A Sleepy Company

Wye Oak - "Holy, Holy" Video

2011-09-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Check out the new video for "Holy, Holy," one of my favorite songs off Wye Oak's excellent album Civilian.

I found this one over at Pitchfork TV, which also features new videos from Wild Flag, Jay-Z and Kanye West, and Washed Out, to name a few.

David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' As A Children's Book

2011-09-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the wonderful website How to be a Retronaut.

Someone decided to fashion Bowie's 'Space Oddity' into a children's book. Brilliant! There's not a physical copy of the book (yet), but the artist, Andrew Kolb, is working on it.

Kurt Vile "Jesus Fever" video

2011-08-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Smoke Rings For My Halo, the fourth album from Philadelphia singer Kurt Vile, is one of my favorite albums of the year (so far). "Jesus Fever," with it's jangly guitar and dark, brooding vocals is a standout track on the album. Vile and his Violators will be in Austin next month for the Austin City Limits music festival, as well as opening for Bright Eyes' official ACL after show at Stubb's on September 18th. Buy your tickets here.

Check out the official video for "Jesus Fever."

Listen to new Girls track "Honey Bunny"

2011-08-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

Christopher Owens (Photo courtesy of Pitchfork)

NPR is streaming "Honey Bunny," a new track by the San Francisco duo Girls. The track, off their forthcoming album Father, Son, Holy Ghost, is a sunny, surf-pop homage to all things vintage. Primary songwriter, Christopher Owens, said he wrote the song about his mother back in 2008.

Check it out here.

Neil Young - Streets of Glasgow 1976.

2011-08-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting video of Neil Young singing "The Old Laughing Lady" on a Glasgow Street in 1976.

Thanks to La Blogotheque for turning me on to this rare treat!

Bon Iver "Holocene" video

2011-08-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

A beautiful video for a beautiful song.

Day 1 SXSW 2011

2011-03-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Young Man at The Parish

My day one kind of started off slowly because I neglected to pick up my Fader Fort wristband on Tuesday and spent the better part of the day standing in line for the damn thing. We did get to hear some of Toro y Moi and Jonquil while standing in the ridiculously long line. (Note to Fader Fort: Get a better system next year. 5 people doing RSVP's for thousands of people = 2 hour wait time). As my friend Brandi said: "After that 2 hour wait, Jesus had better be the surprise guest."
After procuring our wristbands, I really needed a beer. We headed over to the Flavorpill/Musebox party over at Lipstick 24. There we saw electronic outfit Oh Land and Pitchfork darlings Nite Jewel. We headed next door to Eventbrite's Empire Garage party where we should have been the whole time. We caught the tail end of Braids' set. It sounded wonderful. Next up was Jukebox the Ghost, who also sounded great. There we basked in the sunshine and sipped our free Dos Equis.
We headed over to the Paste party to see Sondre Lerche but were discouraged by the long line. After the Fort, I decided that I wouldn't wait in any more long lines that day. Luckily, there will be other opportunities to check out Sondre. We got to the New Zealand party and barely missed Liam Finn. Boo. But we did get to see The Naked and the Famous. Their infectious rhythms were just what was needed to kick into night mode.
After a much needed food break at the Whip In, we headed back downtown again. Our first stop was the Parish, where we were treated to a set by Young Man, a group of strapping young lads. To me, they sounded like a cross between Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah and Starsailor. The stifling heat in the Parish (and the need to smoke a cigarette) brought us out into the street. We decided to skip the Antlers (I plan on seeing them today at the NPR showcase) and head over to the Spill to catch some of the Dears. Wow. I have been a fan of the Dears for awhile, but wasn't crazy about their last album. The material off of this album sounded great. Singer Murray Lightburn and company exuded a frenetic energy that permeated the club with a frenzied, ecstatic vibe. I will definitely be catching another show of the band before South by ends.
We hightailed it down to Red River to catch Tennis and Yuck at Club Deville. Unfortunately, we got there too late to see Tennis, another band that I intend to catch this week. Yuck were amazing. It was a nineties rock revival complete with soaring, fuzzed-out guitars and catchy pop drenched melodies. On our way back to the car, we heard Duran Duran belting out "Girls on Film" from Stubbs. It would have been a great show to see, but I didn't want to spend the entire night at Stubb's (although the lineup was great). As I have said before, I love the nomadic experience of SXSW.
My feet already hurt. On today's agenda?
Wye Oak at the IFC House, The Antlers at the NPR Day show, City and Colour, Atlas Sound at Flamingo, Smith Westerns at East Side Drive-In, and The Strokes! I'm sure things will get changed around a bit, but I fully intend on seeing the Strokes at Auditorium Shores.

Brooklyn Vegan Saturday party!

2011-03-14T18:18:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn Vegan have announced the details for their Saturday day party at Barbarella and Swan Dive. For this party they joined forces with M for Montreal to present a stellar lineup with tasty treats too!

Check out full lineup here.

- Alison Willis

Bon Iver at Fader Fort!

2011-03-14T12:50:00.001-07:00

Bon Iver will appear Saturday night at the Fader Fort with former bandmates/friends Megafaun. The Fort says it will be a "Bon Iver/Megafaun/Deyarmond Edison collaboration."
Deyarmond Edison is the former band that included Justin Vernon and members of Megafaun.
More info here.

- Alison Willis

Brooklyn Vegan friday party

2011-03-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is another awesome party put on by Brooklyn Vegan. This is one of the three-day, multi-stage parties that BV is putting on at connecting venues Barbarella and Swan Dive. The Saturday party hasn't been announced yet.

More info here.

Brooklyn Vegan announce ninth party.

2011-03-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

The prolific folks over at Brooklyn Vegan have announced their ninth SXSW party. That's right, they are sponsoring nine parties at SXSW this year. As usual, the parties feature an eclectic mix of bands, this one included. There is no RSVP. Just show up early to guarantee entrance. There will be free breakfast tacos (while supplies last), some free booze & other tasty snacks.

Get more info + the lineup here.

Perez Hilton RSVP up.

2011-03-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Perez with Snoop Dogg

Check it, yo. Perez Hilton RSVP is up. Do it now and see if you can win entrance into his party on Saturday night at ACL Live. He always has a killer, albeit interesting, lineup. Last year, Kanye West made a surprise appearance. Do it!

RSVP

Forest Family x Transparency Party

2011-03-13T14:07:00.000-07:00

Forest Family Records (co-owned by Chris Cantilini of Gorilla v Bear) have announced their party. It kicks off Thursday, March 17th at 1pm and goes until midnight. The lineup looks delightful and there will be free St. Arnold's beer. I love the parties that feature tasty craft beer (extra points if it's local)!

Details and RSVP info here.

Kanye West SXSW appearance confirmed!

2011-03-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like the rumors are true. Kanye West will play the VEVO party at the Seaholm Power Plant on Saturday night at 11:59 pm. VEVO will announce the details soon. Once again, getting there early would be beneficial if you hope to get in to this show.

Here is the video that VEVO posted earlier today:

Fader Fort Lineup Announced!

2011-03-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

The Fader Fort lineup has been announced, and it's a killer. If you haven't RSVP'd, get on it! You can't miss this one.

Check out the lineup:

Mess With Texas Party

2011-03-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

The lineup for this one is amazing and it's at the killer new venue East Side Drive-In. The set times are TBA.
Don't miss it. You can RSVP here.

The Austin Imposition II

2011-03-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

Impose Magazine is putting on a 5-show extravaganza throughout the music portion of South by Southwest. By the looks of the poster, the lineup is pretty damn impressive. Locations and set times are TBA. But you might as well RSVP right now.

Kanye West SXSW Appearance?!

2011-03-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

According to the Austin Chronicle, "Definitive sources have confirmed that Kanye West is appearing at Vevo's unofficial after-hours party at the Seaholm Electric Plant on Saturday, March 19th...."
Hmmmm. Methinks I need to get down there early if I want to bear witness to this once-in-a-lifetime moment. My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy, Mr. West's magnum opus, was probably my favorite album of last year.

Check out Kanye's new video for "All of the Lights."

MOG Party at the Mohawk

2011-03-08T09:56:00.001-08:00

The MOG party at the Mohawk on Sat. March 19th is off the chain. The lineup includes TV On The Radio, Big Boi, Yuck, Wild Flag and a ton more.
The event is free (which means no RSVP), but, I suggest getting there early if you want to get in. With a lineup like this, the venue is sure to reach capacity early on.
You can check out the full lineup (no set times yet) and get more info here.

- Alison Willis

Fader Fort RSVP Announced!

2011-03-08T09:21:00.001-08:00

The Fader Fort, the mother of all SXSW parties, has opened up their RSVP. You don't want to miss out on this party, which always features a stellar lineup and free booze. The full lineup hasn't been revealed, but some of the "leaked" artists include soul crooner Raphael Sadiq, Twin Shadow, Matt & Kim, and many more. So what are you waiting for? Mosey on over to their site to RSVP!

