This is fine.
We had a great line up for the Alex Napping record release. Soft Swells was in town on their maiden tour. Lowin opened things up strong. We saw friends form Punctum Records, we saw friends from Modern Outsider. There were stories about a simultaneous 99 beer shotgunning. Merch and merriment at Cheer Up Charlies…
Click through for a few more thoughts and plenty of pics.
It’s Friday, and you need something to do. Â You’re in Austin, looking for a great show. Â Problem solved, you should be at Cheer Up Charlies for the anticipated release of Alex Napping‘s debut LP, courtesy of Punctum Records. Â It’d be easy to just say, go see Alex Cohen play; she and the band are great. Â And that’s very true. Â But, in order to draw a solid crowd, you’ve got to have some great opening acts, like Big Bill, Soft Swells and Lowin. Â Big Bill‘s oddball garage rock never fails to impress. Â Soft Swells are on the trustworthy label, Modern Outsider (local label!). Â Lowin, well, let’s just say this is one of the next big things to get out of Austin. Solid bill from start to finish. Â Get there at 8 in time for things to kick off!
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Feel like today is a good day to listen to great pop tunes, helping to revitalize my booze infused body after a long weekend.  This new track that just came in from Soft Swells is doing just the right trick, filling the speakers with polite harmonies.  The track grabs you immediately, opening with vocals that carefully wait for the rolling drums to carry them the rest of the way.  It’s the first single from the band’s new album, Floodlights, which will see a September 30th release from our friends over at Modern Outsider.  Enjoy your listen.
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Ume. There is the general feeling around these parts that they just need to blow up; power trio rock with the remarkably charismatic powerhouse lady putting down the jams should be a lock. I love photographing this band. I think every music photographer in Austin loves photographing this band thanks to Lauren’s hair.
But they weren’t my highlight. Modern Outsider is a friend of the program. They have several great acts on their roster and bedsides being really good people, they call Austin home. So naturally, they decided to host a pre-SxSW showcase as part of Free Week 2013.
Click through for plenty of pics of Soft Swells, My Jerusalem, The Black and White Years, The Calm Blue Sea and Ume.
A few weeks back we brought you a nice little gem from Soft Swells, and as we near the release of their self-titled record, another great tune comes our way. Â The record won’t officially come out until February 28th, but you’ll definitely be anticipating getting your hands on it after listening to this standout song. For me, it recalls a lot of the pop sincerity of bands like the Generationals, offering up hooks with no pretension or guise; that’s how you’re supposed to compose the hits. Â If this isn’t stuck in your head by the end of the day, let me know and I’ll apologize–I have a feeling I won’t be getting any comments on that front though.
The great thing about working on a music web site is that you get great tunes pretty much non-stop sent your way (and some really bad ones too). For me, my tastes have expanded, branching from oddball pop to hardcore punk rock, but this new track from Soft Swells is just a perfect pop number, executed to perfection. This song is from their upcoming self-titled album that will come out on February 28th via Modern Outsider. You have to admit, there’s something to be said for a well-written piece of modern pop music, and that’s precisely what you have here. And if you dig it, you can also check out the video for the song HERE.
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