ACL Festival Preview: Gardens & Villa

I'm not suggesting that the members of Gardens & Villa have ever smoked pot but I am suggesting that they make lovely, stoner-vibes music. I also know that they hail from sunny California and that these stoner-vibes could also be beach-vibes that I associate with being high. Regardless, their Self-Titled album came out last year and it was one of my favorite releases of 2011. It sounds contemporary while also sounding like the best Talking Heads record that was never made. It's experimental yet still accesible, will melodies that will bore their way into your brain. You will have to get to the park relatively early to catch Gardens & Villa on Saturday. They play the BMI stage at 2pm and I'm not going to lie, this set time will also be featured in my upcoming Conflicts post because they are up against another band I'm a fan of.


Gardens & Villa - Black Hills video via YouTube

This weekend may be your last chance to see Gardens & Villa in Austin for a bit, as I expect they'll be heading back to the studio to record a follow-up record. In other words, you don't want to miss them at ACL Fest on Saturday.

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ACL Festival Preview: Oberhofer

Photo Credit: Sebastian Mlynarski

You may, or may not recall that I featured Oberhofer as a band to be on the look-out for during SXSW this year. Well, they're back and I'm here to remind you that they are still a band worth seeing. Chances are you've heard their music in a recent smartphone commercial. It's the one in which the girl takes a video of a band playing on a rooftop and then she sends it to her other friends who are also at the same show, watching the same band on the same rooftop. It's not a great commercial but that song is perfection and if you assholes won't buy their record, they have to get money from somewhere right?

Speaking of their album, Oberhofer's latest full-length record is called, Time Capsules II and it's out now on Glassnote. That's the same label that brought you Phoenix and your precious Mumford & Sons. In other words, they know music and you should pay attention.


Oberhofer - Away Frm U video via YouTube

You can see Oberhofer at ACL Festival on Saturday afternoon. They take to the Barton Springs Stage at 3pm. If you can't make it to this set and/or you won't be attending ACL Fest, you'll have a second chance to see Oberhofer in Austin this month. They are currently touring with Matt and Kim and that tour will bring them back to Austin when they play Stubb's on October 20th. There are still a limited number of tickets available for that Stubb's show.

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ACL Festival Preview: First Aid Kit

Photo Credit: Neil Krug

If you've been reading this site for awhile then you may recall that I featured, Swedish band, First Aid Kit the last time they played ACL Festival. Like many people, I was first introduced to the band when they posted their cover of Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. Their beautiful harmonies and tender performance immediately won me over. Their latest record, The Lion's Roar has earned them a lot of buzz. They are getting airplay on Adult Contemporary radio and people are starting to know who they are. Their time-slot is still quite early on in the festival considering how their star has risen since their last time playing ACL Fest. You can catch First Aid Kit Friday, on the Honda Stage at 1:15pm. Having seen them before, I can assure you that seeing them perform is worth the hassle of getting to Zilker early.


First Aid Kit - Wolf video via YouTube

I know there are people who feel like they can't go to ACL Fest from gates open until gate close but since I am focused on seeing smaller bands on the rise, I recommend that if you're going to cut your day short, leave during the headliners and catch the early bands. Not only will you have less crowd to deal with at the beginning of the day, you'll have an easier time getting out of the festival if you leave during the headliners.

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ACL Festival Preview: Infantree

Are you one of those people who doesn't like to miss a moment of ACL Festival? If you're someone who likes to be at the gates the moment they open then you will be amongst those lucky enough to catch a set from Infantree. This California band doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar yet but you know who is already a fan? Neil fucking Young that's who. He chose Infantree to tour with him, which is partly how they ended up playing ACL Festival to begin with. It's difficult to define Infantree's sound but I would say they walk that fine line between jam band and roots-rock, think early My Morning Jacket with a slightly more laid-back stoner vibe and you're getting close. Their latest record is called Hero's Dose and you can listen to the whole thing now on Spotify.


Infantree - Here Goes Nothing video via YouTube

As I mentioned above the break, if you want to see Infantree at ACL Fest you'll have to arrive at Zilker early. They play the Austin Ventures stage at 11:20am on Friday the 12th. That means they are the first band to play that stage this year. If you can't make it to the park that early on Friday don't fret, I'm sure they'll be back in Austin before you know it, just keep your eyes peeled for their next show.

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Dinosaur Jr. with Shearwater

Well kiddos, as expected, tomorrow night's Dinosaur Jr. show at the Mohawk is sold-out. Their latest record I Bet on the Sky was released last month and it's the first new record from the band in 3 years. For better or for worse, the newest record still sounds like 90's college rock. Don't get that confused with the complete and total bullshit 90's "alt rock" you'll here on 101x. Dinosaur Jr. helped define a genre for a generation, they played louder, they melded styles and influences and they managed to excite audiences while sounding bored. In other words, they are your prototypical 90's-era college rockers. They're a bit aged now but they haven't compromised their aesthetic and rumor has it that their as loud as ever. If you missed out on your chance to see Dinosaur Jr. at the Mohawk Thursday, you should at least listen to their latest LP.


Dinosaur Jr. - Watch the Corners video via YouTube

It's sort of a strange pairing to have Shearwater open for Dinosaur Jr.. One band plays grinding, visceral guitar music, the other band features a dulcimer. I'm a big fan of Shearwater and I think their 2012 release Animal Life is one of their best to date. However, when you consider that Shearwater started as a side-project to feature the songs that were too quiet for Okkervil River it does seem like maybe Dinosaur Jr. + Shearwater might be a bit strange. I will say that Animal Life is much more rollicking than their previous releases. I also imagine this new song cycle takes on an even more energetic tone in the live setting. Although, I suppose any doubts I had about this pairing were quelled when I remembered how fucking balls-to-the-wall the song Immaculate is.



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ACL Festival Preview: The War on Drugs

Photo Credit: Graham Tolbert

It seem crazy that Austin City Limits Festival is almost upon is but it is. Two weeks from right now the whole thing will be but a memory. That means you have less than two weeks to do all of your homework. Hopefully, if you're reading this blog you are already well aware of The War on Drugs. This Philadelphia-based band makes some of the best straight-ahead rock 'n roll of our generation. Kurt Vile used to be in The War on Drugs but has since split off to become an indie-star in his own right. Slave Ambient is the latest LP from The War on Drugs and it is their best effort to date. It was released last year and the band has been touring in support of it ever since. When I saw them perform at the Mohawk during SXSW this year, their performance was truly transcendent. It is music that will make you want to quit your job and start smoking cigarettes just so you can light up while driving down the open road, the setting sun in your rear view. This is Neil Young music for the modern man.


The War on Drugs - Baby Missiles video via YouTube


Don't take my word for it though, watch The War on Drugs at ACL Fest. They play the Bud Light stage at 2:30pm on Friday, October 12th. It's very early in the festival and could be a great tone-setter for your whole weekend. Their set does overlap with Delta Spirit, which will be a tough choice for some people but as someone who has seen both bands perform live I STRONGLY suggest you choose The War on Drugs.

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Menomena and PVT at the Parish

Whenever a good touring act is booked at the Parish an angel gets its wings. I'm not privy to all of the politics of booking a show in Austin but I get the feeling that touring bands only get booked there if they specifically request it. With that all said, I'm thinking Menomena specifically requested they play The Parish on their trip through Austin. Their latest record Moms has been out for a month and it continues in the same logical progression from where we last left Menomena. It's a Wednesday night show so dirty 6th won't be in full-on frat-dog mode and you won't have to pay for a parking meter until midnight. Factor in one of the Pacific-Northwest's best touring bands in the best sounding room in the city and you're looking at a great way to spend a Wednesday night. Tickets are only $16, which could be considered a bit steep but I had the chance to see Menomena at SXSW and they are truly phenomenal performers so you should really consider prying open your wallet for this show.


Menomena - Pique video via YouTube

Playing the opening slot for Menomena Wednesday night at the Parish will be PVT. They used to be signed to Warp Records but they have jumped to a more indie, indie label for their next album, which isn't due out until next year. I had the pleasure of listening to half of the upcoming album and I think this is a really good pairing for Menomena. It's musically adventurous, driving, music that will make you want to move. I wouldn't call it dance music but it isn't, sit in a dark room with headphones on music either. Listen to the first single from the upcoming album and decide for yourself:


PVT - Shiver video via YouTube

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Cheap Curls at the Mohawk

Tonight, the Mohawk's inside stage is going to be pumping out some fast and dirty indie-rock courtesy of those fine folks over at Art Fag Recordings. Former Dum Dum Girl and current member of Cheap Curls, Katie, recently released her Jackie Oh EP and in celebration the Mohawk is throwing a party. Cheap Curls is a band that will be sure to catch national buzz and they're based right here in Austin so attending tonight's show supports your local music scene while earning you made hipster-points on a national scale. You can't legitimately say you were there when Cheap Curls played the inside stage at the Mohawk unless you attend tonight's show.



Tonight's show is in celebration of the release of the Cheap Curls EP but the full line-up is excellent. Foreign Mothers have been catching a lot of local buzz for their solid songwriting and fun live shows. They describe their sound as, "If Gang of Four were stoners." It's an apt description.

Check out the full line-up on the poster below:

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Rubblebucket and Reptar

I can not think of a better cure for your hump-day blues than tonight's show at Beauty Ballroom. Two of indie-rock's most energetic live performers will be sharing the stage to make help you dance all of that alcohol out of your system. The last time I saw Rubblebucket they had robots in the crowd and there was impromptu face-painting of the crowd while the band performed. They ended their set by walking through the crowd while playing, leading the whole circus to the merch table where they hung out, chatted and signed things. Their latest release is the Oversaturated EP, which is available digitally or you can grab the 10" at the show tonight. Tickets for tonight are still available or you can pay the cover at the door but it MAY sell-out so if you're interested you should just buy your ticket now.


Rubblebucket - (Focus) Oversaturated video via YouTube

Reptar will be sharing the bill with Rubblebucket tonight and their live set is slightly more punk than party. It's not that they sound like a punk band it's that they put their entire beings into each performance, throwing themselves around the stage and generally freaking the fuck out. If you have never seen them perform live then you should not miss tonight's show. They have been through Austin several times in the last couple of years and each time there are more hardcore fans in attendance, which just ups the ante on the energy of the performance. Reptar's latest record is called Body Faucet, it's one of the most interesting indie-rock releases of 2012 thus far and certainly worth a listen whether you plan on attending tonight's show or not.



Rubblebucket actually released a remix of a Reptar song so, it's possible we'll see a bit of on-stage collaboration tonight? That's merely conjecture though. I have no information on whether or not they two bands actually perform together.



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The Soft Pack Return to Austin

Los Angeles-based band, The Soft Pack are the originators when it comes to indie-rock bands changing their names. At this point that has nothing to do with anything though. Since their last release The Soft Pack have fallen off the blog-buzz-o-sphere but they haven't changed their sound in any significant way. They haven't been arrested for beating their girlfriends *cough*Surfer Blood*cough,* they have simply fallen victim to the music industry in the 21st Century. There seems to be very little logic to what makes one band buzzy/popular/successful and what makes another band "irrelevant." The Soft Pack still make energetic, jangly, rock band with great melodies and catchy lyrics. I supported The Soft Pack when they released their last LP and damnit I'm going to support them now! Their next LP is called Strapped and it comes out tomorrow, which is also the day they play Red 7. Tickets for tomorrow night's show are only $10 but they go up to $12 if you wait until the day of the show to make your purchase.


The Soft Pack - Tallboy video via YouTube

Tomorrow night's show is on Red 7's inside stage with The Shivery Shakes starting things off. The doors aren't even open until 9pm, which means your looking at The Soft Pack's set starting around midnight. You'll catch Heavy Hawaii playing the 11pm slot doing their indie-pop, California surf-rock thing right before The Soft Pack.

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