- Alison Willis

DC Does Texas & Dogfish Head Beer!

2011-03-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Ultra8201 for the heads up on this one. Free (good) beer courtesy of Dogfish Head. None of that yellow fizzy stuff here. You can get more information about the bands playing here.

Kanye West at SXSW?!?

2011-02-28T14:39:00.000-08:00

Kanye West at SXSW? The rumor mill has begun. This mysterious video was posted on YouTube earlier today. The word is that Yeezy will play the VEVO party at the Seaholm Power Plant on Saturday, March 19th . Donewaiting says the rumor might be legit. I sure hope so!

Muzzle of Bees Backyard BBQ

2011-02-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

The folks over at Muzzle of Bees have announced the details for their SXSW Backyard BBQ. Free beer and BBQ!

RSVP to sxswbackyardbbq@gmail.com.

Conflict of Interest Party SXSW

2011-02-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

This looks like a good way to start off SXSW 2011. Free booze and books! RSVP here.

Wu-Tang Clan & More To Play Village Voice SXSW Party

2011-02-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Carrie Brownstein of Wild Flag

Wow. The lineup has been announced for the Village Voice Media Party and it's a crazy one. The line up this year, featuring Wu-Tang, Fishbone, Trae the Truth, Yelawolf, Rocky Business, Trouble Andrew, Marz Lovejoy and a DJ set by Eryka Badu, is heavy on the hip-hop, a stark contrast to the line up last year. Indie super group Wild Flag, featuring members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium and Quasi, and Austin's own indie sweethearts Ume will add some indie flavor to the show.
The Houston Press website has more information.

Other Music Showcase at the French Legation

2011-02-27T21:38:00.000-08:00

I love the French Legation parties because they take place in such a pleasant atmosphere. All lush and green and overlooking downtown Austin. What more can you ask for? An amazing lineup? You got it. Both days feature heavy hitters like Ted Leo, James Blake, Low, Ghost of A Saber Tooth Tiger (featuring Sean Lennon), and a ton more.

KEXP Live Broadcasts

2011-02-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

The badass indie radio station KEXP will, once again, be broadcasting live from SXSW this year. The event features a ton of good bands and will take place at Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop on Nueces over a three-day period.

Check out the lineup:

Wednesday, March 16th Performances (Austin time)
12:30pm ‒ The Head and the Heart
2:30pm ‒ Yuck
4:30pm ‒ Grouplove
6:30pm ‒ Wild Flag
Thursday, March 17th Performances (Austin time)
12:30pm ‒ Charles Bradley
2:30pm ‒ O.M.D.
4:30pm ‒ The Black Angels
6:30pm ‒ The Joy Formidable
Friday, March 18th Performances (Austin time)
12:30pm ‒ Steve Wynn & The Miracle Three
2:30pm ‒ Violens
4:30pm ‒ Jessica Lea Mayfield
6:30pm ‒ John Vanderslice

Popantipop Sea Now Party

2011-02-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

This three-day party looks like a blast. The lineup is insane.

(lineup)
She Wants Revenge, A Place to Bury Strangers, The Twilight Sad, Amusement Parks on Fire, Art Vs. Science, Miniature Tigers, Great Northern, Bear Hands, Billy Harvey, Veto, The Stripminers, Bright Futures, Vanaprasta, The Good Natured, BRAHMS, The Hundred Days, Cloud Control, Hooray for Earth, Snowden, Yourself and the Air, Sherlock's Daughter, The Californian, The Photo Atlas, Carsick Cars, Blonde Summer, Saint Motel, Twilight Sleep, Simon Says No!, Taxi Cab Racers, Rooftop Revolutionaries, Exene Cervenka (acoustic).

RSVP

Axis of Audio SXSW Party

2011-02-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Axis of Audio and Knuckle Rumbler Party! Great lineup.

RSVP

Paste SXSW Party.

2011-02-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

There have been a whole lot of party announcements in the last couple of days (no Fader Fort, yet). I will try to put up the ones that I find interesting.
Paste magazine has announced their party and lineup. The event, which takes place on Wednesday, March 16th and Thursday, March 17th at The Stage on 6th, features some great artists and fun giveaways.

Wednesday, March 16th: Eisley, Sondre Lerche, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Kopecky Family Band, Lord Huron, Matthew & the Atlas, Lost in the Trees, Jeremy Messersmith, Trampled by Turtles, Keegan Dewitt, The Civil Wars, The Wealthy West, Futurebirds, TV Torso and Ponderosa.

Thursday, March 17th: J Mascis, The Submarines, David Wax Museum, John Vanderslice, Rural Alberta Advantage, Exene Cervenka, Kim Taylor, Sarah Jaffe, Luke Rathborne, Oryx & Crake, Nathaniel Rateliff, Seryn, Olof Arnalds and Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr.

RSVP for entry.

The Strokes To Play Free SXSW Show

2011-02-22T15:24:00.001-08:00

The Strokes, who are set to release their new album Angles on March 22nd, are playing a free show at Auditorium Shores on Thursday, March 17th. The show will be their first SXSW appearance in ten years.
Levis, the sponsor of the show, will make concert footage of the show available online the following day.
Exciting news, indeed!

- Alison Willis

I Guess I'm Floating/Flying Dog Party

2011-02-20T10:23:00.001-08:00

I Guess I'm Floating announced the details about their annual SXSW party. The lineup looks great! Flying Dog is sponsoring the party, so I'm sure some of their delicious beer will be on hand. No RSVP needed. Details and full lineup can be found here.

- Alison Willis

SxSeattle Party Details Announced

2011-02-20T09:34:00.001-08:00

SxSeattle has announced the details for their annual SXSW party. Lineup, details and RSVP info here.

- Alison Willis

Under the Radar Announces Day Parties

2011-02-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

The indie mag, Under the Radar, has announced the lineup and set times for its two SXSW day parties this year. The day parties, which take place at Flamingo Cantina, boast stellar lineups, with Atlas Sound making its only SXSW appearance on Thursday. I suggest getting there early to ensure entrance.

The Lineup:
Thursday
(12:00) Violens
(12:45) The Dodos
(1:35) Yuck
(2:25) Anna Calvi
(3:15) Lord Huron
(4:05) The Dears
(5:00) Atlas Sound

Friday
(12:00) Porcelain Raft
(12:45) Hooray for Earth
(1:35) Owen Pallett
(2:25) Surfer Blood
(3:15) Telekinesis
(4:45) Menomena
(5:00) Okkervil River

Yours Truly/Bella Union Party

2011-02-16T14:26:00.001-08:00

I love the parties at The French Legation museum over on the east side. The lush, green lawn makes for a good party atmosphere. It looks like there are free tacos and beer, as well as a great lineup.

-Alison Willis

IFC Crossroads House SXSW 2011

2011-02-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

The Independent Film Channel will be setting up headquarters in Austin for SXSW 2011. Last year, the IFC Crossroads House hosted some great bands and events.

You can sign up for a wristband here.

BAMM.tv Offers Up a Trio of Free SXSW Shows

2011-02-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

BAMM.tv, a specialty music and video streaming subscription service, is hosting three different parties at SXSW 2011. Each party features an open bar and some good music. The parties are free and open to the public, but you must RSVP to gain entrance.

BAMM.tv Fan Appreciation Party at the Palm Door

Saturday, March 19th

RSVP

BAMM.tv Official App Launch & Music Showcase at the Palm Door

Friday, March 18th

RSVP

BAMM.tv Presents: Hollerado's Nacho House at the Beauty Bar

Thursday, March 17th

RSVP

Invisible Children: Silver Series

2011-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

This looks really cool. A ton of good artists will be doing some acoustic busking on the streets during SXSW throughout the festival. Donations will help efforts to end the 25 year war in East Africa. Some of the performances will be filmed by the awesome La Blogotheque.

Check out the lineup here.

Sonicbids Official Party

2011-02-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

The RSVP link is up for the official Sonicbids party happening at Maggie Mae's on Friday, March 18th. Some of the bands playing include The Seedy Seeds and The Jezebels. This is an official party, so I don't know if you need a wristband or badge in addition to your RSVP.
For RSVP and lineup info click here.

Tiger Mountain & Noise Pop Party

2011-02-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

The folks over at Tiger Mountain and Noise Pop have announced their Brooklyn vs. The Bay party. The show is happening Wednesday, March 16th at the Red Eyed Fly and will feature two stages chocked full of good bands. It looks like there will be free Trumer Pils beer and Smoking Loon wine.
No RSVP link, but it looks like you need to send an email to sxsw@noispop.com to get on the list.

Update: the email address doesn't seem to be working. I will update when it is working.

Village Voice Showdown at SXSW

2011-02-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

This one is actually free (no wristbands or badges required). So far Wild Flag is the only band announced, with more TBA. Last year this party featured a good lineup, so I'm sure the bands will be good for this one as well.

