My favorite local, doom-rock outfit, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth has a new album coming out in June. Lucky for us, we can buy Peaced about a month earlier than our European counterparts for we live in Austin, or at least I do, I don't really know where you're sitting. Anyway, here in Austin, at Beerland, tomorrow night the Lil Dinos will be kicking off their tour. In celebration we'll get some beer (when in Beerland, do as the Beerlandites) and we'll pick up their newest album so we can rub it in people's faces. Oh how we will laugh and gloat.
By the way, if tomorrow night is your first time seeing When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth BRING EARPLUGS!!! Seriously, you are not too cool to hear things in the future and trust me, in the grand tradition of Spinal Tap their gear will ALL be on 11. Also, without earplugs the sound will wash out, which is sort of part of the effect but it's nice to hear notes. Here's a VERY dark video I shot of the Lil Dinos at Red 7 during Free Week. Incidentally, this song is on the new album.
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth - Selected for Jerry Duty video via YouTube
I also wanted to mention that those of you who are already familiar with When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth may not have realized that they are no longer the huge sprawling collective they once were. They have focused their sound and their roster. This updated press photo should give you all of the relevant info.
Well kiddos, you can't paw through the booklet or smell the vinyl sleeve YET but you can officially own your own digital copy of Sleigh Bells LP, Treats. They were one of my bands to watch during the SXSW 2010 preview and watch them I did. Even with only a 3 (possibly 4) song set Sleigh Bells brought the house down at the I Am Sound Records party. I shot the first two songs they played with the BloggyCam from on stage, if you look closely at the beginning of the video for Treats you can see that Alexis is about a foot away from me. That was also the show where I met the Peen Scene *le sigh* I love them.
Sleigh Bells - Treats video via YouTube The blessing and the curse of shooting bands at SXSW is they are usually showcasing new material so you have to wait for the full album. Turns out the songs I shot are the opening and closing tracks of the LP. The self-titled track above the break is the album's closer and this next one is what opens the album. Kind of worked out perfectly, didn't it? Judging by the view count someone somewhere has found this video and they're sharing it.
The Parish is the perfect venue to hear the Album Leaf perform in Austin; I'm glad that booking happened. End of post.
Just kidding...obviously. My favorite way to discover a band is to hear them live and then find out who that was later. Way back in the historic early aughts, many, many blog years ago, there was a band from Iceland called Sigur Ros. These Icelandic lads made their way across the great Atlantic Ocean bringing chilly songs that make Bloggy cry (in a good way). Well, guess who their opening act was on their first East Coast tour? That's right it was the Album Leaf. When their set started, the entire venue went completely silently for almost 40 minutes before exploding into applause. Many fans were won that night. Will you be the next?
Tomorrow night at the Parish let's get a beer and maybe cry a little (hopefully in a good way), maybe dance a little (in an awkward way) but let's try to STFU while the band is on ok? Tickets are still obtainable, don't abstain from purchasing them.
In a way, tomorrow night's bill at the Parish is a split-headliners bill. Sea Wolf aren't an opening band, their an experience you shouldn't miss. At the core of their sound you'll find quality songwriting, built around that, could be any number of sounds, textures, musicians, or space. You can always expect some beautiful, well-crafted tunes and memorable melodies, you'll be humming on the way home when Sea Wolf plays your town.
By the way, since I mentioned Sigur Ros above the break I should mention that it would have been nice to see Jónsi while he was in the U.S. He played Terminal 5, in New York, on Friday and reading people's tweets was giving me withdrawals. Is Texas too hot for Jónsi?
If Minus the Bear's Omni doesn't get them all over the radio, television and movies in the next 6 months then I give up. Seriously, have y'all heard My Time yet? Minus the Bear have been kicking ass for this whole century and I wanna see them get their's already. Most of you internet nerds have already been listening to Omni since it leaked but now you can pick it up on vinyl at your local record shop for today is Tuesday, which is New Release day USA.
