A Night Out With Feverbones, Pollen RX and White Denim

Hello.

Nathan has announced that Feverbones is back and that they will be releasing new material soon on ATH Records. We are all really excited by this, they are remarkably talented musicians and it shows through with every song. It also means that you will be able to see them about town, so a benefit show at Mohawk with White Denim headlining and our friends Pollen RX playing next door at Cheer Up seemed like a perfect excuse to get together and take in a Feverbones set and get a quick band portrait.

So, I have just a few thoughts after the break with plenty of pics…

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Sonic Transmissions Festival Starts Thursday

In a city where it feels like there’s a festival or party for everything, we’ve come to appreciate the diversity represented in the Sonic Transmissions Festival (Year 3). Rarely will you find a festival that operates within the confines of our fair city that puts experimental jazz next to cumbia and punk rock…yet here they are! They’ll kick off things Thursday evening over at Barracuda, then moving to Kick Butt Coffee on Friday and ending at Victory Grill/Kenny Dorham’s Backyard on Saturday. It truly is a festival that encapsulates everything that Austin’s music scene has to offer.

You can get your hands on tickets HERE, or try your luck at the door. Stream a curated playlist by the festival below.

Hear the Premiere of Historian’s Latest Single

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve heard from Historian, but I feel as if this new single makes it all worth the wait. The base of this song seems to be a carefully strummed guitar and the deep vocal tones of Chris Karman, but it’s the added layers that really push the song into something special. You’ll hear string accompaniment giving death and emotion to the song’s twists and turns. Horns even pop up mid-track to illustrate just how much the group paid attention to the finer details in every number. This is just our first glimpse of the band’s new LP, Expanse, which comes out on October 20th.

Dig On This Eli Raybon Tune

There’s something about slow-jam synth pop that really makes me a sucker; I just drink it up and press play over and over again, much as I’ve done with this new Eli Raybon tune. I enjoy the way he slowly releases his vocal notes, almost as if they’re being drawn out against his will; it creates this seductive vibe that brings you deeper into the song itself. For now, this tune is a one-ff single, as Eli has just recently released his Green EP, so enjoy this jam, then go back in time and listen to his other tracks…you won’t wanna miss em’.

Flowers Release Last Single Ever on Fortuna Pop

No. Flowers are not breaking up. But, with their new 7″ single, Fortuna Pop will finally close its doors and move on to greener pastures. Sadly, we might not find a finer purveyor of pop, but we’ll always have the memories. The label, in my eyes, goes out with a bang, dropping two Flowers tracks that are memorable as ever. The first tune has a bubbly underbelly, while the latter track has a juxtaposed softness to it…all illustrating just how glorious the band is. Enjoy the tracks below, and fall in love, for the last time, with Fortuna Pop.

Stream the New EP from Even As We Speak

Surely you’ve heard about Sarah Records, especially with the rise of of indiepop in the indie realm as of late (or on this site anyways). But, many of the bands from that early period of pop have either reformed or been given their long deserved due. Even As We Speak, fortunately, have gone back in the studio and recorded their first work since 1993. Even 25 years on, they don’t seem to have missed a beat, crafting timeless pop music on The Black Forest EP. The EP begins slowly (energy wise), and then jumps off with the standout track, “Such a Good Feeling.” You’ll be able to get your hands on the EP from Emotional Response.

Don’t Sleep on This Mu Tune

Canadian due Mu garnered a lot of early praise for their II EP, but they’ve been rather quiet since that time, until this week when they dropped a new single. The song seems simple in structure, letting vocals gently float on top of guitar strumming at the start, then adding a layer of looped beats beneath. Beats and layered textures provide you escapism until the tune’s end. There’s also an accompanying video for this new single that you can find HERE. Don’t miss this tune; it’s a gem for sure.

New Club 8 Hit

Not only are we Labrador Records fans, but we’re also huge fans of Club 8. They just dropped this darkened electronic gem to announce their brand new album Golden Island. For the most part, this number takes on more of an atmospheric vibe than the band has presented before, with the vocals coming across almost as carefully exerted breaths in the front of the mix. The song’s construction and minimalism illustrate that the group can work on varying levels, not just hitting you over the head infectious pop; this is pop music for those that think. Look for the new record in early 2018!

The Wedding Re-Record George Best with Steve Albini

Felt like George Best is a long lost gem, and while they toured this album, they didn’t bring it to Austin (sad face); it would have been a delight to hear The Wedding Present play George Best in its entirety. And now we have news that Steve Albini has re-recorded the band’s heralded album as the record turns 30. The band, who were already working with Steve, recorded the whole thing live in the studio, and you can sample the reworking below. Look for the GB30 to be released via HHBTM on September 22nd. Also…on a side note, you should watch the George Best documentary.

Did You Hear the New Trudy and the Romance Tune

This track came my way last week, and it seems to have blown up since that point. Having written about Trudy and the Romance before, it seems fitting I should continue my infatuation with the group. Here we have the more of a crooner’s masterpiece, filled with string arrangements, delicate piano notes and a unique little warble in the vocals that draws your ears into the track. It’s great to see pop bands taking such huge leaps with their music, and the whole production here indicates the group means business. Look for their Junkyard Jazz EP to drop this November.

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