Veterans Flogging Molly will stop in ACL Live at the Moody Theater on May 18th, bringing with them a hearty dose of their trademark Guinness soaked folk-punk. The band graced the same stage last year when they taped an episode of “Austin City Limits” shortly before the release of Speed of Darkness, their fifth full-length album. If you missed them then, you won’t want to miss this second chance! (Tickets.)
This Sunday, we have a special something-something in store for you at Red 7. Modok Guitarist and Music Instructor David DiDonato (ex-J Church, RatKing, Ultimate Dragons) will aim to break the current Guiness World Record for longest guitar solo ever. The record stands at 24 hours and 18 minutes currently. This promises to be magical! Red 7 will stay open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday night, and then re-open on Monday noon to see if Didonato is still wailing. Wow.
Finally, check out this sweet video calendar of our other upcoming events:
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Jon Loyens’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Jon “The Sledge” Lyons from The Midgetmen. The local 4-piece celebrates 10 years of punk ‘n’ roll on Friday, May 18th at The Mohawk - besides a set o’ originals outside at 11:15, the band will also perform “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1985 classic Dare To Be Stupid in its entirety inside at 12:45! Scope out the poster further below for the full line-up/
1st favorite song: “Baby Beluga” by Raffi
1st favorite musician or band: Duran Duran - my Dad, who was basically
oblivious to the music I like, actually bought me a wall size Duran
Duran poster... it was awesome.
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.
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”
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.
Ready for a different taste of gravy? RajiWorld and I have teamed up to bring you a massive Soul Shakedown at The Mohawk on March 31st featuring live sets by Nakia, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys, and Hard Proof Afrobeat. Threadgill’s going to have some tasty veggie options for sale on-site and the talented Whitley Stratton will be operating a soul-themed photo-booth as well. Doors at 8 p.m. for this outside show; cover is $10 or you can pre-purchase tickets for $8 via FrontGate (FB Event Page).
But that’s not until Saturday night! On Friday the 30th, I have put together a birthday show for one of my best friends. Whiskey Shivers, The Sweet Nuthin, and Little Wesley (members of Visitors, Tow The Line) are all set to perform at this special Get Down with Hashbr30wns event at Club de Ville. Cover is a measly $5 and doors open at 8 p.m. Check out this sweet, live clip of Whiskey Shivers filmed by Austin Music Weekly at a recent installment of the Chrontourage’s Paper Cuts series.
Austinist Indieroke is back! Our friends at Austinist present the 16th edition of this beloved karaoke night at The Mohawk on April 5th.
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, a “pin the horns on Ronnie’s hand” game, and of course, a Ronnie James Dio look-alike contest. Don’t miss out on these Dio inspired festivities!
The esteemed entity that is Vans is invading Austin next week with a whole slew of activities and events. We’re naturally pretty stoked that they’re onboard as a sponsor of our Mess With Texas shindig (March 15th – 17th at 1100 E. 5th St.) as well as the annual Alternative Press bash at Red 7 on the 17th. They’re also putting on a special screening of the new Vans Warped Tour documentary No Room For Rockstars on the 13th at the 1100 E. 5th St. Warehouse and of course, their official showcase on the 14th. And perhaps, one of the most exciting aspects of their presence is Vulcanized Vinyl, a pop-up shop that will be open through SX week and features a daily release of re-issued Vans band shoes at 313 ½ E. 6th St. from the 13th to 17th. Check out the details on the complete Vans experience here.
I am stoked to bring you three incredibly talented local acts inside at The Mohawk tomorrow -- Kay Leotard get this night of unadulterated garage-rock started, Lola-Cola follow at 10 p.m., and the irrepressible outfit that is A Giant Dog headlines (FB Event Page). Earlier in the evening, Rubberneck spins new releases by the likes of Bobby Jealousy and The Golden Boys at the latest installment of its Listening Party so be sure to get down to the 'hawk early!
Ready for a different taste of gravy? RajiWorld and I have teamed up to bring you a massive Soul Shakedown at The Mohawk on March 31st featuring live sets by Nakia, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys, and Hard Proof Afrobeat. Threadgill’s will have some tasty veggie options for sale on-site and we’ll have a soul-themed photo-booth as well. Doors at 8 p.m. for this outside show; cover is $10 or you can pre-purchase tickets for $8 via FrontGate (FB Event Page).
And finally, Austinist Indieroke is back! Our friends at Austinist present the 16th edition of this beloved karaoke night at The Mohawk on April 5th.
The Mohawk is truly my home away from home and looks like that isn’t going to be changing anytime soon! Transmission Events and The Impossibles are mega stoked to announce that the local legends are reuniting to play the 'hawk on June 9th, roughly ten years after their last gig. It’s been a long wait, especially for fans who just wouldn’t miss a single show back in the day. In fact, if I had a penny for every time I scrambled together loose change to catch this amazing band live during my college years and beyond, I’d have a heckload of pennies! Tickets for the 9th gig are available via the brand new Impossibles site; expect a set-list spanning their entire career and containing a hearty dose of crunching rock anthems, plenty of pure powerpop and selected ska-tterings.
On February 25th and March 2nd, The Mohawk hosts a couple of events that showcase the venue’s diversity, in accord with its “All Are Welcome” mantra. The former night marks the sixth edition of the ever-burgeoning Misprint Beard and Moustache Competition while the latter date, Prototype Vintage Design’s Fashion Freakout Five, promises an evening devoted to all the clothes, jewelry, and assorted accessories that you’ll need to strut your stuff this year. Tickets for both events can be purchased via the Transmission Events website.
On January 17th, I am excited to present three promising Austin bands inside at The Mohawk. Over the last year or so, NY transplant Eric Brendo (ex-Downtown) has recruited some talented musicians, including former English Teeth bassist Todd Pruner to fine tune The Asteroid Shop’s mesmerizing melodies to perfection. Enjoy the fruits of their labor at 11 p.m.; Boy + Kite and Anam Milá get things started nice ‘n’ early this Tuesday evening.
And finally, save the date! February 28th at The Mohawk! A Giant Dog! If you have not seen this band in all its glory yet, you won’t want to miss this opportunity. More details soon.
On Wednesday, December 14th, I’m super stoked to present The Couch’s CD Release show at The Mohawk. You can check out their new single “The Way You Came” via BandCamp. The talented local outfit formed in San Marcos during the founding members’ time at Texas State University. Now based out of Austin, they recorded Old and Touchin’ Blue with Lars Goransson at Sounds Outrageous Studio.
They’ll be preceded on stage this evening by fellow San Marcos transplants Zlam Dunk and Little Radar. Doors at 8p.m.; cover is $6 ($8 for minors).
If love you dogs and Iggy Pop (and you should), come down to the 29th St. Ballroom on December 17th. I Wanna Be Your Dog II, a benefit for Austin Pets Alive, features a dog pageant hosted by Mike Wiebe, complimentary treats from Frank, and plenty of classic Stooges tunes as covered by a whole host of local bands. And hold off on your holiday shopping until you take a stab at the stellar items up for grabs in the silent auction. There’s also a raffle where you could win two wristbands to SXSW. Doors at 8 p.m.; chaperoned pets welcome.
Frank Smith dropped their latest tune “Monsters” earlier today. Check out the video below; the song will be on the Austin band’s next full-length Before You Were Born, recorded at The Bubble and due early 2012.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Naomi Cherie’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Naomi Cherie from Technicolor Hearts (and previously Mariachi De Los Gallos, Agent Ribbons, and Southern Drama). Head down to The Black Light Masquerade at Beauty Bar this Friday to catch her new project’s debut show.
1st favorite song: My mom told me that when I was a baby I used to love to dance to Ritchie Valens' “La Bamba.”
Quesoff 2011 was a grand success last Saturday at The Mohawk. Thomas Lombardi was victorious in the “Veggie” category with his Pronounceable Ingredients dish, April Henshaw & team placed first in the “Spicy” category with their Queso Beso entry, and Frank’s Militia Queso Guey took home the honors in the “Meaty” category. Thanks again to all the participants, our judges Addie Broyles (Austin American-Statesman), Hilah Johnson (Hilah Cooking), Rose Reyes (Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau), Tolly Moseley (Austin Eavesdropper), and Tom Thornton (Austinist.com), El Milagro, uLOVEi, and of course, The Mohawk’s staff. Check out Tolly’s awesome recap here.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Erin Ivey’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired local singer/songwriter extraordinaire Erin Ivey. Catch her live at The Pecan Street Festival tomorrow at 1pm on the Trinity Stafe.
Photo by Andrew Shapter
1st favorite song: Irene Cara, “Flashdance / What A Feeling” - I still love that soundtrack.
It’s finally here! The queso cook-off for the ages, Quesoff 2011 will take place this Saturday at The Mohawk from 5 to 8 p.m. Check out this preview on KEYE 42’s We Are Austin Live from August. Everyday chefs will be going up against mighty fine recipes at establishments like JuiceLand, Frank, Paco’s Tacos, Papi Tino’s, and Torchy’s Tacos in the Meaty, Veggie, and Spicy categories. One can only imagine the queso queos that may result should a layman or laywoman stun a top chef! Attendees will also have a chance to sample the variety of intriguingly named dishes such “Hell’s Bells,” “Queso...queso-rah!...whatever will be, will be!,” “Gayso,” “Por Que-so Horny?,” and “What Would Cheesus Do?”
Later on Saturday evening, I am super stoked to present The Big 4 Tribute at Red 7. Jason McMaster’s Killa Maul perform Metallica’s debut full-length in its entirety, local metal maestros Blackholicus and Bat Castle cover a variety of anthems, and members of Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5 surface as Viva Sergio! to pay homage to the heroes as well. Doors at 9 p.m.; $7 ($10 Minors).
And the following week, my beloved Mohawk celebrates its five year anniversary (although its hairpiece is rumored to be twelve) – scope out the recent press release here and stay tuned for more details! If you’d like to speak with anyone at The Mohawk for pre-coverage, please let me know, thanks!
Miami’s Torche is featured on the latest episode of the Hard Stuff series -- check it out here. Thanks as always to Austin Music Weekly and Red 7 for making hard stuff possible.
The ND’s Grand Re-Opening festivities kick off this Thursday – get all the deets via the venue’s website; learn more about its history here.
In other Grand Opening news, Emo’s East is set to open its doors this Sunday with a sure-to-be-memorable bash featuring the legendary Butthole Surfers; my friend Caitlin Ryan over at Culture Map Austin explored the club’s past, present and future last month – check out her stellar piece here.
The second installment of Dart Music International’s Annual Austin Icon Awards takes place this Friday at the original Austin City Limits Studio 6A -- scope out this year’s inductees and purchase tickets here.
The beloved Art Disaster shindig returns on Thursday, September 15th at Beauty Bar -- RSVP on Do512 for $3 entry.
The emerging Ditch The Fest Fest is back as well (September 17th) – this year, Cheer up Charlie’s is joined by Red 7, Beauty Bar, Club de Ville, and Scoot Inn as hosts – details via Facebook.
Stefanie Heminger and I have teamed up to bring a little bit of the Sunset Strip to Austin -- you’re cordially invited to Red 7 this Saturday for Glam Yo' Head. We’ll have complimentary food from Frank, a sure-to-be-memorable Miss 7 contest (in the vein of Heminger’s Miss Rainbow contest series up in L.A. ), and of course, plenty of rock 'n' roll in the form of live sets by Uzi Suicide (Guns N' Roses Tribute), Video Vamp ('70s and '80s Rock Tribute), and Yayo. Cover is $7, or $5 with a fab glam outfit; you best dress to impress as uLOVEi will be making the rounds with his trusty camera. Come on down for a different taste of gravy!
There are only a handful of spots remaining! Sign up to participate in Quesoff 2011 by emailing me your dish’s name and the category of your choice (Meaty, Veggie, or Spicy). The Queso cook-off will take place on September 24th at The Mohawk from 5 to 8 p.m.; chips galore from El Milagro included. Check out this preview on KEYE 42’s We Are Austin Live last week. The current roster includes a host of intriguingly named dishes such as “Hell’s Bells,” “Queso...queso-rah!...whatever will be, will be!,” and “Gayso.” These everyday chefs will be going up against the mighty fine recipes at establishments like Torchy’s Tacos, Paco’s Tacos, and Papi Tino’s. One can only imagine the queso queos that may result should a layman or laywoman stun a top chef!
On Friday, A legend is set to join three Austin bands on stage at the 'hawk. Knife Party!, the local mobile sharpening entity, is bringing in MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer for Howling At The Moon…A Benefit For Jail Guitar Doors. The non-profit, founded by Kramer, provides guitars and other instruments to prison inmates in hopes of rehabilitating them via music – learn more via their website. Kramer will be performing with Lions, Salesman, and English Teeth this special evening. Proceeds from the event benefit the JGD-USA programs at the Travis County Correctional Facility. The official press release is available via the FB event page.
