Martian Warlords

Area 69 (Evil Money Productions)

Texas Platters

"I spent two years locked up in my room," explained Martian Warlords singer/Flying-V-wielder Micah Omega while dragging his amps off the Kick Butt Coffee stage after a typically fiery set. "I wrote 700 songs in that time." If they're all as catchy and propulsive as the nine originals cramming this debut, why did the locals bother covering Jonathan Richman's admittedly great "She Cracked"? Perhaps because as the frontman sings on "Bored," "I get so bored listening to all this shitty music!" The presence of ex-Rockbuster Grant Dorian behind the kit might have led to something more metallic, but with the guitars both bombastic and intricate, and vocals straddling the fence between the raw and the fey, the Martian Warlords never vary from mononucleosis-catchy punk. There's humor and hooks galore to go with all the propulsion and aggression. Shut-in music, Area 69 gets results.

***

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Music Reviews
Texas Platters
Xetas
The Cypher (Record Review)

Rachel Rascoe, Feb. 21, 2020

Texas Platters
Spray Paint
Into the Country (Record Review)

Raoul Hernandez, Dec. 13, 2019

More by Tim Stegall
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
The Linda Lindas, Momma, Caramelo Haze, JaRon Marshall, and more highlight our recommended shows for the week

Jan. 13, 2023

Raul's in Overdrive:
Raul's in Overdrive: "AUSTIN IS UN-MELLOWING OUT!"
Patti Smith and Elvis Costello visit Raul's, after the Bodysnatchers beat the Skunks to vinyl, in Chapter 6, Part 2 of the "Austin Punk Chronicles"

Dec. 30, 2022

KEYWORDS FOR THIS STORY

Martian Warlords

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
NEWSLETTERS
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Can't keep up with happenings around town? We can help.

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Behind the scenes at The Austin Chronicle

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle