Saturday, June 6, 2009

Another Saturday Night in the ATX

So, like last night, there are several good shows for you to catch tonight if you feel like going out. My first pick for tonight takes place at the Mohawk's Outside stage. Au Revoir Simone will be playing the headlining spot tonight, with one of my favorite, local, acts starting things off, Oh No! Oh My! will be followed by The Antlers.


Au Revoir Simone - Dark Halls video via YouTube

Free Mp3 courtesy of a backdoor at Au Revoir Simone.com, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Au Revoir Simone - Backyard of Our Neighbors


You should probably be purchasing the Oh No! Oh My! EP by now.


Oh No! Oh My! - I Painted Your House "video" via YouTube

My second pick for you to check out tonight is a bit heavier, ok WAY heavier than Au Revoir Simone. It's happening over at Red 7 and features L.A. noise-punks Mika Miko with local bad-asses the Strange Boys. Mika Miko come out of the whole L.A. Smell Scene that birthed HEALTH and No Age+ so that gives you an idea of what you can expect. the Strange Boys are somewhat in the same vein as Harlem they do nugget's-esque 60's, British-ish, psychedelic-ish, garage-pop-py. It's quite enjoyable.


the Strange Boys - Drugs Iggy Drugs video via YouTube

If you're not really feeling either of those shows you can always hit up Emo's Outside stage for Girl in a Coma with local space-cadets the Boxing Lesson. Like I said, tonight doesn't have as many "heavy-hitters" as last night did. As far as I can tell none of these shows are buzzy enough to be sold-out as of yet. But, don't forget dear reader, the volume of band-hype is not necessarily proportional to the band's talent/the enjoyability of a band's performance.


the Boxing Lesson - Dark Side of the Moog video via YouTube

Oh it looks like Crystal Antlers are playing Emo's inside stage, opening up for the Constantines. I feel like Crystal Antlers just played here recently but that's often the case in Austin. I saw Passion Pit at Emo's on Wednesday and they were also here 3 months ago during SXSW. Also, Animal Collective was here last night and aren't they playing ACL Fest in October? Actually I may have made that up. Yeah I totally made that up. But there will be lots of other animal bands at ACL Fest including, Arctic Monkeys and Grizzly Bear. Yay animal names!


Crystal Antlers - Andrew video via YouTube

By the way, Constantines are on one of my favorite labels, Arts & Crafts so their cred. just jumped up in my book.


the Constantines - Our Age video via YouTube

Another by the way, just for the record, Grizzly Bear will be here in Austin in less than two weeks, they were also here for SXSW and they will ALSO be here for ACL Fest. Keeping in mind that each of the times they were here they played at LEAST two seperate performances each time! Catch 'em at Waterloo Records before you catch 'em at the Parish room on June 16th.


Grizzly Bear - Fine For Now video via YouTube

This is why SXSW is nice, they talk about how they love Beach House and now they're playing with Victoria from Beach House why the eff not?


Grizzly Bear w/Beach House - Two Weeks video via YouTube

Friday, June 5, 2009

Friday Night Fights

Wow, so tonight features some major show action in Austin. At least 2 out of the 3 majors are already sold-out. I still haven't managed to find a way into the sold-out Animal Collective show at Stubb's and tickets are going for $40-$200 on Craigslist. Remember when Craigslist was cool? Back before it was over-run with scam artists and people who always want to send me their fake Nigerian Money Orders? That was cool. I may just go down to the show after 10pm and see if I can get a ticket at the door or something. Who knows? Gotta ticket?


Animal Collective - Brothersport video via YouTube

Isn't it crazy how quiet the crowd was for the build-up of that song?!?! It's from Norway. Yeah.


Yeah so there's the AC show at Stubb's with Black Dice.

