Tag: safe place

Premiere of a New Quin Galavis Tune on Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Quin Galavis — “Cold Skin”

This new song by Austin songwriter Quin Galavis is a gorgeous kind of hushed ballad, epic in its scope. Opening with spare, plaintive piano, and the words, “I told them leave/ I’m done wasting hours” Galavis evokes a world of regret, heading toward an ambivalent brand of hope: “Maybe you, maybe you, maybe you/ can dream.” The song evolves toward the end, as strings and dissonant sounds gently pile up, and the words take on the shape of a litany: “The fragile, sickly love/ the ocean of mistrust/ the shaking, fearless love.” There is no irony or humor, yet it doesn’t feel cloying. Galavis’ delivery is earnest and believable; his vulnerability neglects to be self-indulgent, and he never risks succumbing to what I call “cool tough folky nice guy syndrome.” A quietly stunning entry into what is clearly shaping up to be a tremendous era for Austin music. –Eric Braden

Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

See you tomorrow at Barracuda for the Release Party!

Jana Horn Sings for Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Jana Horn — “News”

Even in a city of immense musical riches, Jana Horn has the type of voice– inward, haunted, poignantly controlled– that will always stand out. That voice is on rich display in “News,” with no percussion and the sparest of arrangements– just a lightly strummed guitar, a few notes on a piano, and some delicately cooed background vocals (by Jana herself). A meditative examination of existing in a society and the choices we are forced to make within it, “News” is a deeply empathetic, almost alien-eyed view of humanity. “Two sides telling us/our lives are two-sided and we must/ decide which one we’re on,” Horn sings evenly, with little emotion but a kind of numb melancholy. Lyrics like “I’ve been inside the maker’s mouth/Do you want to know the things I found?” evoke the hard-bitten honesty of a person who has traveled the world and is writing back home with a bad story to tell. Like Elliott Smith, Horn’s allergy to over-emoting allows her to imbue each line with what feels like actual feeling. That is a rare gift. In a time of peak anxiety, “News” is a mournful salve. — Eric Braden

PreOrder Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us at Barracuda for the Slack Capital Release Party on April 14th.

New John Wesley Coleman on Slack Capital

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: John Wesley Coleman III — “Rodeo Clown”

The enigmatic John Wesley Coleman III sounds like Suicide meets Sea Change-era Beck on this unreleased contribution to Slack Capital 2. “She’s a rodeo clown/ upside down” he murmurs, as if to himself while tripping down a back alley at four in the morning. Shambling, lo-fi, slathered in reverb, and never changing from a simple chord progression, “Rodeo Clown” proves to be surprisingly addictive, and even kind of sweet. That contrast between the twinkling xylophone and creepy whisper background vocals is everything you need to slide into a spiritual K-hole of a weekend. And just like a weekend, “Rodeo Clown” is over before you know it, but lingers foggily in your memory as if it happened a long time ago.

Have a good one y’all, and see you next Friday April 14 at Barracuda for the Slack Capital 2 release party!

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Daniel Francis Doyle and the Dreams Back on Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Daniel Francis Doyle & The Dreams — “I Had To Do It”

Daniel Francis Doyle is hard to pin down. Maybe you’ve seen him do his one-man-band “loops” set, where he builds songs layer by layer and beats on the drums while screaming through a headset mic. Maybe you’ve seen him do a nylon-string guitar set, where he reveals a quieter side to his art– easier to see the Jonathan Richman influence. Or maybe you’ve seen him play with The Dreams, his synth pop band, where his neuroses combine with an urgent dance beat closer to Gary Numan than Donna Summer. “I Had To Do It” was made with The Dreams, and it has the herky-jerky charm of an 80’s pop hit, or a Steve Martin skit. Seriously– Oh man, those synths! Produced by SLUGBUG’s Paul Millar, who knows a thing or two about warped synth sounds, this is a track you’ll want to hear again and again for the sugary satisfaction of that synth line that creeps in every chorus, responding delightfully to Doyle’s queasy pleas.

Daniel Francis Doyle is playing the Slack Capital 2 release party April 14 at Barracuda, and he’s told us it will be his final show (what!) with The Dreams. Don’t miss it. — Eric Braden

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Catch DFD at the Release Show on April 14th at Barracuda.

Shivery Shakes Offer New Music on Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Were unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the Day: Shivery Shakes – Both Ways

It’s been a couple of years since Shivery Shakes released the marvelous Three Waves and a Shake, but let this new song serve as a reminder of the band’s innate knack for writing hook-laden pop tunes. This new song has been kicking around in the band’s live set for some time, but you’re getting the study polish here…which might be the best way to really “get” the band’s craft.

