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Having seen Modest Mouse on several occasions, and in various settings, I headed off to Stubbs this past Tuesday a little skeptical of what I’d see. Before I get onto that, let’s skip ahead to talk about opener Talkdemonic.
Our Fun Fest coverage is nearing an end, but we have yet to give you a top artists post in typical ATH fashion. So here ladies and gents is your ATH top 10 fun fest acts. This is a list compiled by all of our writers and collaborators who did their best to check out as many bands as we could this weekend. Keep in mind that we see as many bands as we can, but certainly can’t blanket the whole fest. Follow the jump for list.
Fun Fun Fun Fest photo coverage concludes at Austin Town Hall.
There is dust in every crevice…
…of my camera gear. Day three had a weird blend to it. Starting with an interview with WWPJ, We caught OBN III and Davila 666 at Black Stage followed by WWPJ’s set, Mate of State segued to MNDR and Austra. Jumpcut to Ted Leo,dial it back to dance party with Architecture in Helsinki, back up again for Hum and then Easing out with Black Lips and Slayer (?).
You know what is past the break.
| Date | Sunday, Nov. 13th |
|---|---|
| Location | The Parish |
| Doors | 800 pm |
| Tickets | $15 from Frontgate |
One of the shows I’ve been anticipating since it was announced is this show featuring two of my favorite bands, AA Bondy and Gold Leaves. AA Bondy is touring behind his new record Believers, but more importantly is the appearance of Gold Leaves. Their record, The Ornament, has been playing around my house since it was released in August on Hardly Art, and it is still going strong. It’s comprised of beautifully ornate pop tunes, which I’m sure will sound remarkable inside the Parish. It’s got great sound, and with these great bands, you won’t want to miss this show.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/GL_TheOrnament.mp3]Download: Gold Leaves – The Ornament [MP3]
Maybe you’ve heard of this band Black Keys? No? Well they are originally from Akron, Ohio and have been carrying the torch for the blues rock movement since their inception close to 10 years ago. It’s possible that you’ve heard this song “Lonely Boy” elsewhere on the interwebs, but I don’t really care because it rules and it has to be on ATH. New album from The Black Keys El Camino is due out December 6th on Nonesuch Records. I’d say the decision to have Danger Mouse produce this bad boy was a good one.
Download: The Black Keys – Lonely Boy [MP3]
It’s sort of sad, in my mind, that there’s this vast sea separating us from some incredible music, most of which seems to come from places other than England. A few months back, I first heard this exquisite piece of folk-pop from Treefight for Sunlight, but I had completely forgotten about it, that is until it resurfaced in my daily search for great music. This particular track comes from the bands self-titled album, not to mention the fact that you can take a jump HERE to see the interesting short that was composed to accompany the track itself. While you might see this as a beautiful piece of pop, there’s still definitely a bit of haunting to it, which always appeals to me. Who knows, if this drought in Texas spreads, maybe we’ll no longer be separated from such great music by the Atlantic.
Download: Treefight for Sunlight – Time Stretcher [MP3]
Rating: 
For around five years now, Gringo Star has been bringing you buzzing, guitar driven rock music. If you have yet to discover this band’s jamming style, then Count Yer Lucky Stars is an excellent place to dive right in. If you’ve already relished in this band’s ability to make you air guitar and sing right alongside the gravelly vocals, then Count Yer Lucky Stars will be a lovely edition to your listening catalog.
The first song on this album is, “Shadow,” which kicks in with some choral yells in the background and some cutting guitars riding on top. The vocals step in, distorted at some points, yet still the familiar grit and sting that makes the overall sound so buzzy. Meanwhile, the steady force behind this song comes from the drums, ever knocking away. Upon first listen, you may be a bit underwhelmed, as this band doesn’t have a super unique and distinctive sound, but after a few repeats, it’s a solid start to the album. Next up is a simple jam band anthem on “You Want It,” complete with gang oohs and aahs, along with some drum builds into the chorus. This songs simplicity contrasts with the first song and lightens things up a little for the listener.
Sixth up on Count Yer Lucky Stars is “Come Alive,” whose chorus makes you smitten with this group. The stark guitar part aches for air guitar mimics and the simple vocals are easy to join in, and soon you’re with Gringo Star in their jamming. On the very next song, “Esmarelda,” the band takes a sultry, and borderline sinister flair with the song; you still have the same buzzing guitars and the raw tones that are the cruxes of this bands sound, but they show that they are not afraid to step beyond the norm. This band does a grand job at delving into all aspects of their genre and this allows for the songs to avoid redundancy.
However much merit this album has to offer to you depends most heavily on the amount of time you spend with it. If you are one of those people that is a firm believer in judging an album based on the first track, then stop being one of those people and give this album a few listens all the way through. You will find that there are some morsels of goodness that Gringo Star has waiting for you inside this fall release.
| Date | 11/11/11 |
|---|---|
| Location | Red 7 |
| Doors | 9pm |
| Tickets | $10 @ Frontgate |
Veteran and now legendary songwriter Chuck Ragan is making a stop back into town at Red 7 on Friday night. Local up and comers East Cameron Folkcore and Possessed by Paul James will also be on hand to provide some entertainment. Friday night is full of great lineups, but be sure to keep this one on the short list.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/YouGetWhatYouGive.mp3]Download: Chuck Ragan – You Get What You Give [MP3]
If you’ve been a follower of the Elephant Six work and the Saddle Creek Records family, then perhaps your introduction to Harouki Zombi might be a bit of a surprise. The duo is comprised of Orenda Fink, who led Azure Ray, not to mention her own solo outings, and also Nina Barnes, wife of Kevin Barnes. Together they’ve combined to create an interesting piece of art pop, using theatrics (primarily designed by Barnes) and electronic influenced tracks in their performance pieces. Clearly the duo are in this for a great bit of fun, but the music, not to mention the project itself, seems tinted with oddities, but also grace. While it might just be hedonistic DJ music, you can’t help but be drawn to the collaboration. Keep a look out for these two in the near future. Here’s a preview of their work together.
Download: Harouki Zombi – Harouki Zombie Swamp Theme [MP3]
You figure that if Danger Mouse can back it, then it has got to have something to it, right? Well, such is the case with the debut record coming out from Electric Guest sometime in the Spring of 2012. However, in the meantime we can satisfy our craving by picking up their new 7″ on Decmber 13th. It’s got the track below, which sort of has smooth little feeling to it, like a more floating R&B track. It’s definitely getting me to tap my toes quite a bit, and hopefully it helps round out your day in a positive light. Can you spot the Danger Mouse touch?
Download: Electric Guest – American Daydream [MP3]
