Great Wednesday Shows

It's hard to imagine going out to see a show after spending 3 days at Fun Fun Fun Fest but you know what y'all? I'm going to do the hard thing and go drink cheap beer while listening to bad-ass live music. Keep me in your thoughts. No, but seriously there are a lot of really fantastic musical outfits playing downtown this evening. Personally, I know I'm going to be at the Phantogram show at the Mohawk. Sadly, if you don't have tickets you can't get through the door because this show is sold-the-fuck-out. Should I tell you how great this, upstate New York, band's latest album is or would that just depress you? I guess, technically Nightlife is a 6-song EP not an album but you should check it out whether you can make it out tonight or not. It's on Spotify if you want to hear it before buying it. You can also download a couple of Mp3's over at the Barsuk Records site.

Phantogram - When I'm Small video via YouTube

Some of you may recall the band opening for Phantogram from their set at Austin City Limits Festival. They take their name from the Rugrats favorite cartoon character Reptar. They have an EP out right now on Vagrant Records ridiculously tittled, Oblangle Fizz Y'all. As you've probably surmised this band takes themselves VERY seriously so not talking or smiling during their set. Obviously, I kid their music is fun, energetic and kind of reminds me of 80's band Was Not Was. How's that for an obscure musical reference? Since tonight's show is an outdoor event you can expect Reptar to go on around 8:00pm.

Reptar - Rainbounce video via YouTube

Let's move onto non-sold-the-fuck-out shows shall we? Our old pals from Detroit, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are back in Austin this week. They played Stubb's inside stage last night, they will do so again tonight but you can also catch a free in-store performance from them at Waterloo Records. Then, tomorrow night, the guys from Dale Jr. Jr. will be hosting a screening of Jurassic Park at, the much beloved, Alamo Drafthouse Ritz. I already scored by tickets for that screening and you should too.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Simple Girl video via YouTube

Speaking of Stubb's, Modest Mouse are playing for their second night in a row and would you believe the show is sold-out? Do people really love Modest Mouse enough for them to play Stubb's two nights in a row? Do you know the name of their latest album or when it came out? I really thought their moment was over as soon as they signed to a major label. I bet at least one of you is reading this thinking what a bastard I am and you're ready to proclaim your undying affection for all things Isaac Brock. Well, that's lovely that you're still a huge fan and apparently there are enough people in Austin who feel strongly enough to buy $38 tickets to see Brock and co. at Stubb's for two nights in a row. If they still play Neverending Math Equation and/or All Night Diner then I'm with you in spirit but I'm guessing the sets are heavy on whatever their newest record is called. Seems like the last new one came up in March of 2007 and is called We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Can that be right? Are they touring in support of a 4 year old record? Oh, I guess they actually did release an EP post-2007. Can you feel all of the meh oozing from this paragraph?

Modest Mouse - Neverending Math Equation video via YouTube

On the opposite end of the Modest Mouse spectrum you'll find Austin-based folk-pop group, Wild Child. They play Antone's tonight in support of their record, Pillow Talk. I encourage you to keep an eye on WIld Child, their songs have mass appeal and they put on a great live show. Don't believe me? Watch the performance I've posted below and listen to their album embedded below that.

WIld Child - SIlly Things video via YouTube

Pillow Talk (full album available now) by WildChildSounds

Read more!

ACL Festival Interview: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

I had a brief chat with the gentlemen from, Detroit band, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. the day before their Austin City Limits Festival appearance. The audio on this one isn't ideal but you can still hear the questions and answers. It gets tricky in the media area, since you aren't very far from two of the festival's bigger stages, to conduct video interviews but I did my best. As you probably guessed from the band's name they are quite clever and funny and I had a good time chatting with them.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - ACL Festival Interview video via YouTube

The official ACL Fest YouTube chanel has lots of performances, interviews and performance clips from this year's festival, including this one from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s Sunday performance:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Nothing But Our Love (Live at ACL Festival 2011) video via YouTube

Read more!

ACL Festival Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

Maybe it's because ACL Festival is a month earlier this year than it was last year but I feel like it's really sneaking up on me. I have so many preview posts to write and only a couple of weeks to publish them. If you have been keeping up with this site then you already know I'm a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. Sure they have either the best or worst band name in indie-rock, depending on who you ask, but if you focus on the tunes themselves, there's nothing to complain about.

Their album is called In a Corporate World and it's out now on Warner Bros. records, making the title seem, somewhat, tongue-in-cheek. Trust me, after seeing their live-set on Emo's inside stage I can assure you these guys have their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks (so to speak). Their live performance is filled with gimmicks, which for Emo's inside seemed a bit excessive but for ACL Fest it should be perfect. They perform in NASCAR suits, they have a bubble machine, there are giant lit-up letters on the stage and then there are the great pop-tunes. If you're a fan of jangly rhythms, brain-tattooing melodies, simply harmonies and tight song structures then you should enjoy Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr - Nothing But Our Love video via YouTube

If you plan to attend ACL Fest make sure you arrive by 1pm Sunday because Dale Jr Jr is playing the Honda stage at 1:30pm. If you DON'T have tickets to the festival, you're in luck because there are STILL single-day passes available for Sunday. Sunday has a lot of great artists, including a festival-closing performance from, Album of Year winners, Arcade Fire. Maybe you've heard of them?

