Live Review – Hank3 in Austin & Celebrating Diversity
I hate Emo’s, Hank3’s preferred venue in Austin, TX, and where the bus stopped 9/13/11 on his current tour. I hate it with a passion, and would tell you that I will never go to another show there ever again, but I fully know, if there’s a band I really want to see playing there, I will be there, standing above the trough urinal with sweat cascading down my face in the stifling stench, struggling with a nervous bladder.
The inside stage of Emo’s is not all bad. This is where Hank3 started years ago, before graduating to the much larger outside stage that is the worst of all worlds. It is not inside, so it can’t be air-conditioned. But it is not fully outside either, meaning on a hot September night in Texas, there’s no breeze, making for a nasty soup of human expulsions out of the air that you could cut with a knife. Sight lines are bad. The sound is even worse, unless you’re right in front of the stage, and if you are, you have a pole right in front of you. The stage is awkwardly set off to one corner, and way too small for most bands, including Hank3, who had to stash his drummer Shaun McWilliams behind the row of amps from lack of space. You couldn’t see him at all.
I promise, I am not a venue snob. Many times the trashier the venue, the better. But Emo’s is over the top, and when I’m reminded that it’s run by the evil empire of C3, the Texas equivalent of Live Nation, it makes by blood boil even hotter than a half-assed venue with no breeze on a stifling late-Summer night.
Did I mention I didn’t like the venue?
*****UPDATE – Just announced today, Emo’s is closing, and re-opening in a different location. That’s the reason they haven’t improved the place in years. – UPDATE*****
All of this aside, Hank3 was pro and put on a solid show. I have to admit, I did not feel the same energy we got at the one-off Revival Festival he played in Austin in late May, with Johnny Hiland’s presence in the band making that show extra special. I felt we got mid-energy just-started-a month-long-tour-and-can’t blow-it-all-tonight energy, but I can’t fault the boys for that. The new songs were solid, and my concerns for translating the new music to the live show without an accordion to give it the authentic Cajun kick were countered by fiddler Davey Mac’s prowess.
Furthermore, some of the songs that I didn’t particularly care for on Hank3’s new album Ghost to a Ghost/Guttertown, I found an affinity for in the live setting, especially the song “Guttertown”. I could easily see this song becoming a standard of the Hank3 live set for years to come. I also noticed that some of the songs from his last two albums, principally “Six Pack of Beer” and “Rebel Within”, are really catching on as crowd favorites.
Without an opening band, we got a full 1 1/2 hours of country music, with Hank3 reaching all the way back to the album Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’ with the song “One Horse Town”, sans the opening yodels. Then there was a very quick 3-song “Hellbilly” set before the stage went dark, various propaganda-style images in a loop were projected on a white sheet while Hank3 and only the drummer acted out a live version of Hank3’s new metal project Attention Deficit Domination.
That night I was dragging around a good friend of mine, an excellent photographer from Sweden named C.C Ekstrom. You can check out some of his work on the site almostoutofgas.com. He asked me what I wanted him to shoot, and I told him to shoot whatever inspired him. And what inspired him was the crowd, and the people. We all know what Hank3 looks like. So I told him to keep his crosshairs on the crowd.
Some will always question, or maybe even feel threatened by the diversity that seems to be attracted by underground country shows. I for one have always been amazed, mesmerized, proud, and humbled by that same diversity. Rednecks, punks, cowboys, hippies, bikers, straights, squares, all of them, all together, intermingling, sharing the gift of music, curious about their differences, not cautious. That diversity, in the crowds, in the music, in ourselves, is the true strength of the insurgent roots movement, it it our ace in the hole. It is the badge of our open-mindedness. And it is beautiful.
And yes, that is a man, in a Confederate Flag cape, wearing a Texas flag speedo, and nothing else.
September 20, 2011 @ 10:14 am
Well written sir. Makes me proud to be a tall, lanky, mean lookin’, country music fan. Who’s bladder is never “nervous”.
September 20, 2011 @ 10:41 am
Aw man, I’ve always loved Emo’s, though me going there from a pretty early age probably has more to do with that than anything. Funny thing though, I was just reading this this article on Metal Sucks before coming here. Emo’s is closing and relocating to a new venue.
http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/09/20/emos-in-austin-is-closing-its-doors/#more-72690
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2011/09/20/emos-austin-close-outside-stage
September 20, 2011 @ 11:02 am
That’s funny. Driving on east Riverside just before I-35 to get to this show I was looking off to the left, and there was this big brand new building that said “Emo’s” on the side. I assumed that was going to be a different venue, because I’ve seen shows advertised as being at “Emo’s #2” recently, but now I guess it makes sense why they haven’t fixed or changed anything in years there. I would totally disagree that “the setup is great, the sound even better”, but to each his own. It does have a cool, old Austin vibe that I’m sure will be replaced by some gentrified yippie C3 bullshit, and that is a shame. If they just spent a few bucks on the place, they could have made it so much better, and that is my main gripe, they have done NOTHING to the place. Now we know why. Hank III is too big to play there. The first time I ever went to Emos was for a Jhonny Cash bash, and with a few hundred people, it is not bad. The stage is set off in one corner, so when it fills up, the site lines get terrible.
