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Daily Archive
Beat Connection: Pachanga Fest Preview 2012
Through the generations, Pachanga has come to mean a great deal of things. Taken as a name for styles of music, dance, and a general good time, a pachanga is above all a party and a big one at that. This Friday and Saturday May 11 and 12 marks Austin's 5th annual Pachanga Fest, the city's foremost celebration of Latino music, arts, food, and culture. With over 20 artists on 2 stages, Pachanga Fest boasts a varying line up of Latin artists with a wide range of musical styles and attitudes from the alt country of Austin's own Alejandro Escovedo to the indie rock of Girl in a Coma to the fusion of Los Lonely Boys to the traditional sounds of Chico Trojillo. Food vendors include tacos from Izzoz Tacos and La Fantabulous Taqueria, kabobs from Verts, bratwursts from Bestwurst, specialty milkshakes from Handshakes, Kettle corn from Gold Star Kettle Corn, shaved ice and funnel cakes from Snowie, paletas from Mom & Pops, as well as food from Serrano’s and Port-A-Café. Pachanga Fest begins this weekend on Friday May 11 at Fiesta Gardens, so come out and join the pachanga.
Thu May 10 2012 · Posted in Daily
Beat Connection: Jeff Mangum live at the Moody Theater [4.29.12]
Just over a decade ago, Neutral Milk Hotel, one of the most beloved groups in indie rock, disbanded amidst a nervous breakdown from their brilliant singer/songwriter Jeff Mangum. They were a year removed from the release of their seminal sophomore LP In The Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) and had grown tired of touring and the machinations of the music press and even though the record faced near inconsequential sales, Neutral Milk Hotel was met with immense critical acclaim and an adoring fan base which turned In The Aeroplane Over the Sea into one of the most singular artistic statements of the past half century. Mangum's completely unique style of singing and songwriting, in which he belted out mouthfuls of awkward teenage lust and sexuality, played against very real adult issues like confusion over identity and atrocities committed against his fellow man, set Neutral Milk Hotel apart and turned him into one of the most instantly recognizable singer/songwriters of recent memory. But Mangum simply couldn't take the pressure put on him by the press and by his band's rapidly escalated fan base and retreated into himself, disbanding Neutral Milk Hotel and going into seclusion for over a decade. Which was what made the concert that took place at The Moody Theater on Sunday April 29, so unthinkable, Jeff Mangum has returned. The singer/songwriter played a set with little more than his voice and his guitar to a sold out crowd at The Moody, where adoring fans packed themselves in as tight as they could to get closer to the indie rock icon. Surely everyone in attendance, myself included, never thought that this opportunity would come in their lifetime, with Mangum's self imposed seclusion reportedly being so severe, but as he nonchalantly took the stage and began strumming the chords of "Two Headed Boy Pt. 2", it was as if a dream state took over the venue, in which something almost magical was happening. Songs that meant so much to so many people were being played again by their creator, an experience that was moving and affecting in a way that few concerts can ever be.
Fri May 4 2012 · Posted in Daily
From The Mind Of Adi: What Next?
Upcoming Events
- He will forever be remembered as one of the most important vocalists in the annals of metal music history. Ronnie James Dio left this world on May 16th, 2010. Two years on, we salute this legend at The Mohawk this May 16th with a special tribute night. Incarnations of local bands will play choice Dio tunes, and you’ll have a chance to prove your mettle via fun competitions such as a “high pitched vocal prowess” challenge, a “draw a rainbow in the dark” activity, “pin the horns on Ronnie’s hand” game, and Ronnie James Dio look-alike and tattoo contests. We’ll also have a Dio piñata! Don’t miss out on these RJD inspired activities! A special thanks to Scorpion Child for organizing this with me; they’ll have a backline set up for impromptu jam sessions so hit me up if you want to be a part of the magic!
- Late June can only mean it’s time for Wimbledon and less importantly, my birthday. Join me for a special tennis themed birthday party at Club de Ville on June 30th. Sure it’s $5, but it’s going to the bands and you are excused from buying me a present or a shot. Well, at least the present. Dubwerth kick things off with jams like “She Drinks Too Much” and hopefully their rendition of “Somebody That I Used To Know”, Froetzel is on next with the finest German techno from South Austin, Cover Girl pays tribute to some classics following that, and the one-man party machine that is Neiliyo turns de Ville’s outdoor patio into a legit dance floor to close out the night. Hope to see you there!
