Photos: The Spook School Played Sidewinder

Our friends, The Spook School have been on tour with Great Grandpa and Diet Cig. Winter tours can be fickle things, especially if you run through the southwest, shorts and a t-shirt to parkas and snow boots. In speaking with the band’s spokesperson, aka Niall, he shared a few tour anecdotes as he was warming up pre-set in his customary vest and boxer shorts. House party shows, sold out gigs, long runs cross country, actually paying rent while on the road, things are on the up for the band. We are huge fans and love their songs, their message and their shows. Though The Spook School played first, they were our headliners.

Click through for pics of the set and some notes on the bands sharing the stage…

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Show Preview: The Spook School and Diet Cig @ the Sidewinder (2/21)

Clearly this is the show pop fans have been waiting for, and you’d better get there right at 6:30 so you can prepare yourself for The Spook School. Sure, they’re the opening act, but they might just have released one of the best albums of the year in Could It Be Different. The record is insightful and biting, but also naturally charming…and no one is doing indiepop better than this band. And, they just kill it live. Hands down. Plus, you also get to see a few other way popular acts in Great Grandpa and Diet Cig…they need no introduction. You can still grab yourself tickets HERE, and once you do, get in line behind me because I’ll be rushing to the stage to sing along with the Spooks at the top of my lungs.

Diet Cig Give Us More To Love

If it isn’t abundantly clear yet, we here at ATH are big fans of that band called Diet Cig. We just saw them at Sound on Sound, have attended their show in the past, and love the energy brought by the duo in everything they do. With that said, I was obviously excited this morning to get an email delivering news of a new single and the release of their debut album. I already can’t wait for the album and a chance to see them again come March. Very excite!

Swear I’m Good at This will come out on April 7th via Frenchkiss Records.

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Sound on Sound Recap – Friday

sos-friday-036Mama, we made it! This past weekend, we loaded up our best jousting gear and chain mail armor and made the jaunt out to Sherwood Forest in McDade for the first ever Sound on Sound Festival. With the excellent lineup, new approach to booking a location and trusted leaders at the helm, we knew we were in for a whole different festival experience, but what we got was something that went beyond expectations. We came, we saw, we conquered, and some of us felt as though we’d never be dry again (damn rain!). It was a spectacular weekend filled with merriment and music– read on for ATH’s thoughts on day one and to relive Friday with B.Gray’s pretty pics.

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ATX Popfest Presents…Welcome to the Jangle @ Spider House (3.16)

welcome to the jangleSXSW is nearing, and ATH has been working with our friends at ATX Popfest to bring you what we know is THE place to be on Wednesday, March 16th. Welcome to the Jangle! Those of you who are pop fans need to come over to Spider House on that day, starting at 12 PM. It’s ALL AGES, and will go all day and night…filled with some of the best talent coming into town. Here’s a quick list of who all is playing: Summer Salt, Hockey Dad, Pinact, Mercury Girls, Wildhoney, Brothers In Law, Beverly, Expert Alterations, Rose Selavy, Fear of Men, September Girls, Diet Cig, Spook School, Dead Stars, Hibou, Tennis System, Literature, and Ramesh.

We’ll have more details as we get closer, but wanted you to plan on taking the day off to spend it with us.

Show Preview: Bully & Diet Cig @ The Parish (2.4)

d8acxxjgyqxhuiscl05eThis Thursday there’s a really great way to spend your evening and it’s taking place over at the Parish. For the low low price of 12$ you can treat yourself to a night of alt rock and punk-pop by two kick ass bands. First up are the fun pop punk sounds of up and comers Diet Cig, who put on an excellent and entrancing show; though there are only two members of the band, the dancing Alex Luciano had enough energy to carry a whole room. Headliners are Bully, whose alt-rock sounds will have you reviving your 90s grunge looks and feelings while being transfixed by the raw vocals of Alicia Bognanno. Doors are at 9, so there’s no excuse not to show up early and catch the full set of both of these bands. Chances are it’ll be loud and energetic and the perfect show for a Thursday night.

 

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Show Pics: Get Up Kids & Diet Cig @ Mohawk (9/16)

The Get Up Diet Cig 83It was quite a night for Team ATH at The Mohawk earlier this week. Nathan is Emo kid. Hashtag child of he nineties. I relate. He gets excited about The Get Up Kids like I get excited about The Cure. That was the outside show. The inside show later was Diet Cig, a two-piece that has been heaped praise upon by us and much of the intarwebs. Turns out, they got in early to hang out and watch their openers, heh.

We have tons of pics from the night and a few notes. Get ready for Josh Berwanger, Hotelier, The Get Up Kids, Rose Selavy, Pleasure Venom and Diet Cig and then click read more…

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Show Preview: Get Up Kids + Diet Cig @ Mohawk (9.16)

getupkids12Those of you who consider yourself fans of emo, old and new, will want to be on hand at the Mohawk on Wednesday night. You’ll be treated to the legendary emo godfathers, The Get Up Kids, playing their 20th Anniversary Tour. They’ll be playing with Josh Berwanger and Hotelier; I can tell you that the last time they came through it was nothing short of a 2 hour long singalong.

But, I also implore you stick around that night and watch Diet Cig, who’ve released a couple of endearing EPs via Father Daughter Records. Honestly, there’s not a better way to celebrate the genre, or just good music in general, so make you have it on your schedule. Pleasure Venom will open the evening for you.

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Diet Cig Hit It Hard… Again!

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So, Diet Cig are really on a roll these days with the singles they’ve been releasing. Back in July they gave us “Sleep Talk,” which was a great summery alternative hit that brought emo back to alternative. “Dinner Date,”  the other part of the 7″ that is coming out physically via Father/Daughter Records on September 18th, is a further exploration into that angsty sound. Alex Luciano’s vocals are packed with emotion and the delivery is a perfect match to the brief, yet powerful alternative rock track that explores what sounds like a bad time in the past. Take a listen and pick up that 7″ here on special edition vinyl. 

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New EP from Menace Beach

menacebeachIf you’re looking for one of the hottest stars in the biz right now, then you needn’t look any further than Menace Beach.  As far as hype goes, they fall in the vein of Diet Cig and Bully, in regards to the hottest rising stars of 15′.  I love the blend of male and female vocals, and especially enjoy the way there’s just a bit of recording haze on it.  It gives it the feeling of not having been done strictly with saccharine in mind.  This is the lead track off their Super Transporterreum EP, which comes out via Memphis Industries.

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