Breast Cancer Resource Center Benefit Show at Hotel Vegas (10.7)

This Saturday, Hotel Vegas will play host to a benefit show for the Breast Cancer Resource Center, and we highly encourage you to come out and support the community! There will be great music from Fragile Rock, March and Beauty and Black Books, plus an intermission where you’ll get to meet some of the folks from BCRC. Not only do you get to give back to the community and see some great tunes, but you can throw your support behind local Austin breast cancer battlers/survivors, as they love live music too! You can get more information HERE or you can just directly donate to BCRC by going HERE, in case you already had plans for the night. Here’s a video of FR jamming out at NPR!

Black Books Share New Single

It seems like a long time since we’ve heard from Austin outfit Black Books, but they’re back with this brand new single from their forthcoming Cheer Up EP, which we’re happy to share with you. This track has that sort of broad sweeping orchestral feel, akin to acts like Other Lives; it’s built to craft this huge emotional wave that just crashes into you, particularly in that little turn just around the 1 minute mark. I love the cathartic burn that jumps in around the 2.5 minute mark, giving the song a little bit of bombast as it sprawls to a close. Look for the EP this Spring!

 

SxSW 2017: ATH vs SOTO Party Pics

Who is ready to relive the greatest day of music ever assembled by John Laird and Nathan Lankford? Ever.

The jams were copious as were the tender moments. The showcase highlighted the talent in Austin with bands watching bands that shuffled up to be other bands. We had international celebrities in attendance, as well as every familiar face possible. I took photos, some with an Instax. We ate sausage wraps and drank beaverages. It was perfect air for a whisky.

Click through and be impressed.

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Show Pics: Locals Only @ Mohawk (7/26)

Black Books…with a brief visit to Cheer Up.

So we talk quite bit about supporting the locals. We also suggested making supporting the locals easier with folding in the artists in smart ways. Our friends at The Mohawk had a great idea; why not fill a night off with an inside/outside show for a cheap cover to help you see a ton of local talent? Make it so.

Perfect excuse to have fun with the nifty fifty and spend a night milling about The Mohawk and saying hi to friends with a soundtrack provided by Little Radar, Wiretree, Young Tongue, Supermoon, Black Books, Modern Medicine and a quick trip next door to catch up with Shivery Shakes at Cheer Up.

Click through for thoughts and plenty of pics!

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The 2014 Austin Music Blogger Awards

AMBA 2014 Photo BannerIt was a great event. We were proud to be a part of it.

I have a list of winners and so many photos. Orthy sounded great, buoyed by Ian and Jeramy’s win for best DJs as Learning Secrets. Shivery Shakes ripped after their win for “Sidewalk Talk”. Jess was charming and haunting as ever, congrats. A Giant Dog stole the show with their set, while Mirror Travel may have given some voters buyer’s remorse. Magna Carda is hip-hop in Austin; go see them.

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The Weekend Update: Austin Show Advisory

Austin_MuralIt’s the weekend folks, and that means for a great deal of us our responsibilities go out the window; we can go out and party! What better way to hit up the town than by atttending some great musical events across the city of Austin? We’ll go through a quick run through of great shows we think you should at least consider attending, if you’re up for a night on the town.

Friday:

Learning Secrets 10 Anniversary w/ Delorean @ Red 7 – 9 PM

Black Books, Pageantry, Shivery Shakes, Horse Thief @ Holy Mountain – 9 PM

Holy Wave (LP Release), The Zoltars – Hotel Vegas – 10 PM

Mutual Benefit, Poppy Red @ Mohawk – 9 PM

Saturday:

Dead Meadow, Holy Wave @ Hotel Vegas – 9 PM

Little Radar, Summer Swells, Stella, Harvest Thieves @ Holy Mountain – 9 PM

And there you have it. Pick a show, any show, just go out and have some fun. You deserve it. Here’s some jams from Black Books and Little Radar.

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Top 15 Austin Albums of 2013

Local Albums 2tMan. Austin had a pretty incredible year; it was a far better year than I’ve encountered recently, making my ears, mind and heart quite proud of our hometown.  While it’s obviously difficult to get in on every single band in Austin, I made a list of the albums that were most impactful throughout the year, 2013.  I purposefully left off EPs and singles, not because I didn’t enjoy those, but because this is a list of top ALBUMS!  I’m sorry to those we left off, and encourage you all to send us your music as we continue our push to be a great voice for Austin music.  Without further ado…this is how we do it.  Read more

Black Books Stream Aquarena EP

artworks-000031410883-zwy1vj-t500x500One of our favorite local bands Black Books just let us know that their brand new EP Aquarena is streaming for free over on their Soundcloud page.  Now we don’t usually do full album streams here on ATH, but it’s time we started, and I don’t see a better way to start than with one of the best Austin bands around.  So have yourself a listen below and let us know what you think.  We are of the opinion that it kind of rules.

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Show Preview: Tiger Waves (Purity Ring After Show) @ Mohawk (1.22)

Look, I know all of Austin is excited for the SOLD OUT Purity Ring set at Mohawk, as I hear the band is a big deal.  But, that being said, if you’re not sticking around afterwards or not headed into the venue when the show is over, you’re going to miss out on two of Austin’s most promising acts.  We’ve been behind Black Books and Tiger Waves from the start, and the more each group progresses, the more we continue to be amazed by their performances.  Plus, Tiger Waves head out on tour the next day to represent Austin, so we’ve gotta send our boys off on the right foot!  I promise those of you with an appreciation for interesting pop music, you won’t want to skip out.  Here’s a song by Tiger Waves and Black Books, respectively, just to entice you a bit more.

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Austin Free Week: Thursday Highlights

I hope you’re all taking full advantage of Austin’s Free Week, despite the chilling temperatures.  There’s tons of great bands left and right, not to mention DJs and dance parties.  It’s a special time of the year when the music community gives back, so we’ve got to be there to show our love, right? Here’s my list of things to hit up on Thursday, though it’s just one man’s ideas.  Read more

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