Tomorrow night you can catch one of Nashville's greatest indie and/or lo--fi bands Turbo Fruits at Red 7. Their latest album Echo Kid has three tracks available for free download on their Bandcamp page and you can get their latest single for free over at My Old Kentucky Blog. That track's called Keepin' On and is available as a 7" from Turbo Time Records. If you're interested in checking out Turbo Fruits at Red 7 tomorrow night tickets are still available and will set you back merely $8.
Turbo Fruits - Where the Stars Don't Shine video via YouTube
Turbo Fruits - Get Up, Get On Down video via YouTube
Sharing the bill with Turbo Fruits tomorrow night, are their friends and label-mates Pujol. Well, to be honest, I don't really know whether or not they are friends but if they're not let's hope after this tour that they will at least be contemporaries if not compadres. Being that they're sharing a tour and a label you can expect a similar style. Not, the same sound mind you but just a similar vibe. If you liked the above Turbo Fruits' songs, chances are you'll enjoy the musical-styling of Pujol as well. I'll let you be the judge though.
Pujol - Butterflyknife video via YouTube
Incidentally, this blogger does NOT recommend "playing with a butterfly knife". I'm also not convinced that should be one word, but who am I to judge? Oh, that's right I'm a blogger, it's my job to be a judgemental ass-wipe. Isn't it?
Pujol - Black Rabbit video via YouTube
Starting thing off will be bad-ass, local band the Dikes of Holland. You MIGHT remember them from that Casual Victim Pile compilation that Matador Records put out. They've got an LP that was released last month available to purchase if you click their name at the top of this paragraph and/or you can buy that comp by clicking that link (obvs).
Dikes of Holland - No Desire video via YouTube
It should also be noted that Gerard Cosley, the dude who curated that Casual Victim Pile compilation, once referred to me as an, "...ambulance-chasing troll" on Twitter, which pretty much makes me famous.
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Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Gay Blades & The Midgetmen
Don't be confused the Gay Blades w/the Midgetmen is not pornographic franchise...yet. It's actually the bill for Emo's inside stage tonight. the Gay Blades came all the way from New Jersey just to beat-up the beat here in Austin. They define their sound as "trash-pop", which you should have surmised from their name and they are known to put on a great show. Tickets for said show are a mere $8, which is quite a steal.
In anticipation of their tour the Gay Blades composed songs for the cities they would be visiting. Here's the song they composed for Austin, it is referential, clever and fitting in tone for our fair city.
the Gay Blades - Britt Daniel Stole My Girl video via YouTube
I didn't realize the Midgetmen were a band until recently I just though they were a very clever Twitter-collective for my entertainment. I kid, I kid. The Midgetmen have been toiling away in Austin's over-crowded, under-appreciated LOCAL music scene for about 8 years playing all those other clubs, while you're watching all of the little touring bands that Pitchfork tells you to love! That moment of indignation was dedicated to the Midgetmen, did you guys like that?
Anyway, these guys do straight-ahead rock 'n roll. It's sometimes clever and sometimes classic but always better than my band. Get there early if you want to catch there full set because I'm pretty sure they're the first of three bands. Incidentally, did you know the Club sandwich is named for the club car on a train?
the Midgetmen - Club Sandwich video via YouTube
Oh, in case you're wondering, the other band on the bill is called Devil in the Drink. I don't know for a fact but chances are they go on at 11p, since they're the middle act and the doors open at 9p.
Read more!
In anticipation of their tour the Gay Blades composed songs for the cities they would be visiting. Here's the song they composed for Austin, it is referential, clever and fitting in tone for our fair city.
the Gay Blades - Britt Daniel Stole My Girl video via YouTube
I didn't realize the Midgetmen were a band until recently I just though they were a very clever Twitter-collective for my entertainment. I kid, I kid. The Midgetmen have been toiling away in Austin's over-crowded, under-appreciated LOCAL music scene for about 8 years playing all those other clubs, while you're watching all of the little touring bands that Pitchfork tells you to love! That moment of indignation was dedicated to the Midgetmen, did you guys like that?
Anyway, these guys do straight-ahead rock 'n roll. It's sometimes clever and sometimes classic but always better than my band. Get there early if you want to catch there full set because I'm pretty sure they're the first of three bands. Incidentally, did you know the Club sandwich is named for the club car on a train?
the Midgetmen - Club Sandwich video via YouTube
Oh, in case you're wondering, the other band on the bill is called Devil in the Drink. I don't know for a fact but chances are they go on at 11p, since they're the middle act and the doors open at 9p.