Black Dice - Smiling Off video via YouTube

Then, a mere block away, and simultaneously occuring, is another sold-out show featuring Bonnie "Prince" Billy at the Mohawk's outside stage. I recommend making friends with the people who live in those condos that sit between Mohawk and Stubb's, unless they live on the side of the L that doesn't face either location. Who buys those places? Can you imagine having either: Club DeVille, Mohawk, Stubb's, or the Hospital/Interstate out your bedroom window? I suppose if you're a night owl it's cool, I actually saw people watching the Helio Sequence show at Mohawk from their balcony last night. Seemed like they had almost the same perspective I had from the Mohawk's rooftop deck from their balcony. But I digress. Watch a Bonnie "Prince" Billy video why don't 'cha?


Bonnie "Prince" Billy" - Cursed Sleep video via YouTube

Moving on to the third, and as far as I know not-yet sold-out show of the evening. The New York Dolls are going on after Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears rock Emo's outside stage tonight. I'm a big fan of local artists Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and I am aware of the legendary status of the New York Dolls so I'm sure this is going to be a great show. However, through no fault of their own the New York Dolls are forever associated in my mind with former (e)M(p)T(y)V VJ Jesse Camp. Sorry NYD's. So anyway, if you want to check this show out here's the ticket link and it may, or may not , be sold-out by the time you click it.


Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears - Boogie video via YouTube

What's going on elsewhere within the AustinBloggyLimits for those of us who didn't get tickets to these sold-out-ish shows? Well there's always the other sold-out-ish show featuring Alejandro Escovedo, at Antone's. Here's the ticket link for that show which, again, may, or may not be of use to you at the time you read this. Or you can catch Unfortunate Heads at Lambert's, if that's more your vibe? Or hell, you can recession your ass at home with some movies you DVR'd from television too. That's cool if you dress uncomfortably and spring for fancy glasses from TJ Maxxed-Out-Your-Credit-Cards. Or maybe you can just play your music way too loudly and try to talk to your friends while texting and taking crappy cell phone pictures in the dark to re-create the concert experience in a different environment? Could be fun? Try to destroy your bathroom first for the full effect and possibly charge your friends to get into your intensely loud/dark/hot environment. For maximum authenticity mark your friend's dates, who are too young for them, with giant, black, permanent marker X's.


Alejandro Escovedo - Always a Friend video via YouTube

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Helio Sequence, Mohawk, Thursday.

I know, I know I've written about this like a billion times already. Well guess what? I'm letting you know AGAIN about Helio Sequence at the Mohawk. Why? Because, it's STILL not sold-out for some reason? Why are people not getting behind Helio Sequence they have been making indie-pop gems ala Nada Surf for almost a decade and still they get no love. Well I love them and I'm going to see them since I missed their show last year. Unfortunately I think I've already posted all of the video I care about posting for HS so some of these maybe be re-posts.


Helio Sequence - Lately video via YouTube

These Mp3's are re-posts and they're courtesy of SubPop Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Blood Bleeds

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Can't Say No


Helio Sequence - Everyone Knows Everyone video via YouTube

Austin locals, Low Line Caller will be opening up the show, which takes place on the Mohawk's outside stage area. There is also a band between Low Line Caller and Helio Sequence called D*R*I* but I can't find any info about them and I have never heard of them before?


Low Line Caller - Strangers (Talking To) video via YouTube

In an unrelated note I found out two of my co-workers are members of Austin bands, whom I have seen in concert. Isn't that weird, like how could I not know? But that's Austin for you, I've been working with members of Brothers & Sisters and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and I had no idea. Random.


Low Line Caller - Killing the Cool video via YouTube

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Passion Pit/Harlem Shakes @ Emo's Tomorrow!

Passion Pit and Harlem Shakes will be hitting Emo's outside stage tomorrow night. So far the weather report says we might get rain, but "Outside" at Emo's is mostly, somewhat covered anyway. Just don't wear nice kicks, but that's always good advice at Emo's.

The show is sold-out but there isn't as much buzz and excitement in town as I had expected there to be. I suppose it's just another Wednesday night in Austin right? I wonder if people will clap/dance, I expect it will be like the Cut Copy show I saw at Emo's: hot, loud, sweaty and full of gay men and their hipster-chick lady friends. All in all a good time will be had by most, you can't please everybody even if you're Passion Pit.


