Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Helio Sequence, Mohawk, Thursday.

I know, I know I've written about this like a billion times already. Well guess what? I'm letting you know AGAIN about Helio Sequence at the Mohawk. Why? Because, it's STILL not sold-out for some reason? Why are people not getting behind Helio Sequence they have been making indie-pop gems ala Nada Surf for almost a decade and still they get no love. Well I love them and I'm going to see them since I missed their show last year. Unfortunately I think I've already posted all of the video I care about posting for HS so some of these maybe be re-posts.


Helio Sequence - Lately video via YouTube

These Mp3's are re-posts and they're courtesy of SubPop Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Blood Bleeds

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Free Mp3 ---> Helio Sequence - Can't Say No


Helio Sequence - Everyone Knows Everyone video via YouTube

Austin locals, Low Line Caller will be opening up the show, which takes place on the Mohawk's outside stage area. There is also a band between Low Line Caller and Helio Sequence called D*R*I* but I can't find any info about them and I have never heard of them before?


Low Line Caller - Strangers (Talking To) video via YouTube

In an unrelated note I found out two of my co-workers are members of Austin bands, whom I have seen in concert. Isn't that weird, like how could I not know? But that's Austin for you, I've been working with members of Brothers & Sisters and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and I had no idea. Random.


Low Line Caller - Killing the Cool video via YouTube

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

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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Monday, June 1, 2009

Tonight = Rest, No More Sleep After That.

Well dear reader, Monday is your night to rest because the rest of the week is going to be insane. I'm just going to focus on Tuesday right now. My highlight for Tuesday is Black Moth Super Rainbow with School of Seven Bells and, Austin's-own, Balmorhea.

The show takes place at the Mohawk's outside stage, which means the show must be done before midnight. That's a good thing for those of us who have to be at work by 6:30 the following morning. I'd get there early because all of the bands kick ass in their own ways and you won't want to miss any of it.


Balmorhea - San Solomon (Reprise) video courtesy of Cannibal Cheerleader via YouTube


I saw School of Seven Bells before I had heard of them, at SXSW. That's often the case with acts you catch at South By, you appreciate the experience more 3-6 months later when you hear the band on the radio. Just for the record Sirius XMU plays School of Seven Bells pretty often. I'm a fan. You can also download several tracks from their several releases over on the official Ghostly site. I tried and tried to find the direct links from the site so I could just put them above the break, but alas I was foiled. People/sites hate it when you do that anyway. *shrug*


School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep video via YouTube

I have never seen Black Moth Super Rainbow but their latest album, Eating Us has been garnering a lot of praise as of late. So, I'm curious to hear them live. Could be a trainwreck, or could be transcendent, we'll see.


Black Moth Super Rainbow - Born On A Day the Sun Didn't Rise video via YouTube

I want to include one more from Balmorhea because way back in the day I dissed their name, not realizing it was a State Park here in Texas. I was also under the impression it was pronounced like diarrhea, which it's not. It's Bal - Moh - Rhe - Uh, which is a much more pleasant name that what I had originally thought. This is a "Special, Acoustic Performance" for KEXP by Balmorhea live from the ME Television studios.


Balmorhea - Night I the Draw video via YouTube

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Friday, May 29, 2009

Dead Venues Live Series

Those cats over at Super!Alright! sure no what's up. Have you seen their Dead Venues Live Series for the Dell Lounge? It's basically a way to "Pay Tribute" or make you go, "Aww, I hate change!" and remember those days of yore before Austin was over-run by "people from California". In addition to misplaced nostalgia, the series features a lot of Austin's best bands from TODAY! If you want, I'm sure you can check it out on Vimeo and the like but I'm gonna stick to YouTube since I have an iPod touch. Even though the video is kind of shoddy on YouTube. Anyway, here's a few of my favorites from the Dead Venues Live series:


Ume - The Conductor video via YouTube


The video above the break is sans commentary so you don't really get to learn about the venue from that but I <3 Ume so much that I wanted you to experience the performance. So, here's the historical back-noting-enhanced version:


Dead Venues Live - Episode 1: Club Foot video via YouTube

Episode 3 features The Ritz Theatre as well as the Strange Boys both of which I enjoy immensely. The Ritz, as you may know, is the current site for the flagship Alamo Drafthouse. the Strange Boys are currently a band that sounds like a drunken, American version of 60's British psychedlia ala Nuggets. So here's the performance:


the Strange Boys - Who Needs More video via YouTube

...and here's the episode:


Dead Venues Live - Episode 3: The Ritz Theatre video via YouTube

The most recent episode features a band I have yet to see live but have already heard some buzz about on Twitter, obvs, they're called The Steps check em out:


The Steps - Blonde Smoke video via YouTube

I must say Episode 4 is the episode that made me most nostalgic/most self-loathing/most hate-inducing re:people from Cali. I also wish people still called a genre of music "New Sincerity", but I suppose that became "Emo", which is not-necessarily affiliated with Emo's.Liberty Lunch is def a place that I have heard a lot of people talk about so it's cool that it's getting explanation/recognition in Episode 4:


Dead Venues Live - Episode 4: Liberty Lunch video via YouTube

I haven't blogged about Brothers and Sisters, which is weird because they are one of the first Austin bands I saw within the first few days of living here. They are very talented but for some reason they just don't excite me. No offense B&S you're just not for me. But regardless this is a great performance/song/video and it's part of the series so here you are:


Brothers and Sisters - You're Gone video via YouTube

This full episode should explain why they are playing in a parking lot near Whataburger:


Dead Venues Live - Episode 2: Armadillo World Headquarters video via YouTube

Dude, Springsteen played there for a $!?!?

The irony of this whole thing, is a lot/most/all of the bands have members who moved to Austin via California and/or the rest of the world. I'm also guessing that a lot of the folks over at Super!Alright! also fall into this category, as I do. Go figure. By the way when can we expect episodes featuring: Corto Maltese, Harlem, or Transmography, eh?

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Harlem, Boxing Lesson, Lemurs +

Thursday night is going to be a good night to check out some of the talented bands playing Austin at the moment. I'm just going to highlight the three that stand out the most to me for tomorrow. The first is at a venue, which I rarely go to but have nothing against and that is Beerland. I feel like most of the times I've been there they had karaoke, which is why I rarely go. But, in their defense, I kept showing up on Monday nights...hello! In any case, tomorrow night, for a modest cover, you can experience the drunken-garage-surf of Harlem as well as a new-ish Sound Team-camp band. We already know about {{{Sunset}}} with Bill Baird but now we also have TV Torso, which features Matt Oliver.


Sound Team - TV Torso video via YouTube

Learn about the other 2 shows on my list after the jump...

I know the members of {{{Sunset}}} aren't affiliated with what I'm talking about but who knows maybe they'll be at the TV Torso show. You can buy the single for the below video on iTunes if you want.


{{{Sunset}}} - I'm Not A Perfect Person (Looks Like I Fucked Up Again) video via YouTube

Back to Thursday night's shows. You can catch The Boxing Lesson with Von Iva at Emo's inside stage. I'm not too familiar with Von Iva but I will tell you that the Boxing Lesson is definitely worth the nominal cover fee for the experience. Their latest album is also available on iTunes.


Von Iva - Hot Not to Trot video via YouTube

Oooo Von Iva is a grrrl group yeah!! I love bad ass bands that don't have penises! the Boxing Lesson takes the stage right before Von Iva so expect to see them hit the stage around 11p.


the Boxing Lesson - Darkside of the Moog video via YouTube


the Boxing Lesson - Brighter video via YouTube

The last show but not the least show features Austin's own the Lemurs who will be playing at Stubb's with Corto Maltese. That's Stubb's inside stage by the way.


the Lemurs - They Do What They Like video via YouTube

These guys should have their own pitchfork-approved version of Tiger Beat, they're so dreamy.


