Weird Al Tomorrow!! After-Party Choices

Can you believe that FunFunFun Fest kicks off tomorrow night with Mr. Weird Al Yankovic himself?!?! I can't wait to hear what songs he puts into his polka medley, I'm really hoping he manages to work Whip My Hair in there somehow. I'm also excited to see the Apples in Stereo perform live, although I'm not gonna lie I kind of hope they DON'T play the Powerpuff Girls Theme and something tells me they most certainly will.

In an off-festival grounds note, this year seems to have more after-parties than years passed and I am for it. Personally, I am too old to do both the festival AND after-parties but for those of you with more stamina and commitment to parties I thought I would highlight some of the best of the best...after the jump of course.


Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor video via YouTube


Friday night has the least appealing after-parties, no offense party planners and promoters, I understand you don't want to shoot your party wads so early in the weekend. If I were you, I would head to the Mohawk for the Gorilla Vs. Bear party. The headliner is a secret but I trust GvsB to book someone bad-ass. We know for a fact that Memory Tapes will be there and that's good enough for me.


Memory Tapes - Bicycle video via YouTube

My other Friday night choice would be Dâm-Funk's DJ set at Beauty Bar. If you go to this show though, I'd bring a flask those bartenders, while beautiful are slow and full of attitude. That's right I said it!


Dâm-Funk - Mirrors video via YouTube

Saturday night is all about Jean Grae DJing at ND. That show will also feature Devin the Dude amongst others. The other viable option is back at Snooty Bar where Bloggy-favs Delorean will be spinning tunes. You could also just throw-down with some non-marquis names at Scoot Inn where my brethren in blogging Knuckle Rumbler will be co-hosting a party with the Glitoris.


the Herbaliser ft. Jean Grae - Nah'Mean, Nah'm Sayin video via YouTube

Sunday night has slim-pickings for official after-parties but the good news is they'll be half price. All of the parties I've mentioned so far are $5 if you have a FunFunFun Fest wristband or $10 if you're a have-not. On Sunday night it will be $5 for the have-nots and free for those of you with a FFF pass. In all honesty though, the only party that interests me that night is back at Beauty Bar where Yelle will be Djing. Do you like how I insult that venue's bar staff and then I keep telling you to go there? Whadayagonnado?


Yelle - La Musique video via YouTube

Read more!

FunFunFun Fest Official Kick-Off Event(s)

Tomorrow night begins FunFunFun Festivities in an official way. The semi-annual Local Music is Sexy party will have a happy hour hosted by our friends over at Knuckle Rumbler with music starting at 7:30pm. As the name implies you can catch some of Austin's greatest musical talents on both the inside and outside stages of the Mohawk including Bloggy favs TV Torso and Markov. Did I mention that it's also free? For those of you who are not attending FFFFest for financial reasons there will also be opportunities to WIN free tickets to the festival at the party. For a complete list of the bands who you can catch at Local Music is Sexy click the Mohawk link and/or the LMiS link at the top of this paragraph.


TV Torso - Live at the Scoot Inn video via YouTube courtesy of Cindy Royal


If you've got a hankering for a touring act to start off your FunFunFun weekend then you should head over to the Mohawk's neighbors at Club de Ville who will be hosting a corporate party, which is also free featuring the Helio Sequence. All the official press release stuff I've received from Transmission Entertainment has listed this event as being free as well. However, the info I received from the party's corporate sponsor says it's free with RSVP. Something tells me it's free BUT if you RSVP then the booze will be comped as well. Only time will tell.


the Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead video via YouTube

In a note completely unrelated to FFFFest, hot off the heels of their Moog Fest performance you can catch local heroes the Octopus Project for free at Waterloo Records at 5pm tomorrow. They managed to perform with Devo this passed weekend, which I find suspicious considering Devo had to cancel their headlining performance at FFFFest but I presume the dude with glass shards in his hands wasn't performing this passed weekend.


Octopus Project + members of Devo - Girl U Want video via YouTube

Read more!

