Tonight’s Shows: Peach Kelli Pop or Roaring Sun

austiniloveyouIt’s one of my favorite seasons for music. Bands are traveling, shows are popping up, and nary a night passes without something great going on in Austin. Tonight, you’ve got two great choices: Peach Kelli Pop at Sidewinder or Roaring Sun at Barracuda. PKP brandishes surfy guitar-pop, and they’ll be joined by perennial local faves, Sailor Poon. Speaking of the Sailor Poon, they just released a video for their track on the Slack Capital Comp…find it HERE. On the other hand, you’ve got young psych-pop upstarts, Roaring Sun. While I may be biased, having taught one of their members years ago, I’m excited by what they’re crafting. They’ll be joined by Taiga, as well as Honey and Salt. So you can catch a traveling act, or something wholly Austin. Hear tracks from both suggestions below.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/67297341″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261002094″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

ATX Spotlight: Good Talk Readies Debut Album

good talk wall helloThose hanging around Austin have hopefully caught on to the burgeoning pop rock scene, but those of you who aren’t living here should also take note of what we’re letting into the world, like Good Talk, for example. The group’s ready to release their debut this weekend, and the big single is ridiculously good. Guitars seemingly discordantly crash against each other, emphasized by the smashing cymbals. Something in the vocal delivery sounds really familiar, like a friend telling you the story of his life; the tones hit are slightly imperfect, which in the end, fits perfectly into the group’s sound. I’ve been listening to this record all weekend, and I hope you’ll join the band to celebrate their release this Saturday at Cheer Up Charlies!

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261276984″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Levitation Fest – The Saturday Preview

levitationSaturday is THE day. No days are bad, but Saturday is chock-full of ridiculous talent. Ultimate Painting and Parquet Courts have been covered and talked about til the Internet was blue in the face…and apparently this Brian Wilson guy is a big deal. Plus, you’ve got perennial indie rock powerhouses in Animal Collective and Black Mountain, but let me point you in the right direction, a little off the beaten path, perhaps. Read more

Keep an Eye Out for Roaring Sun

racecarWe’ve previously written about Roaring Sun, being somewhat familiar with the group’s members, but now I’m definitely convinced you need to keep an eye out on the young act. Their latest single starts out innocently enough…plodding piano part, ringing guitar and a nice vocal. It would have been well-enough to just leave it hanging there, but the group builds the sound into this brilliant swell of psych-tinged Cali-pop, breaking it down with a nice solid groove to close the track out. They’ve got a show next week over at Barracuda, so if you’re in Austin, you should get in on loving these guys before they break into the big-leagues.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/261002094″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Bent Shapes @ Mohawk (4.26)

13002472_1743728915872333_1976087033947776178_oI looked at the Austin schedule for Tuesday night, and there’s no where you need to be more than at Mohawk to catch Bent Shapes. They’re touring on the back of their recent release Wolves of Want (Slumberland Records), which has gotten praise from all the Internet heavies. They’ve got this blend of pop-rock that’s so infectious you can’t find a way to turn it off. Plus, the show’s relatively early, so you can still make it home in time to catch some zzz’s. Joining the band will be local up-and-comers, Ponyboy and the Horsegirls and perennial indiepoppers, Rose Selavy.

Doors to the show are at 8 PM, and your presence is required.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/192511972″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Sharks in the Deep End – Killin Machine (Album Premiere)

sharksinthedeependPop music has been around for so long, that you have to work really hard to come up with something unique, something vital for listeners. In the case of Austin’s Sharks in the Deep End, the band had to leave Austin to hole themselves up in Connecticut and just focus on the songwriting, leaving us with the dynamic Killin’ Machine. “Love in Reverse” is the album’s statement piece, the one that led to the recording session; the way the song builds slowly and opens up into the chorus is pretty magnificent. It all leads you to the record’s standout “Shadows in the Sunset,” which seems to up the ante on modern indie rock, both in energy and songwriting. Perhaps my favorite thing about the Killin’ Machine is it’s cohesiveness, whether the band is blasting forward or offering you a slower mood as in “Loveyoutoo.” Every little detail, every little synth note seems united throughout the entire LP. You want a pop record done right? Look no further than this here album.

The band is releasing it on April 22nd, celebrating by throwing a release party at Sidewinder with Ruby Jane and the Reckless and Flavor Raid.

Check the Latest from The Echocentrics

echoAdrian Quesada has pretty much combined a who’s who of Austin and part-time Austin greats to comprise his latest work as the Echocentrics. Yesterday, as I hope you heard, they unleashed one of the tracks that features Bill Callahan, who we haven’t heard from since about 2014. There’s something about his voice that’s always hit home with me; it’s somewhat forlorn, yet familiar and deep…maybe it’s how I want my voice to be. Anyways, once the production jumps in, the song takes off completely, adding a spirit not always associated with Bill. I particularly enjoy the little guitar part that dances between the 54 second and 1.14 second marks. Echo Hotel is the next project slated for release from the group; it hits on May 20th via Nacional.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/249689726″ params=”color=00aabb&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Slack Capital Release Tonight @ Barracuda !!!

Album Cover_Online VersionBy now I hope you’ve heard that ATH Records has teamed up with Big Bill to curate the excellent Slack Capital Compilation! We put the digital version out last week, but tonight at Austin’s Barracuda, we’ll be celebrating the physical release! Buy your way in, you get a copy of the CD, with proceeds going to Anthropos Arts…a foundation helping underprivileged youth get lessons in music. It means a lot to me personally to be part of this…on both the musical front and the charity front. You love Austin music? This is where to be tonight! Doors open at 8 PM.

Here’s the line-up:

OUTSIDE
9:00–Critical Dad
9:45–Pataphysics
10:30–Que Pasa
11:15–Sailor Poon
12:00–Annabelle Chairlegs

INSIDE
9:30–Tough Age
10:15–Pollen Rx
11:00–Basketball Shorts
11:45–Big Bill
12:30–David Liebe Hart

Stream Slack Capital :

New Music from Crooked Bangs

971692_597319410321111_1888716397_nFeel like it’s been a minute since I’ve heard fresh music from Crooked Bangs, but that changed with they quietly unleashed a new tune yesterday. I dig the sound here for sure, bordering on blistering punk, yet holding onto a little sensibility from a few other genres that are uniquely blended together. Cymbals crash into your ears, the vocals seem indifferent until they take on a more forceful tone, making the whole song work together. Not sure on a full release or anything, but I’ll take this rocker for today.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/258884900″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

ATX Spotlight: Another Video From Holy Wave

hwaveAustin amigos Holy Wave just dropped their new LPFreaks of Nurture last month and I can tell you that it is a legit masterpiece. I’ve always thought the band showed tons of promise, and to me they’ve finally really hit their stride. If you have yet to hear much from the new LP, well shame on you firstly, but secondly you should check out their trippy new video for album single “Minstrel’s Gallop”. The video is basically a live shot of the band with some weird bubble action going on in the background. Maybe this will entice you visual weirdos to give the band and shot and pick up their new album (buy it here).

1 76 77 78 79 80 133