This is fine.
We hit up good ol’ Cheer Up Charlies Thursday night to support our friends at Punctum Records as they released Taft‘s Groove Redundant…they were joined by Isaiah the Mosaic, Lomelda and Sweet Spirit helped them close out in style. I’d have to say it was a pretty impressive line-up, and a rather impressive crowd.
Read on for our thoughts on the show and some photos from B. Gray.
We are championing the locals. One of the bands we love is Knifight and while we sometimes think a few locals play too many shows, we cannot accuse Knifight of over-saturation. When we get a chance, we usually take it. Gothy, gazy, noisy, wavey, industrial and bad-ass, the band has a new album out, seven tracks that are given space to breathe progress.
To celebrate the album, Cheer Up hosted a show with GOST and ATH faves Night Drive to dance in the night. Head past the break and get a few thoughts and the usual batch of pics.
Nathan and I were on double show duty. We started the evening at Red7 for Zola Jesus. We made notes, we shared them with Nicole, she didn’t entirely agree with what we had to say which we are OK with.
…and now for something completely different.
We made our way to Hotel Vegas for some jams to catch Beth Israel, Ghetto Ghouls and The Dead Space. Click past the break for a couple notes and plenty of pics…
After a dreary and wet Tuesday, there was a last minute change in venues and door times from The Mohawk, but if anything, this seemed to draw more people to the warmth and comfort of Red 7. The eclectic hodgepodge sound of opener Deradoorian served as an interesting juxtaposition to the drama of Zola Jesus‘ pop music.
Read on to see how the night unfolded and see some pics from the ever talented B.Gray.
I love the fact that we can just head out any night in this town and find not one good local show, but several. had a new lens to play around with so it seemed the perfect excuse to head out. Out I went last Thursday night and I got to check out Citadel‘s second show ever, Deep Cuts in town from Houston and our ATH faves Shivery Shakes.
I will take you through the night with a few notes and plenty of pics right after the break…
I really do appreciate what Red Bull Sound Select is doing for locals. By selecting local acts to open for a touring group or a local mainstay, charging a cheap cover that involves getting there early, several bands are getting a few more eyes than a normal show. This, of course, is a pet peeve of ours; the venues and booking people go out of their way to get you a good lineup for your show-going dollar so get there to see the openers, geez.
The latest edition had an act form Dallas call Dark Rooms, local faves Orthy and was headlined by Slow Magic to bring the crowd. In fact, I was quite surprised by the masses there to see Slow Magic. There just might be something to this whole EDM fad. Heh.
Plenty of pics and more thoughts to follow…
Midge Ure came to Austin to do one of his rather rare solo acoustic shows. With his first release in twelve years finally out to the public, the pioneer in electronically tinged pop had new material to revitalize a fan base that is still in love with the classics from previous solo efforts, Visage and, most importantly, Ultravox. I took advantage of the trip in to get a quick email interview done before the show at Cactus Cafe.
Head on past the break to read a Q&A covering the many projects, life as a solo artist and even a little bit on being the guy behind Band-Aid along with coverage of the show and plenty of pics. Ladies and Gentlemen, Midge Ure…
We had a couple of excuses to throw a party. It was Free Week. Our friend Pooneh had a birthday. We had merch to sell.
The lineup was all kinds of ATH favorites; Young Girls, Slow, Jonly Bonly, Shivery Shakes and Grape St. As it turned out, Grape’s St‘s Brendan also had a birthday. Isn’t that great. Shout out to Holy Mountain‘s winter diorama.
Pinata. Confetti Eggs. Drink Specials. We were surrounded by friends. Couple comments after the break with a ton of pictures…
I love the shows that happen during the Thanksgiving weekend. Students are home, it is usually local bands hanging out with friends, perhaps getting back from the road or just popping up to keep sharp before heading into the studio. Last Saturday was just that kind of night with two of my favorites in Night Drive and Shivery Shakes at Cheer Up Charlie’s and Holy Mountain, respectively. As a bonus, I got to see The David Ruffins and Ishi and so many friends that things degraded into full on shenanigans. Yes, shenanigans, full on. #lightpaintingcockandballs
Back to the music, The David Ruffins sounded like Austin “in the day”, Ishi brought the kimono-beard dance party, Night Drive made a point to engage every single person in the crowd before heading off to the studio (yay!) and Shivery Shakes sounded super tight after a stint on the road.
Click through and let me take on a visual journey…
You ever notice how a bunch of tours either kick off or finish up in Austin? In the case of Caribou, they were finishing up a successful run out in support of the latest effort Our Love. The bummer about being the last stop, no vinyl at the merch table. The best part, whoa hooollly shit is the band tight. Let me get this out of the way, this was one of the best live performances of “electronic” music I have ever seen. Dan Snaith and his team of musicians have found a way to make those key elements, the live drum and overlayed organic pieces of the recorded material, present in the live show. Flutes to extra percussion to ringing guitar licks, the material comes to life that then absorbs the crowd into a hypnotic tunnel.
I feel so jealous of the people in Toronto that get that homecoming show.
Click through for a couple more notes including some words on opener Jessy Lanza , bonus coverage of aftershow locals Silk Rodeo and plenty of pics…
