Randomly encountered some “fire manipulators” in the back patio area of the Continental Club while I was out and about last night. I saw this as an EXCELLENT opportunity to play with some extended exposure shots using my tripod and the remote control for the camera
Not bad, but whirly-twirly shots like this don’t stay interesting for long so I shot a few more handheld with less exposure time and got some interesting shots
Trish and Darin Murphy’s current musical project “Skyrocket” performed at the Houston Continental Club on Friday night to a packed house. The group is made up of a fantastic batch of Texas musicians and the performance is nothing less than spectacular.
Of course you must like 70’s and 80’s cover tunes because that’s what they play, and they play it remarkably well. Trish Murphy sang Heart’s “Crazy On You” in the first set and it was spot on. Other songs for the evening included “Rock and Roll All Night” by Kiss and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds just to give you an idea of the repertoire.
The Allen Oldies Band celebrated the release of their new album “Ride The Wild Surf” last night at the Continental Club. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.
Especially entertaining was Tomas Escalante (Suspects/Clouseaux/El Orbits) and his son singing backup on “Sweets for My Sweet”, a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and originally recorded by The Drifters in 1961.
The second annual Disco Expressions Prom Night at the Continenal Club was a huge success.
Sam and crew from Wear It Again Sam had setup shop in front of the club so that patrons could purchase vinatage 70’s style clothing since the show was billed as “Prom Attire Required.”
A lot of people showed up in costume and many more availed themselves of the makeshift clothing store out front. Everybody (with the exception of a handful of obnoxious party-goers hogging the front of the stage and being generally unpleasant) seemed to be in the spirit of things and were genuinly friendly and festive and had no problem getting into the spirit of things.
Credited in the documentary Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey as the first heavy metal band, Blue Cheer’s hit version of the song “Summertime Blues” pre-dates Black Sabath’s arrival by 2 years.
To say these guys were loud would be an understatement. I haven’t been subjected to that kind of Marshall abuse since seeing Kiss at the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1977.
I went in close to get some pictures and was forced to the back of the club and eventually out the door. It was not totally unpleasant. The sound was very clean and simply permeated everything and everyone. It was pure, driving and heavy and amazing to see in the close quarters of the Continental Club.
The building was literally pulsing to the beat of the thundering drum and driving bass. I thought the plate glass windows on the side of the club were going to vibrate out of place and shatter on the sidewalk.
I was amused to watch the crowd. The fans did not bop, bob, sway or come close to dancing in any way. They leaned on the walls, they leaned on the bar or they stood stock still in the middle of the floor and nodded to the beat as the sound washed over them.
Musically the whole night was the best joke that nobody got.
Rocrament, Greg’s tongue in cheek heavy metal send up band, opened the show. And next door it was Peter and James singing 70’s light rock classics in the Big Top. The antithesis of what was transpiring on stage at the Continental.
