Show Preview: Pharaohs @ Mohawk (8/19)

PharaohsI know Alex Bleeker of Real Estate is playing over at Hotel Vegas, but I think I’m going local Monday night by checking out the great acts featured at the Mohawk.  I can rave on and one about Eets Feats, which features members of Low Times, or I could talk about the connection between The Shine Brothers and Black Angels. I might even want to talk about exciting new Austin act, God’s Gun, but of course, I’m going back to love on Pharaohs. This isn’t because the other bands aren’t incredible (they are), but because one of my favorite local acts has also just released a new video for their track “Come And Get It;” ou can watch it HERE. The track is super local; it was filmed by Jon Chamberlain of Rubberneck Mag, and features Steven of Sweet Talk/Jonly Bonly fame.  Seems like you should get to the Mohawk tonight: doors are at 9.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pharaohs-Babes-Booze-Bam-Bam-Baby-01-Prettiest-Girl.mp3]

Download: Pharaohs – Prettiest Girl [MP3]

Sprawling Pop Rock from Gang of Youths

gangofyouthsOne of the great things about SXSW, despite the whining of DIIV, is that you get to make communications across the globe you wouldn’t have made otherwise.  Such is how I met our friend Meg, who pointed me to Gang of Youths, who will soon be relocating to the USA.  They’ve just released the following single, which is reminiscent of acts like Local Natives, though this group shows a bit more restraint in their songwriting, holding back where others have gone on to explode.  I like what the group is doing, and I hope you do as well; keep an eye out for them, as they’ll be making their way to the States very soon to warm your ears.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104946324″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Ty Segall – Sleeper

TySegall_AlbumArt_Sleeper-e1374476963461Rating: ★★★★☆

The last few years have seen Ty Segall take the world by storm, releasing blistering hit after blistering hit.  But, due to circumstances beyond his control, Ty’s taken a step backwards, in a personal sense, leaving listeners with a much more reflective listen.  Sleeper feels personal from the get-go, as Segall has shed a large part of his distortion ethos for a stripped-down acoustic affair, giving you a glimpse of his life, and yours.

“Sleeper” opens this new record, and it opens quite carefully.  A faint whistle lurks while the guitars slowly begin to make their appearance.  It’s a slow-strummed number, with Ty’s voice carefully matching his playing style, emphasizing certain words with various licks. The lyrical content seems to point towards a bit of escapism, but let’s all take our own path on how we determine the meaning.  As it moves into “The Keepers,” the mood seems to go darker, so far as you’re just listening to the tone of the guitars.  I dig his usage of understated harmony; he touches it on it carefully…not pushing it too far for the listener.

There are a few songs in the next few spots that really seem personal, and it’s rather hard to ignore the subject matter.  On “She Don’t Care” you can tell the narrator desperately wants to point out to that whomever he’s discussing is wanted, though possibly neglected.  Whether we take this as Ty’s personal reflection, or our own, we all can affiliate ourselves with unrequited feelings at some point in another, whether for ourselves or for another.  The added string arrangement atop the song really makes it a sad tune, as if those strings are crying for us all.  It’s always enjoyable to see someone known for a barrage of noise go quiet.

I think my personal favorite is the closer on Sleeper, “The West.”  I love the guitar work on this song, which is possibly the most creative on the record; it’s also a tune that I think I can relate to the most, at least at this moment.  Thematically, it seems, to me at least, to be an homage to a place you can call home, a place of solace.  Many of us have wandered or traveled, but there’s always a place that’s nice to call home.  Mom’s, dad’s or friend’s, it’s always nice to have a place to hang your hat.

Early on, Ty Segall used a lot of pieces of acoustic guitar, like on “Ceasar,” but lately we’ve been accustomed to him melting faces with his last few releases; those albums are perfectly grand, but I like the man in the picture painted by Sleeper.  You don’t always have to hammer at your guitar.  Sometimes you can sit quietly with your life and let it all pour out, which is what seems to be the case throughout this LP.  The personal touches throughout make this more than just a stop-gap between albums; it solidifies Segall as one of the most important songwriters today.