Of Montreal at the East Side Drive-In

I'm calling the Of Montreal show at East Side Drive-In as the first unofficial pre-show of FunFunFunFest. Sure, it is not affiliated with the fest in any manner and isn't even on the same side of town but remember that time Of Montreal was one of the Fun Fest headliners? That was awesome. They did a bad-ass cover of a Prince song but I was too high to remember which one. Oh snap, did I just publish that on the internets? Oh well, if you can tear your hipster-ass away from Shangri-La long enough all you really have to do is cross the street to see Kevin Barnes and Co. do their psychedelic rock-theater thing tomorrow night. Janelle Monae is starting things off and as of the writing of this post you can still purchase tickets for a mere $15. After the show we're all going to get a beer at Cheer-Up Charlies but we're pre-gaming at Shangri La (Obvs).


Of Montreal - Coquet Coquette video via YouTube

For the record, I was totally going to post a video of Of Montreal doing Purple Rain but obviously his purpleness would have sued the shit out of YouTube, Of Montreal, me and possibly you if I had done that. Homeboy is ridiculously proprietary and I may get a cease and desist letter simply by mentioning that there is a cover song in existence. Love you Prince's lawyers. :-)

Anyway, Janelle Monae has some amazing hair and an even more amazing voice. Like, Of Montreal she is based in Georgia and is considered a protege, of sorts, of Big Boi. Coincidentally you can also catch Big Boi at the East Side Drive-In later this year (tickets). In any case, if you haven't heard of J. Monae you should head to tomorrow night's show just to say you saw her when.


Janelle Monae with the Emory University Symphony - BabopbeYa! video via YouTube

I want to include one more music sample for Janelle Monae since the above video is so brief and such a rare performance that doesn't fully-represent her sound.


Janelle Monae - Cold War video via YouTube

PS.
This is TOTALLY conjecture but it really wouldn't surprise me if Solange Knowles made an appearance either on-stage or off at this show tomorrow night.

Read more!

Jenny and Johnny w/Grandchildren

With a name like Jenny and Johnny you know you're going to hear some twee-indie-pop at Emo's outside stage tomorrow night. For those of you who don't know already, yes I' m talking to you, Jenny is Jenny Lewis and Johnny is Jonathan Rice. They are a couple in real life and in indie-rock life too (which is more surreal). They figured hey, we're always together we might as well write and record some thematically dark yet happy-sounding indie-pop together. Personally, I am of the school that "You don't shit wear you eat". In otherwords don't work with people who you're schtooping but I suppose it's a good way to tour and be with your loved one(s) at the same time. If you think about it, none of this is any of my business, nor does it have to do with their music. I look forward to hearing their stage banter, I expect lots of stinging barbs but maybe they'll be all lovey-dovey. Only time will tell. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available and will set you back a cool $18 at the door or $16 in advance. To be honest I don't see this being a sell-out show, not because they don't deserve it but because it's a Tuesday night and I feel like there are still a lot of hipsters who don't know about this project YET.


Jenny and Johnny - Scissor Run video via YouTube


Opening for Jenny and Johnny tomorrow night will be experimental, electro-pop outfit Grandchildren. To me they sound like they listened to a lot of Brian Wilson on a lot of drugs (as if there's any other way). I'm not sure how many people reproduce the live sound but the LP sounds like a bedroom creation with Pro-Tools, lots of sonic layers and beautiful cough-syrup melodies. If you're a fan of Animal Collective make sure to arrive early enough to catch Grandchildren. Doors for this show open at 9pm, so this tired blogger is hoping it will be an early(ish) show. I'm not a big fan of staying out until 2am on weeknights, I need to get my Bloggy rest y'all.


