Sleek Dream Pop From Pale Puma

Pale Puma is the moniker of Amsterdam’s Django Duijns, who started this project just this year, but has already made some great strides. This single, “Solid Gold,” is being put out today by Manimal, you know those same folks who bring you tunes from Bat For Lashes and Warpaint. “Solid Gold” is a real treat; the buttery vocals collide with the sexy and tightly wound guitar riffs that make your head bob. There’s a whole lot of layers here for a solo project, and it’s easily a track that you’ll revisit. I’d keep my ear to the ground for more from Pale Puma.

 

Maybird Shares a Catchy Tune

If you weren’t aware, Maybird is an outfit from Rochester, NY, that is crafting catchy psych rock mixed with roots elements. They dropped their album, Things I Remember From Earth, back in May, and now they’ve got a new video for the short, but sweet track “Montreal.” What’s so lovely about this tune is the way it’s not even two minutes, and yet, it’s got all the makings of a tune that will get stuck in your head for days. The whole track bursts with energy, and the chorus has this incredible build to it that escalates the tune from bubbling to boiling. Take a listen below and enjoy.

Looking Back and Looking Forward: ACL W1 Recap & W2 Preview

ACL 2019

Today’s the day! It’s officially day one of Weekend Two of Austin City Limits 2019! Last weekend, we endured a ridiculous amount of heat and humidity to see some great bands deliver wonderful performances. Lucky for you, Weekend Two goer, you have the chance to see essentially the same lineup (with a few wonderful additions) with far superior weather. Yes, it may look like rain is in the forecast this morning and it’s likely Zilker will turn into a bit of a mud pit (rain boots may be your friends), but the great news is you will not sweat merely by existing. You can view the full schedule here, and if you’re a fan of the hard paper copy, I would suggest printing one out at home, as there is no fold out maps / schedules this year. Read more for my thoughts from Weekend 1 and suggestions for Weekend 2. Read more

ACL 2019 Preview: Must See Late Night Shows

We’re one –that’s right just one– week away from this year’s edition of the Austin City Limits Music Festival. While this year’s fest has snuck up on us rather quickly, it comes as no surprise that the late night bills around town are a solid addition to this years lineup. Whether you’re hitting up just a day or two of the Fest proper at Zilker, want to catch your faves in a more intimate venue, or would rather just see a few nights of music and want to skip the fest, The Official 2019 Late Night Shows have some great options to amplify your festin’ this year. Healthy reminder to scoop your tickets now, as most will likely sell out.

Read my picks after the jump.

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Derde Verde Share Your Ghost

I’m a little late in the game sharing this track, but it’s an utterly haunting folk rock tune that brings me back to early Grizzly Bear days, so it’s a must listen. Derde Verde is a two piece based out of L.A., comprised of Dylan McKenzie and Jonathan Schwartz. “Your Ghost” is their latest single and it’s a perfect slice of introspective beauty for you to get lost in.The last minute of this track is where the band really shines–lead songwriter and vocalist Dylan McKenzie’s vocals soar above the winding guitars and steady percussion like a beam of sunlight finding its way through the branches of a tree. “Your Ghost” is at once delicate and lush, making it the perfect soundtrack to the cool breezes of fall that will hopefully be on their way to us soon. Take a listen below, and look out for the band’s upcoming LP, Slow Light, which will be out on October 11. Pre-order it here.

Dreamy Glitch Rock From Cobey.

Cobey. is a project out of Chicago, who has been hiatus for four years. This track is his first foray back into the musical world post break, and it’s a rich number that will have you swooning.”California Dreams” is a nice blend of genres. Vocally you get a dream pop / lo-fi sound, but the percussion and synths scream glitch pop with their trippy beats, then you get a fuzzy squall of a distorted guitar and you’re reminded of more straightforward indie rock. Altogether, the track makes for a cohesive jam with many textures to embrace and enjoy. Take a listen below.

Skewed Folk From Field Guides

Field Guides are an outfit from Brooklyn that seem to have a rotating roster of players. Their music, as described by their Facebook page, is “feely,” and while I’m not too sure what that exactly means for in terms of the genre, I definitely understand what they mean upon first listen to “Lucky Star in The AM.” This skewed folk track oozes a feeling of wistfulness–the combo male/female vocals atop the glittering guitar parts and simmering percussion make for a swoon-worthy sound. I’m digging the many textures and layers of the track, and I’m excited for the band’s upcoming album, which will be out next Friday, September 27. Check out their other tunes and pre-order it here.

ACL 2019 Preview: Big and Small Bands To Watch

If you can believe it, (I can’t) we’re less than a month away from two weekends of crazy fun at Zilker Park once again. Whether you’re a veteran fester or new to Austin City Limits Music Festival, we’re here to try and help you navigate a few days in the still-too-hot-for-October-Texas Sun with a few hundred thousand of your closest friends. Click past the jump to check out five of my must see bands, both obvious choices and more under the radar acts. You can buy your tickets / passes here.

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Helenor Shares “Fall Off”

Helenor is the project of David DiAngelis, Boston based indie rocker, who is on his way to releasing his debut LP, something twice. He’s already dropped a slew of great tracks from that release, but today’s offering is “Fall Off,” which is a mellow and unassuming song that really opens up towards the end of the track. What starts out as a bit of a twee psych track jangles along, with DiAngelis’ meek vocals gracefully leading you. The guitars are sleek and refined, with twinkling synth elements and doo wop esque backing vocals joining the mix before a nice little instrumental break down at the end. Take a listen below and look out for more from Helenor soon.

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