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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Bloggy's FunFunFun PicksPicksPicks

Unlike some other festivals that occur in the city of Austin, of which there are many, FunFunFun Fest groups their stages by genre. Or at least they are loosely gathered with a common thread amongst the artists. That is one of the reasons I'm not going to do the typical make sure you check out _______ at FunFunFun Fest post. The other reason I don't want to do that sort of post is, I feel like I always appreciate FFF more a few months after it's passed when I hear a song by a band I really like and I realize I saw them at the fest already. In otherwords I recommend you leave yourself open to checking out new artists who you may not have heard of and making notes of who impressed you. For myself, I probably won't be spending a lot of time at the Black stage, not 'cause I'm a racist or anything it's more because I'm not a person who listens to a lot of punk and/or metal so while I can appreciate that the bands on that stage have talent I won't be venturing to that side of the park very often. If you want to hear Bloggy-bands at FFF Fest I'd hang out in the vicinity of the Orange stage, hopping over to the Blue stage every now and again. With that all being said there are a few artists who I, personally, MUST see for the first time. There are also a handful of artists who I have already seen, whom I look forward to seeing again.

Memphis band Magic Kids is one whom I have yet to see and look forward to catching for the first time. They play the orange stage at 12:50 on Sunday so I'll have to drag my ass out of bed in time to get on the bus and into Waterloo Park before they go on. Unfortunately that means I'll have to miss, at least part of, Indian Jewelery's set on the Blue stage at 1:00p on Sunday but alas that's festivals for 'ya. At least at FFF Fest I can easily move between the Blue and Orange stages.


Magic Kids - Superball video via YouTube


Another artist whom I'm excited to see for the first time is Dominique Young Unique who will be performing on the Blue Stage at 4:50pm on Saturday. I feel like all you need to know about Dominique is that she is young, sassy, and filthy. This video should pretty much sum things up for you.


Dominique Young Unique - Show My Ass video via YouTube

The last artist(s) I want to mention whom I have not, yet, seen perform live that I look forward to seeing is Israeli punk-band Monotonix. I was extremely surprised to see that they will actually be performing on the Yellow stage, which is generally where the local acts and/or comedic acts perform. I'm hoping they don't burn it down before the Master Pancake Theater guys do their thing. This video of their performance at the Mohawk from a few years back should give you an idea of what you might expect from one of their performances.


Monotonix - Live at the Mohawk video via YouTube

As far as artists I've seen in the past who will be appearing at the festival here's some videos I shot so you don't have to read anymore. See how I look out for you. Also, if you want to see my "customized" schedule for FunFunFun Fest feel free to check this out.


Delorean - Seasun video via YouTube


Best Coast - Sun Was High (So Was I) video via YouTube

Weird I thought I had a lot more videos of FFF artists whom I had seen in the past but apparently not. See y'all at Waterloo Park!

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Weird Al Tomorrow!! After-Party Choices

Can you believe that FunFunFun Fest kicks off tomorrow night with Mr. Weird Al Yankovic himself?!?! I can't wait to hear what songs he puts into his polka medley, I'm really hoping he manages to work Whip My Hair in there somehow. I'm also excited to see the Apples in Stereo perform live, although I'm not gonna lie I kind of hope they DON'T play the Powerpuff Girls Theme and something tells me they most certainly will.

In an off-festival grounds note, this year seems to have more after-parties than years passed and I am for it. Personally, I am too old to do both the festival AND after-parties but for those of you with more stamina and commitment to parties I thought I would highlight some of the best of the best...after the jump of course.


Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor video via YouTube


Friday night has the least appealing after-parties, no offense party planners and promoters, I understand you don't want to shoot your party wads so early in the weekend. If I were you, I would head to the Mohawk for the Gorilla Vs. Bear party. The headliner is a secret but I trust GvsB to book someone bad-ass. We know for a fact that Memory Tapes will be there and that's good enough for me.


Memory Tapes - Bicycle video via YouTube

My other Friday night choice would be Dâm-Funk's DJ set at Beauty Bar. If you go to this show though, I'd bring a flask those bartenders, while beautiful are slow and full of attitude. That's right I said it!


Dâm-Funk - Mirrors video via YouTube

Saturday night is all about Jean Grae DJing at ND. That show will also feature Devin the Dude amongst others. The other viable option is back at Snooty Bar where Bloggy-favs Delorean will be spinning tunes. You could also just throw-down with some non-marquis names at Scoot Inn where my brethren in blogging Knuckle Rumbler will be co-hosting a party with the Glitoris.


the Herbaliser ft. Jean Grae - Nah'Mean, Nah'm Sayin video via YouTube

Sunday night has slim-pickings for official after-parties but the good news is they'll be half price. All of the parties I've mentioned so far are $5 if you have a FunFunFun Fest wristband or $10 if you're a have-not. On Sunday night it will be $5 for the have-nots and free for those of you with a FFF pass. In all honesty though, the only party that interests me that night is back at Beauty Bar where Yelle will be Djing. Do you like how I insult that venue's bar staff and then I keep telling you to go there? Whadayagonnado?


Yelle - La Musique video via YouTube

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FunFunFun Fest Official Kick-Off Event(s)

Tomorrow night begins FunFunFun Festivities in an official way. The semi-annual Local Music is Sexy party will have a happy hour hosted by our friends over at Knuckle Rumbler with music starting at 7:30pm. As the name implies you can catch some of Austin's greatest musical talents on both the inside and outside stages of the Mohawk including Bloggy favs TV Torso and Markov. Did I mention that it's also free? For those of you who are not attending FFFFest for financial reasons there will also be opportunities to WIN free tickets to the festival at the party. For a complete list of the bands who you can catch at Local Music is Sexy click the Mohawk link and/or the LMiS link at the top of this paragraph.