My showcase at The Mohawk on Tuesday the 19th features another trio of talented local bands. Pop quartet Little Radar’s DIY approach to indie is fun and fresh. Their sound shines in their punchy, 3-song EP Kill A Buffalo. Hot off the heels of last month’s release, Blame The West, Three Leaf continues to hit hard. The band’s second self-released album reinforces their staying power and reflects the growth of their sound, which has matured from the humble folk stylings showcased on their Ghana EP, to more garage rock and post-folk. The Couch continue to bust out into the scene with their catchy grooves that fuse rock, blues and soul for a melting pot sound entirely their own. Hope to see you there! (FB event page.)
Have a friend who makes the best queso in town? Let them know about our first Queso Cook-Off Cup, or Quesoff 2011, which takes place this September – there are still few spots remaining in each of the Meaty, Veggie, and Spicy cateogories – more information here. This is open to professional chefs as well.
The Big 4 Tribute at Red 7 has been postponed to September 24th; full details coming soon.
I am pleased to debut the first installment of Hard Stuff, a new series focusing on the metal, hardcore, and punk bands that grace the stage at the many fine rock ‘n’ roll establishments in town. The project is a collaboration between Austin Music Weekly, beloved venues like Red 7, Piggy, and myself. All of us firmly believe in the vitality of the aforementioned genres and feel these unsung heroes deserve to be noticed. After all, why should dance-pop get all the attention?
Without further ado, here’s Eagle Claw at Red 7 on May 24th.
The Mohawk’s Independence Day Beach Party takes place this Sunday – come on down and enjoy a snow cone, a game of ping pong or pool, a dip in the kiddie pools, and more. The shindig starts at 4 p.m. -- Wiretree take the stage at 6 p.m.; The Sideshow Tragedy follow at 7. As Biff Tannen once said, “God Bless America.”
The Davis Cup is coming to town (July 8 -10 at Frank Erwin Center) – this is one of the most epic, historic tennis events, a World Cup for tennis even. ACL Live at the Moody Theater will host a Draw Ceremony bash at noon on Thursday, July 7th, complete with player introductions and a live set by Asleep at the Wheel – get your tickets here.
The Austin Chronicle’s “Best of Austin” poll and “Sound Wars” competition are both back – submit your picks for the former here and learn more about the latter here.
Sign up to attend SXSW’s inaugural Eco Conference (October 4 – 6 at the Hilton Austin) here; sign up to present at the seminar here.
First Friday Frolic’s Red River Noise Night (7.1.11 / Club de Ville)
I’m pleased to honor local blog Red River Noise, a staunch supporter of the series from day one, at this month’s installment of First Friday Frolic. This July edition will actually be a farewell of sorts – there are some major changes afoot at Red River Noise (details TBA at the Frolic). Furthermore, I’m going to be taking a break from the First Friday Frolic adventure to concentrate on few new projects, including Soundboard and Hard Stuff. But not before one more hurrah at Club de Ville on July 1st.
Come on down at 5 p.m. for an ice cold beverage from Waialua Soda Works and tasty snacks from Beanitos. You’ll receive a now-customary raffle ticket at the door for your chance to win passes to various shows at The Mohawk. And this time, we’re also giving away a copy of the new Man Man album Life Fantastic on vinyl courtesy of Anti-. Naan Stop, a brand new Indian cuisine food cart in town, will have delicious Indian treats for sale in the parking lot.
As for the entertainment, enjoy live sets by two of Austin’s finest young talents Fresh Millions (7 p.m.) and Tactics (6 p.m.), along with the effervescent uLOVEi’s ever-stimulating DJ sets.
The ND is taking a break until July 21st to renovate, etc. – read the club’s official statement here.
Frank stellar brunch menu can now be enjoyed with quality tunes courtesy of DJs Kid Slyce and I Wanna Be Her (a.k.a. Thick A$ Thieves) every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In other news, Frank’s live music calendar launches later this summer; former Ghost Room all-stars Glynn Wedgewood, Josie Fluri, and Chris Payeur will handle the booking.
The coveted space on south-east intersection of Red River and 9th underwent quite a few transformations during the early part of the last decade. In 2006, all that changed when we welcomed in the institution known as The Mohawk. The venue has consistently delivered unforgettable shows and memorable shindigs over the course of its storied history.
Later this year, we’ll be celebrating the 'hawk’s birthday with a slew of choice events. I’m super stoked to announce that we’re now accepting entries for the Five Year Anniversary Queso Cook-Off this fall. Stay tuned for complete details including the date and the list of reputable judges; in the interim, you can sign up for the Quesoff by emailing me your personal queso dish’s name.
Electric Touch, The Boxing Lesson, & Michelle Armstrong @ The Mohawk
As announced previously, Ultra8201 and I have put together a nice little show at The Mohawk tomorrow night – doors open at 8 p.m.; the schedule is as follows:
The Boxing Lesson replace Politics, who were forced to cancel due to a family emergency. Our prayers are with the Politics band members and their families.
Check out the new episode of The Wooden Birds’ tour diary video via Crawdaddy!. The band departed on a month-long North American jaunt earlier this week; they return to play The Mohawk on July 20th.
Built By Snow, one of my favorite local pop-sters, return from a brief hiatus to headline a quality free show at Red 7 this evening.
Exile In Austin, Free People’s Austin Catalog Release Party, takes place tomorrow evening (5 – 8 p.m.) at The Mohawk. The free event includes a performance by The Happen-Ins; the Austin band is featured in the latest catalog.
Check out STEREO IS A LIE’s new video for “Last Call” off the self-titled debut full-length here.
Catch Andrew Kenny’s The Wooden Birds at Waterloo Records at 5 p.m. today; the band heads out on tour in support of Two Matchsticks later this week. Kenny once spearheaded the legendary local outfit The American Analog Set.
After checking out the Birds, make your way to The Parlor for one of many “final” shows at the historic hot-spot on North Loop -- tonight’s impressive bill, assembled by Giant Step Productions, boasts Jonathan Terrell from Not In The Face!, Jesse Moore from Guns of Navarone, Josh Mazour from Crooks, and Mike Harmeier from Mike and the Moonpies, among others (Full Lineup). The Parlor original location shuts its doors at the end of the month.
Future Sounds’ next Rumble in town is set for June 15th at Beerland – RSVP here to get in for free.
Paul Streckfus’ Kingdom of Suicide Lovers celebrate the release of the “System vs. Factory” b/w “Capsules” 7" at Ruta Maya on June 23rd. You may remember Streckfus from Glorium, a cult favorite up and down I-10 back in the '90s; pre-order the new KoSL single via the Golden Hour Records website.
Foot Patrol will perform “hip hop’s greatest hits” at The Scoot Inn on June 25th – more info via Facebook.
A few months ago, Shoot Good Media and I decided to team up to profile the various music producers in town. We’re fortunate that so many amazing bands call Austin home and we’re blessed with regular opportunities to watch them in concert. With the Soundboard series, we wanted to shift the spotlight on the producers, and learn more about their inspirations, their tricks of the trade, and their relationships with the multitude of bands they work with. Thanks to these gifted individuals and their tireless work in the recording studio, much of this town’s musical talent is shaped, refined, and preserved eternally for generations to come.
Our first episode featured Danny Reisch, producer extraordinaire at Good Danny’s -- check it out below:
On June 14th, we’ll be paying tribute to Reisch at the launch of the Soundboard Live series at The Mohawk. Doors open at 8 p.m. for this earlish show; we’ve recruited three of the finest from Reisch’s reputable roster to honor the man:
With Reisch’s birthday coming up later this month, you really have no excuse to miss out on this. Come on down and buy him a birthday shot or two; enjoy live sets by three of his prized assets to boot.
Weezer entertained the masses at Stubb’s for a second night in row yesterday. The initial set was once again chock-full of assorted hits (“Dope Nose,” “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived,” and “Memories”) and choice B-sides (“Susanne,” “Jamie,” and “You Gave Your Love To Me Softly”). Rivers Cuomo was in top form as always, scaling the walls of the venue, charming the audience with his fútbol skills and banter, and sending the fans into pandemonium with regular trips into the photo pit. And of course, Pinkerton, the main course this evening, delivered all the sweet emotion the audience had expectantly awaited.
Pixies. Megadeth. Psychedelic Furs. Melvins. And now Weezer. The L.A. band is the latest to implement the fashionable “complete album in its entirety” formula on tour. Last night, they churned out their landmark debut Blue Album to a sold out Stubb’s crowd. The initial set mined through years of Weezer hits, included a riveting cover of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android,” and was not sans beloved B-side “I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams.” During a short intermission, the legendary =w= webmaster Karl Koch shared vintage artifacts and goose-bump inducing tales via a memorable slideshow. But true nostalgic trip was always going to be the Blue Album, performed to perfection, and lapped up willingly by an extremely enthused audience. Next stop, Pinkerton!
The Emo’s Boat Party Series sets sail at 5 p.m. on June 27th from the Beach Front Boat Rentals dock next to Volente Beach. Tickets ($20) can be purchased at the Emo’s bar and include complimentary BBQ and beer (21+); Riverboat Gamblers perform.
The next Peligrosa shindig takes place June 17th at Scoot Inn (FB event page); if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, check out the next Soul Happening Shakedown at the Legendary White Swan on the same night (FB event page).
Local blog Red River Noise has put together a nice little bill at The Mohawk on June 18th – get the deets via Do512.
Ume will release their new full-length Phantoms on August 30th on Modern Outsider Records; expect a fair share of previews at their next gig in town, at The Mohawk on July 22nd.
Mark your calendars! The Big 4 Tribute lands August 13th at Red 7 – more info coming soon.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Erik Chandler’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Erik Chandler from Bowling For Soup. Catch the veteran Texan pop-punk outfit at The Parish tonight – get your tickets here.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Carrie Clark’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Carrie Clark from Sixteen Deluxe and Elevated Lines. The latter celebrates the release of its debut EP Evil Eye on June 11th at Skinny’s Ballroom.
Carrie Clark by Jerry Milton
1st favorite song: “Inchworm” as sung by Robin the Frog (Kermit's nephew).
Chaos in Tejas takes over much of Red River St. and its surrounding areas this Thursday through Sunday – scope out the schedule here; purchase a four-day pass to Chaos show at The Mohawkhere and a three-day pass Red 7here.
On Friday, the same venue hosts Southern Violator, the final edition of Knuckle Rumber’s Vs. series -- RSVP via Do512 for $3 entry. Get the low-down on KR’s next event, the intriguingly titled Smash Dat A$$ Up (Beauty Bar / June 18th), via Facebook.
uLOVEi’s A Night For Lovers series rolls on at Lanai tomorrow night. On June 8th, head down to Dirty Bills and buy good man Richard Gonzalez from ultra8201 a birthday shot (or five) at a special “birthday” edition of Isabel J Presents: Dirty, another infamous uLOVEi fueled residency. uLOVEi’s selections can also be enjoyed every second and fourth Friday of the month at The Eastern, and of course, at my First Friday Frolic series at Club de Ville.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Cheshire Agusta’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Stinking Lizaveta’s drummer Cheshire Agusta. The Philly three-piece brings its sludgy instrumental soundscapes to Emo’s on June 13th – get your tickets here.
1st favorite song: “Zorba the Greek,” “The Seven Jumps,” and Petula Clark's “Downtown.” I can't remember which came first.
1st favorite musician or band: Toss-up between Igor Stravinsky and Ringo Starr.
First Friday Frolic’s Caravan Interactive Night (6.3.11 / Club de Ville)
This time, First Frolic Frolic pays homage to Caravan Interactive. The company, based out of Brooklyn and Austin, specializes in developing highly interactive iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry applications. Some of their noteworthy clients include Women’s Wear Daily, Human Right Watch International Film Festival, Maroon 5, Men’s Health Magazine, and L'Oréal Redken.
Mmmpanadas will have some tasty treats for sale in the de Ville parking lot – check out their menu here. The brainchild of husband-and-wife team Cody and Kristen Fields, mmmpanadas began as a truck business in 2007. Now, their gourmet empanadas can be found in local bars and coffee shops. And in the de Ville parking lot this evening.
Inside, grab a complimentary Waialua Soda Works beverage and enjoy live sets by Luison at 6 p.m. and Afrofreque at 7 p.m., along with DJ uLOVEi’s selections at regular intervals. Hope to see you there!
From L.A. legends Ozomatli’s intoxicating concoctions to perennial favorites Mariachi Las Alteñas’ delightful tunes, and from Adrian Quesada’s latest endeavor The Echocentrics’ soothing sounds to Mexicans With Guns’ unique pastiche, Pachanga Fest offered up a little something for everyone last Saturday at Fiesta Gardens.
