bgraypics - Austin Town Hall

Show Pics – Love and Rockets @ ACL Live (6/16)

June 22, 2023 brian.gray Leave a comment

There are plenty of nostalgia acts rolling through Austin this summer. Ive already seen The Cure and Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears and Peter Gabriel are still inbound. BUT, when announced, I knew I had to see Love and Rockets. It is a shorter reunion tour, the first in over twenty years. While they did have one set in 2008, things were fairly bleak that I would get to ever see the band live. Pretty rad.

David J, Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins proved that their song catalog is every bit as fresh and relevant to a not quite sold out ACL Live. Opening was artist Vinsanto delivering an introspective collection of poems as songs.

Click through for a few thoughts and plenty of pics

SXSW 2023 In Photos

March 29, 2023 brian.gray Leave a comment

Sure, we kept you up to speed the whole way through the conference. Sure, we have the big summary post. Now, I have the big gallery of pics from the week.

Lets get into it with a few highlights and the eye candy featuring shots from ATHvsSOTO, New Order, gravel pits, shiny backgrounds, bad lighting, temporary stages and new names for old favorites.

Click through, yall.

Two Nights of Sigur Ros

May 31, 2022 brian.gray Leave a comment

I have always admired Sigur Ros, a unique signature style that could only be hatched in relative isolation. Anytime a song would come across during get togethers, a good friend would offer that seeing the band live was one of the most cathartic and moving experiences, but the stars never aligned for me to see them. When the two-night stand at ACL Live was announced, my friend insisted on getting great seats and sharing that experience. The stars further aligned to allow me attend both nights, the first taking photos to be followed by the full show experience.

I have the gallery, I have the memories, I have the goose bumps, I have the memories of hugging friends at intermission…

Click through for a few more thoughts on the night some photos.

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Show Pics: Good Morning @ Hotel Vegas (5/3)

May 5, 2022 brian.gray Leave a comment

Weve got a little show photo coverage action of another night that is part of the manic schedule right now. Good Morning is touring the US after the pandemic prevented travel in support BARNYARD that was released on October of 2021. The record has chill vibes and a few hits. In support, we also saw Packs, bringing back the dream of the 90s.

Click on through for a few thoughts and plenty of pics…

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Show Pics: Cut Copy @ Stubbs (4/27)

May 2, 2022 brian.gray Leave a comment

I mentioned in the Interpol review how busy it was last week for Austin’s music audience. The tours are touring again.

I’ll keep the review for this pretty brief. I have a big gallery of Cut Copy laying down the hits at Stubbs, trying some new stuff and refreshing the classics. Along for the ride was Suzanne Kraft, thoughtfully crafted songs that served to set the stage.

Click through for a few thoughts and pics a plenty…

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Shows

SXSW Superlative Awards

March 24, 2022 nathan.lankford

SXSW came back with a vengeance, for better or for worse. Personally, it was for better, but that’s a limited view, I know. So I reckon I’d share some thoughts and hand out a few awards here and there, that way you know where we were and who we loved. …in case that actually matters.

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Show Review: Luna Plays Bewitched @ 3ten

November 11, 2021 nathan.lankford Leave a comment

It’s been at least a year since I’ve caught a touring act take the stage, so I was really excited to head over to 3ten ACL to hear Luna play the entirety of 1994’s Bewitched, with a couple of extra tracks tagged on to the end of the set. Plus, what better way to start dipping my toes into the pond then by seeing old friends Caroline Says take the stage to open!

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Levitation Review: The Hives

November 9, 2021 brian.gray Leave a comment

My priorities for Levitation were simple. Take photos, vibe to Nation of Language, get melted by A Place to Bury Strangers, get in the middle of it for The Hives. I am happy to report that my mission was accomplished.

Ah yes, The Hives. White suits, energy overdose, hits, jams, cathartic chaos…

Along for the ride on the closing night of Levitation were Pussy Gillette and The Mystery Lights. I saw old friends, made new ones, overshot every band and loved every minute. Click on through for more thoughts on the night and all the photos. Yes, I got mic stand shenanigans, crowdsurfing guitarists and the iconic jumpshot.

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Levitation Reviews: The Black Angels and Much More

November 4, 2021 brian.gray Leave a comment

It was a quality lineup that found balance at the headliner. Last Friday at Stubb’s, Levitation hosted Ringo Deathstarr, A Place to Bury Strangers, Kikagaku Moyo and The Black Angels. If you are familiar with these names, you can understand the ups and downs, from groove oriented fuzz, to chaos, to pure psych, to a blend of all three.

Everyone contributed best-of material, whether by playing classics, smashing guitars or just sticking with the hits. Click through to read a few more thoughts and view another rad gallery of photos from the fest.

…BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. I got some bonus coverage of Black Midi at The Mohawk.

Shows

Show Pics: Idles @ Stubb’s

October 26, 2021 RayRay One comment

After over 2 years of being a home body and living with anxiety, mixed with a dash of unease, it was an overwhelmingly cathartic experience to get out of the house to see live music again. Seeing old faces, visiting old haunts, and of course being treated to an incredible live set by one of the best live bands around, Idles. I’d say BGray and I were like little kids going to a show for the first time. Hit the jump for a few thoughts and some fancy photos from BGray.

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