Totally NOT ACL Fest: Part 1

ACL Festival starts this Friday for many people but for some of us it starts next week and for some others amongst us, it doesn't start at all. Intrigued? You should be because this post is all about all of that stuff that isn't ACL Fest (part 1).

Let's start with tonight, shall we? Sure it's only Wednesday and it really has nothing to do with ACL Fest but I still want to talk about the fact that Unknown Mortal Orchestra are playing the Mohawk tonight for $14. Also, while some intern is trying to hunt down 500 humidifiers for Lionel Richie's tent compound, the OBN III's will be rocking so hard you won't even be able to think about the government shutdown. OBN III's will hit Beerland's stage sometime before the bar closes. Expect this one to be packed to the gills, loud and one of the best rock and roll experiences in your recent life.


OBN III's - No Enemies video via YouTube

Thursday

Tomorrow night is the, sort of, unofficial start to ACL Fest. Courtyard Hounds are playing the Continental, Queens of the Stone Age are taping a set for ACL TV and the official ACL Late Night Shows also start Thursday.

You know what else goes down on Thursday? Our friends over at Knuckle Rumbler are presenting Art Disaster no. 16. This event takes place at both Red 7 and Holy Mountain and will only cost you $5 at the door. It's even cheaper if you RSVP, $3 for access to over a dozen bands, in two venues, on one night.

Friday

Friday night has at least three highlight shows, some would say more. First of all The Helio Sequence and Menomena are touring together and they'll play the Mohawk. You can go for the cost of a $15 ticket. Buy one now because this show is going to sell-out at any moment. Both of these bands are fantastic, I would call this a double-headliner.

Just down the street at Beerland you can catch A Giant Dog. If you're coming from the Mohawk show, there should be more than enough time to catch all of The Helio Sequence and all of A Giant Dog's set as well.

Ty Segall will be back in Austin Friday night. It was only a month ago that he played the Mohawk but this time he is touring with Fuzz so don't expect to hear a set of Ty Segall songs at Red 7 Friday night. Expect a show from Fuzz with Ty Segall on the drums.

Saturday

Saturday night I might head back to Red 7 for Black Milk on the outside stage and Houndmouth on the inside stage. Those are separate shows with separate tickets so if you're balling on a budget you might choose based on personal taste.

My other Saturday night highlight is gAyCL 2013. All you really need to know about this event is that it takes place at Cheer-Up Charlies and that it's really fun. To me this event is as much a party as it is a concert. You should only go if you want to have lots of fun Saturday night.

Sunday

Sunday night, bitch please. I'm going to bed.

Read more!

Free Week is Here: Part the Second

As previously discussed, Free Week is in full swing and in 2013 a week is actually 12 days! As one might expect, since tonight is a weekend evening it's heavily stacked with great acts spread throughout downtown and downtown-annex-zones (E. Riverside, E. 6th). My top choice for tonight is the Modern Outsider showcase, which features the best of what the local label/management team has to offer right now. The evening with kick-off with The Soft Swells, followed by My Jerusalem, The Black and White Years, The Calm Blue Sea with a headlining set from Ume. In other words, it's a sold line-up from start to finish and since it's at Emo's there is free on-site parking and the line for a drink will move swiftly.


Ume - Run Wild video via YouTube

There are so many great bands playing tonight that outside of the Modern Outsider showcase, I'm going to recommend you jump around. I know that's sort of a pain in the ass but think of it is a mini-SXSW for locals-only and suck it up. So, rather than highlight a specific event, I'm going to give you time guestimates and locales. I don't have specific set-time information I'm just giving you ballpark numbers based on experience. So, here we go:

Starting around 9ish - 10ish:

• The Laughing at Mohawk (Outside)
• FEATHERS at Holy Mountain

FEATHERS - Land of the Innocent video via YouTube

Starting around 10:30ish - 11ish:

• Emily Bell at Parish
• Mixed Use Media at Mohawk (Outside)

Mixed Use Media - Trap video via YouTube

Starting around 11:00 - 11:30ish:

• Orthy at Holy Mountain
• Politics at Black Heart

Orthy - Sueños video via YouTube

Starting around Midnight or later:

• Golden Boys at Red 7 (Outside)
• A Giant Dog at Hotel Vegas
• Halaska at Lustre Pearl
• The Couch at Swan Dive
• Boyfrndz at Scoot Inn

Boyfrndz - TV video via YouTube

So there are my suggestions for this evening. Shit get's a little crazy around midnight if you want to hop around. I'm most likely just going to stick to Emo's myself but I know people like options.



Read more!

Ultra8201 Turns Six

One, of the many, things I love about Austin is the collaborative atmosphere in the arts community. When I started this little blog a few years ago it was not met with resistance from the other Austin music bloggers, it was embraced. They posted links to my site on their site, they said hello at shows and they supported me morally and professionally. It is with this spirit that I jokingly refer to Richard from Ultra8201 as my blog-father. Ultra8201 was the first site to add Austin Bloggy Limits to their blogroll and Richard was the first person to introduce me to our fellow bloggers and tweeters and I will always appreciate that.


Politics - Live at Cheer-Up Charlie's video via Ultra8201

Writing of any sort can feel like sending a message in a bottle, you've put your words out into the universe but you're never really sure if anyone has received your message. That is why writing a music blog, consistently, for six years is quite a milestone. Ultra8201 brings lots of great content to the masses on a regular basis and they also put on great events. They have supported some really fantastic Austin bands when they were just starting out and helped to get their names recognized around town. Tonight is a celebration of great writing, great events and great friends. All of us in the Austin blog community hope that you can make it out to Swan Dive this evening to enjoy some great music from local artists and to celebrate six years with Ultra8201. Also, you should dress to impress because Austin's greatest party photographer, ulovei will be spinning tunes and capturing you with his camera as well. See you there!


Read more!

Ultra8201's Birthday at the Parish.

It's somewhat short notice but I wanted y'all to have a friendly little reminder about my brethren in blogging's birthday bash tonight at the Parish. Cherish the Parish while enjoying the sounds of Bloggy favs L.A.X.. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes 'cause those kids like to get down. Of course the more rockin' side of indie will also be represented with Love at 20, as well as Politics and the Redboys.


Even though it's the day of the show I'm pretty sure you are still welcome to RSVP over at the Do512 site in order to get $2 off the cover. Also, you can see if your friends or enemies are going over at the event's Facebook page. Bloggy <3's Ultra8201 so I'll be making an appearance. I'm thinking of gifting myrrh or frankincense they seem like good, traditional birthday presents. Either that or an iPod Shuffle, I haven't decided.

All you need to bring is yourself, enough money to get in and a positive attitude. The music, excellent sound and good times are all included in the cover price. See you at the Parish?

Oh, by the way, word on the street is there's an after-party at a certain sweaty dance club named for a certain Jane Fonda movie that will certainly have loud dance music and cheap beers. Come on, you know the one.

Read more!