Austin Town Hall

Attention to all you out of town kids coming in for SXSW!  If you want to hear some solid local music before the week really kicks off, head over to Red Eyed Fly on Saturday night for a free show put on by bloggers Aquarium Drunkard.  Some of our best and brightest Strange Boys & Harlem will be playing along with Brooklyn band Blair.  I’d plan on getting there real early if you plan on getting in.

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Download: The Strange Boys – Dare I Say [MP3]

The much anticipated Flaming Lips show is finally upon us this Friday at Austin Music Hall.  Opening support for one of the best live bands around will be provided by fellow Okies Stardeath & White Dwarfs.  Unfortunately this bad boy is sold out so you’ll have to try your hand at craigslist or scalping.

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Download: Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands [MP3]

A fairly new band in the Austin scene, The Happen-Ins, will be celebrating the release of their debut LP at Scoot Inn on Friday.  The lineup is filled out by some solid local talent and includes Nic Armstrong, A Giant Dog, and The Ripe.  This should be a great chance for you out of towners in for SXSW to see some of the best up and coming talent Austin has to offer.

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Download: The Happen-Ins – Just the Way it Always Was [MP3]

The last time we caught Dawes, they were winning over the audience opening up for Delta Spirit.  Now they’re headlining their own set up at Emos this weekend, bringing you their blend of Americana and California-tinged bluegrass.  Luckily, the openers aren’t too shabby either; Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons have the middle slot, and Jason Boesel opens.  You’ll know Jason from his role in Rilo Kiley and his work on various Bright Eyes records.  See you Saturday night!

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Download: Jason Boesel – Hand of God [MP3]

The only band I think I know from Alaska, Portugal. The Man, is returning to Austin at The Parish for two shows on Friday and Saturday night.  Openers on both nights are The Dig and Port O’Brien.  Having seen this band live before, I can tell you that you’ll want to make it out for one of these show.  Or maybe both?

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Download: Portugal. The Man – The Dead Dog [MP3]

If you’re looking for something to do on Thursday night, the Mohawk isnide stage would be a great place to stop by with a nice lineup of local bands.  Things get kick started with instrumentalists Silent Land Time Machine, then move to My Milky Way Arms, and music ends with ATH faves Ideal Soul Mart.  Mark us down as attending.

Side note: The boys in ISM just made a sweet new video for their catchy jam “Wrk”.  Check out the hilarity of it all on youtube.

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Download: Ideal Soul Mart – Wrk [MP3]

As the temperature dropped again, we couldn’t have asked for a better evening on which to enjoy The Clientele.  A little touch of fog, and the night would have been the perfect setting for their atmospheric chamber pop.  Joining the Brits on stage was Vetiver and Michael Kingcaid from What Made Milwaukee Famous. Follow the jump for more.

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We here at Austin Town Hall were fortunate enough to get our hands on some tickets for the much anticipated Tegan and Sara at Bass Concert Hall on Friday night.  Touring in support of their latest release, Sainthood, the girls were accompanied by the beautiful Holly Miranda and Steel Train.  A sold out crowd filled the hall, and you could hear the buzz as all the fans anxiously awaited the beginning of the night. Follow the jump for the full show review and pics.

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