TV Torso - Live at the Scoot Inn video via YouTube courtesy of Cindy Royal


If you've got a hankering for a touring act to start off your FunFunFun weekend then you should head over to the Mohawk's neighbors at Club de Ville who will be hosting a corporate party, which is also free featuring the Helio Sequence. All the official press release stuff I've received from Transmission Entertainment has listed this event as being free as well. However, the info I received from the party's corporate sponsor says it's free with RSVP. Something tells me it's free BUT if you RSVP then the booze will be comped as well. Only time will tell.


the Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead video via YouTube

In a note completely unrelated to FFFFest, hot off the heels of their Moog Fest performance you can catch local heroes the Octopus Project for free at Waterloo Records at 5pm tomorrow. They managed to perform with Devo this passed weekend, which I find suspicious considering Devo had to cancel their headlining performance at FFFFest but I presume the dude with glass shards in his hands wasn't performing this passed weekend.


Octopus Project + members of Devo - Girl U Want video via YouTube

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Of Montreal at the East Side Drive-In

I'm calling the Of Montreal show at East Side Drive-In as the first unofficial pre-show of FunFunFunFest. Sure, it is not affiliated with the fest in any manner and isn't even on the same side of town but remember that time Of Montreal was one of the Fun Fest headliners? That was awesome. They did a bad-ass cover of a Prince song but I was too high to remember which one. Oh snap, did I just publish that on the internets? Oh well, if you can tear your hipster-ass away from Shangri-La long enough all you really have to do is cross the street to see Kevin Barnes and Co. do their psychedelic rock-theater thing tomorrow night. Janelle Monae is starting things off and as of the writing of this post you can still purchase tickets for a mere $15. After the show we're all going to get a beer at Cheer-Up Charlies but we're pre-gaming at Shangri La (Obvs).


Of Montreal - Coquet Coquette video via YouTube

For the record, I was totally going to post a video of Of Montreal doing Purple Rain but obviously his purpleness would have sued the shit out of YouTube, Of Montreal, me and possibly you if I had done that. Homeboy is ridiculously proprietary and I may get a cease and desist letter simply by mentioning that there is a cover song in existence. Love you Prince's lawyers. :-)

Anyway, Janelle Monae has some amazing hair and an even more amazing voice. Like, Of Montreal she is based in Georgia and is considered a protege, of sorts, of Big Boi. Coincidentally you can also catch Big Boi at the East Side Drive-In later this year (tickets). In any case, if you haven't heard of J. Monae you should head to tomorrow night's show just to say you saw her when.


Janelle Monae with the Emory University Symphony - BabopbeYa! video via YouTube

I want to include one more music sample for Janelle Monae since the above video is so brief and such a rare performance that doesn't fully-represent her sound.


Janelle Monae - Cold War video via YouTube

PS.
This is TOTALLY conjecture but it really wouldn't surprise me if Solange Knowles made an appearance either on-stage or off at this show tomorrow night.

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Jenny and Johnny w/Grandchildren

With a name like Jenny and Johnny you know you're going to hear some twee-indie-pop at Emo's outside stage tomorrow night. For those of you who don't know already, yes I' m talking to you, Jenny is Jenny Lewis and Johnny is Jonathan Rice. They are a couple in real life and in indie-rock life too (which is more surreal). They figured hey, we're always together we might as well write and record some thematically dark yet happy-sounding indie-pop together. Personally, I am of the school that "You don't shit wear you eat". In otherwords don't work with people who you're schtooping but I suppose it's a good way to tour and be with your loved one(s) at the same time. If you think about it, none of this is any of my business, nor does it have to do with their music. I look forward to hearing their stage banter, I expect lots of stinging barbs but maybe they'll be all lovey-dovey. Only time will tell. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available and will set you back a cool $18 at the door or $16 in advance. To be honest I don't see this being a sell-out show, not because they don't deserve it but because it's a Tuesday night and I feel like there are still a lot of hipsters who don't know about this project YET.


Jenny and Johnny - Scissor Run video via YouTube


Opening for Jenny and Johnny tomorrow night will be experimental, electro-pop outfit Grandchildren. To me they sound like they listened to a lot of Brian Wilson on a lot of drugs (as if there's any other way). I'm not sure how many people reproduce the live sound but the LP sounds like a bedroom creation with Pro-Tools, lots of sonic layers and beautiful cough-syrup melodies. If you're a fan of Animal Collective make sure to arrive early enough to catch Grandchildren. Doors for this show open at 9pm, so this tired blogger is hoping it will be an early(ish) show. I'm not a big fan of staying out until 2am on weeknights, I need to get my Bloggy rest y'all.


Grandchildren - Saturn Returns (Runaway Remix) video via YouTube

Also, if it ends before 2, I can jump over to the new Barbarella for Tuezgayz, hosted by the Glitoris.com.


the Glitoris Presents - Tuezgayz video via YouTube

PS.
The address listed in the above video is wrong by 2 numbers, since Barbarella moved. Also, the photos were taken by one of Austin's best party photographers ULoveI. If you know what I look like you can see me in this video for a moment, if you don't then I'm whichever dude you find most attractive. #Dealer'sChoice

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