Also, don't forget if you're reading this from the greater Austin area, we can catch Minus the Bear at La Zona Rosa on May 16th. You should probably snag tickets before they become mythical like unicorns and change we can believe in. I bet Minus the Bear likes unicorns and change they can believe in but that's mere conjecture at this point.
For the record, if you just listened to My Time and that is all you know of Minus the Bear you should realize it is not a fair representation of what "their sound" is. Omni has a variety of influences it wears on its musical sleeves so expect them to change shirts frequently. Here's a sample of their previous album to give you some kind of a context for that mixed shirt metaphor.
Minus the Bear - Throwin' Shapes video via YouTube
Ok, Young the Giant will play the opening slot for Minus the Bear. Now, they used to have a different name but if they want to forget it then I won't remind you. Live in the now people! Young the Giant is signed to Roadrunner Records and I expect to see their name in Austin's show listings a few more times this year. They don't have much to sample but I'm betting there will be some merch at the show. Here's a teaser I scrounged up for now:
Did you notice the "_____ the _____" theme? Although one is "Noun the Verb" while the other is "Noun the Noun". Perhaps they intended Young to be interpreted as a verb; as in to young oneself with Botox? Stay tuned on this and other grammatical band name patterns and mysteries.
The upshot of both of the shows I've just mentioned is they are sold-out and/or will become sold-out within minutes, in the case of the Plush show. So, realistically, you should plan to head over to the fortress of rock on Red River, the Mohawk to see Speak.
All the truly important information you need is on this handy flyer.
Pay close attention to the part where you can pay half price simply by RSVP'ing at Do512. Although if you were a particularly altruistic person you wouldn't WANT to pay half price, since the proceeds for this show benefit Groundwork Music Project. I know how it is though, if you need to get the half-off I won't judge you and neither will the door man at the 'Hawk.
Oh, hey look, if you're one of those lucky people who got tickets to see Phoenix your ticket stub will ALSO get you half-off at the door tomorrow. Gotta respect that.
I don't know much about Crash Gallery but word on the street is the lead singer is very energetic and odds are he will end up in the crowd at one or several points in their set. If we're not there to catch him when he stage-dives he might get hurt, and I don't want to have that on my conscience. Do you?
I'm not sure how many of my readers check out/subscribe to the Bloggy YouTube but in case you missed it, I have added some new video from last week. One reviewer/commenter has already said that one of the vids is, "Pretty good". If that shining review doesn't make you want to check these videos out then I don't know what will.
For the purposes of this post I am only going to include my videos of Local Natives and Suckers at Antone's from Friday night. HOWEVER, I also saw Beach House at Emo's last Thursday night. Unfortunately, that is one of the worst LOOKING BloggyCam videos I've ever shot so I relegated it to the Bloggy Facebook page. It still sounds quite nice, but it was SOOO dark and I had a fairly crappy vantage point throughout most of the night. I also saw Washed Out but could not jockey for position well enough to shoot anything for you.
Local Natives - World News video via YouTube I don't want to do a full-on review of the performances other than to say that both bands were quite stellar. I would recommend seeing both acts if and when they come to your town. Also, Local Natives', Gorilla Mansion is a really bad-ass CD that I highly regard.
I do want to make a few notes/critiques about Antone's though. First, I should mention that I have only been to the venue a few times, and I think it's REALLY weird that this particular show was moved from Emo's to Antone's to provide more space?!?! I'm sure Antone's MUST hold more people but it certainly doesn't look like it. Also, the general layout of the venue sucks ass! It's shaped like a rectangle, you enter on the short side and the restrooms are on the opposing wall. Between the door and the restroom is where you'll find the stage, on one of the long walls, with 2 bars opposite the stage. So, in practical terms, this means to get from the door to the bar to the bathroom and back could take you a half hour in which time you'll have to rudely push through a sea of people who don't want to let you pass and hate you for trying. Also, 1 Lone Star and 1 bottled water should cost me $6.50!?! I know beers cost more in the bar but I feel like I could get the EXACT same order for $4.50 at Emo's maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
On a positive note, I do like Antone's merch area. Also, I think it's really nice/unique that the speaker stacks hang from the ceiling allowing a less-obstructed view for the majority of the crowd. It's also cool that they have a VIP area, it would be cooler if you could get up in there though. Speaking of getting up in there, the dude who runs the light board has the best seat in the house, directly across from the stage in a crow's nest. My last positive Antone's comment is it's nice to not have to deal w/the Red River portion of 6th st. sometimes.