Cheers!

New Zealand Party at SXSW

2011-02-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

This was a fun one last year. I really enjoyed Surf City and The Ruby Suns. Free booze and Liam Finn! (Note: I think you need a wristband or a badge to get in, even with a RSVP)

Mexican Summer x Gorilla vs Bear party

2011-02-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

Gorilla vs Bear and Mexican Summer have announced their party/showcase at Klub Krucial on 6th Street (East of Emo's). No set times have been announced yet. The impressive day party lineup will include Shabazz, Palaces, White Denim, Cass McCombs, The Fresh & Onlys, Star Slinger, The Soft Moon, Lia Ices and Grimes. There is also free beer while it lasts! The night portion of the event is an official showcase with wristbands required to attend. The lineup for that: Nite Jewel, Tamaryn, Games, Toro y Moi, Puro Instinct, No Joy, and Lower Dens.

You can find more info about this event, plus free mp3's of the artists performing here.

Filter/Dickies SXSW Party

2011-02-14T09:19:00.001-08:00

This one was super-fun last year. It looks like the lineup is pretty awesome this year as well. I think the evening portion is badges-only, but you can RSVP for the daytime festivities.

Radiohead Releasing New Album Saturday!

2011-02-14T08:38:00.001-08:00

Surprise! First, Arcade Fire wins a Grammy for album of the year, and now this. Radiohead will release a digital version of their eighth album, "King of Limbs," on Saturday. No pay-what-you-want format this time. The MP3 version will set you back $9, with the WAV version priced at $14. For those who want a physical album, Radiohead offers a "newspaper album" package that includes two vinyl LP's, a CD version, 625 pieces of artwork, plus access to the digital version ($48 MP3, $53 WAV).

You can pre-order the digital and physical version here.

- Alison Willis

SCHED SXSW

2011-02-13T11:02:00.001-08:00

Last year, I found SCHED, an interactive SXSW planning tool, to be invaluable for navigating SXSW. It not only includes all of the official stuff for SXSW Film, Interactive, and Music, but also tons of unofficial parties and events. You can create your own custom schedule for print out or view it on your mobile phone.

What are you waiting for? Get started here.

- Alison Willis

IODA Opening Day Bash

2011-02-13T10:34:00.001-08:00

Beach Fossils

IODA Opening Day Bash
Emo's Annex
Wed. March 16th (12-6)

Lineup

(12 pm) Withered Hand
(12:20) Geographer
(12:45) Queen Sea Big Shark
(1:15). Fredrik
(1:45). Weekend
(2:30). Aphasia
(3:00). True Widow
(3:30). The Bewitched Hands
(4:15). Typhoon
(5:00). Beach Fossils
(5:30). Gold Panda

You can download a free sampler that includes all of the artists and find more information about the party here.

A useful guide to navigating SXSW

2011-02-13T09:57:00.001-08:00

This Tumblr article by @wornwhite has a lot of useful SXSW info, including suggestions for compiling a killer party list and more. Check it out.

Worn White

- Alison Willis

Eat Your Own Ears @ The Mohawk

2011-02-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

Cloud Control

This looks like a nice lineup. Eat Your Own Ears is pairing with The Austinist and the Windish Agency to put on this show at the Mohawk. Check it out.

Eat Your Own Ears Party
@ The Mohawk
Wed. March 16th
(12-6)

Featuring: Cloud Nothings, Cloud Control, Givers, Foster the People, Royal Bangs, The Holidays, Twin Shadow, Hanni El Khatib, Huw Stephens DJ Set.

Check out the EYOE site for more info.

Gowalla Party at SXSW

2011-02-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

The Austin-based company, Gowalla, has just announced their annual SXSW party. It's happening on Monday, March 14th at The Belmont with special guests Matt & Kim and Flosstradamus.

Details:
See The World With Gowalla
Monday, March 14th
The Belmont
(9pm-midnight)

RSVP

Windish Party at SXSW

2011-02-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

Twin Shadow

It looks like the Windish Agency has announced the lineup and date for their annual SXSW party. As usual, the lineup is amazing! Emo's will be packed to the gills, so i suggest getting there early if you want to get in. As always, the event is free. Thanks to the awesome Austin blog Ultra8201 for sharing the details for this event.

The Windish Agency's 6th Annual Austin Day Party
Friday, March 18th
Emo's (noon-6)

Lineup:

Twin Shadow, Toro y Moi, The Naked and Famous, Givers, Friendly Fires, Foster the People, Esben and the Witch, The Chain Gang of 1974, Cults, BRAIDS

Filter Announces Details for SXSW 2011 Party

2011-02-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

The folks over at Filter have announced the line-up for their three-day party at Cedar Street Courtyard. Once again, there will be free BBQ while it lasts, along with an amazing line-up of artists, including Surfer Blood, Cults, and Phantogram. This is always a fun party. RSVP for entry. It fills up fast, so get their early to guarantee entry (and free BBQ!).

Back For The Attack

2011-02-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

After a brief hiatus I am back. It's that time of year again: SXSW madness! This will be my last SXSW as a resident of Austin, so I plan on living it up. Once again, I will be scouring the web for parties and the must-see bands at SXSW 2011. It's mid-February and the announcements are just starting to trickle in. SXSW 2011 is upon us!

Here we go!

My Last

2010-03-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan

All week, I had been meaning to catch Japandroids, but I continued to miss them. Until the last night. It was 1 am, I was exhausted from 4 days of nonstop music and booze.
A friend and I wandered over from Red 7, where we had been lulled into a psychedelic frenzy by Woods and Real Estate, respectively.
Our destination? The temporary venue known as The Galaxy Room on Sixth Street. (side note: Someone please make this a permanent Austin venue)
The band? The two-piece Japandroids, also from Canada. I started SXSW with the Canadian band Yukon Blonde, so why not finish it with Canadians?
They were amazing! I've been digging on the CD for quite some time now, but the live show is where it's at.

When they launched into "Young Hearts Spark Fire" the whole place went insane, including myself. Hell, people were even crowd surfing.

Whoah! We used to dream, but now we worry about dying.
I don't wanna worry about dying. I just wanna worry about the sunshine girls.

The lyrics perfectly capture the essence of youth and the realization of growing older.

What a fitting way to close out SXSW.

Listen here.

My First

2010-03-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

You always have a special place in your heart (and memory) for the first and last band that you saw at SXSW.

Filled with excitement and anticipation on the first day of SXSW 2010, I wandered into the Mohawk into a wall of sweet harmonies, fuzzy guitars and bearded men. The delight that I witnessed inside was the one and only Yukon Blonde from Canada. I had no idea who they were, but definitely liked what I heard. I've listened to their eponymous debut several times now and I'm loving it.
Hear it for yourself here on Spinner, and then go buy it. You won't be sorry.

SXSW Day Two (Day Shows)

2010-03-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

Thursday day.

The Antlers

(photo courtesy of Our Stage)

I decided to take the bicycle out that I had borrowed (Thanks, Carol!) It was a great plan, although a bit dangerous at times weaving through the throngs of people. I was careful!
I started off the day a little late, arriving at the French Legation lawn party just in time to see The Antlers. I was super-excited about this show, seeing that Hospice was one of my favorite albums of 2009 (if not, the favorite). Unfortunately, sound problems delayed the set by at least a half an hour. But, when they launched into "Sylvia," one of Hospice's high points, all was forgotten. The keyboards/bass could have been louder. On the album, they produce the perfect eerie backdrop for Peter Silberman's haunting falsetto. I debated whether to stick around for the stellar lineup, but decided to move on. To me, SXSW is a nomadic experience. You might miss some of the major buzz bands because you don't get there early or stand in line forever, but you get to see more under-the-radar bands and bands you didn't even know that you liked.

I decided to head over to the Fort for some free booze and Best Coast. Unfortunately, Best Coast were just finishing up when I arrived. I took the time to rest my feet, enjoy a Budweiser and contemplate the rest of my schedule for the day. While I was doing this, Neon Indian started playing on the outside stage. I stepped out to watch a little bit of their set to see what all the buzz was about. Pretty good, but not my cup of tea.

Up next, Local Natives. Definitely my cup of tea. Their stellar performance was one of the highlights of my SXSW experience. I had already been enjoying the album for several weeks, but their four part harmonies and excellent musicianship blew me away, especially for such young guys. Often, young bands sometimes seem inexperienced and sloppy, but not these guys. I will be seeing them again when they come back through.

I stopped into the Eastside Get Down across the street from the Fort to check out Here We Go Magic. They were good, but I wished I had seen their official showcase. I heard it was amazing.
I pedaled by Lustre Pearl for the Dickies Sounds party. There was a long line for Delta Spirit, but I did hear some of Dawes as I rode by. It sounded really nice. I had just gotten their album and look forward to listening to it some more.

