Photos: Divine Fits and Cold Cave

I am so lucky that one of Austin's best show photographers, Pooneh Ghana agreed to cover last night's Dracula-themed Halloween show with Divine Fits and Cold Cave at Stubb's. She takes some of the most beautiful concert photos ever, which you will see below and she actually has an exhibit of her work along with a couple of other great local photographers at Red 7 on November 9th. If you like these photos, you should be there. For now gaze upon the glory of musicians captured on film. Click any photo to view in a larger gallery format.

Cold Cave:

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Conflicts

One of my favorite posts to write whenever there are impending festivals is the "Conflicts" posts. This is where I pour over the schedule and identify the spots in which you're going to have to do some Rosemary's baby kinda shit to decide which artist you want to catch. Now FunFunFun Fest makes things a bit easier on you because it's RELATIVELY easy to move between stages AND they have the free Nites shows to supplement your viewing pleasures. Below the break you'll find my personal conflicts in the line-up. I generally don't drift to the Black stage very often but for those of you who do there are even more conflicts to deal with. For the bands playing a Nites event you'll find a + after their name.


Run DMC - King of Rock video via YouTube

Friday

• Yellow Ostrich+ VS. Orthy at 12:30pm
• Dum Dum Girls VS. Icona Pop+ at 1:50pm
• Diamond Rings VS. Sharon Van Etten at 3:25pm
• Bob Mould VS. Astronautalis+ VS. Converge VS. Hannibal Buress at 5:00ish
• Santigold VS. Bun B VS. Xat
• Run DMC VS. Twin Sister at 9:00pm-ish

Saturday

• Love Inks VS. The Golden Boys at
• Brendon Benson VS. Daughn Gibson+ at 1:45pm
• Helio Sequence VS. Anamanaguchi at 2:30pm
• Surfer Blood+ VS. Tanlines VS. Off! VS. David Cross at 4:45pm-ish
• Paul Banks VS. Schoolboy Q at 5:30pm
• PiL VS. The Sword at
• Girl Talk VS. A$AP Rocky VS. Refused VS. Diamond Rugs at 9:00pm

Sunday

• Nicky Da B+ VS. Bleached+ at 2:00pm
• A Place to Bury Strangers VS. Nite Jewel+ at 3:00pm
• Trust+ VS. Givers VS. Japandroids at 4:30pm
• De La Soul VS. Explosions in the Sky VS. Fucked Up VS. Atlas Sound at 8:00pm

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Surfer Blood

It was the fall of 2009 when Surfer Blood first made waves at CMJ Fest (you see what I did there?) I had the opportunity to see them at Beerland, which is where I met Mr. S. They were a band with a lot of buzz on their way to the west coast to capitalize on their CMJ victories. It was the first show I was every guest listed for and it was the beginning of something new for all of us. Since then Surfer Blood were signed to Warner Brothers Records, Mr. S. and I started dating seriously, I have been guest listed for many more things and line-up changes have been a plentiful for Surfer Blood. One of their members has been arrested in Florida (America's trashiest state and the band's home) and they have yet to release a follow-up LP to their early 2010 album Astro Coast. In some ways FunFunFun Fest is an unlikely booking but in other ways it is a perfect fit.

Their follow-up LP is due to be released by WB in the spring and chances are the lads will be back in Austin for SXSW 2013. You'll find Surfer Blood on the Orange stage at 4:25p, Saturday of FunFunFun Fest.


Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes video via YouTube


Surfer Blood's set on Saturday is up against some other great acts at Fun Fest. I recommend you head to the Mohawk on Friday night to see them play the outside stage at 11pm. All you need to get in is your festival wristband.

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Icona Pop

I can't believe FunFunFun Fest starts in 2 days! I feel like there is so much to prepare for and so little time left to do so. I wanted to highlight Swedish-Pop duo Icona Pop for your listening pleasure. Their appearances in Austin will probably be your last chance to see them in a smaller setting. You may not know their name but you've certainly heard their single I Love It. It's the song that plays through the trailer for Fun Size and the song also features one of my other Fun Fest highlight artists, Charli XCX (*update* It appears as though Charli XCX has mysteriously disappeared from the festival line-up *update*). So far the duo has only released a couple of EPs but at this point the release of their full-length LP is hotly anticipated. You can find Icona Pop on the Blue stage Friday afternoon at 1:50pm.


Icona Pop - I Love It featuring Charli XCX

With the early set time on Friday, I'm sure there are many of you who won't be able to get to Auditorium Shores in time to see Icona Pop, well don't fret because the Nites are free. Those of you with FunFunFun Fest wristbands will have the chance to see Icona Pop after midnight Friday night/Saturday morning at Red 7 where they'll be playing a Fun Fest Nites show.

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Daughn Gibson

Daughn Gibson is a crooner for the 21st Century. His deep sexy voice rides minimalist electronic waves of sonic texture. He doesn't write sing-a-long choruses or club bangers, he's making headphone music that is part Purity Ring, part Nicolas Jaar and part Johnny Cash/Jarvis Cocker. Intrigued? You should be. His recent signing with Sub Pop Records is as much a testament to the label's adventurous spirit as it is a recognition of the artistic merits of Gibson's music. You may not love All Hell on the first listen but this is an album that grows with you. The more you listen, the more you appreciate it. You can find Daughn on the Blue stage Saturday of FunFunFun Fest. He'll take to the stage at 1:45pm.


Daughn Gibson - Tiffany Lou video via YouTube

As you probably know by now, your FunFunFun Fest wristband will get you into the Nites shows for free. You can see Daughn Gibson at the Mohawk Saturday night around 11:30pm on the inside stage. It's going to be crazy in there so be prepared to wait for the bartender's attention and if you like having lots of personal space you should probably get over that pretty quickly. It will be quite easy to hop on the northbound Number 10 bus from the festival to within a block of the Mohawk, which I highly suggest. I feel like CapMetro has lots of flaws but I suggest you get familiar and utilize the busses as much as possible this weekend as parking will be a dirty, dirty whore.

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Helio Sequence

Photo Credit: Pavlina Summers

Part of me thinks I already featured Helio Sequence back when the FunFunFun Fest line-up was announced but I love them so much that I don't care. I may be double-posting but I want you fuckers to know and love Helio Sequence as much as I do. They have released three records over the last ten years or so and they have the indie-pop game on lock. With driving drum parts and beautiful melodies their songs will worm their way into your head and have you singing along in no time. Their latest record, Negotiations picks up right where Keep Your Eyes Ahead left off, with personal lyrics and lush instrumentation.


Helio Sequence - Hall of Mirrors video via YouTube

Helio Sequence play the Orange Stage at FunFunFun Fest at 2:10pm on Saturday. I know for many of you that Saturday will be the first day you can attend the fest in full and I really hope you make it a point to see this band. There's only one week left! Are you getting as excited as I am?

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Photos: Widowspeak and Woods

Wednesday night Woods and Widowspeak stopped by Red 7. I enlisted the help of Drew Degennarro to capture the event on film. Here are some of his beautiful photos, click any of them to make them larger but please don't use them without permission. Thanks!

Woods:

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FunFunFun Fest Preview: Charli XCX

I want to start this post by urging you to buy FunFunFun Fest tickets. It is my favorite centralized music festival in Austin and this year is sure to be just as good, if not better than last year. They've added a Taco Cannon this year that will shoot Torchy's Tacos into the crowd, some of which will have backstage passes embedded. I mean, seriously people don't try to resist this festival it will haunt you. You'll be all like, "I don't live life with regrets...except in 2012 when I skipped FunFunFun Fest and didn't eat any airborne tacos. That I regret."

For those of you, who will be attending (cool people) I don't want you to miss Charli XCX. I love her like the daughter I will never have and her set is going to be the motherfucking JAM! So far her only domestic release is the You're The One EP but if you search around you can find her UK EP, Stay Away as well. If you're not hooked then you probably don't like dark-pop and we can't be friends anymore.


Charli XCX - You're the One video via YouTube

You'll find Charli XCX on the Blue Stage at 6:15pm Saturday. She's playing at the same time as Real Estate, which sucks balls because I love Real Estate too. Why music festivals?!?! *Shakes Fist at Sky* Whatever, Charli XCX is foreign, which means she's less likely to be back in Austin within the next three months. On the other hand Real Estate once played a show in my friend's living room so, they'll probably be back soon.



