It took five openers, four-and-a half-hours and one water break to get to OTEP Friday night at Trees, but it was worth the wait. OTEP didn’t go onstage until close to midnight, making me wonder if the whole show was a joke, the punch line being the band not actually going on. Every opening band gave them a shout-out, causing uproarious commotion from the crowd, so surely OTEP would be on soon.
Finally, it was so.
Otep Shamaya is quite the unpredictable rock star. She’s dead serious about her place in heavy metal and her band OTEP. Last time we interviewed her, every joke we cracked went by without even so much as a chuckle. Or maybe we’re just not funny. She and her boys in the band are on the road supporting their new album Atavist.
DEETS: Trees, 2709 Elm St. Doors at 7 p.m. $15–$19. All ages. TreesDallas.com.
Paste posted this audio clip of eclectic duo Yacht covering Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” today. The band, who has described themselves as “straight gays,” covered this song for their appearance on SiriusXMU. Yacht’s newest release, Shangri-La, drops Wednesday.
I’d love to hear what singer Rob Halford, who is gay, has to think about his heavy metal classic being turned into electro indie pop. Personally, it’s kinda growing on me.
Not a big Valentine’s person? Love got you down? Just broke up? Hey, no worries. Single people aren’t forgotten here on the Mixtape. Just turn it up and drink away.
“Skin” — Sade: The sultry singer pretty much drop-kicks that bastard right out of your life. And she does it in the sexiest way possible.
“Wish You’d Just Hate Me Like Everyone Else” — Patrick Boothe: Face it, sometimes you want people to leave you alone but they just don’t get it.
“Sex Robot” — Fritz Helder and the Phantoms, pictured: Perhaps it’s encouraging bad behavior, but yes, go out and have all kinds of sex. Hayyyyy!
“Goodbye Earl” — Dixie Chicks: OK, so you don’t wanna tuck that ex into the back of your trunk and dump the body, but you can pretend. Venting’s good.
“Sweet Tooth” — Otep. Heavy metal. Chocolate. Sure she sounds like Hades opened up and released a wrath, but sometimes that’s what you need.
— Rich Lopez
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition Feb. 11, 2011.
Last year, some of us (OK, one of us) were excited about Rob Halford’s eponymous-named band releasing a holiday album. Metal and Christmas? And with the lead singer from Judas Priest? It was gonna be awesome. But since then, Halford has released the album, Made for Metal, and the tour makes one stop in the whole state of Texas — and it’s here. The band stops at House of Blues tonight with Philm supporting. We’re hoping since it is December, the gay metal icon will whip out some Christmas carols as only he can. At the very least, we know he should be rocking the leather daddy look. We’re hoping anyway.
DEETS: House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. 8 p.m. $20–$35. HouseOfBlues.com.
