Author: nathan.lankford

Rock N’ Roll from Low Culture

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I know I’m struggling here on Friday, so I definitely needed an energetic pick up, which is lucky for me since I just got this great Low Culture tune.  There’s no pretense here, it’s just fast paced rock, in the vein of what I’ve deemed power punk.  It’s filled with hooks, especially in the chorus, yet there’s just a hint of gritty anger that blows your hair back.  They’ll be releasing their album, Screens, on my favorite Dirtnap Records on January 9th of next year.  You need energy and fun? You get Low Culture.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/01-Screens.mp3]

Download:Low Culture – Screens [MP3]

Show Review: The Faint @ Emos (11.28)

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For me, seeing The Faint was a necessity and a desire, nostalgically taking me back to early 2000 and my discovery of the group via Saddle Creek fandom.  They came into a packed house at Emos on Wednesday night to relive the hits from Danse Macabre.  They brought with them Icky Blossoms and Trust, so it was a solid line-up for all.

Read on for thoughts and photos.

Photo Guy Note: We had access to shoot the entire show. Tons of pics, Icky Blossoms were photogenic so enjoy.

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Just Another Hit from Girls Names

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Personally, I couldn’t be more excited about new music from Girls Names.  For one, the band’s drummer Neil has won me over with his Sea Pinks project, but I like the darkened underbelly hinted at with Girls Names.  Apparently after releasing Dead to Me, the band began to rework their sound, which is completely acceptable, but none the less important to the group’s developing sound.  This tune is a good four minutes shorter than their previous leaked single, but I think you’re going to like the feel of the tune.  It’s got a wayward jangle, but there’s a wafting quality created by the guitars and the vocals that carries the mood of the ]track. If you dig what you’re hearing (and you should!) then you can pick up their new effort, The New Life, on February 26th from Slumberland Records.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69080119″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Smooth Pop Tunes from Leapling

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I’m really excited about this tune from Leapling that has been floating around just a little bit over the Interwebs.  A light introduction builds the perfect setting for the tune, leaving enough empty space for the brilliant melody to jump in enthusastically, then trickle it’s way through your mind, leaving an effortless happiness in its wake.  There’s not much information on the group, other than that they’re from Brooklyn and they’re making this chilled out collage pop.  Oh, and they will soon have an EP to their name, which is being put out by the excellent folks over at Father Daughter Records…I’ll keep you updated on that.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Leapling-Seventeen.mp3]

Download:Leapling – Seventeen [MP3]

Welcome Back: Lilys

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It’s been a long time since I’ve even really thought about Lilys, but I’m so glad the band is back with a new tune.  The project was always that of Kurt Heasley, and they’ve bounced around stalwart labels like Sub Pop and Slumberland, landing their newest single on Speakertree Records.  You can find the following tune on a new split with Big Troubles, another band we adore here at ATH.  It’s a gem of a pop tune, including a little bit of the quirky stylings that always made listening to Heasley so special. Do yourself a favor and seek out the group’s catalog; it’s full of hits like this.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63229973″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: How To Dress Well @ Mohawk (11.29)

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Date Thursday, November 29th
Location Mohawk
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets $12 @ the Door


Thursday nights are always good for rock n’ roll, but in this case, it’s good for an upbeat evening with some electronic stylings brought to you by How to Dress Well.  After releasing Total Loss this year, the band’s star has begun to rise, though the group’s blend of electronica is a lot more soulful than much of the work out there.  The show also features our local favorites, Royal Forest, and a band we’ve recently taken a liking to, Beacon.  If you’re looking for a show to attend, you can’t go wrong by hitting up the Mohawk.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/04-Feelings-Gone.mp3]

Download:Beacon – Feeling’s Gone [MP3]

New Power Pop from Games

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For those of you clamoring to the era of late 70s rock n’ roll where glam met pop met punk, you’re going to love listening to Games.  I came across the band a bit back while catching up with the work of Hozac Records, but the rocking blog, Raven Sings the Blues, just tossed up this gem a few weeks ago so I’m forced to share.  On this track, the group has a softer edge, giving them a hint of refinement, as opposed to some of the other/faster groups that kick out the jams.  You can grab the self-titled debut from Games right now over at Hozac!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67067098″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Letting Up Despite Great Faults/She Sir @ Holy Mountain (11.29)

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Date Thursday, November 29th
Location Holy Mountain
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets FREE

Listen folks, if you’re in Austin, and you consider yourself a music fan, then you have a moral obligation to being at this show.  First, Letting Up Despite Great Faults moved to our town from LA, and since then, they’ve done wonders, releasing the excellent Untogether this year; it’s one of my favorite records of the year, period. Second, our old friends in She Sir are gearing up to take over the town with their upcoming album (early 2013); we ran their killer new single yesterday.  These are two of Austin’s finest bands, and there’s no cover at all, so you can’t really come up with a proper excuse, can you?  Oh, and Holy Mountain will have $2 Lone Star.  Cheap drinks, great music, no excuses. Be there.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Letting-Up-Despite-Great-Faults-Bulletproof-Girl.mp3]

Download: Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Bulletproof Girl [MP3]
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Download:songtitle [MP3]

Meet David Thomas Jones

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Man, this is exactly what I needed to hear today.  David Thomas Jones, a current Austin resident has just released his Comfort Creatures EP, and if I’m going to judge the whole EP by this song, I’m going to blast this for some time to come.  You can tell that David’s got an ear for catchy hooks, but he provides a rhythmic groove to his multi-instrumental construction that really seems to destined for dance parties.  It’s a refreshing sound, as you can hear the emphasis on the layering of instruments rather than just repetitive loops of electronic beats.  Welcome to the fold DTJ.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/David-Thomas-Jones-MASTERED01.mp3Download:David Thomas Jones – Our Lives [MP3]

Show Preview: The Faint @ Emos East (11.28)

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Date November 28
Location Emos East
Doors 7:00 PM
Tickets $19.50


Way back before it was cool to be doing elctronica music, The Faint were mixing dance beats and punk rock attitude, which birthed Danse Macabre; it’s one of my favorite records of the early 00s.  They’ll be bringing that excellent record back to the stage at Emo’s on Wednesday, along with some other rad bands to make those dance-aholics happy.  Label mates Icky Blossoms will be opening the evening, followed by our new favorites from Fun Fest, TRUST.  It’s going to be a night to revel in the joys of bands touring behind old records and a night to don your dancing shoes. Let’s do this.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/01-Agenda-Suicide.mp3]

Download:The Faint – Agenda Suicide [MP3]

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