This is fine.
Austin Psych Fest is just a few short days away, so I reckoned we oughta ramp up our coverage. Today we caught up with Secret Colours for a quick pre-fest interview. I really love the Chicago band’s responses, and I appreciate greatly the thought drummer Justin Frederick put into his answers. The band will be playing at 5:45 on Sunday at the Reverberation Stage. Let’s get ready to enjoy ourselves at one of Austin’s best festivals.
The great thing about our fair city is that with all the huge traveling shows drawing people out, we can also sneak off to our favorite venues to catch a lot of the great local acts. And, for those of you out on the town already…you’ve had a few drinks so far, so you may as well go the extra mile and catch one of these three suggested shows below. I promise you won’t be disappointed in your night. Check out these gigs:
Think No Think, A. Sinclair, Lowen @ Mohawk – 9 PM – Free if you’re already at the Future Islands gig.
A Giant Dog, The Stuffies, Trustees, DJ Andrew McCalla @ Hotel Vegas – 9 PM – Not a single bad band on this bill.
Tele Novella, The Sour Notes @ Stubbs – 10 PM – It’s a free show following the modern day version of Wilson Phillips, Haim.
Here’s some tracks by some of the bands playing (A.Sinclair, A Giant Dog, Sour Notes) on the evening, hoping you go local, then go home.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/04-Shiny-Things.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ToPutItBluntly.mp3] [audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mannequin-Wire-Cover.mp3]
Looks like one of my favorite acts will be releasing a new album this May. The Wind-Up Birds came to my attention a few years back, and I’ve really enjoyed the work they’ve put in so far. This new tune is the first single off their new record, Poor Music. I love the way the guitars sound, while the vocal delivery definitely bears some resemblance to Art Brut. Be it the jagged guitar or the way they quickly burst into a more forceful music foray within the tune, it still catches my ears. Look for their new record just before the summer hits.
I really love a track that just gives into the soul of the song, discarding all the bullshit to the side. That’s the feeling I get when I listen to pretty much every song on the up-coming Eureka California album. Their songs are catchy, as you’ll see below, but aside from standard song structures, the group doesn’t worry about much else; they dive into their songs with reckless abandon, emboldened by the spirit of just playing good rock n’ roll. You can pick up their new album, Crunch, from HHBTM Records as we speak.
I don’t want to seem like I’m barking up the Slumberland Records tree, but they have yet another great band to work with, The Proper Ornaments. This is one of those bands that I feel like has been vastly underrated throughout their short existence. But, certain circles of pop aficionados, myself included will swear by the band. They’ve just signed on to release Wooden Head on July 8th, and I assure you, that such care will be placed on these songs that you’ll find it virtually impossible to ignore each track. It’s a little twee, a little like Real Estate, and a whole lot of amazing. Check the first single:
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/143861295″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
When we first heard from Landlady, the project of Man Man‘s Adam Shatz, we were ecstatic to hear what this new group offered. Now that we’ve got another single to sink our teeth into, things are looking even better than before. The vocals are patiently delivered, moving slowly to match the pace of the track as it moves effortlessly between louder rock moments and ornate guitar picking. You’ll be able to hear the entire thing from the band when they release Upright Behavior on July 15th via Hometapes.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/142767807″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
I’ll make no secret of my appreciation for Slumberland Records. Be it their back catalog, their re-issues, or the new acts they’re putting act, they always seem to be in line with my own tastes. Today they had a huge day, announcement-wise, putting up two great new songs by Devon Williams and Gold-Bears, both artists we’ve fawned over here. The first track below comes from Devon’s new album, Gilding the Lily (June 3rd); it’s a mellow pop tune with the melodic touches we’ve come to expect from him. The second is an up-beat rocker from Gold-Bears new record, Dalliance (June 3rd), which might just be one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. What a great way to wrap up the week in music with these two great songs.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/143625077″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/143623077″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Damon McMahon’s Amen Dunes project is on a huge role right now. He’s prepping the release of his new record, Love, and it seems with each new single that he brings to the table, there’s something different going on in the music, yet it’s all pretty intoxicating. This jam starts all with a bit of a ramshackle opening, almost like a post-punk rocker, but then it unfolds into a more spiritual piece of noise folk. I like a little diverstiy in a good album, so when Sacred Bones releases Love on May 13th, we’re probably going to rejoice with how each song offers us something different.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144699576″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
It’s been a little bit of time since we’ve posted anything from the group Ablebody, the project of the Hochheim brothers, who you’ll occasionally see as members of Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Anyways, these guys are great, creating these perfect pieces of wistful pop, such as the track below, which is the A-Side to their forthcoming 7″. The warmth of the backing “ahhs” do a wonderful job to add to the dreamy pop sensibility that is already present in the tune. You can catch the band on tour supporting PoBPaH throughout the end of Spring, and order the 7″ HERE.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144857603″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
We’ve been patiently waiting for the new EP of A. Sinclair, the band formerly known as Frank Smith; a new song is here today. Singer Aaron promised us that the band would be building a louder sound, which fits more with the band’s live performances of late. While the opening of the tune ambles a bit in the way of atmospherics, the song jumps into a rocking jam within seconds, collecting all the promise we’ve seen in the band over the last several years. If you’ve been following the group, you’re going to be proud of the confidence and craftsmanship this tune shows. Get ready to hear their new Pretty Girls EP when it’s released on May 20th.
