TONIGHT ON THE INSIDE STAGE
MOHAWKS, MULLETS & RATTAILS
1AM – BABY ROBOTS
12AM – COLOUR WHEEL
11PM – FRANTIC CLAM
10PM – PERFECT PANTS
DOORS @ 9PM
FREE / $5 for minors
THIS YEAR @ MOHAWK, WE'VE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU AN OLD FASHIONED PARTY. WITH LOTS OF WHISKEY, CABS HOME, CHAMPAGNE AT MIDNIGHT AND MAYBE A LITTLE TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP, MOHAWK STYLE. OUR PALS AT THE AUSTINIST ARE BRINGING IN CAR STEREO (WARS) ALL NIGHT AND THAT FINALLY COOL INDIEROKE INSIDE. THE GREEN ROOM IS OPEN AND STOCKED WITH YOUR FAVORITE BUBBLY. AND IT'S GONNA BE CHEAP, TOO. IT'S 21 UP ONLY AND IT'S $5. YEAH, $5. AND DRINK SPECIALS WILL CHANGE HOURLY UNTIL 2AM. COME CELEBRATE THE END OF 08, BUSH, CHENEY AND ALL THINGS KARMICALLY WRONG AND THE BEGINNING OF GOODNESS.
Check our schedule for fireplace happy hours, killer shows, NEW YEARS EVE, and FREE WEEK. Lots comin up. See you at the hawk.
NEWS ALERT: WE BOUGHT A FREAKING ARM WRESTLING TABLE.
Besides the unveiling of the 'mohawkobama' (one of our new tasty drink specials), and the preparing for the rowdy Austinist New Years Eve party...we would like to announce a new addition to to our fireplace happy hours:
An effing ARM WRESTLING TABLE. its an official Minnesota arm wrestlers coalition professional table, complete with pads and handles.
Oh yeah. Arm wrestling. Fireplace. Cold beer. Warm whiskey. Everyday from 5-8pm.
Your dreams. Have. Come. True.
Fireplace Happy Hours. A warm place to sit down and drink up in a cold, cold world. Everyday at the Mohawk.
Fight for your drinks. For your honor. Stake your claim.
All were welcome this weekend at the Mohawk. Except for one guy.
If you were there, then you know. Ice Cube put on an amazing set.
If you were not there, check out the crowd here:
Cube is here:
Shot from our friend Nash Cook. More pics from Nash here
Video from our friend Evan here:
Ice Cube – It Was A Good Day from Evan Mathews on Vimeo.
Also, we would like to help out our boy in the leather jacket. If you are a hot brunette with a butterfly tattoo, click here
Long Live Cube.
Long Live Nash Cook.
Long Live Leather Jacket guy and hot brunettes.
TT got booed. Ha. Beat it, Asshole. And never come back.
CUBE: THIS SUNDAY. FOR REAL.
**READ THIS: Although we are monster fans of Ice Cube and his records over the years, we personally do not support the views of his opening act, Trick Trick, when it comes to gay rights and more simply put, human rights. Openers generally come with the package on big events like this, and to be honest, we didnt even check this guy out until last week. He is clearly an idiot.
At the Mohawk, as it always has been, and will always be a policy of ALL ARE WELCOME. This includes geeks, politicians, homosexuals, heterosexuals, teachers, students, hipsters, punks, freaks, squares, bankers, lawyers, artists, metal heads, moms, dads, sons and daughters...and yes...sometimes even assholes like Trick Trick. I don't think he will feel too welcome at this event though, and I hope he doesn't. His personal statements are counter to the culture that has developed at the Mohawk, so my guess is he will be there for the electricity on stage, get heckled, and leave.
As you know, as a music venue, we can't get in the business of policing free speech or projecting our personal religious or political beliefs on shows because we would probably have to cancel half of what is booked if we really looked into certain lyrics, records, etc. Essentially, everything we know about great music is that it comes from the freedom to scream, yell, speak your mind, and sometimes...piss people off. We don't like or agree with everything we hear, but we love the fact that this country allows everyone to speak freely and without abandon. It is that ideal that makes music great.
With that said, as a live music venue we don't believe in censorship...but as individuals, we feel like Trick Trick crosses a very important line and it's not OK with us. As for me, I will be showing up when the headliner begins and not before. PS: THE HEADLINER STARTS AT TEN (HINT)
AS FOR ICE CUBE...WE FRIGGIN LOVE THAT KID AND ARE STOKED TO SEE HIM ON OUR STAGE.
Tickets are limited, here
AND...
Everyday from 5-8pm, we ice down the beers, crank up the funk, warm up some whiskey, and stoke the fire for MOHAWK FIREPLACE HAPPY HOURS. Cheap drinks and a hot ass time for you and your homies.
