This is fine.
Weve got a little show photo coverage action of another night that is part of the manic schedule right now. Good Morning is touring the US after the pandemic prevented travel in support BARNYARD that was released on October of 2021. The record has chill vibes and a few hits. In support, we also saw Packs, bringing back the dream of the 90s.
Click on through for a few thoughts and plenty of pics…
I mentioned in the Interpol review how busy it was last week for Austin’s music audience. The tours are touring again.
I’ll keep the review for this pretty brief. I have a big gallery of Cut Copy laying down the hits at Stubbs, trying some new stuff and refreshing the classics. Along for the ride was Suzanne Kraft, thoughtfully crafted songs that served to set the stage.
Click through for a few thoughts and pics a plenty…
Interpol with Matthew Dear AND Tycho? Yes, please.
As the floodgates start to open, one of the busiest weeks in Austin venues since 2019 is fully underway. Names like DIIV, My Morning Jacket, Amyl & The Sniffers, Brian Jonestown, Hot Chip are all on tap. My choices? I went with Cut Copy and Interpol. The bonus for Interpol, I also got Tycho and Matthew Dear. Better still, the show was hosted by ACL Live, a venue that should lend to highlight the tight, precise sound of both Tycho and Interpol.
What are you waiting for? Click through and check out the gallery and read a few thoughts if you are downstream of this early in the tour show and still on the fence. TLDR, GO SEE THIS SHOW.
My priorities for Levitation were simple. Take photos, vibe to Nation of Language, get melted by A Place to Bury Strangers, get in the middle of it for The Hives. I am happy to report that my mission was accomplished.
Ah yes, The Hives. White suits, energy overdose, hits, jams, cathartic chaos…
Along for the ride on the closing night of Levitation were Pussy Gillette and The Mystery Lights. I saw old friends, made new ones, overshot every band and loved every minute. Click on through for more thoughts on the night and all the photos. Yes, I got mic stand shenanigans, crowdsurfing guitarists and the iconic jumpshot.
It was a quality lineup that found balance at the headliner. Last Friday at Stubb’s, Levitation hosted Ringo Deathstarr, A Place to Bury Strangers, Kikagaku Moyo and The Black Angels. If you are familiar with these names, you can understand the ups and downs, from groove oriented fuzz, to chaos, to pure psych, to a blend of all three.
Everyone contributed best-of material, whether by playing classics, smashing guitars or just sticking with the hits. Click through to read a few more thoughts and view another rad gallery of photos from the fest.
…BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. I got some bonus coverage of Black Midi at The Mohawk.
We are a little bit clear of ACL 2021’s two weekends. We dealt with the mental gymnastics required to attend both weekends during a pandemic. Proof of a negative test or full vaccination likely meant that Zilker Park was the safest place in Austin. But then again, a lot of people are liars.
So difficult to let go of being safe, yet so easy to get caught up in the moment.
Let’s get on to some thoughts a few photos.
ACL Festival 2021 is happening. The lineup is out, wristbands are available at noon. This is technically the 20th anniversary edition.
If you had wristbands for 2020, here is a path to verify your 2021 carryover. Find your email for your order by searching your inbox for ‘Your ACL Festival Weekend [One or Two] Receipt’. Get your order number. Click on the WE1 or WE2 ticketing links. In the top menu, click on Manage Your Order and enter the email, order number and phone number. You should get a confirmation page for 2021 wristbands.
GET VACCINATED.
Over the last two weekends, I have been out to see a couple of shows, as some of you may have noticed on the instagrams. Two Saturdays ago, I had procured tickets to see Sun June with Buffalo Nichols at 3TEN. This past Saturday, it was a quick trip down to The Far Out Lounge to support SIMS Foundation, see some friends and catch a bit of Moving Panoramas. I have to tell you, it was release of stored anxiety while being a source of stress. I wasn’t sure if it was okay to be out, to feel nearly normal. There were some fist bumps, goose bumps and even a few hugs. Let’s get into the venues, the bands, the CDC, the resulting social politics without being too political and a big batch of photos.
Members of A. Sinclair, Pocket Sounds and Royal Forest with Jana Horn and a crew of others covered REM’s “Exhuming McCarthy”. Then, Annie Nirschel put together a lyric video featuring some poignant call outs to Mr. Stipe’s word choices while photos by yours truly scroll in the background. The pics were from random nights, locals, fun times, the taken for granted shows on a Tuesday night or Sunday afternoon that we all miss so much. Quick write up over at The Chron.
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Looking back, no matter how upset we were, cancelling SXSW prevented a potential super spreader event. Now, because of the failed attempt at reopening, we have to continue waiting for life to resume normalcy as other countries start to allow venues and festivals to resume operations. ACL made the right decision. We’ll see you on the lawn next year.
