Month: April 2017

A Night Out: Small Black and Terry Malts

Leave a comment

Hey, all. Catching up on sharing some show photos. Last Friday was an insanely busy night with bands like Real Estate, Small Black and Terry Malts headlining around The Red River Cultural District. It meant meeting different groups of friends and seeing more bands in one night that some people see all year. Don’t you feel sorry for them?

Bands in order of appearance – Nite, Talkies, Small Black, Business of Dreams, Hidden Ritual, Terry Malts.

So click through for some notes about dinner, drinks, bands and coughing fits with a nice big gallery.

Read more

Listen Now: Slack Capital 2 Stream and Slugbug World Premiere

Leave a comment

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

Song of the day: SLUGBUG — “When The Words”

If you live in Austin and care about music– and by music I mean good music– and by good music I mean weird music– you haaaaaave to know about SLUGBUG. SLUGBUG is the longtime musical project of synth ber-wizard Paul D. Millar, who truly forges his own path with his songs of prime neurotic pop bliss. Like a more German-influenced Ariel Pink, or Devo on a hallucinatory trip, SLUGBUG is built quite efficiently to groove you– think Robocop on speed at a disco– but also, even though (but kind of especially because) Millar is never not straight-faced, to make you laugh. “Bread bowl/ I don’t want to eat that” is a phrase you hear at the beginning of the song, a robotic coo spoken into the spheres. SLUGBUG takes its energy from the punk sensibility of protest, and in this case, he’s protesting meaning itself. “Words come out of your mouth/ Can I tell that they say one thing and really mean the opposite?” And “Words come out of my mouth/ Can you tell that the words were/ Nothing more than filler text.” He seems to be saying, none of us know what we’re talking about. Which is the wisest it gets, probably. –Eric Braden

Stream Slack Capital 2 in its entirety here, and download it, or come pick one up tonight at Barracuda for the Slack Capital 2 official release party. $5, doors at 9 PM. Come have fun and help us support SafePlace!

Powerful Ballad from Paul Bergmann

Leave a comment

I’m a huge fan of Paul Bergmann‘s work, and am excited he’s back so quickly with another collection of songs that heads our way in May. He just released this great song and accompanying video,which features a personal portrayal of Paul’s soaring voice and personality. I love how he’s playfully swinging himself about as the track’s accompanying strings play through the background. Somehow I feel like there are never enough artists crafting this sort of eloquent pop, but oh how I wish they were. Look for his new album, Nothing at All, on May 5th.

Playful Pop from Jared Mees

Leave a comment

Feeling good on a Friday, and figured we should start off our day with a little bit of bouncing pop. Jared Mees brings in another great single, working his voice over electronic beats, crooning atop of spirited backing tracks. It’s reminiscent of early Dent May tunes, offering careful poetry that energetically rides the internal melody of the tune. It’s all in good fun, so why not ride this track into the afternoon? Look for Jared’s new LP, Life is Long, which comes out on Tender Loving Empire next Friday!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316916031″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Premiere of a New Quin Galavis Tune on Slack Capital 2

Leave a comment

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!

Enjoy AMA Premiere on Slack Capital 2

Leave a comment

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: Ama — “Story of Light”

An immediate, delicious, 90’s guitar rock throwback, “Story of Light” is a perfect slice of effortless cool. “If you can see it/ you can feel it,” Blair Robbins sings with insouciant ambivalence, as guitars churn. Later, the beautifully turned-out line “Wake up in the mornin’, and face the day” works both as tiny authentic moment of summoning strength and as a sardonic joke, depending on your mood. The rhythm section of Evan Kaspar on drums and Ray Garza on bass keeps things in the pocket and urgent, and Robbins and Alex Peterson trade in messy-yet-perfectly ornate guitar lines that work as addictive micro-hooks. It’s really just a perfect new gem by one of the top bands in Austin today.–Eric Braden

Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

See you tomorrow night at Barracuda for the Release Party.

New Music from Sweet Baboo

Leave a comment

Stephen Black’s Sweet Baboo work has been in and out of my music listening rotation since he first popped up on Moshi Moshi, and I’m really looking forward to the release of Wild Imagination. Here we have SB offering up a careful bit of pop music, dripping melodies atop synthesized beats that recall both warm weather and 80s movie soundtracks. It’s really about Black though, especially as you can see his vocal playfulness as he sings out the simple notes of “whoa whoa whoa” during the chorus. His new effort will hit on June 2nd, for all your adoring pop ears.

Pulsating Pop from Terribly Yours

Leave a comment

There’s something in the way the vocals are delivered in the opening moments of this new Terribly Yours track that drew me in. They’re almost smoky, as if you can hear the breath expiring as its released. While I enjoy a good vocal, I think the success in this song is offered via the songs soft then pulsing vibe, bringing in the beat slow and casual, right before it burst forth, aided by a cascading 80s guitar riff. After the success of A Bloom Beyond, it sounds like we’re gearing up for another release of future hits.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/317097123″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Stream Towards the Sky from Wiretree

2 comments

It seems like it has been rather slow out there in the musical world…unless of course you’re living here in Austin (but please don’t move here). This week we’ve got a new Xetas LP and the release of Slack Capital 2. But, last week I missed this great release from Wiretree, so I figured I should go back in time and offer you a nice little stream. It’s a collection of folk-inspired indiepop. Album opener “Let Me In” was definitely a standout track, until I kept going back, where I landed on “Dive” as my new favorite. But the fun is that you don’t have to listen to a word I say, just enjoy the great release.

Infectious Pop Tune from The Golden Age of TV

Leave a comment

We’re midway through our week here, and why not enjoy the spirited pop of The Golden Age of TV. The music’s vibe works in contrast to the song’s message of holding on to what’s passed, but even the happiest songs sometimes have a message we all need to hear. I think Bea Fletcher’s vocal performance is spot-on, especially as she stretches her voice to reach those higher notes. It seems like this Leeds-based project is just getting started, so expect to hear more from them in the near future…I promise I’ll help you out.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316851906″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

1 … 5 6 7 8 9 … 14
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com