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr - Morning Thought video via YouTube

Also, I almost didn't mention this since it's sold-out but I didn't want you to think I didn't know that Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr are ALSO scheduled to play an official ACL aftershow at Lambert's. For those of you lucky enough to have purchased tickets, you're in for a great, intimate show in a fantastic, under-appreciated venue.

Read more!

New Albums For the Summer

As you know, I don't generally do album reviews and this post is no exception. This is just a quick little note because there are FOUR albums that hit stores today that really excited me. I think all of them are really fantastic summer music. Also, all of these artists either recently played Austin or will be playing Austin within the next few days.

The first album I want to mention is one I've been looking forward to since SXSW, it's the full-length LP from Cults. Talk about summery and fun, this album is it. It's run-time is just over 30 minutes and when it reaches that final groove in the record you're going to think wish there was another side. I was going to link you to a place where you can buy the debut but I don't want to specifically endorse a vendor. I'd rather encourage you to go to your nearest, locally-owned record shop and ask the clerk. By the way, the Cults' album is self-titled.


Cults - Abducted video via YouTube


Like the Cults LP, the debut from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is an indie-sounding record that is actual released by a major label. I kind of wonder why bands still do this, I don't know a whole hell of a lot about record contracts but I do know that you usually have to give back all of the money the label spends on you upfront. In otherwords, if people don't buy the debut from Cults they'll be paying for that very expensive-looking video above the break for a very long time. Personally, I hope people buy all of the music I'm mentioning in this post but I'm not diluted enough to believe that to be true. In any case, I resisted Dale Jr Jr because there was so much buzz around them and I really hate their name. However, when I noticed a band I really love, Generationals was touring with them I checked out their album and went to the show and I highly approve. The live experience has a lot of gimmicks, most of which I found unnecessary but I also realize that's a great way to get an audience to pay attention and/or remember you. Their LP, out today, is called, It's a Corporate World, which I'm sure they are learning through their deal with Warner Brothers music. It looks like iTunes had the album on June 3rd but today is the first, official, day you can buy it at your local shop.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Nothing But Our Love video via YouTube

While you're out at the record shop, be sure to pick-up In Light from, Louisiana-based band, Givers. Their afro-beat, indie sound is so shiny, warm and fun you'll have it on loop in the car all summer or at least the month of June. They were one of my favorite discoveries of SXSW this year, I actually saw them perform twice and I look forward to their show tomorrow night (look for my next post). Unlike the previous two artists I've mentioned, Givers are on an actual indie-label, Glassnote, which might explain why they haven't made an uber-pricey video for any of their songs yet. There are lots of live videos on YouTube but I'm going to post this one so you can get a sense of their studio sound.


Givers - Up, Up, Up video via YouTube

The last, but not least, new release I want to mention comes from The Rosebuds. They'll be in town next week and their LP is probably the least shimmery and fun of all of the releases I've mentioned so far but it is incredibly lush, beautiful and personal. You have to have something to listen to in the car at night too right? The story behind the making of this album involves a married couple becoming divorced and continuing to be bandmates. Kind of like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours with WAAAYY less cocaine and infidelity. The Rosebuds newest album is called Loud Planes Fly Low, and I really think you should pick it up today.


The Rosebuds - Go Ahead video via YouTube

Read more!

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr & Generationals at Emo's

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but like so many of you, I often do just that. Not, necessarily, in a literal sense but sometimes I literally judge actual books by their actual covers. In any case, I was guilty of this when I heard about the much-buzzed-about, Detroit band, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. I assumed by their ridiculous name that they, too, would be ridiculous. For me their name implied a noisy, possible Wavves-like band who had stupid 90 second songs that I would hate. So, when I finally took the time to listen to their music I was pleasantly surprised. Not only are they not fuzzed out garage bullshit, they make beautiful, harmonious indie-pop. I would liken their sound to that of local-favs Oh No! Oh My!. In other words, their sound is the perfect sonic-companion for Lousiana-natives, Generationals. Neither band is afraid of pleasant-sounding harmonies, or pop melodies. If you, too, judged Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr based on their stupid name, I recommend you check out their Soundcloud page before you write them off. Or, better yet, get yourself a ticket and join me at Emo's inside-stage tomorrow night.


Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr - Nothing But Our Love video via YouTube

If you missed Generationals with Oh No! Oh My! at Emo's a few weeks ago, then you definitely need to see them tomorrow night. Their latest LP Actor Caster is out now and it's beautiful. Their live-performance does not disappoint and for you straight dudes, their music attracts a large, female audience. Not to be confused with a large female audience. No offense to large females, they too, are welcome to enjoy in the beautiful indie-pop of Generationals and Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr tomorrow night. You can listen to all of Generationals', Actor Caster on their YouTube page including this song:


Generationals - Yours Forever video via YouTube

Starting things off tomorrow, at about 10:00p, will be local band and spin-off of Bill Baird's, Sunset-project, Sleep Good. Sleep Good is, basically, Sunset (Who is now known as Blank Fritz) without Bill Baird. Was that confusing enough for you? Well, don't be confused just get to Emo's by 10:00p tomorrow night so you don't miss them. You may, actually, download Sleep Good's album Skyclimber for free courtesy of Autobus.


Sleep Good - Paper Feet video via YouTube

Read more!