So Much Saturday Fun

There are so many great shows happening Saturday night, it's going to be like Indie-Rock Rosemary's Baby in Austin. Some of these shows will be sold-out by the time you're reading this, which should make your decision a little bit easier. Including that Twin Shadow show I mentioned the other day.

Let's start south of the river, at Emo's with Neon Indian's triumphant return to our fair city. He's still touring in support of Era Extraña but you can expect to hear some older tracks and possibly some unreleased new tracks. Tickets are still available and will set you back about $15.


Neon Indian - Fallout video via YouTube

Meanwhile, over on West 4th St. some of the best psychedelic-ish bands touring today are holding things down at La Zona Rosa. I'm not even a big fan of Ty Segall's records but his live show is one of the best things to happen to musical performance since the amplifier. Touring with Thee Oh Sees, and having Austin's-own Flesh Lights opening is like the first time Peanut Butter met Jelly. Break open your piggy bank though because drinks at La Zona are fucking pricey. However, tickets for this show are only $15 and for the amount of rockin' that's going to go down, that's a small price to pay.

Somewhere in a small town in the suburbs Passion Pit will be testing the limits of the falsetto whilst pumping out some sensitive dance numbers at The Backyard. At $35 for tickets to this show, you might need to borrow some money from your Mom, or better yet invite her along! Factor in the drive to Bee Caves and the severe traffic getting in and out of the venue and this show is looking more and more like a bummer by the minute. Sorry Passion Pit, we loved your first EP but we're not sure you're worth the hassle this time. For those of you whose mothers already bought them tickets, make sure to arrive early enough to catch The Octopus Project.

Back on West 6th street, just east of those douchey sports bars Antone's is hosting seminal, Boston, post-punk band, Mission of Burma. This show promises to feature a more mature crowd of people who probably know most of the words to most of the songs. Drinks are cheaper than at La Zona but not by much and you won't have to drive to Bee Caves, which is good but there's not a parking lot like at Emo's. Tickets for Mission of Burma are a cool $17.50.

So, there's several things you can choose from tomorrow night. It's not everything but it's a lot of things and if none of them appeal to you, you could always watch a movie at home...or at a friend's home for that matter. Happy weekending Austin!

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Stubb's Shows to Plan For

Well, dear reader, it's too late to get tickets to see Phoenix or Vampire Weekend at Stubb's this month but I thought I'd give you the heads up on some other shows that will, likely, sell out. The first one I want to mention isn't until May 29th and it's at Stubb's, as well, but you should just get tickets to see Bassnectar now. Last time he was in town he sold out La Zona Rosa during ACL weekend. A bass-rattling, good time was had by all, but most importantly had by me. I first saw Bassnectar at the Playboy party at SXSW 09 and it totally blew me away. Can you say intense?


Bassnectar - Cozza Frenzy (Mega Bass Remix) video via YouTube

While we're on the subject of Stubb's it's also too late to get Dead Weather tickets :-(. But you can still see the Godfather of indie-piano-pop, Mr. Ben Folds himself. That show is listed as Ben Folds w/a Piano, which would lead me to believe he won't have a backing band. However, I find that hard to believe considering he's playing Stubb's outside. I suppose only time will tell. Tickets for Ben Folds should set you back roughly $30.


Ben Folds - Such Great Heights video via YouTube

I knew Passion Pit was going to be back in Austin this June but I didn't realize they have added a second date. So, if you missed your chance to get tickets for the first night, you might want to try the 2nd night. They'll be performing with the Tokyo Police Club, which is a pretty sweet line-up if you ask me.


Passion Pit - Seaweed Song (Solo Version) video via YouTube

I don't know about you, but I LOVE me some New Pornographers, so you can bet your ass I'm getting tickets to see them at Stubb's on July 23rd. the Dodos are playing the opening slot so I expect this show will sell-out at probably in late May or early June. If you've never seen the New Pornographers perform, don't miss out again. I've had the pleasure of seeing them three times, once without Neko Case or Dan Behar and they were still completely stellar.


the New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour video via YouTube

The last Stubb's show I'm giving you the heads-up about will most definitely sell-out, like any minute now, so if you want to see Robert Plant, yes that Robert Plant then you best be clicking this ticket link. That show isn't until late July so I don't want to hear it 3 months from now if you didn't get your ticket. I should warn you though, ONE ticket to see Robert Plant is $50 before fees/taxes/etc. So, you COULD just buy a Led Zeppelin box set if you prefer.


Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone, Gone, Gone video via YouTube

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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.

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Get Thee To The Record Shop

the Whitest Boy Alive - 1517 video via YouTube

I stopped in to End of an Ear and Waterloo Records today intending to LOOK at a few CD's. Obviously, I spent about 70 bucks and bought 5 new albums, well technically one of them is an EP. Anyway, you can check out some of the stuff I bought after the jump but obviously I bought the new release from the Whitest Boy Alive, called Rules. To be honest, I didn't even know there was a new release from WBA until I saw it on an end cap at Waterloo.

One of the albums I def wanted to pick up today was the latest from Austin's own, Strange Boys entitled, And Girls Club, which makes more sense when you say it all together, "Strange Boys and Girls Club". I had to ask for help at End of an Ear, but they had one copy of the album, "in the back". I think they checked the back just so I would continue browsing, which worked because I also picked up the major-label debut from, another Austin artist, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, Tell 'Em What Your Name Is.