Grandchildren - Saturn Returns (Runaway Remix) video via YouTube

Also, if it ends before 2, I can jump over to the new Barbarella for Tuezgayz, hosted by the Glitoris.com.


the Glitoris Presents - Tuezgayz video via YouTube

PS.
The address listed in the above video is wrong by 2 numbers, since Barbarella moved. Also, the photos were taken by one of Austin's best party photographers ULoveI. If you know what I look like you can see me in this video for a moment, if you don't then I'm whichever dude you find most attractive. #Dealer'sChoice

Read more!

More Thursday Shows and Events

Yesterday I told you about the We Are Scientsists/Twin Tigers show happening at Emo's, which is my number one pick tonight but it's not the only cool event going on that's fo sho. My friends over at KVRX are hosting a hip-hip dance party at the United States Arts Authority tonight. Doors open at 9p and they'll have two stages, the cover is $5 but for $10 you get into the show AND you get a T-Shirt, so there's that. Also, they'll be doing a costume contest so this might be a good night to try out your first costume of the year. Come on this is Austin, you gots to have at least three Halloween costumes.

If you want to be a little more mainstream you can check out Interpol at Stubb's. Expect lots of chatter from the crowd and mugging from the stage but not much else. If you do feel like spending $35 to go to Stubb's tonight make sure you catch White Rabbits I genuinely enjoy them. For me, Interpol without Carlos D. is much less handsome and just as boring in person as they were when their first LP came out and I saw them in Boston. Das right, I said it. What? PS. It looks like this show is sold-out but there's always scalpers, whom I wouldn't pay more than $20.


White Rabbits - The Plot video via YouTube

If you're looking for a more epic/legendary/I can't believe I'm witnessing this kind of show tonight, I would head on over to the Mohawk for Bad Brains. Personally, Bad Brains is not my thing in the least but I can not deny their importance to music as we know it. I just had a really scary experience smoking pot in a foreign environment with Bad Brains blaring from a stereo, which scarred me for life. That's my bad though, not theirs. Somehow tickets for this show are still available as of the writing of this post but methinks they'll be sold-out before the show itself so don't expect to be able to pay at the door.


Bad Brains - Banned in DC video via YouTube

The last show I'll mention happening tonight is, local favorites, Ghostland Observatory. I enjoy listening to GLO and I know they put on a great live show but I also know that I refuse to support Ticketmaster/LiveNation and that this show is taking place at the Cedar Park Center so if you're attending you're supporting the Ticketmaster corporate machine. You're also driving out to the suburbs to see a band that used to play at muthaphuckin Trophy's. Sure they have lasers now but couldn't those lasers be set up at say La Zona Rosa? I'm sure you can still get tickets to tonight's show but I ain't linking to 'em. Peace! (Gawd I'm such a bitch sometimes)


Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City video via YouTube

Read more!

We Are Scientists w/Twin Tigers at Emo's

We Are Scientist may look a little more gray and a little less-scientific than they did when they first "burst" onto the blog-scene in the early aughts but they can still crank out some rockin', clever tunes. Their latest LP Barbara has really flown under the radar this year despite having a very disturbing, viral video (viewable after the break). This blogger had the chance to see them do their thing at Emo's already this year and I can testify to their kick-assedness. If you want to make a testimonial to the kick-assedness of We Are Scientists I recommend you get yourself some $13 tickets.


We Are Scientists - Live at Emo's video via YouTube



We Are Scientists - I Don't Bite video via YouTube

The We Are Scientists guys will, most likely, be taking to the outside stage around 11:45. So, make sure you get there by 10:30ish if you want to catch Twin Tigers and trust me when I tell you that you DO want to catch Twin Tigers. They have been around since 2008 but have only just released their first full-length LP this passed March. They played some high-profile gigs during SXSW and this tour with W.A.S. is a really great pairing. Also, as someone who works at a restaurant I really appreciate that this band was formed after 2 of its member met while working at a restaurant owned by Michael Stipe in Athens, GA. Wouldn't it be weird if Michael Stipe was your boss?


Twin Tigers - Red Fox Run video via YouTube

Read more!

Ra Ra Riot To To Night!!!

