Duane Warr plays first dates ever

Dwarr (Duane Warr) is an enigmatic figure to say the least. Rumors float around the web about his turbulent past as a reformed drug user but I haven't discovered too much to back that up. Similarly to our city's beloved Jandek, he's been active for decades without performing a live date (or at least that's what I've come to understand from his publicists). Tonight at Houston's Walter's on Washington, Dwarr will be performing the second gig of his first tour ever.

"Starting Over" is his first record (recently re-released by Drag City) and it is a cornucopia (no Sabbath pun intended) of gloom/doom metal with very phased-out Ozzy-like vocals. The title track in particular reminds me of possibly one of my favorite Sabbath tunes, the jazzy, genteel, but also very baron and haunting "Planet Caravan" off "Paranoid". While plenty of metal performers are able to match the technical abilities of Sabbath's classic lineup there are almost none, save Warr, who can contemplate loneliness, darkness and desolation in a similar fashion. That and the guy's got serious guitar chops.You can get this re-released gem through Drag City. Be there tonight if you can. It will rock for sure.