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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
For those of us who were growing up in the 90's Fiona Apple will always hold a special place in our hearts. When I heard she was playing SXSW this year my heart lept and I vowed to stand in whatever line I had to for as long as I needed to, to see her. Her performance definitely lived up to my expectations in March. She was obviously nervous and not very comfortable on stage, especially during the parts on the songs that she didn't have anything to sing or play. She doesn't command the audience's attention and make you bask in the power of her ego. What she does is bare her soul. She seems incredibly vulnerable as she sings and you can tell that she feels every word that comes out of her mouth. She played songs that spanned her entire career, with a heavy helping of songs from her 2012 release, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.
If you're not a fan of Fiona, seeing her live performance probably won't change your mind but if you felt like she was the only person who understood you in High School then you can't miss your chance to see her tomorrow night. Fiona Apple will take to the stage at ACL Live Thursday night and there are still some tickets available. It is a highly rare opportunity to see her perform so don't assume you'll catch her next time she's in Austin.
Fiona Apple - Every Single Night video via YouTube
Playing the support slot tomorrow night, will be Fiona Apple's touring guitarist Blake Mills. Blake is only 25 years old but has already established himself as one of the best session musicians working on the west coast. He has sat in with Dawes, Lucinda Williams, Cass McCombs and many others. He has already performed on Conan and with this Fiona Apple tour under his belt, his star is sure to rise. His latest record is called Break Mirrors and features some really great personal singer-songwriter stuff in the vein of Eliot Smith through a slightly Americana filter. He'll take the stage around 8pm tomorrow with Fiona following around 9:15p.
I'm always hesitant to preview a sold-out concert since it doesn't really help the sale of tickets. However, I love Beach House and The Walkmen and I don't want y'all to think that I'm unaware of one of the biggest shows of the fall. Also, even if you can't buy tickets anymore, you can still buy Bloom and Heaven.
You may recall that initially this one concert was two concert that were sure to split the attention of hipsters in the greater Austin area but through some amazing circumstance that I am not privy to these bands joined forces making it the hottest ticket it town. I feel bad for Emo's who lost out on booking Beach House and I sort of feel bad for all of us because I'd rather have seen this show at Emo's than Stubb's but that is neither here nor there. Besides, there are advantages to seeing a show at Stubb's, like the early factor. If you were hoping to catch the White Arrows show at Red 7 that will be easily achieved after the Beach House/The Walkmen show.
Beach House - Myth video via YouTube
Now, before I get into this next piece I just want to reinforce how opposed I am to supporting the scalper economy but with that in mind I have some tips for you when it comes to sold-out shows. The first tip is simple, post on your favorite social media client that you are looking for a ticket to the show. Often times people simply buy more tickets than they will actually use and they would rather sell them at face value to a fan than waste the ticket. If this doesn't work, use Twitter's search for the phrases, "Beach House Stubb's," "Beach House Stubbs," "Beach House Austin," "Beach House Walkmen ticket" or other things of that nature. I have used this trick many times to get into sold-out shows. For those of you on the, fuck it I'm wealthy tip, you can spend butt-loads of money on StubHub, which is an idea I ABHOR. You can also try Craigslist, which is another idea I'm not a fan of.
Lastly, if you're feeling ballsy, you can try the trick I used to get into the sold-out Pavement show at Stubb's. You can negotiate with the scalpers. What I did was walk toward the venue with a $20 bill in my hand, when I was approached about a ticket I told the scalper, "I'll give you $20 for it." He told me the ticket costs more than that to which I replied, "You hear that sound? That's Pavement, the show has already started. You can keep the ticket and I can keep the $20 or you can keep the $20 and I can keep the ticket." Needless to say, he took the money. This method is not for everyone and demands a certain look in your face that implies you mean business and you're not willing to negotiate. If you have a look of desperation in your eyes it will never work. Also, you should know that people do sell FAKE TICKETS so don't offer a sum of money you're not willing to spend for nothing.
For those of you who already have tickets, keep in mind this show will start and end early so plan accordingly and if you could be so kind as to SHUT THE FUCK UP while the bands are performing everyone around you would truly appreciate it. We didn't buy tickets to listen to your ignorant ass. With that all said, may I present to you my favorite song from Heaven for you to reverently enjoy.
Alright y'all, I'm not going to pretend like there's nothing else going on Thursday night but I also don't want this show to get swept under the rug. With Fiona Apple, Beach House and The Walkmen all playing Austin on Thursday I know a lot of you already have plans. Well, this show doesn't necessarily interfere with those plans! White Arrows play Red 7 and they won't take the stage until after Stubb's has emptied. Their latest record, Dry Land is Not a Myth is full of psychedlic-indie-dance jams that are sure to get your booty workin'. Tickets for this show are only $8 but one of you will have their name on the guestlist with a +1. All you have to do is e-mail Contest[at]austinbloggylimits.com with your name and a winner will be chosen at "random." Random is in quotation marks because those of you I see promoting this show/contest on Twitter and Facebook are more likely to win.
White Arrows - Get Gone video via YouTube Young Buffalo will play the set before White Arrows Thursday night and you may recall that I featured them as one of my bands to catch at SXSW 2012. So far these guys have only released an EP but it was one of my favorite EPs last year and it represents everything I love about indie-rock: soaring melodies, jangly rhythms and tunes that make you question why they're not famous whilst reaffirming your hatred for modern rock radio.
Young Buffalo - Full Metal Whacket (Live, Acoustic) video via YouTube
Local, optimistic rockers Field Dress will be playing the first set at Red 7 Thursday night. Don't forget to e-mail Contest[at]austinbloggylimits.com for your chance to attend this show on me. The winner will be notified via e-mail on Wednesday!
