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Pontiak at Mohawk - Dec 2
Pontiak
RIYL: The Black Angels, Dead Meadow, Brightblack Morning Light
Performing: December 2 @ Mohawk
Pontiak
are three brothers from Virginia, who play “post-stoner,” psychedelic
sludge rock that’s been compared to a Sabbath, the Doors, Floyd and
Harvey Milk. Their latest full-length, Sun on Sun was recorded
in a log cabin in their Blue Ridge home state in four days and later
released on Thrill Jockey Records (home to free jazz icon Fred Anderson
and post-rock pioneers Tortoise and The Sea and Cake).
“Sun on Sun” is like a nightmarish reimagining of Cooder’s Paris, Texas soundtrack, a hellish trek through a psilocybin desert where the heat
makes you hallucinate. Largely instrumental, the track unfolds with
workman like precision, Van Carney’s vocals disaffected and
uninterested. Churning bass tones, acid rock organs and reverb heavy
guitars fill out the rest of Sun on Sun.
Mon Dec 1 2008 · Posted in Daily
Fun Fun Fun Fest Preview - Revival Tour
Revival Tour featuring Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Chuck Ragan and Tom Gabel
Performing Sunday on Stage Two at 3:00
Old punks don’t die; they just reinvent themselves as tattooed
troubadours. That seems to be the motto of the Revival Tour. Tim Barry,
Ben Nichols, Chuck Ragan and Tom Gabel are arguably four of the best
wordsmiths of their generation, so it seems only natural that they
would shed the boom and bang of their full-time bands for stripped-down
solo settings, flirting with bluegrass, country and folk.
Wed Nov 5 2008 · Posted in Daily
Fun Fun Fun Fest Preview - Walter Schreifels/ Rival Schools
Walter Schreifels / Rival Schools
Performing Saturday on Stage Two at 3:00 (solo) and Stage One at 5:40 (Rivals Schools)
Punk rock has produced few artists as influential and prolific as Walter Schreifels.
As a teenager in the late 80s he served as chief songwriter in the
influential hardcore outfits Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits.
Following the Biscuits’ demise, Schreifels formed Quicksand, helping to
define the sound now known as post-hardcore. In 2000, Schreifels toned
things down ever-so slightly and formed Rival Schools with fellow hardcore veterans Sammy Siegler (Judge, Shelter, Civ), Ian
Love (Burn) and Cache Tolman (Civ, Iceburn). The bio keeps going – in
between all these influential bands, were short-lived projects, like
Project X and Walking Concert. The man just can’t stop playing music.
Today, like fellow Fun Fun Fun Fest participants and punk rock legends
Tim Barry and Chuck Ragan, Shreifels finds himself performing solo
acoustic sets, losing none of the angst and passion that has defined
his music for the past twenty years.
Tue Nov 4 2008 · Posted in Daily
Fun Fun Fun Fest Preview - Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit
Performing Sunday at 2:45 on Stage One.
Frightened Rabbit’s The Midnight Organ Fight (Fat Cat Records)
is probably one of my favorite albums to come out this year. From start
to finish, every track on this full-length is absolutely brilliant;
soulful folk wrapped in richly layered production, songs that start
with nothing and build to foot-stomping, barn-burning anthems with
brutally honest lyrics every drunken and horny romantic can relate to.
Mon Nov 3 2008 · Posted in Daily
Monday Transmissions - Halloween Edition
In all honesty, I never really get down on the Halloween vibe.
Never been one for dressing up in costumes, not a big fan of candy,
never really liked scary movies (except The Gate – love that one). I know. I’m such a sourpuss, thanks. A lot of people
do seem to dig Halloween though and they get all sorts of excited when
it falls on a weekend. Never one to let my own misgivings about the
holiday get in the way of a good time (when do I ever let ANYTHING get
in the way of a good time, really), here’s your special, Halloween
edition of Monday Transmissions. On Thursday (it’s been a busy week –
sue me). 
Thursday: What’s Halloween without a metal show – Red7 apparently doesn’t know and that’s why Thursday you can see Vows in Ashes, Havoc Dose, Manifestation and Self-Induced Pain. Not so scary – Pocketful of Deng, Goodnight Goddess and Fatback Circus inside.
As expected, costumes are encouraged. And let’s hope A Pocketful of
Deng dress up like the droogs in A Clockwork Orange – that is where
they got their name from after all. Wouldn’t that be clever.
Thu Oct 30 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#11)
Everyone seen the set times and stage assignments for Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008? No? Click here and start planning your weekend! It’s only 2 weeks away, people. In the meantime, here is your Monday Transmission for the week of October 20, 2008.
