NOFX’s “Fat” Mike Burkett Talks Performance Art and Capitalism

NOFX frontman “Fat” Mike Burkett has quite the reputation.  In 2010, while performing at Austin’s South by Southwest Festival, Mike took the stage as “Cokie the Clown”: sad-face paint, oversize Chuck Taylors, and a flower that squirts out “cocaine.” He discussed his mother’s assisted suicide and a troubled relationship with…

10 Local Releases to Look Forward To in 2012

We’re only a few days in to 2012, but it looks like local bands are already gearing up to issue brand new releases to usher the year in. With songs sneaking onto the net as we write, we figured it was time to shed a light on what’s coming up…

Songs With Minimal Lyrics and Maximum Catchiness

New Year’s may have been a couple days ago, but let’s be honest: you probably still have a lingering headache after partying too hard. That’s okay, we’ve got you covered with our Songs To Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions, Eight Songs for Your Walk of Shame, and now…

Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Jobing.com Arena, 12/30/11

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Jobing.com Arena Friday, December 30, 2011 See also: Our complete Trans-Siberian Orchestra slideshow. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a lot like Christmas itself: The pretty lights are a good distraction from how over-the-top and annoying it can be. Both have some classy elements and are good for family fun, but…

Ladies’ Night

On New Year’s Eve, it’s perfectly acceptable to get wasted and kiss anyone you find attractive, so long as you can keep your beer goggles (relatively) in check. It’s a celebration of excess and indulgence that’s best spent with wild company. The Rock embraces this concept with Barbra’s Rockin’ New…

Club Candids: Coach House

Christmas may be over, but Coach House continues to promote the holiday spirit with more Christmas lights than the Griswold house in Christmas Vacation. We grabbed a coat and checked out the holiday festivities on December 20, and the bar had a great turn out for a Tuesday night. Check…

Top 10 Albums of 2011: Melissa Fossum

Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun’s 2011 Review. We’ve been counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. Today’s list comes from contributor Melissa Fossum. Maybe I’m too indecisive for my own good, but year-end lists are always a challenge. Most Up on…

Slice of Strife

Edward Scissorhands has all the makings of a cult classic: Tim Burton’s signature creepiness, Johnny Depp playing a mysterious gentleman, and screen legend Vincent Price taking on his final role as an unnamed inventor. The 1990 fantasy flick is a cross between Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio with a…

Bah, Humbug: Eight Un-Christmas Songs

Maybe I’m still bummed that Santa won’t pay my bills or leave fancy camera equipment under my tree, but Christmas is lame. The holiday makes people mean and greedy — it must have something to do with all that obnoxious music and eggnog, which is only sort of bearable with…

10 Favorite Shows of 2011: Melissa Fossum

I went to a lot of shows this year. Thanks to last.fm, I can conform that I went to at least 56 concerts, not counting the numerous times I swung by Yucca Tap Room or Crescent Ballroom just for fun. That’s one show every six and a half days! I…

Andrew Jackson Jihad at Crescent Ballroom, 12/17/11 (VIDEO)

Andrew Jackson Jihad Crescent Ballroom Saturday, December 17, 2011 See the full slideshow of Andrew Jackson Jihad at Crescent Ballroom. Some guy spat on my face, I have random bruises all over my legs, and even though I only drank water, I reek of beer. The crowd booed and yelled…

Scrooge You

That stretch from Black Friday to New Year’s Day is just plain annoying. Between the nonstop onslaught of Christmas music, packed malls, and Salvation Army employees on the brink of throwing bells at you for not donating change, hiding at home with rum and eggnog can seem like the best…

Club Candids: Joe Strummer Memorial and Benefit at George & Dragon

It’s hard to believe that Joe Strummer, one of The Clash’s founding members, has been dead for almost a decade. George & Dragon continues to keep his memory alive with annual benefit shows. This year, local punk bands like Glass Heroes, Plainfield Butchers, and Dirty Hairy took the stage, while…

Total Lunar Eclipse of the Heart

This weekend’s lunar eclipses was exciting, especially if you were able to catch that elusive red moon. If you were among those who got up early or stayed up late (it was a nice break after writing my X review) to check out the lunar eclipse early Saturday morning, you…

X at Club Red, 12/9/11

X Club Red Friday, December 9 For more photos, click here. Eight overlapping bands in four hours. Last night’s X show felt more like a music festival than a Friday night concert. Eager fans bounced back and forth between Club Red and Red Owl to see a bunch of bands…

All-Tempa-Cheer

Scouring the mall on Christmas Eve for last minute gifts is never a good idea, and, let’s face it, your significant other is probably going to return that ugly sweater anyway. Rather than waste your time and money on a frivolous purchase, you can celebrate the happiest time of the…

X’s Exene Cervenka Refuses to Get Cynical

Nineteen-eighty was a strange time for music. First-wave punk was finished; disco was on its way out, and practically every pop song on the air was sporting synthesizers. Despite the fact that its uncompromising rockabilly-meets-punk sound was never particularly in vogue, Los Angeles band X held the gaze of the burgeoning…

Haffo Announces Reunion Show

Most break-ups end horribly, and reunions are often just as rocky. Despite the original magic, it’s nearly impossible to recapture the love. But sometimes it’s not so dramatic. Haffo had one of those rare breakups where you actually can still be friends with your ex and it’s not that awkward…