Cheap Fix vs. The Cure

Austin's Cheap Fix recently put their own spin on The Cure's "I'm Cold" with snazzy 7" sleeve art courtesy of Olaf Jens!

Cheap Fix's new seven-inch is out soon via Italy's Goodbye Boozy label. Check Cheap Fix's bandcamp page here. 

R.I.P. Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jon Dee Graham, 1959-2026

Sadly beloved Austin singer/songwriter and guitar ace Jon Dee Graham has passed away far too soon at 67. He'll be greatly missed. 

Tim Kerr & Mike Carroll's Poison 13 debut album from 1984 due for reissue

The rippin' 1984 garage punk debut album from Austin's Poison 13 is being reissued by Red Parakeet Records on June 5th. Now available for pre-order!

Here's the scoop from Tim Kerr...

"Poison 13 started when Mike asked me if I would help him start a band. The first song we wrote together was One Step Closer. I was the music, he was the words. We were going to play once and it was going to be his night since it was his band. It kept going. This was the first record and came out around the same time as Lime Spiders and the Nomads first. It was all done in one night with Spot at the controls . It's out on vinyl again thanks to Joe at Red Parakeet (smile).  It's up for pre-sale. You can get it at RedParakeetRecords.com."

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Red Parakeet Records are very excited to reissue the 1984 debut album by Poison 13 on vinyl for the first time in over 40 years. This exclusive reissue is available on black or splatter vinyl in a beautiful gatefold jacket with photography by Pat Blashill. Includes inner sleeve with the original handwritten lyrics by Mike Carroll, and brand-new liner notes by Tim Kerr.

Reissue artwork prepared by Aaron Tanner. Vinyl mastering by Sean Glonek at SRG studios, and lacquers cut by Scott Hull at Masterdisk. Records pressed at Gotta Groove Records in Cleveland, OH. 

Watch the 1984 video clip for "One Step Closer" and some live footage from a Poison 13 reunion show from 1996 following the tracklisting below. 

Poison 13 - Poison 13

1. One Step Closer 

2. Seventh Son

3. My Biggest Mistake

4. Spoonful

5. Out On The Streets

6. Big City Lights

7. Die For Me

8. Codeine

9. Grip On My Heart

10. Justice

11. When I Was Young

12. Blank Generation

13. Hellbound Train

Whaddya Mean You Don't Know Wali King & The Afro-Caravan

Austin-based Wali King & The Afro-Caravan got their start on the Sonobeat label with a live cover of "Comin' Home Baby" 

That time Hasil Adkins played an engagement party in Austin back in 1986

When you hire Hasil Adkins to provide the musical entertainment for your engagement party, this is what you get. 

R.I.P. Texas Tornados bassist Miller "Speedy" Sparks

Sadly, Austin legend Speedy Sparks – who played with Doug Sahm, Texas Tornados and ran Dynamic Records – has passed away.  

Happy Birthday Walter Daniels!

Celebrating the birthday of Austin blues harp hero Walter Daniels with a few rockin' performances with the Del Valle Trustees. 

Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees – Work Release

The latest powerhouse studio recording from blues-punk pioneer Walter Daniels and his hard-hitting band, The Del Valle Trustees is "Work Release," featuring eleven raw, electrifying tracks that blend gritty storytelling with intense instrumentation, making it a must-have for fans of garage rock, punk blues, and soulful rock 'n' roll. 

Daniels, renowned for his harmonica and nose flute performances, leads a talented lineup: Evan Whitehead (guitar, backing vocals), Kevin Curtin (mandolin, backing vocals), Scott Stewart (electric and stand-up bass, backing vocals), and Matt Hammer (drums). Engineered by Roky Moon and Kurtis D. Machler, the album captures the band’s signature sound in a raw, unfiltered style that's sure to energize listeners.

Adding even more depth, guest musicians Texacala Jones and Henri Herbert elevate select tracks to new heights—Texacala shines on "I'll Quit Tomorrow," and Henri brings piano magic to "11 Months and 29 Days." The album’s bold cover art, created by Chris Sick Moore, complements the music’s rebellious spirit. Work Release follows the acclaimed Have a Coffee Break With... LP, and showcases The Del Valle Trustees’ versatility through both originals and iconic covers, including Strychnine (The Sonics), 11 Months and 29 Days (Johnny Paycheck), and One Step Closer (Tim Kerr & Mike Carroll). Together, Chaputa! Records and Ghost Highway Recordings continue to deliver high-quality, collectible releases that celebrate authentic rock 'n' roll artistry.