Alright budget ballers, I know it can be tough to spend the dough to head downtown in these harsh economic times but you have, pretty much, no excuse to miss Ra Ra Riot in Austin today. Firstly they are playing a FREEEEE in-store performance at Waterloo Records at 5pm today. If you plan on checking that out, I would take the bus because parking is tighter than a _____'s _______ and you should know that Bookpeople will totally tow you if you park there and cross the street. You should also know that it's going to be packed so get there roughly an hour early. Since you're already at Waterloo you should pick up a copy of the Orchard, it's clever, it's beautiful, and you'll love it or we're not friends anymore.


Ra Ra Riot - Boy video via YouTube


Later in the evening you will find myself and anyone else who matters at Emo's outside stage for a full set from the Ra Ra kids. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available and will set you back a mere $15. If you are someone who likes to be near the stage then I'd get there early. Actually, I'd get there early anyway because all the bands on the bill are pretty bad ass. NOLA band, Givers will be starting out the evening at roughly 10pm.


Givers - Up, Up, Up video via YouTube

Up next will be Villagers around 11p and last but certainly not least Ra Ra Riot will take to the outside stage around the witching hour. That's midnight for those of you who, unlike Christine O'Donnell, aren't into witchcraft.


Villagers - Ship of Promises video via YouTube

Are you as excited about this show as I am? How is it Austin has such cool stuff on random Tuesday nights?

P.S.
Jónsi (of Sigur Rós fame) is also in town and I love him but he'd have to pay ME to go to another show at Austin Shitty Music Hell that's right, I said it!

Read more!

Videos from the Weekend

As you probably read on this very site, Saturday night had a lot of great shows. I was one of very few people who was on west 4th street for the Los Campesinos! show. I feel like that show wasn't promoted very well because there should have been WAAAYY more people there. However, I guess you have to factor in that there were lots of other good shows and La Zona Rosa is away from the Red River scene. For me, that's a very good reason to attend shows there but I understand other people's reluctance. In any case one of my favorite local bands, the Authors started things off. I feel like they fill a void in Austin's music scene. Their sound is reminiscent of Remy Zero, which is not a bad thing in my books. The song below is from their latest LP Get Haunted, you should probably buy it.


the Authors - Get Haunted video via YouTube


After the Authors was bratty UK alt-pop-punk rockers Johnny Foreigner. I had not heard their music before but they really blew me away. It was full of propulsive energy and a very youthful, bratty spirit. After their set I told the band that anyone who tours with a projector and a keytar is ok in my book. The song I captured is actually unreleased and was inspired by the band's last trip to the U.S.A.


Johnny Foreigner - Security to the Promenade video via YouTube

Finally, Los Campesinos! had the crowd pogo-ing, fist-pumping, and generally singing/shouting along to every song. This band really knows how whip a crowd into a frenzy and they do it all with a violinist, whoduhthunk?


Los Campesinos! - Straight In at 101 video via YouTube

Read more!

Gorillaz: a Live Review in Words

Well, folks I had a rare opportunity on Friday night to catch Gorillaz at the Frank Erwin Center. I know a lot of you wanted to be there but couldn't for various reasons, including financial ones. In Austin we are accustomed to paying no more than $15 for a concert so when a band comes through charging closer to $100 a seat the locals tend to freak out. Let me tell you, if you had been in the Erwin Center Friday night you would have understood the cost and not thought twice about it. At any given point in the show there were at least 18 people on stage, that number swelled to closer to 30 people at various points throughout the set.

There were also lots of guest stars from the Gorillaz latest LP, Plastic Beach including Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon, Bobby Womack AND De La Soul!! I would love to have taken lots of pictures and/or shot some FlipVid but understandably this was not allowed. I do have access to this decent-looking iPhone cam picture though.


(Photo Courtesy of Matt Shiv)

Find more words after the jump...

