Monotonix = Crazy

So normally I'm not really into music, which I consider to be overly-aggressive. I know, I'm a wuss, but I like a nice gentle melody. I'll take sad bastard music over angry bastard music any day of the week. All that said, I wanted to let you know that Monotonix is in town tonight. They're an Israeli metal band that enjoys playing with fire...literally. The last time they were in town they played the Mohawk and it was absolute chaos. So much so that my loved ones won't allow me to go to Red 7 tonight to catch the spectacle that is, Monotonix.

This video is from their performance at the Mohawk. You might want to check it out so you know what to expect. But I suggest you just go and check it out for yourself.


Monotonix - Live @ the Mohawk video via YouTube


So, obviously, if you decide to go tonight you should plan for a fire at the venue and plan your escape route accordingly. Keeping in mind that it might be dark and smokey and you might be effing wasted. In case you've never been to the venue shown in the above video, it is totally outside, but the drums were lit on fire from the crowd area not the stage area. And "outside" at Red 7 is not TOTALLY open to the air. Are you scared yet? You should be.


Monotonix - Doin' their thing at a SXSW day party last year. Video via YouTube

Sorry if those are the same song but it's really more about the spectacle if you ask me.

By the way, tickets for tonight's show are only $8 if you're interested.

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Ben Kweller, Free, Today.

Looks like you can catch a free performance from Mr. Ben Kweller at 5pm today. He'll be playing an in-store at Waterloo Records this afternoon. Strangely enough it looks like that's the only show Mr. Kweller will be playing in our fair city. So I think you can expect a relatively long set.

His latest record is called, Changing Horses; it finds Ben Kweller embracing his Texas roots with a down-home Americana record.


Ben Kweller - Penny on the Train Track video via YouTube
Word on the street is, that video actually features Ben's real grandmother. How cool is that?
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Bonnawhat? Bonnawho?!?!

Holy crapezoid did you see the line-up for Bonnaroo this year?!?!



Even if you read that poster upside-down starting with the lesser-known artists, it's still a kick ass show. Congrats go out to the Austin artists and/or artists associated with the Austin scene who will be performing:

Alejandro Escovedo, (whom I expect to pop up in Springsteen's set)

Alejandro Escovedo - Always a Friend video via YouTube

Robert Earl Keen

Robert Earl Keen - Shades of Grey video via YouTube

Okkervil River

Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines video via YouTube

I'm also gonna claim Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu - Honey video via YouTube

and

St. Vincent

St. Vincent - These Days (Nico Cover) video via YouTube

even though they're actually part of the Dallas scene, so there!

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Not Human...Dancer!

That's right indie-rock's most beautiful narcissists will be at the Frank Erwin Center tonight. I'm not sure how much tickets cost, nor do I care. The Killers make some great tunes without a doubt but I'm just not interested in see them at such a large venue. Their tunes are arena-ready but I doubt they are.

I'd love for their opening act, M83 to do a secret gig somewhere either before or after. Let me know if you hear anything.


M83 - Teen Angst video via YouTube

By the way if you were hoping for a YouTube clip from the Killers too bad. They are on the EVIL Universal Music Group GiantCorp hence no embedding. You want to hear their music? Go buy the CD damn it. Or record MTV from 3am-5am...I found the videos!!

For more about this event including more video from M83, I already wrote about this so check it.
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Los Campesinos and Shearwater

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

It's Friday in Austin, which means it's show time kids. That's right there are many shows going on tonight but there are two that I want you to know about. First were gonna keep it Canadian and let you know that Los Campesinos are in town. In case you're not familiar they are on Arts & Crafts records so automatically they make pretty pop music. You can catch them at the Parish with Titus Andronicus.

Meanwhile just a few blocks away at the Mohawk you can catch local heroes Shearwater. I'm not sure if they will be playing inside or outside. Chances are it's gonna be the outside stage, so if you find yourself downtown around midnight tonight mosey on over to 10th street and listen to the beautiful renaissance-fair sounds of Shearwater.

Shearwater - The Snow Leopard (remastered)


Shearwater - Seventy Four, Seventy Five video via YouTube

I didn't mean that renaissance fair remark to be rude, it's just something about Shearwater reminds of minstrels. Don't ask.

So, if you're up for it you can still get tickets for both shows. Shearwater tix are only $8. Tickets for Los Campesinos are $14.

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Tapes 'n Tapes, Parish, Tonight

Tapes 'n Tapes - Hang Them All video via YouTube

Minneapolians Tapes 'n Tapes are in town tonight playing the Parish room. As far as I know, they aren't touring in support of anything new. Perhaps, they will have an EP at the show but in any case their last album hasn't even been out a year yet so I suppose that's new enough eh? It's called Walk it Off and if you were a fan of the Loon then I don't see why you shouldn't like their new album too.

This is music for fans of quintessential college-rock it's jangly, there are nice organ flourishes, the beats are tricky but still basic enough to be gratifying. I'd also say that a lot of their stuff sounds English, which may seem vague if you're not into Brit-Rock, but for all of us old Blur heads(?) you know what I'm sayin'. Like the Pixies via the Kaiser Chiefs.



Tapes 'n Tapes - Insistor video via YouTube

Rounding out the bill with Tapes 'n Tapes tonight will be Wild Light and Harlem. I know it seems like all I do is blog about Harlem shows but I can't help it if I'm not the only one who thinks they rock.

Wild Light is from New Hampshire of all places. They sharpened their skills in Nashua, actually I made that up, but seriously where are you gonna play in New Hampshire? From what little I know of this band, they are now based out of Boston and they sound like they have a very good chance of breaking out into the Top 40 radio market (yeah?). Catch 'em now while they still plead for a fan base, it's always better than catching them after their jaded...more jaded.

