The Happen-Ins @ Emo’s (7/23)

Date 7/23/10
Location Emos
Doors 9pm
Tickets $6 @ Door

A great local live band The Happen-Ins have another one of their anticipated shows planned for Emo’s Friday night.  Making the night more enticing, Parson Red Heads out of L.A. will be the main supporting act.  Also joining the two bands on the stage are Holly Rolling Empire and The Del-Vipers.  For only $6, you won’t want to miss out on this.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/08-Be-Yer-Fool.mp3]

Download: The Happen-Ins – Be Yer Fool [MP3]

New Music From Wolf People

Man I’m really digging this new UK band that just signed to JagJaguwar called Wolf People.  Sure you may be sick of all the damn bands with Wolf in their name (I am), but these guys have a great throw back sound I can’t get enough of.  Coming across as sort of a 60s psychedelic rock band with a banging rhythm section, I hope you’ll quickly see the appeal.  Oh and that flute in the background… hell yeah.  You can expect the debut LP from Wolf People, Steeple, to hit stores this Fall on October 12th.  Hope you enjoy this jam as much as I do.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02-Tiny-Circle-1.mp3]

Download: Wolf People – Tiny Circle [MP3]

FTC: C.A. Quintet

If you have heard of the C.A. Quintet, you probably: (a.) were a part of the small Minneapolis rock scene in the late 60’s or (b.) are a huge music geek who revels in seeking out obscure regional psychedelic records.  Or, if you’re like me, you stumbled on them because your friend’s neighbor was in the band.  Regardless of how you come across the C.A. Quintet, their album Trip Thru Hell is wonderfully perplexing.  The record moves effortlessly from the murky and psychedelic “Trip Thru Hell (Part 1)” to the straight 60’s pop of “Blow to My Soul.”  Did I mention they throw in a lot of trumpet?  Not exactly standard psychedelic fare, but the end product is both cohesive and original.  A good portion of Trip Thru Hell is evocative of the darkness suggested by the title, but there are plenty of bright spots too.  Check out  “Sadie Lavone” (apparently a bonus track) which at first might be mistaken for a boy meets girl pop song, but takes a weird turn a minute in and ends in a funky psychedelic jam.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/15-Sadie-Lavone.mp3]

Download: C.A. Quintet – Sadie Lavone [MP3]

New Tunes from Young Man

Chicago native Colin Caulfield is going to be blowing you away this year.  He’s playing under the name of Young Man, but there’s nothing that sounds entirely young, so to speak, as the melodies go way back in the history of American pop music.  His debut Boy EP will be coming out on Frenchkiss on October 12th, so you better accustomed to hearing him now, as we’re sure that he’s just beginning to rise into the forefront of it all.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/02-Hands.mp3]

Download: Young Man – Hands [MP3]

New Pornographers @ Stubbs (7/23)

Date 7/23/10
Location Stubbs
Doors 7pm
Tickets $25 @ Frontgate

A long time favorite of everyone in the ATH offices, The New Pornographers, are making a highly anticipated stop at Stubbs Friday evening in Austin.  In better news, The Dodos will be supporting the group on this leg of their tour.  Hooray!  I’d also recommend getting to the show early to catch solid opener Imaad Wasif as well.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/new_pornographers_your_hands_together.mp3]

Download: New Pornographers – Your Hands Together [MP3]

Sonny & The Sunsets On Daytrotter

Been awhile since we’ve seen an artist on the Daytrotter website playing as much unreleased material as Sonny & The Sunsets did during their session.  In total, the band plays 6 songs with a whopping 4 of these being unreleased material.  The session is definitely worth your time and the free download.  Preview below with the relaxing live version of new song “I Wanna Do it Again”.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/05-I-Wanna-Do-It-Again.mp3]

Download: Sonny & The Sunsets – I Wanna Do It Again [MP3]

Secret Cities – Pink Graffiti

Rating: ★★★★☆

You have to love it when your favorite labels discover little gems that you probably wouldn’t have gotten your hands on, which is precisely the case here as Western Vinyl have released Secret Cities new album Pink Graffiti.  Coated in psychedelic influences, with a huge leaning towards chamber music for bedrooms, this is an unexpected surprise that will be spinning in my head for months.

