Big Boi at the Eastside Drive-In

I feel like a lot of people have been sleepin' on Big Boi's album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty that came out in July. In this humble blogger's opinion it's one of the most fun LP's to come out in 2010. It's with that in mind that I, kindly, remind you that Mr. Big Boi himself will be gracing the stage at the Eastside Drive-In on Saturday. Tickets are still available as of the writing of this post but I don't expect there will be any available at the door so if you're thinking you MIGHT want to go, just buy a dang ticket already. I expect he'll be performing a lot of stuff from his latest album but I'm sure you'll hear some tunes from Speakerboxxx as well. So, even if you aren't super-familiar with the new tunes you should still check out the show. Also, make sure you check out my friends over at Knuckle Rumbler because they have a lot of stuff going on around this show in ADDITION to presenting the show itself. I'm talking after-parties, special guests and ALL kinds of other good stuff.


Big Boi - Shine Blockas ft. Gucci Mane video via YouTube

Don't be a hipster and show-up RIGHT before Big Boi goes on 'cause you'll miss Vonnegutt. I had the chance to catch these guys at ACL Fest a month or two ago and I was psyched to see that they are touring with Big Boi. Vonnegutt is signed to Outkast's Purple Ribbon Records and they were featured on, Follow Us the second single from Big Boi's latest LP.


Big Boi featuring Vonnegutt - Follow Us video via YouTube

Vonnegutt's own EP The Appetizer brings the energy and the fun and I expect it to lead to big things in 2011. If you missed their performance at ACL Fest make sure you tear yourself away from Shangi-La at least an hour before Big Boi hits the stage Saturday or you'll be missing out.


Vonnegutt - Perform at Austin City Limits Fest video via YouTube

In other Vonnegutt news, I was so focused on the Big Boi show I completely forgot to mention that they are ALSO playing Austin Friday night with Chiddy Bang. Tickets for that show at Republic Live don't appear to be officially available but if you really want to check out that show I'm sure you could find a way to get in...possibly. You never know they may release extra tickets the day of the show and/or have some reserved to sell at the door.

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Blonde Redhead in Review (in words only)

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Blonde Redhead and Ólöf Arnalds at La Zona Rosa. It was Ólöf Arnalds' final night on the tour and she was in good spirits cracking jokes with the crowd in a thick Icelandic accent. She performed solo with acoustic instruments making it difficult to hear her over the din of people chatting and arriving to the show. Those of us who were paying attention were entertained by her delicate, beautiful folk songs interspersed with quips and brief stories. My favorite story was about how she and her friends call finger-picking "omelettes" and they like to have "omelette competitions". She had such a good omelette going that she maintained it through three songs, whose run ended in a Bruce Springsteen cover.


After Ólöf Arnalds, Blonde Redhead took to the stage. There were four members dressed in head-to-toe white with Kazu Makino wearing a helmet/mask that looked like a white porcelain horse head with blonde pigtails coming out of the nose. The lighting was definitely the fifth member of the band. During their entrance and most of the first song the band was lit by a dozen bare light bulbs whose tungsten flickered like 12 little flames scattered across the stage. At the back of the stage were 9 photographer's umbrellas, the silver facing the audience, which worked to light the band at some points while silhouetting them at other points. All in all the lighting served to add another layer of atmosphere to a sound that was already loaded with sonic textures.

The set was peppered with songs from all periods but mostly focused on the latest album, Penny Sparkle as well as lots of tunes from 23. The entire set had a great flow, which culminated with an intense version of the song 23. to close things out. The audience walked out like they had just seen Schindler's List, with looks of deepest awe upon their faces. In short, if you haven't seen Blonde Redhead and they're coming to your town, you should probably get yourself a ticket. Or, if you missed them last night you might want to start beating yourself up now. Sorry.
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Zlam Dunk CD Release Party Friday

If you have yet to see Zlam Dunk perform live, then this Friday night you best be clearing your calendar to check out their CD release party at Emo's. I saw this, super-energetic, local band open up for Fang Island earlier in the year and I can assure you they are worth checking out. I also have it on good authority that the majority of the band will be finishing up at Texas State as soon as finals are done this semester, which means they'll most likely be hitting the road in support of their new LP. In otherwords, if you don't see them this Friday you may not have another chance for quite awhile.


