Los Campesinos! back in Austin

Welsh indie-rock outfit, Los Campesinos! return to Austin tonight playing their first of two nights at the Parish. I had the pleasure of seeing this wonderful band on their last trip through Austin at La Zona Rosa. I don't hate on LZR but I'm quite happy that Los Campesinos! are playing the Parish instead. Sure, walking in that region of 6th street on Friday and/or Saturday night is my idea of hell but the room itself is simply exquisite. There are still tickets available for tonight and tomorrow night's shows. I wouldn't expect to be able to grab tickets at the door either night so, if you're interested you should buy some tickets now.

The latest release from Los Campesinos!, Hello Sadness, came out late last year and features one of their best singles to date in my humble opinion.


Los Campesinos! - By Your Hand video via YouTube

Seriously though, isn't By Your Hand a fantastic lead single? It's so hooky and pop only a bastard wouldn't fall in love with it. No offense if YOU didn't fall in love with it...bastard.


Los Campesinos! - Songs About Your Girlfriend video via YouTube

Looks like the doors will open at 8pm for both shows with Parenthetical Girls going on at 9pm. Expect Los Campesinos! to take to the stage between 10pm and 10:30pm. If you're a concert T-Shirt kind of person then make sure you bring some cash because they have really great T-Shirts.


Parenthetical Girls - The Privilege video via YouTube

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Videos from the Weekend

As you probably read on this very site, Saturday night had a lot of great shows. I was one of very few people who was on west 4th street for the Los Campesinos! show. I feel like that show wasn't promoted very well because there should have been WAAAYY more people there. However, I guess you have to factor in that there were lots of other good shows and La Zona Rosa is away from the Red River scene. For me, that's a very good reason to attend shows there but I understand other people's reluctance. In any case one of my favorite local bands, the Authors started things off. I feel like they fill a void in Austin's music scene. Their sound is reminiscent of Remy Zero, which is not a bad thing in my books. The song below is from their latest LP Get Haunted, you should probably buy it.


the Authors - Get Haunted video via YouTube


After the Authors was bratty UK alt-pop-punk rockers Johnny Foreigner. I had not heard their music before but they really blew me away. It was full of propulsive energy and a very youthful, bratty spirit. After their set I told the band that anyone who tours with a projector and a keytar is ok in my book. The song I captured is actually unreleased and was inspired by the band's last trip to the U.S.A.


Johnny Foreigner - Security to the Promenade video via YouTube

Finally, Los Campesinos! had the crowd pogo-ing, fist-pumping, and generally singing/shouting along to every song. This band really knows how whip a crowd into a frenzy and they do it all with a violinist, whoduhthunk?


Los Campesinos! - Straight In at 101 video via YouTube

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How to Choose on a Saturday Night

Yesterday I was mentioning how there were so many great shows to choose from on Friday night (tonight) now I'm going to highlight the haps on Saturday night. Friday saw lots of bigger name artists in town well Saturday night is all about the up-and-coming acts. The first show I want to highlight is a late show going down at Red 7 featuring Cymbals Eat Guitars and the Thermals. I'm not sure why, but I do know that the Thermals appreciate your gifted Furbies so if you have any of those creepy dolls that were banned from the Pentagon bring 'em on down to 7th st and the band will be psyched.


Cymbals Eat Guitar - And the Hazy Sea video via YouTube

The way this show is listed it looks like the Coathangers are actually headlining but to be honest any of those three bands could headline in my opinion. Although, I feel like Cymbals Eat Guitars have (or had) the most buzz.


Just up the street at the Mohawk, Free Energy will be bringing their brand of Weezer-esque indie-rock. They were one of the most popular acts of SXSW 2010 and I'm kind of surprised they haven't reached mainstream audiences yet. I could probably make that same statement about all of my favorite acts from this year's SXSW though. I mean who reaches mainstream America these days? All I ever hear on AAA radio is the Black Eyed Peas and Nirvana's Nevermind. For the record I wanted to embed a legit video but EMI doesn't want me to so I'm circumventing their wishes.


Free Energy - Bang Pop video via YouTube

Last, but certainly not least, Los Campesinos are ALSO in town Saturday night. This time they play La Zona Rosa a sure indicator of how popular they've become in Austin. I'm a fan of any band on Arts and Crafts records but when they also hail from Wales that's a double-bonus. Tickets are still available as of the writing of this post.


Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing! video via YouTube

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Girls w/ the Campesinos Friday

Are y'all going to catch Girls with Los Campesinos Friday night? I feel like Los Campesinos played a show here in town quite recently, not that I'm complaining...yet. In any case, I'm actually as excited/more excited to catch Girls again. I know it can be tough with Women, Girls and Vivian Girls all on the scene at once but hey at least they're not all in town together like they were during SXSW. Apparently Vagina-inspired band names are the new animal-inspired band names. Although, I'm pretty sure crystal-bands were already the new animal-band but you see where I'm going with this.


Girls - Hellhole Ratrace video via YouTube


Los Campesinos are known for being Canadian, and putting on a very high-energy show. It seems to me that it's a little bit easier to put on a high energy show when there are a billion people on the stage (See Polyphonic Spree). I'm not trying to knock Los Campesinos but it will be strange to see 7-11 band members after seeing Girls perform as a duo. But I digress. I'm pretty sure you can still get tickets to this show. At least at the moment that I'm writing this. That's why I'm posting about it on Monday so maybe you can actually get in to the show.

Los Campesinos are on one of my favorite labels, Arts & Crafts home to Stars, and Broken Social Scene among others. So, chances are if you like those pleasantly Canadian, indie-pop gems then you'll enjoy this one as well.


Los Campesinos - Death to Los Campesinos! video via YouTube

Chicago band Smith Westerns will be kicking things off at Emo's outside stage Friday night and tickets will set you back a cool $14 before extraneous fee-age. Check 'em out on Chicago Public-Access television. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas politics biker-style? In any case, I'm really into the whole droney, Phil Spector, surf-garage, indie-movement so this band is right up my alley (see, Austin band, Harlem for example).


Smith Westerns - Tonight video via YouTube

I also have to note that on the Smith Westerns' Myspace page they describe their music as sounding like "blogs", which I find to be both funny and true or possibly funny BECAUSE it's true.

Oh and here's one more from Girls before I sign-off.


Girls - Lust For Life video via YouTube

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Los Campesinos and Shearwater

Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing! video via YouTube

It's Friday in Austin, which means it's show time kids. That's right there are many shows going on tonight but there are two that I want you to know about. First were gonna keep it Canadian and let you know that Los Campesinos are in town. In case you're not familiar they are on Arts & Crafts records so automatically they make pretty pop music. You can catch them at the Parish with Titus Andronicus.

Meanwhile just a few blocks away at the Mohawk you can catch local heroes Shearwater. I'm not sure if they will be playing inside or outside. Chances are it's gonna be the outside stage, so if you find yourself downtown around midnight tonight mosey on over to 10th street and listen to the beautiful renaissance-fair sounds of Shearwater.

Shearwater - The Snow Leopard (remastered)


Shearwater - Seventy Four, Seventy Five video via YouTube

I didn't mean that renaissance fair remark to be rude, it's just something about Shearwater reminds of minstrels. Don't ask.

So, if you're up for it you can still get tickets for both shows. Shearwater tix are only $8. Tickets for Los Campesinos are $14.

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