Blog: club.kingsnake.com

by Michael Hurcomb - Staff Photographer Click here for the rest of The Fray photos

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer It was difficult to tell who drew more of Austin's music fans to the Moody Theater, Wilco the headliner, or British songwriter Nick Lowe who has a relationship with Austin that stretches all the way to January 25, 1978 the Armadillo, when he and Dave Edmunds and their band Rockpile opened for Elvis Costello and the Attractions. That show turned out to be a seminal influence in Austin's own nascent alternative music scene, and sparked dozens if not hundreds of local bands. Noted in the audience were [...]

by Michael Hurcomb - Staff Photographer Click here for the rest of the Guns N' Roses photos

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer Slayer's Kerry King has an infamous tattoo on his left bicep that he like to point out from time to time that says "GOD HATES US ALL" and I couldn't help but feel that sentiment as I rose from a bed that had spent most of the night spinning. I rarely drink anymore, and then usually only with Kerry so the skill set I acquired at college(s) had long ago run their course. As the hot water spraying on my forehead rolled down my neck and back, [...]

Still working on a new studio album, English alternative goth legends The Cure have announced a new live album release, taken from their appearance at this years Bestival 2011 on the Isle of Wight. Robert Smith said "We had such a great time in the Isle of Wight at Bestival that we wanted to release this show as a way of thanking fans and islanders alike." The album is scheduled to drop December 6th with all profits from the sale going to the Isle of Wight Youth Trust, a charitable organization offering counseling and support services [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer "No, I'm pretty sure I'd know if I'd seen someone like that..." The diminutive hostess at the Driskill's downstairs bar looked me up and down and her eyes told me I was way way under dressed to be hanging out at the Driskill. Camo shorts, Motorhead T-Shirt, and Black Converses were definitely not on the acceptable list at the ritzy 19th Century downtown Austin hotel that charges $300 a night and hosts Austin's largest ghost population. But I had no choice - the [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer It's hard to go to a B-52's concert and not have fun, and tonight's gig at Stubb's was no exception. For a band that that is celebrating their 35th anniversary, they sound and look great, even if Fred isn't quite the dancer he was way back when they were just a "college" band out of Athens and I was a high school student hanging out Raul's and Club Foot. It's hard to see the band and not reminisce over their long career arc. I still miss Ricky Wilson's [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer New York City's thrash metal masters Anthrax, with frontman Joey Belladona and Scott Ian, brought their tour to the brand new Emo's East, a huge(by club standards) new music venue that occupies the former Back Room location on East Riverside. I don't know if the show sold out or not, but it was packed with fans of Austin's metal scene, including 101x's "No Control" Chuck Loesch looking like the notorious Viking Erik the Red with his infamous flowing red beard. With supporting acts [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer Chuck Billy and Testament played a long, blistering set at the new Emo's East in Austin Texas, co-headlining with New York based thrash mates Anthrax. Their current tour will run through November 19th, ending in the snow at The Rave in Milwaukee. For tour info see http://www.testamentlegions.co m Click here for more pics of Testament.

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer With a set that was as fast as it was loud and frantic, Death Angel's frontman Mark Osegueda's natty dreads were mostly a blur as he dashed around Emo's stage. Opening for thrash legends Testament and Anthrax, the Concord, California's based band is trying hard to show the old school some new tricks and are doing a damn good job. For more Death Angel info see http://deathangel.us Click here for pics of Death Angel.

Austin based retro-metalers The Sword announce they have found a permanent drummer and they have announced the tour dates for the second leg of their tour with KYUSS Lives. Their new drummer,"Jimmy" Vela III, is taking over the spot for their original drummer, Trivett Wingo. The band would like to give their thanks to Kevin Fender for covering until they found the right drummer for their band. The tour is wrapping up in support of The Swords 3rd album, Warp Riders . The band plans to keep writing so [...]

As I Lay Dying, Grammy®-nominated metal group, is getting ready for their upcoming tour celebrating their 10th anniversary. Heading out on "A Decade of Destruction Tour" in support of their newest album, Decas , special guests on this tour include Of Mice And Men, The Ghost Inside, iwrestledabearonce, and Sylosis. A Decade of Destruction Tour Dates: Nov 30 The Paramount Theater New York, NY Dec 01 [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer Prehistoric sludge metal band Mastodon filled up and sold out Austin's La Zona Rosa and then proceeded to trample the audience with heavy bass lines and wandering guitar rifts. Their current North American tour continues on through November, ending in Atlanta on December 2nd. The break will be short with the band back on the road January 11th, in Europe. For tour info see mastodonrocks.com Click here for pics of Mastodon.

by Jess Watt - Staff Photographer Click here to check out the rest of the Portishead photos

Infamous Japanese girl-punk popsters Shonen Knife are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a North American tour starting in Toronto this month. The tour will be featuring fan favorites as well as songs from the recently released Osaka Ramones , the girls tribute CD to the Ramones, with a special guest appearance in Brooklyn by C.J. Ramone. 10.20.2011 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON CAN 10.21.2011 II Motore Montreal, ON CAN 10.22.2011 Public Assembly Brooklyn, NY 10.23.2011 Sewell, NJ Gloucester County College [...]

Baltimore's Pianos Become The Teeth, will release their newest album, The Lack Long After , on November 1st on Boston indie label Topshelf Records and are launching a fall tour in support with Touché Amoré and Seahaven. The band combines hardcore melodies with screamo lyrics and post rock harmonies and their new disc is said to "breathe new life into a once decaying scene." 10/31: Pembroke Pines, FL @ The Talent Farm w/ Circle Takes The Square, Pianos Become The Teeth, Seahaven 11/01: Orlando, FL @ The Haven w/ Circle Takes The Square, Pianos [...]

The benefit concert for Central Texas wildfire victims October 17th has added George Strait to the list of headliners that will be performing. The benefit to help the people affected by the fires with their long-term issues and problems already includes some of the best in Texas music including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, the Steve Miller Band, and the Dixie Chicks as well as Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Eric Johnson, and Shawn Colvin With a career spanning more than 30 years, George Strait has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer L.A. based Weird Al Yankovic brought banjos and accordions to the ACL Live stage last night, making up for a missed appearance at last years Fun Fun Fun Fest. The audience was full of kids of all ages, regardless of actual age, and included long time Austin guitarist Eric Johnson, who watched on while Weird Al wheeled and reeled through a succession of his MTV hits at a frenetic pace. Weird Al's current tour winds its way through the south, then up the east coast [...]

by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer Erasure. the English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell, made a long- long awaited, anticipated, and overdue, return to Austin, playing to a sold out audience at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on an elaborate stage that included gargoyles and steel cages. Erasure's U.S. tour began in August in Tampa and will finish in Seattle on October 6 before heading back to start a European tour in November. Click here for more pics of Erasure [...]

Old school trash band Testament have announced that they will be offering VIP/Meet & Greet Packs on their new co-headlining tour with Anthrax with additional support from Death Angel. Over the past three years the band has been touring, including shows with Slayer, and Anthrax, in support of their 2008 award winning album The Formation of Damnation but Testament has recorded Dark Roots of Earth , the long awaited follow up and is playing cuts on this tour from their latest release. [...]