ACL Preview: Rey Pila

Rey Pila

Once again ACL Festival weekend has crept ever closer and I can’t say I’m fully ready just yet.  Of course I still have a couple of weeks to prep which should be plenty of time to get my mind and body ready for another festival.  As always, we will do our best to offer some advice, spotlight some bands we like, and also interview those bands we like.  So today I’m going to begin my coverage with a short bit on my current favorite band out of Mexico, Rey Pila.  Follow the jump for more.

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Rey Pila Deliver Another Jam

Rey Pila

My Mexican brothers Rey Pila just shared a new song today from their upcoming LP and I’m once again enamored with what the band is doing.  Their style is certainly new wave, but with some killer beats and energetic choruses that will surely have you jumping up and down as you jam along with the band.  Today’s single, “What a Nice Surprise” is no different though it might just be their most pop inspired tune to date.  Vamos a escuchar.

Rey Pila will drop The New Sugar on May 5th via Cult Records.

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ACL Interview: Rey Pila

Rey PilaI realize that ACL is completely done now and many folks have the festival in their rearview as we move on to the next thing, but I’ve got one last related piece to share with you.  Our final interview, and possibly our most interesting, comes today from new wave band Rey Pila.  The ATH crew was excited for this one because we got to practice some of our Spanish with the Brooklyn based, but Mexico born band.  Follow the jump for full interview.

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Rey Pila Revive New Wave

ReyPila.RP_.web_Hailing from Mexico City, Rey Pila is a band that sort of fell off my radar until I caught one of their sets during SXSW this past year.  Now that they are back in my regular listening rotation, I’m excited to share a great new 80s inspired track with you today called “Blast”.  One will immediately hear the new wave throwback style, but the vocals from singer Diego Solorzano are what really stand out for me throughout the synth laden pop tune.  I immediately have this image in my head of a bunch of Nerds in a house fixing up montage…. And yes, that is definitely meant as a compliment.

Details of a new album will be coming shortly via Cult Records.

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ATH Interview: Mirror Travel

Mirror Travel AMBA BannerIt’s been an incredible year for Mirror Travel; their Mexico record for Modern Outsider was our Number One record in our Top 15 Austin Albums, and it looks like they’re continuing their meteoric rise.  They’ve been nominated for several Austin Music Blogger Awards (find all nominees HERE), so we caught up with the band to give a little bit of insight into the life of the band.  Click below to read all about it, and don’t forget to pick up your tickets HERE…the band will be playing as part of the night’s incredible line-up.

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Mirror Travel – Mexico

mirrortravelRating: ★★★★☆

Living in Austin, I sometimes forget just how many great bands come out of this city, so I love it when I stumble across one such as Mirror Travel who is bound to make waves. Formerly known as Follow That Bird, this trio is made up of Lauren Green as front woman on guitar and vocals, Paul Brinkley on bass and backing vocals and Tiffanie Lanmon going to town on the drums. Together, they come together to give you Mexico, their first proper release as a group, and not to mention a stunning display of good old rock and roll with a hint of dreamy elements to bring you into the present.

First, they present you with an ambient introductory track comprised of delicate guitar sound, a shaker for percussion, and some other gentle sounds to warm you up to the sound. Immediately, it strikes me as the lead into of an Explosions in the Sky track, but “Sands” is just about as mellow as it gets before they kick into their punch-you-in the face, dare-I-say psychedelic rock, like the calm before the desert storm. “I Want You To Know,” begins purely with a killer bass line and a finally you get a taste of the real cutting guitars and the raspy vocals of Green. Her voice is pure power, staking its claim amidst the buzz of the guitar and evoking a cross between Stevie Nicks and Dolores O’Riordan at points. The vocals don’t seem to be especially mixed above the instrumental parts of the songs, but sound as if she is in another room and you’re just lucky enough to have stumbled upon the sound  and stayed because you liked it so much.

This group isn’t only about melting your face with their angular guitar sound and kick ass vocals coming from the front woman, but they’re also here to make you dance, as any good rock and roll band should. Infectious tune, “Parties” comes fourth up on the album and will have you humming along with the choral hook while you’re jamming. Not to forget the ending of the song in which the guitar cuts out for a fast second and some rolling drum work in the background gives the song that build to put it over the top from good to grand. If you’re going to listen to only one song off this record, make sure it is “Parties,” as it’s bound to be one of the best tracks of the year.

Though it seems to only listen to one song from this effort would be a crime. I dare you to find a track you don’t like on Mexico; it’s easy to put this album on repeat and listen to it for days. In fact, that’s what I have been doing and will continue to do so. Look out Austin, as well as the indie world—here comes Mirror Travel.

Show Preview: Mirror Travel Tour Kickoff @ Hotel Vegas (10.15)

mirrortravel

Date Tuesday, October 15th
Location Hotel Vegas
Doors 10:00 PM
Tickets Cheap


Formerly Follow That Bird, Austin’s Mirror Travel are prepared to make waves all across the United States.  Their new album, Mexico, is being released tomorrow by Modern Outsider, which happens to coincide with their tour kick off set over at Hotel Vegas.  You’ve got to be there to check out these great new tunes, and to show support by buying things so they can pay for gas as they conquer the States. They’ll be joined by Suspirians and RF Shannon on the night, making it an event you can’t miss.  Plus, it’s indoors, so you have a chance to stay dry during a rock show. Be there or be square, says I.

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More New Music From Mirror Travel

mirrortravelBack in July we dropped some knowledge on you guys that beloved Austin band Follow That Bird had recently changed their name to Mirror Travel and began work on some new material.  Back then we shared with you new track “Mexico”, and today we have another brand spanking new joint called “I Want You to Know” streamable below.  We are yet again treated to some tasty rock n roll on this track with great female driving vocals throughout.  Hope you enjoy this one.

New album Mexico will be available on October 15th via Modern Outsider.

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Austin Spotlight: Mirror Travel

mirrortravelThose of you living in Austin, or who picked up the Casual Victim Pile compilation, might be wondering what happened to Follow That Bird.  Well, they opted for a name change, going with Mirror Travel.  This doesn’t mean the band’s sound has changed that much, still churning out rock and roll with a tinge of garage sound pushing things along.  You’ll be able to find this tune on the band’s new record, Mexico, which is being released by Modern Outsider on October 15th of this year.  History points towards a record filled with allusions to the Southwest, and fueled by hard work: can’t get here fast enough.

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Proto Punk from TRAAMS

919107_582153298485281_1428211538_oBands have a hard time making it all the way overseas, but I’ll gladly share with you this recent tune from TRAAMS.  The Chichester group drops in influences from bands like Mclusky, with pummeling drum lines and jagged guitar licks.  The vocals are a little bit muddy, but they step in line with the guitars and drums, adding an extra bit of force to the energetic number.  The group has just unleashed their Ladders EP via Fat Cat Records, and it’s chock-full of songs that are going to get you out of your chair.  Happy Tuesday folks.

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Download: Traams – Mexico [MP3]

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