Sing we of the West, open skies, narrow canyons. Fistful Hephaestus horses Poseidon, or so we are told (“Entrada del Oeste”). Our story opens with Slaky Thirst Bob gathered, with his compadres, around the ember twilight of a campfire, recounting stories of yore (“Laredo by Sundown”). “There was a legend once,” he says, “of a band of brave banditos. Bandannas they wore, olives they ate, and a nation they founded in the dust.” (“Bandera”) Wide Eyed Willie sat listening, entranced. “Were they outlaws?” he asked. “Not a one,” answered Slaky. “They were Alcaldes, one and all. They kept order, and dusted their shoes; they put roses in the hair of their women; they preferred Whist to Poker, and played a mean game of checkers on Thursday nights at the Old Dog Saloon.” (“Urban Sombrero”) “Sounds tame to me,” muttered Dubious Darren. “I’ll bet they were raised by school marms.” “They know when to conserve their strength.” answered Slaky. “One day, two Boleros came into town. Bull-fighters, you understand. Waving their red capes left, right, and center, challenging just about everyone they saw to a duel (“Dos Diablos”). The banditos took them up on it, and ran them right out of town. Well at first there was much rejoicing; dogs howled, women danced the Tarantella, and even the scorpions felt pleased enough to lay low so as not to cause a stir (“Deadwood”). Trouble was, the boleros came back, this time with the whole National Army behind them. Turns out that the banditos, though brave, didn’t have a right to run their own country in the West, separate from the country in the East. That army had surrounded the town quicker than you can pick a flea off a dead raccoon.” “Golly,” said Wild Eyed Willie. Darren frowned. To be continued... The Nematoads, a trippy, twangy, five-piece modern surf band from Austin, straddle the line between ´60s retro cool and tall-in-the-saddle Tejas twang. Behind the reigns is guitarist Ted James – the legendary man with two first names – who, in bygone times, led Johnny Vortex and Squid Vicious. The rhythm section stars bassist Mark Brazle, percussionist Jaime Joseph, and drummer George Pestana. George treats his drum heads like the skulls of his arch enemies, pounding them into submission and kicking them while they’re down. Mark adds to the melee with his bitchin’ sense of groove, and Jaime adds a touch of Latin percussion that gives the band the spring in its step and the spice in its chili. And speaking of gas, the Nematoads have a new tiger in their tank: trumpeter Tiger Anaya, a herald of good things to come. The Nematoads' pasta-fueled excursions embody the sound of The Third Coast, the vibe of the street with a 5-o’clock club beat. This is modern surf with a heart that beats all – six-string action blends the classic sounds of the Ventures and Davie Allan & the Arrows with the surf-punk of the Dead Kennedys, the twangy madness of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and the sonic attack of the Pixies. Of course, we can't forget our Texas roots! Catch the ironic hypersonic wave of the Nematoads live and prepare yourself for a very different type of Austin show. The Nematoads: ´60s surf cool with Texas instrumental rock.