Bellows Bring Us A Bit of Quirky Pop

10305413_655128174552829_6618824475890402563_nBellows is a project run by songwriter Oliver Kalb who resides in Brooklyn and has been plying his trade for a few years now.  My first taste of the group is coming today in the form of this new track called “Funny Games” which is the primary single from a brand new LP.  The track is hard to put a label on as it seemingly jumps from hushed, bedroom pop to a more loud, eclectic, rocking sort of tune at the drop of a hat.  Something about that is a little bit strange, but I think that’s what I like about this track.  Gimme the weird.

Pick up new album Blue Breath on September 2nd via Dead Labour.

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Austin Spotlight: Meet Decisions Decisions

decThose of you waiting for The Rise to reunite will have to…wait.  But, in related news, one of the former members of that heralded post-rock outfit from Austin has begun a new venture with members of Hides, Hour of the Wolf,  and The Program (all West Coast hardcore acts).  Decisions Decisions formation only recently came to my attention, and I’m quite stoked to hear what these guys do going forward.  They’re actually playing their first show at Liberty this Sunday for House Party Sundays; you can check out the event HERE. As of now the band only have a few demos to share, but look for more in the near future.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Decisions-Decisions-You-Were-Saying.mp3]

Download: Decisions Decisions – You Were Saying [MP3]

 

I Love This New Tune from Purling Hiss

PurlingHiss_byAaronBiscoe smallTuesday’s are full of tons of tunes on the webs.  People are trying to get you to buy the latest (and I did!), but as a blogger type dude, you get lots of emails too.  I waded through some stuff, then I got stuck.  I got stuck on this ridiculously rad tune from Purling Hiss.  It’s nearly five minutes of great alternative guitar riffs that are meant to be turned up loud as you work to blow out your factory speaker system.  But, what I really like, is the lackadaisical tone of the vocals; it’s almost like a slacker jam, though you can tell there’s been more work put into it (it’s five minutes long!).  The new record from the band will be out on September 23rd via Drag City; it’s called Weirdon.

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Show Pics: Locals Only @ Mohawk (7/26)

Black Books…with a brief visit to Cheer Up.

So we talk quite bit about supporting the locals. We also suggested making supporting the locals easier with folding in the artists in smart ways. Our friends at The Mohawk had a great idea; why not fill a night off with an inside/outside show for a cheap cover to help you see a ton of local talent? Make it so.

Perfect excuse to have fun with the nifty fifty and spend a night milling about The Mohawk and saying hi to friends with a soundtrack provided by Little Radar, Wiretree, Young Tongue, Supermoon, Black Books, Modern Medicine and a quick trip next door to catch up with Shivery Shakes at Cheer Up.

Click through for thoughts and plenty of pics!

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Greylag Sign to Dead Oceans

greylagA few years ago there was this wave of folk/Americana being remained and tossed out left and right.  Bands like Fleet Foxes and Cave Singers dominated my own personal listening playlists, but the genre hasn’t really hit me again until I heard this track from Greylag, who’ve just signed to Dead Oceans.  They’ve got similarities to both previously mentioned groups, with the instrumentation resembling the former and the vocals harkening to the latter.  Their album will be self-titled, and it’s set for an October 14th release…should make great times for fall listening.

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New Track From Meatbodies

799Los Angeles based rock band Meatbodies are sharing an incredible track with us today called “Tremmors” and it’s one of those that’s just too good to not share with everyone else.  At its core, the song is a psych rock rocker with some incredible guitar riffs sprinkled in and some mesmerizing vocals from lead singer Chad Ubovich.  This is rock music at its finest ladies and gents.

Pick up the new self-titled full length LP from these guys on October 14th via In the Red Records.

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Straight Rocker From Teenager

teenanger-e-p-l-pIn my never ending quest to find new rock bands who know a thing or two about playing an instrument, I came across up and coming Toronto based band Teenager.  Today the band are sharing their latest single called “Hot Rods at the Loser Convention” with an ever growing fan base.  The track is a grungy rock sounding tune that is actually a bit more mellow than the other songs on their new EP due out this fall.  I suggest you pick that up when you get the chance.

New EP entitled E P L P will be out on September 9th via Telephone Explosion.

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Sinderlyn Reissue Walter TV and Girls Tears

bandThe label group that began with Captured Tracks has blossomed into this incredible super group of small labels, some of which are focusing on reissuing lost classics.  Today one of those labels, Sinderlyn, announced two great reissues, Walter TV and Girls Tears.  The first single below is from Walter TV; it’s a bouncy post-punk piece with the warbling vocals lurking beneath the main mix; the band is also known for their touring work with Mac Demarco.  I’m also hoping the song’s title, “Master Ludi” is a Herman Hesse reference. Girls Tears is an LA act with more of a frenetic pacing to their punk rock sound.  The albums are titled Appetite (WTV) and Tension (GT), and thanks to Sinderlyn, they’re seeing physical releases for the first time ever on September 23rd!

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Corey Returns with Cassette Single

coreyNo, not Corey from Girl Meets World, but Corey from Terry Malts fame.  Last year he released a 7″ with the good folks over at Loglady Records, and now he’s readying this great little cassette single for your ears.  The guitars on the track still have that buzz you’re used to from his other acts, but you’ll also find a tenderness in the vocal quality, allowing for a strictly pop appeal.  He recorded these two new songs with a backing band, the Castaways, though no word on if he’s adding that to the moniker full-time.  Regardless, just another step in the right direction for all things Corey.

Show Pics: Wild Cub @ The Parish (7/25)

Wild CubSometimes when I go to a show I want to be dazzled. Sometimes, I want to be challenged. Sometimes, I want to discover. However, we all need a night where you can just smile.

I caught Wild Cub at ACL a couple years back on the small BMI stage with a crowd that probably had never heard a Wild Cub song. By the end of their set, they had a few thousand new fans. I caught them again at the Mohawk during SxSW, a great way to end a day of chasing news. The reality is that this band isn’t our normal share, but the guys from Nashville put out perfect pop songs and deliver them in the live setting so convincingly, that you have to love them.

We headed out to The Parish for some much needed jams. Read on for thoughts and pics…

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