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
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
Sunday at Austin City Limits Festival was pretty photogenic. I took too many photos (again), but that’s cool. It was fun. Over three days, I clicked in 18 miles on
Over the last few years, I’ve definitely enjoyed Greg Mendez‘s work, but the announcement of a new self-titled LP comes with what might be his work to date. The Philly songwriter feels like he’s taking notes from the old Elliott Smith school of songwriting, allowing the listener to imagine themselves right next to Greg as he serenades. It’s a level of intimacy that feels often imitated, but Mendez knocks it out of the park, even opting for a more low-key arrangement throughout, maintaining that DIY ethos we’re all seeking. Greg Mendez, the album, will be out via Forged Artifacts and Devil Town Tapes on May 5th.
The end of this week will see the official kickoff of SXSW, which brings tons of bands and tech companies and movies to our town, so we’ve been trying to highlight some of the acts on the music side. This round, we get to lock into a Texas artist, Semiwestern, coming at us from about 3.5 hours North. There’s a full-length from the artist slated for later this year, and perhaps you’ll get a chance to taste some of his Italian cookies!
Ghost Party is a new outfit on the Texas scene, though admittedly, they’ve got a familiar vibe going on here. Their first single brings back a smoky psychedelia, laying really low like a bit of rustling leaves in your yard. They build in a nice little plot twist when they hit the chorus, letting the melody evolve into more of a playful boogie or stomp, something that gives off a bit more groove to the genre. As the song circles back through another cycle, it eventually fades out with this bit of ambient space, leaving you with your own ability to take in a deep breath.
The day is coming to a close and you know what that means, we are one day closer to things going wild in Austin for SXSW music festival. Of course some stuff kicks off this weekend, like our annual Sunday day show, but things will really be kicking into high gear about a week from RIGHT NOW. It’s time to get ready people. Ending our day today is a nice interview from Scottish based artist Hamish Hawk. Hit the jump for everything you need.
What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?
I am Hamish Hawk, we are Hamish Hawk. I’m a singer, songwriter and frontman based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Describe your group’s sound using only adjectives or superlatives.
Wordy. Exuberant. Moustachioed.
What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2023?
Our new album, Angel Numbers, came out this month, and we’re gonna be heading back into the studio in the next couple of months to record the follow-up.
Why play SXSW? What’s the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?
We played SXSW last year, so we are delighted to be invited again. Admittedly we ran into a few obstacles last time, namely illness and tornados, so armed with those experiences we’ll bring a certain wind-swept danger to SXSW. You get the sense there’s a world of possibility at SXSW, and it’s a thrill to feel a part of that – again!
There are tons of bands coming into town, but if you could create your own perfect festival, who would you have playing? Would it have a sick name? Where would it take place? Feel free to disregard the rules of time and space.
I was a regular festival goer in my teens and associate them with a feeling of new-found fun and freedom. I’d be keen to have a line-up that’s properly joyous, in the business of ensuring everyone’s having a good time. Bob Marley & The Wailers headlining. The Flaming Lips somewhere up there. Dolly Parton. Sly & The Family Stone. ABBA. You get the ridiculous idea. As much as I grew used to trudging around in the mud at Scottish festivals, I’d like to be somewhere warm, with a big lake for swimming.
What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus
We’ve gotten into the habit of being geographically specific with our music choices in the van. Beatles en route to Liverpool. Sabbath en route to Birmingham. At SXSW I’m gonna have to go Texas wide. I’ll be listening to Willie Nelson on the plane over.
Obviously you have seen or heard about the issues coming up this year about fair pay for artists at SXSW? Care to offer any insight or comment?
The money, sweat and toil it takes to put together a show fit for an audience, to tour it, and to ensure everyone is fed, watered and accommodated would most likely shock anywhere unfamiliar with that world. I think any argument against “fair pay” is a fairly shameful signal to send to artists, to those who make it their lives’ work to put these shows on and bring them to people’s doorsteps. Sadly it’s a trend that continues to worsen, and there are those who are in a position to improve things, and do their utmost to make it worse. We’re in a very precarious place.