Read more!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Year-End Lists
As a music-fan/blogger-douche I adore year-end lists. Top 10 local albums, top albums, best songs of the year, best shows, best list etc. This time of year it seems as though everyone has a list for something music-related and I like that. However, I find it annoying that Kanye West's latest LP seems to be topping so many lists this year. First Rolling Stone magazine (remember Rolling Stone?) gave the album 5 stars, then Bitchfork gave it a 10.0 and now all sorts of media outlets are calling it the best album of the year. Now, I know that no publicity is bad publicity so I'm actually promoting the LP simply by writing this bitch-fest but I have a hard time believing that of every album that came out this year it is the best. We can all agree that musical tastes are quite subjective and calling one piece of art better than another is pretty silly but let me give you my top 10 reasons why it won't be topping this blogger's list. In fact, even though I truly enjoy the album I won't be including it in my top 10 albums of the year out of shear principle. With that I give you my 10 reasons why I won't be adding My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to any best of list on this site.
10. Self-Indulgence
Runaway is a great song, it's catch it has a good hook the production is nice but 9+ minutes?!?! I mean, the first 20 seconds is the same note! Also, I don't know about you but once it hits about minute marker 5:45 I just skip to the next track. That outro is just aural masturbation. The video for Runaway, which lasts roughly 35 minutes is the perfect example of Kanye's self-indulgence:
Kanye West - Runaway video via YouTube
9. So Appalled
The 7th track on the LP entitled, So Appalled has several emcees, none of whom can properly pronounce the word, "ridiculous", which is both ironic and irritates me SO much I have to skip the track. I know it's a silly reason but it's a reason why the LP doesn't deserve perfect marks from lazy reviewers.
8. Faux self-deprecation
I'm going back to Runaway on this one again. Even when Kanye is being self-deprecating he's saluting himself. You can't humble yourself and toast yourself simultaneously even if it's tongue-in-cheek. It's like saying, "Sorry you were insulted by what I said." That's not the same as an apology.
7. The Cover-Art
This reason requires no explanation, does this look like the artwork for the best album of the year to you?
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6. Pairing Rihanna w/a song in which you hit a woman
The song I'm referring to is track 5 called All of the Lights. The chorus is sung by Rihanna and one of the first lyrics is, "...I slap my girl, she call the Feds..." Ummm, even though Kanye is in character in this song I just find that to be in poor taste to say the least. Also, it's not the only reference to violence against women on the album.
5. Hell of a Life
It's not that track 10 is terrible but it certainly wouldn't be on the best album of the year.
4. You made John Legend sing what?!?!
Like many people, I adore John Legend. He is featured on the track the Blame Game and hearing him sing "I'll call you bitch for short, as a last resort and my first resort, you call me motherfucker for long..." just seems like a waste of his talents.
3. TLDR
For those of you who don't know what TLDR means, it stands for "Too Long Didn't Read". When I notice that almost have the songs on your album approach and/or breach the 6 minute mark I'm thinking at least 90 seconds of most of those songs are just wasting my time.
2. Wasting Bon Iver
So, you get Justin Vernon to guest on your record and all you do is bury his vocals and then sample a song of his that uses Auto-Tune? How did this collaboration even occur? Hey, you like Auto-Tune? I like Auto-Tune too! Let's hang out. The first time I heard the beat kick in on Lost in the World it just made me laugh. You made a disco, club-banger out of a beautiful, delicate song? Really?
1. Over-use of the word pussy
From the 2-3 minute sample of Chris Rock going on and on about pussy to Kanye's line about "Pussy and religion is all I need" as a gay man and a feminist I'm sooo over the subjugation of women on this album. You know Kanye surrounding that pussy is a woman, she has a brain and most likely a family and she has emotions too. To quote Kanye himself on this, and other issues of feminist theory: "I don’t know what it is with females, but I’m not too good at that shit"
In conclusion yes I just dedicated an entire post to critique the latest Kanye West LP but what I'm REALLY critiquing is the human-centipede-esque best of lists this year. It's like one magazine is eating and shitting in to the mouth of the next and so on and they're all drawing the same conclusions. I do enjoy Kanye's latest and greatest effort but I don't find it to be the best LP of the year and I think all of these media outlets ranking it number one have short attention-spans to put it lightly. The ten reasons above are why it won't even appear in my 10 best albums of the year list. Also, I just dedicated this entire post to promoting the LP, so I don't really need to include it in any lists, right?