BTW
In case you've never been, the Parish is known for having the best sound system in Austin.

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Beauty Bar RSVP

There are a lot of shows coming up next weekend (Jan 30th and such) but I thought I'd let you know about this one a little early? Why is that, you may ask? Well because Beauty Bar is hosting Learning Secret's 5 Year Anniversary with Andy Butler from Hercules & Love Affair (DJ set), LCD Soundsystem's Pat Mahoney, Ian Orth, and Jeramy Neugent.


If you want to check this party out fo' free! Then all you have to do is R.S.V.P here. Or you can shill out the $3 bucks at the door, but that's your call cowboy.


Hercules & Love Affair - Blind video via YouTube


LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends video via YouTube


LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great video via YouTube

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Animal Collective Tour

Animal Collective - My Girls video via YouTube

Review and such after the jump.

Animal Collective is one of those bands that you're, kind of, supposed to like if you want to call yourself an indie-rock aficionado. Lucky for us no one really wants that title. In any case, I find myself listening to their latest record Merriweather Post Pavillion more and more every day. Thanks, in no small part, to that song above the break.

I have never seen AC live but they have a reputation for putting on great shows. Be forewarned musician snobs their live show is more like keyboards, sequencers and other studio equipment, than guitars, bass and the like. Come on though, it would be like a band trying to cover themselves if they did that. These guys are studio wiz kids. They're all about constructing and deconstructing pocket symphonies a la Brian Wilson.

However, I must say that My Girls does remind me of Peacebone from their last LP, Strawberry Jam


Animal Collective - Peacebone video via YouTube

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that if you'd like to see Animal Collective in your town, check here. If you want to see them here in Austin you better get on top of the ticket situation 'cause this show is gonna sell out fo' sho' and the tickets went on sale today!

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SXSW Hype

MGMT - Kids Live in a parking lot behind Urban Outfitters @ SXSW '08

So, maybe January is a bit early to get my panties in a wad over South by Southwest (SXSW). But you know what? The official band list has been out for a few weeks. So, that means it's the perfect time to let the hype rain down.

Just like the last two years, Austin Bloggy Limits will not be purchasing any sort of badge or wristband to enjoy official showcases. No, loyal reader, for us SXSW is all about the free day party...and after party. So I shall spend the next month or two scouring the internet for the coveted RSVP lists. For now, let's focus on the music shall we?


It's a bit daunting to choose bands to highlight from the enormous list of artists. Party because there are so many to comb through but partly because chances are the highlights are bands I don't know yet. Keeping that in mind, I'm probably just going to highlight some of the names, which are easier to recognize.

Akron/Family
Anti-Pop Consortium
Au Revoir Simone
Balmorhea
The Band of Heathens
Beach House
Andrew Bird
The Black Angels
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Black Lips
BLK JKS(!!)
Buck 65
Cadence Weapon
Margaret Cho (?)
Colour Revolt
Crystal Antlers
The Crystal Method
Cursive
Danny and The Champions of the World
Delta Spirit
Easy Star All-Stars
Explosions in the Sky
Ferraby Lionheart
Tim Finn
Robert Francis
Sage Francis
Gang Gang Dance
The Girls
The Grates
Grizzly Bear (!!!)
Handsome Furs
Ed Harcourt
Ben Harper and Relentless 7
Head Automatica
HEALTH
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Japanther
La Snacks
Monotonix
Monte Negro
Motel Motel
Mr. Lif
Moth!Fight!
Peelander - Z
Peter, Bjorn, and John
The Pink Spiders
+/-
Port O'Brien
Primal Scream
Ra Ra Riot
The Raveonettes
The Republic Tigers
Rival Schools
Russian Futurists
Rye Rye (!)
Langehorn Slim
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Starsailor
Stars of Track and Field
St. Vincent
Superdrag
Throw Me the Statue
J. Tillman
Tiny Masters of Today
Viva Voce
Wale
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth
White Ghost Shivers
Year Long Disaster

Like I said, this is certainly not the comprehensive list. And I'm not putting all the damn links because the official list is all linked out. Basically the above list is me combing through the master list and writing names I recognize :-). I'm sure after SXSW I'll have a list of artists I had never heard of that kicked ass! See you in March :-)


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Harlem AND {{{Sunset}}}

It looks like two of Austin Bloggy Limits' favorite "local" groups will be sharing a bill Saturday night. You can catch Harlem and {{{Sunset}}} at Club DeVille's inside stage, the show is alleged to start at 9pm. But something tells me it's actually going to start closer to 11pm.

That same night there is a CD release party for Built By Snow. Oh yeah and some guy name KRS One will be next door at the Mohawk the same night. SO I guess it depends, would you rather see a legend in his own time, or future legends ahead of their time?

You can sample 5 versions of the same song by {{{Sunset}}} to experience its evolution or whatever here:

{{{Sunset}}} - Dear Friend (Versions) [62MB zip package]

Harlem - South of France
Harlem - Beautiful and Very Smart

I, along with many others, are calling Harlem out as Austin's next big thing. Even though they are actually from Tucson via Nashville and just moved here this year. But still, I would say 3/4's of all "Austin" bands just moved here...like me :-) Not that I'm a band but you get my point. That song South of France I put above the break is totally indicative of the 2009 sound. Which, I shall refer to as garage-surf.

Garage-Surf is the new 80's as far as indie-rock trends go. Dress accordingly.


Harlem - Think I'm Thinking 'bout video via YouTube


Harlem - Witch Greens video via YouTube

I posted this video awhile back. But it's still worth a view if only so you can here the glorious majesty, that is, Zombies.


{{{Sunset}}} - Zombies video via YouTube

By the way {{{Sunset}}} is sort of the spin-off step-child of, now defunct, band Sound Team.


Sound Team - Your Eyes are Liars video via YouTube

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