Show Preview: En Attendant Ana @ Hotel Vegas (5.18)

I wanted to run this preview yesterday, but seeing as I already had one Trouble in Mind post, I figured it could wait until today. So, tomorrow night, those inside the greater Austin area can catch Parisian outfit En Attendant Ana playing over at Hotel Vegas. They released the brilliant Principia earlier this year; it showed a lot of maturity in terms of allowing the empty space of their songs to have the same emotive pull as their more energetic bits do. It may seem like I’m talking trash here, but imagine taking a great guitar pop band like Alvvays and asking them to really stretch their sound beyond the confines of expectations for that style; it made Principia one of the more rewarding LPs of this year. Tickets are $10 at the door, which seems super reasonable, and they’ll be joined by Dorio, Exercise and Dmitri: Doors are at 9. You can grab the new LP HERE or at their show!

Show Preview: Cursive @ Mohawk (5.12)

I feel like a majority of the people that stumble upon this site had a period in their life when they were so heavily into music that it accompanied them everywhere. For me, 1997-2004, it was my main companion. Walking to class, walking to work, driving in my car on long road trips…no matter where I went, there was something playing; I honestly cared more about music than most of my relationships at that time. And, a huge part of those years was the Saddle Creek discography, particularly Bright Eyes and Cursive. Well, this Friday, Cursive is coming to Austin and the Mohawk to play the entirety of their 2000 classic, Domestica. So, in anticipation, I wanted to do a track by track breakdown, 23 years down the road from when I first listened. If you haven’t gotten your ticket; you can grab them HERE.

Read more

Long Winded Modest Mouse Show Preview

While The Moon & Antarctica is widely considered Modest Mouse‘s crowning achievement, there are some, like myself who consider The Lonesome Crowded West a near perfect album. Dropped in 1997, it didn’t make its way into my regular rotation until a year or so after. But, I was a fickle college music fan, gravitating to various bands and styles, then moving onto the next. Still, upon graduation in 2002, I packed my old Honda Accord with one of those traveling cases of CDs, a few packs of smokes and my sleeping bag…and I drove from Austin to my new home, Yellowstone National Park. It was that first 24 hour road trip that really made me indebted to that LP, so much so, that now, some 20 years on from that adventure, I can still recall every twist and turn of the songs, and every little nuanced moment where Modest Mouse made it into my life in those months. I’m fortunate to be able to catch the band touring behind the entirety of said LP here in Austin on Monday; tickets are SOLD OUT, so perhaps ask a friend..

Read more

Show Preview: Alvvays @ Stubbs – TONIGHT

If you’ve been anywhere near the indie sphere the last few months, and perhaps even in the pop realm, you’ve definitely heard people raving about Blue Rev, the new LP from Alvvays. I covered every single that came out, increasingly impressed with how much the band took their bedroom indiepop sound from years ago and continued to grow it into a full-fledged pop rock masterpiece, brimming with nods to their past whilst readying them for arena rock performances. Lucky for Austin fans, the band will take the stage at Stubbs this evening, accompanied by tourmates Slow Pulp. You can expect a smattering of hits, and maybe a deep cut or two, but you can rest assured that Molly Rankin and company are going to be brining their A game. Tickets are still available HERE! Doors at 7, show begins at 8 PM.

 

Show Preview: Snail Mail + Goon Sax @ ACL Live (Tonight!)

Lindsey Jordan’s meteoric rise should come as no surprise to anyone, but with the release of Valentine, that build was cemented. So, it should come as no shocker that Snail Mail will be playing ACL Live this evening. But, other than remind you of the draw of that band, I’d like to take a minute to encourage those attending, or thinking of attending, to show up and see Goon Sax. Through three albums, we’ve raved about the band’s sound, and Mirror II showed the band continuing to grow their sound; there’s a maturity in the writing this go round, warranting an opening slot on one of the biggest US tours. Plus, its not every day you get a chance to see an Australian group on these shores (as touring becomes more challenging). We’ve got their whole 2nd LP streaming below, as its the one I’ve been spinning the most this morning! If you want tickets, they’re still available HERE.