KVRX 91.7 FM kicks off its Summer Concert Series on June 3rd at the 29th Street Ballroom at Spider House -- details via Facebook.
The Austin Variety Show studios are now located inside the oft-maligned Highland Mall. The first taping at the new home is set for June 18th but in the interim, all are invited to the housewarming party on May 28th from 8 to 11 p.m., complete with a “Stupid Housewarming Gift” contest. (No cover; free BBQ from Sam’s.)
But why wait till September -- you can get your fest on at Pachanga this Saturday at Fiesta Gardens -- purchase tickets here, scope out the schedule here, and keep the shindig going all night with the Peligrosa crew at the Pachanga After Party at Volstead Lounge. Peligrosa's set at the fest takes place in the Electro Cumbia Café at 5:30 p.m.
It’s almost time for Chaos in Tejas as well (June 2nd - 5th) – a very, very impressive schedule can be viewed here. Plus there’s the enticing Liquid Sludge Fest at Scoot Inn on June 2nd and 3rd. Of course, no festival roundup would be complete without a mention of the epic weekend in November that is Fun Fun Fun Fest -- win sweet prizes via the Guess The Fest contest.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Sasa Crnobrnja’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Sasa Crnobrnja from In Flagranti. Catch In Flagranti in action at Beauty Bar on June 11th -- RSVP via the Learning Secrets site for $8 admission; the LS lads get the dance party started at 10 p.m.
Image courtesy of Learning Secrets
1st favorite song: The Tremeloes - “Call Me Number One”
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Jonathan Toubin’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Jonathan Toubin, former Austinite and curator of legendary New York Night Train shindigs like Soul Clap. Toubin is bringing the party down to The ND this Friday, complete with a Dance-Off at midnight (yours truly will serve as a judge) – cover is a measly $5 and if you’re victorious, you could take home $100 (details).
1st favorite song: Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing"
Download the Black Lips’ new single “Modern Art” via SPIN; check out the cover art for the upcoming Arabia Mountain record (due June 7th) below.
Rave On Buddy Holly, a new compilation that pays tribute to the Texas legend, drops June 28th – stream The Black Keys’ rendition of “Dearest” via Pitchfork. Paul McCartney, Patti Smith, and My Morning Jacket are just a few of the many other notable contributors.
Sebastian Bach, Anvil, Cherie Currie, Matt Sorum, Joey Belladonna, Jim Norton, Duff McKagan, and Glenn Hughes have all been featured on recent episodes of VH1’s That Metal Show. For my money, it’s easily the best hour on TV every Saturday evening. Catch a sneak peak of the next episode (Carmine Appice and Dave Meniketti) here.
GOBI and Peligrosa cohorts King Louie and Hobo D furnish the soundtrack at Knuckle Rumbler’s Cinco de Mayo bash at Venue 222 this evening; La Condesa’s annual block party is another viable option.
The Parish is launching a new electronic music series starting June 22nd – the free, all ages events will be hosted by Jo Mirasole from The Bright Light Social Hour.
Freedom Express Line, a collaboration between Cymarshall Law and The Beatnikz, is the newest offering from local label Beats Broke -- purchase it here; check out the video for “Zion Land” below.
The details for Pachanga’s interactive kids bash a.k.a. Niños Rock Pachanga have been announced. The scheduled entertainment includes a live set by Ozokidz (Ozomatli’s children themed project), workshops by Alex Vallejo and Gina Chavez, a whole host of assorted arts ‘n’ craft activities, and of course, Annie Ray’s infamous photobooth to preserve those magical memories forever. Pachanga Fest takes place on Saturday, May 21st at Fiesta Gardens.
The Midgetmen celebrate the release of their fourth record on May 20th at The Mohawk -- more information via Facebook.
Talented local rapper ZEALE is the latest artist to be featured on the 20QATX blog.
If you haven’t watched the fascinating documentary Heavy Metal In Baghdad yet, now would be a good time – Acrassicauda stops in at Red 7 on May 24th. It should be pretty epic.
Curated by The Reverberation Appreciation Society and The Black Angels, the annual Austin Psych Fest has blossomed into an amazing showcase of all things psychedelic. The 2011 installment took place this weekend at the Seaholm Power Plant, the festival’s fourth home in as many years. And as always, the organizers combed through the long annals of psychedelic music around the world to deliver a lineup that covered pretty much every little niche of the genre’s family tree.
First Friday Frolic’s Lamebook Night (5.6.11 / Club de Ville)
This month’s First Frolic Frolic salutes hilarious local website Lamebook. An undeniable time-suck but an unavoidable avenue for my every day escape from reality, Lamebook publishes some of the funniest and most epic stuff ever from Facebook.
It’s not all fun and games though – Lamebook is still fighting FB in court. I’ll have a donation jar set up at de Ville, should you wish to contribute to their cause. Come on down (doors at 5 p.m.) and get an update on the legal battle from the creators. Or discuss in detail the Lame Category you choose most often. And while you’re at it, enjoy live sets by Rayon Beach and Royal Forest, along with DJ uLOVEi’s choice selections (request “Friday” to drive him crazy!).
Inspired by the Mini Cannonball Run Grub Crawl I was a part of last month, I have decided to invite different local food carts to set up in the de Ville parking lot for Frolics going forward. Our first Frolic cart is East Side Drive-In based Ugly Banjos. Cousins Michael Hegar and Matthew Schaefer comprise the brain-trust behind this little trailer which specializes in Texas comfort food and finished in the top three in the aforementioned grub crawl for their quite amazing Shrimp & Grits dish. Since this Friday is the last day of my three-week cleanse, I may just hafta indulge. As always, there will be complimentary ice-cold Waialua Soda Works beverages available inside de Ville. Hope you can make it!
Austin Psych Fest kicks off this evening at 5 p.m. at the Seaholm Power Plant -- get all the deets via the website .
Browse through scores of epic records, vintage artifacts, used CDs, and even new DVDs at the always enjoyable Austin Record Convention this weekend at the North Austin Event Center.
Foot Patrol celebrate the release of Pussyfooting at the Playland Skate Center this Sunday; the Gentleman Rogues’ EP release show is set for May 13th at Skinny’s Ballroom.
Steady Eye Shaky Bow, the new album from Suzanna Choffel is now available via her website in a variety of packages.
If you didn’t get a chance to cut a rug on Friday or Saturday, wrap up your weekend at Synth Sundays, a new residency curated by DJ collective Procession at Beauty Bar.