Passion Pit - The Reeling video via YouTube

Free Harlem Shakes Mp3 courtesy of Harlem Shakes.Com, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game

I always buy concert tickets in pairs and so I ended up with a spare P. Pit ticket, which I tried to trade for an Animal Collective ticket, to no avail. In my brain I was like, "Hey, they're both sold-out shows, they're both P4k bands that people love for lots of the same reasons...ok some of the same reasons. They are equally valued." But apparently value is a much more fluid thing than I gave it credit for. Because in the eyes of Austin concert-goers they are not equally valued concert-experiences. Either that or no one buys tickets in pairs. Negative Nelly at work said no one would make the trade and that no one else buys tickets in pairs? *shrug* I will get into that damn sold-out Animal Collective show, oh yes I will. Even if it means bartering Grizzly Bear or St. Vincent tickets.

Oh yeah, so Wednesday night before Passion P. goes on, Harlem Shakes are gonna kick out some jams. I just bought their new album, Technicolor Health and I really like it. I'm almost more excited for Harlem Shakes than I am for Passion Pit simply because it's going to be so much easier for PP to mess up their sound. A relatively new band touring behind lots of songs that are sung in Falsetto? We shall see.


Harlem Shakes - Carpetbagger video via YouTube

Did I mention that Cale Parks is starting the whole thing off? If I know Emo's that means you can expect Mr. Parks on stage around 10:15ish? I don't know a heck of a lot about Cale Parks but I did find these handy Mp3's courtesy of Polyviny Record Co., thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Cale Parks - Some Sew, Some Find

Free Mp3 ---> Cale Parks - Wet Paint

Not to mention this video, thanks Cale and Polyvinyl.


Cale Parks - Every Week Ends video via YouTube

By the way, I just noticed someone is trying to trade a Passion Pit for a Grizzly Bear do I detect a hot new trend? How about we all put all of our tickets in a big bag and you get to blindly grab as out as many as you put in?!? Who's down? No? Too risky? Don't want to get caught at a less-cool show? Hand over the damn Animal Collective ticket mofo!

Sorry 'bout that. You know how it is.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Tonight = Rest, No More Sleep After That.

Well dear reader, Monday is your night to rest because the rest of the week is going to be insane. I'm just going to focus on Tuesday right now. My highlight for Tuesday is Black Moth Super Rainbow with School of Seven Bells and, Austin's-own, Balmorhea.

The show takes place at the Mohawk's outside stage, which means the show must be done before midnight. That's a good thing for those of us who have to be at work by 6:30 the following morning. I'd get there early because all of the bands kick ass in their own ways and you won't want to miss any of it.


Balmorhea - San Solomon (Reprise) video courtesy of Cannibal Cheerleader via YouTube


I saw School of Seven Bells before I had heard of them, at SXSW. That's often the case with acts you catch at South By, you appreciate the experience more 3-6 months later when you hear the band on the radio. Just for the record Sirius XMU plays School of Seven Bells pretty often. I'm a fan. You can also download several tracks from their several releases over on the official Ghostly site. I tried and tried to find the direct links from the site so I could just put them above the break, but alas I was foiled. People/sites hate it when you do that anyway. *shrug*


School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep video via YouTube

I have never seen Black Moth Super Rainbow but their latest album, Eating Us has been garnering a lot of praise as of late. So, I'm curious to hear them live. Could be a trainwreck, or could be transcendent, we'll see.


Black Moth Super Rainbow - Born On A Day the Sun Didn't Rise video via YouTube

I want to include one more from Balmorhea because way back in the day I dissed their name, not realizing it was a State Park here in Texas. I was also under the impression it was pronounced like diarrhea, which it's not. It's Bal - Moh - Rhe - Uh, which is a much more pleasant name that what I had originally thought. This is a "Special, Acoustic Performance" for KEXP by Balmorhea live from the ME Television studios.


Balmorhea - Night I the Draw video via YouTube