I stopped to wander around the iHeartComix/Jelly NYC Carniville for a little while. Yes, there were actual carnival rides there! I spotted the Walkmen sitting on some steps waiting for their 7pm slot to begin.

Ryan McPhun of the Ruby Suns

(photo courtesty of New Zealand Music Commission)

I contemplated staying to see them (again), but decided to head on down to the New Zealand party at Brush Square instead. I'm glad I did. Free vodka and beer and the Ruby Suns! They were great. I have been digging on their song "Cranberry," and plan to buy their new album Fight Softly soon. Surf City were up next and out came the earplugs. I thought they were fun with some catchy melodies beneath the loudness.

Avi Wisnia @ The Bent Compass Party

Then, it was off to Rain to check out the Bent Compass party for a bit. I got to see some of local band Benko which I really enjoyed. Avi Wisnia and Tribella also performed that evening. I pedaled up to the "Me So Hungry" trailer on West 5th to grab some much needed sustenance, in the form of a Banh Mi Vietnamese Tofu sandwich. Delicious! Although, Lulu B's (up on South Lamar & Oltorf) has them beat for trailer Banh Mi.

SXSW Pre-Festivities

2010-03-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Supermachines at PureVolume SXSW

Like most people who really lived it up during SXSW (saw tons of bands and indulged in the free/and not-so-free booze), I am still recovering from last weeks festivities.

Everything started on Monday when we decided to check out the Pure Volume house. It was a smart move, especially given the line for badges during the festival proper. We just cruised on in and claimed our badges and our drink tickets. This years venue was far superior to last years which was a little cramped and crowded at times. We caught a little of the bearded Beautiful Supermachines before moving on to the Plutopia party at the Mexican Culture Building (the future home of the iHeartComix/NYC Jelly Carniville extravaganza). We walked around and tried some delicious samples of Tito's Vodka (one of the smoothest vodkas out there, trust me), Dripping Springs Vodka, as well as yummy Texas microbrews from 512, St. Arnold's and Independence. After that we walked over to the packed Mohawk show and decided to call it a night.

In retrospect, I wish that I had gone to the Fader Fort pre-party on Tuesday night. The event featured Metric, who I missed during SXSW due to long lines (Thanks, Muse).

Seeing that I was saving up all my energy (and money) for SXSW proper, I didn't indulge in any of the other pre-parties, although some of them sounded awesome.

See my previous post for Day One SXSW Music highlights.

SXSW Day Two Begins!

2010-03-18T14:02:00.000-07:00

At the Fader Fort having a bud tall boy. A fitting homage to my late grandpa Melvin who loved em!
Just missed Best Coast. Luckily, they are playing a million more times.
Neon Indian up next, but I'm not super excited about them. Maybe I'm the only one?
Just saw The Antlers at the French Legation. They sounded great, despite some sound issues.
Think I'll head across the street to the Eastside Get Down, or whatever it's called. Or maybe I should make my way across 35. Heard the line for Surfer Blood at the Parish is horrendous. I'll pass on that.

The agenda for the rest of the day?
Local Natives at the Fort at 4:30 or The Soft Pack at Trailer Records.
Then Dum Dum Girls at French Legation or Dawes at Lustre Pearl. A million other choices.
I would like to stop by the New Zealand cocktail party at Brush Square to see when The Ruby Suns might be playing. It starts at 6.
Today is chocked full of choices.
The xx at the French Legation at 6 is probably going to be a shit storm. But, I would like to see them. I'm sure their official showcase will also be crowded.

So many choices, so little time!

Day One: SXSW

2010-03-18T01:43:00.000-07:00

My dogs are hurtin'. And it's only the first day. Tomorrow I will employ the trusty bicycle.

I started off the day with Yukon Blonde, a great band out of Canada. They rocked the Mohawk patio with nice harmonies and lovely guitars. I love this new harmonies phase happening now. Bring it on.

Next up, I ventured over to Emo's to see The Morning Benders at the Brooklyn Vegan day party (one of the many). Also, some great harmonies. The last song, featuring some fifties doo-wap vocal stylings, was great. Crowded as hell. Damn all-ages venues. All the free Magic Hat was gone. Just some weird liqueur. A crazy crowd mix: indie chic mixed with metal up your ass. There was a metal showcase indoors at Emo's.

I headed over to the Pure Volume House to check out Warpaint, a buzzy all-girl band from L.A.
They rocked. Seriously. So nice to see ladies that can play. The Orange amp backline at Pure Volume makes for some nice sound. They had just trucked it over from The Mohawk to play this show at 3pm. I admire all the hustling these bands do during SXSW. I discovered that Sparks, that fun malt liqueur beverage, was 8 percent alcohol. Wtf?

The lines at Mohawk, Red 7 and Emo's were ridiculous, so I stepped inside of Beauty Bar. Kid Sister was entertaining the inside crowd, while female-fronted Cubic Zirconia rocked the outside stage. Both provided a much-needed energy boost. Or maybe it was that caffeinated water.

I stepped into to The Hype Machine Party at Vice to see Invisible. Although I do see the comparisons to TV on the Radio, I think they hold their own, especially for a three-piece. More, please.

Shakespeare's Pub was the next stop. Tribella was on the menu. Another all-girl band who rock. Adept instrumentation, crazy key changes and time signatures. What more can you ask for?

My must-see for this evening was the Walkmen at Stubbs. Let me just say, they were amazing! When they played "In The New Year" off their last album, I nearly came out of my skin. Hamilton Leithauser belted out the lyrics, screaming out "I know that it's true. It's gonna be a good year." What a great song. A eight-piece horn section (all from Austin) came out and played a couple of songs with the band. They played several new songs, which made me anxious to hear the next album, due out in September. The highlight of the evening, for sure. NPR recorded it all. Listen here.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124051581

After that, I debated whether I should just stick around to see Broken Bells at eleven. I decided to stay. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings were high-energy and fun. Saw some of Henry Clay People inside. Then, it was time for Broken Bells. They opened with the already popular single "The High Road." It sounded great. The pulsating light show, full of orbs and flickering lights went well with the music, especially on "The Ghost Inside," an infectious, upbeat, danc-y number.

I headed over to Club DeVille for the Brooklyn Vegan showcase to see Califone. I caught quite a bit of Bowerbirds. They sounded great, complete with accordian and ukelele.
My friend Joshua informed me that Alex Chilton had died. So sad. It was an apparent heart attack. He was only 59. I was looking forward to seeing him with Big Star on Friday. He will be missed.

Califone was good, but I was hoping to hear the stellar song "The Orchids" off of their wonderful album "Roots and Crowns." They didn't play it. After catching Spoon's last song at Stubbs, I hurried over to the Wave to catch Surfer Blood, but was denied. The roof was at capacity. The same deal with Miike Snow, another buzz band. I ended up where I should have been all along, at Sixteen Deluxe. They were one of my favorite bands back in the nineties, so it was a fitting way to close out the evening. I forgot how much I loved their feedback drenched, shoegazing melodies.

Thursday, here I come!

SXSW Music: Day 1

2010-03-16T23:38:00.000-07:00

The time is here. SXSW 2010.
I am going to be out there full-force absorbing all I possibly can.
Here are some of my picks for Wednesday:

First, I'm going to try to catch The Walkmen, one of my favorites, play at the IFC House on 7th & Brazos. If I don't make that, I can still catch them at the solid NPR showcase at Stubbs at 8:45.

Other daytime picks:

Toro Y Moi at the Mohawk @ 1:15.
Japandroids at Emo's @ 2:15 or Warpaint at Mohawk @ 2. But, there will be plenty of time to catch both of these bands, because they are playing tons.
At 3pm I could head over to The Galaxy Room to see Freelance Whales.
Then, We Were Promised Jetpacks over at the Fader Fort @ 3:45.
If I can tear myself away from the Fader Fort, I'll check out The Besnard Lakes (4:20) and Phantogram (4:45) @ the Mohawk.
5pm: Frightened Rabbit at The Galaxy Room or Choir of Young Believers @ the Pure Volume House.
6pm: Freelance Whales @ the Fort or Tribella @ Shakespeare's.

BREAK TIME!

At 8:45, I will travel to Stubbs to check out The Walkmen (again).
9pm: Here We Go Magic at Club DeVille.
10pm: Fanfarlo at The Galaxy Room.
11pm: Broken Bells @ Stubb's, Bowerbirds @ Club DeVille or We Were Promised Jetpacks @ The Parish.
12am: Califone @ Club DeVille, Warpaint @ Emo's, Frightened Rabbit @ the Parish or Spoon @ Stubb's.
1am: Sixteen Deluxe @ Encore, Surfer Blood @ Wave Rooftop or the Morning Benders @ Emo's.

I would also like to stop by the Fleadh St. Patrick's Day Party @ the old Fader Fort location for some traditionally poured Guinness on draft.
Also, The British Music Biz parties at Latitude 30 on San Jacinto are always fun.

