Filter Party SXSW

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.