As announced earlier today, the sixth edition of my beloved Fun Fun Fun Fest will take place at Auditorium Shores. I’m pretty stoked about this. A much larger space, a lot less dust boogers, and a beautiful backdrop are just few of the clear benefits of this switch. Of course, I’ll miss the proximity to the 'hawk and Red 7 but as far as I can tell, the pros outweigh the cons for the most part.
Tickets will be sold in three phases via the website. The biggest discount will be available in Phase One, aptly named Fun #1, starting late May – only Fun Fest members will have access so I recommend signing up ASAP. And new this year -- the Guess The Fest contest where you could win some sweet prizes by correctly guessing Fun Fest 2011 performers.
Check out some of our Fun Fest interview features from 2010 below:
My friends at Red River Noise are giving away a pair of tickets to two Transmission shows (both this Thursday) – enter to win Bostich + Fussible and Bomba Estéreo (Club de Ville) tix here, and Yelawolf (The Mohawk) tix here. And don’t forget to click “Attending” on the former show’s Facebook event page for a chance to snag two tickets from the mind of adi -- winner to be selected tomorrow!
Big night in Austin tomorrow – the intriguing Railroad Revival Tour stops in at the location normally known as Fader Fort. It’s been sold out forever so if you don’t have tickets already, you might as well check out Raekwon at Red 7 (Tix). Or catch Mumford & Sons tonight at Austin Music Hall. (This Invisible Children benefit has been moved from the 'hawk to AMH -- event details.)
Panjoma drop their self-titled “best of” collection next month; catch them live on June 25th at the release party at Kenny Dorham's Backyard and The Victory Grill.
The prolific DJ Orión has a new EP available – download it here.
Interpol have arguably been my favorite band of the last decade. Their debut was nothing short of a timeless classic (for me anyway) and follow-up Antics was right up there as well. Sure, the last two records may not have scaled those dizzying heights on my personal charts but there’s been more than enough quality material to keep me satisfied. Last night, they swung by Austin for their second show in six months, and of course, I was there again to enjoy the dark, romantic tunes that have comprised much of the soundtrack to my life for quite a bit now.
This time, I’m giving away a pair of tickets to the Bostich + Fussible show at Club de Ville on Thursday, April 28th – to throw your name in the hat, just RSVP on Facebook; the winner will be selected randomly from the “Attending” section, of course. Learn more about this dynamic duo via our chat with them at ACL Fest last year:
I’ve been a huge fan of the “classic album in its entirety tour” concept ever since I watched Queensrÿche replicate the magic of Operation: Mindcrime in 2004. As a young metal-head in New Delhi, I wore out the Video: Mindcrime VHS, never imagining I’d actually get the chance to see the entire album live one day. More recently, I thoroughly enjoyed both Megadeth’s Rust In Peace tour (twice) as well as Pixies’ Doolittle tour last year. And last night, I watched The Psychedelic Furs bring back 1981’s Talk Talk Talk at Antone’s. (The album will be re-released on vinyl next week.)
The Recording Academy’s Texas Chapter will host a Grammy U Summit at the AMD’s Lone Star Campus on April 30th; your truly has been invited to co-host The New Millineium: Strategies for Online Promo/Marketing workshop – get all deets here.
The latest installment of Knuckle Rumbler’s Vs. series is set for April 30th at Scoot Inn -- RSVP for Phunkavelli (2Pac vs. George Clinton) via Do512 to get in for three bucks.
Two Matchsticks, the upcoming full-length from Andrew Kenny’s The Wooden Birds, drops on June 7th on Barsuk -- stream the title track via MTV Hive; catch the band at The Mohawk on July 20th.
A couple of weeks ago, Mini Cooper invaded Austin as part of its Countryman Wanderlust promotional adventure. The crew, led by Vice’s Matt Mojo, had traveled from the previous effort in L.A. for a few stints in the Lone Star State. In Austin, the project was put together by Guerilla Suit head honcho James Moody, with assistance from fellow GS hot-shot JP Piggy Pue and myself. The goal was crystal clear – assemble a crew of local legends and initiate a valuable mission to capture the Mini in all its glory in various spots around Austin. In jumpsuits. With pub stops included.
Photographs by Brad Bunyea
The Mini Cannonball Run Grub Crawl began on Saturday, April 9th at 12:30 p.m. at the various eateries at the East Side Drive-In, made its way through the trailers located on Barton Springs, S. Lamar, S. 1st, and SoCo, and wrapped up at the inevitable home-base that is The Mohawk at 6:30 p.m. We traveled in teams of five (complete with designated drivers), sampled the wares of Austin’s finest food carts, and rated them on a number of useful categories like taste, attitude, and cleanliness.
Photographs by Brad Bunyea
After a long day of grubbery, Love Balls was crowned champion for its delicious Takoyaki dish. Gorudough’s (the Blue Balls) and Ugly Banjos (Shrimp & Grits) rounded off the top three. All in all, it was an epic day of harmless and very enjoyable shenanigans. And things got better -- My team, Cooperstown took home a trophy for trying the most carts during the course of the day.
One of my favorite local bands English Teeth has teamed up with director Adam McKay and others to launch an interesting little project today. Head over to the Public Domain Protest Song website or read excerpts from the founders’ message below to learn more. And hopefully garner enough inspiration to get started!
“I’m always amazed how even small local bands stay away from the fact that our country is being ripped off, polarized and lied to by huge corporations that don’t pay taxes and weirdo billionaires who inherited all their money.
I can’t exactly say why there’s not much protest music to speak of. And I know there are acts out there still putting a message in their music. Maybe it’s Clear Channel’s ownership of so many radio stations. Or maybe it’s iTunes and Apple being a company
that makes most of their stuff in China. Or maybe it’s because the outrage is just starting to really spark in the midwest with all those insane Governors attacking the middle and lower classes.
I asked this question enough that finally some musician friends of mine in Austin, Texas (the home of music as far as I’m concerned) called my bluff and said, “If you write the lyrics we’ll record the songs.” So we did. The band is called English Teeth. They smoke live if you haven’t seen them. We recorded for four days in Austin and it was a blast. And just like that we were ready to release our EP of protest music.
But Kevin, Kyle and I realized we didn’t want to be anywhere near the final word on this. We wanted other people to do their own songs. We wanted people to cover our songs or remix them. We wanted all kinds of voices. And we didn’t want to rely on corporate radio stations or MTV or Itunes. So we decided to create this project: Public Domain Protest Song.