Walter Daniels has been a force in the blues-punk scene since the '90s, contributing to seminal acts like Jack O'Fire, whose fiery sound redefined the genre, as well as South Filthy and Bigfoot Chester. Known for his harmonica virtuosity and fearless experimentation, Daniels continues to inspire and challenge the boundaries of rock 'n' roll. 

Get a copy of "Work Release" by Walter Daniels & The Del Valle Trustees via Bandcamp right here. Watch a few recent performances follow the album release trailer below. 

 

Austin punks Die Spitz rock The Garrison, Tuesday

Austin's Die Spitz – who've toured with Amyl & The Sniffers and The Spits – hit The Garrison tonight with Torrent opening at 9 pm. 

LINKS
It's Psychedelic Baby Die Spitz: "We hate music"

Joe Ely comes back rockin' with Love & Freedom out now

Joe Ely's hot new album Love & Freedom is available wherever cool discs are sold including Waterloo Records or right here.

An update on Joe's health issues from Sharon Ely... 

"Sharon Ely here. I am Joe Ely’s wife and manager. A lot of people, friends, fans, relatives and strangers have been asking when is Joe going back on the road to tour. How is Joe doing? Why is Joe not doing many interviews? Joe has always been very private when discussing his health and we have kept his latest challenges limited to just a few people. But as his illness progresses we have decided to let people know what’s going on. 

"As I write this we are actually looking to find a specialist to give us a second opinion on Joe’s latest diagnosis. In August 2024, as Joe was actually healing from a bout of pneumonia, he experienced an episode of what seemed like a small stroke. To make a very long story short, the only neurologist we could find right away was in Austin. I drove Joe from Taos, NM to Austin. The neurologist looked at Joe’s MRI and diagnosed him with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Basically, this is a condition where protein deposits in the small blood vessels of the brain can weaken the blood vessel walls and can lead to bleeding in the brain. 

"He was put on medication and Joe’s General Practitioner began to oversee his health here in Taos. He is a very great, thorough doctor who Joe says is one of the best. But Joe’s GP and I feel that Joe needs a second opinion on his diagnosis. We are very lucky in that we just confirmed an appointment for that second opinion in Arizona next week. These appointments can book over a year out and it’s a miracle they were able to get Joe in so fast.

 

"Meanwhile, as we are working with Joe’s health, he and I have listened to files and files and files of music that he recorded in his studio in Austin over the years. We have discovered and unearthed treasures of brilliant recordings. Some are coming together as complete albums. 

"The latest album Joe wanted to release as soon as possible is Love & Freedom. As we listened to these recordings we discovered that they are related to the times we are living today. Joe wanted people to hear these songs and think about what they mean. For those asking, we are working to get CDs made of the new album and should have news on that shortly. 

"Working on his music keeps him focused and interested. Being the workaholic he has always been, to sit around and do nothing is ok now and then, but not all the time. This has been great for Joe as we both weave through this journey together in a meaningful way. It was so exciting to hear the news yesterday about Joe being named among the recipients of the 2025 edition of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music’s American Music Honors. The annual prize recognizes artists who’ve “demonstrated artistic excellence, creative integrity, and a longstanding commitment to the value of music in our national consciousness.”   

"Bruce called Joe earlier this week and they had a wonderful visit. I have always believed Joe – with so much work and touring and recording and writing under his belt  for 60 years – should be recognized as an important part of American Music History. Now my dream has come true as this is such a great honor, especially since he was chosen by his friend and brother Bruce Springsteen. 

"All in all, we continue to work daily to move forward and search to make things around us better and better for ourselves and everyone around us. We are grateful for the people who have helped Joe so far with this conundrum. I do especially feel hopeful for Joe to find a wonderful, genius neurologist to help him get better as well.  

 

"Thank you all for your continued support of Joe and our family!" – Sharon Ely

 

Ray Benson shares stories about Waylon, Willie, Billy Joe, Hag & weird Austin

Asleep At The Wheel's Ray Benson gives Otis Gibbs the lowdown on the whole shootin' match in two entertaining sessions. 