September 20, 2011 @ 11:17 am
Admittedly, the sound could be pretty hit-and-miss, but most venues I’ve been to in Houston (which is a bit closer to me) aren’t much better and none of them have the good vibes that places like Emo’s or numerous other Austin ones have. House of Blues and Numbers are the only places in H-town with consistently good sound, and House of Blues can go to hell, so there’s almost nothing to really get excited about.
September 20, 2011 @ 11:28 am
The House of Blues are all run by C3 as well.
September 21, 2011 @ 1:04 am
Is metal sucks a good website to check out? I’ve heard they aint the biggest fans of 5FDP so I aint never checked it
September 23, 2011 @ 9:51 am
I think it would still be worth it for you to check it out, they cover a pretty wide range of stuff in the metal world from the underground to the “mainstream” (by metal standards). But yeah, you’re right about about them having no love for Five Finger Death Punch. I personally can’t stand them either for a number of reasons though, so I get a good laugh out of it. Haha.
September 20, 2011 @ 10:47 am
Whoa. That guy in picture #2 looks pretty intense.
September 20, 2011 @ 11:25 am
not up to speed on the evil C3 component, but recently read a review that was pretty positive for the new venue:
http://www.dangerousminds.net/site/comments/emos_east_austins_new_rock_venue_gives_audiences_and_musicians_some_respect/
September 20, 2011 @ 11:51 am
Man, that is an excellent article, thanks for posting.
“The closest thing Austin, Texas has to a CBGB-style rock venue is the venerable shithole Emo”™s, a dilapidated, barn-like dump with bathrooms that come close, but not quite, to the urine-soaked hell-holes of Hilly Kristal”™s legendary Bowery punk venue.
Fuck street cred, we”™ve all outgrown rock venues that charge $30 and more for a ticket and in return offer an environment suitable for firing squads and hangings. I”™ve been pissing and moaning for years that rock audiences are masochists, willing to put up with the worst kinds of settings in which to listen to the music they love.
I guess Emo”™s arrived at a similar conclusion: rock audiences need to be treated with respect and so do the bands that entertain us.”
I agree with all of that. I was having many of these same thoughts as I was watching Hank3 play. That’s why I decided I was going long in my review about the venue. C3 also books Stubb’s which is just down the street, and is a great place with good facilities for the bands and fans, yet they stick all the punk/metal/country shows down at dilapidated Emo’s, like we don’t deserve any better.
It looks like they stepped up with this new venue, and good on them for that. I look forward to going to a show there. It is in a very unusual location though, way outside the entertainment corridor. And the next question would be, why didn’t Hank3 play there?
Oh wait I see, it’s not officially open yet.
September 20, 2011 @ 12:05 pm
It never fails that when I hear music that I’m kinda down on by an artist I like in a live setting I always find a new appreciation for it. The biggest time that happened to me was a while back with Nine Inch Nail’s album The Slip. I didn’t care for it much on record, but when I heard those songs live it breathed a new life into the whole album for me. I actually heard this new Hank3 stuff live before hearing it on record. I think I prefer the live version of Gutter Stomp. Triggerman, you didn’t mention 3 Bar Ranch here, did he do that after ADD or are there some dates where he doesn’t do the 3 Bar Ranch set?
September 20, 2011 @ 12:29 pm
I think he played the Cattle Callin’ stuff at the end, but I wasn’t there to catch it. I had a buddy with some car trouble and I had to leave, but he mentioned right after the Hellbilly set that the ADD and Cattle Callin’ stuff was coming up.
September 20, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
I get to see Hank 3 two weeks from tonight, and I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t enjoyed what I’ve heard of the new country album(s), but I’m guessing I’ll enjoy the songs a lot more live. Cool to hear he busted out “One Horse Town”! It’s actually gonna be a crazy week of music here in Missoula, MT: Hank 3 on Tuesday, Hellbound Glory on Thursday, and Goddamn Gallows and James Hunnicutt the following Monday!
September 20, 2011 @ 4:38 pm
Hey Aran, also put Sat. Nov 12th on your calendar for Scott H. Biram / Joe Buck at The Palace
As much as I love Hank3’s recordings, I think nothing touches his live shows. His new songs just sound so much better to me live. We got to see him open the tour in Atlanta and oh-my-God the size of the crowd! It was amazing! And even with a bazillion people, he still shook hands after the show. I can’t wait til the tour comes up here and we can be front and center again.
September 21, 2011 @ 6:18 am
Thanks Gillian, Biram is on my calendar already!