- The Quesoff is back! We had such a grand ol’ time last year that there really was no choice but to do it again! Email to sign up! And look for our Quesoff booth in the VIP Lounge at this year’s Pachanga Fest. The first round of Quesoff 2012 will take place on July 21st (5 – 8 p.m.) at The Mohawk. All three defending champs (Thomas Lombardi / Veggie, Frank / Meaty, and April Henshaw & Allison Morgan / Spicy) are returning to defend their crowns; other restaurants already signed up include Papi Tino’s, Kerbey Lane, and Vivo Lake Creek.
Fri May 4 2012 · Posted in Events, Daily
From The Mind Of Adi: Konrad Kupiec’s Firsts
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Konrad Kupiec’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Konrad Kupiec from Illinois metal outfit Diamond Plate. The band released its debut full-length, the bludgeoning Generation Why? last year and is currently on tour supporting Overkill. Catch ‘em in action at Emo’s East this Saturday.
- 1st favorite song: Metallica - “Master of Puppets”
- 1st favorite musician or band: Joe Satriani
Thu May 3 2012 · Posted in Daily, Interviews
Beat Connection: Melvins live at The Mohawk [4.19.12]
When most people think of metal, there are certain stereotypical images regarding the style of music that instantly come to mind. Big hair, jagged guitars, the color black, occasionally satanic or evil undertones, and music that is ear splittingly loud, fast, and heavy. While Washington's Melvins do apply to some of these categories, they have always felt set apart from the rest of the metal scene since their early days in 1983. Melvins were one of the first bands along with Earth and Eyehategod to eschew the ridiculous make up and flashy fretwork of popular metal to pioneer the slow, thick dirge of sludge and stoner metal. The band focused on creating an unholy soup of overwhelming guitar fuzz and brutally slow and heavy drumming to create a style of metal that was unheard of before Melvins formed as a band. The band set themselves apart by creating their own style of music but also became significant due to their association with more mainstream rock bands, most notably Nirvana who cited Melvins as an influence, and experimental rockers like Sonic Youth and Slint. The playful imagery and sense of humor the band has employed throughout their lengthy career has always felt refreshing and ahead of its time, making Melvins feel like a band always looking forward to what's next even after a nearly 30 year career. The underground metal heads took the Mohawk's outside stage on Thursday April 19 to a diverse crowd consisting of sludge devotees, hardcore punks, hipsters, and indie rockers of varying ages all there to witness a performance by an extremely influential band almost singlehandedly responsible for starting a movement in heavy metal.
Thu Apr 26 2012 · Posted in Daily
Straight From The Transmission Events HQ: The Aggrolites Tour Sampler (Free with Tix to Red 7 show)
Purchase tickets for The Aggrolites Spring Tour 2012 at Red 7 (May 5th) with Old Man Markley and receive a free download of the official tour sampler featuring three unreleased tracks (B-Sides) from The Aggrolites new album, Unleashed Live Vol.1, plus tracks from Old Man Markley.
Tickets
Mon Apr 23 2012 · Posted in Events, Daily
Beat Connection: Frankie Rose w/ Dive live at Red 7 [4.14.12]
In the past, the recently relaunched Red 7 has played host to some of the finest acts in metal and punk, which was why I was surprised to find jangle pop songstress Frankie Rose on the venue's docket, supported by Dive, a mystical art rock group with only a few singles out in the world. The two were additionally supported by local rock and rollers The Young and Dum Dum Girls side project Cheap Curls which helped the line up hew closer to the venue's famously dark vibe, but still I initially didn't think the two main artists on the bill were exactly consistent with Red 7's past. I was quickly swayed however upon seeing the two bands perform because as it turns out, both Frankie Rose and Dive legitimately rock in the live setting. While Cheap Curls opened the show with some pretty standard girl group pop in the overwrought style of Vivian Girls and the members' main group Dum Dum Girls, The Young kick started their set with reckless abandon, blasting out old school rock with a punk thrust, reveling in the fact that it has suddenly become cool to be in a rock and roll band once again. The Young played tracks from their upcoming sophomore LP Dub Egg to be released on Matador records later this year and the songs sounded big, brazen, and in your face as the band played a relentless brand of chugging and punching music that basically grabbed the audience by their shirt fronts and forced them to take notice of the group. Next up was Dive, one of the year's new acts in the process of making a much bigger name for themselves and if Dive continues to play like they did on Saturday night, the world will be hearing a lot more about Dive in the very near future.
Thu Apr 19 2012 · Posted in Daily
Weekly Mojo: Brownout at The Mohawk: 4/20
For some it’s a holiday, and for the rest it’s just another beautiful spring day, but
whatever the case may be for you, Transmission has your 4/20 all squared
away to be one hell of a rocking night! This Friday, one of our favorite local acts, Brownout will have everyone
within hearing range of The Mohawk shakin’ what they’ve got to some
irresistible Latin beats! Trust me—your hips won’t know what hit you when you end up
on the dance floor with this act in front of you… If you’re like me, you’ll probably look
like an idiot, but it will feel so, so right. These guys are coming in hot and fresh off a
killer west coast tour, so you can bet this homecoming show will be out of control! You
should also know that Brownout has got a new record called Oozy coming out on
April 24, so definitely make sure to keep an ear out for it!
Blackout this Friday if you please, but make sure to Brownout!
If you’re unfamiliar with Brownout, you’ll be sure to enjoy these funky tunes if you like
anything about Grupo Fantasma, and you’ll even be seeing some of the same faces. A
few songs I’d recommend to get your mojo working would be: “Olvidalo,” “Aguilas
& Cobras,” “The Sexican,” and “Slinky.” You can also check out the title track from
the new record in the YouTube video below! The band showcases some of the most
righteous horns players Austin has to offer, and you won’t be able to get enough of
what the rhythm sextion (oh hell yeah I’m leaving that Freudian slip in there) brings to
the table. The sounds are rife with intriguing percussive exploits, polyrhythms, and a
literally unstoppable bass—Mmmm! Doors open Friday at 8pm and it definitely wouldn’t
hurt to go ahead and snag your TICKETS online! The show will be outdoors and all ages, so we’ll look
forward to seeing you out there, rock and rollers!
Tue Apr 17 2012 · Posted in Events, Daily
From The Mind Of Adi: What Next?
Upcoming Events
- I’m excited to present Starlings, TN’s CD Release Show at Club de Ville on April 21st. The local outfit dropped the Heartache in 4/4 Time full-length last month on Chicken Ranch Records -- listen to the album here and read a review here. Enjoy their soothing Americana sandwiched between openers George Irwin & The Georgian Company and headliners East Cameron Folkcore this Saturday. Doors at 8 p.m. (FB Event Page.)
- On April 26th, I’m back at Club de Ville to bring you San Francisco’s Al Lover & The Haters, who will be in town to perform at Austin Psych Fest the following evening. Come on down and sample their intoxicating concoctions but only after losing yourself in Horse + Donkey’s reverb laden haze. You’ll also be treated to the one of my new favorite noise-brokers in town Marriage, up first at 9 p.m. (FB Event Page.)
- He will forever be remembered as one of the most important vocalists in the annals of metal music history. Ronnie James Dio left this world on May 16th, 2010. Two years on, we salute this legend at The Mohawk this May 16th with a special tribute night. Incarnations of local bands will play choice Dio tunes, and you’ll have a chance to prove your mettle via fun competitions such as a “high pitched vocal prowess” challenge, a “draw a rainbow in the dark” activity, “pin the horns on Ronnie’s hand” game, and of course, a Ronnie James Dio look-alike contest. We’ll also have a Dio piñata! Don’t miss out on these RJD inspired activities! A special thanks to Scorpion Child for organizing this with me; they’ll have a backline set up for impromptu jam sessions so hit me up if you want to be a part of the magic!
- The Quesoff is back! We had such a grand ol’ time last year that there really was no choice but to do it again! Email to sign up! And look for our Quesoff booth at this year’s Pachanga Fest. Quesoff 2012 will take place later this summer at The Mohawk.
Finally, I hope to you can make it to HAAM’s Corporate Battle of the Bands and ensuing after-party this Thursday at Antone’s!
Mon Apr 16 2012 · Posted in Events, Daily
Beat Connection: School of Seven Bells live at The Mohawk [4.13.12]
The Mohawk was abuzz with the sound of high flying atmospheric guitars on Friday night as New York City's School of Seven Bells lit up the stage with their ethereal indie rock. Finding the common ground between bombastically driving and fragilely sweet, School of Seven Bells translated their studio heavy sound surprisingly well to the live setting with swirling guitars, liquid bass, and synthesizers and samples that rounded out the sound extremely nicely. The set felt precisely crafted and expertly paced, mixing in higher intensity guitar rock with some of the band's glitchy and more relaxed electronics for a set that had the perfect blend of mellow groove and powerful rock and roll. First up on the bill was openers Exitmusic, whose earth shattering style sounded to be coming from a band far beyond its years. Exitmusic played with an over reliance on heavy ballads as the second half of their set felt like a single long song at times. After initially starting up with some more varied numbers, the band shifted their focus towards slow burners with lead singer Aleksa Palladino taking every excuse she could to stretch her powerful pipes to the extent of their range, belting out long and sonorous notes that were certainly impressive, but gave the set an overly serious feeling, not necessarily something an audience wants from an opener. While the pacing of the set was a bit odd for a show opener, the strength of Exitmusic's songs could not be denied. Led by the howling guitar of Devon Church, Exitmusic played a powerful set displaying an impressive amount of musicianship and songwriting talent in the process from such a young group. The mood would be significantly lightened by the headliners as School of Seven Bells set up two light-up structures that featured the circular symbol that emblazons the jacket of their third LP Ghostory (2012) and played a fun and musically diverse set that sent their devoted fans home with more than satisfied smiles.
Sun Apr 15 2012 · Posted in Daily
Beat Connection: Real Estate and Keep Shelly in Athens Live at The Mohawk [4.11.12]
What's the only thing better than seeing a great concert? Seeing two great concerts in the same night! It was a double header on Wednesday at the Mohawk among an intense week of fantastic shows with New Jersey's Real Estate and Greece's Keep Shelly in Athens playing headlining sets at The Mohawk's outdoor and indoor stages respectively. Playing earlier in the evening was Real Estate, whose latest album Days (2011) has become one of my favorites from last year. Opening the show was Melbourne, Australia's Twerps, a young group making a name for themselves among the year's new bands. Playing a jangling, blissed out style of indie rock, Twerps had the feel of a 1980s college rock band, a shambling folk group, and a beach pop quartet all combined into one, making use of their sense of stoicism throughout the concert. With the occasional exception of lead singer Marty Frawley, there wasn't a lot of movement or very much visible enthusiasm onstage from Twerps, but the band's conversely relaxed and driving sound provided a nice enough compliment to the set that would follow from Real Estate, who successfully combined the meticulously paced riffs of their surfy indie pop songs with a high level of energy and an ability to control the stage without looking like they were even trying.
Fri Apr 13 2012 · Posted in Daily
Straight From The Transmission Events HQ: At The Drive-In El Paso Show Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MARKETING / PUBLICITY CONTACT : Matt Mandrella / 251.490.5802 /
April 11th, 2012
Today, we bring you one last alert about At The Drive-In’s ongoing Texas tour. The reputed post-hardcore band will play its hometown of El Paso this Friday the 13th at Tricky Falls. Fans have been traveling far and wide ever since news of these Lone Star State gigs started filtering through last week and the band has not let them down.
On Monday, At The Drive-In played a triumphant first show since its reunion in Austin, and followed it up with a raucous performance on Tuesday in Dallas. Marfa follows suit tomorrow night, and this El Paso concert will be the band’s last before it takes the stage at Coachella later this month. Don’t miss it - tickets are on sale now!
WHAT: At The Drive-In w/ Zechs Marquise
(Presented by Transmission Events & Tricky Falls)
WHERE: Tricky Falls (209 S. El Paso Street, El Paso, TX 79901)
WHEN: Friday, April 13th (Doors @ 7:30pm)
ON SALE: Wednesday, April 11th @ 1pm CST
TICKET LINK
All media inquiries should be directed to Matt Mandrella:
Facebook / Twitter:
Transmission Entertainment / @TransmitAustin