NOT SO SECRET SHOW THIS SATURDAY: IT'S SHIT YOU LOVE TO GET DOWN TO. PROMISE.
What we got for your naughty asses this year (and next):
> FIREPLACE
> GROWLERS
> WHISKEY
> FREE SHOWS
> HEATERS
> ECONOMY FRIENDLY DRINK SPECIALS
> SERVICE
> LOCAL SHOWS
> HAPPY HOURS
> PRIVATE EVENTS
> AND LEGENDARY ROCK SHOWS LIKE THESE:
MO TOWN PARTY – Nov 28 2008
Fri, Nov 28, 2008 5:00 PM
POPNOIR SOUNDSYSTEM In the Green Room – The Steps, You Make Engine, Spectre in the Cab & The Sandworms – Outside Stage
The Rosebuds – Nov 29 2008
Sat, Nov 29, 2008 2:00 PM
Ovenbirds / Masonic
Robert Gomez – Nov 29 2008
Sat, Nov 29, 2008 4:00 PM
Sarah Jaffe
Pontiak – Dec 02 2008
Tue, Dec 2, 2008 4:00 PM
Radioland Murders / Moses and the Burning Bush – ROADSHOW
101X Homegrown Live w/School Police – Dec 03 2008
Wed, Dec 3, 2008 4:00 PM
Canopy – LOCAL
Adeline – Dec 04 2008
Thu, Dec 4, 2008 11:30 AM
Happy Hour Show – LOCAL
The Van Buren Boys – Dec 04 2008
Thu, Dec 4, 2008 4:00 PM
The Bubbles / Shitty Carwash / ZigZags – LOCAL
Whitman – Dec 05 2008
Fri, Dec 5, 2008 4:00 PM
A Sideshow Tragedy / Bankrupt and Borrowers / The Couch – LOCAL
iLoveMikeLitt and Good Looking Booking present AckMe – Dec 06 2008
Sat, Dec 6, 2008 3:00 PM
TBA – SPECIAL EVENT
CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT – Dec 07 2008
Sun, Dec 7, 2008 3:00 PM
Private Party – Private Party
Birds Barbershop XMAS Party – Dec 09 2008
Tue, Dec 9, 2008 2:00 PM
PRIVATE PARTY – GREEN ROOM + DECK
Til We're Blue or Destroy – Dec 09 2008
Tue, Dec 9, 2008 4:00 PM
The Uglysuit
DJ Ray Pride (Crackpipes) with Friends – Dec 10 2008
Wed, Dec 10, 2008 4:00 PM
TOYS FOR TOTS BENEFIT – Dec 11 2008
Thu, Dec 11, 2008 11:00 AM
The Gourds + Waxploitation – PRIVATE EVENT / INVITATION ONLY
The Sour Notes – Dec 11 2008
Thu, Dec 11, 2008 4:00 PM
One Hundred Flowers / The Great Nostalgic / Bear Claw – LOCAL
The Midgetmen – Dec 12 2008
Fri, Dec 12, 2008 4:00 PM
The Calm Blue Sea / Follow That Bird! / The Bubbles – LOCAL
Ice Cube – Dec 14 2008
Sun, Dec 14, 2008 2:00 PM
Trick Trick – Presented by HOT 93.3
DJ Notion – Official Ice Cube Afterparty – Dec 14 2008
Sun, Dec 14, 2008 5:30 PM
INSIDE after ICE CUBE – LOCAL
The Raven Tree – Dec 18 2008
Thu, Dec 18, 2008 4:00 PM
Crash Gallery / Goodnight Goddess – LOCAL
Golden Arm Trio & Invincible Czars Holiday Show – Dec 19 2008
Fri, Dec 19, 2008 3:00 AM
TBA – HOLIDAY SHOW
Loxsly – Dec 20 2008
Sat, Dec 20, 2008 4:00 PM
Corto Maltese / The Authors – LOCAL
The Diving Captain – Dec 26 2008
Fri, Dec 26, 2008 4:00 AM
Wiretree – LOCAL
Austinist Indieroke One Year Anniversary! – Dec 27 2008
Sat, Dec 27, 2008 3:00 PM
Shallows A.D. – KARAOKE / INSIDE + GREEN ROOM
Gabe Hascall – Dec 28 2008
Sun, Dec 28, 2008 4:00 PM
Visitors/Solomon & Tummler/Lifepartners/ + An Acoustic Set with EKE Fam – LOCAL
Jack Rose – Dec 30 2008
Tue, Dec 30, 2008 4:00 PM
Shawn David McMillen / Ralph White
DEC 31ST :: AWWW SHIT. NEW YEARS EVE CIRCUS! ACTS TBA. SEMI FORMAL. BUCKETS OF CHAMPAGNE. LASER BEAMS.
