Hoo boy, THIS is the essay/reminiscence I’ve been waiting for. Never did a moniker fit a band AND its fans as ‘the True Believers.’ And like the aforementioned/written about Evan Johns, the Troobs were a band that best served up rock n roll live n kickin’. At some point Alejandro Escovedo had an epiphany that the greatest RnR was all about finding great moments. Thus a troobs show tended to sacrifice musical purity and fidelity to the songs for the raw primal energy of the moment.
The scene: Texas Tavern tucked away in the UT student union.
The time: A mid-week night roughly about when Michael writes about –e.g. the band’s second album (and thus the band itself) is in limbo, Javier is ready to bail, and the overall vibe is very much melancholy.
But the Troobs are always ready to lay it on the line live for their 2-3 dozen hardcore faithful fans (nerdy ol’ moi included). A lot of what follows is probably a heavy dose of Mandela Effect – e.g. what I remember may not be what happened, but it’s my story and I’ll stick to it. So here goes nada.
Unlike the infamous ‘blowing out the Zeitgeist amps at the Continental Club’, the Troobs’ regular stage kit had been through the wars and back, and handled the band’s sonic output with aplomb. So blasting through Troob faves old (first album) and new (the ill fated second), it comes time for ‘Train Round the Bend’ and Jon Dee Graham’s chugging solo. Except that Javier cuts in and takes off for the hills on his own. While Jon Dee is SOLOING – so now you have TWO diametrically opposed soloists cutting each other at the same time. Al tries to soldier on, but Jon Dee just shrugs and lights up a smoke. J.D. Foster is leaning bemused on his standup bass. The drummer, I want to say Hector Munoz, maybe Glen Benevides (of Doctor’s Mob, later of Al’s glam project Buick McKane), leans back and starts jacking off his drum stick. The Troobs were always a fine line between ‘on the verge of making it REALLY big’ and disintegration. Right then and there, the faithful attendees had the collective realization that they were witnessing the imminent breakup of not any band, but THEIR band.
Al, however, had other ideas and wasn’t giving in or giving up that easy. He feinted and dueled with his younger brother, but Javier wasn’t having any of it. So Al continues and after a minute or two figures out where Javier’s head is at. Slowly, he starts matching Javier note for note. Then he anticipates his brother’s next riff, and starts reeling Javier back into this world. Finally, the brothers lock in. Al gives a nod to Jon Dee who merges in with the Escovedos.
Thus reunited, the guitar army accelerateds to a full throated roar of eighteen strings firing on all cylinders. J.D. and Hector get the message and drive the band forward into the song that the band was born to play – ‘Hard Road.’ Midway through their anthem, Al grins ear to ear, for out of the coals of failed dreams and shattered expectations, he had coaxed forth a diamond of a pure rock n roll moment.
Of course, it didn’t last. The Troobs took a set break, played a spirited good, not great closing set, and that was that. It was indeed ‘that’ as the original article notes, within the month Javier defected to Will Sexton’s Kill. J.D. and Jon Dee did solo and production work. Al found refuge in Buick McKane and the Orchestra. But for one brief instance, Alejandro Escovedo dared to face the dark abyss and craft a genuine rock n roll moment.
I believe that the True Believers were managed by Joe Nick Patoski, nest pas? (or es verdad?)
The entire MTV-visits-Austin fecal matter really ticked me off because I never felt like they "got it." It was like looking at an aquarium. Yes, I've got an attitude, but I don't believe Yankees will ever understand Texas or the south. If you didn't grow up here (south of the Mason-Dixon Line) then there are parts of the atmosphere that you never entered. This may have to be addressed on my own Substack site, if I ever start one.
But other than my rant, thank you for writing this. Yet another reminder that it was a better world back then.
It was a great local scene, rising from the 2 preceding decades of troubadours, honky tonks, bluesmen and blueswomen, psychedelic pioneers, drugs and alcohol.
I’d hear about these amazing bands from Austin, go see them, and be underwhelmed.
I wish more groups that played at The Beach in the early 80's made it big, I think Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs is the only one.
