10/10 The Walkmen Show @ The Parish
ATH had the pleasure to cover The Walkmen show last Friday night at The Parish. Read our full show review and take a look at some pictures from the show after the jump.
Magnetic Fields @ The Paramount 10/14
Stephen Meritt’s brain child, The Magnetic Fields, will be putting on a show at the Paramount tomorrow evening. I’d suggest checking the get tix website to see what seats are still available for the sure to be mind blowing show. Doors/bar open up at 7 with the show kicking off at 8. Mr. Merrit also recently played a few songs for Minnesota Public Radio which you can listen to on the MPR website.
Free Mountain Goats EP
The Mountain Goats have a free EP entitled Satanic Messiah that you can download for free in 4 different formats. This EP comes after the band’s February 2008 release of Heretic Pride. Mountain Goats will also be playing Antone’s on Novembver 1st, but we’ll remind you about that closer to the actual date.
Ryan Adams @ The Paramount Tonight
Don’t forget that Ryan Adams & The Cardinals are playing this evening at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. Not sure if tickets have sold out yet, but you can check here to find out. We will warn you that tickets are running pretty high, none under $45 to be exact. Doors and bar open at 7:30, Music starts at 8:30.
Pretty & Nice – Get Young
Rating: 
Sometimes a picture sums everything up, which is precisely what the cover art for Pretty & Nice‘s new album, Get Young, does. The girl frivolously jumping in the air seems to have been listening to this album for quite sometime, as this is exactly what the band prescribes to listeners with their most recent effort.
Influences are abundant, and a trip to the band’s Myspace page yields one key influence that seems to dominate the band’s sound, albeit in an entirely different light; that is the listing of Q and Not U. Several of the more straightforward tracks definitely dwell in that post-punk aggression made famous by the Washington D. C. scene. But, influences don’t always give you a starting point for a conversation.
A band not listed, but definitely in the same vein, is Of Montreal. A few listens to the album and you will find that the vocal inflection of Kevin Barnes is definitely a shared characteristic with Pretty & Nice. It’s not just the vocals that emulate the allusion, but the mixing of electronics inside a rock-fueled song structure. This tactic is used to extremes in the latter half of the album.
Oddly, that contrasts with the hard-hitting punch of the first few tracks, which makes the listening experience unfortunately imbalanced. The opening power definitely draws your attention to the speedy guitar licks and hard-hitting drum sound. It’s this fury and vigor that immediately warrants a positive attitude in regards to the Get Young.
But, the strength of the first five songs wanes as the band begins to sink into a bit of repetition. Each song seemingly blends into the other as the album draws to a close. It’s this element that leaves a question mark on this release. As the band carries you towards the end, it’s almost as if they wore you out too quickly, leaving you with less passion in the end than they offered at the beginning. Sure, they’re still going strong, but it just becomes a bit redundant.
Brash and courageous, Pretty & Nice come out of the gates swinging for the fence, but you can only jump around for so long before your legs go weary, along with your ears. Too good too quick, and then its done all over again, much to the possible demise of this album.
The Roots @ The Backyard (10/12)
The most incredible Roots band will be a part of the final season at The Backyard on Sunday. I’m sure most of you know the venue will be closing soon so make it out while you still have time. Tickets are a little on the pricey side at $38 but The Roots are worth it me thinks. Buy your tickets now.
New Music From The Dears
If you’re one of those people surprised to hear that Montreal band The Dears are still making music, join the club. Surprised or not, the band will be releasing a new album on October 20th entitled Missiles. The band has yet again seen a ton of lineup changes and only Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak (also married) remain of the founding members. We’ve got the dreamy and mesmorizing single from the upcoming album entitled “Meltdown in A Major” for your listening pleasure.
Download: The Dears – Meltdown in A Major [MP3]
Cat Power @ Stubbs (10/11)
The always lovely Chan Marshal, known to us as Cat Power, will be putting on a rescheduled show at Stubbs on Saturday night. The show is a make up of her canceled show way back in April, and of course Stubbs will be honoring any tickets bought to the previously scheduled show. If you need a ticket, get one for $30 on the Front Gate Tickets website. Also check out Cat Power’s most recent single “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” originally performed by Bob Dylan.
Download: Cat Power – Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again [MP3]
LAF: What’s Really Important
There is nothing funnier than tarnishing the reputation of a perfectly legitimate organization. Now if that organization is also charitable, well my friend, then you have pure comedy gold on your hands. Yea, I know I’m going to hell for this comic, but so are you for laughing at it.
The Strange Boys @ Beerland (10/10)
Another one of those Austin bands that everyone should know about, The Strange Boys, will be showcasing their talents at Beerland tomorrow evening. Other local acts Cause for Applause and The Bad Sports will be opening things up. Beerland doesn’t sell tickets online so make sure you’ve got some cold hard cash to get in the door. Get yourself excited for the show with The Strange Boys cover “Baby Please Don’t Go” originally by Big Joe Williams.
Download: The Strange Boys – Baby Please Dont Go [MP3]