Show Preview: White Winter Holiday Ball

680439_604934862875370_2066561775_oBefore you take off for the holiday, you probably want to get your last bit of rock n’ roll in, and there really isnt’ a hotter ticket in town than the line-up over at Spiderhouse Ballroom on Friday evening.  You’ve got several of our Emerging Artists in Big Bill and Tele Novella rocking out, plus the incredible Love Inks performing their album that we put in our Top Austin Albums list for 2013.  Plus, as if that wasn’t good enough, long-time act, Party Girls (formerly The Carrots) will be throwing things down too.  And, for those of you that like to rock things in a more exciting style, party attire is encouraged.  It’s going to be an all out musical extravaganza, and it’s only $10.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Big-Bill-A-Hard-Days-Bill-EP-07-Free-Dumb.mp3]

Download: Big Bill – Free Dumb [MP3]

Top 15 Austin Albums of 2013

Local Albums 2tMan. Austin had a pretty incredible year; it was a far better year than I’ve encountered recently, making my ears, mind and heart quite proud of our hometown.  While it’s obviously difficult to get in on every single band in Austin, I made a list of the albums that were most impactful throughout the year, 2013.  I purposefully left off EPs and singles, not because I didn’t enjoy those, but because this is a list of top ALBUMS!  I’m sorry to those we left off, and encourage you all to send us your music as we continue our push to be a great voice for Austin music.  Without further ado…this is how we do it.  Read more

Love Inks – Generation Club

loveinksRating: ★★★☆☆

Love Inks are an Austin born trio consisting of husband and wife, Kevin Dehan and Sherry LeBlanc, as well as recently added guitarist Derek Brown. After going on tour through Europe they were inspired to create this lo-fi electro-pop record, Generation Club. Filled with sultry female vocals, wandering guitar patterns, and endless waves of synth centered around omnipresent drum machine beats, it’s a dreamy mix of tunes that you can spend an evening getting lost in.

The first track on the record is “Solar Diary,” and it takes you into the realm that Love Inks has created for you. The sleepy synthesizers wake up slowly in the opening second, and those drum machine beats kick in, giving the distinct simple sound that will carry on throughout the entire album. The uber feminine and yet simultaneously robotic vocals of Sherry LeBlanc question the realness of something, asking you to “only believe [her].”  The vocals seem to fit perfectly along with the blends of synth; the chorus arcing with the strumming of a few simple guitar sounds. The song is interesting at first listen, as you are enraptured by the dreamy landscape of sound, but there are a few moments in which the instrumentation feels bleak and lacking, allowing for a feeling of brief boredom.

Such a song is a good indicator of the rest of the album; it’s easy to be satisfied with the simplicity of the sound at points, and then left wanting a bit more at others. An example of total satisfaction comes on immediate hit, “Outta Sight,” that is fast from the start. A throbbing bass line that won’t quit and lush guitar to accompany said bass really complement LeBlanc’s vocals and this increase in instrumentation throughout the entire song take it to the next level, which is why it sticks out as a track above the rest. There are other tunes that embody the second half of the statement I made in regards to being left a little empty handed. Later in the album it is easier to notice, such as on track “I’m Gone,” in which the drum machine is a little grating and there doesn’t seem to be much novelty to the track in regards to those which have preceded.

Generation Club is a little over thirty minutes in total length, which means that you have really no excuse not to give it a spin. I found a few tracks to add to my listening catalogue, and hopefully you will too.

Austin Spotlight: Love Inks Announce Album

loveinksThose of you who were elsewhere Saturday night missed the mesmerizing set by Love Inks that closed out the Rockaway Beach Party at Hotel Vegas.   On the heels of that remarkable performance I awoke today to find news that the group had announced the release of their new album, Generation Club; it’ll be released on September 24th.  Their lead single for the upcoming release has a hypnotic beat that vibes throughout, whilst lead singer Sherry Leblanc cooly let’s the warmth of her vocals float atop.  Songs like this one, and a live show to back it up, show that the band is poised for a really incredible end to 2013.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/01-Solar-Diary.mp3]

 

Rad Music Thursday — In Austin That Is

austin-skyline-mark-weaverIt’s a weird world in Austin building up to SXSW.  We get some good shows, but a lot of traveling acts just postpone the inevitable of a week of belligerence and loud tunes.  Luckily, Thursday night has all kinds of great shows you can skip around to, or catch in full, all featuring promising acts that us folks at ATH adore.  Here’s a brief spotlight on where you can head if you’re into live music. Read more

Show Preview: Centro-Matic/ONUINU @ The Mohawk (2/1)

Date 2/1/13
Location The Mohawk
Doors 8pm
Tickets Mohawk @ Frontgate


Double bill of diversity.

First up, Will Johnson blows the dust off of Centro-Matic playing the outside stage. Hoping to get some new tracks out of this deal. Doors are 8pm, show at 9pm with Frank Smith and Moonlight Towers opening. I really enjoy Moonlight Towers for some just plain rock, got to hang with James at EAR studios during SxSW a few years back, super good people. Should be a lovely evening ($13 doors/$15 will call). A lil Centro-Matic action to put you in the mood.

[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/05.-Only-In-My-Double-Mind.mp3]

Things double back and head indoors for ONUINU on the inside stage. Portland based Dorian Duvall brings his show to town so you can dance. Love Inks and Roger Sellers open up ($8 door/$10 will call). Here is some ONUINU to get you in the mood, or if you fill AV, go here to see and hear the latest..

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/09-Happy-Home.mp3]

Show Review: Tanlines @ Red7 (8/30)

Last week featured back to back nights at Red7, outside to inside. Wild Nothing was fantastic. I had relatively light expectations for Tanlines. When I found out it had sold out, even given the smaller capacity of the inside venue, I was quite surprised. I think the band was, too.

Tanlines is Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm. They throw down calypso-electro dance jams. They asked Love Inks to open. Learning Secrets spun between sets.

Read more

Show Preview: Tanlines @ Red7 (8/30)

Date Wednesday, August 30th
Location Red 7
Doors 900 pm
Tickets Your friend that can’t go.

It’s sold out. Sorry. It is my fault. I hyped their album as one of the best of the year, so far. I didn’t know that would mean you couldn’t buy tix at the door. Tanlines is gonna lay down some Brooklyn Electro jams Thursday night. Love Inks and Learning Secrets will open.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/33812061″ params=”auto_play=false&show_artwork=false&color=ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Show Preview: Yacht @ Mohawk (6/8)

Date Friday, June 8th
Location Mohawk
Doors 800 pm
Tickets $12 at the Door

The weather has cooled off a bit, so a full on dance party seems like a bit of fun, right? Well, Yacht always bring a solid amount of danceable pop, so it looks like Mohawk is definitely the place to be for the Friday night.  I’m also going to suggest that you all go and check out Onuinu, who I wrote about a little while back–dude’s make bedroom pop from Portland, so you gotta support his differentiation.  Love Inks will kick everything off, so grab your friends, a few pre-game beverages and go have a blast over at Mohawk.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/09-Happy-Home.mp3]

Download:Onuinu – Happy Home [MP3]

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