SXSW Mayhem

2010-03-08T23:01:00.000-08:00

I have been an RSVPing, list-compiling fool for the past month. I haven't posted many links on here because I feel like a lot of blogs like The Peen Scene, ultra8201 and Done Waiting are doing a fine job so far. Do512 has an ever-growing monster list of parties for you to peruse.
Here are a few links that I felt were worth mentioning. I am still waiting for the Fader Fort RSVP info.
I will post a list of some of my must-see bands and must-attend parties soon.
SXSW fever is upon me!

This party is going to be awesome. Three days of carnival-themed mayhem brought to you by iHeartComix and JellyNYC. Go here and RSVP now! http://www.austincarniville.com/

Rachel Ray has announced the lineup for her party and it's awesome.

Brooklyn Vegan is putting on a ton of parties, including this one. Fun times.

More to come!

Shade and Honey

2010-03-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

I was saddened to hear that another talented individual took his life on Saturday. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse was an unappreciated genius with a penchant for creating songs that catapulted you out into the ether. His shaky voice and beautifully crafted lyrics have guided me through many highs and lows. He will be missed.

Here is one of my favorite songs.

The Austin 100

2010-03-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

NPR has a great SXSW mix over on their site right now. It contains a lot of great music and is an effective primer for the festival. Check it out here.

I've been obsessing over SXSW for a little while now, collecting party info, reading blogs and listening to some of the bands that will be here for the fest. This year is shaping up to be a good one. The party/showcase list that I am compiling is becoming huge! Now, if I could only find a way to be in two places at once.

No word yet on the Fader Fort RSVP. They usually wait until the last minute to spring it on you. I'm sure, as usual, there will be some stellar acts performing there. This time, I'm avoiding the rush and picking up my wristband on Tuesday morning.

Filter Party SXSW

2010-02-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

Filter always has some of the best bands performing at their parties (and Free BBQ). This year is looking good with performances by Local Natives, Dr. Dog, The Delta Spirit, BRMC, Julia Marcell, Band of Skulls and a ton others.

You can RSVP here.

Cassette Resurgence

2010-02-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

Remember tapes? You had to rewind and fast forward to reach a favorite song. You recorded homemade mixtapes for all your friends and lovers. My friend Lori and I have a load of priceless tapes that we recorded on her Emerson stereo. Yes, you can still make mixtapes (on CD's), but it's doesn't have the same feeling of catching the exact right moment and pushing the record button.

Pitchfork has a great article on an emerging cassette culture among indie musicians. With artists like Deerhunter, Dirty Projectors, Beck, Oneida and others releasing tape versions of their songs, cassettes are making a resurgence.

Cactus Cafe to close in August

2010-02-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

Is Austin losing its soul?

With a projected population of 1.7 million this year, Austin has moved on. The sleepy college town that people came to know in the past is no more.

The University of Texas has decided to close the much-loved Cactus Cafe in August of this year. To some, this was the last bastion representing the "old" Austin. It will join extinct venues such as Armadillo World Headquarters, Liberty Lunch, and The Back Room in the gallery of lost Austin gems.

The New York Times featured an eloquent article on the closing.

Mind Over Music

2010-02-01T13:55:00.000-08:00

Come out to The Palm Door (401-A Sabine) tonight for Mind Over Music, an underground music trivia smackdown that benefits Grounded in Music. The event, hosted by Andy Langer of KGSR and KLBJ's Charlie Hodge, will feature twenty-five teams competing for indie cred. Some of the teams include KVRX (KVRXperts), WOXY, Twenty Tinnitus (Austin Chronicle), Austinist, and my team Cash is King.
Come on out to heckle, drink free Tito's and eat free food for a good cause.
The event starts at 7pm sharp.

Click on the poster for details.

Gurls

2010-01-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

These days there is an amazing amount of music being made by girls, whether it be girl-fronted bands or all-female acts. I'm not complaining. I'm glad that a larger number of women have begun to produce music, a lot of it quality music.

This year, we have a ton of new releases to look forward to. Some of those include:

Girls at Dawn, Coasting, & Best Coast, following on the heels of Vivian Girls, but better.
Sharon Van Etten, who is the female voice heard on the remarkable Anters Hospice.
Dark Dark Dark. Accordians & pianos, oh my.
Warpaint, the quintessential L.A. women who deliver the catchy hooks.
Charlotte Gainsbourg, who collaborates with Beck on IRM.
Others? Hesta Prynn, Basia Bulat and a ton more.

The much anticipated Beach House album is out and receiving glowing reviews. I've only heard it a couple of times, but I can tell it is going to be one to remember.

July Flame, the latest by Laura Veirs, may be her best yet.

Joanna Newsom is coming out with Have One On Me, a triple album opus out on February 23rd. Drag City was streaming "'81," but seemed to have removed it.

Last year was a banner year for women in music with excellent releases by Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Tegan and Sara, Camera Obscura, Bat For Lashes, The xx, St. Vincent and Thao.

2010 will reinforce the notion/eliminate stereotypes. Gurls rock!

The Antlers - Hospice

2010-01-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

The question remains: What moves you, as an individual, apart from all the "lists"? Best of 2009?

For me, The Antlers "Hospice" is a constant. What an amazing record. Concept record? Depressing? Maybe. But, its undeniable pull, the quality of a great record with great songs are what brings me back to this record. Listen. Love. Repeat.

Invisible Inks

2010-01-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of checking out Invisible Inks at the venerable Chain Drive in Austin. The band features Paula Smith on guitar and vocals, Deb Norris on bass, Justin Bankston on guitar, and Brian DiFrank on drums. The members have been in many bands in the past, including One Fifth Griffith, Winslow, Karate Cowgirl, and Midori Umi. With soaring harmonies, dreamy guitar riffs, and solid rhythms, The Inks songs transfixed the crowd. I was especially pleased to hear them perform one of my all-time favorite One Fifth Griffith songs "Super Soon."
They are definitely worth checking out. Check out their Myspace page here.

Next up, we had Gretchen Phillips and her all-star dance band, featuring Amy Cook on guitar and a tall bald man dancing in his skivvies and panty hose. Fun times. I would've liked to have seen Gretchen wail on the guitar instead of staying behind the keys most of the time, but it was fun. As usual, the bartenders at the Chain Drive were super sweet. They usually have some fun events going on during SXSW that you should drop in on if you're in town.

Wigwax

2010-01-18T22:58:00.001-08:00

This was our first show and Lori and I were nervous as hell. I still wasn't sure about the current band moniker, Wigwax. We couldn't decide on a name for the band and had reluctantly decided on that one a few days before. I guess it was better than our former name, Crackhouse Mistress. I surveyed the packed room with some trepidation. Michael was there holding court with his bevy of fag hags. They smoked and laughed, somehow managing to not spill a drop from their lipstick-smeared martini glasses. Kim was there, looking luminous as ever, her black hair glimmering in the lamplight. She smiled in my direction, increasing my nervousness tenfold.

Jeannie Linguine stood in the doorway by the kitchen. She was sporting her customary blue bandana and denim overalls. I lived with Jeannie in her immaculate duplex in the up-and-coming Paseo Arts District. "Up-and-coming" usually denotes a formerly cracked-out part of town that still hasn't quite shaken the crack out. Just a few days earlier, a scraggly, toothless woman had screamed at me in my driveway when I informed her that I didn't have any cash.

"Well, Fuck you then!" she yelled.

I was surprised by the high-pitched, little girl like timbre of her voice. Beneath her grizzled exterior lurked a woman barely older than me. But these days, drugs and hard living had taken their toll. She looked like a cross between Courtney Love and Iggy Pop.

Luckily, Iggy Courtney wasn't in attendance this evening. Just the usual crowd of people that we hung out with in the dive bars and dance clubs that defined our Oklahoma City existence. These bars, with names like Angles and the Hi Lo, were smoke-shrouded shrines for bored twenty-somethings like ourselves.

I felt itchy. Was it my nerves or my shirt? The shirt I was wearing looked like it had once been part of a big, green seventies shag rug. After all, this was the nineties and retro was in, especially the disco seventies kind. My hair, newly shorn and dyed bright orange, offered a splendid contrast to the green shirt. I bristled as the air from the blasting fan tickled my neck, swirling about my head in little mini dust devils. My guitar felt like Silly Putty in my grasp. What were the chords to that song again? Lori looked over at me and nodded, a cue to start. I swallowed another swig of my beer and took a deep breath.

2010 Music Preview

2010-01-14T20:01:00.000-08:00

2010. Twenty Ten. Two Thousand and Ten. We are embarking on a new year and a new decade. Already, there are tons of new releases that I'm super excited about. And.......South by Southwest is right around the corner and it's looking to be another stellar year for the festival.
I have been digging the new track "The High Road" from Broken Bells, a collaboration between James Mercer of the Shins and prolific producer Danger Mouse. You can check it out here on their website. Their self-titled album drops on March 9th.

