Quieted Tune from Bell Gardens

Mondays are always a mix of emotions, battling between exhaustion and caffeine highs, so I figured it’d be best to wrap the day up with something soothing to send you off into the evening hours. Bell Gardens is a recording project between Kenneth J. Gibson and Brian McBride (the latter of Stars of the Lid, not USMNT Soccer fame), and their recent release, Full Sundown Assembly, is cinematic beauty.  Pop songs sprawl, aided by extensive instrumentation to back the structure of the tunes.  I see this as an American version of Spirtualized; it’s drenched in soulful songs, yet carefully accentuated by Gibson and McBride.  Perfect way to wrap up a Monday.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/04-Nowhere.mp3]

 

New Discovery: Ciro Madd

The great thing about a good long holiday weekend is that it allows for discovery, and I stumbled upon Ciro Madd by checking out the UK blog, Burning World.  The group is another one of those Brazilian acts that we might not have heard about, if we weren’t getting by with some help from our friends.  They’ve just released the wonderful Sleeping in the Rough Sea on Pug Records, which has a lo-fi pop feel at times, and other times it reminds me of the Wedding Present.  If I had a complaint, it’s that the vocals are possibly too low in the music, but they’re still decipherable, and elemental to the band’s sound.  If you’re looking for some nostalgic rock n’ roll, then you’ll want to check in on Ciro Madd, where you can grab their album for FREE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/05-Ciro-Madd-The-Call.mp3]

Download: Ciro Madd – The Call [MP3]

Genius Pop Tune from The Spook School

A short while ago I raved about the new 7″ from The Spook School, and they’re wasting no time getting back at it again with this excellent new cassette EP on Soft Power Records/Vinyl.  When the song opens it’s just casual twee pop, which is all well and good, but when they blast off at the 20 second mark, you’ll feel your heart jump for joy.  It’s a joyous jangling pop tune trading male and female vocal parts throughout the tune. If you’re in search of some ramshackle indie pop to get stuck inside your head for days, then you’ve come to the right place!

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/68009913″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Review: The Pharmacy @ 29th St Ballroom (11/23)

Turkey has come and gone. After the joys of fambly and the crushing defeat at the hands of the Frogs from Ft. Worth, Friday night was bound to be better with a four band show at 29th St. Ballroom. The Pharmacy was in town and we had locals The Bad Lovers, Pharaohs, and Foreign Mothers to surround them in Keeping Austin Weird.

The locals were pegged in the corner of the bar stage while headliners took it to the big room for beer throwing, bass hanging, big jams and really drunk dude being happy (and then taking a nap).

Read on for a few more thoughts and plenty of pics.

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Garage Rocker from Legendary Wings

One of the many acts in the Dirtnap Records is the recent signee, Legendary Wings.  They’re still out promoting their recent release, Making Paper Roses, which is full of grit and energy.  This is the band’s most recent single, and it displays the garage quality that has endeared the group to punk fans such as myself.  Personally, I love the sound of the guitar on this track, pushed high up in the mix, yet holding onto a balls-out sensibility that soon makes way for the shouted hook of the gang vocal.  Just another solid hit from a band that’s out to kick ass and take some names.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/01-Nachos.mp3]

Download:Legendary Wings – Nachos [MP3]

Chilled Out New Vibes from Chromatics

After a long holiday week for many, we need a cool little vibe to get things started, right? Luckily this new track from Chromatics hit yesterday, which definitely hits the mood I’m looking for, using touches of electronics to coat the vocals.  Those of you expecting more from the group might be a little disappointed, as this is just one of a few tracks that Johnny Jewel is adding to the After Dark II compilation he’s putting out via his label Italians Do It Better.  This should help you slowly move your way into the week, but in the best way possible.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CHERRY.mp3]

Download:Chromatics- Cherry [MP3]

I Love This Song By GEMS

I just opened up the tablet browser and saw the link to this track was still in the tabs. I don’t where I got the link, maybe DIY or Line of Best Fit, I thank them, though. I love this song. It is somewhat simple and very elegant with several sparsely populated layers and a distance to it.

Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher are the people behind GEMS, with additional percussion from Sean McVey.

…and now you know all I know about the band.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/GEMS-Void-Moon.mp3]

Download: GEMS – Void Moon ☾ [Name Your Price DL @ Bandcamp]

Show Preview: The Pharmacy @ 29th Street Ballroom 911.23)

Date Friday, November 23rd
Location 29th Street Ballroom
Doors 9:00 PM
Tickets CHEAP

Those of you still in town for the holidays are going to be lucky to catch one of the hottest up and coming acts in the indie scene, The Pharmacy.  They’re coming into town to support the release this week of their record, Stoned & Alone.  And, as if it wasn’t enough to catch their hook-y rock n’ roll, you also get some other great acts opening from our great local scene, like The Bad Lovers, Pharaohs, and Foreign Mothers. If you’re in town, and you need to get away from your family for a little bit, this is the perfect excuse to slip away and rock it out.


[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/09-Baby-Be.mp3]

Download:The Pharmacy – Baby Be [MP3]

New Pop Gem from The Very Most

For those of us carefully following friends in the lower indie blogosphere, this track has been all the rage since its release last week.  The tune comes from the esteemed band, The Very Most–one of the great Idaho exports.  They’ve just released the Ununiversalizable Us EP via Little Treasure, which features four new tracks that you can fawn over.  If you’ve got a warm spot in your heart, you’re going to adore the boyish vocal delivery and the easily consumable hooks of the guitar work.  It’s all twee, and it’s all remarkably wonderful.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/lt005_TheVeryMost_UnuniversalizableUs.mp3]

Download:The Very Most – Ununiversalizable Us [MP3]

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