No Mo Vo Co...Der

Blame Kanyeezy, but as I was listening to the latest release from Bon Iver, Blood Bank, I reached the closing track and decided the moment for the Auto-Tune is officially over. That's my opinion, I welcome yours.


Bon Iver - Woods video via YouTube

Sample mp3 goes here ---> Bon Iver - Blood Bank mp3 via JagJaguwar


Somehow, I didn't mind the Auto-tune as much on Wolves (Act I & II) but it was used much more sparingly...


Bon Iver - Wolves (Act I & II) video via YouTube

Other great moments in Auto-Tuning:


Imogen Heap - Hide & Seek Marissa shoots Trey courtesy of YouTube


The Church of Cher - Believe video via YouTube

Kanye West's - Heartless was supposed to go here. But his label/imprint/music is part of the evil Universal Music Group umbrella (Insert Boo) so no embedding aloud. I could put a link...but I won't. Sorry Yeezy, you don't need the exposure anyway...not that the Church of Cher does either. Same to you T-Pain.

Check it out, even the New Yorker is weighing in on this issue (Insert Eye-Roll).


Slightly Related Randomness goes here (ish) --->
Los Simpsons - Homerpalooza episode video via YouTube

Read more!

SXSW music schedule/Free Music

The schedule for SXSW showcases is out, so you can start thinking and wishing and hoping and praying. Speaking of praying I couldn't help but notice what a kick-ass line-up the Central Presbyterian Church will have. It looks like both Department of Eagles AND Grizzly Bear will be playing the church (on separate days). I think we can expect to hear some brand new Grizzly Bear tunes at SXSW. I'm still waiting for a free party that features Grizzly Bear. Can you tell I'm excited about Grizzly Bear or what?

Of course they are only one of the thousands of bands that will be playing in churches, backyards, bridges and parking structures all over the city. I love SXSW because that last statement is not hyperbole. There will be shows in parking garages, the Lamar pedestrian bridge, and tons of backyards. I'm starting to squirm already :-).

Some random video and helpful tips after the jump..

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that SXSW.com also has some official listings of free parties you can check out here. But if you're going to get serious about combing through the interwebs for day parties you have to check out a few different sites:

ShowListAustin is pretty much your go-to guide for quick and dirty music info...always, but especially during SXSW.

SXSWbaby not as quick, nor as dirty but still helpful.

Do512 could be the sleeper hit of SXSW '09. They've got all your social-networking widgets and do-dads. They're also the first and only people thus far to mention anything about the Mess With Texas 3 party at Waterloo Park.

DoneWaiting is sort of your official, unofficial-seeming SXSW blog.

Sched SXSW is pretty self-explanatory, it straddles the gap between the official and unofficial information.

Tips are king at SX, leave your HELPFUL ones in the comments if you wish.

And now for a little tale: SXSW '07 was my first year. We rented our spare room out using SXSWbaby to these two gentlemen from England. They drank cider, they took photos, they were aghast at our food...a good time was had by all. Anywho, one of those guys is Russ Tannen who does this Oatmeal.Tv thing, courtesy of Polydor? Sweet. If I recall these two guys met in Texas at SXSW and exchanged info yada, yada, yada...So here's a little SXSW review from Oatmeal.tv.


Oatmeal.tv - Oatmeal TV Ep3 SXSW [Part 1]


Oatmeal.tv - Oatmeal TV Ep3 SXSW [Part 2] video via YouTube


Read more!

Play Free, Bird!

Andrew Bird is playing the Paramount Theatre with Loney Dear tomorrow but you can see the Bird for free at Waterloo today. That's right the day before he plays his sold-out theatre gig he'll be taking to the tiny stage at Waterloo Records at 5pm today. If you're interested in checking it out I suggest getting there an hour early. The parking is quite limited at Waterloo and there are only a few aisles to stand in where you get a good view of the performance.

Later tonight I suggest you head on over to the Mohawk where you can catch Transmography, among others, at the 101X homegrown-series show. But if that's not your scene either you can catch Austin music legend, Alejandro Escovedo at the Cactus Cafe, on the UT campus.

Loney Dear - I Am John
mp3 courtesy of SubPop Records

Video after the jump...

Before I get to the videos I wanted to note that Andrew Bird allows his shows to be posted on archive.org. So there are tons of free, downloadable performances on that site.


Andrew Bird - Imitosis video via YouTube


Loney Dear - I Am John video via YouTube


Transmography - Calerpa video via YouTube


Read more!

Monotonix = Crazy

So normally I'm not really into music, which I consider to be overly-aggressive. I know, I'm a wuss, but I like a nice gentle melody. I'll take sad bastard music over angry bastard music any day of the week. All that said, I wanted to let you know that Monotonix is in town tonight. They're an Israeli metal band that enjoys playing with fire...literally. The last time they were in town they played the Mohawk and it was absolute chaos. So much so that my loved ones won't allow me to go to Red 7 tonight to catch the spectacle that is, Monotonix.

This video is from their performance at the Mohawk. You might want to check it out so you know what to expect. But I suggest you just go and check it out for yourself.


Monotonix - Live @ the Mohawk video via YouTube


So, obviously, if you decide to go tonight you should plan for a fire at the venue and plan your escape route accordingly. Keeping in mind that it might be dark and smokey and you might be effing wasted. In case you've never been to the venue shown in the above video, it is totally outside, but the drums were lit on fire from the crowd area not the stage area. And "outside" at Red 7 is not TOTALLY open to the air. Are you scared yet? You should be.


Monotonix - Doin' their thing at a SXSW day party last year. Video via YouTube

Sorry if those are the same song but it's really more about the spectacle if you ask me.

By the way, tickets for tonight's show are only $8 if you're interested.

Read more!

Ben Kweller, Free, Today.

Looks like you can catch a free performance from Mr. Ben Kweller at 5pm today. He'll be playing an in-store at Waterloo Records this afternoon. Strangely enough it looks like that's the only show Mr. Kweller will be playing in our fair city. So I think you can expect a relatively long set.

His latest record is called, Changing Horses; it finds Ben Kweller embracing his Texas roots with a down-home Americana record.


Ben Kweller - Penny on the Train Track video via YouTube
Word on the street is, that video actually features Ben's real grandmother. How cool is that?
Read more!

Bonnawhat? Bonnawho?!?!

Holy crapezoid did you see the line-up for Bonnaroo this year?!?!



Even if you read that poster upside-down starting with the lesser-known artists, it's still a kick ass show. Congrats go out to the Austin artists and/or artists associated with the Austin scene who will be performing:

Alejandro Escovedo, (whom I expect to pop up in Springsteen's set)

Alejandro Escovedo - Always a Friend video via YouTube

Robert Earl Keen

Robert Earl Keen - Shades of Grey video via YouTube

Okkervil River

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines video via YouTube

I'm also gonna claim Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu - Honey video via YouTube

and

St. Vincent

St. Vincent - These Days (Nico Cover) video via YouTube

even though they're actually part of the Dallas scene, so there!

Read more!

Not Human...Dancer!

That's right indie-rock's most beautiful narcissists will be at the Frank Erwin Center tonight. I'm not sure how much tickets cost, nor do I care. The Killers make some great tunes without a doubt but I'm just not interested in see them at such a large venue. Their tunes are arena-ready but I doubt they are.

I'd love for their opening act, M83 to do a secret gig somewhere either before or after. Let me know if you hear anything.


M83 - Teen Angst video via YouTube

By the way if you were hoping for a YouTube clip from the Killers too bad. They are on the EVIL Universal Music Group GiantCorp hence no embedding. You want to hear their music? Go buy the CD damn it. Or record MTV from 3am-5am...I found the videos!!

For more about this event including more video from M83, I already wrote about this so check it.
Read more!

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.

Read more!

Tapes 'n Tapes, Parish, Tonight

Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All video via YouTube

Minneapolians Tapes 'n Tapes are in town tonight playing the Parish room. As far as I know, they aren't touring in support of anything new. Perhaps, they will have an EP at the show but in any case their last album hasn't even been out a year yet so I suppose that's new enough eh? It's called Walk it Off and if you were a fan of the Loon then I don't see why you shouldn't like their new album too.

This is music for fans of quintessential college-rock it's jangly, there are nice organ flourishes, the beats are tricky but still basic enough to be gratifying. I'd also say that a lot of their stuff sounds English, which may seem vague if you're not into Brit-Rock, but for all of us old Blur heads(?) you know what I'm sayin'. Like the Pixies via the Kaiser Chiefs.



Tapes 'n Tapes - Insistor video via YouTube

Rounding out the bill with Tapes 'n Tapes tonight will be Wild Light and Harlem. I know it seems like all I do is blog about Harlem shows but I can't help it if I'm not the only one who thinks they rock.

Wild Light is from New Hampshire of all places. They sharpened their skills in Nashua, actually I made that up, but seriously where are you gonna play in New Hampshire? From what little I know of this band, they are now based out of Boston and they sound like they have a very good chance of breaking out into the Top 40 radio market (yeah?). Catch 'em now while they still plead for a fan base, it's always better than catching them after their jaded...more jaded.

BTW
In case you've never been, the Parish is known for having the best sound system in Austin.

Read more!

Beauty Bar RSVP

There are a lot of shows coming up next weekend (Jan 30th and such) but I thought I'd let you know about this one a little early? Why is that, you may ask? Well because Beauty Bar is hosting Learning Secret's 5 Year Anniversary with Andy Butler from Hercules & Love Affair (DJ set), LCD Soundsystem's Pat Mahoney, Ian Orth, and Jeramy Neugent.


If you want to check this party out fo' free! Then all you have to do is R.S.V.P here. Or you can shill out the $3 bucks at the door, but that's your call cowboy.


Hercules & Love Affair - Blind video via YouTube


LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends video via YouTube


LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great video via YouTube

Read more!