Good evening everyone and if the timer works this post will be visible late tonight in the US and early tomorrow in Europe. I’m still waiting on a few extras for the Saturday Strummer Birthday events in San Francisco, London and Orlando so I thought I’d wet your collective whistles with a guest post kindly written by a good friend of the blog who resides in Texas. I’ll confess that writing the blog has done more for my previously frosty perception of Texans than either of my earlier disastrous visits to the Lone Star State. Proving some points that I always preach such as

1. I should not speak in general terms (unless it concerns The Stranglers)

2. There is no such thing as an unpleasant Clash fan – it seems to bring out the cool in people

At this rate I’m going to book some time away for SXSW in Austin next Spring to give Texas a third try and hopefully complete my change of heart. Needless to say the blog gets good support from Texas and the fact that they had a Joe Strummer night in Austin says much about the city when other larger cities did no such thing.

The Joe Strummer Tribute in Austin, TX 21/8/10

With that said – I’ll hand you over to our guest contributor Kara and her summary of events:

Joe’ birthday celebration was center stage at Red 7 in Austin, TX last Saturday night, with a Clash tribute band, Clampdown, headlining the evening.  I know I was looking forward to being in the same room with so many Clash fans, and Austin did not disappoint.  Numerous bands took to the stage before Clampdown for a thin crowd, who eventually erupted when Scott Reynolds and the Steaming Beast ended their set with a rendition of ‘Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad’  Then Clampdown opened their show with ‘Complete Control,’ which of course sent the audience into a celebratory frenzy.  I would say their performance of ‘White Man (in Hammersmith Palais)’ would be the other most notable moment at which the crowd seemed to really get into the spirit of the evening.  It was an energetic performance, however the best part about the night was the presence of about two hundred people that love Joe and The Clash, celebrating a great man’s life together by singing (ok, screaming) and dancing (more like jumping) along to some of our favorite songs, performed by Clampdown.  The crowd was as diverse as they come (this is Austin, you know…), but there was great unity in our enthusiasm for celebrating Joe’s day.  Glasses were raised, and beer was spilled (on my head), in remembrance of Joe.  I think we are all looking forward to next year’s gathering!

Thanks a lot for taking the time to scribe that review Kara (although it’s centre & favourite) and also for the photographs you took (above and below) which feature photos from the night with a prerequisite Strummer themed backdrop which I have such a weakness for. I’d also be remiss if I failed to tell you more about Clampdown – A Joe Strummer Tribute so please visit their myspace page and certainly look out for them playing the pubs and clubs of Texas and beyond, perhaps I can get them to ride the wagon train to Phoenix for the December Strummer event? Their official blurb is beneath

Clampdown was conceived in 2009 with the sole intent of paying tribute to the legendary Joe Strummer and his band, The Clash. Strummer’s untimely death on December 22, 2002 was the catalyst that got the wheels of Clampdown turning. Members of Clampdown include Paul Lopez on vocals, Mark Martinez on guitar and vocals, J.G. on bass, Shawn Terry on lead guitar and Ruben Todd on drums along with Dan Carney on guitar. These men have been paying their dues in the San Antonio and Austin music scenes for nearly twenty years. Collectively, they have participated in bands such as De Los Muertos and The Bent Gents, Stretford, The Dispicables, Molotov Cocks, The Mechanical Walking Robot Boy, Rings of Saturn, and War Rocket Ajax just to name a few. The short ten year career of The Clash laid the foundation for every punk rock band ever since and the mere existence of a band like Clampdown today, twenty three years after The Clash ceased to be, is proof of this fact. Clampdown knows this only too well. Each member has been greatly influenced by this incendiary musical force and each jumped at the chance to pay tribute to Strummer and “The Only Band That Matters.” Clampdown’s tribute is honest and straightforward with no frills. It’s pure… it’s powerful… it’s Clampdown.

Clampdown playing live at the Joe Strummer Tribute in Austin, TX 21/8/10

As you can see we’re talking about some gents with serious musical pedigrees turning their attention to The Clash – that can only be a good thing! I’ve got more over the next few days from the other cities I mentioned and we’ll also march on with the other matters at hand. Thanks for dropping in and please share the blog with your Clash friendly acquaintances.