Show Preview: Bad Sports @ Beerland (3.26)

badsports1

Date Wednesday, March 26th
Location Beerland
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets Tickets at the door


For those of you looking to get out of the house on Wednesday night, this is hands down the best line-up you’ll find, possibly all week long.  You’ll get to open your evening with our favorites, Eets Feats, who always put on a solid live set, then they’ll be followed by Zoltars.  If you haven’t listened to the latter band’s Walking Through the Dark then you’re missing something that belongs in your record collection.  The night will close out with Fleshlights and Bad Sports.  These are two acts that I never grow tired of seeing live; they’re full of energy and a rawness that you don’t always get when going out about town.  I’d say your plans for Wednesday night have already been made.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/badsports_-_LetMeIn.mp3]

Download: Bad Sports – Let Me In [MP3]

Bounce House Release Party @ Beerland (11.26)

bounceWe’ve got a nice little community starting to reemerge in Austin, and one of our city’s photographers has a a rad little band that’s popping up on our radar.  The band is called Bounce House, and they’ll be releasing their first EP titled Hottest Day of the Year.  It’s filled with five rad tunes of punk rock that give you that fine blend between of bounce (as in the title) and grit; I’m really happy for these dudes.  You’ll also have other Austin heavy-hitters like Bobby Jealousy and Basketball Shorts filling out the evening at Beerland, so expect to get your money’s worth…and pick up the EP while you’re at it!

Show Preview: Sweet Talk + Gospel Truth Album Release @ Beerland (6.5)

970946_558770560841861_646130771_nIt’s a ridiculous week for shows here in Austin; Rayray and I were commenting on the fact that we could go see a good show every night this week, should we choose to do so.  One show I think you should keep an eye on that might be flying under the radar is the Sweet Talk show tonight at Beerland.  They’re playing their last show before they head out on the road for a bit, but that’s not the only thing you’ll get.  Gospel Truth is also playing to celebrate the release of their new record, A Lonely Man Does Foolish Things.  I mean, you can’t ask for more, but you’ll get more because both Loteria and Pharaohs will be opening the night. Solid rock n’ roll and a solid bill.  Here’s some jams from Sweet Talk and Pharaohs to get you in the mood.

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

Show Preview: Gun Outfit @ Beerland (4.5)

gun_outfit

Date Friday, April 5th
Location Beerland
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets Cheap


If you’ve kept your eye on the site this week, you’ll know that one of the LPs that came out this week that I can’t stop spinning is Hard Coming Down from Gun Outfit.  It’s got the perfect blend of modern day indie rock with that nostalgic 90s bent, and I’ve heard nothing but great thigns about their live set. But, as if that weren’t enough, you’ll get to see underground icons, Versus, and one of our local favorites Flesh Lights.  To top it off, the Young and Ghetto Ghouls will be joining in, so you’ll get to see five rad bands for pretty cheap.  And everyone at Beerland is friendly, so there’s that.  Don’t be scared, come rock with me!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Gun_Outfit_-_My_Whole_Life.mp3]

Download:Gun Outfit – My Whole Life [MP3]

Rad Music Thursday — In Austin That Is

austin-skyline-mark-weaverIt’s a weird world in Austin building up to SXSW.  We get some good shows, but a lot of traveling acts just postpone the inevitable of a week of belligerence and loud tunes.  Luckily, Thursday night has all kinds of great shows you can skip around to, or catch in full, all featuring promising acts that us folks at ATH adore.  Here’s a brief spotlight on where you can head if you’re into live music. Read more

Sweet Talk Record Release Tonight @ Beerland

sweettalkYou want to get down with some rock n’ roll? Then you better take yourself out to Beerland tonight! All you fans of the heavier/faster side of Austin’s rock scene will surely find yourselves rocking to the killer new tunes from Austin’s Sweet Talk. The band has just released their record, Pickup Lines, and you really need to go get your hands on it.  It’s a blend of crunchy punk rock, filled with hooks and call-and-response anthems.  But, why I love those dudes, you will also get to see some of the incredible camaraderie by Austin’s rock scene, with openers Bad Sports (techinically Ft. Worth/Austin), Fleshlights and Burnt Skull. We’ve mentioned all those bands before, and you have no reason not go go out and just enjoy our cities best acts.  Here’s one of the many hits from the new Sweet Talk record!

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Last_Dance.mp3]

 

Show Preview: Holy Wave @ Beerland (1.16)

Date Wednesday, January 16th
Location Beerland
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets Cheap at the Door


Hopefully you’ve had a second to breather after free week, but it’s about time we all get right back at it.  Luckily, if you’re looking for things on the cheap, there’s a great rock n’ roll show over at Beerland featuring some of our favorite acts, Holy Wave and Eets Feats.  Both bands are really starting to make a name for themselves by working hard and playing about town as much as possible.  They’ll be joined on stage by Classy Nude and Loteria…and Beerland always has cheap booze, so get out there and rock it out.  You’ll love me for it the next day.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/02-Beer-Vibes.mp3]

Download:Eets Feats – Beer Vibes [MP3]

Let’s Talk Free Week

Date 1/2/13-1/12/13
Location All Over
Doors TBD
Tickets Free (duh)


The schedule is pending, but the list of artists signed on to do Free Week this year is long and impressive, much like my morning commute.

