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.

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Planning Ahead: Foxygen

Yesterday I did a big ticket round-up post featuring lots of upcoming shows that are worth your time money and attention but last night I realized I need to do one that specifically implores the acquisition of tickets to the Foxygen show at the Mohawk on February 20th. I don't usually like to do a specific show preview a month before the actual show but on February 20th Foxygen play the Mohawk and if you're not there, you're going to kick yourself. Their first full-length LP, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic was released on Tuesday and it's pretty much spectacular.

I'm sure there will be people who listen to the record and feel like the hype is undeserved but I'm totally in love with what Foxygen is throwing down. It's 70's glam-rock with a contemporary twist and if you want to buy the new record on vinyl at a shop around town you can't because it's already sold-out (don't worry I already e-mailed them though.) It's even out of stock on Amazon. They were one of the most buzzed about bands at CMJ Fest in the fall and you can bet your ass they will be one of the most talked about bands at SXSW. The haters will say, I'm only writing about this because Pitchfork did but do you think it's possible that the reason so many blogs agree on some bands is because they're legit?


Foxygen - Shuggie video via YouTube


I feel like a dick structuring this post in this way because Foxygen are not headlining the Mohawk show on February 20th. That honor actually belongs to Unknown Mortal Orchestra, whom I am also a big fan of. However, I feel like UMO might be upstaged on this tour. From everything I've seen/heard/read Foxygen are going to be bringing a lot more energy to the stage than a typical Unknown Mortal Orchestra show but who knows maybe that will inspire them. Regardless, both bands write excellent music and are excellent performers. Did I mention you should REALLY get tickets to this show? BECAUSE YOU SHOULD!


Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Swim and Sleep (Like A Shark) video via YouTube

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SXSW 2012 Interview: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

This post is going to pull double-duty. It will serve as a preview for a SXSW 2012 artist whom I want to highlight but it also will serve as a preview for an upcoming show at La Zona Rosa. Unknown Mortal Orchestra make fuzzy indie-rock for fans of all things jangly and psychedelic. They are on tour with Bloggy-favs Girls right now and that tour hits Austin on March 8th. Tickets for the show with Girls and Unknown Mortal Orchestra are still available right now but it's a hot ticket so, don't expect them to last. At SXSW you will find UMO at Lustre Pearl on Wednesday, March 14th. Don't expect the band to stick around a play lots of unofficial events because they have to be in Colorado to re-join Girls on Friday, the 16th.


Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Ffunny Ffrends video via YouTube

I had the chance to send some questions to UMO in anticipation of their upcoming Austin shows. You'll find that interview below the break.

• Did you know when you entered the studio that you were going for the fuzzy, analogue sound aesthetic?
  

  I had that sound in my head when I started messing around.

 
• What inspired that production decision?
  

  That's my favorite production sound.

 
• What are some records that you listened to as kids?
  

  When I was younger my parents listened to stuff like Steely Dan, the Crusaders, Stevie Wonder. That kind of thing. My Dad was in Salsa and Jazz bands as well so there was a lot of that. My mother is a hula dancer so I heard a lot of Hawaiian music too. I think the first album I ever got was Michael Jackson's Bad.

 
• The Wikipedia entry for Unknown Mortal Orchestra says you're an "American and New Zealand band," what exactly does that mean? Do you mail tracks across the hemisphere or did some band members move to Portland from NZ?
  

  I grew up in New Zealand but I live in Portland, Oregon now. The bass player and drummer I had last year were from Portland and my brother's been playing drums in the band this year and he lives in New Zealand. My brother and I are both dual citizens.

 
• If you could marry your music to film, what genre or specific title would best suit it?
  

  The Dark Crystal? Just get blazed and watch The Dark Crystal with UMO over the top of it.

 
• Who is the most responsible person when you're on tour?
  

  Nobody. That's kind of the problem with us on tour.

 
• Who is the most likely to disappear at a party?
  

  All of us have done that! We disappear for different reasons.

 
• Are there any lessons you learned while recording your first album that will inform decisions you make on your next album?
  

  I learned that you should make your album for yourself.

 
• What are some occupations other than musicians that the group members have had?
  

  I was a dishwasher and an artist's assistant and an illustrator. Jake has been a recording engineer.

 
• Who would you like to collaborate with, living or dead, from any genre or medium and what would you work on?
  

  Monty Python. I could do a soundtrack for a new movie. Or Louis CK if he makes a movie.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Bicycle video via YouTube

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