Author: brian.gray

The photo taker and manager of the IT Department.

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?

Aqua Olympics @ Fiesta Gardens (8/3)

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A rather fun and popular part of pre-Fun Fun Fun hype is the Aqua Olympics. You get to do stupid things off of other things into the lake. Backflips on a bike? Sure. 1080s with a scuba mask? Why not. Plus, you get to learn about the Comedy and Ride+Skate stuff at the fest.

Anyway, just passing along a little poster action received via Bothan spies. Reminder FFF8 passes on sale and the new PIP dubbed the Ultimate Smooth Pass will be launched about the same time as Aqua Oly.

Stream A Clap Your Hands Say Yeah EP

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I was on the fence about the last chunk of material from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. I am a fan of this title track from the freshly unleashed EP called “Little Moments”. It is a synth driven builder clocking in at a little over three minutes with a vocal that sounds like it was recorded in a living room. It might be digitally-driven, but it has a bit of the raw nerve that I loved from early works.

Stream the title track right down there and listen to the rest over on Bandcamp.

Show Review: New Order @ Austin Music Hall (7/19)

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Let’s take a moment to reflect. New Order and (by inevitable association) Joy Division have been a massive influence on what I listen to even now. Recent songs shared here from bands like Flaamingos and Knifight could easily be tagged. Substance is standard issue listening, isn’t it? How could it not have an impact? So to see New Order, an elusive bucket-list band, announce the first North American show of their tour would be in Austin – well, it was a big day.

…and then I got the approval email to shoot the show. My head nearly exploded.

Holy Ghost! opened, added win. Read on for gushing fanboyisms and plenty of pics.

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Happy Friday With St. Lucia

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Preparations are underway at the IT Dept. for tonight’s sold out show at the Austin Music Hall with a little band called New Order. Heard of ’em? Bonus to get a favorite in Holy Ghost to open things up.

If you are getting ready to dance with the rest of us old people or just bummed that you missed out on tix, this track is here to help. It is by St. Lucia. I happened to hear it on an MOKB session on Sirius XM and remembered I wanted to post it just now. When The Knight lands on October 8th via Neon Gold.

I get to photograph New Order tonight…

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/100513059″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Mixhell Wants To Show You The Way

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Time to kick off your weekend dance party.

I was trolling the internets for weekend kick off jams and came across this gem from Mixhell called “The Way” off the presently available album SPACES. It is a note for note cover of Fastball’s hit. Actually, it isn’t. It is a dance jam with beats that reminds me of Radio4‘s party starters or The Rapture‘s extended blasts and slaps you in the ass to shimmy. So shimmy.

Interesting note, the band is Laima Leyton and Iggor Cavalera. Iggor is the drummer of Sepultura. So there, a factoid to share with your friends. #themoreyouknow

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/90598092″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Stream A Single Dropped By Widowspeak

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Widowspeak just released a preview track of their pending EP. The song is called “True Believer” and if you like the Widowspeak, you will be pleased. Very pleased.

It has the drawn out tempo, as though it was recorded at pace and slowed down to keep your busy brain in check. Vocals and guitar interplay in lovely layers.

The EP will be called Swamps and is due late October via Captured Tracks.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/99556038″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

FFF8 Lineup Leaked – 3Day Passes @ 10am

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Date Nov 8,9,10
Location Auditorium Shores
Doors 11am (Show up Early)
Tickets On Sale @ 10am


The internet had the scoop overnight on the lineup for this year’s FunFunFun Festival, or as I call it, three-days-of-chasing-bands-with-a-camera-so-too-busy-to-catch-a-buzz Fest.

I am sure we will have previews galore, but the lineup this year has many alums of previous iterations with plenty of new faces to go along with the mayhem on three-by-two stages. The short list of jams – Slayer, Thee Oh Sees, Cut Copy, Kurt Vile, Television, The Walkmen, Johnny Marr, Delorean, Chromatics, Snoop, The Men, Descendents, Bonobo, Small Black, King Kahn, and oh soooo many more. If you can’t find a band you like in this line up, you suck at music listening and festivals.

Full list of leaked bands after the break…

Update: Poster is out, leaks are fun.

Music.

Comedy.

Ride.

Skate.

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