“Pink City” begins our journey through this beautifully crafted second album by building upon the backbone of a really solid drumming, yet ever so carefully the drums are peeled away, in favor of what sounds to be hand claps.  There’s a gentle coat of fog atop the song, yet the detailing of this song pushes it into the spectrum of more than atmospheric pop, making it a genuine winner in its own right.  You almost stumble right into “Boyfriends” using really light vocals and a tambourine to slowly climb your way to the top of this pop mountain, the peak of which comes near the 3:25 mark, taking you bounding down the other side, whistling all the way to the end.

What’s interesting here is that instead of filling an album full of songs blending melodies, psychedelia and coated noise, Secret Cities are happy to just explore their own musical direction.  They pause mid-album to offer you up “Wander,” which has a dark sound created by the tone of the piano.  You’d be close to call this music of soundscapes, but placed amidst the rest of the songs on Pink Graffiti, it allows you refresh yourself and take a moment to ponder what is you’ve just experienced.  Then we’re off and running again, as the ringing guitar from “Color” begins to soar into the front of your speakers.  MJ Parker’s vocals are magnificent, almost like fine crystal, but not in an overly dramatic way.  It’s a pleasure to see such restraint from a band who could easily fall the way of self-indulgence.

Really, you’re meant to listen to this album all the way through, and you really should.  Aside from “Wander,” Pink Graffiti is well organized.  So much so, that “Pink Graffiti Part 1” is out of order, but it’s energetic pulse provides a great energy to give you the extra lift towards the end of the album.  Something about the melody here that is so strong allows you to almost ignore the vocals completely, still capturing the essence of this brilliant song, which seems to have a bit of a cut and paste to it.  And you’re final landing will come with “The End,” a song that finds MJ again using her remarkable pipes to propel the song into an otherworldly region that will most certainly haunt you, that is until you press play and listen to entirety of this great work over again.

Secret Cities needs more recognition, and surely their craftsmanship on Pink Graffiti will earn them some notice from all walks of listeners.  Pieces emit a quiet beauty, while other moments demonstrate the band’s affinity for layering sounds on top of sounds, and others are adorned with psychedelic flourishes of the best type.  Do yourself a favor and let the wonderment of this record slowly sweep you away into a place of pure bliss.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/WV72.PG_.PT1_.mp3]

Download: Secret Cities – Pink Graffiti Part 1 [MP3]

Show Review: Silversun Pickups @ Stubbs (7/19)

As I prepared for my evening at Stubbs, I pored through several different albums.  A few tracks from Silversun Pickups, all the Against Me, and the solid new album from Henry Clay People. I didn’t know what to expect necessarily, caught in nostalgia for my punk days, but not so amped for the main course. Still, I love a good live show, so I just had to be there.  Follow the jump for more.

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ATH Joins Forces With Future Sounds

By your powers combined… We here at ATH are proud to announce that we’re joining forces with L.A. based music company Future Sounds.  Those not familiar with the company should know that these guys do it all.  They manage bands, put out music on their own label, run a music blog, and put on huge events around the country.  Speaking of huge events, part of what we’ll be doing with these guys is helping them put on shows in Austin.  Each month, we’ll be working with FS, as well as locals Covert Curiosity, Austinist, AV Club, and Waterloo Records to put on amazing and free shows at Beerland.  Every show will feature the best and brightest of local talent in our little town.  Stay tuned for what we’ve got planned for August!

TV Torso @ Mohawk (7/23)

Date 7/23/10
Location Mohawk
Doors 9pm
Tickets $6 @ Door

One of Austin’t hottest up and coming talents TV Torso have another show planned at Mohawk on Friday.  You can also catch some fellow hot talents in The Gary and Martin Crane(Brazos) on the inside stage.  The show is super cheap so we’ll expect to see you there.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/01-days-of-being-wild-1.mp3]

Download: TV Torso – Days of Being Wild [MP3]

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