Another New Rocker from Bad Sports

Bad SportsI’m going to admit that I have a bit of an obsession with Bad Sports, and all the associated acts of the members (Video, OBNIIIs, etc).  Their new record Bras is, to me, a huge success.  They’ve slowed down a few of the tunes, leaving listeners with these great power pop ballads; there’s still a nice grinding edge, however.  The track below is just such an example; it’s catchy in the chorus; there’s a stomping drum element.  My two cents think this is going to be a sleeper hit for a lot of folks that are into the realm of garage-rock.  Bras comes out on Dirtnap Records at the end of August.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/08-Terrible-Place.mp3]

Download: Bad Sports – Terrible Place [MP3]

Stream New Wymond Miles

This is a sweet track to add to your weekend streaming. Wymond Miles is guitar guru for The Fresh & Onlys and has released an LP and EP in recent years, but there is building buzz around the pending full length called Cut Yourself Free due 10/15 on Sacred Bones.

Thing is, I took a second listen and the song struck me as very familiar. I had just listened to Turn On The Bright Lights last week. Tell me if you hear a similarity or maybe I’m just nuts.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/105106939″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

PYAITK: The Delta Mirror

I missed this track when it hit the Intarwebs, but I am fixing that.

The Delta Mirror is described as “Electro Shoe-Goth”. I call it post-punk slap-core wingnut and this track is a heaping helping of it. This track called “Goldfish” has a heavy drum intro followed by big fuzz before settling into a structure built around an addictive vocal. Breaks and beats finish out a chorus structure and using layered vocals as song structure.

The album Better Unsung is out now on Lightwave. They cover of “Goodbye Horses”, too. Tuck that penis.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93751238″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Dead Gaze Returns w/ Another Album

deadgazeJust a few weeks back, Dead Gaze released some early recordings that he compiled together; I enjoyed those all for the most part.  But, now things are coming quick for Cole Furlow’s project, with another new album, Brain Holiday, slated for release by Fat Cat on October 22nd.  This new single definitely shows the pop sensibility shining through, despite a bit of fuzz added atop the vocals.  There’s a melody that runs central, emphasized by the vocals throughout, getting me rather excited for more tunes from DG. The band will also be coming to Austin on September 13 with Dent May, but I’ll remind you of that in a few weeks.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104419116″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

We Love Obits…and Their New Single

ObitsI’ve actually grown to appreciate  Obits as their own entity; I used to love them based solely on their earlier bands.  On this new song, the second single from their upcoming album, they’re, surprisingly, not going on full blast.  There’s still that rawness, which admittedly can be attributed to the vocals, but the warmth of the guitar towards the end of the track really finds the band going in different directions.  Bed Bugs is the title of the new album, and it’s being released by Sub Pop on September 10th; are you ready to rock?

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/02-Spun-Out.mp3]

Download: Obits – Spun Out [MP3]

Shimmering Pop from Joanna Gruesome

joannagruesomeThe kids in Joanna Gruesome are already having a great year; they should be happy to find a home on such an incredible label like Slumberland Records.  That being said, the more I hear from the band, the more likely it seems that it’ll be a banner year for the group.  Sure, you can see similarities to label mates Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but they do it with their own sense of reckless abandon and added flare.  While the song trots along, you’re not ready for the noisy outro that takes place just beyond the two minute mark.  Like every band, they make nods to their heroes, but in doing so, they also make it entirely their own; I applaud them for that.  Their album Weird Sister will be out on September 10th.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/105133358″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Graceful Pop from The Black Watch

blackwatchGotta give a shout out to my friend over at IPSML for pointing me in the direction of one of California’s longest working (and greatest) bands, The Black Watch.  I like the band’s ability to construct songs that dwell in varying genres, much like the work on their albums.  On this tune I can hear classic pop sounds, yet there’s that ringing in the way the guitar lines are struck that reminds me of The Wedding Present.  I even chuckle when the “hey” jumps out from the background.  Their new record is titled The End of When and will be released by Pop Culture Press Records within the next month.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/1-02-Meg.mp3]

Download: The Black Watch – Meg [MP3]

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