Sound and the Fury

A week on the scene

Dallas band Max Cady straddles the fence between traditional hard rock, contemporary alt-rock and the recent garage-rock revival. On their recently released debut CD, Tonight Alive, the quartet betrays the influence of both Weezer and Urge Overkill, two post-modern outfits with a knack for heavy riffs, memorable hooks and a barely perceptible sense of fashionable irony. If you're looking for proof that the members of Max Cady are perverse pop-culture obsessives, consider that they pinched their name from the murderous villain in Cape Fear.

Max Cady emerged early last year from the ashes of such North Texas bands as Vibrolux and Crash Vinyl, and they've supported Andrew WK, Lou Barlow, Har Mar Superstar, and the Queers, among others. They're set to perform at Taco Land, 103 W. Grayson, on Saturday, September 11.

Foto op

As part of this month's Foto Septiembre, veteran multi-media artist Bobby Natanson is presenting what's billed as a 21st Century Vaudeville Show, an ambitious attempt to meld his various creative pursuits. Natanson, a gifted drummer and percussionist, conceived the show as a "contemporary musical theatre work with a foundation in jazz and color."

Natanson will play in a jazz quartet - also including Hamilton Price, Heing Frommeyer, and Hans Frank - whose music accompanies a projected film in which his paintings are animated. Natanson and Frank will also provide live narrative and dramatic elements.

The one-hour show is scheduled for Sunday, September 12 at 2 and 5 p.m. at the URBAN-15 Studios (2500 S. Presa). Donations will be accepted at the door. For more information, call URBAN-15 at 736-1500.

Card sharks

Fans of The El Orbits' monthly "Bingo Night" shows at Casbeers will be disappointed (not to mention astounded) to learn that the band has been forced by the Texas Lottery Commission to permanently abandon the bingo theme.

The group had run a free bingo show for seven years in Houston, but this summer they received a cease-and-desist order from the commission, citing the band's lack of either a Texas Bingo Gaming License or Charitable Bingo Exemption. Along the way, The El Orbits learned that violating the order was a third-degree felony.

The upshot is that after much negotiation the band pulled the plug on their weekly, Monday-night shows at Houston's Continental Club. They will continue to play the first Tuesday of each month at Casbeers, sans bingo.

Compiled by Gilbert Garcia