Author: nathan.lankford

Weekend Free Week Preview!

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austin-skyline-mark-weaverFree Week is upon us, and it’s time for you to go spend your night hopping around catching shows.  I caught several acts last night that I’ll be mentioning in the next few weeks, so it’s your chance to go discover some new tunes too.  

Here’s our recommendations for the weekend. Yeah.

Friday: 

OBN IIIs and Pharaohs at Beerland @ 9 PM

Young Girls and Bobby Jealousy at Hotel Vegas @ 9 PM

Bloody Knives at Elysium @ 9 PM

Saturday:

Spray Paint at Beerland @ 9 PM

Young Girls at North Door @ 9 PM

Megafauna and Little Radar at Holy Mountain @ 9 PM

Sunday:

Grape St. and Little Wesley at Red 7 @ 9 PM

The Baker Family at Holy Mountain @ 9 PM

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Caroline.mp3]

Download: Young Girls – Caroline [MP3]

Free Week Preview: Thursday!

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austin-skyline-mark-weaverToday officially begins Austin’s tradition of Free Week.  It’s like SXSW, just with tons and tons of great Austin (and a few Texas) bands.  Sure, there’s been some recent debate about the validity of free week and how the musicians get paid, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least give you some suggestions for the opening night, and hopefully suggestions as it goes along.

First, since there has been debate about how the bands earn money during free week, while you get free rock n’ roll, here’s a few quick tips on how to help them out: 1) Buy merchandise.  Austin is notoriously bad at this, but bands are able to fund their tours, their recordings, etc. when you buy their stuff; ten bucks go a long way.  2) Buy lots of booze.  A lot of venues are giving percentages to the bands to pay them, so be sure you spend well at the bar, or just leave a tip with the band.

Now, here’s my suggestions:

Royal Forest and Reservations at the Belmont @8

The Baker Family and Ruby Fray at Mohawk @ 8

Big Bill at Chain Drive @ 9

Pick one, skip around, do your thing, but be sure to catch a ton of shows. You owe it to yourself.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/02-John-Denver.mp3]

Download: Royal Forest – John Denver [MP3]

Crunchy Rocker from Cherry Glazer

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cherryDon’t think just because I’m loving my wintery tunes at the moment that I don’t appreciate a solid rock number, like this new single from Cherry Glazer.  The group have just announced that they’ll be releasing their debut, Haxel Princess, on Burger Records, which will hit stores on January 14th.  I like the sound of the female vocal working against the guitar in this song.  There’s a softness that fits nicely against the jagged edges of said guitar that really gets me, emotionally speaking.  Hope to hear more rad tracks from the band in the future.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/122843779″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Soft Number from Charlie and the Foxtrots

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maniamListening to this track, I was first attracted to the solemn quality that opens the track, though that quickly fades as the drums enter the picture.  Then I began to gravitate to the slightly peculiar quality of the vocals, which seem to fit the overall genre where we can slide Charlie and the Foxtrots.  But, then I realized that none of that’s as important as the fact that this is just a really good song.  With each passing second, it seems that the group is adding another layer to the tune, all the while holding consistent.  

This song is slated to be released on the band’s upcoming debut, which should be headed out way soon.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/121121628″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Austin Spotlight: Orthy Releases Video for E.M.I.L.Y.

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OrthyWe’ve run this jam before, but seeing as we love Orthy, it only serves you that we post it again, now that the track has been mastered and given the video treatment it deserves.  It’s especially important as our local favorite has plans to release the E.M.I.L.Y. EP on January 21st via Dither Down Records; we havent’ even heard the whole thing yet, and already it’s sneaking into our lists for next year.  The songs on this EP represent Ian’s love for his wife, which is a sentiment I hope many of you can understand, allowing you relate not only to the great music, but the subject matter as well.  You can stream the new video HERE or click post the break for embedded goodness, and if you’re free this weekend, the band will be playing at Mohawk with Auto Body Saturday night.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/01-E.M.I.L.Y..mp3]

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Another New Tune from The Echo Friendly

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echofriendlyRecently I tossed up a cover jam from duo, The Echo Friendly, but we’re back with our first taste of the band’s original work for their upcoming album, which is scheduled to come out later in 2014. Listening through, it’s got a driving hook that centers around the vocal delivery of Shannon Esper.  The guitar line shimmers with a bit of a discordant ring to it, and the beat only serves to emphasize the forward push of the track.  It’s definitely a catchy tune that still holds a bit of grit in its teeth.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/125417464″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Music from Stone Jack Jones

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artworks-000065604035-0u4pf0-t500x500As the temperature drops across the Northern Hemisphere, we’re all seeking out some form of solace.  For some it’s a fire, but for me, it’s sad bastard/slow folk tunes. Luckily, this new tune from Nashville’s Stone Jack Jones came our way today, so we had to share the number.  It’s got a real slow pace, with the vocals carefully floating atop the guitar, and backing vocals added by Patty Griffin.  If you ask me, tunes like this are much better than a fireplace, but that’s just me.  His new album, Ancestor, drops on March 4th via Western Vinyl (those guys are going to have a rad 2014).

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/State-Im-In.mp3]

Download: Stone Jack Jones – State I’m In [MP3]

American Rock from Desert Noises

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desrtGood jams are good jams, and sometimes they come our way with no guise our pretension.  That’s the feeling that I got when I listened to the newest single from Desert Noises.  Sure, there’s hints of Americana or folk laying in their work, but by and large this is just a good American pop song, the kind we should be proud people are creating.  It’s not manufactured or over-produced; it’s just a jam of a track that makes you feel good. The band’s debut full-length, 27Ways, will be out on the streets in March via SQE Music.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DesertNoises.mp3]

Download: Desert Noises – What the World Made [MP3]

New Music from Babe

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Babe-HeadlineWinding down 2013 means we’ve got to make sure we’ve covered our bases, and I really wanted to make sure you all had a chance to hear this great song from Babe that went up a few weeks ago.  This single comes from the group’s upcoming LP, which is slated for a release on Moshi Moshi in March of 2014.  I love that there’s this real shimmering dance line that’s created with actual instruments, including the occasional stutter of vocals.  There’s different shifts too in what the group is offering up, so I’d be remiss to make a nod to those slight little changes.  It’s a promising start, if you’re asking me.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Tilt.mp3]

Download: Babe – Tilt [MP3]

New Old Jam from Tony Molina

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tonymolinaI didn’t want you all to think I’d gone completely soft on the world, so I had to post this track from Tony Molina.  Odds are, it’s new to most of you, though it’s a tune off his first LP, which is seeing a release on Slumberland Records, with a promise of a sophomore LP to come out later in the year.  This tune comes of Dissed and Dismissed, but it’s re-release only indicates that we’ve got more great things to come from Tony.  It’s got a scuzzy guitar line, but it also holds tight to a real pop sensibility that comes from, dare I say, Weezer. You can pick up the album on March 25th; I will.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/123577825″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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