tetard Sur Son Cigare" is the best'un here, though: I'll be humming the bass/guitar line to myself til I pass out in a fog of Gordon's gin and Drum tobacco, and the beat is so snazzy you could dance to it, if you're inclined to do such things. Dance punk at its finest, folks, with no annoying irony or self-consciousness to be found (seriously, didn't we all get into punk 'cause we can't cut it on the dancefloor, among other places? So why does every punk I know dance like all the cool kids is watchin' him/her?).

Anyways, I give this a ringing DrugPunk endorsement: if I ever again meet a girl who can stand me for more than 10 minutes at a time, a Crooked Bangs song will be on a mixtape for her.

Listen to Crooked Bangs HERE. Then, go buy their LP from Western Medical Records!

Silkies-Like One demo (2012)

This barely counts as a demo, since it's only one song. So take this entry as a "new band to watch" post.

Austin, Texass' Silkies do a note-perfect take on mid-'60s girl groups with "Like One." The recording showcases the surf guitar and chant-shouted vocals. They list riot grrrl as an influence as much as groups like the Standells, so it makes sense that the singer comes close to Kathleen Hanna's bratty howl at times.

Anyways, "Like One" is a great mid-August song: get into yr bathing suit, pop a beer, and hang out pool- or beachside with the Silkies.

Listen to Silkies here. They have an EP coming out soon, so stay tuned, folks.