I love the new Vampire Weekend Contra, as well as the brilliant new album July Flame by Laura Veirs. I'm curious to hear Peter Gabriel's new all-cover album Scratch my Back (out 2/15), featuring versions of songs by Bon Iver, Radiohead, Elbow, Arcade Fire and others.

Some other early 2010 releases that I'm looking forward to:

Midlake - The Courage of Others (feb. 1st)
Spoon - Transference (jan. 26th)
Yeasayer - Old Blood (feb. 9th)
Beach House - Teen Dream (jan. 26th)
Charlotte Gainsbourg & Beck - IRM (jan. 26th)
Rogue Wave - Permalight (march 2nd)

Also out this year: Miles Kurosky (0f Beulah), Menomena, Dr. Dog, School of Seven Bells, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Cat Power and a million others!

Plus, Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel has been showing up on the radar lately, appearing on the Chris Knox tribute album. You can check out Stereogum's article on that for more information and a sneak peek at the track. I hope this means he will be ending his long hibernation period and start making some music this year. Fingers crossed!

Fade to Black

2010-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

I'm pressed against the barricades amidst a surging sway of bodies. The crowd is chanting "Die! Die! Die!" I'm loving every squished, sweaty moment of it. My newly acquired Metallica tour T shirt sticks to my skin. My best friend Jackie looks over at me approvingly, her mane of black hair thrashing back and forth, her hand proudly molded into a devil sign above her head. I duck to avoid the occasional foot or hand as crowd surfers navigate the sea of sweaty metal heads. It's 1988 and I am sixteen.

Last night, twenty-plus years after that monumental concert, I was driving home and skimming through the unimpressive sea of Austin radio stations when I came across the opening riff of "Fade to Black" by Metallica. Hell yes! I thought. As I drummed out the rhythm on the steering wheel, singing at the top of my lungs "Life it seems to fade away - drifting further every day," floods of memories came rushing forward.

I spent a painstaking amount of time learning that song note for note, rewinding the tape to listen to an elusive part over and over again. Is that an A minor or an A Major? What the hell is Kirk Hammett doing there? I debuted my masterpiece in front of my friend Jackie and a pair of incredulous neighborhood boys who were convinced that a girl couldn't shred. I showed them!

The first time that I ever heard the song was at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. My boyfriend and I had driven three hours from Oklahoma to see the Monsters of Rock Festival, the penultimate rock extravaganza starring Van Halen, Dokken, The Scorpions, Metallica and Kingdom Come. Remember Kingdom Come? They were a Led Zeppelin carbon copy band that featured Jason Bonham, the son of late Led Zep drummer John Bonham, on drums.

I had heard of Metallica, but hadn't really listened to much of their music. When they started, I left my boyfriend in our nosebleed seats in the stands to get a better look. I wanted to be where the action was in the crowd gathered around the stage, and he wanted to sit comfortably with his Coors Light and wait for Van Hagar to take the stage. I was making my way down through the crowd when I heard this sweetly beautiful riff emanating from the massive speakers. I muscled my way through the mass of people, mostly men, who were singing every word. Why had I never heard this song?

When I asked a black clad man with stringy hair the name of the song he looked at me like I was a complete moron. "It's 'Fade to Black'," he sneered. "Only the best song ever written."

After that experience, I bought all three Metallica albums and submerged myself in their music. Soon after that, my friends and I formed a shitty little garage band whose repertoire consisted mainly of Metallica covers. My love affair lasted through the infamous "Black Album." After that, grunge hit the airwaves and Metallica's newer music just didn't do it for me. To this day, I still get goose bumps when I hear "Master of Puppets" or "Fade to Black," and I still have the urge to bang my head to "Am I Evil" or "Creeping Death."

Mono-licious

2009-09-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

On 9/9/09 all of The Beatles proper albums were released in their glorious remastered form. A marketing ploy, or a markedly better sound? You decide. Upon hearing the mono version of "Hey Bulldog" on KUT last night, I would have to say better sound definitely wins out. Two box-sets that were released, a mono and stereo set, promptly sold out in less than a day, with more on the way. You can also buy the individual stereo remastered albums by themselves.
I have yet to get my hands on one of these gems. The mono box set is the one that I'm most curious about, although I wouldn't throw the stereo set out of bed. The Beatles long-time producer George Martin once said, "You never really heard Sgt. Pepper's until you've heard it in mono." Back in the day when stereo sound was a new thing, albums were recorded to be played in mono. Martin, and the Beatles themselves, took great pains in creating these exceptional mono versions. Word is that the boys left the building when it was time for the stereo mixing sessions.
As for the regular stereo remasters? People have been complaining for years about the sound on the 1987 remasters. Released for the first time on compact disc in 1987, the sound can be tinny and over-compressed on these versions.
The box sets will cost you. The stereo set is $179, while the mono set will set you back $229.99 over on Amazon.

Fanfarlo LiveDaily Session

2009-09-04T21:21:00.000-07:00

If you didn't catch Fanfarlo last March at SXSW 2009, you were missing out.
Check out this video of their LiveDaily Session at the festival. It is quite a beautiful performance.

http://www.livedaily.com/sessions/71.html

Their debut album, Reservoir, will be out on October 6th.

SXSW: Day One

2009-03-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a half day for me. I had to work until about 4:30.
I quickly headed downtown and stood in a 45 minute line to get my wrist band. I wondered to myself why I didn't get my lazy ass down there on Tuesday to pick it up. It's all hologram-y and fancy this year.
After that I headed to Beerland to meet up with my friend Susan who was finishing her shift up there. I wanted to catch The Vivian Girls at Red 7, but was too late. Luckily, they will be playing a million times, so I shouldn't have a problem seeing them. I had a beer and listened to a very heavy band called Endless Boogie.
We headed to the Fader Fort to check out the new location and have a few free adult beverages. Luckily, we both had gotten our wristbands on Tuesday because the line was long. I got to see B.o.B. there and was pleasantly surprised. They (he) were really good. The drummer was especially entertaining. I wanted to stay and check out Little Boots, but wanted to try to go to the M. Ward/Dept. of Eagles showcase at the church. We ducked into Headhunter's and caught the end of Hacienda. I would like to see more of them.
When we approached the church, we saw a long line of badges and decided we would skip that one. There are so many good bands playing that waiting in a long line for an hour isn't worth it. Although, I was sad to miss M. Ward. Maybe i'll venture over the river to see him for free at Auditorium Shores tonight.
Next up were Cut Off Your Hands on Sixth Street. They were fun. Nice melodies and very tight. We watched some guys rock out on Rock Band and then headed to Stubbs to check out Heartless Bastards and the Decemberists. I was torn between seeing the Decemberists, Blind Pilot and School of Seven Bells, who were all playing at midnight.
Heartless Bastards were really good. I think that Erika Wennerstrom's vocals translate well in a live setting. Plus, they rocked. Nice and high energy. The Avett Brothers were up next. I like some of their stuff, but it kind of made me sleepy. Maybe it was the beer and the bbq sandwich that I ate, I don't know.
This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I don't care. I though The Decemberists set was kind of boring, at least the first thirty minutes. I loved "The Crane Wife" and i'm sure I will love "The Hazards of Love," their new one performed in its entirety last night. But for some reason, it just wasn't doing it for me. I later heard some commentary on NPR saying that they thought the first half was boring, but got exponentially better. I guess I should've stayed, but I couldn't do it.
We headed over to The Beauty Bar and caught the last few notes of The Parenthetical Girls and then over to Club Deville to hear Deer Tick. Although I liked what I heard, I was ready to head home and rest up for Thursday.
I heard the last couple of songs of The Decemberists set on my way home in the car. It sounded pretty good.
Today's agenda?
I'm meeting a friend at the Red Eyed Fly for a free bloody mary or two. There are so many parties, it's hard to choose. I want to check out School of Seven Bells at the Rhapsody Rocks party. Blind Pilot, K'NAAN, BLK JKS, Thao Nguyen at the NPR party at the Parish. I want to see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at least once. Will probably head to the Paste Party to see them at 12:45. And of course, to the Fader Fort to see Late of the Pier and Tricky.
Tonight, tentatively.
The Rural Alberta Advantage, Grizzly Bear at the Presbyterian church. Vivian Girls, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Wavves, BLK JKS, Max Tundra, Passion Pit, Blind Pilot, and more.
Off for another mind-blowing, feet-hurting day!

Micah P. Hinson "Beneath the Rose"

2009-03-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

With a thousand things to do today, I still find myself immersed in all things SXSW. I discovered a new resource on the SCHED SXSW blog for finding information and music from the SXSW bands this year.

Paul's SXSW Artist catalogue is a neatly organized site that allows you to browse artists by popularity or hotness factor, among other things. Beneath each artist is a brief description, culled from last.fm, and links to the artists' work on last.fm, youtube and flicker. If you like what you hear, you can even add the artist to your own personal SXSW schedule via the SCHED link.