Oh, and Kanye, if you're reading this, you obviously have too much time on your hands, no one reads this website. Don't take yourself so seriously.
Read more!
10. Self-Indulgence
Runaway is a great song, it's catch it has a good hook the production is nice but 9+ minutes?!?! I mean, the first 20 seconds is the same note! Also, I don't know about you but once it hits about minute marker 5:45 I just skip to the next track. That outro is just aural masturbation. The video for Runaway, which lasts roughly 35 minutes is the perfect example of Kanye's self-indulgence:
Kanye West - Runaway video via YouTube
9. So Appalled
The 7th track on the LP entitled, So Appalled has several emcees, none of whom can properly pronounce the word, "ridiculous", which is both ironic and irritates me SO much I have to skip the track. I know it's a silly reason but it's a reason why the LP doesn't deserve perfect marks from lazy reviewers.
8. Faux self-deprecation
I'm going back to Runaway on this one again. Even when Kanye is being self-deprecating he's saluting himself. You can't humble yourself and toast yourself simultaneously even if it's tongue-in-cheek. It's like saying, "Sorry you were insulted by what I said." That's not the same as an apology.
7. The Cover-Art
This reason requires no explanation, does this look like the artwork for the best album of the year to you?
6. Pairing Rihanna w/a song in which you hit a woman
The song I'm referring to is track 5 called All of the Lights. The chorus is sung by Rihanna and one of the first lyrics is, "...I slap my girl, she call the Feds..." Ummm, even though Kanye is in character in this song I just find that to be in poor taste to say the least. Also, it's not the only reference to violence against women on the album.
5. Hell of a Life
It's not that track 10 is terrible but it certainly wouldn't be on the best album of the year.
4. You made John Legend sing what?!?!
Like many people, I adore John Legend. He is featured on the track the Blame Game and hearing him sing "I'll call you bitch for short, as a last resort and my first resort, you call me motherfucker for long..." just seems like a waste of his talents.
3. TLDR
For those of you who don't know what TLDR means, it stands for "Too Long Didn't Read". When I notice that almost have the songs on your album approach and/or breach the 6 minute mark I'm thinking at least 90 seconds of most of those songs are just wasting my time.
2. Wasting Bon Iver
So, you get Justin Vernon to guest on your record and all you do is bury his vocals and then sample a song of his that uses Auto-Tune? How did this collaboration even occur? Hey, you like Auto-Tune? I like Auto-Tune too! Let's hang out. The first time I heard the beat kick in on Lost in the World it just made me laugh. You made a disco, club-banger out of a beautiful, delicate song? Really?
1. Over-use of the word pussy
From the 2-3 minute sample of Chris Rock going on and on about pussy to Kanye's line about "Pussy and religion is all I need" as a gay man and a feminist I'm sooo over the subjugation of women on this album. You know Kanye surrounding that pussy is a woman, she has a brain and most likely a family and she has emotions too. To quote Kanye himself on this, and other issues of feminist theory: "I don’t know what it is with females, but I’m not too good at that shit"
In conclusion yes I just dedicated an entire post to critique the latest Kanye West LP but what I'm REALLY critiquing is the human-centipede-esque best of lists this year. It's like one magazine is eating and shitting in to the mouth of the next and so on and they're all drawing the same conclusions. I do enjoy Kanye's latest and greatest effort but I don't find it to be the best LP of the year and I think all of these media outlets ranking it number one have short attention-spans to put it lightly. The ten reasons above are why it won't even appear in my 10 best albums of the year list. Also, I just dedicated this entire post to promoting the LP, so I don't really need to include it in any lists, right?
Oh, and Kanye, if you're reading this, you obviously have too much time on your hands, no one reads this website. Don't take yourself so seriously.
Read more!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
So Much Friday Action
Well y'all, in typical Austin-fashion, there are several great happenings tomorrow evening both locally-focused and touring. DJ Spooky is in town, playing Aces Lounge courtesy of our friends over at Knuckle Rumbler. Somehow, tickets to this event are still available, but Aces isn't the biggest venue so I'd get on that, also you have less than 8 hours to purchase them for the advance price of roughly $15.