Zlam Dunk - Ghost Woman video via YouTube

As if, Zlam Dunk weren't enough reason for you to hit Emo's Friday night, Bloggy-favs Markov will also be performing. They're album, This Quiet, has been making critical waves locally since its spring release and they stole the show at the Friday night FunFunFun Fest kick-off party at the Mohawk. They bring the melodies with a tight, technical skill-set cranking out post-rock perfection in three-minute bursts.


Markov - This Quiet video via YouTube

Sandwiched between these two outstanding, local band is Freshmillions whom I have yet to see but have heard great things about already. Tickets for Friday night's show are still available and will only set you back $6, purchased in advance OR $8 at the door. If you're under 21 you can still get in to see these great, local acts but you'll have to pay $10. Sorry kids.


Freshmillions - Hot New Jam from '73 video via YouTube

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Don't Miss Blonde Redhead at LZR

Dang, y'all I'm bummed that I'm probably going to have to miss Blonde Redhead at La Zona Rosa Wednesday night. Officially the group is a trio, still based out of New York City but chances are there will be four people doing some indie-rock shredding on stage Wednesday night. If you've never heard them before they are one part shoe-gaze, one part prog and one part indie. They have the technical skills of a prog band but there is still the cool, disaffected vibe of a new-wave band in some of the tunes. Their 2007 release, 23 saw the group moving toward a more accessible sound getting them lots of licensing deals and recognition. Their newest album came out last month and it's called Penny Sparkle. As of the writing of this post, tickets are still available and will set you back $22 if purchased in advance of the show. Typically shows at La Zona Rosa are done by midnight so plan accordingly.


Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes (4AD Session) video via YouTube



Blonde Redhead - Not Getting There video via YouTube

As of this moment there is no local opener for Wednesday night's show but that doesn't mean one won't be added between now and then. For now, there is only one artist performing before Blonde Redhead and that is Icelandic singer/songwriter Ólöf Arnalds. Arnalds has been a touring member of the band Múm but is here in the states in support of her latest release Innundir skinni. The following song features another artist from Iceland you might be familiar with. Have you ever heard of Björk?


Ólöf Arnalds - Surrender video via YouTube

The show isn't until Wednesday, and as I said, I probably won't be able to make it but I can already tell that if I were to go I would be irritated with people talking through Ólöf Arnalds' set. So, please, please if YOU attend the show just be quiet while she is performing. Her music is, obviously, delicate and requires a respectful audience but this IS Austin and we all know that people just go to shows to chat with their friends...loudly. Oh, Austin!


Ólöf Arnalds - Innundir skinni video via YouTube

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Here for the Holidays

A lot of people on Twitter (2 people) have asked me about shows happening around the Butterball holiday since they will be here in Austin. Generally, there are at least 3 shows a night that I would attend here in Austin but in the wake of your tryptophan-related coma there aren't that many shows to choose from. The first, and most important show, I want to highlight is Quiet Company's Twitter show. This is going down at the ND and they'll have a projector live-streaming people's tweets from the show. I think this is a clever idea BUT the ND is a warehouse and the last time I was there I had a lot of problems with the data network on my smartphone. SO, I recommend you prepare for this possibility by reminding yourself how to tweet via text message and/or use any connections you have at ND to find out the password to their wi-fi network. Tickets to the show are $10 and if you click the Quiet Company link above you can purchase them there.


Quiet Company - A Nation of Two video via YouTube

Quiet Company isn't the only Twitter-addicted band playing that show at the ND Saturday night. You can also catch Love at 20, Moving Castles, and Guns of Navarone.