Press play in the song will blast off as the drums pound and the guitars angle their way through the opening credits. Will Glossup’s voice rings in as the band gleefully bounce forward. I love how the vocals seem to be pacing themselves, until they push into the chorus and Glossup stretches his voice with force. Much like the live performance, the band wraps up this number with a quick little jam that ends abruptly. Short and sweet, this band’s gifts are undeniable.

See the band do what they do best at Hotel Vegas tomorrow night if you’re living in Austin!

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us on April 14th at Barracuda for the Release Party.

Do You Know Catalina La O? She’s on Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Catalina La O — “Se Nos Rompio El Amor”

And now for something completely different. Catalina La O is the new project of Khattie Q, formerly of the politi-punk band BLXPLTN. If you got to see Catalina La O at Bill Ball 2 last fall, you were treated to something completely unexpected — a bracing display of powerhouse vocals, belted out over a paired-down rock band arrangement totally designed to spotlight the emotion of the song and the singer. Like wandering into David Lynch’s night club Silencio, it was at once beguiling and captivating.

“Se Nos Rompio El Amor” is an epic ballad first made famous by Spanish singer Rocio Jurado, and the band is fully dedicated to it. After a long instrumental intro, Khattie’s first whisper draws you into the emotional turmoil of the song. Soon she and the band reach great heights, draw things back down again, then explode into a finale that will leave you spent (the title of the song means “We broke love”). A truly powerful performance by a talent we’ll be keeping an eye on for a long time. — Eric Braden

PreOrder Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Release Show on April 14th at Barracuda!

Austin Chronicle Premieres Slack Capital 2 Track from Go Fever

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Were unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the Day: Go Fever – This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Typically, you’d get some remarks from us about the Song of the Day, but today, we’re just going to point you in the direction of the Austin Chronicle. They’ve been gracious enough to premiere the new song from Go Fever that’s featured on Slack Capital 2. So, CLICK HERE.

Don’t forget you can pre-order the CD HERE.
Join us for the release show at Barracuda on April 14th, featuring none other than Go Fever.

New White Bronco Tune on Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: White Bronco — “Soul Stroll”

Although they’ve sadly been defunct for a little while now, White Bronco have pulled out an unreleased gem for Slack Capital 2. Featuring a Beatles-evoking and very hummable chord structure over a driving snare and pealing guitars, “Soul Stroll” pays tribute to the rebellious power of taking a walk, of getting far from the madding crowd. The opening lyrics, “Outside/ With my spaceship,” set the tone of a person apart, a weirdo looking in. Like a punk Bruce Springsteen, complete with plenty of yelps, power is asserted through the fine art of breaking free and getting loose. A chaotic ending puts you in the middle of a boisterous happy crowd in a sweaty room, and you can’t help but think “Come back, White Bronco!” — Eric Braden

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us at Barracuda on April 14th for the Release Show!

Hear Tamarron’s Contribution to Slack Capital 2

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Tamarron — “Dr. Alan”

Tamarron is one of those bands where half the fun is watching how much fun the band is having. In other words, these dudes like each other, and that camaraderie is impossible to fake. It makes you want to be part of the gang, to be in on the jokes. Their contribution to Slack Capital 2, “Dr. Alan,” is, fittingly, an endlessly melodic soft-rock jam, complete with background “ooh la la la’s” and serpentine, in-no-hurry guitar solos. The interesting thing is, for such a laid-back song, it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what it’s about. Is it a drug song, alluding to The Beatles’ “Dr. Robert”? You start to think that its obscurity might be the point when you parse a lyric like “You’ll never understand me/ And when you do/ It’s hard to believe.” Perhaps Tamarron will forever be a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an acid blotter. But that’s the fun of it. — Eric Braden

Pre-Oder Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us for the Release Show, April 14th at Barracuda.

Hear Nike’s Slack Capital 2 Contribution

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Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of Austin’s most wonderful bands. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day, leading up to the comp’s release on April 14.

Today’s song: Nike — “UR Lying Now”

Oh god, I love Nike. You can tell by their name that pretentiousness is not their bag. And when you hear their music, that’s what you get — short, propulsive, gross, funny songs. Striking a similar tongue-in-cheek vibe as Ian McKinney’s “CRIMEWAVE” and the Pataphysics song “Carrasco,” two other Slack Capital 2 songs we’ve told you about, “UR Lying Now” is a faux-upset rant at a person who is literally lying at this very moment. Plenty of songs tell a generic “you” that they have lied, but how many have the gall to call it out while it’s happening? This three-piece is relatively new to the Austin scene, but if this song is any indication, they’ll be making a bunch of die hard fans in no time. People still want to have fun when they go to a show, and Nike, with their caffeinated, quirky takes on modern life, never forget that.

Pre-order the release over at ATH Records.

Catch Nike at the Slack Capital 2 release party, April 14 at Barracuda!

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