Suckers - It Gets Your Body Movin' video via YouTube
If you like the above Suckers video be sure to head on over to the Bloggy YouTube to check out 2 more Suckers videos from SXSW this year. Also, another friendly reminder that if you want to see my Beach House video you'll have to "Like" the Bloggy Facebook page.
How can you not like a band whose entire musical philosophy is based around love? Oh, stop being so cynical and open up your hearts and minds to Austin's own, Quiet Company. You may remember, I featured them in the Locals Only Edition of my SXSW preview. They are still rocking the indie-piano-pop and lucky for us they keep getting better at it. They've already released 2 full length LP's but to keep our attention while we wait for LP3 the boys of Quiet Company offer us a brand-spanking new EP called, Songs For Staying In. I have some exclusive information about a private, VIP event, at which, you'll be able to hear AND purchase the aforementioned EP. So, if you want to get into this super-exclusive, private, VIP, event on May 7th I suggest you click here. It's not a FREE party it's just going to be really difficult to get into like a ______ in a ________ when your ______ is full of ______.
Speaking of Austin, indie and/or piano-pop have y'all heard Fulton Read yet? Well, if you're already going to see Ben Folds at Stubb's on May 7th then you can see Fulton Read inside for free. Otherwise a nominal $5 fee will be required at the door. It's an after-show so doors won't until 11:30pm and this is May 7th, so we're planning ahead on this.
Just in case you missed some context clues these shows are both on Friday May 7th I'm just giving y'all plenty of time to get your scheduling worked out. If you find yourself in a conundrum about which show to see, you can always catch Quiet Company the next night at La Zona Rosa. There, this should get Quiet Company off my back for a day or two. Just kidding fellas love you, let's get milk shakes!
Well, I wasn't at Psych Fest last night but from what I read on my Twitter feed a good time was had by most. Apparently the Raveonettes performed as a 2-piece, which must have been interesting because when I saw them the 2 man Raveonettes didn't play any percussive instruments. I'm guessing they had a drum machine last night. Also, there was a torrential downpour last night, and given that the Mohawk is mainly an outdoor venue, I'm guessing that wasn't too pleasant either. I did hear from my friends over at Ultra8201 that Warpaint was amazing, astounding, gorgeous perfection. Lots of folks were saying they were even better than during SXSW!?!?
In any case, tonight/today there are even more bands performing than yesterday. Once again, if you're looking for the full Psych Fest line-up be sure to click that Psych Fest link. Also, if and when you go make sure to ask about the complimentary 3-D glasses. So, today's line-up is all about the up and coming psychedelic rockers. There are fewer big, big names but lots of up-and-coming acts are featured today/tonight. Of course, this whole thing is the brain-child/curated-by local bad-asses, the Black Angels and tonight is their night to shine. Expect their brand of psychedelic, freak-out, drone in the headlining spot this evening.
the Black Angels - Young Men Dead video via YouTube I wanted to highlight this band, the Frequency who will also be playing Psych Fest tonight. They recently received some good buzz in, England's version of Rolling Stone, NME. Their sound mixes shoegaze, psychedic and electronic music into a wash of textures, reverbs, and emerging melodies. Catch them on their way to the top, or before they burn out and fade away, whichever comes first, in any case catch them today at the Mohawk.
