Show Preview: Two Gallents @ 29th St. Ballroom (9/8)

Date 9/8/12
Location 29th St. Ballroom
Doors 9pm
Tickets $15 @ Frontgate

After the madness known as Friday night music in Austin, you may want to take a night off.  But wait!  More shows to attend you crazy Austin music kids!  Saturday night promises great things over at 29th st. Ballroom with a show by dual ATH favorite threats Two Gallants and up and comers PAPA.  Both of these bands have been featured on this site before, so of course this gets the ATH stamp of approval.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Broken-Eyes.mp3]

Download: Two Gallants – Broken Eyes [MP3]

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/01-Aint-It-So.mp3]

Download: PAPA – Ain’t It So [MP3]

New Music From Two Gallants

Here’s a new one from Two Gallants called “Broken Eyes” that I’ve been hanging on to until my mood felt right for posting.  It’s a country twanged singer-songwriter tune that features nothing but an acoustic guitar, some southern vocal harmonies, and the occasional harmonica solo.  Not sure if it’s my recent vacation or what, but the simplicity and heartfelt approach really has me in a great mood.  This new song will appear on the band’s first new LP in over 5 years entitled The Bloom and the Blight due out September 4th on ATO Records.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Broken-Eyes.mp3]

Download: Two Gallants – Broken Eyes [MP3]

Show Preview: Two Gallants @ the Mohawk (9/19)

Date Monday, Sept. 19th
Location Mohawk
Doors 900p
Tickets $12 @ the Door

It’s slightly unfortunate that this show follows the hangover from ACL, as Two Gallants are definitely a great live act, worthy of a measley $12.  But, on the plus side, if you’re looking for some Americana-influenced post-rock, then you might be able to witness a great act without the usual hordes that the band usually gets when they’re in town.  Opening the show will be The Mumlers, so if you didn’t get your fill of rock n’ roll this weekend, then headed over to the Mohawk this evening to make sure you’ve met your quota.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/despitewhatyouvebeentold.mp3]

Download: Two Gallants – Despite What You’ve Been Told [MP3]

Adam Haworth Stephens – We Live on Cliffs

Rating: ★★★½☆

Two Gallants is a rocking good time, so what would we see when Adam Haworth Stephens decided to go it alone for his first solo release, We Live on Cliffs.  It’s precisely what you don’t expect, as aside from his distinctive vocals, you find a young man fleshing out his sound, exploring territory that’s familiar to him, though not necessarily associated with his work.

When we first jump into his solo debut, you can immediately see that Stephens wasn’t too sure about how far he wished to take this venture, as opening “Praises In Your Name” definitely has some alignment with the tunes of his main gig.  It has that little bit of twangy swing to it, and you might find it hard to see his disassociate his recognizable vocals from his prior outings.

However, when you encounter the softly picked “Vengeance Come,” you begin to see that he does have the capability of establishing his own sound.  A female vocal accompaniment allows the song to take on a much for folk-rooted sound, coming off in the same genre as other bands like The Cave Singers.  The song has a subtle quality, giving the listener plenty of time to just sit back and absorb the melodies, and the ornate instrumentation.  Similarly, “Heights of Diamond” goes the route of a slow-walking number.  It’s at this point where Adam Haworth Stephens really begins to distance his vocal, using less of that throaty raspiness, giving off a more calming presence.  Using this approach definitely provides a mellower quality to the songs themselves, as Stephens doesn’t sound as urgently rushed as he has at times.

We Live on Cliffs definitely uses musical patterns that continue to build upon each other. “The Cities That You’ve Burned” slowly creeps along, but eventually bouncing drum beats and barroom piano sort of give the track a bit of extra momentum.  You can’t help but get carried away as Stephens’ vocals soar in and out with the rhythm of the song itself.  “Southern Lights” uses that same piano sound, with a little bit of a southern drawl to eek out the emotion, and the chorus will certainly grab you, if you haven’t been hooked by this slow jangle already.

By the time you’ve wrapped up the entire listen, you’ll probably note that there’s nothing wrong with any of the sounds or construction elements.  Given, at times there’s not a lot of differentiation from track to track, but its clear that Adam intended to take on an entirely different approach here, giving himself a warmer, fire-side folk appeal.  While you can knock that like-minded song pattern, you have to admit that as you pour through We Live on Cliffs, every song seems to have its own strength, its own ability to stand on its own merits.  Isn’t that really all you want from a good songwriter?  If we didn’t know Adam Haworth Stephens could write great songs, this album is yet another reminder for us all.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/02-Second-Mind-1.mp3]

Download: Adam Haworth Stephens – Second Mind  [MP3]

New Music from Adam H Stephens

A few weeks back we brought you news of Adam H. Stephens prepping his debut solo album titled We Live on Cliffs, which will now be released by Saddle Creek on September 28th.  The first single we brought you was what we would expect from one of the lads from Two Gallants, but this new single, “Second Mind,” has an entirely different feel to it altogether.  Slower pace, a bit of organ, and a steadier vocal performance demonstrate that Stephens can offer us so much more than I think we expected.  Be sure to give this one a try folks.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/02-Second-Mind-1.mp3]

Download: Adam Haworth Stephens – Second Mind [MP3]

New Tunes from Adam H Stephens

Those of you who have had your eyes and ears on Two Gallants will be pleased to know that Adam H Stephens will be releasing his solo debut.   He’ll be releasing We Live on Cliffs on September 28th via Saddle Creek Records. The first single is a gentle little ballad, but of course it has that country/punk sound, though quite a bit softer than his work with TG.  I’ve been pressing repeat all day on this one, and I’m sure you’ll be doing the exact same thing once you give this track a listen.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/05-The-Cities-That-Youve-Burned-1.mp3]

Download: Adam Stephens – The Cities That You’ve Burned [MP3]