Get Into Fantastic Purple Spots

The last year or so I have scaled back my 4 times a week ventures to Austin’s clubs, so much so that I’ve missed out on some really great tunes that I would likely adore, such as Fantastic Purple Spots. They dropped their self-titled LP last year, but I’m just digging into it now. I wanted to give you one of the singles from the record, which seems to exemplify why I’m stoked on the group’s sound. This track’s full of melody, be it the musical notes or the backing vocals. But, at the same time, it has that sort of DIY ethos, just operating with enough fuzz underneath to make it seem imperfect (in the best sense!). Honestly, the whole LP reminds me of Austin’s take on Halo Benders, so if that’s your bag, dive into this treat!

Enjoy Yourself Some Soccer Team

11958304_1039098822776753_941822710785345970_oSometimes you stumble upon a song that really fits your day, and you immediately rush to your computer to fill it with some meaningless words about how much you love said song. Well, here I am to encourage you to listen to this new Soccer Team tune. I’m sure they’d hate it, but it reminds me of good old alternative rock from the 90s (+ a few years); it honestly sounds like a heavier-handed, male/female version of the Halo Benders. Melissa Quinley’s voice is the perfect vocal foil for Ryan Nelson, while the rest of the band work to grind out the song behind them. Look for Real Lessons in Cynicism via Dischord Records on October 27th.

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From the Closet: Calvin Johnson

beat For those of you into all the newest lo-fi hits of the last few years, there is really one man we need to look towards: Calvin Johnson. The man was the driving force behind the great Beat Happening and also the Halo Benders, which featured Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch. Clearly, this man’s fingerprints have been all over the musical landscape, and he’s at it again this Saturday night at Emo’s, as he takes the stage with his new outfit Hive Dwellers; former Nation of Ulysses frontman Ian S. will also have his new outfit Chain and the Gang as the show headliners.

So hit up Emos this Saturday night for a definitive good time. Here are some tracks from the closet.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/02-left-behind.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/track08.mp3]