Corto Maltese - Providence video via YouTube

I was hesitant to post the same Harlem content I had posted already (several times) so I scoured around and found this WOXY Lounge session featuring Harlem you can download the whole thing over here.

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Phoenix + Grizzly Bear = Tomorrow

These records leaked such a long time ago, but I wanted to make sure everyone remembered that tomorrow is the day to get your physical copies of BOTH the new Grizzly Bear album AND the new Phoenix album!


Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks video via YouTube

Free Mp3 courtesy of Grizzly Bear.Net, thanks.

Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader


You can catch Grizzly Bear at the Parish Room with Here We Go Magic on June 16th. However, it's Sold-Out so if you didn't get tickets you can still catch the Grizzly's at ACL Fest. Looks like Here We Go Magic will ALSO be performing at ACL-fest this year.


Here We Go Magic - Fangela video via YouTube

Coincidentally, you can also catch Phoenix at ACL this year and hopefully at an after-show as well. Fingers-crossed on that one. These dudes are so French...what's up with French bands having videos that look French? What is it about their film-stock in France that makes it so French?


Phoenix - Lisztomania video via YouTube

French-Looking video Exhibit B:


M83 - We Own the Sky video via YouTube

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Holy Fuck, Crocodiles!! Contest 4 Tonight 2!!

So I was at my friend's house last night and she was all, "Have you seen that Chrysler commercial with the Octopus Project song in it?" and I was all, "Are you sure it was the Octopus Project?" So we searched YouTube and couldn't find anything about it but then today I'm obsessing with Twitter because of the whole "TwitPic the Eulogies Poster at End of an Ear NOW!! To Win Passes To Tonight's Show thing, and I find out it was actually Holy Fuck. Who, coincidentally are playing a show next month with the Crocodiles.


Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen aka the Chrysler Commercial Song video via YouTube


My friend was thinking of this Octopus Project, which is obviously more appropriate for a truck commercial.


the Octopus Project - Truck video via YouTube

In Yvonne's defense, Truck may very well be in a car commercail as well.

This guy at work who's in the know told me I'm supposed to like Crocodiles and I believe him. I haven't heard their music yet though. But tickets for the Holy Fuck/Crocodiles show are a reasonable +/-$10.


Crocodiles - Neon Jesus video via YouTube

You can trust those in the know, they know.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Twitter Crash Course for Contest

If you're reading this on Twitter, disregard this post. For those of you who have no idea what Twitter is, or if you're only mildly familiar, here's some tips.

My first tip, is sign-up for Twitter, that's step one people. My next tip is the more people you follow the better Twitter is...up to a point. If you're following like more than 1,000 then Twitter will become your job. Which brings me to my next tip. If you're gonna get serious about Tweeting, you need to use something other than the Twitter website. There are tons of Twitter Apps out there just do a search.


Eulogies w/ Nikki Monninger - Two Can Play video via YouTube

I like to use Twhirl on the computer, or Tweetie for Mac. Hardcore-Twitter users prefer Tweetdeck.

If you're an iPhone/iPod Touch person, I would use Twitterfon or Tweetie. For Blackberry Twitterberry is pretty much your only choice.

Then there's also the all encompassing programs like Digsby, which handles all of your social networking needs.

The most important info is after the jump...

Now for the important part. I have two free passes to see Eulogies at the Parish Room tomorrow night and if you want them you need to get familiar with Twitter fast. Why? Because to get in to the show for free you're going to need to send me a Twitpic tomorrow afternoon.

It doesn't have to be sent using Twitpic but you have to make sure you use Twitter to send the message to @AustinBloggy. The @AustinBloggy is really important too otherwise I'll have no idea if you sent the pic or not. Personally I use Ping.FM for all phone tweeting and obviously that is acceptable as well. However, you MUST sign-up for some picture site in order to send pix using Twitter. So sign-up for Twitter first, then head over to Twitpic, where you'll get a unique e-mail address, to which you send your picture messages from your phone.