Dj Spooky - Vertov Enthusiasm: Sinfonia Donbassa video via YouTube
A few blocks away Austin's-own What Made Milwaukee Famous will be taking the stage at Antone's with the White White Lights sharing the bill as well. You can grab tickets for that show for a mere $10. Doors are at 9:30 for the Antone's show and Frank Smith will be kicking things off at 10:00p.
Frank Smith - Out of Air and Turning Blue video via YouTube
Away from the downtown scene my friends at KVRX are presenting their Holiday Show at the United States Arts Authority. Proceeds for this show benefit the Austin Yellow Bike Project so even if you're not interested in staying for the whole event it would still be cool to pop in just to help out the Yellow Bike folks, just sayin. The line-up for the Holiday Show features some great up-and-coming local and local-ish acts that deserve your attention. This line-up is not set in stone but I have it on pretty good authority if you are planning to attend a few shows tomorrow night that these are the set-times as of now:
Brackett & Co. - Feeling Down video via YouTube
Read more!
Dj Spooky - Vertov Enthusiasm: Sinfonia Donbassa video via YouTube
A few blocks away Austin's-own What Made Milwaukee Famous will be taking the stage at Antone's with the White White Lights sharing the bill as well. You can grab tickets for that show for a mere $10. Doors are at 9:30 for the Antone's show and Frank Smith will be kicking things off at 10:00p.
Frank Smith - Out of Air and Turning Blue video via YouTube
Away from the downtown scene my friends at KVRX are presenting their Holiday Show at the United States Arts Authority. Proceeds for this show benefit the Austin Yellow Bike Project so even if you're not interested in staying for the whole event it would still be cool to pop in just to help out the Yellow Bike folks, just sayin. The line-up for the Holiday Show features some great up-and-coming local and local-ish acts that deserve your attention. This line-up is not set in stone but I have it on pretty good authority if you are planning to attend a few shows tomorrow night that these are the set-times as of now:
- 8:15 Western Ghost House
- 9:00 Milk Thistle
- 9:45 Mermaid Blonde
- 10:30 Bitter Birds
- 11:05 Mother Falcon
- 12:15AM Monarchs
- 1:AM Brackett & Co.
Brackett & Co. - Feeling Down video via YouTube
Read more!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Free Show at le Scoot Tomorrow
Those of you who know me, know I love free stuff and I'm guessing that you feel the same way. It's with that spirit of gratis that I offer you this RSVP link to see Shapes Have Fangs at the Scoot Inn. The show is sponsored by Sailor Jerry's spiced rum, so who knows maybe the entry fee won't be the only free-ness you experience at the show? If you've never seen Shapes Have Fangs you can expect some jangly, Nuggets-style psychedelic rock 'n roll. You might even stash them in the same bin with another great Austin band, the Strange Boys but maybe with a LITTLE less reverb. Just a little less though.
Shapes Have Fangs - the Desert video via YouTube
Joining Shapes Have Fangs on the bill will be more psychedlic rock from another Austin band in the form of Rayon Beach. I wouldn't put them in the same grouping as Shapes Have Fangs simply because they don't sound as retro to me. Their sound has more sampling, layering and the like. It's not a big leap though from one band to the other, you're definitely going to get your Psych on at the Scoot Wednesday night.
Rayon Beach - Memory Teeth video via YouTube
Bad Sports are traveling down from Denton to play tomorrow night's show. They use lots of reverb on the vocals and their sound is retro but I wouldn't, necessarily, call it psych-rock. To me it has too much chugga-chugga guitar to be psych-rock. It's kind of like if the Donnas were dudes who liked reverby vocals. The Ramones? We'll let you decide!
Bad Sports - All the Time video via YouTube
So, if you want to go out on a Wednesday night and let's face it, you do, don't forget to RSVP at the top of this post and head on over to the Scoot Inn.
Read more!
Shapes Have Fangs - the Desert video via YouTube
Joining Shapes Have Fangs on the bill will be more psychedlic rock from another Austin band in the form of Rayon Beach. I wouldn't put them in the same grouping as Shapes Have Fangs simply because they don't sound as retro to me. Their sound has more sampling, layering and the like. It's not a big leap though from one band to the other, you're definitely going to get your Psych on at the Scoot Wednesday night.
