Author: brian.gray

The photo taker and manager of the IT Department.

Kilby Block Party Lineup

Leave a comment

Alright, a beauty of a lineup was just announced for Kilby Block Party 2026. I went last year as an ATH Abroad field trip and the fest was fantastic. 10/10, recommended, will go again. Highlights, almost too many to name, headliners consist of Lorde, The XX and Turnstile, but come on, Blood Orange, Wild Nothing, Dehd, Dry Cleaning, Lucy Dacus, Austin buzz from Die Spitz? So many others…

Head over to the Kibly Block Party Instagram for details on how to win some VIP action and warm up your credit cards for the ticket sale kicking off tomorrow at 11am MST. Buying now will get you a bit of a discount and if you spend that money now, it will feel like it the tix are free in May.

SXSW 2026 – First Round of Artists

Leave a comment

Some things have been announced, y’all, though we have no clue what SXSW will be with the convention center as the epicenter. This link will give you the full rundown of artists, but the first big announcement is that The All American Rejects will be headlining the SXSW Music Opening Party on (assuming) the 12th of March presented by Rivian.

Cool.

Anyway, plenty of locals already named and more importantly the list of showcase presenters is pretty consistent year over year.

Levitation Freakend Friday in Photos

Leave a comment

When the Levitation team made to the decision to move the fest back to being a single site festival atmosphere, the Haloween adjacent tradition was broken. BUT, they had a plan. Why not pick another location and kick off a mini-fest for the costume wearing concert-goers and put together a lineup that would bring out the best in humanity? Heh.

I was able to hit Friday’s lineup, and it was pretty stacked. Viagra Boys made a triumphant return to Austin, first time in nearly seven years. Add to that Stereolab (another first time in a long time), Black Lips, J’cuzzi and Bitchin Bajas.

All the photos and a few random thoughts after the jump.

Read more

Show Pics: The Beths at Emo’s (11/4)

Leave a comment

The Beths have been in a pattern of record release and criss-crossing tour for a bit now. They come through for SXSW, tour in support of bigger and bigger artists and now they are headlining in mid-sized venues and theaters. It is sustained organic growth, winning over fans with consistently great records, silly banter and nailed down live sets. They are really good at this whole music thing.

Joining The Beths this time around are fellow Aucklanders, Pheobe Rings.

Click through. I have the photos to prove I went to the show. Maybe I’ll even share some thoughts.

Read more

Show Preview: The Beths at Emo’s (11/4)

Leave a comment

While processing pics and thoughts about Freakend, there is no rest as yet another show is on the calendar. The Beths are playing Emo’s this Tuesday with Pheobe Rings opening.

I’ve only caught The Beths during SXSW coming out of a flu coma, so this will be a first proper show for me where the setlist gets to meander across the four full lengths (is it four already???). These well-crafted pop songs ramble into 90’s alt built on a foundation of Oceania indie. Pheobe Rings started in Auckland as a solo project for Crystal Choi, but with their debut LP Aseurai, the project has turned into a collaborative endeavor.

Tickets available here. Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. See ya tomorrow…

New track from The Twlight Sad

Leave a comment

How can it be almost seven years since It Won/t Be Like This All The Time? Robert Smith has been a massive advocate for the band since; they have opened for The Cure on several tours and will again later in 2026, but only after the band headlines shows in Europe in April and May, hinting that the new full length will land just prior. “WAITING FOR THE PHONE CALL” marks the return of The Twilight Sad with a stamp of authority.

A synth loop opens the track, drum machine and distant guitar riff are chased down by more and more layers, more and more noise, hitting that eventual carthartic release. James’s vocal is clear as his accent will allow while Andy’s signature noise weaves in and out and there is even a guest spot on guitar from Robert Smith. The Twilight Sad brought me to ATH and therefore gave me lifelong friends, so new songs are special around these parts.

Halloween Freakend

Leave a comment

Festival season is pretty relentless. Coming off of Levitation, two weekends of ACL, F1, Austin should be entirely exhasted by now, but there is no rest for the wicked; tis the spooky season, after all.

Halloween Freakend is Friday and Saturday. The Levitation team has put together a great lineup for two days of partying down at The Far Out Lounge. On the agenda?

Friday’s GA is fully sold out, but if you already have tix, you will be getting your face melted in a two very different flavors with Stereolab and Viagra Boys on the Main Stage. It has been a hot minute since I’ve seen Black Lips (or any of their buttcheeks), so I am looking forward to it. Rounding out the earlier sets will be Bitchin’ Bahas and J’cuzzi. Check out your options for Deluxe two day; treat yourself.

Saturday also looks super rad. Porcelain and Haha Laughing will start things off and then you will transend all space and time with a set from Black Moth Auper Rainbow. A big dose of “Windshield Smasher” is just what I want from any fest. Lip Critic, Clown Core with Machine Girl to closes you out. GA for Saturday is still available. That is a ton of music for your dollar; we all need a little help right now.

Did I mention there was a costume contest both nights?

Chalk Can’t Feel It

Leave a comment

Belfast’s Chalk have released a strong piece of electro/darkwave/punk that I will warn you does create a bit of earworm. “Can’t Feel It” is the latest track from duo Ross Cullen and Benedict Goddard and comes as the band hits North America for a string of six shows starting in Vancouver on November 7th, hitting spots on the west coast finshing up in NY on the 20th. See if you are near one of their dates here. No real dates on an album release, but they recently signed to ALTER Music, so stay tuned.

Have You Heard This Jet Cemetery Track?

One comment

I favorited the set from Jet Cemetery at the annual ATH vs SOTO party during SXSW in our recap. It was darkwave perfection, an underlying tension with glorious synth loops and dream-fueled vocals. “Melt Away” is an absolute beauty of teaser track for what we understand will be more of a full length than EP coming early next year from TaSzlin Trbuchet and Lars Wolfshield. I’m ready to pre-order based on this jam alone.

ACL 2025 In Photos: Sunday

Leave a comment

Sunday at Austin City Limits Festival was pretty photogenic. I took too many photos (again), but that’s cool. It was fun. Over three days, I clicked in 18 miles on the grounds. That is quite a bit of meandering.

For Sunday, we had no headliners to contend with as both were closed pits, but the card up to then had planty of entertainment. From local hiphop, to 2010’s indie mainstays, we got a good dose of festival life. Bands for Sunday: Hey, Nothing (solid again), Geto Gala, The Dare (one man hype machine), Chuwi (Puerto Rico is America, really good), Wet Leg (festival set on lock), Gigi Perez (not my thing, but I get it), Passion Pit (big crowd, small tent) and Phantogram (okay, cool).

Click through, y’all…

Read more

1 2 3 … 84
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com