Go See Basketball Shorts and Pollen Rx Tonight

Over at the Cheer Up Charlies this evening you’ll get a chance to catch two of the great acts on our little label, Basketball Shorts and Pollen Rx. Basketball Shorts are releasing a new 7″ featuring the killer catchy jam below, and Pollen Rx are a well-oiled machine after returning from tour. Plus, you get to see Rhett and Dean, as well as Break Time in the early part of the evening’s festivities. Come out and grab the new 7″ and maybe get one of those new cool Darren tank tops from the band as well! Let yourself live a little with a great Thursday night party.

Brand New Track from The Sour Notes

Local Austin favorites The Sour Notes are gearing up for the release of their next LP, Darkest Sour...and good news for you is we have a brand new single to share with you, and it might just be the band’s best track yet! “On Yer Mark” walks on the poppier side of indie rock, dwelling in that light-hearted realm that’s been owned by acts such as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. The guitar chords have that angular jangle while keyboards push through the crowd. Jared Boulanger’s voice has the perfect softness to ride the song out, especially when we get the female accompaniment to polish off the pop substance. I’m just sitting here smiling, and I’m sure you’ll be doing the same. Plus, if you’re in Austin, the band play Thursday evening over at Cheer Up Charlies…and I’m sure their set will include many new hits for your ears!

Photo Credit: Vineet Gordhandas

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/319240812″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Pics: Night Drive Release Party @ Cheer Up (6/16)

We are in the throws of the longest days of the year and while it will get a bit hotter, it won’t get much hotter that last Friday. The hotness was overcome.

Night Drive threw a party at Cheer Up Charlies and we were all invited as long as you contributed $5 at the door. Isn’t that nice. Four bands, a DJ that popped jams, so many friends and even some family. Attendees got to see Keeper, Orthy, Night Drive (duh) and Single Lash with Lambda spinning jams in between.

If you click through, you will be rewarded with many images. You will be able to read more words. Thanks.

Read more

Show Preview: Night Drive Release Party @ Cheer Up TONIGHT!

Come dance with us.

Night Drive is finally able to unleash their self-titled full length out today. To commemorate, we are gathering at Cheer Up Charlies for a night music and fun. They wanted to invite friends that they love and make some new ones to join them on stage. If you show up, you get good friends Orthy, who have promised a bunch of new music, Keeper, Single Lash and Lambda.

That is a really nicely stacked lineup. Add to it, AmuricaTX will have their photobooth trailer to immortalize things and Captain Morgan is providing the drink specials if you dare.

I’ll be there taking the pics for ATH along with +1 and many friends and familiar faces. We’re thinking a burger and Salt and Time would be fun beforehand. It will be hot. Be ready. Dress sensibly. Comfortable shoes. Nathan loves when I bring up comfortable shoes. Tickets are $5 at the door.

To get psyched, have a listen…

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/330567062″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Night Drive News

We don’t shy away from the fact that the ATH loves Night Drive. “Rise And Fall” is on my JamOTY list. The new record is finally final with a June 16th release date. The s/t debut rehashes a few hits we are familiar with while adding new tracks that have been on the periphery of recent live sets. New song below!

Speaking of live sets, the big release party is also officially official. Details available on the bookface, but the short and sweet is 6/16, Cheer Up, Orthy, Keeper, Single Lash and Lambda for $5. In.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/320604783″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Desert Culture Album Release Show (Tonight!!)

Tonight is a good night for music in the ATX, but one show in particular has our attention. Local psych/surf rockers, Desert Culture, are releasing their new record, They’re Not Gone tomorrow, and are playing a release show this evening at Cheer Up Charlie’s. They’re joined by a great crew of other local acts, such as Buenos Diaz, Lola Tried, Skyline The Band and Jack Ferarra. Doors are at 8 and music starts at 9. You can see set times and details here, but for now, check out “Elva” below.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/303263889″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Growl Release Wont You at Cheer Up Charlies Tomorrow

It’s that time, the time I hope you’ve been waiting for. We’re finally releasing Growl’s debut LP, Won’t You, today! It’s a great bit of guitar pop, filled with huge hooks and harmonies galore. If you’re looking to pick it up outside of Austin, you can find the album HERE. But, if you happen to be in Austin, and happen to be free Saturday night…come pick it up in person at Cheer Up Charlies! They’ll be joined by heavy-hitters Popper Burns, The Halfways and The Two Lips. We’ll have copies for you to grab, and good tunes for you to love! Just in case you wanted to sample the goods, stream the LP below!

SXSW Awards – 2017

How is it possible we’re already through SXSW hangover week? It seems like only yesterday the ATH crew was hanging at Hotel Vegas, with Lone Star in hand, kicking off the week a couple of Sundays ago with the awesome lineup put together by Nathan and our boy Mr. Laird. As always, we move on, reflect on the fun behind us, and plan for the next great lineup or festival. Such is the beauty of living in the live music capital of the world. To look back on the festival, Nathan, Brian, and myself came up with an arbitrary list of awards with each of us picking our choice for the category.

Hit the jump for our awards, final thoughts and a few related pics from a fun, exciting, and draining week.

Read more

Show Preview: The Ocean Party Comes to Cheer Up Charlies (2/28)

I encourage you all to head out tomorrow night to Cheer Up Charlies. There’s a huge line-up of great pop music, some of which I’ve had a hand in putting out on vinyl. For instance, we’ve helped The Ocean Party from Australia put out Light Weight in the US, and this might be one of the few chances you get to see the band live! Second, you’ll have Shivery Shakes and Summer Salt, both perennial pop powerhouses who we’ve released stuff from in the past (and present). Plus, you’ll get to hear Daphne, which is Santiago from Growl‘s other project, as well as Summer Swells. You won’t find a better bill in town, and it’s free, with donations highly encouraged to help out The Ocean Party while on tour in the States. Sample some tunes below, and see you tomorrow at 9 PM.

Austin on a Thursday Night

So tomorrow is a crazy busy day in the “live music capital,” so I wanted to create an optimal schedule for you to maximize your time, as well as see some suggestions on nightlife.

Start early over at Mohawk by checking out Mannequin Pussy and Joyce Manor…young sound, semi-emo, little punk. It’s outside, so if you want, you can go home after because it’ll end early.

But, you could also jump ship a bit early to catch a couple of great local releases. Lola Tried is jamming out over at Cheer Up Charlies to celebrate the release of their new EP or hit up Barracuda to get your hands on the new Letting Up Despite Great Faults EP!

Then go back to Mohawk, because Tyvek and Fred Thomas are jamming out. Or be cool, and just bounce all over if your wallet allows.

You could also go see Devendra Banhart play out near Buda at some place called Emos. It’s new, never heard of it.

Sample some songs below. Read more

1 2 3 4 5 8