Some Free Week Pics…

I do love Free Week. The day job keeps me from going every night, but ANY night of Free Week means seeing tons of friends on stage and off. This edition of Free Week photos features photos of Light Wheel, Big Bill, Night Drive, Rose Selavy, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, a tiny cupcake fail, ladder climbing, toasts, staples and so much more. Venues visited were The Mohawk, Cheer Up and Barracuda.

I’m going to post a few thoughts on the backside of the break. The short story is that Big Bill can’t lose, Night Drive is still my favorite dance party, Rose Selavy is rad as a three-piece, Letting Up can do the same and Barracuda was surprisingly packed.

TIP YOUR BARTENDERS. BUY MERCH.

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Show Spotlight: Holiday Revue @ Cheer Up Charlies (12.17)

revueIn case you haven’t noticed, it’s holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with a great Holiday Revue show, like the one at Cheer Up Charlies on Saturday night. The show features Botany, Big Bells, Wintertime Fun Band (members of BBall Shorts), David Israel and Shivery Shakes. As if the musical line-up wasn’t solid enough, they’ll also be holding a raffle with goodies from Super Secret Records, Western Vinyl and our ATH Records…plus much more. All you have to do is bring socks or underwear to the show to donate to ARCH, which with the cold coming in is definitely a worthy cause for us all to participate in. There’s more on the event HERE, and some songs to enjoy below.

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Show Pics: Mean Jolene Record Release

mean-jolene-release-03Just before the madness of Sound on Sound Fest (roundup and galleries coming soon), ATH records hosted a little get together at Cheer Up for Mean Jolene’s Salty.

Half of the band, Jolie and Adam, were still on a Cubs related high. What better way to celebrate a historic World Series win than by releasing a record? Will and Ben may or may not have been hungover. The band had too many friends and too much fun. Tiger tall boys. Tater tots. Satin jackets. Flying earrings.

Joining in on the festivities were Talkies, The Bond Twins, HeyBaby and Summer Salt, so pics after the break. Sorry to Summer Salt for hitting the wall after a long day.

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Brand New Dead Leaf Echo + Cheer Up Charlies Show

deadleafechoTomorrow night there’s this great shoegaze event over at Cheer Up Charlies, put on by our friends over at The Nothing Song. The line-up includes local faves like Single Lash, Moving Panoramas, Grivo and more…but it also features Dead Leaf Echo from NYC. And, to celebrate the event, and music in general, the group unleashed a brand new track today…it might just be one of my favorites. It begins with a little upbeat indiepop feel to it, building tension with some hi-hat work and echoed crooning. Eventually it takes on the full realm of pop by unleashing the rest of the percussive kit, and increased vocal presence. At about the 1.30 minute mark the song takes a turn and a wall of guitars squall through your speakers; it leaves quite the impression. So, fall in love with the track, and go see the band tomorrow night here in Austin!

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Show Pics: A Night On Red River

dsc_0521Every once in a while, I grab the camera knowing there are a few bands playing that will have some friends out and about, on stage or off. Last Friday night was one such night with Tres Oui and Lou Rebecca featured in a record release show for Fort Never at Cheer Up Charlie‘s and Night Drive closing out a night of electronic goodness at Swan Dive (a venue I don’t got to often enough given the lineups recently).

Join me after the break with plenty of pics and quick few thoughts on Tres Oui‘s new jams and revised lineup and my first set in front of Lou Rebecca.

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Cheer Ups Show Tonight and UVH Single Premiere!

cheerupsshowWe’re really stoked to be supporting the great bill tonight at Cheer Up Charlies with our friends from GTZ Records and On the Rocks Premium Cocktails. The bill features a slew of heavy-hitters like Hikes, Flesh Lights, Gloves INTL, Shmu, Stiletto Feels, Whit and UVH…you can find set times to the show HERE. But, even more importantly, we can all gather and celebrate the release of the new UVH single that we’re premiering below. I’ve loved hearing the band, since their early line-up as Twin Bitches, but the work in this song demonstrates perfectly just why so few try to pull of classic indie rock sounds…if you’re not going to sound as good as this, why try at all. There’s a bit of a guttural growl in the vocals, while thechords are angularly plucked andthe band stomps it all out. This song will appear on the forthcoming EP from the group…released soon under GTZ Records. See everyone tonight!

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Show Preview: Great Local Bill At Cheer Up Charlie’s (TONIGHT)

14183942_1369818803046647_6755345163754025102_nSummer is winding down, kids are back in school, so I know you’re itching to squeeze in some more fun times on a Friday night. Our city is teeming with good shows to hit up, but this stacked bill over at Cheer Up Charlie’s is where you ought to be tonight. For the low low price of FREE, you can catch not one, not two, but seven bands, including the likes of Wildfires, who are riding high off the release of their latest EP, Aguas Frescas pt. II. Not to mention there’s The Eastern Sea, who always crush their live sets, as well as the folksy stylings of Dreamboat. There’s also SMILE, Maryann, Triplets, and Kodachrome to complete the bill. Looks like doors are at 8pm, so get there early, and give some love to your resident musicians and check out tracks from some of the bands below.

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Come to the Pollen Rx Tour Kick-Off @ Cheer Ups (7.21)

pollenWe’ve had a great year at ATH Records, and we’re not looking to slow down. We’re working on projects with Mean Jolene at the moment, and Pollen Rx! Hopefully those in Austin are taking note, and getting as excited as we are. Speaking of Pollen Rx, they’re about to head out on the road for two weeks, but they aim to kick it off with a blast of a show at Cheer Up Charlies tomorrow night. Not only are they a band to watch, but we’ve also got ATH Records alumni Shivery Shakes and Slack Capital vets, Que Pasa on the bill. Come hang out with us all.

Oh, and the below song will appear on the debut Pollen Rx LP, but in a different version…so keep an eye out for news.

Basketball Shorts Album Release @ Cheer Up Charlies (Tomorrow)

basketballTomorrow night, I ask that our friends in Austin please do what you can to leave everything behind and just let yourself free by joining us at Cheer Up Charlies for the release of the new Basketball Shorts record, Hot and Ready. Some albums are perfect in what they bring to the table…excitement, memories, exhilaration…all present on this new release. Plus, the line-up for the show is stacked with local Austin talent: Popper Burns, Foreign Mothers and Flesh Lights. For those of you not in Austin, but looking for your favorite new album, it’s available HERE…and shipping out already!

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Rip It Up DJ Night @ Cheer Up Charlies (6.25)

rip_it_upIf you follow this site, you know by now that I’m a huge indiepop/jangle pop/post-punk fan. It’s one of my favorite genres, and I’ve been hoping that somehow the rest of Austin catches on to it. So, with our friends that helped organize the ATX Popfest and Welcome to the Jangle, we’re organizing what we hope will be a monthly DJ residency (with shows to come in the future) to share our favorite genre. Tomorrow night at Cheer Up Charlies, at 7 PM, we’ll be kicking things off, with a few well-regarded DJs, including Nathaniel from Literature. Come by, sit with your friends and enjoy great tunes, then you can go out on the town. Event page HERE. We’ll probably play this song:

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