FREE WEEK – JAN 2nd – JAN 10th – Jan 02 2009
Fri, Jan 2, 2009 4:00 PM
Bands coming soon. – FREE!! INSIDE + OUTSIDE
The Donkeys – Jan 13 2009
Tue, Jan 13, 2009 4:00 PM
Deleted Scenes
Yo Majesty and Floetry – Jan 15 2009
Thu, Jan 15, 2009 3:00 PM
The Paul Green School of Rock – Jan 16 2009
Fri, Jan 16, 2009 1:00 PM
EARLY SHOW – 7:00 – 9:00 pm – LOCAL
The Raven Tree – Jan 16 2009
Fri, Jan 16, 2009 4:00 PM
Jetsuns – LOCAL
The Paul Green School of Rock – Jan 17 2009
Sat, Jan 17, 2009 1:00 PM
EARLY SHOW – 7:00 – 9:00 pm – LOCAL
The Nasty Clan – Jan 22 2009
Thu, Jan 22, 2009 4:00 PM
The Alice Rose – LOCAL
This Will Destroy You – Jan 23 2009
Fri, Jan 23, 2009 4:00 PM
Balmorhea / Chief Rival – LOCAL
Ume CD RELEASE Party – Jan 24 2009
Sat, Jan 24, 2009 4:00 PM
MV & EE – Feb 01 2009
Sun, Feb 1, 2009 4:00 PM
Air Traffic Controllers
Will Johnson (Centro-matic) – Feb 05 2009
Thu, Feb 5, 2009 4:00 PM
AU – Feb 06 2009
Fri, Feb 6, 2009 4:00 PM
The Appleseed Cast – Feb 07 2009
Sat, Feb 7, 2009 3:00 PM
White Ghost Shivers Valentine's Day Massacre – Feb 14 2009
Sat, Feb 14, 2009 3:00 PM
Mr. Lif – Feb 24 2009
Tue, Feb 24, 2009 2:00 PM
Check out vid and interview from the YELLE show:
Yelle Interview from uLOVEi on Vimeo.
Good, cause we got more this weekend. So we're taking the day off to reflect on life and how to live it. And we're back on Friday with some kick ass rock n roll and, believe it or not, a couple a naughty Playmates roaming these haunted hallways. I hope they can google map the hawk from Pangea. Chief will be wearing a Hef smoking jacket, so the ladies feel at home. Chief will be rocking a chubby as well.
FRIDAY – MO – TOWN – CHANGING THE FACE OF MEN'S HEALTH
DJ SETS BY POPNOIR SOUNDSYSTEM & PREPMODE UPSTAIRS
LIVE SETS DOWNSTAIRS FEATURING :THE SANDWORMS, SPECTRE IN THE CAB, YOU MAKE ENGINE & THE STEPS – IT'S A BENEFIT & THERE'S GONNA BE PLAYBOY MODELS. LIKE YOU NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING MORE.
SATURDAY NIGHT – RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA'S THE ROSEBUDS KICK OUT THE JAMS OUTSIDE WITH OVENBIRDS AND MASONIC. AND LATER INSIDE ROBERT GOMEZ STRUMS, SINGS AND POURS HIS HEART OUT. OPENING INSIDE – SARAH JAFFE.
You'll be sick of the family anyway, so get your groove on at the 'Hawk this weekend. So get stuffed on Thursday and burn the calories this weekend in our house.
PS: Happy Thanksgiving to all you long time Mohawk supporters. We will shoot liquid Thanksgiving (Wild Turkey) in your honor today, and tonight. We are thankful for every last one of your stanky asses. I'm getting emotional just thinking about you. Gonna consult Morrisey.
"Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God
I don't know but today seems kinda odd
No barking from the dogs, no smog
And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog"
N.W.A. = STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
There are two threads of history that explain the importance of this record:
One. 1980s: EAST COAST DOMINANCE.
Rappers from the East Coast pretty much ran the hip-hop scene for most of the 1980s.
I think we all know about Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Fives’ ‘The Message’, and Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rappers Delight’…and the fact that these tunes were a huge part of the spark that ignited the flame. These ideas were very punk rock at the time, because of how different they were, but they also began to sniff the Billboard Top 40 charts. Kurtis Blow’s ‘The Breaks’ and ‘Basketball’ also dealt heavy blows during this time. Artists such as Run-D.M.C., Biz Markie, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, The Fat Boys and EPMD all drove the scene and were considered pioneers that were firmly rooted on the East Coast. In fact, Kurtis Blow (Kurtis Blow), LL Cool J (Radio) and especially Run-D.M.C. (Raising Hell), were among the first hip hop artists to ‘break out’ and gain significant acceptance from the mainstream media, as proven by record sales and radio successes.