Rayon Beach - Memory Teeth video via YouTube
Bad Sports are traveling down from Denton to play tomorrow night's show. They use lots of reverb on the vocals and their sound is retro but I wouldn't, necessarily, call it psych-rock. To me it has too much chugga-chugga guitar to be psych-rock. It's kind of like if the Donnas were dudes who liked reverby vocals. The Ramones? We'll let you decide!
Bad Sports - All the Time video via YouTube
So, if you want to go out on a Wednesday night and let's face it, you do, don't forget to RSVP at the top of this post and head on over to the Scoot Inn.
Read more!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thank you Austin and Beyond! +Random Vids!
When I initially heard about the Austin Blogger Awards I thought it was a very cool idea and very nice of Republic of Austin to give props to those who might, otherwise, go un-noticed. When I filled out the nomination form the only category I thought I had a chance in was the "Best Twitter" category. Unfortunately I was not nominated for best twitter. I guess not everyone is as interested in what Miss Paws is up to as I am. However, somehow I ended up being a nominee in the "Best Overall Music" category. The overall distinguishes my site from the sites that focus more on Austin music, like my personal fav 'Nites Blog or the winner from the local music category, Austin Town Hall.
Friday night, at the Austin Bleet-Up, the awards were announced and thanks to people like you this humble, little, poorly laid-out, one-man-show of a music site was awarded "Best Overall Music Blog". I don't really know how it happened and I'm not going to try to figure it out. I'm just going to say thanks to those of you who voted for me. To those of you who didn't vote for me, thanks for voting for someone else. To those of you who didn't vote at all, way to represent America.
Twin Shadow - Shooting Holes at the Moon video via YouTube
In the meantime, in addition to this blog and my Twitter account I can be stalked on F*c*book and I also have a slightly illegal YouTube channel. The above video is from said slightly illegal channel and features an artist who will, most likely, be featured on my best of 2010 list to be published later this year. You can also look forward (or not) to a special guest best of 2010 list from a certain someone special later in the month.
You can check out all of the winners in this Austin 360 post. You can find all of the nominees here. Also, I expect there will be lots of coverage over at the Republic of Austin and/or Austin Eavesdropper and/or Ultra8201 (Who probably would have won best music blog if they hadn't been a sponsor of the event, thus disqualifying themselves from said award). And/or back at the Austin Blogger Awards site itself.
the Authors - Never Know video via YouTube
I feel very lucky to live in a city whose peers encourage each other rather than cut each other down. Austin truly is a collaborative, inspiring and energetic city and I am most certainly glad I moved here. Sorry, Maine I love you but if I may quote Job from Arrested Development, "C'Mon!"
Read more!
Friday night, at the Austin Bleet-Up, the awards were announced and thanks to people like you this humble, little, poorly laid-out, one-man-show of a music site was awarded "Best Overall Music Blog". I don't really know how it happened and I'm not going to try to figure it out. I'm just going to say thanks to those of you who voted for me. To those of you who didn't vote for me, thanks for voting for someone else. To those of you who didn't vote at all, way to represent America.
Twin Shadow - Shooting Holes at the Moon video via YouTube
In the meantime, in addition to this blog and my Twitter account I can be stalked on F*c*book and I also have a slightly illegal YouTube channel. The above video is from said slightly illegal channel and features an artist who will, most likely, be featured on my best of 2010 list to be published later this year. You can also look forward (or not) to a special guest best of 2010 list from a certain someone special later in the month.
You can check out all of the winners in this Austin 360 post. You can find all of the nominees here. Also, I expect there will be lots of coverage over at the Republic of Austin and/or Austin Eavesdropper and/or Ultra8201 (Who probably would have won best music blog if they hadn't been a sponsor of the event, thus disqualifying themselves from said award). And/or back at the Austin Blogger Awards site itself.
the Authors - Never Know video via YouTube
I feel very lucky to live in a city whose peers encourage each other rather than cut each other down. Austin truly is a collaborative, inspiring and energetic city and I am most certainly glad I moved here. Sorry, Maine I love you but if I may quote Job from Arrested Development, "C'Mon!"
Read more!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
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.
Read more!
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.
Read more!
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.
Read more!
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.
Read more!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
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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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
Read more!
Monday, November 29, 2010
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
Read more!
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
Read more!
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