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Weekend Shows You Should See

ACL Fest is but a memory at this point and Fun Fun Fun Fest is just around the corner, in the meantime there are several really great shows going on THIS weekend including some fantastic local bands performing. For tonight, I want to recommend a show happening at, the newly opened, Holy Mountain. This venue has taken over the spot formerly occupied by Beauty Bar on East 7th street, next to Red 7. They officially opened there doors last week, hosting a couple of ACL Fest Late Night Shows. Tonight they host My Jerusalem's CD Release Party. Tickets for the show are only $12, which is a bargain considering all of the local talent performing. Obviously, My Jerusalem are headlining with an 11:30pm set time but they'll be joined by two great bands in the form of The Sour Notes and Mirror Travel. For those of you who don't know, Mirror Travel is the new name of the band formerly known as Follow that Bird.


My Jerusalem - Preachers video via YouTube

If you're more in the makin dat ass vibrate mood than the nodding your head mood. Glitoris is hosting Lady at Beauty Ballroom tonight. So, you can get sweaty and twerk it on the dancefloor. This show is close to selling out though, get your tickets before they gone!


Lady - Twerk video via YouTube

Saturday night there are a lot of shows to choose from both local and national acts big and small. My first recommendation for Saturday night is Hospitality at Red 7. I caught their live show at SXSW this year and they really deliver. They won't be jumping around the stage or wearing ridiculous outfits but they will be playing their incredibly catchy songs perfectly. Don't be fooled by their sometimes cutesy tunes, this band has some serious musicians. Tickets are $8 if you buy them today but tomorrow they go up to $10. That is a ridiculous bargain for a touring act signed to Merge Records.


Hospitality - Eighth Avenue video via YouTube

While we're talking about touring acts perform at bargain basement prices, Dark, Dark, Dark perform at Holy Mountain tomorrow. Tickets for that show are also a mere $10. Their latest record, Who Needs Who probably should have been called Who Needs Whom but it's not and it's good and you should listen to it, even if you choose to go to a different show tomorrow.


Dark Dark Dark - Tell Me video via YouTube


If you do go to the Dark Dark Dark show at Holy Mountain I suggest you arrive early enough to catch support act, Emily Wells. She is a one-woman, electo-orchestral powerhouse. Her latest record Mama is about to have a companion release full of remixes from artists such as The Blow, Lemonade and Deerhoof. You can listen to Mama Remixed now on Soundcloud.

Austin-favorites Matt and Kim will play their largest non-festival Austin show to date at Stubb's tomorrow evening. Their latest record, Lightning was just released and features more high-energy, uber-fun songs that will be sure to have the crowd at Stubb's going wild. Tickets for Matt and Kim are $25 and they'll be joined by Oberhofer who were just here last week for ACL Festival.

The last show I'm recommending for tomorrow night is TV Torso's CD Release show at Hotel Vegas. TV Torso is one of my favorite local bands and I was actually completely unaware that they had a new album due out. They do have a 3-track album on their Bandcamp page that was uploaded 10 days ago but I'm not sure if that's just a sampler of a full-length or if that is the CD being released?



So, there you have it. Plenty of great shows to choose from, be safe out there Austin and always remember to shut the fuck up while the band is playing.

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Perfume Genius at Central Presbyterian

The music of Perfume Genius is dark, brooding and personal. Piano-driven songs about family, love and melancholy that draw you in. Mike Hadreas' voice is fragile but strong and the band that supports him known exactly how to compliment his songs without overwhelming the compositions. This is not Perfume Genius' first trip through Austin but it is their first time playing a venue that so perfectly suits their lovely chamber pop. The latest release from Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N 2 It has a name that implies a much more dance-oriented vibe than what you can expect from the live show. The fact that the show is taking place at Central Presbyterian Church should tell you everything you need to know. Tickets for tomorrow night's show are only $15 and the show is not sold-out yet. The venue is pretty large and spectacular so if you're thinking you have even the smallest interest in this event I highly suggest you fork over the cash.


Perfume Genius - Take Me Home video via YouTube

Doors for tomorrow night's show will open at 7pm and Dusted will take the stage at 8pm. The latest record from Dusted is out now on Polyvinyl Records.


Dusted - There Somehow video via YouTube

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