Author: brian.gray

The photo taker and manager of the IT Department.

PYAITK: Keep Shelly In Athens

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Since Nathan is playing catch up, I may as well post a song I like, but didn’t share. Sharing is caring so…

Keep Shelly In Athens sent a track to the world, a track called “Oostende”. It is a single from the forthcoming LP At Home via Cascine out 9/17. It’s a pretty atmospheric number, as you’d expect, somber but inspiring. The lofty vocals and wonderful synth hook trade the lead role, one picks up as the other lets off. Check it.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/96476367″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Take a Listen to Atlanter

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Every once in a while, I like to post something to see if it sticks. This showed up in my inbox and decided to give it a run.

Atlanter is a new project from Jen Carelius and Arild Hammerø. Cited influences are Krautrock and delta blues. OK. Not sure that is entirely accurate, but hey, it is a pretty cool listen. I chose the track “Kaktos” to share because it has a nice little blend of psyche and pop and reminded a bit of The Love Language. Out now, the album is called Vidde.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104396504″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Pics: Knifight @ a Benefit, Daughn Gibson @ Red7

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I love nights when I can see a bunch of bands, SxSW style, bouncing back and forth between venues to be able to see acts we have talked about here, but not yet seen live and still manage to check out the headliners we dig. Last Thursday was one such night. We had the Attendance Records Benefit at The Mohawk that featured ATH local favorites Knifight and a show at Red7 headlined by Daughn Gibson that included fresh locals Silk Rodeo in an opening slot.

In total, pics of four bands, a few whiskeys, plenty of friends and I get to say I did it “for the kids”. Well, half of it, anyway. Click through for random thoughts and plenty of pics…

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Midlake Return With Antiphon

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Trials of Van Occupanther.

Midlake may as well have named that record Lightning in a Bottle. Since then, the band has been middling for me. So here we have a title track from the new record due in early November, “Antiphone” on Antiphon. The boys from Denton are offering up this track for download at their site, for what I assume will be the price of an email adress, but the site is slow, real slow. Guess there is buzz, we’re rooting for you.

Check it out below, let us know what you think.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104277068″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Gem from Teen Daze

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Teen Daze released two strong albums last year, The Inner Mansions and personal fave All of Us, Together. Both are chock-full o’ chilly waves of background music for your couch surfing cocktail party that can also hold up to critical listening.

Seems Jamison is staying busy, Glacier is set to release on 10/1 on Lefse Records. Pre-order is available here. No tour dates for Austin yet.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/03-Ice-On-The-Windowsill.mp3]

Show Review: Empire of the Sun @ ACL Live (8/1)

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Big show. Big spectacle. Big dance party. Big sponsor? Uh oh.

Empire of the Sun puts on a display. From dancers scurrying to the far corners of the stage in some sort of concert-styled drill team/pep squad fueled choreography to giant LED panels with visuals of blissful jams, the duo out of Australia gives you an experience worth buying a ticket for. Mrs. IT Dept. was very excited to see Empire of the Sun who left a pretty strong impression after ACL a few years back and there is no other venue in Austin I would rather see them than ACL Live.

The sound was great. The light was great. The band was great. …but we got short-setted.

Read on to see pretty pictures and get the down low.

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Enjoy Your Weekend PYAITK – Soft Metals

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Trolling around some playlists on the internets while at the IT Department Data Center, came across this gem from Soft Metals. We last posted about them two years ago. They are back with an album called Lenses that was available 7/16 and I like this dark but dance-able beauty of synth goodness.

Give it a listen and tell me if you dig it. Or don’t. Fine be that way. I mean, jeez. Just sharing a tune. OK? Sorry. Long week. I have to return some video tapes. Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/89499937″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Futurebirds @ The Parish (8/1)

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Date 8/1/13
Location The Parish
Doors 8:00pm
Tickets $13 or $15 door


So you aren’t going to the dance party at ACL Live with Empire of the Sun? (Plug for IT Dept. Summer playlist) How about something completely different?

Sure, Futurebirds are headlining, but damn, what an undercard with buzz-band Diarrhea Planet and locals The Midgetmen. I am going to set you up with a pair of songs to listen to to get your money spent in the stairwell and a stamp put on your hand. My favorite is the smiley face.

First up, a lovely piece by Futurebirds from a couple years back.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Futurebirds-Dirty-D.mp3]

Download: Futurebirds – Dirty D [MP3]

…and here is a jam from Diarrhea Planet.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/93248713″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Review: Adam Ant @ The Belmont (7/26)

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There are bands I want to go see just to see them. After Adam Ant‘s last trip into town spawned glowing reviews from a good friend, I decided to brave the heat and head to The Belmont to check out all the fuss.

Usually this is where I tell you to go past the break for pretty pics and show notes, but instead I am going feature a rant about copyright, releases and ownership. You see, Adam made a rather odd set of requests to be allowed to shoot his concert. I don’t trust releases that relinquish ownership, ever, not even for just one photo.

Anyway, I do have some sweet phone pics because my new phone is amazing. And yes, I do have a few comments about the performance…

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ACL 2013 Schedules Are Up

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Let the wrangling begin…

The schedules for both weekends of ACL 2013 are out and you can start the process of arguing with your friends over what hillside or stage rail you will be on at 7pm everyday. Not too many either or dilemmas for me on first perusal, but there are plenty of half-set conflict. Pheonix to Atoms For Peace to Lionel Richie? Probably going to happen. So sad I’ll miss Kings of Leon to see The Cure.

But why the hell is Wild Nothing playing at 11:15?

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