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It’s the perfect time of year for a song like this one from Seattle based Hibou. The surfy and jangly vibe should be perfect to carry you along your way to the beach or possibly the lake. Hit play on “Sunder” and start your summer relaxation off the right way.
Hibou has a new EP entitled Dunes out June 13th.
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While they may have dropped the “King Louie” aspect from their name, Missing Monuments is still very much the project of Louie Bankston; he’s got the pedigree of power-pop genius, but I can appreciate the name alteration. The group has a self-titled album coming out in the fall via my favorite lil’ label, Dirtnap Records, and our first taste has a bit of a heavier punch than some of the previous works we’ve gotten from Louie and the boys. The riffs begin just as usual, but as the song progresses there’s a bent that wears a bit more of a metal edge. Should be an interesting listen regardless of changing names and altered sounds.
Download: Missing Monuments – Answer the Call [MP3]
Warm weather brings varying moods, and while sometimes we curse the heat, in Texas I can say that it definitely brings to mind spritely indie pop, such as the recent work of Skittle Alley. Luckily, the band, who’ve been posting lots of new songs, seem to have something in the works with the very excellent Dufflecoat Records. This new tune is full of warm melody, shimmering guitars and a casual pace that will surely leave you smiling as you listen; that’s interesting as the new release seems to be titled The Memory of a Smile. This tune is perfect to let your mind drift away, and I hope you do, grinning all the way.
Oh, and the artwork was done by Ray Kimura who has done excellent work previously for Alpaca Sports.
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| Date | Wednesday, June 12th |
|---|---|
| Location | Mohawk – Inside |
| Doors | 9:00 PM |
| Tickets | $8 from Mohawk |
If you’re looking for a show full of powerful female songwriters, then you better make your way out to the Mohawk on Wednesday night. You’ll be greeted by three incredibly talented ladies, and their accompanying bands. Torres is the headliner and the project of Mackenzie Scott, touring behind her excellent self-titled LP. She’ll be preceded by the incredibly talented Lady Lamb and the Beekeeper, who released Ripley Pine to rave reviews earlier this week. And of course, we couldn’t be prouder to throw our support behind Austin’s own Dana Falconberry, who will open up the night for you all. It’s going to be an evening full of beautiful voices and intimate moments–you can’t miss out on this one. Here’s tunes from LL and Dana to get you in the mood.
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This new song “Trust Issues” by Johnstown, PA group Can’t Dance is something you’d expect to hear during the underground indie movement of the 90s. Within the song, you can clearly hear that the young trio would likely call bands like Built to Spill or Pavement groups that influence their own sound. As a fan of that era and most those groups, I’m getting behind this one and giving it my approval.
New EP Comfortably Dumb is out on June 18th.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CantDance-TrustIssues.mp3]Download: Can’t Dance – Trust Issues [MP3]
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Lately the musical landscape has been peddling bands who’ve grown up on the alternative rock of the 90s. Some of those sounds are great, while others sound outdated, but I think Lemuria have landed in a spot that nods to the past while looking forward. Their new record, The Distance Is So Big, recalls great moments from Dear You-era Jawbreaker, yet includes a heavy dosage of male/female vocal interplay, catching your ear’s attention with every spin.
The first real song on the album beings with an ambling guitar, and really takes off when Sheena enters the scene. Her entrance seems innocent at first, and then the group blasts off into a heavier spectrum, accented by a gang vocal shouting. It hints at the excellence to come in just a few moments when “Clay Baby” begins to play. Everything about this song is absolutely perfect, from the lyrics to the vocal delivery of Alex Kerns to the sound of the guitar. Sure, there’s definitely a throwback feeling here, but it’s executed so perfectly that I’ll continue to play it for quite some time.
During my first few listens to The Distance Is So Big, I definitely gravitated towards the singing of Kerns as opposed to that of Sheena, but the more I play this album, the more I realize the record wouldn’t be complete if it was just one singer. For instance, on “Paint the Youth, Sheena takes the show, winning you over with her bass lines and her casually sultry voice, but the appearance of Kerns off and on really ties the song together as a whole. If they weren’t able to operate in the same realm, then perhaps the formula wouldn’t allow for the success of the release, which is wholly not the case.
Personally, I keep gravitating to the tracks that seem to have a louder force from the get-go, such as “Dream Eater,” which takes about 15 seconds before it lets you rock your way through the entire track. Or you can look at “Public Opinion Bath,’ using discordant guitar sounds from the start to wear out your eardrums. Yet, even with my tendency to rock, I like the fact that Lemuria also knows when to let a song sprawl to glory, as they do in “Oahu, Hawaii.” If you’re looking for my opinion, this is the sure-fire hit that can’t be avoided, with the guitar building tension from the moment you press play. As the tones get heavier, you expect an imminent explosion, yet the band never fully unleashes that sound. Instead they rely on the female/male interplay to insert a nice hook during the chorus; it’s loud and it’s quiet and you’ve got a catchiness factor that all leads to a standout.
My first run through The Distance Is So Big was really all that I needed to catch on to this album. There were songs that stood out like “Clay Baby,” “Ruby” and “Oahu, Hawaii” almost immediately, which is enough songs to keep me going back nowadays. So I traveled back with this record, in more than one sense, and I found other gems and other qualities that showed Lemuria reveling in the past while pushing their sound forward. Be grateful.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/07-Oahu-Hawaii.mp3]Download: Lemuria – Oahu, Hawaii [MP3]
Long have we adored KK and the Shrines, and we’ve been excited since they first announced their upcoming for Merge Records. On the latest single, there’s definitely a bit of restraint, at least for my ears. The song holds back from the typical garage rock pummeling, using an effects pedal to sort of provide a tripped out stomp; I like the clarity of the vocals throughout as well, which is a touch of a change. They’re titling the album Idle No More, and it will hit streets on September 3rd. The release will also see a world-wide tour, though, sadly, there’s no scheduled Austin date.
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Six years ago, that was the last time I saw this band. Snowden is back after checking out for little bit with Jordan bringing along new people for the live setting, tightening the belt to a three piece. The show had a reunion feeling to it; fans listening to the jams flowing for the Learning Secrets‘ wheels of steel were trying to one up each other on stories how Anti-Anti helped them through a tough time or how it was a soundtrack to an epic road trip. Some had seen the band before, some hadn’t. It was a family and friends crowd at Red7 because of the long gap between albums and Jordan’s recent move to Austin.
Read on for thoughts on the show and plenty of pics…
Ashley Eriksson is the lead singer of LAKE, and the songwriter of the theme song for Adventure Time. Of course, she’s always been working on the side, and she’s ready to debut a new record, Colours, which comes out on July 16th. She possess a tranquil voice, carefully draped across the top of her elegant piano tapestries. There’s a respect for the the empty space that belongs in music, allowing her songs to achieve some beautiful clarity. She’ll be teaming up with K Records for this release of piano ballads, all which will require a quiet ear and a joy for voice.
Download: Ashley Eriksson – Humming in the Dark [MP3]
I’m really excited for my far away friend Nick and his wonderful label to be celebrating two successful years. Soliti Music has brought us gems from Cats on Fire to The New Tigers to Big Wave Riders, and in honor of that celebration, the label is giving up an 8 track compilation of tunes that are either unreleased or demo versions. They’ve even got a few words about each of the songs, which you can find HERE. But, if you want to get your hands on some great tunes, or perhaps even discover your new favorite band, then click HERE. For now, here’s my favorite track from the label.
Download: Cats on Fire – My Sense Of Pride [MP3]
