New White Bronco Tune on Slack Capital 2

Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: White Bronco — “Soul Stroll”

Although they’ve sadly been defunct for a little while now, White Bronco have pulled out an unreleased gem for Slack Capital 2. Featuring a Beatles-evoking and very hummable chord structure over a driving snare and pealing guitars, “Soul Stroll” pays tribute to the rebellious power of taking a walk, of getting far from the madding crowd. The opening lyrics, “Outside/ With my spaceship,” set the tone of a person apart, a weirdo looking in. Like a punk Bruce Springsteen, complete with plenty of yelps, power is asserted through the fine art of breaking free and getting loose. A chaotic ending puts you in the middle of a boisterous happy crowd in a sweaty room, and you can’t help but think “Come back, White Bronco!” — Eric Braden

Pre-Order Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us at Barracuda on April 14th for the Release Show!

Hear Tamarron’s Contribution to Slack Capital 2

Slack Capital 2 is a compilation of music by 27 of the greatest bands in Austin. All proceeds from the comp go to SafePlace, which provides support for victims of domestic and sexual violence. We’re unveiling one song per day until the the release party on April 14.

Song of the day: Tamarron — “Dr. Alan”

Tamarron is one of those bands where half the fun is watching how much fun the band is having. In other words, these dudes like each other, and that camaraderie is impossible to fake. It makes you want to be part of the gang, to be in on the jokes. Their contribution to Slack Capital 2, “Dr. Alan,” is, fittingly, an endlessly melodic soft-rock jam, complete with background “ooh la la la’s” and serpentine, in-no-hurry guitar solos. The interesting thing is, for such a laid-back song, it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what it’s about. Is it a drug song, alluding to The Beatles’ “Dr. Robert”? You start to think that its obscurity might be the point when you parse a lyric like “You’ll never understand me/ And when you do/ It’s hard to believe.” Perhaps Tamarron will forever be a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an acid blotter. But that’s the fun of it. — Eric Braden

Pre-Oder Slack Capital 2 HERE.

Join us for the Release Show, April 14th at Barracuda.

Premiere: Smile Release New Album

smileYou might recognize a few faces from the Smile posse, sharing members with local posters, Dreamboat. But, don’t use that to make your basis for the band’s sound,with the group here flexing their musical muscles and creating musically dense compositions. Each track on Like a Diamond in the Rough, You Shine seems like it’s own mini-concept album; songs take twists and turns, though always relying upon the group’s dynamic pop sensibility. For my two cents, I think the journey, and flip side, of “Must Be Something 1 & 2” are easily worth your time, with one side hitting hard and the other letting you venture off into your own world. If you’re looking for a new band that adds a little bit of sunshine to art-pop, then delve into this listen right now.

The group release the album on Friday with a secret special house party. Hit them up to find out where!

ATX Spotlight: Sailor Poon 7″ Release (+Show)

sailorpoonHopefully you caught wind of Sailor Poon on the Slack Capital Compilation we released earlier this year, or at least heard about the ladies continuous stomping of the Austin scene. Today the ladies continue their pummeling blend of rock n’ roll with the release of their new Yeast Pigeon 7″…a show at the Museum of Human Achievement kicks off tonight to celebrate with Yes Ma’am Brass Band, Popper Burns and DJ King Khan. I love how these ladies seem to be having a blast, all the time, whether recorded or live; you want to be part of it, you need to be part of it. So join in the fun and listen to their new 7″ below.

Young Girls Record Release @ Cheer Ups (7/10)

Young Girls

Young Girls

Date Friday, June 10th
Location Cheer Up Charlies
Doors Happy Hour 4-8pm, bands after
Tickets $3 for 21+ & $10 for minors

This Friday at Cheer up Charlies is a celebration of a lot of hard work by everyone involved in the release of Young Girls new album Party Blood. I know ATH considers Young Girls as more than just label mates at this point and more like good friends. So come out and support us and support our band as they play you some sweet tunes. This is truly an ATH Records show as support is provided by Shivery Shakes, Quiet Kids, and Rose Selavy. Hell and it’s cheap too.

Stream the new album in full below and buy a copy here. Facebook event page here.

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Slack Capital Release Tonight @ Barracuda !!!

Album Cover_Online VersionBy now I hope you’ve heard that ATH Records has teamed up with Big Bill to curate the excellent Slack Capital Compilation! We put the digital version out last week, but tonight at Austin’s Barracuda, we’ll be celebrating the physical release! Buy your way in, you get a copy of the CD, with proceeds going to Anthropos Arts…a foundation helping underprivileged youth get lessons in music. It means a lot to me personally to be part of this…on both the musical front and the charity front. You love Austin music? This is where to be tonight! Doors open at 8 PM.

Here’s the line-up:

OUTSIDE
9:00–Critical Dad
9:45–Pataphysics
10:30–Que Pasa
11:15–Sailor Poon
12:00–Annabelle Chairlegs

INSIDE
9:30–Tough Age
10:15–Pollen Rx
11:00–Basketball Shorts
11:45–Big Bill
12:30–David Liebe Hart

Stream Slack Capital :

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.

ATH Premiere: Meet Stiletto Feels

stilettofeels-1We here at ATH have long been fans of the craftsmanship of Geoff Earle, formerly of Freshmillions, who now has a brand new project we’d like to introduce you to (and a new record label-GTZ): Stiletto Feels. I’ve been listening to this track quite a bit since Geoff passed it our way; it’s like a blend of Ratatat and MSTRKFT, but with a really smooth soul vocal added to it. You can groove or you can dance, but you’re going to fall in love. It’s going to be the first release for Earle’s new label, GTZ Records, who will be celebrating with a nice Single Release Party on Saturday night over at Empire Control Room. Get into the song below.

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Austin Spotlight: A. Sinclair Premiere New Single

asinclairThe time is near folks. In fact, in less than 24 hours you’ll be able to get your hands on the brand new Pretty Girls EP from Austin’s A. Sinclair.  We’ve been writing quite a bit about the group lately, as we’re really excited to see the increased output from the band, not to mention their growing maturity in songwriting.  Today we bring you a brand new song, “Throwing Up on the Ground,” which features more twang than the previous two singles the band have released.  It demonstrates the careful balance between the band’s influences and their ability to rock live.   And, speaking of rocking, the band will be doing just that, live at the Mohawk this Thursday, celebrating the release of the brand new EP; they’ll be joined by Otis and the Destroyer, Chasca, and the Docs.

[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/05-Throwing-Up-On-The-Ground.mp3]

 

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