This is how I discovered Micah P. Hinson's song "Beneath the Rose" on youtube. This song, which apparently isn't available any where in the U.S., is achingly beautiful.

Check out Micah's official showcase at The Radio Room on Friday at 9pm.

Rachael Ray @ SXSW (again)

2009-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

People may love to hate Rachael Ray, the inventor of such fun phrases as "E.V.O.O." (Extra Virgin Olive Oil, fools), but as we saw last year, the girl puts on a good party.

The folks over at Donewaiting.com just announced the details for her 2009 party Saturday, March 21st @ Maggie May's. If it's anything like last year, the food and drinks will be amazing.

It features heavy-hitters The Hold Steady and The New York Dolls, with other great bands like my personal favorite, Ra Ra Riot. Check out last years "The Rhumb Line" if you haven't already. Also playing are Pitchfork darlings The Airborne Toxic Event, The Thermals, Bob Schneider and Rachael's husbands band The Cringe.

More details can be found on her website.

SXSW Fever Has Struck.

2009-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

SXSW 2009 is less than a month away and I am an RSVPing fool. This year it is easier than ever to do SXSW on the cheap. Here are a few sites to help you have a fun, cheap and well-organized experience. I bought a wristband again this year because even though free booze is fun, ultimately it's all about the music for me.

One of my favorite sites over the past couple of years has been donewaiting.com. They have always had the most thorough SXSW coverage, especially during the days and months leading up to the festival.

SCHED*SXSW is a great tool to upload and share your personal sxsw schedule. It has a easy-to-use features that allow you to customize your schedule to your specifications. The end result can be uploaded to iCal, your mobile phone, sent to friends and even embedded into a web page. I plan to put mine up soon. They also have a great SXSW blog with tons of info.

Showlist.austin is another great resource for unofficial parties and shows. I use this web site year round to find local shows to attend.

do512.com is a great resource for everything sxsw. Whether it be free parties, unofficial showcases or SXSW official events, do512 has it all. You can listen to bands, find info on RSVP only parties and build your own schedule. Check out their SXSW Band List here.

There are a ton of other resources out there to be had like SXSWbaby, Austin Soundcheck, Austinist, SXSW '09 Insider's Guide, and of course, the official SXSW site.

See you at SXSW!

Radiohead perform "15 Step" with USC Marching Band

2009-02-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

Radiohead killed at the Grammy's tonight with the USC marching band backing them up.
You called them band nerds in high school, but now who's jealous?
Thom Yorke, dressed in black with some pimpin' high tops (maybe not as pimpin as Lil' Wayne's) belted out the excellent "15 Step" from their Grammy-nominated album "In Rainbows."
Definitely my highlight of tonight's awards. Which, might I say, have been pretty entertaining so far. Coldplay, a very-pregnant M.I.A., Paul freakin' McCartney, Jay Z, Adele with Sugarland, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Justin Timberlake have all performed.

I think Radiohead should have won the album of the year.

My top albums of 2008.

2009-01-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

Better late than never?

Here are my top albums of 2008 after much deliberation. 2008 was a great year for good music.

20. Longwave - Secrets are Sinister

19. Beck - Modern Times

18. Santagold

17. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

16. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

15. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

14. Blitzen Trapper - Furr

13. Deerhunter - Microcastle

12. Coldplay - Viva La Vida

11. M83 - Saturdays = Youth

10. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

9. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

8. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

7. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

6. TV On the Radio - Dear Science

5. Vampire Weekend

4. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line

3. The Walkmen - You & Me

2. Fleet Foxes

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Holidays.

2008-12-30T22:47:00.001-08:00

I've been out of town with spotty internet reception for the holidays. I will be posting more soon.
I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Pitchfork Top Songs of 2008 (1-50)

2008-12-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

Here is the other half of Pitchfork Media's '100 Best Tracks of 2008' list. I will wait to post the top albums until they post the list in its entirety. You can check out (50-26) here.
In typical Pitchfork fashion, a good number of dance singles pepper the list, with a good mix of indie favorites thrown in for good measure.

Enjoy!

Pitchfork 100 Best Tracks of 2008

NPR Readers Pick Their Top Albums of 2008

2008-12-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

It is list time. 2008 is growing to a close and 'best of' lists are popping up everywhere. To some this may be overkill, but I love it. I am currently crafting my own list, perfecting it before I unveil it on this blog. It's so hard to choose with so many excellent releases out this year. But, I will have the list out before the Christmas holidays, never fear.

NPR has released its list of reader favorites for the year. I must be an NPR listener because I agree with most of their list and own 18 of the 25 titles. But, they did omit a few of my personal favorites.

Check it out.

Death Cab for Cutie on Craig Ferguson

2008-12-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

Death Cab for Cutie appeared on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson last night with a hilarious introduction by James Lipton from Inside the Actor's Studio. This week has been an excellent week for indie music on late night shows. Fleet Foxes were on Conan on Tuesday night, performing an excellent version of "English House." Before the Death Cab performance, viewers got to see Broken Social Scene appear on Letterman. Tonight we have Of Montreal on Letterman and the Cure on Carson Daly.

Check out this video of Death Cab performing "Cath" off of their latest album "Narrow Stairs."

Jack White Interviews Cate Blanchett

2008-12-18T12:10:00.001-08:00

Cate Blanchett.

Not only is she beautiful and an excellent actress, Blanchett is also an engaging and interesting interview subject as well.

In the recent edition of Interview magazine, we get the pleasure of Cate in a well-crafted interview with White Stripes frontman Jack White. They talk about their kids, Blanchett's upbringing, and Blanchett's new job as co-artistic directer (along with her husband Andrew Upton) of the Sydney Theater Company.

Did I mention the striking photos that accompany the article?

Check it out here.

Pitchfork names 51-100 of top songs of 2008

2008-12-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

The exalted music website Pitchfork Media has released numbers 51-100 of their top tracks of 2008, with promises that 1-50 would be coming soon. They will also be releasing their picks for the best albums of the year later this week.

My favorite track on the list, "Little Bit," an infectious dance number by Swedish songstress Lykke Li, comes in at #54.

Check it the whole list here.

"Dark Was the NIght" album benefits AIDS research

2008-12-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

"Dark Was the Night," a double-disc album to benefit AIDS research, will be released February 17th on the Beggar's Banquet imprint. Curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of the National, the album features performances by Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver and Yo La Tengo, to name a few of the stellar cast of performers.

The disc will benefit the Red Hot organization, to fund research to help find a cure AIDS.

According to Billboard magazine, the tracklist for the two discs is as follows:

Disc one:
"Knotty Pine," Dirty Projectors and David Byrne
"Cello Song," the Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
"Train Song," Feist and Ben Gibbard
"Deep Blue Sea," Grizzly Bear
"So Far Around the Bend," the National
"Tightrope," Yeasayer
"Feeling Good," My Brightest Diamond
"Dark Was the Night," the Kronos Quartet
"I Was Young When I Left Home," Antony and Bryce Dessner
"Big Red Machine," Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner
"Sleepless," the Decemberists
"Die," Iron & Wine
"Service Bell," Grizzly Bear and Feist
"Blood," Sufjan Stevens

Disc two:
"Well-Alright," Spoon
"Lenin," the Arcade Fire
"Mimizan," Beirut
"El Caporal," My Morning Jacket
"Inspiration Information," Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
"With a Girl Like You," Dave Sitek
"Blood Pt. 2," Buck 65 remix featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti
"Hey, Snow White," the New Pornographers
"Gentle Hour," Yo La Tengo
"Another Saturday," Stuart Murdoch
"Happiness," Riceboy Sleeps
"Amazing Grace," Cat Power
"The Giant of Illinois," Andrew Bird
"Lua," Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch
"When the Road Runs Out," Blonde Redhead and Devestations
"Love vs. Porn," Kevin Drew

SXSW 2009

2008-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

I know. SXSW 2009 is three months away, but i'm already getting ants in my pants in anticipation of my own adult Disneyland, as my friend Kimberly calls it. Plus, this freezing weather has got me dreaming of March. I've been scouring the internet for some tasty tidbits. Here is what I found.
SXSW announced the first round of official bands a few weeks ago. Here's the list:

Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
St. Vincent
Beach House
Anni Rossi
Future of the Left
White Lies
Passion Pit
B.o.B
Sage Francis

Some other bands that are playing (unofficially, so far):
These Arms Are Snakes, Past Lives, Human Highway, Cotton Jones, The Coathangers and Youth Group. This info comes via donewaiting.com, an excellent blog for all things South by Southwest.

Also, Ana over at Austin Soundcheck confirms that Liverpool duo Dirtblonde will be making an appearance at SXSW 2009.

I will be posting updates as I find them.

