Author: brian.gray

The photo taker and manager of the IT Department.

FFF9 News And Early Bird Info

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FFF9I was very worried. I was a bit vexed by the plans of See Three to renovate Auditorium Shores thereby undermining our friends at Transmission to have their party. Would it be the death of Fun Fun Fun Fest? That spot is perfect for the festival that is three festivals in one.

My mind has been put at ease with the announcement that the City of Austin has in fact confirmed that Auditorium Shores will be available for FFF9. With that, dates have been confirmed and Early Bird purchase news has been delivered. Joy of joys, Christmas is saved.

Fun Fun Fun Fest 9 – November 7, 8 and 9 @ Auditorium Shores
Early Bird Tickets – February 12th @ 9AM CST

Show Preview: Red Bull Sound Select (1/15)

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Red Bull Sound Select

Date 1/15/14
Location Spider House Ballroom
Doors 9pm
Tickets RSVP $3/$10 @ door


Our friends at Red Bull are presenting a nice little locals action to show off the talent brewing around here; this is a dance party version.

You get The Octopus Project, Night Drive and The Black & White Years. You can RSVP here. Why RSVP, you ask? Because with RSVP, you get in for $3 instead of $10 and you get to download a song from each of the artists. I mean, that is like actually buying three songs and getting to go to a show for free.

I have a feeling things will get crowded quick so be early and be cool. The Octupus Project doesn’t have any more shows listed after this, Night Drive sounded great at Red7 the other night and The Black & White Years have new hits. In fact, here is a track you should hear from B&WY…

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LittleOne.mp3]

Enjoy Your Evening With Bloom

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BloomEvery once in a while I catch a song I missed. This is an absolute beauty from 2010, a relative oldie for our rapid and rabid appetite, by a group called Bloom.

Hypnotizing, soothing, use it when you get home from your Free Week outing to chill. Or perhaps a little “quality time” with a certain someone… You people have dirty minds. Jeez.

The group is Jake Perrine and Michael Maricle and based in Seattle. For fans of The Album Leaf. Nothing released since 2010, so anyone in the Northwest feel like updating me, please do.

Coachella 2014 Lineup

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Coachella 2014I am sure all of you have posted this on Facebook, but I figured we need to add it here just in case someone can’t find the pic later on…

Coachella is again using the two weekend format and will feature Outkast, Muse and Arcade Fire as headliners. I get Outkast and Arcade Fire, but please stop booking Muse at every festival. Please. It has to stop. I walk out when I hear Muse; it is my “you’re drunk, go home” alert. Or maybe that is why they are booked as headliners. “Hope you had fun, this is your queue to leave and rest up for tomorrow.” So many lasers. So many.

The festival is getting spendy, passes are $375 and $435 with daily shuttle service. Yikes. Weekend One only has the passes with shuttle service available. VIP will run you $799 with $150 more for parking.

Notables for me on the lineup, as with most festivals, are further down the list: Flume, Jagwar Ma, Dum Dum Girls, Wye Oak, Holy Ghost!, Blood Orange, Mogwai, Chvrches, STRFKR, Daughter, Poolside, Surfer Blood. Mid-levels I’d be stoked on are Bryan Ferry, The Knife, Pet Shop Boys, Beck, Neutral Milk, Motorhead and Little Dragon. You going to the desert? You wearing flip-flops?

Trust Is Playing SxSW

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artworks-000067282197-cquqei-t500x500TRUST is back with some strength.

I think this will be a busy year for Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski. The new record Joyland is due March 4th on Arts & Crafts, just before what I assume will be a very busy SxSW. I have a sneaking suspicion that this track is a preview and not a highlight. “Rescue, Mister” is about as good as this young year gets. Take a listen; dark dancing bliss.

…and that finish. We love this band.

UPDATE: You can preorder Joyland here in double LP, CD and digital formats.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128330842″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Solander Is Coming To SxSW

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solander - the woods are goneOK, you have an opportunity to do a nice thing. Yes, this song can be downloaded for free by zero dollaring. Like the previous preview track, it is a gem. Here is an idea, use someone else’s email address for a name-your-price purchase and give it as a gift.

Solander absolutely blew me away at SxSW a few years back. I was lucky enough to catch them at one of the church spaces that are taken over by us heathens and it was a forty-five minutes I will always love. With the harmonies, melodies and craftsmanship of their music, multi-instrumental perfection was delivered and I believe all in attendance waited around to chat with the band. Just wish there had been more of you with me. Luckily, you will have the opportunity see this band during SxSW this year.

The album Monochromatic Memories comes out February 4th on Tendervision.

We Like This By Stanley Brinks

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Brinks and...…with The Wave Pictures.

First collaboration between Stanley and the band in four years, this fun little number could be my new theme song for surviving SxSW. Yes, it is true; “The radio sucks balls.” Fika Recordings has posted up the preorder, but you can stream it now (oh hey, look at that down there). You can also check out the video for “Orange Juice” after the break where they enjoy the ditty in a kitchen.

The full release is Gin is due in early March. Perhaps SxSW? Nothing official. We had much fun with The Wave Pictures during their 2012 opening spot for Allo Darlin, best show banter award winners, so here’s hoping.

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Merry Christmas Or Whatever

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ATH Xmas 13Did you get that Flexi-7″ from your favorite band? Did your parents discover the mp3 player on QVC? Did you make something cool for your friend, like a Willie bandana with pigtails?

Did you listen to obscure or obtuse Christmas records? I just found out Erasure made a Christmas record. It has some strange stuff on it.

Is your dog holding up to yelling nieces or nephews? Perhaps pouting in the kitchen ready for a visit from the Meat Fairy?

Are these a few of your favorite things?

Anyway, whether or not you celebrate the day, be Merry. We love you.

The Best Gallery Of The Year

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2013 Pics BannerI had a fun year.

I took a lot of photos. I met a lot of artists. I took some portraits. I got jumpshots. I found the interesting people in the crowd, friends and strangers alike. I rejected releases and used my cell phone (looking at you Adam Ant). I went to festivals and went elbow to elbow with besties, frenemies and national media to get you the goods. I got to shoot The Cure and New Order. I saw new great bands breaking out and great bands before breaking up. I took pics of bands for which Nathan released records. I had a fun year.

I hope you enjoy browsing and clicking. They are a collection of random things and happenings.

Head over to the big photo site, search and get a print, if you feel so inclined…

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