Bill Baird’s Blank Fritz, Missions, and Spells all perform at The Ghost Room on May 19th as a part of Knuckle Rumbler’s next event at the venue. The entertainment on offer this evening includes dazzling visuals by Vid Kidz as well. Before all that madness, Missions play inside at Stubb’s immediately after the Cut Copy show on Friday.
In other afterparty news, Learning Secrets invite you to end your night on Friday at Beauty Bar. You’ll get in for $5 if you have a stub from Yelle at The Mohawk or Cut Copy at Stubb’s. And you’ll continue to dance the night away, this time courtesy of DJ sets by the LS lads as well as Holy Ghost!. Learning Secrets present Aussies DJ Bang Gang at the same spot on the 29th and continue to enliven the mood at Malverde every Thursday.
Chaos In Tejas has sorted out its lineup and announced the schedule – check it out here.
Get your tickets for Austin Psych Festhere and for Pachangahere.
Southwestern University in Georgetown has a cool little fest going on this Saturday – get the deets here. The slightly bigger ClusterFest featuring Matt and Kim and The Octopus Project takes place on April 29th at the Corbin J. Robertson Center.
Austinist Indieroke returns this Saturday! Check out my preview on Austinist; come on down to The Mohawk at 9 p.m. to sing your favorites, or to simply enjoy the spectacle that is Indieroke. Cover is a measly $3 and the bear guarantees a good time at Indieroke, so there’s really no excuse to miss out. And should you turn in a stellar performance, you may just win a sweet Indieroke shirt or tickets to future shows at the 'hawk. See you there!
Club de Ville hosts Pachanga alumni Bostich + Fussible (Nortec Collective) and Bomba Estéreo on Thursday, April 28th – get your tickets here. Pachanga tickets will be on sale at the show sans any service fees, or you can get ‘em now via Front Gate. The fourth edition of the blossoming local fest takes place on May 21st at Fiesta Gardens
Brooklyn’s Das Racist, fresh off numerous shows in town during SX, return to Austin for a special 4.20 gig at Red 7 – purchase tix here.
Local lawyer and perennial philanthropist Charlie Roadman offers up the sixth installment of his ever-engaging Marijuana Law For Musicians presentation on April 18th at The Mohawk. At the least, you can snag his business card; it may come in handy when you next attempt to grace the pages of Busted Magazine.
I am excited to debut the first episode of Soundboard, a new series where Shoot Good Media and I profile the plethora of talented producers in town. We caught up with Danny Reisch from Good Danny’s and Erik Wofford from Cacophony Recorders in February – enjoy our piece on Danny Reisch below; check back next week for our chat with Wofford at his beautiful studio in South-East Austin.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Rich Garza’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Rich Garza, all-around bad ass and producer of Pachanga Latino Music Festival. This year’s Pachanga takes place on May 21st at Fiesta Gardens -- get your early bird tickets here.
DJ Dus & Rich Garza by uLOVEi
1st favorite song: “American Girl” - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Dream-pop purveyors Candi and The Strangers have just dropped a new video for “Glide” off 10th of Always -- check it out further below.
Pure X (formerly Pure Ecstasy) will release their debut full-length Pleasure this July on Acéphale. Meanwhile, the band’s You’re In It Now EP has been re-released with a bonus track “Back Where I Began” – download it here; purchase the full EP here.
Quality local shows on the horizon include Electric Touch at The Mohawk this Monday, Hard Proof Afrobeat at the same venue on the 22nd, (Yelle after-show), and Grammy winners Grupo Fantasma at The Paramount on the 30th.
Red River zine Rank And Revue was one of the first publications I ever wrote for in Austin. I’m thrilled that they’re back with a new site and of course, brand spankin’ new content – take it all in here.
New blog 20Q4ATX returns with its second post – this time a Q&A with the prolific Adrian Quesada -- check it out here here.
Starting April 14th, popular local DJ Orión sets up camp at The Eastern every Thursday evening from 10 to 2. Scope out the flyer below for the wide range of genres his DJ sets will encompass at this new residency entitled East League. You can also catch Orión at a couple of events at Beauty Bar this Friday and Saturday.
I’ve been thinking I need to do more ticket giveaways on here and I reckon now is as good a time as any to get that started. So here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to two epic TE shows -- The Residents @ The Mohawk (4/6) and Captured By Robots @ Red 7 (4/16). Just RSVP for both shows via those preceding Facebook links to enter. I’ll be picking a random name that appears in the “Attending” section of both event pages; you’ll be notified via your FB profile if you’re the lucky one.
The initial lineup for the 2011 edition of beloved local fest Pachanga, announced this morning, contains three of my favorites Ozomatli, The Echocentrics, and Manejo Beto -- scope out the deets here. Get your early bird tickets for $15 (or V.I.P. tickets for $45) via Front Gate; enjoy our recap of last year’s installment further below.
If you haven’t checked out Echotone yet, I highly recommend catching it at the Alamo Ritz this month (calendar). You can download the soundtrack for free via Paste Magazine’s site.
The Mohawk hosts two legendary bands this week – get your tickets for The Residents on Wednesday here and for Wire on Friday here.
Melvins Two-Night Residency Tour hits Austin in May
The legendary Melvins will perform at The Mohawk on May 27th and May 28th as a part of their Two-Night Residency Tour (details); get your tickets for Friday here and for Saturday here.
The fourth edition of Austin Psych Fest is scheduled to take place April 29th to May 1st at the Seaholm Power Plant -- scope out the full lineup here and the daily schedule here.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Matt Adell’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Matt Adell, the CEO of online electronic music store Beatport. It’s been a busy month for the Denver based company – it hosted an official SXSW showcase for the first time on the 17th; last night, it hosted its annual awards show in Miami – check out all the winners here.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Erica Monzon’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Erica Monzon from Ledaswan. The San Antonio band will be here this month in support of their new EP NUM83R5 -- catch ‘em live at the Red Eyed Fly on the 31st.
Erica Monzon by Santa Slice
1st favorite song: "Walk Like An Egyptian" - The Bangles
1st favorite musician or band: That's such a tough questions as I had phases, but I remember The Cure's music having a huge impact on me. Something so deep about the music and lyrics that just comforted every bit of those teenage hormones.
Austin Music People is all set for an epic launch party featuring the likes of Ghostland Observatory, Alejandro Escovedo, and Brownout! this Thursday at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. Doors open at 7 p.m. – get your tickets here and support the cause! Full Disclosure: I’m helping driving membership for AMP currently -- learn more about the local non-profit and its objectives here; scope out the different membership levels and join here. (A ticket to Thursday’s show automatically grants you membership as well.)