La Blogotheque

2008-12-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

I discovered the fabulous Take-Away sessions on the website La Blogotheque featuring some stellar acts directed by up-and-coming directors. I especially love The National's take-away session that showcases stark, beautiful versions of the songs "Start A War" and "Ada" off The National's exceptional 2007 album "The Boxer."

#40.3 - The National - Start a war
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Bon Iver, an artist on a lot of short lists for best album of 2008, is also featured on one of the take away sessions. Originally a solo project of Justin Vernon's, Bon Iver has clearly graduated into a band effort. Backed by former guitar student Mike Noyce and multi-instrumentalist Sean Carey, the trio's exquisitely layered harmonies shine through on versions of "Skinny Love" and "Flume" off of Bon Iver's stellar album "For Emma, Forever Ago."

The Take-Away sessions also feature performances by Okkervil River, Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Voxtrot and countless others. The best thing is this: you can download these performances for free!

The Calm Blue Sea @ the Mohawk tomorrow.

2008-12-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

The Calm Blue Sea, a local instrumental five-piece, play tomorrow night at the Mohawk with locals The Midgetmen, Follow That Bird! and The Bubbles and also on January 2nd during free week with Til We're Blue or Destroy. If you haven't seen these guys live yet, you are in for a real treat.

It's hard to avoid the inevitable comparison's to Explosions in the Sky. But with that said, The Calm Blue Sea sets itself apart from falling into the carbon copy comparison category. With its soaring crescendos and sad melodies, The Calm Blue Sea creates a sonic landscape reminiscent of early Pink Floyd. Melancholy piano arpeggiations color each passage with depth and resonation. Sparse acoustic guitars suddenly burst into Loveless-era distortion creating an impenetrable wall of sound. More akin to the dry, inhospitable climate of Mars than Earth, their music is clearly meant to transport the listener to another astral plane.

Their self-titled EP, released this year, is available on digital outlets such as iTunes and eMusic, as well as locally at Waterloo Records and End of an Ear.

And the winner is....

2008-12-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs Stereogum has released the results of their annual Gummy Awards. The winners can thank the readership of Stereogum who voted on their favorites in categories like "Best Album," "Best Music Video,""Best Live Act," and my favorite "Best Indie Crush." There are a ton of other categories to check out.

You can see them all here.

A-Rod and Madonna Just Friends?

2008-12-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

According to People magazine, Yankees star Alex Rodriguez claims that he and Madonna are "just friends -- that's it."
Rodriguez says he has only been to two of her concerts, not the twenty plus that the tabloids are claiming. He also said, contrary to the tabloid rumor mills, that he and Madonna have never been on a plane together and are not planning to buy an apartment together.
The two recent divorcees have been in the tabloids frequently this year, most recently when A-Rod was spotted at Madonna's concert in Mexico a couple of weeks ago.
Rodriguez' wife Cynthia filed for divorce in July, citing A-Rod's alleged infidelities, while Madonna divorce from British film maker Guy Ritchie was finalized last month.

Coldplay Rips Off Joe Satriani?

2008-12-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay over their song "Viva La Vida," which can be found on their recent album of the same name. Satriani claims that Coldplay's song contains a significant amount of original portions of his 2004 song "If I Could Fly."

Pitchfork Media dug up this YouTube video comparing the two.

I have to admit, the songs do sound very familiar.

According to Reuters (via Pitchfork), Satriani is asking for compensation for damages and "any and all profits from the song."
That could amount to a lot of money, considering that the album (and the song itself) has just been nominated for several Grammy's.

Longest Band Names Ever.

2008-12-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

Speaking of trends, why do certain bands feel compelled to stir things up by making their band names super long? Some like to make their song titles inexplicably long. Sufjan Stevens, i'm talking to you.

I thought it might be time to explore some of these bands. A few of them even come from right here under our very nose. I'm sure that there are a ton of obscure bands with longer names. But, for the sake of space (and time) I will stick to some of the more well-known artists.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
From right here in Austin, this is the funniest name of all. I use the name in conversation frequently to be silly. According to Wikipedia, the band name is also the name of an episode of "One Tree Hill," a show on the WB.

What Made Milwaukee Famous
Signed to indie imprint Barsuk, these boys also hail from Austin. The name comes from the Jerry Lee Lewis song "What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me).

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Another Austin band. Probably the most well-known out of the long named Austin alumni. The band's website says the name is taken from an ancient Mayan ritual chant, although this is suspected to be a joke.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
An indie pop band from Springfield, Missouri signed to Polyvinyl Records. The name refers to the former Soviet president Boris Yeltsin.

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's
Hailing from Indianapolis, this indie rock band got their name from Gwenyth Paltrow's character in "The Royal Tennenbaums."

Thao With the Get Down Stay Down
Led by the smooth-voiced Thao Nguyen, this San Francisco group made waves this year with their album "We Brave Bee Stings and All."

My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
This industrial electro-rock band goes way back to the 1980's and features a revolving cast of characters and musicians. Their album titles, including "Kooler Than Jesus," "Sexploitation," and "Gay, Black & Married," are almost as funny as their name.

The Presidents of the United States of America
PUSA is a twice Grammy-nominated band originally from Seattle, Washington. Their self-titled debut album sold millions of copies, yielding the singles "Lump," "Peaches," and "Kitty."

Where Have I Heard This?

2008-12-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

At work the other day I heard a familiar song on the radio. Where had I heard the song? Why was I humming along to the chorus? I looked at the XM box to find out the artist's name.

Chairlift.
Kind of a silly name.

Then I realized I had heard the song on an Apple commercial for the new, colorful iPod nanos. It's amazing the ability Apple has to cherry pick catchy songs for their commercials: Songs that stick with you, whether you like them or not. Past ads have featured Feist, The Ting Tings and Yael Naim.

I have to admit, I kind of like this little ditty.

Check out the commercial for yourself.

Prop. 8, The Musical!

2008-12-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Check out this video "Prop. 8: The Musical." Directed by Marc Shaiman, it features a star-studded cast, including Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Margaret Cho and Maya Rudolph, among others.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

School of Seven Bells.

2008-12-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

School of Seven Bells is the new project from ex-Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis and twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, formerly of On! Air! Library!
With soaring harmonies by the Deheza sisters and Mr. Curtis, "Alpinisms," their exquisitely layered debut, transports the listener into SOSB's sleepy dreamscape. The album is equal parts Kate Bush and Stereolab with a little prog. rock and psychedelica thrown in for good measure.

"Iamundernodisguise" gets things started with chanting vocals complemented by a mixture of analog and electronic instrumentation, conveying a more Eastern motif. The lyrics, sparse but powerful, show the underlying spiritual undertones found throughout the entire album:

I am neither breather nor speaker
I am neither walker nor sleeper
I am neither sister brother son nor daughter
Solely in my chest is my heart a drum of water

I am under no disguise

"Half Asleep," the first single off of "Alpinisms," starts off with shimmering vocals, showcasing the Deheza sisters perfect pitch harmonies. It's a catchy piece, surely to help pick up a few new fans on their recent tour with M83, a band who shares some of the same sonic elements with School of Seven Bells.

"Alpinisms" evokes the inevitable shoegaze comparisons, My Bloody Valentine in particular, especially on closer "My Cabal," with its crushing wall-of-sound effects and layered vocals.

Some may find the Enya-like new age vocals off putting on songs like "White Elephant Coat" and "For Kalaja Mari." Those songs, although not the strongest points on the album, add color and depth to an already stellar collection of tunes.

The name of the album references French poet René Daumal, who defined alpinisms as "the art of climbing mountains." According to guitarist Alejandra Deheza, the term refers to "mountain climbing songs," a fitting description of the songs, which combine billowing grace with ethereal beauty to lift you to great heights.

Grammy Nominations Announced.

2008-12-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

In an obvious attempt to make up for the poorly rated 2008 Grammy's, The Recording Academy announced the 2009 Grammy nominations on a prime time concert this evening. The show featured performances by Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey, among others.

Album of the year nominees included Coldplay, Lil Wayne, Radiohead, Ne-Yo and Robert Plant & Alison Kraus.

Best new artist nominees? Adele, Duffy, The Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum and Jazmine Sullivan.

For the full list of nominees go here.

I Heart Sirius XMU

2008-12-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

We subscribe to XM Radio at my place of employment. I haven't paid too much attention until we discovered channel 43, Sirius XMU. I think it came about as a result of their XM and Sirius' merger. It is an indie station that plays every song I love. Seriously. I could put my iPod on shuffle and get a lot of the same songs.

I especially love Josiah's show.

Will you marry me?

A sample playlist:

Ra Ra Riot - "Ghost Under Rocks"
Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"
Pinback - "Penelope"
LCD Soundsystem - "Time to Get Away"
Beck - "Orphans"
M83 - "Kim & Jessie"
Vampire Weekend - "M79"
The Walkmen - "Donde Esta La Playa"