Wow, so there really aren't that many names on the list today that jump out at me. That doesn't mean there aren't any good artists playing today it just means I need to do more homework before I start writing next time. I definitely want to highlight a couple more Austin artists that will be playing tonight including, Cry Blood Apache.
Also, Smoke & Feathers always put on a killer/interesting/haunting set are a definitely a not-to-be-missed local artist. They play right before dinner time (5pm) tonight y'all! This whole thing kicks off at 2pm today and goes on for about 12hrs, so bring some granola maybe get a pizza delivered or something 'cause you're not going to want to miss these bands.
Well, just like the show I featured yesterday, tomorrow's Local Natives and Suckers show at Antone's is sold-out. Lucky for you, you can still see Local Natives perform a free, acoustic set at Waterloo Records. That set starts at four and you should probably get there, at least, a half hour early if you want to actually see what the band looks like.
If you already have tickets to tomorrow's show, make sure you get there early enough to see Suckers. I've been obsessed with their four song EP since shortly after SXSW and I'm looking forward to hearing a full length album, which should be out at any minute. Here's a song from that new album, I shot this video during SXSW.
Local Natives are another band who was just here during SXSW but we're certainly glad to have them back. Their latest LP, Gorilla Manner is already one of my favorite albums of 2010 and I'm sure seeing them live will only solidify that feeling. I know I saw them for a minute during SXSW but I had to leave for some reason, so tomorrow at Antone's I'll be giving up my full attention to Local Native. If I can get out of work in time I may actually check out their acoustic set at Waterloo as well.
Local Native - Wide Eyes (Live on KCRW) video via YouTube
I want to include one more song from Suckers, this is my favorite/most listened-to track from their EP. They'll be playing this one at Antone's tomorrow. Learn it and sing-along.
So, I hope y'all bought your tickets to see Beach House and Washed Out at Emo's like 6 months ago otherwise you're hitting the scalp scene. I'm kind of a fair-weather fan when it comes to Beach House. I remember when their first LP came out all of my music nerd friends were masturbating over it and I was a bit underwhelmed. However, I am excited to see what a live Beach House show is like. It will definitely push me into full-on fandom or quite the opposite, there's nothing like a live show to help you make up your mind about a band. I will say that I have listened to their latest album, Teen Dream more than any other to date and it should also be noted that I still bought every album they released just to hear it.
PS22 Chorus covering Beach House - Zebra video via YouTube I'm a fan of Emo's but it's not really where I'd like to see Beach House in Austin. Maybe I'll bring a folding chair, 'cause it's going to be weird to stand and stare at Beach House as they perform haunting, delicate, moody music. Perhaps Austin Music Hall would have been a more suitable choice but if that were the case my ticket would have cost twice as much. So, I'll focus on the bright points, for one Emo's has switched to LCD lighting, that's nice. Also, you can dance(?) to Washed Out, which would have been harder to do(?) at Austin Music Hall.
As you have probably guessed from the above video Washed Out is, "part of the chillwave scene". I bet all of the artists who wear that ridiculous label despise it. Basically, they get off on vintage synthesizers and psychedelic drone and really can we fault them for that? I blame "New Wave" for introducing all of the lame "____ Wave" movements that have followed its lead. I am also annoyed with "Watergate" for introducing "_____gate" and "Woodstock" for giving us "____stock". Damn, I have a lot of complaints to share today don't I?
In any case I'll be camping out near the front, center middle section of the crowd to get y'all some BloggyCam video of tomorrow's show. I'll try to include footage of the crowd staring, talking, texting and general after-party planning, as well. All in all I'm looking forward to this show both from an anthropological point of view and a musical-appreciation point of view. How will the tribes of Austin dance or not dance at Valium-fest 2010? Only time will tell, time and the Bloggycam.
By the way it might be hard to tell by the general tone of this piece, but I actually do enjoy BOTH Washed Out and Beach House, let that be noted on the record.
