This is fine.
We continue our Fun Fest interviews today with a few questions and answers from now local Neon Indian. We had the chance to speak with founding member and mastermind of the group Alan Palomo. We talk to Alan about his new project, his work with VEGA, and what his future plans are in this crazy musical world he lives in. Follow the jump for to read this really fun interview. And no, we don’t ask him about video games…
I’m excited that our Fun Fest interviews kick off this week with the great Austin band Shearwater. We had the opportunity to send some questions via email to leading man and long time Austin resident Jonathan Meiburg. We discuss the band’s move to a big label, how the new album is going, and a few other hot topics. Follow the jump for full interview.
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Austin band Golden Bear are a band that don’t really fit in with the rest of our Austin artist to watch bands since they’ve been around the scene for a while and aren’t exactly new to this game. Even though they are moving into more of a veteran status around town, we do feel like these guys are still not getting the respect they deserve. Well maybe respect from hardcore music fans (and crazy bloggers) but not from the casual listener. To know Golden Bear, you must know that they began back in 2003, and after doing many years of local touring, released their debut self-titled LP in 2006. Shortly afterward in 2007, the band dropped their sophomore effort To the Farthest Star on our ears. Moving forward to 2009 has seen a few personnel changes with the band and a brand new EP Everest. That’s the brief summary of the band anyway. Below you’ll find a couple Golden Bear tracks from their latest EP which you should totally purchase if you’ve got the cash. Right away you’ll notice the heavy garage rock sounding guitar riffs that mix in nicely with some slick pop sounding drums. I’d hate to write them off as just straight pop music, but their tunes are extremely easy to enjoy even for the casual music fan. Their track “Night Lights” will also probably go down as one of our favorite local jams of the year. We hope you enjoy.
Download: Golden Bear – Night Lights [MP3]
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/03-Future-Blues-1.mp3]Download: Golden Bear – Future Blues [MP3]
All right people, with only two weeks left until Fun Fun Fun Fest, we here at Austin Town Hall are feverishly finalizing our concert schedules. Running down the line up of the four stages I see many bands that get me truly excited. Gorilla Biscuits! The Jesus Lizard! Danzig!(?) But if I had to choose one band that gives me reason to subject myself to two days of loud music and sleepless nights I would have to choose Kansas City’s own Coalesce.
Coalesce has released some of the most innovative records that hardcore has seen. From the blistering speed and ferocity of their debut, Give Them Rope (1997) to the groove-laden, but no less heavy, Functioning on Impatience (1998) and 0:12 Revolution in Just Listening (1999), Coalesce have firmly planted themselves as stalwarts of the hardcore scene. After a lengthy hiatus, Coalesce has returned this year with OX, their first full length in ten years, as well as their most accomplished records to date. OX mixes the band’s intensity with their new found appreciation of the music of America.
I haven’t even touched on the band’s intense stage presence. I have driven thirteen hours on two separate occasions to witness the spectacle that is Coalesce live. You would be hard-pressed to witness a more energetic live band than Coalesce, so do yourself a favor and head over to the Black Stage on Sunday, November 8th at 4:50 p.m. and prepare yourself to see four guys giving their all for something that they love.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/03_Wild_Ox_Moan.mp3]Download: Coalesce – Wild Ox Moan [MP3]
“She thinks she missed the train to Mars, she’s out back counting stars.” Before the Cadillac commercial, I was a 13-year old kid when I first discovered Hum. Best known for their 1995 hit “Stars,” the Champaign, Illinois quartet combined heavy-distorted guitars, melodic-monotone vocals, and songs about plants, dreams and suicide machines that proved a breath of fresh air from Pearl Jam-clones in the mid-nineties. 1995’s LP You’d Prefer an Astronaut is a solid effort, but 1998’s Downward is Heavenward is a ten-song epic adventure through space. For every tender moment sung by lead-singer Matt Talbot, there’s a sonic blast of splintering guitars that erupt like a goddamn Android Volcano! I’m not quite sure what that means but you can judge for yourself by listening to my favorite Hum song, “I Hate it Too.”
As we look forward to the debauchery that will be Fun Fun Fun Fest, there can be only one band that will bring the best time to all those in attendance: Les Savy Fav. Forget the fact that they bring their own spin of angular punk and indie grit to the sound board, and just focus on the fact that they have one of the single most entertaining frontmen of all time. Tim Harrington will bring his sweaty bald head and parade around the stage, and the crowd, like nothing else anyone has ever seen. You should love the band for their tunes, but you’ll fall in love with them as soon as you see this one man show. Case in point, last time I saw LSF, Tim hung upside down from the rafters of the venue and screamed the lyrics before dropping to the floor, stuffing a pillow beneath his shirt so as to be with child, and took shots with the crowd. Enough said, be there.
Download: Les Savy Fav – One To Three [MP3]
Shortly after our time at ACL, we realized that we failed to interview any of our favorite local acts playing over the weekend. To make up for our miscue, we caught up with up and coming Austin artist Black Joe Lewis via email. Black Joe has been hard working hard and touring the country with his band The Honeybears after releasing his debut LP earlier this year. Follow the jump to read full interview.
Oh yes, you are reading the title of the post right. We have 3, count ’em 3, pairs of passes to the upcoming Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on Nov. 7th & 8th.We are going to keep the details to this contest very short so as to not overload your brain. Deets go like this: last Friday we created our top 5 supergroups and we want to know what your ideal supergroup would be. All you have to do is leave your supergroup in the comments section or tweet us your group and we’ll pick the top 3 entrants. Each winner will receive two passes to the weekend’s events. Simply create the craziest group with whoever you want from whatever time period! Get creative people. Contest will close on October 30th so get those entries in now! Oh and don’t forget a valid email address so we can get in touch with you.
After being underwhelmed (and I’m the only one) by Them Crooked Vultures, I began to look ahead to the Supergroups that I would create. Sure, this is all conjecture, and some are jaded by my own personal tastes and connections. It’s an interesting topic. Who is your favorite musician, and who would you like to see them playing with? Make your own supergroup, and tell me about it. While I wait, I’ll throw out mine. And, I apologize for my lack of originality in naming bands.
Really what can I say about Jawbox? If you are familiar with the seminal Washington D.C. band then you understand why one can fall short on words to describe such an influential group. If you are not familiar with them, well, then I feel sorry for you. You need to go out now and pick up their near perfect album, For Your Own Special Sweetheart. Seriously, go.
I’ll wait.
I had never before heard a blend of driving rock mixed with noise. It was beautiful and dangerous. The video for Savory, blew my young mind making me a lifetime fan of this band. I am not even taking into account the sheer greatness singer/guitarist J. Robbins has imparted on the scene through his production work, as well as his time spent in the bands Burning Airlines and Channels.
Jawbox, to celebrate the re-release of For Your Own Special Sweetheart, on their own label, Desoto Records, will be playing live together for the first time since 1997 on December 8th, 2009 on the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, of all places. Truly an occasion to look forward to!
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/02_02_-_Savory.mp3]Download: Jawbox – Savory [MP3]
