Show Preview: Young Girls @ Mohawk (4.16)

young_girls_rol_afm

Date Tuesday, April 16th
Location Mohawk
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets $6 @ the Door


Let’s face it, we can all use a good pick me up, emotionally speaking.  It may sound a bit off, but sometimes escapism is a simple solution, albeit one that might be short lived.  In that case, I can’t think of a more uplifting way to spend tonight than surrounded by friends at Mohawk watching Young Girls.  Their music reminds me of the innocence and purity in indie pop, where lyrics are simple and hooks collide.  They’ll be joined by Gang Sign and Single Lash, so the energy should be high, and the music should be rad.  Let’s make the best of things the only way we know how.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/MEXICO_IN_DECEMBER.mp3]

Download: Young Girls – Mexico in December [MP3]

Pop Time with Circle

circle-we-can-playI feel like today needs a good shine to it, so I wanted to play this new track from Circle right off the bat.  It’s just a pure spirited pop song from the moment it launches off, with multiple mini sections within the song…some parts are have just tinkering keyboards, while others have this driving guitar working.  I just want you all to have a smile on your face today, and the best way to do that is to give you some classic indie pop goodness to force that smile upon your face. Keep on keeping on.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/we-can-play-master.mp3]

Download: Circle – We Can Play [MP3]

New EP from Weekender

weekenderMan, the weekend’s are great for discovery, and I’m grateful I came across this brand new EP from Weekender.  The guitar sound is what caught me at first, but the delivery of the vocals, both calm and coated, really drew out the emotion that I seek in a album.  It was as simple as that, and so I spent much of my Sunday jamming to Spanish Peaks, the newest EP by the band.  They’re currently offering it up for NYOP, so you’ve got to get on it quick…donate to the cause, as being a musician doesn’t come cheap.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Weekender-Spanish-Peaks-01-Spanish-Peaks.mp3]

Download: Weekender – Spanish Peaks [MP3]

You’re Going to Love Ascetic

883945_544088232279916_962009203_oI’m stuck on this new release from Ascetic, another gem from Melbourne.  But, that being said, this is further proof that all things Oceania don’t have roots in Flying Nun…not that I don’t like those roots.  This is a band intent on using the broadest strokes to create an expansive rock record, dark at times, yet stunningly beautiful in every aspect.  Listening to their new effort, Self Initiation, I just keep finding myself lost in the musical landscape, taking turns, or unfolding to a further degree.  Definitely worthy of multiple spins on repeat, just to wrap your head around the sound itself.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/OSCL-Self-Initiation-01-Pharmacy.mp3]

Download: Ascetic – Pharmacy [MP3]

Dark Wave from So Sexual

2756197706-1I’m really enjoying this new track from So Sexual, a Liverpool act who seem to have more in common with the sound of rival city, Manchester.  You can’t take away the nod to Joy Division, or perhaps even a darker version of the Killers.  I think the vocals have a higher tonal quality than they might lead on, so you can see that it’s more than just an average knock-off.  The band just released a single with Bleeding Gold Records, and you can grab that for cheap if you’re interested in the sounds. I dig it, if that counts.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81916654″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

My New Best Friend, James Murphy…

We are pretty lucky to live here in Austin. Friday night, the wife and I started out at the friendly confines of The Mohawk, caught a kick ass set from Flesh Lights, chilled at a picnic table, had beer, whisky, and Topo Chico with good people that also love our music scene.

Red7 played host to a DJ set from James Murphy thanks to Learning Secrets. The wife got tix and that means that we became besties with the leader of one of my favorite things, LCD Soundsystem.

Click though for evidence…

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Show Preview: Wintersleep @ Red 7 (4.14)

up-Wintersleep___Dustin_Rabin

Date Sunday, April 14
Location Red 7
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets $10 from Red 7


You guessed it folks, it’s rock n’ roll April in Austin, and we’ve got another good show for your weekend adventures.  We’re being invaded by Canadians this time, with Nova Scotia’s Wintersleep making their way to Red 7 on Sunday evening.   They’re touring behind the release of their latest effort, Hello Hum, which we’ve supported since the first singles leaked out.  They carry with them a blend of melody and powerful rock riffs, which leads me to believe the show will be both loud and mesmerizing.  Plus, our boys Grape St. will be opening.  I’ll actually be on hand to sell their records, since we just put it out on vinyl.  You don’t have it? You can grab that HERE. See you Sunday friends.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Wintersleep-Martyr.mp3]

Download: Wintersleep – Martyr [MP3]

Ballsy Rocker from Speedy Ortiz

3ue5_IMG1780_1I feel like Friday is going to be really loud in my head, so I may as well find some music to accompany it, right?  Nothing seems more fitting than this new track from Speedy Ortiz, the Massachusetts quartet of creative noise-rockers.  Opening guitar lines and cool vocals fall in line with traditional indie rock, but during the chorus they unleash a wall of noise and discord, not unlike many peers currently making name with a loud approach.  On April 30th Inflated Records will release a 7″ single, which will feature this tune “Ka-Prow” as the A-side.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87345922″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Frank Smith + The Preservation Album Release @ Holy Mountain (4.13)

Frank Smith

Date Saturday, April 13th
Location Holy Mountain
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets $8


Hey there Austin.  Just a heads up, you have no business calling yourself an Austin music fan if you’re not going to this show on Saturday night.  For starters, there’s four of our favorite bands, and we like to think we have good tastes, so that’s important.  Second, both Frank Smith and the Preservation will be releasing their albums that night, and I’ve even raved about the new Frank Smith record HERE.  Also, you get to check out some other up-and-comers who’ve been receiving a lot of our attention in East Cameron Folkcore and Growl.  It’s cheap; booze at Hold Mountain is cheap; people are friendly. Don’t miss this opportunity.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/10-Chewing-Glass.mp3]

Download: Frank Smith – Chewing Glass [MP3]

New Music from Coma Cinema

1881Man, I’m digging this tune.  It’s so playful and casual, yet clearly well-written.  Coma Cinema is the project of Mat Cothran, and he’s got a bright future, if my words have anything to do with it (which I’m afraid they don’t–sorry Mat).  I like the backbone of the piano that works here while Cothran sings atop it; it’s almost bouncy, but not over the top.  And did he just say “fuck me in the graveyard?” Mat’s got a new effort titled Posthumous Release, which will come out on June 11th via Fork & Spoon Records.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87008879″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

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