Hoo boy, THIS is the essay/reminiscence I’ve been waiting for. Never did a moniker fit a band AND its fans as ‘the True Believers.’ And like the aforementioned/written about Evan Johns, the Troobs were a band that best served up rock n roll live n kickin’. At some point Alejandro Escovedo had an epiphany that the greatest RnR was all about finding great moments. Thus a troobs show tended to sacrifice musical purity and fidelity to the songs for the raw primal energy of the moment.
The scene: Texas Tavern tucked away in the UT student union.
The time: A mid-week night roughly about when Michael writes about –e.g. the band’s second album (and thus the band itself) is in limbo, Javier is ready to bail, and the overall vibe is very much melancholy.
But the Troobs are always ready to lay it on the line live for their 2-3 dozen hardcore faithful fans (nerdy ol’ moi included). A lot of what follows is probably a heavy dose of Mandela Effect – e.g. what I remember may not be what happened, but it’s my story and I’ll stick to it. So here goes nada.
Unlike the infamous ‘blowing out the Zeitgeist amps at the Continental Club’, the Troobs’ regular stage kit had been through the wars and back, and handled the band’s sonic output with aplomb. So blasting through Troob faves old (first album) and new (the ill fated second), it comes time for ‘Train Round the Bend’ and Jon Dee Graham’s chugging solo. Except that Javier cuts in and takes off for the hills on his own. While Jon Dee is SOLOING – so now you have TWO diametrically opposed soloists cutting each other at the same time. Al tries to soldier on, but Jon Dee just shrugs and lights up a smoke. J.D. Foster is leaning bemused on his standup bass. The drummer, I want to say Hector Munoz, maybe Glen Benevides (of Doctor’s Mob, later of Al’s glam project Buick McKane), leans back and starts jacking off his drum stick. The Troobs were always a fine line between ‘on the verge of making it REALLY big’ and disintegration. Right then and there, the faithful attendees had the collective realization that they were witnessing the imminent breakup of not any band, but THEIR band.
Al, however, had other ideas and wasn’t giving in or giving up that easy. He feinted and dueled with his younger brother, but Javier wasn’t having any of it. So Al continues and after a minute or two figures out where Javier’s head is at. Slowly, he starts matching Javier note for note. Then he anticipates his brother’s next riff, and starts reeling Javier back into this world. Finally, the brothers lock in. Al gives a nod to Jon Dee who merges in with the Escovedos.
Thus reunited, the guitar army accelerateds to a full throated roar of eighteen strings firing on all cylinders. J.D. and Hector get the message and drive the band forward into the song that the band was born to play – ‘Hard Road.’ Midway through their anthem, Al grins ear to ear, for out of the coals of failed dreams and shattered expectations, he had coaxed forth a diamond of a pure rock n roll moment.
Of course, it didn’t last. The Troobs took a set break, played a spirited good, not great closing set, and that was that. It was indeed ‘that’ as the original article notes, within the month Javier defected to Will Sexton’s Kill. J.D. and Jon Dee did solo and production work. Al found refuge in Buick McKane and the Orchestra. But for one brief instance, Alejandro Escovedo dared to face the dark abyss and craft a genuine rock n roll moment.
Great story .Takes me back to some fun times. Thanks for having a memory or at least writing it down.
loved these bands. they made my Austin life! btw - Did Deb take a photo of TBII or of me and Mike? LOL.
Another amazing piece, Michael. And they just keep getting better and better! This one was ART with a capital A. Bravo!
I believe that the True Believers were managed by Joe Nick Patoski, nest pas? (or es verdad?)
The entire MTV-visits-Austin fecal matter really ticked me off because I never felt like they "got it." It was like looking at an aquarium. Yes, I've got an attitude, but I don't believe Yankees will ever understand Texas or the south. If you didn't grow up here (south of the Mason-Dixon Line) then there are parts of the atmosphere that you never entered. This may have to be addressed on my own Substack site, if I ever start one.
But other than my rant, thank you for writing this. Yet another reminder that it was a better world back then.
It was a great local scene, rising from the 2 preceding decades of troubadours, honky tonks, bluesmen and blueswomen, psychedelic pioneers, drugs and alcohol.
I’d hear about these amazing bands from Austin, go see them, and be underwhelmed.
They just didn’t have the tunes.
I liked Glass Eye for a while.