Missing the excitement of SXSW already? Enjoy various live sets from this year’s edition via iTunes.
Foot Patrol’s new album Pussyfooting drops May 3rd -- stream the record via SoundCloud; catch ‘em live at the release show on May 1st at the Playland Skate Center.
RAW: Austin’s latest event takes place tonight at Venue 222 -- get the deets here.
First Friday Frolic’s “Gowalla Night” (4.1.11 / Club de Ville)
Beloved local company Gowalla, fresh off an epic SX shindig, takes centre-stage at the April edition of First Friday Frolic. Gowalla has become quite ubiquitous here in Austin and beyond since its inception in 2007. If you’re friends with me on Facebook, you’ve probably grown sick of my plentiful check-ins. Be that as it may, I’d like to set the record straight that I don’t get paid by the company to check-in at five places a day as has been rumored! (Take that Matthew Odam.) The mobile app is especially useful in helping me easily find my friends (and vice versa) during those late night jaunts on Red River St.; the intriguing trips and nifty collectibles add a welcome flair to the whole experience. My regular passport could only dream of the many adventures now reflecting on my Gowalla passport.
Club de Ville doors open right at 5 p.m. on the 1st; the measly $3 cover charge includes treats from downtown eatery Blue Ribbon Barbecue (they best bring some of that banana pudding), refreshments from Waialua Soda Works, plus opportunities to win brand new Gowalla shirts (no joke there). The White White Lights at 6 p.m. and A Giant Dog at 7 p.m. furnish the soundtrack, along with our resident DJ uLOVEi. Hope to see you there!
SXSW week started off nice and gently at a happy hour at Malverde on Friday the 11th but picked up steam at the AMODA bash at The Mohawk later that evening where Missions and the ever-popular Laptop Battle offered plentiful entertainment.
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Alison Clancy’ Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired Alison Clancy from Electric Child. Catch the band during SX week at truly amazing The Beatles Complete on Ukulele event at Jo’s tomorrow at 5 p.m., the All Together Now Showcase later tomorrow night at Bayou Lounge 500, and the SPIN day show at Stubb’s on Friday.
1st favorite song: I went to a hippie Waldorf school in northern Cali for kindergarten, where I learned lots of songs about fairies and gnomes and Native Americans...I think my favorite one started like this: "don't disturb the ladybug, sleepin by the spider's web, and if you see a butterfly, don't try to catch it in your net, it's taken such a long long time, to make this very special place, open up your heart and mind, to all it has to say" It had sign language that went with all the lyrics too....super fun for 5 year olds!
1st favorite musician or band: Somehow in first grade I ended up with a New Kids On The Block tape...not sure how because we lived in a solar powered cabin in the woods...but I became obsessed and learned every song by heart. I later recorded a cover of "Right Stuff" with my first band HUFF THIS! as an homage to this first pop-culture influence. I still like to sing the NKOTB "Happy Birthday" song to my friends on their Birthdays
My friends at Guerilla Suit have compiled this sweet video which showcases their substantial projects, creative endeavors, and memorable moments from an extremely fruitful 2010. I have no doubt 2011 (and beyond) will bring much more success for the brilliant team behind this emerging local company. Pass this clip on – someone out there needs ‘em, surely. And apparently, they are set to launch the world’s first Appkin with HeyWire this weekend at SXSW.
Austinist + Public School + Home Slice + Rabbit’s = Yes, Please
My beloved Austinist has teamed up with Public School and Home Slice Pizza to get us ready for the sure-to-be epic marathon that is SXSW Music. Come on down to Rabbit’s on Tuesday at 5pm for complimentary beer and pizza, and of course, a whole lotta SX discussions – details via Austinist; RSVP on FB. Home Slice will host its annual Music by the Slice throwdown from March 17-19 – get the scoop here. And be sure to check out Austinist’s annual Gonna Gonna Get Down day show at The Mohawk on the 16th!
SXSW is here! The annual extravaganza of music, film, interactive, fashion, and parties, parties, parties is just about set to take over our town. Where will you be? My “two epic unofficial events per day that you shouldn’t miss” list is below -- full disclosure -- I am helping with a few of these events, so please excuse the occasional bias.
I was pretty stoked when Weezerrevealed last year that they’d be performing both the Blue Album and Pinkerton on back to back nights on a future tour. I had my fingers crossed for an Austin date and today, the fine people at C3 answered my prayers with the big announcement. Weezer will swing into Stubb’s for two nights this June – on the 6th, they will perform their debut album in its entirety followed by a sampling of their greatest hits and select tunes off their latest effort Hurley; Pinkerton will follow suit on the 7th with another set of greatest hits and tracks from Hurley following immediately after. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. via C3’s site. See you there!
C3 has also announced the Austin stop for the seemingly epic Railroad Revival Tour; get the deets and scoop up tix here.
MTV will be in town during SX for at least a couple of events – get the details on the mtvU Woodie Awardshere and the MTV Garage party here. The former features sets by Sleigh Bells and Odd Future, among others, while Matt And Kim and Friendly Fires are scheduled to perform at the latter.
The much-coveted RSVP link for Rachael Ray’s annual SX week day show can be found here; The Bravery, Tapes 'N Tapes, and Das Racist are just three of the amazing acts that will furnish the soundtrack to one of the tastiest meals of the week.
I’m helping with the Three Continents Day Party at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop on Friday the 19th – RSVP via Do512; come on down and enjoy music from North America, Europe, and Australia.
Bollywood Bash is back and will once again benefit local non-profit Saheli -- check out my preview on Austinist and jam out my favorite Bollywood song of all time below:
The brain trust behind Fun Fun Fun Fest and FYF Fest has put together yet another quality Mess With Texas lineup. Dead Milkmen, !!!, Ted Leo, OFF!, and The Strange Boys are just a handful of the artists scheduled to perform at this year’s installment at East Side Drive-In on Saturday the 19th; RSVP here.
White Denim will release D on May 24th on Downtown Records. Download “Drug” via RCRD LBL; catch the band during SX at The Ghost Room on the 11th, their official showcase at Club de Ville and earlier in the day at Good Danny’sshindig at The Parish on the 16th, the RCRD LBL party on the 17th, Gorilla Vs. Bear’s Mexican Summer throwdown at Klub Krucial on the 18th, and Hotel San Jose on the 19th.
The first post from new local blog 20QATX features Kat Edmondson -- scope it out here.