The whole concept of the Gorillaz project is a marriage of music and comic book imagery. As you, probably, know Gorillaz are a fictitious, cartoon band so to help pull this off in a live setting an enormous High-Definition screen projected videos for every song that was played. For those very new songs without a completed video, storyboards for the video were shown instead. I was struck by how crystal clear all of the images were given the size of the screen, which I would guesstimate to be 5-stories high.

All in all the show was extremely pleasing both aurally and visually. The Gorillaz LPs have so many layers and textures that it would have been easy to be disappointed by the live re-interpretations but this was not the case at all. Having a full brass section, a full string section, two full drum kits, two bass guitars and four (or was it five(?)) back-up singers made all of the songs sound as they should but more bombastic. You could also, clearly, see that everyone on the stage was enjoying themselves immensely. Damon Albarn was running back and forth on the stage, performing from atop the monitors doing all of his best arena moves from his Blur-days all with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.

If and when this tour comes to your city, you best be shelling out the cash, trust me you will not regret the decision in the least. Also, make sure you get there early enough to catch opening act N.E.R.D. they performed all of their hits peppered with to-be-released tunes. They even played a jam from their forthcoming LP, which was produced by Daft Punk.

Oh and just a little side-note about my whole experience Friday night. If you have never been to the Frank Erwin Center, as I had not, you should know there is more than one box office. So, don't freak out and cry, like I did, when they don't have your tickets. Trust me you'll feel pretty douchey about it later.

Here is the set-list from the Gorillaz show at Frank Erwin Center from Friday night, courtesy of Setlist.Fm:


Orchestral Intro (Extended)

Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)

19/2000 (with Rosie Wilson)

Last Living Souls

Stylo (with Bobby Womack) (and Bootie Brown)

On Melancholy Hill

Rhinestone Eyes

Superfast Jellyfish (with De La Soul)

Tomorrow Comes Today

Empire Ants (with Yukimi Nagano)

Broken (Extended)

Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)

El Mañana

White Flag (with Kano) (and Bashy, and the American Syrian Orchestra. Extended)

To Binge (with Yukimi Nagano)

DARE (with Rosie Wilson)

Glitter Freeze

Plastic Beach

Encore:

Cloud of Unknowing (with Bobby Womack)

Feel Good Inc. (with De La Soul)

Clint Eastwood (with Bashy) (and Kano)

Don't Get Lost In Heaven

Demon Days (with Bobby Womack)


Read more!

How to Choose on a Saturday Night

Yesterday I was mentioning how there were so many great shows to choose from on Friday night (tonight) now I'm going to highlight the haps on Saturday night. Friday saw lots of bigger name artists in town well Saturday night is all about the up-and-coming acts. The first show I want to highlight is a late show going down at Red 7 featuring Cymbals Eat Guitars and the Thermals. I'm not sure why, but I do know that the Thermals appreciate your gifted Furbies so if you have any of those creepy dolls that were banned from the Pentagon bring 'em on down to 7th st and the band will be psyched.


Cymbals Eat Guitar - And the Hazy Sea video via YouTube

The way this show is listed it looks like the Coathangers are actually headlining but to be honest any of those three bands could headline in my opinion. Although, I feel like Cymbals Eat Guitars have (or had) the most buzz.


Just up the street at the Mohawk, Free Energy will be bringing their brand of Weezer-esque indie-rock. They were one of the most popular acts of SXSW 2010 and I'm kind of surprised they haven't reached mainstream audiences yet. I could probably make that same statement about all of my favorite acts from this year's SXSW though. I mean who reaches mainstream America these days? All I ever hear on AAA radio is the Black Eyed Peas and Nirvana's Nevermind. For the record I wanted to embed a legit video but EMI doesn't want me to so I'm circumventing their wishes.


Free Energy - Bang Pop video via YouTube

Last, but certainly not least, Los Campesinos are ALSO in town Saturday night. This time they play La Zona Rosa a sure indicator of how popular they've become in Austin. I'm a fan of any band on Arts and Crafts records but when they also hail from Wales that's a double-bonus. Tickets are still available as of the writing of this post.


Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing! video via YouTube

Read more!