Author: jon.wagner

Show Review: Band of Horses ACL Taping (10/2)

Leave a comment

boh2As the ACL Music Festivities came to a close a stones throw away from downtown Austin on Sunday evening, Seattles Band of Horses found themselves hanging in the balance between two very different musical settings. On Friday night, the band performed for the mass festival crowd in front of thousands at Zilker Park which brings a certain degree of exuberance and community, yet still slightly impersonal vibe. Struggling with sound bleed from adjacent stages, the quieter moments which the band is well known for dont lend themselves well. Sunday night however, they graced the Austin City Limits stage for the second time (Season 36, 2010) for a deeply personal and cathartic experience for audience and band alike, showing that the band is a true master of dynamic range when given the proper venue. Hit the jump for more.

Read more

Show Review: Florence + the Machine @ Austin City Limits (5/20/16)

Leave a comment

florence-2On Friday night, the Moody Theater hosted one of the strongest and well-renowned acts in the music world on the ACLTV stage. Florence + the Machine brought their trademark flare for the dramatic and pumped out an epic and high-energy 12 song performance in the midst of their How Beautiful World Tour. The night prior the group hit an evening at the Circuit of the Americas Amphitheater to a much larger audience, but the element of subtlety and artistic restraint are nowhere to be found within the front woman’s agenda. When she gets on stage, it is laid out for all to see and bare witness like an emotional tsunami; unpredictable and unrelenting.

Read more

Show Review: My Morning Jacket @ Austin City Limits (5/1/16)

Leave a comment

jamesOften when it comes to the Austin City Limits Television program, performers can come across as coy or taken aback at just the honor of being invited. With 42 seasons running, the tapings do hold a certain special quality all their own. For My Morning Jacket however, this was just another show in a new leg of their extended tour. Another show of which they absolutely commanded from the final introductory syllables from Terry Likona’s mouth. Read more

The Mad Caddies @ Red 7 (04.11.14)

Leave a comment

Mad CaddiesThere are many reasons why bands tend to take a hiatus. Reasons such as conflict within the group, lack of creativity, and loss of direction. Sometimes life just gets in the way of a music career, but it’s not a forced or unwelcome break; it’s a much more positive experience. Such is the story of the Santa Barbara based septet, The Mad Caddies, who graced a stage in Austin at Red 7 for the first time since 2006.

Read more

Show Review: Four Tet @ The Mohawk (3/1)

Leave a comment

Kieran HebdenKieran Hebden is a collector. A hunter-gather of sorts. With fine antiquities or rare stamps, the value of a collection is often determined by the finicky demand of the market. Hebden’s assemblage is a more specialized and unquantifiable archive; at least to the lay-person. Known lovingly as Four-Tet, the London-based producer collects music, or more specifically, samples. Little snippets of carefully curated melody or rythym. Like any artist, the real magic happens in the process and with an ever-growing presence in the electronic world, Four-Tet has managed to become a house-hold name with his ability to build stunning tracks from basically nothing but his snippits.

On Saturday night, he returned to the Capitol city with a new set of offerings on display. The market was indeed ripe.

Read more

Show Preview: Bonobo @ Emo’s (5.9)

Leave a comment

Bonobo(blue)

Date 5/9/13
Location Emo’s
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets Frontgate

Austinites rejoice! Tonight is another rare opportunity to catch Simon Green (better known as Bonobo) with a full band in tow. Fast on the heels of his latest LP, The North Borders, Green and Co. look to spread the groove further South. These performances are known for their legendary statuses; and when seen in person, it’s easy to understand why. Come on out tonight and see for yourself!

[audio:http://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Bonobo-Cirrus.mp3]

Download:Cirrus [MP3]

Show Review: Vampire Weekend @ Austin City Limits (3/17)

2 comments

vpwe

As SXSW 2013 came to end on Sunday, dotted by emerald wardrobes and the overwhelming scent of corned-beef and Guinness, NYC’s Vampire Weekend rounded out their trio of shows for the week atop the Moody Theater stage. Serving as the opening act for the 39th Season of Austin City Limits and for many festival goers, the pièce de résistance, the quartet served up a short, yet tight set leaving many wishing for more. Follow the jump for the rest of the review…

Read more

Show Preview: Blockhead @ Parish (12/21)

Leave a comment

Date 12/21/12
Location The Parish
Doors 8pm
Tickets $24

It’s the end of the world as we know it and what better way to go out than spending your last night on Earth at the Parish. Well, technically it’s not the “end” of the world, but the “Beginning of the World” according to the folks from Re-evolution Media. They have put together a great lineup of musicians and performance artists to celebrate the new era in our planet’s history, including Ninjatune‘s own Blockhead (AKA Tony Simon) who’s touting a great new LP, Interludes After Midnight. Come on out to get your aura cleansed and celebrate the dawning of a new day in style!

[audio:http://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Blockhead-Never-Forget-Your-Token.mp3]

Blockhead – Never Forget Your Token

1 2 3 … 6