Moving Castles - Theater, Girl video via YouTube

As far as Black Friday goes you've got two choices of show. You could keep it local by checking out the Triggermen at the Scoot Inn, which I recommend if you're on a budget as both the entry and the drinks will be MUCH less expensive than the alternative show.


the Triggermen - Double Drink Fister video via YouTube

Your other Friday night choice is to catch some power-pop perfection at La Zona Rosa. Bloggy fav Brendan Benson is on tour with the Posies and tickets to see them at LZR are still available. If you think you MIGHT be interested buy the tickets now as they will be more expensive on the night of the show. Also, keep in mind that they charge $4.50 for a can of Lone Star and I believe it's $5 for a strong liquor drink...you do the math.


Brendan Benson - A Whole Lot Better video via YouTube

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Pomegranates with Oh No! Oh My!

Hey kids, Saturday night at the Mohawk you've got to catch my favorite Austin band playing with Ohioiansians (<--I made that word up), Pomegranates. Oh No! Oh My! make wonderful indie-pop songs and they have been largely over-looked in Austin's music-scene of late. Pomegranates also make wonderful, clever, jangly, indie-pop that will be tattooed on your brain for days after you see them perform. If you click their name above you can download a bunch of free tunes from that page. Expect to hear some new tunes as they recently released a new album, called One Of Us. Holla! You can pick up a copy of their latest LP, here OR at a local retailer. The show at the 'Hawk Saturday is on the inside stage so it will be a late one, it will also be much warmer than an outside show. It's all ages too, so you can bring your under-aged girlfriend perv.


Pomegranates - Whom/Who video via YouTube

Oh No! Oh My! haven't released any music for the last two years but they are playing lots of tunes from their upcoming LP, People Problems, which is due out next year. Hopefully they'll be making a lot more waves with that release as I think their sound is ridiculously accessible and at least deserves some serious licensing deals. Perhaps we'll hear their tunes featured in an upcoming season of Gossip Girl or something? Here's one of their new(ish) tunes I captured the last time I saw them perform.


Oh No! Oh My! - Live at the Ghost Room video via YouTube

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Friday Night Shows

Hey y'all!! Remember me? I used to blog on this website, then I got all lazy and shhhhh. There are some cool shows going on tonight but I feel like it's almost too late to mention them here, so just check out my Twitter feed 'cause I totally just tweeted my highlights for the night. Including, but not limited to, Stars at La Zona Rosa. Let's talk about tomorrow night though since Friday is when we really get down.

The first thing I want to mention is the 91.7FM KVRX Austin and Converse presents: KVRX Concert Series, Thanksgiving Edition!, which is taking place at the United States Arts Authority. There will be 2 stages worth of music, with all kinds of great, local bands performing. Admission is $5 but if you pay $10 at the door you get a T-Shirt. Also, being that it's Thanksgiving themed, bringing and donating a canned good is encouraged and don't just donate crappy food that you wouldn't eat y'all! I've got the complete line-up of artists after the jump but here's a preview.


the Sour Notes - Particularly Shrill (Live at KVRX) video via YouTube


Here's the complete line-up for the KVRX concert series on Fri:

Outside:
745-8PM Western Motto
815-845PM Corey Brim
9-945PM Fox Royal
---
Inside:
10PM- The Mole People
11PM- The Sour Notes
12AM- One Hundred Flowers
1 AM- Little Lo

You could also keep things local on the eastside, upping your hipster quotient, by heading to the Scoot Inn. Admission will be $7 for this show but they also have quite a solid, local(ish) line-up featuring a more electronic bent.


Butcher Bear and Charlie - Live at the Continental shaky video via YouTube

Here's the full line-up for the Scoot-Inn show (minus set-times):
Tech_Sys with Butcher Bear and Charlie, Neiliyo, Zorch, Freshmillions, Zlam Dunk, Focus Group, Florene, Ghost Mountain, and Realness

This show isn't exclusively electronic, just a bent. See.


Zlam Dunk - Aw Ratz courtesy of our friends at Nites Blog via YouTube

If these shows are just TOOOOO indie for you, you could head over to La Zona Rosa for the "Black" show. Of course, I'm referring to the psychedelic double-black bill of Black Mountain with Austin's own Black Angels.