Thanks again for this Hamish! Here are current show dates for the band:
While I love the mellow tones of that Constant Follower tune we just dropped, you’ve got to make sure to pick up the pace, which is why this great new Symphony Orchestra tune kills. It’s got a new project from a few artists we’ve already covered in their other projects (Badge Epoque’s Max Turnbull and Michael Rault), but that doesn’t mean I got exactly what I was expecting here. In the opening moments, it has the playfulness of early MGMT, albeit with the musicianship the focus as opposed to the hook (that hook is still huge though). Then it moves into some funkier space, letting the guitar work speak for itself while the vocals get this metallic coating that turns the song towards fresh territory. Then when they return, they almost dwell in this bossa-nove croon for a wee bit. Lots of movement in textures and sounds, so should make their debut, Radiant Music, a special listen; it’s out on May 12th via Telephone Explosion Records.
If you read these pages from time to time, you might have read about the moving performance I caught from Constant Follower last year, not to mention the incredibly intricate brand of folk they’ve been writing. Recently, the group announced a collaborative album with Scott William Urquhart, which only adds another delicate layer of guitar work to Stephen McCall’s moving pieces. Here, I love the openness running through the track; the tune allows the song to find its own way, leaving space to breathe and allow the musicianship to shine through. The writing all came about organically, inspired by the poetry of Norman MacCaig, to whom McCall is indebted. Together they will release Even Days Dissolve on April 14th, so prepare to delve into one of the year’s most intimate listening experiences.
Today feels like one of those days where I’m just absolutely in love with listening music; it’s lifting my spirits and bringing in this absolute sense of wonder. One of the acts I’ve been enjoying is Soft Walls, the project of UK based Dan Reeves. This single is almost this meditative piece of guitar pop, letting the guitars shine in the very front of the mix as they ring in this bright pattern that returns again and again. For me, the joy is how the vocals seems sort of hidden in the mix, hanging just behind, or so it seems, everything else, providing the listener with this sort of spiritual release. If you’re digging it, Soft Walls release True Love on May 5th!
There are a lot of wonderful storytellers in the indie sphere nowadays, but as of the last few months, I don’t know if I’ve run across someone so instantly enchanting as Cleo Handler. In a way, the songwriting is similar to early Moldy Peaches, flirting with a matter of fact nature that borders on the absurd; I love that there’s this sincerity to the tracks, a world without pretense as you wear your heart on your sleeve. Throughout Gold the songwriting just sparkles with humor and charm, built on the backbone of stellar pop musicianship, so get at it now.
We are officially counting down the days at this point as we build our anticipation for SXSW Music Festival next week. Somehow we are sort of prepared, but as usual, one can never be fully prepared for the fun that awaits. Here’s yet another interview for you, this time from Auckland based artist Lontalius. Hit the jump for them questions, music and show dates.
While there have been a handful of releases in the interim (jazz album, single, etc), Beach Fossils have been fairly quiet since the release of Somersault in 2017. But, worry no more as the band announce Bunny today, their brand new record for Bayonet. Our first listen has us circling back to the group’s sound, building layer upon layer of synths and swirling guitars; this one had me hooked from those opening lines, and it only gets better as the chorus evolves and you get a little extra guitar focus that adds a beautifully dreamy wash to the song’s middle. Stoked to listen to the whole of Bunny; it drops on June 2nd via Bayonet.
Over the last few years, I’ve definitely enjoyed Greg Mendez‘s work, but the announcement of a new self-titled LP comes with what might be his work to date. The Philly songwriter feels like he’s taking notes from the old Elliott Smith school of songwriting, allowing the listener to imagine themselves right next to Greg as he serenades. It’s a level of intimacy that feels often imitated, but Mendez knocks it out of the park, even opting for a more low-key arrangement throughout, maintaining that DIY ethos we’re all seeking. Greg Mendez, the album, will be out via Forged Artifacts and Devil Town Tapes on May 5th.
The end of this week will see the official kickoff of 
Ghost Party
The day is coming to a close and you know what that means, we are one day closer to things going wild in Austin for 
While I love the mellow tones of that Constant Follower tune we just dropped, you’ve got to make sure to pick up the pace, which is why this great new 
Today feels like one of those days where I’m just absolutely in love with listening music; it’s lifting my spirits and bringing in this absolute sense of wonder. One of the acts I’ve been enjoying is 
There are a lot of wonderful storytellers in the indie sphere nowadays, but as of the last few months, I don’t know if I’ve run across someone so instantly enchanting as 
We are officially counting down the days at this point as we build our anticipation for