Music Matters
Concert Picks of the Week: The Fiery Furnaces, Del Castillo, Timbaland
- The Fiery Furnances at Walter's on Washington on Friday
- Del Castillo at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar on Saturday
- Timbaland at House of Blues on Tuesday, Feb. 2
It's "Bring Your Sibling to Work Week" as these live music picks feature a brother-sister act, a brother-brother act and a hip-hip impresario who has called just about every hit-making artist working in rock and rap his "brother" or "sister" at one time or another. It's always good to surround yourself with family, especially at these can't-miss shows.
Friday
The Fiery Furnaces, 9 p.m. at Walter’s on Washington
The comparisons to The White Stripes, the prolific output by siblings Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger and the street cred amassed by touring with bands like Deerhoof are not what make The Fiery Furnaces the current toast of the underground.
It is the very public tongue lashing that Brother Friedberger aimed at Radiohead late last year that has music critics and sounds snobs everywhere wondering how this art-rock standoff is going to end.
The fracas started following the release of “Harry Patch (In Memory of,)" Radiohead's tribute to the last surviving British veteran of World War I, who passed away last summer. Friedberger, however, thought the song was an homage to avant garde composer Henry Partch and labeled the effort as yet another one of Radiohead’s efforts to latch themselves to something cool and edgy.
Friedberger was later told of his mistaken identity error, but his follow-up statement (issued through his media representatives) was hardly a mea culpa: "Matt has not heard the Radiohead song about Harry Patch, but if he did, he is sure he wouldn't like it. No doubt Radiohead and their fans can ignore his opinion of this matter and continue with their triumphant artistic interventions. Matt would have much preferred to insult Beck but he is too afraid of Scientologists."
Whoa!
Now imagine when he puts that defiant tongue to music as he and his sister have for the band’s recently released eighth album, I’m Going Away. Ironically—and not unlike Radiohead—the album cuts quite an original dramatic sonic swath of its own. Its high-end writing is contrasted by a “lo-fi” recording process courtesy of Sebadoh’s Jason Lowenstein.
It should sound even better on stage.
Tickets $13.65
Saturday
Del Castillo, 9:30 p.m. at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar
Like many young kids who grow up around Austin, brothers Mark and Rick Del Castillo didn’t realize they had made a career decision when they picked up guitars and started work on their first CD, Brother of the Castle, back in 2001.
Then again, they probably never thought Rolling Stone magazine would suggest their mix of traditional flamenco, rock and blues rhythm was the sound of “Eddie Van Halen fronting early Santana.”
Since then the Del Castillo brothers have made many in-state fans including director Richard Rodriguez, who has added their music to the soundtracks of many of his films including Sin City and Spy Kids 3. Willie Nelson is also a fan and invited the band to record a version of “I Never Cared For You,” with him that the Red Headed Stranger now calls his favorite.
Outside of Texas, Del Castillo tours large venues with Los Lonely Boys, Los Lobos and Don Henley. This is a chance to see them up-close-and-personal on a local club stage.
Tuesday
Timbaland, 8 p.m. at House of Blues
The name Timbaland probably sounds familiar, but you just can’t quite place what hits songs he sings. Right?
That’s probably because this Grammy-award winner has spent the better part of the last 20 years producing the songs and laying down the beats that have made others famous. Beginning with Jodeci back in 1993, Timbaland helped to put the “swing” in the long-gone New Jack Swing era of hip-hop.
Since then he has produced, remixed or added a personal touch to songs by everyone from Chris Cornell to No Doubt to Rihanna. Rarely, however, does he take time to focus on his personal artistic endeavors.
See Timbaland rock the hot end of the microphone in support of his third solo album, Shock Value II. The hypnotic beats and intoxicating loops on singles like “Morning After Dark,” and “Carry Out” will make it clear why so many artists turn to him when a song needs sizzle.
Tickets $25-$45