But stay tuned Monday afternoon to the @AustinBloggy Twitter page to find out what you need to Twitpic for your free passes to Eulogies! Oh yeah, you can also just buy tickets to the show if you want too.

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Eulogies to Play the Parish Room


Eulogies - Eyes on the Prize video via YouTube

Did y'all know that Eulogies are going to be at the Parish Room on the 18th? Well they are damn it! Furthermore, in addition to the indie-rock stylings of Eulogies you can also catch the Dears as the opening act, as well as Great Northern. That's a pretty bad-ass bill if you ask me. Tickets are still available and will set you back about $15.

In even MORE exciting news you can catch Eulogies with the Dears and Great Northern for FREE!! That's right cheap-ass, you don't even have to pay to see Eulogies! Thanks to my friends over at +1 Media I've got two passes I'll be giving away Monday. The only thing I will tell you about the contest is it's Twitter related, so if you're not down with Twitter, I recommend you do a crash-course this weekend.

Find more videos and info after the jump...

The new record from Eulogies is available now, it came out in early April. It's called, Here Anonymous and you can get it on iTunes if you want. Oh yeah, you can also download a free Mp3 or two over here on their official site courtesy of Dangerbird Records. Here's another video or two for ya'. Are y'all psyched about this contest? I know I am.


Eulogies - One Man video via YouTube


I'm loving Eulogies y'all, I feel like there really isn't enough buzz for them yet. It helps that I'm letting y'all know but where the power-blogotron3030's at on this one?


the Dears - Money Babies video via YouTube

the Dears already have a bit of buzz going for them, but to be honest I'm holding out for the live show. I feel like their songs are going to sound a lot better after I see them performed live. Just sayin'.


Great Northern - Low is a Height video via YouTube

The whole time I was writing about Great Northern I was thinking about Northern State, which I thought was an awkward grouping but now it's all becoming clear.


Northern State - Better Already video via YouTube

Northern State is from Long Island (aka Strong Island)...explains everything riiiiiight?

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

New Loxsly CD Y'all


So, I noticed that Loxsly are playing the Mohawk Friday night. It's a CD release party for Tomorrow's Fossils. The songs you'll find below come from the bands previous release, Flashlights, which was a highly-acclaimed four song EP. Needless to say a new, full album from Losxly has a lot of Austinites waiting with baited-breath from Friday's show. It looks like tickets will be in the form of a cover at the door, which is generally $5-$10(ish). Also, it should be noted that this is an Outside show...sweet.

I always wonder about the people who bought those condos directly across from the Mohawk/Club Deville/Stubb's. Do they hate their lives due to noise? Or love their loves...due to bad-ass downtown access? But I digress, find out who else is on the bill after the jump...

Free Mp3's courtesy of Loxsly.com, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Loxsly - Lamprey Eels

Free Mp3 ---> Loxsly - Virgin Isles

Corto Maltese are definitely a band to be on the look out for in '09. They've been getting some higher-profile Austin gigs as of late...oh yeah and their music's good too. Don't believe me? Ask the internets, these guys have been blogged about by way-cooler blogotrons3030's than me. Check it out, they kick ass...


Corto Maltese - Providence video via YouTube

Oh No! Oh My! are another wave-making band in town right now. They brand of lovely twee-pop has been delighting locals for a while now and they are now on the verge of stepping into a much bigger scene with their latest EP, Dmitrij Dmitrij. I think this might be my new, favorite song. I <3 it.


Oh No! Oh My! - I Painted Your House video via YouTube

Booher and the Turkeyz and TV Torso round out the bill Friday night but to be honest I don't really know much about them. I did notice that when you search "TV Torso" you do get some Sound Team results? Even if the other two bands are awful, which I highly doubt, it's still going to be a good show. Besides I'd venture to guess the other two acts are playing the inside stage during set changes for the outside stage. That's an uncomfirmed, and vicious, rumor though so tell all your friends. XOXO Gossip Girl.

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