This is fine.
On a night that had me out for Hunx and His Punx headlining indoors at Emo’s, we were able to manage some last-minute access to bring you a quick review and some shots of The Raveonettes outdoors. Follow the jump for more.
My second FT5 is on the eve of Record Store Day. Record Store Day got me thinking about my addiction, so I am going to use this FT5 as a confessional. My name is Brian and I am an Music Addict, and I feel a need to dispel some myths…
A bit lost in the shuffle of SxSW was a show at La Zona Rosa on the Tuesday before the full on start of the Music Festival. The lineup featured an interesting combination of bands in town for the conference; Bad Veins, Royal Bangs and Two Door Cinema Club. Impressions of each and some pics after the jump, but I’ll let you know now that Two Door was awesome…
Rating: 
Coming off of an eventful SxSW, the Joy Formidable is trying to carry momentum into the year and the summer festival season by bringing their powerhouse live show to new audiences. Their latest release, The Big Roar, is one helluvan album to tour behind.
It starts with an epic 7 minute long track that builds to crescendo and serves as a warning that the trio means business. “The Magnifying Glass” starts with some odd samples, feedback and random banging. I love it, it sorts out into awesome understated verses and transitions to power choruses that I love about this band. Just to keep the averages proper, the next track is short and sweet; “The Magnifying Glass” is all of 2:19 long.
Track three is a personal favorite, “I Don’t Want To See You Like This”. Ritzy Brian has the job of providing the haunting back vocals during the loud moments that creates tenderness in noise. The following track is likely the most recognizable and popular track; it is the first of four that appear on A Balloon Called Moaning. “Austere” starts with the falsetto cries of Ritzy and transitions for a level of disorder to power chord bliss. One of their best live tunes, loved it all the way.
“A Heavy Abacus” is a “slow track”, evolving without being a jam song and a bit noisy at times with a clean finish. I am a bit curious why the Abacus is watching her. “Whirring” is the next of the Balloon tracks and again, you should recognize it immediately if you know of this band. “Buoy” has a very cool climbing and descending chord structure that draws you in and bridges the first verses beautifully. Again, a bit of a slower tempo to this new track, but not any weaker, light breaks, heavy drum track finish, *chirp*…
“Maruyama” serves as an intermission before another old-new song called “Cradle”. “I can see he says what he means, We’ll deal him sticks and stones and apologies, I wish…it was through”. “My vicious tongue cradles just one”. Love it.
“Llaw=Wall” is the departure track. Rhydian Dafydd sings lead on this one, nary a guitar for the first half until the track erupts. “Chapter 2” returns to a more punk progresson and Ritzy belting over bass lines and a strong drumming from Matt Thomas.
To close things out is the final track from the previous release and if you don’t love “The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Love”, I don’t even know you anymore.
The Big Roar is an interesting mix of the best tracks from “A Balloon Called Moaning” and new material that is more complex in some ways, a complete departure in others. Being a best of old and new, it should to be limited to a 3.5 IMHO, but the recent sets at SxSW push it to the 4 star status.
So I am standing in line to see Source Code at SxSW Film and read the email that I have press for Local Natives. Panic. A quick check of the show’s stage times and the movie’ running time, I should be able to make Local Natives no problem at the sacrifice of time in the pit for Gayngs. We all make sacrifices. The movie got a late start, and thankfully so did the show at Stubb’s. A very good show as those of you who have seen Local Natives will attest…
First show at Stubb’s of the 2011 Season for me and it was a good one. The Walkmen brought the Head and the Heart along and had TV Torso do the opening honors. There were some changes to the gravel pit, over the quiet period. More on that and the show after the break…
With SxSW right around the corner, music schedules are being filled out like NCAA Brackets. We will have to make tough choices and let go of venue grudges to be happy. Here are a few thoughts on venue selection as I know everyone has one or two places they have a love/hate affair with…
Emo’s was packed with bloggers, photogs and Austin Indie dignitaries on Monday night for what many believe to be two of the biggest buzz bands coming to town in a month and a half for SxSW. Read on to learn more and get a preview of two bands that every day party planner would be thrilled to have in their 4pm slot…
It’s cold. Tokyo Police Club took on filling La Zone Rosa on a Wednesday night, temperatures in the teens. I knew it was worth the trip out when a friend asked of his Facebook status, “Hearing the sounds from across the street, should I have gone to see Tokyo Police Club?” Yep. Follow the jump for more.
The ATH crew stopped by Emo’s on Saturday night for a show by one of our favorite old school bands The Get Up Kids. Of course the guys incorporated several of their new tunes while still incorporating a lot of our old favorites from back in the day. When the encore goes a little something like “Holiday”, “Don’t Hate Me”, “I’ll Catch You”, and “10 Minutes”, you gotta know we enjoyed our time at the show. After the jump you can check out some photos of GUK and opener River City Extension by Brian Gray.