Two. FREE SPEECH SUPRESSION IN AMERICAN MUSIC.
In 1985, as musicians started writing lyrics and printing album covers that rubbed sensitive Western taboos the wrong way, the Powers That Be – manifested by the RIAA and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) – began a program of externally labeling all records with “offensive” or “explicit” lyrics in order “to educate and inform parents” about “the growing trend in music towards lyrics that are sexually explicit, excessively violent, or glorify the use of drugs and alcohol” (the transcript of the first Congressional Hearing on the issue is here; also, here’s a nice history of the PMRC). The result of this campaign was this little sticker:
Now, to be fair, most Government officials riding this hypocrisy train stated they had no intention of suppressing the 1st Amendment, and who knows, maybe they meant it…but all the same, as Congressional hearing after Congressional hearing came and went, people came to realize that there were far better uses of the Government’s time and resources than categorizing records by how many nasty words they contained.
And so, after a few years, the crusade died down as federal politicians (and their voters) began losing interest. The reality: the PMRC campaign against “offensiveness” soon became perceived as an overreaction to a minimal threat that, in the end, was just some cuss words or some scantily clad women on the cover of a CD. These were things that had been around for years, and, for the most part, parents were familiar with how to deal with them. Overall, the status quo had remained intact.
THE RECORD.
Then, just when everything had gotten quiet and peaceful (it was a Presidential election year, after all), a surprise attack came out of nowhere, a war began and a new subculture was born. A baby called ‘gangsta rap’ arrived on the scene…and it was pissed and hungry.
On August 8, 1988, N.W.A (“Niggaz With Attitude”), a rap group hailing from the housing projects of Compton, CA, released their second album, Straight Outta Compton. This monster was built by some relative unknowns at the time, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella and MC Ren, and it was filled with amazing samples by James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Funkadelic, Ohio Players, Kool and the Gang, Slick Rick, and even the Steve Miller Band, to name a few. It was a record that told an entirely new story that the rest of the nation, quite simply, had never heard before. A story of gang life in South Central Los Angeles and Compton, where life was, in a lot of ways, as lawless as the Wild West. Violence and chaos reigned supreme in this previously-unknown corner of America, and this was its sonic manifesto. This biographical story was narrated by a new type of artist…one that was combining its god-given talents with the hardcore, real-life stories from life on the streets of Compton. Truth. In your face. Motherfucker. Deal with it.
Straight Outta Compton was a best-seller overnight, eventually becoming the first record to ever go platinum with out any radio play. The album’s cultural impact was similar in effect to the release of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) on an unsuspecting rock world, or Elvis Presley’s first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. It obliterated expectations and ideas of “acceptability” by completely ignoring that they even existed in the first place.
“You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge.”
With this line, the album begins.
This record was brutally honest, unapologetic, lyrically brilliant, and supported by our first real look at (the now legendary) Dr. Dre and his beats. No filler whatsoever. It was so strong, in fact, that this record lived more in headphones than at house parties for a while. People were taking the time to REALLY listen to this shit and better understand the criminal lifestyle and what life may be like on the other side. After that, they were hooked. Shit was on, and the door was open. It was now ‘OK’ to say things like ‘Fuck tha Police’, ‘A Bitch Iz a Bitch’, and actually admit that there was a ‘Dopeman’ out there. When I say ‘OK’, I don’t mean to the FBI or Secret Service or to Middle America Moms, mind you…but to artists and believers in free speech, this was a long overdue hall pass. Basically, this record helped wake a sleeping giant that was backed by a pesky little thing called ‘The First Amendment’. Holy shit.
Then, the movement came…like a tsunami…and it was driven by attitude and dressed with L.A. Kings hats and Raiders jackets. The West Coast had officially shown up to the hip-hop party, fashionably late, and in a fleet of tanks fueled by 40’s, bandanas, and gats. They were the doormen for some notable West Coast artists, including Ice T, Snoop, Too Short, Warren G, and Tupac Shakur (one of the most influential rappers of all time). It can be argued that this movement helped open the door for West Coast pop-rap as well, with the unleashing of Oaklands MC Hammer and his sweet pants onto the airwaves. ‘2 legit to quit’ was pretty lame, but you have to admit that ‘Turn this mutha out’ was the jam. And as long as we admit that, we also have to admit that Hammer helped open the door for crap…but that’s OK.
We could write about this record for days. Bottom line is: listen to it with an open mind if you haven’t done so already (5,000 times). This is one of those critical records that shifted the thinking of a generation, and it deserves some credit for that.
If you like this record, you will love: All Tupacs records, All Ice Cubes records, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Too Short, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Dj Quick, Eminem, J.T. The Bigga Figga, and The Game…to name a few.
review by cash and chief of the TE dynasty
© 2007 Mohawk Austin Texas, All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy
