Show Preview: Red Bull Sound Select (1/15)

Red Bull Sound Select

Date 1/15/14
Location Spider House Ballroom
Doors 9pm
Tickets RSVP $3/$10 @ door


Our friends at Red Bull are presenting a nice little locals action to show off the talent brewing around here; this is a dance party version.

You get The Octopus Project, Night Drive and The Black & White Years. You can RSVP here. Why RSVP, you ask? Because with RSVP, you get in for $3 instead of $10 and you get to download a song from each of the artists. I mean, that is like actually buying three songs and getting to go to a show for free.

I have a feeling things will get crowded quick so be early and be cool. The Octupus Project doesn’t have any more shows listed after this, Night Drive sounded great at Red7 the other night and The Black & White Years have new hits. In fact, here is a track you should hear from B&WY…

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/LittleOne.mp3]

Angel Olsen Releases Another Single

angelolsenThis Angel Olsen track bounced around a few days ago, so it’s fair to say that many people have already absorbed it.  But, it’s just too good for me to ignore, not to mention it provides a little diversity to the heavier side of things we’re running today.  What first caught me was the little buzz on the sound of the guitar; it’s strange how some things will fascinate your ears.  But, Olsen really has a great grasp on her voice nowadays, and it’s perfectly on display here, offering up a sultry tone wrapped in elegance. Jagjaguwar will be releasing her new album, Burn Your Fire For No Witness, on February 18th, and it’s looking to be a must have.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128162811″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Noisy Number from Solids

solidsI pressed play on this tune, and immediately I was hooked.  If you love the sound of distorted guitars forcefully making their presence felt in your ears, then it’ll take you about ten seconds to fall in love with this tune from Solids. But, despite a fuzzy  bit of guitar noise, you’ll find a warmth hiding beneath the number, making it a stellar tune to kick off your week. The duo will be releasing their debut, Blame Confusion, on February 18th via Fat Possum, followed by a tour that includes some tour dates in our home for SXSW.  Trust me on this one; it’s a gem.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119022642″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Burnt Ones Announce New Album

burntones2014 has started off rather impressively for Castle Face Records, and things are only getting better with the announcement of a new record from Burnt Ones.  On the first single from the upcoming Gift LP, you can clearly tell how well the band manages to work together; it sounds like a practice-space jam session recorded to perfection.  But, while there’s a quality that’s definitely a little coated in atmospherics, there’s an underlying layer of accessibility that is definitely going to win over fans.  You can get yourself a copy of this gem on March 25th when it arrives in record stores.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128532803″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

New Music from Jack Name

jacknameWe feel like kicking things off on Monday should start with a little bit of introspection, but a whole lot of grit, providing you with some energy to jump into the week with just the right amount of spirit; I think this jam from Jack Name will do just the trick.  It’s a lo-fi sort of affair, with sharp distorted guitars cutting in and out of the track.  You’ll find low-end vocals beneath the front of the mix, possibly hearing a bit of Frank Black affectation.  The project will be releasing Light Show on January 28th via God? Records, followed by a show that lands the band in Austin on February 8th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/JackName_BornToLose.mp3]

Download: Jack Name – Born to Lose [MP3]

Rocking Out with Protomartyr

protomartyrWe don’t want our good friends at Hardly Art thinking we forgot about them, but they make things easy by putting out such solid jams as this one by Protomartyr. Their latest signing, Protomartyr, have this great darkness in their approach, which owes a great deal to how the vocals were recorded.  Me? I love the angular approach to the guitar playing, pushed right up against this bouncing rhythm section.  You’ll find the tune only gets better as the band jumps off energetically from time to time throughout the track.  The excellent label will release Under Color of Official Right on April 8th.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Scum-Rise.mp3]

Download: Protomartyr – Scum, Rise! [MP3]

Happy Diving to Release EP with Father/Daughter Records

happyIt’s clear that over the last couple of years, gutiar music has returned, though I suppose it never went away completely.  Happy Diving are the latest act to come our way, offering up a heavy dose of guitars, while still having these hidden moments of pop sensibility lurking in the sound of the vocals.  Just imagine a loud swell of hooks and noise combining into an effortless wave meant to destroy your ears and you’ll get the picture being pushed out by these East Bay Boys.  They’ll be releasing their self-titled EP digitally via Father Daughter Records next week, with a cassette version to follow later in February.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128549054″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Free Week Weekend Preview

austin-skyline-mark-weaverWe hate to see it happen, but at some point, Free Week has to end.  For the sake of the venues, our livers and our bands. As we head into the final weekend of free music about town, we ask that you do your best to catch some band, any band, out on the town this weekend.  It’s been a rad week of some new discoveries and some old favorites; I hope you had the same experience.  Here’s where to go:

Friday

Riverboat Gamblers, Hundred Visions, Midgetmen at Red 7 @ 9 PM

Black Books, Ringo Deathstarr, Hello Caller at the Mohawk @ 7 PM

Shivery Shakes, Tiger Waves, La Migra, DFD at Cheer Up Charlies @ 8 PM

Christian Bland at  Hotel Vegas @ 9 PM

A.Sinclair, East Cameron Folkcore, My Jerusalem  Holy Mountain @ 9 PM

Saturday

Trustees, Sweet Talk, Gospel Truth at Beerland @ 9 PM

Letting Up Despite Great Faults, The Sour Notes, Borrisokane @ the Mohawk

Royal Forest, Young Girls, Little Radar at Cheer Up Charlies @ 6 PM

Sunday

Ruby Fray, Jess Williamson, Midnight Masses at Cheer Up Charlies @ 7 PM

Zoltars at Beerland @ 9 PM

Listen to some jams from Tiger Waves, Young Girls and Jess Williamson.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/01-Weekends.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Caroline.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/01-Blood-Song.mp3]

 

New Music from Hospitality

hospitalityWhat a difference an album can make!  The first effort from Hospitality was a joy, filled with catchy folk-influenced tunes that you could sing whilst still feeling a bit introspective.  But, as evidenced by their latest tune, which is slated to be on their new record, Trouble, they’ve taken things into a more sinister place, at least in so far as the mood created.  I also think their sound has expanded, filling out some of the empty space that may have been present on their first effort. This tune definitely has me intrigued, wondering if they can maintain their exuberance while going darker (you can hear another tune HERE).  I guess we’ll all find out when Merge releases the album on January 28th.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128220679″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Free Week Thursday Preview!

austin-skyline-mark-weaverIt’s drawing to a close, but things have warmed up, so make sure you take advantage of Free Week while we’re all still getting our fill of free rock n’ roll throughout the city.  Fasten your seat belts, put down your camera phones, and buy some merch.  Here’s our recommendations for this evening.

Golden Boys, Jonly Bonly and Orthy at Red 7 at 9 PM

Obscured by Echoes and Migrant Kids @ Holy Mountain

Little Radar at the Swan Dive @ 9 PM

Midnight Masses at Hotel Vegas @ 11 PM

Treat it like SXSW…bounce around, meet new people, catch new bands, or catch bands you love.  Just go out. It’s Thursday. Here are some tracks from Jonly Bonly and Little Radar.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/02-A2-Never-Thought-Id-Die.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/01-Spitfire.mp3]
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