Austin Town Hall – Page 1491 – Bringing the jams…

RayRay’s Top Songs 2025

Much like Nathan, I feel like our days in the blogging world are numbered as we continue to see others in the game either falter, put up gaudy pay walls,

Read more »
Nathan’s Top Albums of 2025

I could wax, poetically, about the meaning of year-end lists and how they turn us onto great tunes to create our playlists, but instead, I feel like this is my

Read more »
Levitation Freakend Friday in Photos

When the Levitation team made to the decision to move the fest back to being a single site festival atmosphere, the Haloween adjacent tradition was broken. BUT, they had a

Read more »

New Jams from Colourmusic

January 21, 2014 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

We’ve been sitting quietly on the excellent new Colourmusic album, waiting for the group to unleash one of their singles on the masses. Finally that day has come, and I think you’ll be pleased with the bands maturity over the years. Over time the band have moved from an oddball folk outfit to a noise barrage to, well, this; it’s the best of both worlds. There’s an underlying darkness, but the vocals of singer Hendrix still have a smooth delivery that allows for the band’s penchant for melody to shine through. It’s an intoxicating mix of noise and beauty, all of which will be found on the group’s new album, May You Marry Rich, due in April via Memphis Industries.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/125257254″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

News
Tunes

Show Pics: Red Bull Sound Select (1/15)

January 20, 2014 brian.gray Leave a comment

Red Bull Sound Select took over the Spider House Ballroom. In exchange for your information on the intarwebs, you could check out three great bands for $3. On the agenda was The Black and White Years, Night Drive and The Octopus Project.

RSVP DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY

The line started at around 6:30pm for 9pm doors and some that got in line closer to show time to see the bands in a 350 person venue were going to be disappointed. My only disappointment was a late-running schedule that forced my early exit before The Octopus Project could take the stage; the following day was a really long one and it took discipline to leave when I did. Nate and I had a sweet bit of fun at a dance party and we both left with the impression that Night Drive is poised for explosion.

Click through for pics of The Black and White Years and Night Drive.

Shows

ATH Take Away: Young Girls – “Caroline”

January 20, 2014 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

Oh Young Girls. When you’ve got the hits, you’ve got the hits. We’re excited to put out the Young Girls EP, but even a stripped out acoustic set with the band sounds pretty incredible. We grabbed the boys during a freezing night, dragged them to Comal Park in East Austin, and filmed the group up against the mural in the alley. Personally, I’m loving the way the shadows tower over the band, just as much as I like the prevalent hook of “Caroline.” It’s the first of four songs on their latest EP, which is hitting stores at the end of February; you can pre-order HERE. Thanks to Axios Studios and Raul Rivera for all their diligence in the whole process of scouting locations, editing and, of course, the great film work. Dudes deserve to be huge.

[youtube]NxjjaN9LWS0[/youtube]

New Young Girls Single

January 17, 2014 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

Have we told you lately how much we love Young Girls (the band, you weirdoes)? Have we reminded you we’re putting out their self-titled EP here in a few weeks? Well, we’ve got the second single from the 4 song EP, which premiered today, and it’s still a joy just to have these four songs be associated with us. This is one of the peppier tunes from the EP, fueled by the group’s angular guitar style, and every bit as catchy as anything they’ve done before. If you’re loving it like we do, you can Preorder the EP HERE.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Vigilante.mp3]

Download: Young Girls – Vigilante [MP3]

News
Tunes

Austin Spotlight: The Villas

January 17, 2014 RayRay Leave a comment

A simple search on ATH with the terms The Villas will return quite a few hits spotlighting this Austin band. That being said, you know that we’ve already given them the ATH stamp of approval long ago. This new track “Natural Selection” is what I would call a classic and catchy indie-pop tune. You won’t hear any crazy sort of experimental things going on here, just some great rockin’ pop sounds that will have you chanting along after a few listens. Hope you enjoy.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/NATURAL-SELECTION.mp3]

Download: The Villas – Natural Selection [MP3]

Tunes

New Jam From Holy Esque

January 17, 2014 RayRay Leave a comment

Holy Esque is a Scottish band we discovered a couple of years ago after hearing their irresistible tunes on the interwebs. Luckily for us, the band has decided to stop in for our little SXSW festival in March AND are giving us this new single “Silences”. It’s yet another tune where you can feel the emotion and power behind every guitar note and vocal yell. I’ve already got these guys near the top of my festival to watch list. I recommend you do the same.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/129392030″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tunes

Free Week Video: Jonly Bonly

January 17, 2014 brian.gray Leave a comment

One of our favorite things from Free Week this year was the set at Red7 by Jonly Bonly. The trio is fronted by Jason Smith playing a guitar and singing with friends and fellow Austin-jams creators Stephen Svacina playing a bass and Marley Jones on drums. I busted out the super phone and got some video to share. This song is called “Long Distance.”

There are some sweet pyrotechnics during the guitar solo and a lightshow at the end. #blackcat #powerstripfailure

[youtube]eELWeI_ejsI[/youtube]

News
Shows

Fresh Ballad from Gambles

January 17, 2014 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

Remember the year end lists? Well, one of those artists that I loved in 2013 is already winning me over in 2014 with a brand new track. That man is Gambles, and his voice is the main focus on this track. The guitar is quieted, but that vocal pulls at every emotional heartstring, especially when he employs a sullen hum atop a heavy strum. It’s short and sweet, but it leaves a lasting impression. It’s a leftover tune from the sessions that led to Trust, which I suggest you revisit immediately.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/01-Winter.mp3]

Download: Gambles – Winter [MP3]

News
Tunes

Austin Weekend Shows Preview

January 17, 2014 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

A lot of the folks in Austin filled their quota for January rock shows during Free Week, but in case you didn’t get your fill, there are some rad shows happening around town, including a few bands throwing an old school house party for your pleasure. Below you’ll find a list of suggestions, so should you choose a show, pick one of these.

Friday:

Tiger Waves and Shivery Shakes @ Pearl St. Co-Op – Free beer while it lasts – FREE

A Giant Dog, Bad Lovers, One Hitters, Dumb @ Hole in the Wall

The Digital Wild @ Mohawk – 9 PM – Album Release

Saturday:

Dent May and Tiger Waves @ Holy Mountain – 9 PM

Think No Think, Ringo Deathstarr, The Ripe @ The North Door @ 9 PM

And here’s some jams to get you feeling in the mood.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/TigerWaves_Sundressed.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ToPutItBluntly.mp3]

News
Shows

More New Music From Shy Boys

January 17, 2014 RayRay Leave a comment

Back in November I shared some new tuneage with you from Kansas City band Shy Boys. Today sees the band inching ever closer to their release date and they are celebrating with us by dropping this new single “Bully Fight” on our ears. Yet again, the band sound as though they must be from a different part of the world and not the Mid Western U.S. To me they sound like they could be transplanted directly from some remote corner of the UK playing beautiful twee pop such as this.