Strange Boys - Woe Is You and Me video via YouTube

This will be like the third time I'm posting this Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears song but it's still a killer track and it's on their new album out on Lost Highway Records.


Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears - Sugarfoot video via YouTube

After getting some good local music, I sought after my other audio goal, which was that damn Empire of the Sun album I wrote about yesterday. Let me tell you, the cheesy state-fair psychedelic artwork makes the price-tag worth it. Walking on a Dream was the most expensive purchase I made with a $16.99 price tag. It was also, the only one on a super-major...Capitol Records. Hmmm. Sorry but I'm reposting the video for yesterday and after seeing the artwork I def think these guys are trying to be the down-under MGMT.




Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream video via YouTube

My final musical impulse-buy was the EP by one of the most-buzzed about bands of SXSW '09, Passion Pit. I literally bought this one because there was a poster at the register and I was like, "Oh yeah I want that too". I hate when advertising works so well!

Just for the record, this video is also a reposted vid:


Passion Pit - Sleepyhead video via YouTube

This is an old meme but I still enjoy it and it's semi-relevant to this post.


the Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage video via YouTube

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SXSW '09 Redux

Well dear reader, I'm sure you were expecting more posts regarding SXSW as it was happening. But seriously there is like NO time for all that during the festival. I don't know how the heck Perez Hilton can be bicycling around Austin and still keeping up with Celebublogging. I needed a day or two to decompress after the festival. But here is my highlights/awards post, yeah!!

First let me give out some marketing awards. SXSW is all about marketing your product to the hipster masses. I think Astralwerks records wins most clever marketing with their MicroSD card sampler. I like the idea of a sampler I could swallow if I had to. Most unexpected marketing is a tie between Pop Tarts and Cup O'Noodle soups, both of which were available at the Mohawk. Who's eating Cup O'Noodle at a SXSW day party?

More awards and video after the jump...


The award for my favorite performance by a band or artist I had previous knowledge of goes to, the Dirty Projectors. Their performance at the Pitchfork party at Emo's was totally entrancing. I absolutely loved everything about it, the only problem was the set was SO short I think they only played 4 or 5 songs.


Dirty Projectors - A Take-Away Show video via YouTube

The award for favorite performance by a band I had never heard of goes to Francis & the Lights. They were so fun, I felt like I was at an 80's prom. Honorable mention goes to a completely different sort of musical performance by, the Wheel. They were so honest and raw, intimate and such it was like the complete opposite performance style but was equally entertaining.


Francis & the Lights - The Top video via YouTube


The Wheel - Hanging Surrender video via YouTube

The award for worst kept secret performance is a three-way tie this year! Jane's Addiction, Kanye West, and Metallica all showed up to do some not-so-secret performances. I will give Kanye a special nod for keeping Common's appearance a secret though.


Jane's Addiction - Rock the Rabbit '09 Ultra8201.com video via YouTube


Kanye, Common, Badu - The Light video via YouTube

The award for artists I'm kind of pissed that I missed goes to: Passion Pit, Beach House, White Lies and Grizzly Bear. The award for band I'm pissed that I DID see because they were such arrogant assholes goes to...Glasvegas.


Beach House - Gila video via YouTube


Passion Pit - Sleepyhead video via YouTube

Glasvegas literally said, "We don't care about the people, we have enough fans." That was about the point I left. They suck, don't buy the record, steal it from BitTorrent and burn copies for everyone you know. After all they have enough fans.


Glasvegas - It's My Own Cheating Heart video via YouTube

The award for most talked about party...hmmm, this one is tough to call. I'd say the Fader Fort, Rock the Rabbit, One Night with Perez, and the Red Bull moon towers were all equally hyped. Personally I only attended the Rock the Rabbit and Fader parties and I liked the Fader one more...sorry Playboy. Rock the Rabbit was just too effing loud, you try networking when Calvin Harris is spinning some HEAVY Drum 'n Bass with the amps on 11. I'm talking ears bleeding loud. Fer realz.

Well I think I've given out all the awards I had intended to, so here's a list of the artists I had the opportunity to see for free at SXSW '09...not necessarily in order but pretty much chronologically:

Little Boots,
New Villager,
the Wheel,
the Donkeys,
School of 7 Bells,
Glasvegas,
Francis & The Lights,
Late of the Pier,
Max Tundra,
the Pains of Being Pure at Heart,
Woods,
Wavves,
the Dirty Projectors,
King Khan & the Shrines,
Department of Eagles,
Harlem,
Jason Lytle,
Vivian Girls,
the Grates,
Cursive,
Bun B,
Jadakiss,
Kanye West,
Consequence,
GLC,
Farnsworth Bentley,
Kid Cudi,
Common,
Erykah Badu,
Mr. Hudson,
Tony Williams,
Big Shine (sp?),
Jane's Addiction,
Calvin Harris,
A-Trak,
Bassnectar

I really feel like I might be missing a name or two but I tried to keep a running list throughout the week and that was it.

If you would like a more play by play approach to my SXSW '09 experience. I suggest you peep my Twitter 'cause I was all over the Tweets last week.

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