Black Mountain - the Hair Song video via YouTube

You could also show your age by heading to Stubb's for Big Head Todd and Shawn Mullins, who have collectively sold more LPs than all of the other bands mentioned in this post ever will in their entire careers. Props.

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Dr. Dog with Here We Go Magic

Well folks, last time I went to Stubb's a pint-sized security woman told me I couldn't shoot vid of my friends Bad Veins but that's not going to stop me from going back. The high drink prices and the non-stop chatter by people who go to the shows won't stop me either. Do you see how I sacrifice to catch Here We Go Magic and Dr. Dog? That's how much I love you the Bloggy-public, I will attend a show at Stubb's so you don't have to...but you should because Dr. Dog are weepers and I really don't want to see them cry. Also, I've seen Here We Go Magic twice already and the second time was better than the first so it would only stand to reason that the third time will be EVEN BETTER than the second time was and so on and so forth. They're still touring behind their latest LP, Pigeons, which came out earlier this year and I expect it will make at least a few best of 2010 lists. You can download some free samples if you click the Here We Go Magic link above.


Here We Go Magic - Moon video via YouTube


As far as Dr. Dog they have certainly come a long ways from when I first saw them perform inside End of an Ear 3 years ago. I feel like they have a knack for making tunes that sound instantly-classic although I have to admit they did release an album or two that I didn't realize existed until I started writing this preview. Their latest LP, Shame, Shame came out in April and that's the one that totally flew under my radar. However, they are also featured on a compilation that I want to check out called Twistable Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute to Shel Silverstein. If you're reading this, and you're somehow affiliated with that compilation you should totally send me a copy. Or if you're just feeling generous, and you're not affiliated feel free to send it to me. Oh, I forgot to mention you can download FOUR new Dr. Dog tunes on their F*c*book page as well.


Dr. Dog - the Girl video via YouTube

As of the writing of this post, tickets to see Dr. Dog and Here We Go Magic at Stubb's tomorrow night are still available. Just remember that tiny security lady might ask you to not shoot video and they charge as much for ONE Lone Star as a 6-pack costs at the store. I recommend getting loaded on $3 well liquor at the Side Bar before and/or after.

Ps.
Hey Side Bar time to update your webpage, somehow I doubt you're showing the Palin/Biden VP debate.

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Freelance Whales at the ND

I'm not gonna lie, y'all I expected Freelance Whales to be the break-out act of 2010 and I'm kind of disappointed that they haven't reached an Arcade Fire level of fame yet. These kids write sincere, anthemic tunes that should be heard in arenas where 10's of 1000's of voices can sing along and feel their power. Am I over-selling this? Let me try again. Have you heard of the Freelance Whales? They aight. You might want to check out their show at the ND tomorrow night. Tickets are on sale now (obvs) and will set you back a mere $10 in advance or $12 at the door. If you haven't been to the ND yet I highly recommend it, the space is intimate with good sound and you can actually find parking nearby, which is a major plus in my book.


Freelance Whales - Generator ^ Second Floor video via YouTube

Doors for the show open at 9p and the show itself starts at 10. I can't remember how much they charge for Lone Star and/or well liquor so I have no advice in that regard. I can tell you that Miniature Tigers will be starting things off with their own brand of clever indie-rock, though. Their latest LP is called Fortress but I'm still going to post this video from their previous LP, Tell It to the Volcano because I find it to be funny and enjoyable.


Miniature Tigers - Cannibal Queen video via YouTube

Sp, if you're a sensitive indie-boy or girl I would head on down to the ND tomorrow night and have a truly earnest experience with Freelance Whales and Miniature Tigers. Maybe we can hang out and you can buy me whiskey cause I'm poor. Not too much though, I work early on Fridays. Awwphuckit! I can go in hungover, bring on the Whiskey y'all!

