Some More Free Week Pics…

I still love Free Week. Went out and about again and saw a whole different set of random people. I learned a friend’s girlfriend’s dad goes by the name Bush Pounder. I learned a kind soul was leaving us for Puerto Rico, but would be returning for fests and touring gigs. Little known fact, flights to cities in the US from Austin are about the same as flights from Puerto Rico.

It was a whole different set of bands and a different chunk of venues. Here is the rundown: Empire to see out friends in Bali Yaaah and Hours Quiet, Barracuda for Midriff, ATH Records’ Pollen RX, Stiletto Feels, Otis The Destroyer and Flesh Lights with a quick jaunt to Swan Dive to see what Casey Beans was all about as a solo thing.

Click through for all the pics.

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Join Us Tonight at Barracuda for Flesh Lights, Pollen Rx and More

Well, looks like our dear friend Free Week has extended into the second week of January, and we’ve got a banger of a show for you to hit up this evening over at Barracuda. We’re sponsoring it with our good friend over at GTZ Records. Midriff will kick things off, followed by ATH Records act Pollen Rx, then Stiletto Feels, Otis the Destroyer and closing the night with the always phenomenal Flesh Lights. All these bands are really great, and they’re playing for you for free, so why not enjoy a Thursday properly and come on out. Show starts just after 9, so get there early, as there’s sure to be a good crowd.

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Otis the Destroyer – Belushi EP

otdRating: ★★★★☆

“This one goes to 11,” I couldnt help quoting Spinal Taps legendary Nigel Tufnel while listening to Otis the Destroyers freshly released Belushi EP. Recorded with Austins resident Rock n Roll mastermind Frenchie Smith, Belushi unleashes a killer quad combo on the Austin Music Scene.

An avid rock n roller myself, Belushi, and Otis the Destroyer in general, are a welcome antidote to a music scene saturated with cutes-y folks-y ukulele strumming duets. The heart and soul of the music leans heavily on the early 00s charging guitar rock of Grohls Foo Fighters and Hommes Queens of the Stone Age, but Taylor Wilkins penchant for eerie chromaticism sets them apart from these now classic bands.

The lead track Fight comes out taunting the listener with a pumping drum intro and stuttering guitar lick. The chorus comes in quick and threatening and the guitars are layered and mixed masterfully. Cheetah, the single off the EP, follows Fight and builds on intensity. Again, the guitar layering is skillfully executed and the guitar solo screams like a back alley catfight. Otis manages to avoid the pit of muddy, distorted tracks here. It would be easy to leave a listener with ear fatigue from so many roaring six strings, but throughout many listens of the EP I always appreciated how clearly separated the guitar tracks were, and how they managed to be so dang loud (…this one goes to 11). Guitar aficionados and engineers out there will understand how difficult it is to make a record sound and feel loud its a feat thats hard to do right, and quite frankly it can make or break a record like Belushi.

My favorite track off the EP was actually not the single Cheetah. I absolutely loved Swallow, the third song off the EP. The opening plinking, syncopated riff just took me back to an 80s or 90s opening action montage from some B movie (the movie definitely takes place in a gritty harbor town, and the bad guys definitely all have mustaches). The last chorus on Swallow just crescendos like a damn tidal wave ok actually I am pretty sure this movie in my head is about a crime boss setting off a tidal wave with a stolen generic pan-Asian dictators nuclear bomb. Yea. This one definitely goes to 11.

Closing out the EP with the strong, jarring Hatchet (rated pg-13 for strong language and diminished harmonies), Belushi comes to a satisfying finale. Belushi builds on a strong foundation that Otis the Destroyer has laid out. For those of you headbangers out there missing the golden era of hard rock this EP is a must listen, and music preferences aside Swallow is one of those rare songs that has a genre spanning appeal. Catch them at their EP Release show March 5th link (https://www.facebook.com/events/530556140444240/539749096191611/) with Megafauana, Think No Think, and the Shame and the Waste.

Thursday Night Austin Show Recommendations

ggI’m getting overwhelmed with opportunities for great shows this week, and Thursday night’s no different. Still amazes me that people are still harping on “Austin music is dying” when there’s a million shows to hit up on any given night…but alas. Pay close attention as a lot of the gigs below are cover acts in honor of Halloween…like the show at Mohawk with our boys Rose Selavy; it also has prizes!

Here’s where you can find yourself this evening:

Goblin a Go-Go w/ Rose Selavy and Loafer @ Mohawk – 8 PM

Basketball Shorts, New China, Oozer, Mean Jolene @ Trailer Space – 7 PM (FREE)

Sweet Spirit, Crushed Out, Major Major Major @ Hotel Vegas – 10 PM

Otis the Destroyer, MCG, Ghostbunny, The Bravo @ Sidewinder – 9 PM

Peacers, Elisa Ambrogio, Quin Galavis, Shawn McMillen, Jared Leibowich @ Cheer Up Charlies – 8 PM

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Show Preview: SXSWfm HAAM Benefit (9/23)

HAAM-poster-final-web-400x400What’s better than a show with a great lineup of locals?  A show with a great lineup of locals all playing for a good cause.  That’s what’s going down on Tuesday at the Palm Door on 6th and we wanted to get the word out as best we can.  The show is free, but 20% of the bar will be donated to HAAM so get your drink on!  You can also donate directly to HAAM onsite or by doing so online here.  Let’s not forget this stacked local lineup featuring The Sour Notes, Otis the Destroyer, Possessed by Paul James, and Residual Kid.  Doors @ 7, music @ 8.  Let’s get it on!

More event information can be found on the SXSWfm site.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mannequin-Wire-Cover.mp3]

Download: The Sour Notes – Mannequin (Wire Cover) [MP3]

Austin Weekend Spotlight: The Non-X Games Exclusive

austinMan.  The festivals and large events in this town never cease, and while I appreciate that, I’m a bit sick and tired of it all.  Are you in the same boat? Perhaps you want to carefully venture downtown and catch some live music?  You’re lucky, as the local bands are bringing you some great line-ups all over the map this weekend.  Here’s  a quick look at where you can go. Read more

Austin Weekend Show Suggestions

AustinMusiFlowsaThis weekend, above most normal weekends, is a pretty good reason to go out.  There’s a benefit being put on by sxswcares, raising money for victims of the SXSW tragedy.  A lot of these venues are saving up for donations, are hosting events, as well as directing folks to various on-line auctions to raise money, so be sure to help support the worty cause; remind people what a great community we are. So, with that in mind, here are my suggestions for great shows to hit up this weekend. Read more

Austin Weekend Show Suggestions

austinThings are heating up here in Austin, with several really big shows coming up in the month of April.  But, before we get into the full swing of things, let’s take a look at what’s going on this weekend.  There’s definitely shows we expect you to attend, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.  Below you’ll find our suggestions for the musical weekend of April 4th-6th, including some great free gigs  See you out on the town, and don’t forget to support the bands buy buying something while you’re out. Read on for details… Read more