This is fine.
As we head into the summer months, there’s a slew of great shows on the horizon, and one we’re particularly excited about features two of our favorites, Amen Dunes and Axxa/Abraxas. After a superb self-titled release in March for Captured Tracks, we caught up for a short little interview with Axxa/Abraxas frontman, Ben. Read on for a brief look into his world… Read more
New York rockers, Heeney, are gearing up to bring you your first full taste of their tunes. They’ve been putting on blistering shows across NYC with the likes of Titus Andronicus and So So Glos, in case you need a reference point. I like that the delivery of the vocals fit perfectly into the vibe created by the guitar work; the barking verse near the end adds a bit of intensity. This jam will end up on the band’s debut, which is scheduled to pop up later on in the year. No matter the delay, this song will definitely do enough to whet your appetite.
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Having spent a lot of time over the last year or so with Genuine Leather, I’ve found that the band is one of the more diverse acts playing around in Austin. They always carry about a certain pop sensibility that endears them to audiences, but they can spin it in an indie vein or toss it about with a little twang; they seem to employ both on their latest single, “Say the Same Thing Twice.” It’s the latest in what is sure to be an excellent album, titled Losers, which the band are releasing on July 1st. They’ve got a couple of great shows lined-up to celebrate too! They play at the Blackheart on July 5th and Cheer Up Charlies on July 13th. Their great music is second only to their dominating live show, so be sure to catch them at least once, if not twice. For now, enjoy their new single, on us.
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After an 18-hour ocean crossing trip, followed by a brief power-nap, I finally found myself at the Secret Solstice Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland. To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect as I was very unfamiliar with most of the artists on the lineup and I don’t speak a lick of Icelandic. Of course what we worry about most never happens and I ended up being treated to a great festival experience that could rival most anything we can offer here stateside. Click read more for words and fancy photos.
When I first heard the White Arrows a few years back, I wasn’t sure what to make of them. But, after catching their live set, their album Dry Land is Not a Myth didn’t leave my record player for some time. They use electronic beats to collide with strong guitar work, which you get here just after the 2.5 minute mark; they then move into an explosion of pop, which is always endearing. This track below is the opener on In Bardo, their latest effort; it’s said to be a jump in a slightly new direction, and that seems to hold true, as there’s a more subdued element to this tune. Look for the band on tour this summer, with the record coming out later this year.
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It’s been a quick turnaround for Hiss Golden Messenger. After releasing Haw last year, the project is already back with another release, Lateness of Dancers. This time, the album will be released by Merge Records, and as expected with such a move, there’s a definitive polish to the tracks that have been coming out. That might irk some longtime fans, but you can’t deny the strength of the tune below; there’s an expressed naturalness to the delivery of the vocals and the traipsing of the guitar work. It’s going to be a special record come this fall, when it sees a release on September 9th.
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Sometimes you have to pay the toll. The heat was taking the toll. Stubb’s is probably just a little too small to host Cut Copy these days. The band is stuck in popularity in the gap that Austin can’t quite handle and I doubt Cedar Park Center would be a popular destination for an indie-pop electro Aussie dance party.
Damn. It was hot. We sweat, we dance, we sweat more. We wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Click through for a couple more thoughts and plenty of pics.
Checking in on my favorite country of Australia, I stumbled upon this excellent new tune from Dribble. It starts out innocently enough before blasting forth with a discordant bounce and riotous vocals. There’s a spirit within the song that can only be fully realized when surrounded by a bunch of friends in a tiny little club. Still, the track packs a huge punch, which is perhaps owed to Mikey Young of Total Control/Eddy Current, who recorded the band’s new 7″. It’ll be out shortly via Cool Death Records.
Download: Dribble – High St Girl [MP3]
Australia’s Dick Diver have long been one of my secrets, but it seems that they’re getting their deserved accolades; it will only continue once people spend time listening to their latest single. It’s the A-Side to their New Name Blues 7″, which is being released by Fruits and Flowers. I think the guitar work on this track is some of their best, while the craftsmanship still revolves around their usage of male/female vocal interplay. If you didn’t listen to their record, Calendar Days, which was on Chapter Music, then perhaps this will convince you where you went wrong. Give a spin.
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I’m really expecting this new album from The Pharmacy to catch a lot of ears, especially considering that I felt their first album, Stoned and Alone, was vastly underrated. This brand new single has a slower pace to it, which illustrates the band’s growth since their first release. The guitars are taking their time, weaving a world of country-tinged chords that allow for the vocals to really take in all the focus. If you’re a fan of Natural Child, then Spells will definitely be something to look forward to; it’s being released by Old Flame Records on August 12th.
Download: The Pharmacy – Anna Bella [MP3]