Watch The Mummies rock the Mohawk in Austin

Naturally, The Mummies wore clever disguises for their pre-show vinyl spree at Antone's Record Shop in Austin. 

The Knitters, Waco Brothers, Beat Farmers and pals salute Mojo Nixon in Austin

Dave Alvin joined John Doe & Exene for The Knitters' rousing set at Mojo's Final Mayhem at the Continental Club. 

Terry Allen biography "Truckload of Art" due in March

Claimed to be the definitive biography, Truckload of Art is slated for publication on March 19th. He's playing Austin on Feb. 2! 

Here's the scoop...

Truckload of Art: The Life and Work of Terry Allen – written by Paradise of Bachelors label boss Brendan Greaves – is the definitive, authorized biography of Terry Allen, the internationally acclaimed visual artist and iconoclastic musician whose work bridges the disparate worlds of contemporary art and country music.

Terry Allen is a songwriter, visual and recording artist, and playwright. He’s released more than a dozen studio albums since his 1975 debut, Juarez, and his wide-ranging artwork resides in collections around the world, including the Met, MoMA, and LACMA. Raised in Lubbock, Texas, since 1989 he has resided in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and collaborator, the performer and poet Jo Harvey Allen.

“People tell me it’s country music,” Terry Allen has joked, “and I ask, ‘Which country?’” For nearly sixty years, Allen’s inimitable art has explored the borderlands of memory, crossing boundaries between disciplines and audiences by conjuring indelible stories out of the howling West Texas wind.

Pre-order a copy of the Terry Allen biography Truckload of Art via Paradise of Bachelors right here.

About the author: Brendan Greaves is founder and owner of the record label Paradise of Bachelors and has collaborated on numerous projects with Terry Allen, including Pedal Steal + Four Corners, for which he earned a Grammy nomination for Best Album Notes. A folklorist, essayist, and lapsed art worker, he studied at Harvard and UNC, and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

TRUCKLOAD OF ART: The Life and Work of Terry Allen—An Authorized Biography 

Hachette Books | March 19, 2024

$34 | Hardcover | 576 Pages | ISBN: 9780306924545

Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band play Austin's Paramount Theatre on Feb. 2. Get tickets right here.

Daniel Johnston's Songs Of Pain listening party @ Austin's Waterloo Records, Friday

The tunes from Daniel Johnston's self-released Songs Of Pain cassette from 1981 are being reissued as a double-LP.

Daniel Johnston – Songs Of Pain (Thirty Tigers)

Side A: Grievances / A Little Story / Joy Without Pleasure / Never Relaxed / Brainwash / Pot Head / Wicked World

Side B: Lazy / I Save Cigarette Butts / Like a Monkey in a Zoo / Wicked Will / An Idiot's End / Wild West Virginia / Since I Lost My Tooth

Side C: Urge / Living Life / Tuna Ketchup / Premarital Sex / Don't Act Nice / Hate Song / Lead Belly Was An Outlaw

Side D: I Love You (I'd Like to Read You Some Poetry) / Why Don't You Love Me True / I'm A Rambling Kinda Guy / Sleepy Lagoon / Natalie Queen of Weirton / Golly Gee / You Need A Reason

Watch Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock join Kimmie Rhodes at the Saxon Pub

Check out Kimmie Rhodes, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock playing a few tunes at Austin's Saxon Pub recently. 

Here's Alejandro Escovedo solo in Austin, 1994

The resolution ain't that great but here are two important performance clips of Alejandro Escovedo solo in Austin back in 1994. 

Alejandro Escovedo & friends @ Austin's Continental Club, Sunday

Alejandro Escovedo has his annual Continental party starting at 2 pm. $20 at the door. Proceeds go to Prevent Cancer Foundation

Watch The Dream Syndicate live in Austin

Here's a well-caffeinated Steve Wynn and company knocking out the classics at the White Horse and Lucy's Fried Chicken. 

Austin's low-key Jana Horn stays on brand with chill Optimism album

Check out the animated clip for Jana Horn's song "Jordan," the most upbeat track on her new Optimism album available here.

That time the True Believers jammed with Roky Erickson

Here's Alejandro Escovedo and crew backing Roky Erickson on a few haunted classics at the Opry House in Austin back in 1986.