September 21, 2011 @ 7:29 pm
Oh! I did NOT know that Joe Buck would be with Scott H. Biram! Right on!
September 20, 2011 @ 5:30 pm
Great review Triggerman.
September 20, 2011 @ 6:36 pm
Cool review. I get to see him at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA. on the 1st of October. Can’t Wait. I have seen tons of shows their and the sound is always good in the bar area, which for a 3 show is all that matters. It does suck when the sound is off though for sure. Fortunately for Hank3’s music it’s mostly about the vibe of it all and that can overcome alot.
September 23, 2011 @ 10:32 am
I will also be at the Spokane show. This will be my 9th show and I can’t wait to see the new version! I am bringing my newly turned 21 year old daughter with me for her first 3 show and she is very excited!
September 20, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
Great blog, Triggerman. I saw him Saturday night at the Sunshine Theater here in Albuquerque and he rocked. He played a bunch of hits, most of my favorites from the new cds. There was a lot of moshing and crowd surfing. Again, what a diverse crowd! This venue was super hot, even up at the balcony bar where I spent most of the evening. I think the john had been cleaned at least once since my last visit to this club (to see Gwar in 2007)
Hank 3 put on a great, professional show and entertained the Hell out of us.
September 21, 2011 @ 8:31 am
I saw III as he was warming up for the tour, at one of his Exit-Inn performances in Nashville. I, too, was struck by the diversity of the crowd. From ol’ farts like me to psychobillys to rednex to yuppies. One of the most impressive things about III is how he can appeal to so many lifestyles. And it’s fucking great to celebrate music with all those different folks.
I’m also struck by the differences in this review, which centers upon the scene and locale, and another similarly themed review of Muddy Roots (i.e. the ND review). Here, Trig celebrates the differences, with respect for all. There, it was like an anthropologist visiting some kind of backwards, quaintly amusing but dangerous Amazonian tribe.
September 21, 2011 @ 10:12 am
Solid pictures, I love the photography on almostoutofgas, it’s a solid tribute to the real deal honky tonks
September 21, 2011 @ 10:53 am
killer pics!!!!!! nice write up— hope he makes it to the northeast.
September 21, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
Those photos are incredible! Did he get one of you too?
September 21, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
Let’s hope not.
September 25, 2011 @ 11:08 am
I did, so watch it Buddy!
September 25, 2011 @ 3:46 pm
I know what the Triggerman looks like from the old days of myspace.
March 6, 2014 @ 9:57 pm
Carla I was just thinking about you. I haven’t heard from you in a while. Is all well?
September 21, 2011 @ 9:01 pm
Hells yes to speedos. I was at the New Orleans show and I agree. Always an UNparalleled crowd. I agree that the new songs to the set sound completely better live. I think they pretty much Have a set set-list. They played One Horse Town there too. The song Trooper’s Hollar works a hell of a lot better live without all the bullshit sound loops and crap that he is getting warm to. That is one of the problems I Have with the new Album. I Have some good pics of the show on FB.
September 22, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
I’ve seen Hank III in person twice. Once in Richmond at a regular show of his, and the other in Nashville when he came in off the street. It was a few years back and I was at Robert’s watching Brazilbilly play (which is a real treat if you like Marty Robbins as much as I do) and he came in off the street (didn’t “look” like him at first) and played a set, I remember “Cocaine Blues” being one of them.
Yes the underground/traditional/outlaw country music scene is diverse. But I think what the fans have in common whether punks or rockers or hillbillies or metalheads oe whatever is a thirst for authenticity. And, I think a lot of folk listened to their parents and grandparents records growing up and developed a taste for pure country as they got older.
I grew up in the 1980s when Ronnie Milsap was the radio fare. But I enjoyed listening to my dad’s Cash records as well as his Johnny Horton’s Greatest hits. I always liked history and his songs were all about that. Then as a teenager whenever I had insomnia I listened to the Big John Trimble Trucker show on WRVA in Richmond. It’d be on from Midnight to 6AM. That’s where I heard Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, and Marty Robbins.
I’ve never stopped. So yeah it takes all kinds. Once I was hanging out with a Good Ole Boy friend of mine at a garage/party. People were drinking beers and singing country songs accompanied by a guitar. I tend to be kind of preppy and am from the city, so it surprised people when I belted out “Lovesick Blues” with a Hank Style twang.
Point being, no matter who we are or what we look like, real country music fans share a love of storytelling and art. Real songs about heartache and loneliness and the “wild side of life”. Not Radio Friendly Focus Group “country”.
Mark
Hank 3 fan since 2003
Hank Sr, fan since I was 3
September 22, 2011 @ 4:40 pm
Nice honesty Mark. 🙂
It’s refreshing!
March 20, 2012 @ 10:55 am
Holy Shit!! There’s like pictures of me and my feet!! This was such a bad ass show! I danced my ass of, if you can’t tell.