Created as a way to treat the locals to some locals while the kids were home for the holidays, Free Week continues to expand adding numbers to the venue list and performer count. This year will be pretty big, a Free Week and a half actually, occupying the Transmission locations of The Mohawk, Holy Mountain, Beerland and Red7. Peep the poster of artists for the festivities on Red River, chock full of Austin Town Hall Faves including Tiger Waves, Shivery Shakes, Fleshlights, TV Torso, Orthy and Grape St.

Stay tuned for schedules and be ready to hit the streets.

One event’s schedule I know for sure is Modern Outsider’s Free Week show on 1/4 at Emo’s East featuring Ume, The Calm Blue Sea, The Black and White Years and My Jerusalem. Get details and say you’re going here.

Show Preview + Interview: Fergus and Geronimo

What? You don’t have your own copy of Funky Was the State of Affairs yet? What are you waiting for? It’s one of the most interesting listens of the year, and the band makes their way into Austin at Beerland on Friday night, ready to share their talents with us all. We caught up with the band trying to get the story on their life and their latest release.

ATH:  On Funky Was the State of Affairs you seemingly steer clear of the folk art rock spectrum you were lumped into on the first release.  Was the progression natural or did you actively seek to distance yourself from your past?

F&G: Interesting, because I also saw the folk rock comparison being drawn. I don’t get it. But to answer your question, it’s both.  This band started as friends making music pretty randomly; without too much thought given to cohesion or style. Our first output was really just a collection of songs that didn’t fit with our bands at the time. Both of us are fairly prolific songwriters. When it came time to do the first Lp we had the opportunity to define the bands identity a bit. We were already tired of being lumped into the indie/garage/lo-fi labels that were popular at the time. Music is so much more fun when you stop trying to please others and just do what you’re gonna do. Fergus & Geronimo is a good outlet for me to be a bit more daring than I am in my other bands.

ATH:  Thematically speaking, what’s the most important aspect of the new record you hope people take away after listening? Do you feel that message is being well received by the regular earthlings such as myself, or have we missed the point?

F&G: I don’t really want to make any suggestions about what the audience should take away from the record. Let them glean what they will, because at this point I’m not sure if I even intended any narrative for it. I definitely don’t think its a record for everybody. I mean, there is a reason that this band isn’t headlining festivals, we can only survive in the very small margins of independent rock music that we do. Music is not a universal language, thank god.

ATH:  I think I unjustly lumped you in with bands like White Denim when you first burst onto the Texas scene.  Who do you guys see as your musical contemporaries, be them past or present?

F&G: I identify with bands that are fiercely individualistic. Funkadelic, Sparks, Devo, Quintron, Beck. I’ve never heard White Denim. 

ATH:  When bands create a piece of work like Funky…. I always wonder whether or not the group is taking a jab at listeners.  Do you guys feel like there’s any relevance to that comment, or did you set out just to create a record where you could have the most fun in the studio?

F&G: Yeah I think by nature we Are slightly confrontational.  But, most of the art I enjoy is cut with a healthy dose of aggression. I can feel how somebody might feel alienated by this record and deem it as being tedious. But, that happens all the time, people ask that artists understand them rather than seeking to understand their art.

ATH:  Do you guys feel like you’re appreciated in Texas, or do you have a bigger response from audiences outside of your home state?  I always feel like Texans have a tendency to look the other way until their bands make a bigger name for themselves.

F&G: As much there as anywhere else I suppose, I haven’t noticed any place that has more F&G fans than others really.  I would say our biggest fans are our close friends, many of which are in Texas.

ATH:  If there’s a statement song on Funky Was the State of Affairs, one where you establish the mood/theme/etc for the whole record, which track do you think that is?

F&G: I think it would be the titular track.

ATH: You guys are obviously in the midst of a good long tour.  What’s the one thing you miss the most about being in the comfort of your own home?

F&G: Well it’s only day three so I haven’t really started missing anything yet.  I’m sure the answer for me is alone time.

ATH:  What advice do you have for all the young upstart bands in Texas?  What should their goals be?

F&G: Just do your thing And have fun. Freak life is a beautiful thing, embrace it.

If you like what you hear, you can catch Fergus and Geronimo rocking things out Friday night at Beerland.  Thanks to J. Baxter for help setting up the interview! Pick up Funky Was the State of Affairs now at Hardly Art.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Fergus+Geronimo_RomanTick.mp3]

Download:Fergus & Geronimo – RomanTick [MP3]

1 2 3 4 5 7