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FT5: Hangover Albums

March 12, 2010 jon.goodrich 3 comments

In retrospect, it was the free tequila at that third South By Southwest party that did it. And there was that energy drink you downed, despite the fact you’d never heard of it (hey, it was free). Of course the Southern Comfort at party five didn’t help either. Nor did the eleven beers between party one and party seven (3 micro-brews, 2 Shiners, 5 PBRs, 1 new crap beer Budweiser is pushing). The fact that this unholy blend of alcohol is now fighting it out with the bratwurst and street pizza you consumed yesterday is only complicating matters. Stomach hates you. Brain not functioning. Unidentified bruises abound. Water and aspirin cannot save you. All this and your friend has the nerve to say: “I’m not hung over at all, I feel great!” Resist the urge to punch him in his stupid face. Go and put on a nice soft record. Follow the jump for 5 Albums that will help you cope with a hangover.
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SXSW Watchlist: Eisley

March 11, 2010 RayRay One comment

Now that the SXSW music festival is upon us, it’s time to take a last minute look at the bands you should really be paying attention to during the week. I’m thinking the best way to do that would be to put the spotlight on Tyler, TX. band Eisley. Now some of you may have forgotten about this band since they’ve been quiet for a couple years now in the music world, but we haven’t! We’re also excited to hear that new material is on the way soon. I’m sure that the first new album since 2007s Combinations will no doubt continue to bring those sweet pop jams we’ve grown accustomed too from Eisley. We also had the chance recently to speak with front lady Sherri Dupree Bermis about her band. Follow the jump to read the SXSW oriented questions.

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SXSW Watchlist: David Vandervelde

March 10, 2010 RayRay Leave a comment

A couple years ago, songwriting man David Vandervelde dropped his beautiful album Waiting for the Sunrise on our ears and we’ve been following him ever since. David has been fairly quiet since that release, but just recently dropped some new tracks that will supposedly appear on an upcoming album. Checking out a live set by Vandervelde should be a great time to hear some of this new material before it’s physically released. Vandervelde, always the jokester, answered a few of our SXSW questions to build up some hype before he hits Austin. You can see his brief and to the point responses after the jump.

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SXSW Watchlist: Califone

March 9, 2010 RayRay Leave a comment

Chicago band Califone have been around the music game twice as long as most of the young start up bands you’ll be checking out during SXSW. They’ve been touring the world/country, releasing countless albums, and generally working their asses off since around 1997/98. Always adapting and changing their style, Califone have come a long long way since their beginnings over 10 years ago. Don’t even try to label these guys either, as their music changes stylistically so often that you can’t mark them in any specific genre. Needless to say, I’m pumped about waiting in line for these guys. Prior to their arrival in Austin, we had the opportunity to send lead singer Tim Rutili some SXSW questions. Follow the jump for the questions.

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SXSW Watchlist: Bowerbirds

March 8, 2010 RayRay Leave a comment

Bowerbirds are a band we have given tons of love to over here at ATH, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see their name pop up when we talk about bands we want to see during SXSW. These guys have been doing their thing musically now for close to 4 years, all the while touring the country from coast to coast. Their sounds fall into the indie-folk category with plucked acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies, and a less is more approach to music. Also as stated previously, we’ve seen Bowerbirds twice in Austin over the last year or so and we’ll be waiting in line to see them again. Leading up to SXSW, we had the chance to shoot some interview questions over to leading man Phil Moore. Follow the jump for some SXSW oriented questions with Phil.

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FT5: WTF? Songs I Found in my iTunes

March 5, 2010 nathan.lankford 8 comments

During 1989 I received my first CD player. Since that day, I’ve collected music vigorously, but only recently has that seem to have gotten a little bit out of hand. Some friends know I have stuff, so they want to borrow it, or they want a burned copy. Other times, people want me to make a mix for some purpose or another, so I gladly oblige. It recently hit me that there are some mysterious tunes lying around in my iTunes library that I really rather wish weren’t there, or that I am going to pretend like I downloaded for a friend and lay no claim to whatsoever. Do you have those too? It can’t be just me.

FTC: Rainer Maria

March 4, 2010 RayRay 2 comments

After a week away from the feature, our from the closet this week goes to old school indie popsters Rainer Maria. This band, hailing from college town Madison, WI, were a part of a small group of indie bands that jumped on the small Polyvinyl Records label as they got their start in the mid 90s. That group included several top notch bands in the underground late 90s era like American Football, Braid, Paris TX, or even Aloha to name a few. As a teenager growing ever so tired of the Nirvana knockoffs and the rise of boy bands in the late 90s, those Polyvinyl bands were my first real taste of quality indie-music. When looking back at all my old mix CDs from that era full of Pedro the Lion, Appleseed Cast, and other similar bands, I always seem to find a Rainer Maria jam on every one of ’em. It’s sad now that the band has been broken up for close to 4 years , but alas we still have the tunes of old. Below you’ll find “Artificial Light” from my favorite Rainer Maira LP, A Better Version of Me, dropped back in 2001. I recently picked up a vinyl copy of that record and it really took me back. I’d argue that this was when the band really honed in their sound and started to make some big noise in the indie scene.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/01-artificial-light.mp3]

Download: Rainer Maria – Artificial Light [MP3]

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SXSW Watchlist: Fanfarlo

March 3, 2010 RayRay Leave a comment

Fanfarlo have become frequent residents of Austin over the last year having played 2-3 shows during the calendar year. Unfortunately, like an idiot, I have missed these guys the last few times they’ve come to town so I’m putting them down as a band to see during SXSW. Currently touring behind their 2009 debut Reservoir, this London based band has been touring like crazy and building a buzz behind their band. Several of our local amigos have seen them live and tell us that we definitely won’t want to miss out this time around. Prior to their Austin arrival, we had the chance to ask drummer/vocalist Amos Memon a few questions about his band. You’ll notice that we’ve been recycling some questions from our SXSW bands to help you get to know them better and so we can pump out tons of interviews for you fans. Follow the jump for full interview with Amos.

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2/26 Tegan and Sara @ Bass Concert Hall

March 2, 2010 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

We here at Austin Town Hall were fortunate enough to get our hands on some tickets for the much anticipated Tegan and Sara at Bass Concert Hall on Friday night. Touring in support of their latest release, Sainthood, the girls were accompanied by the beautiful Holly Miranda and Steel Train. A sold out crowd filled the hall, and you could hear the buzz as all the fans anxiously awaited the beginning of the night. Follow the jump for the full show review and pics.

SXSW Watchlist: The Antlers

March 1, 2010 RayRay Leave a comment

The Antlers are a band who have grown in leaps and bounds over the last year or so. This new found fame is thanks in large part to the band’s critically acclaimed LP of last year Hospice. Since that release, Antlers have been touring like mad in the US and abroad to make a name for themselves and their music. The band was originally created in 2006 as a solo project for Peter Siberman who later recruited himself a band to tour and record with. You’ll have a few chances to check out The Antlers during SXSW and you won’t want to pass up that chance. Trust me. We were also luckily enough to speak briefly with leading man/founder Peter Siberman about his band. You can find that full interview after the jump.

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