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FunFunFun 2010 Recap (all words no pics)

With FunFunFun 2010 in our collective rear-view mirrors Austin's musical festival season has officially drawn to a close for another year. I'm sure there are lots of other festivals before the end of the year but none that matter, so don't even bother mentioning them in the comments section. This was my third year attending the FFF and my second year with the coveted media credentials and may I say that FunFunFun is not just a clever and/or hipster-ironic title. I had so much fun this year that reading this wordy write-up couldn't even come close to conveying the sort of orgiastic experience that was FFF 2010. Firstly the line-up this year, while it saw many people bitching, I found it to be stellar. I spent most of my time at the Blue stage, which is where you could find most of the dance, hip-hop and local artists and I was completely satisfied with most every performance. Of course there were some acts that I wasn't thrilled about but even those artists were at least interesting to watch even if their music was boring as shit.

I do regret not taking a bunch of video at the fest but I'm always nervous about losing my media credentials for shooting "illegal" performance video and if I wander around backstage shooting Flipcam footage no one will want to talk to me. So, I'm hoping you were at the festival so you can watch the video in your mind and if you weren't I'm guessing there are a billion shitty-quality videos on YouTube peppered with some high-quality ones as well. You can find my highlights after the jump.


The artist I had the most fun watching was definitely Big Freedia. Hailing from New Orleans Freedia brought the "Sissy Bounce" to Austin in a big, big way. If you're not familiar the "Sissy Bounce" is basically shaking your ass like it's your job and for at least 8 people on stage it WAS there job. Freedia rolled in with a posse of dancers who's dancing could only be described as pornographic and I was loving every minute of it. People were invited on stage to join in on the chaos and it was like an ass-induced frenzy. Even Austin's-own dinosaur music journalist Andy Langer was spotted in the wings shooting asses with his personal digital camera. He must have a hip, young intern who told him to show up to see Big Freedia.

Speaking of people I didn't expect to spot near the Blue stage. I spied the producer for Austin City Limits Television Terry Gross Lickona watching all of Pharoahe Monch mind-blowing, high-energy set from the wings. Slick Rick could have taken a few notes from Pharoahe about how to bring energy to a performance. Just because you're a hip-hop legend doesn't make it acceptable to stand center-stage with a hand in your pocket while you mumble the lyrics to your songs. They could have hung a bunch of ridiculously gawdy jewelry on a coat-wrack with an iPod playing his tunes and it would have been equally entertaining.

I was quite pleased with the reaction that Delorean received on the Blue stage as well, they had a large crowd jumping and pulsating to their house-beats throughout their 45 minute set. They were one of my favorite acts of SXSW this year so it was nice to see them reaching a larger audience. On the other hand I really wish more people had caught Dominique Young Unique who was so sassy, so funny and small enough to fit in your pocket. As an example of here sass, Matt Shiv from Austinist Music asked her as she was exiting the stage, "When can we expect an album?" Her response was simply, "I don't know, when can we?" [insert awww snap]

Since I had seen both Man Man and Deerhunter in the past I opted not to catch their performances at the Orange stage, which I now regret. Seems like they both put on amazing performances from the spoog-in-pants tweets I read later. I'm not too worried though, chances are both artists will be in Austin clubs within 3-6 months.

I'm not going to get into low-lights too much I will just note that it was very dusty at the fest this year, which is better than rain + mud like last year. The other thing that bothered me was some intense sound-bleeding from the Black stage to the Orange stage early in the day on Sunday. I was trying to enjoy Magic Kids but the noise from Peelander Z made that difficult. In defense of the Black stage, Magic Kids cringe-inducing harmonies ALSO made it difficult to enjoy them. I look forward to catching their next performance in an Austin club though because I really do love their music and I feel like their performances will only get better.

So, my conclusions regarding Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010:
I loved the Misprint magazine guide to the fest.

I want to marry Kebabalicious and feel like next year they should have 5 trailers scattered around both backstage and in the crowd.

I want to be besties with Graham, Moody, and the rest of the Transmission Entertainment monkeys who made the fest a reality.

I want to have clearance to shoot video of whomever, wherever I want.

I want an All-Access pass next year so I can wander on stage at will.

Sorry for such a wordy post, congratulations if you've made it this far, you're more literate that 68% of blog readers and 92% of the general American populace. If you want to see lots of bad-ass pictures from the festival check out Ulovei and/or the aforementioned "Power-blogger", BrooklynVegan.

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