Show Preview: Dummy @ Hotel Vegas (4.21) w/ Being Dead, Queen Serene, Future Museums

We’ve spent a ton of time discussing the Austin acts on this bill, and maybe even put out a release by one of them, so if you haven’t listened to Being Dead, Queen Serene and Future Museums…do so. But, this post is about encouraging you to show up to Hotel Vegas to catch one of the more underrated, yet highly appreciated, acts in the indie sphere: Dummy. Their work is hard to pigeon-hole, moving between various periods of electronica and indie rock with such ease that one would find it difficult not to be mesmerized. Last year’s Mandatory Enjoyment made a lot of year-end lists, including our own, so clearly you’ve gotta show up tomorrow night. Plus, if you are planning on going, please wear a mask! The band’s already been hit with Covid on tour, so let’s do our best to keep them, and ourselves, safe. Show kicks off at 9:30 with Future Museums.

 

Tonight’s Show Preview: Letting Up Despite Great Faults + Pelvis Wrestley

As the music world seemingly gets back to normal (don’t forget your masks kids!), I’m starting, myself, to scope out what’s going on in the world. Tonight, there’s a perfect “dad show” at Cheer Up Charlies featuring my favorites Letting Up Despite Great Faults and Pelvis Wrestley. Why is it a perfect “dad” or “mom” show? Well, it starts after bedtime, with Pelvis taking the stage at 9, and Letting Up hitting the stage at 10; I should be home by 11:15, perfectly sleeping until my little ones wake me up at 5:30! And, there’s an added bonus as we get to see Pelvis Wrestley, whose tape we were fortunate to help get out into the world, plus I know Letting Up Despite Great Faults has a batch of new songs they’re ready to unleash on you and me. Join me tonight, $5 cover!

Show Preview: Julien Baker w/ Dehd @ Stubb’s 10/27

The shows start coming and they don’t stop coming! Tomorrow night, we’ve got a great lineup once again gracing the stage at Stubb’s, and one that will make you come out early. Headlining the evening, we have Julien Baker, who dropped a lovely album earlier this year called Little Oblivions. Her masterful songwriting, heavily emotive lyrics, and vocals that can cut you deep should make for a wonderful evening in the gravel at Stubb’s. But before you start crying at the club, make sure to get there early for openers, Dehd, who I’m stoked for. This Chicago trio dropped one of my favorite albums of 2020 in Flower of Devotion, which is a no-skips-post-punk ripper. Take a listen to some tunes below and then scoop some tickets while you can!

 

Show Preview: IDLES @ Stubb’s 10/25

Shows are back, y’all, and in full swing. We’ve got a bunch of touring acts coming to the ATX in the next few weeks…looking at you Levitation 2021, but also some great bands to catch while they’re in town before hand. This Monday, we’re welcoming IDLES to Stubb’s, who are known for their raucous post-hardcore/punk sounds and wildly entertaining live shows. They’re just about to drop their fourth studio album, CRAWLER, on 11/12, and they’ve released the single “The Beachland Ballroom” for us to preview the latest effort. Now, this show is sold out, but I’m sure if you scramble you can find a way in. It’s bound to be an evening of fun, mayhem, and exceptional tunes.

Show Preview: Good Morning @ Mohawk

I’ve been writing about Good Morning for several years now, but since Prize//Reward, the band really seem to have found themselves on a quick rise to popularity, leading us to the very recent release of Basketball Breakups. Tonight, the Aussie bunch bring their sounds to Austin for the first time (as far as I can remember), and why not celebrate them for just making it overseas, as it’s getting super hard for those overseas acts to make it onto our shores. I think the casual pop of the band has them poised to breakout over here, so tonight might be your chance to catch them on the ascendancy. Plus, they’re supported by two of our favorite locals in Daphne Tunes and Pelvis Wrestley. Tickets are scarce, so hunt one down if you dare!

1 2 3 29