Mon Oct 20 2008 · Posted in Daily
Monday Transmissions (#10)
I won’t lie to you folks, on the surface this week looks to be a relatively slow one in terms of live music – but don’t be fooled! There are some great bands playing all over Austin, as always. So what if you don’t recognize a name here and there? That’s why you read this damn column! And that is why I write it. So follow the links, listen to some music, then get your ass out to these shows. From Kayo Dot (Monday) to Astronautalis (Friday) and Bankrupt and the Borrowers (Wednesday), there is great new music everywhere. Without further ado, here is your Monday Transmission for the week of October 13.
Mon Oct 13 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#7)
Sticking with the format that worked so well last week, we start things off today with a spotlight on a band that I think is destined for some big things, this time a local folk-punk foursome, The Van Buren Boys. Then we run down all the shows you need to check out for the coming week – and trust me, there are a LOT of good shows coming up, so I hope you’ve saved your pennies this past week.
Local Spotlight: The Van Buren Boys
The Van Buren Boys are fast becoming one of my favorite bands to watch live. Every performance is inspired and authentic. Don’t get me wrong, the band’s recently released debut full-length Planet Kickass is a damn good record, but it’s in their fiery live performance that The Van Buren Boys excel.
With the greatest bandname ever taken from a Seinfeld episode (check the reference here), The Van Buren Boys carry the torch of great protest song writers, from Joe Hill to Dropkick Murphys, with songs that refer to miners and factory workers, starving artists and drunken soldiers. Kickass is classic folk-punk – for peers look to This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Defiance Ohio and Andrew Jackson Jihad. The bands live show is no-holds-barred and confrontational, with Erick Van Buren often times hanging from rafters, upside while screaming about union politics.
Mon Sep 15 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#6)
This week we’re gonna try something a little different for Monday’s Transmission. Still got a calendar below, with all the hot shows you should check this week, but we’ve got a little more in here too: a profile of a great new band out of LA (via Seattle) called Army Navy, and a short review of the flick Heavy Metal in Baghdad. Enjoy.
Army Navy
There are plenty of reasons for you to check out Army Navy. The band’s self-titled debut was recorded with Adam Lasus, who also worked with one Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (hey – aren’t the playing Fun Fun Fun Fest this year?), not to mention Yo La Tengo and Helium. Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello’s The Attractions played drums on the record, following their first drummers departure to pursue a screenwriting career. The band has two songs featured in the film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (out early next month) and one on the soundtrack. Not to mention that Army Navy funded the recording of their self-titled debut themselves and are releasing it on their own label The Fever Zone next month despite offers from other labels both big and small. Oh and the record is damn good too – a jangly mix of Teenage Fanclub-style infection with nods to The Pogues, The Smiths and/or The Libertines.
Mon Sep 8 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#5)
Monday: This Monday at Plush we’ve got a good one – Bridge Farmers (if Kurt Cobain had grown up in Texas, he’d be in this band), The Bread, and The Van Buren Boys (think Defiance, Ohio or This Bike is a Pipe Bomb). Shows are always 21 and up and always free.
Tuesday: Mohawk is promulgating Big Lebowski Tuesday with $3 Caucasians and Happy Hour prices all night. The Dude abides.
If you absolutely have to see live music Tuesday, I suggest Lymbyc Systym and This Will Destroy You at Emo’s.
Mon Sep 1 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#4)
Long
weekend – no desire to write a cheesy opening paragraph. On with the
show, as they say. Here are your MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS for the week of
August 25, 2008.
Monday: The Mohawk recently started “Metal Mondays” – come hang and bang your head. Or hit up Red 7 for some punky pop music with NorTexans Kid Liberty and A Bird A Sparrow. Chicago’s A Kidnap in Color round out this matinee lineup. Bring your little sister, or underage girlfriend, if you’ve got one. [No advance tickets available]
Bummed about being back at school? Drink away your sorrows students, drink ‘em all away, at Beauty Bar Monday. The “Back To School, Alright!” Party features two stages of music – definitely not the most dancey lineup
you’ll see at Beauty Bar but fun nonetheless. Inside you’ve got Peel, White White Lights and Sad Accordians, while the patio hosts Belaire, AM Syndicate, and Future Clouds and Radar. Come early for free pizza and vodka from sponsors Hoboken Pie (best pizza downtown, definitely) and 42 Below. [No advance tickets available]
Mon Aug 25 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#3)
Who else is stoked for FunFunFun Fest? I’ve seen the lineup – and you haven’t. HA! But get stoked. Seriously. Lineup drops this week – keep checking TransmissionEntertainment.com and be the first to know. In the meantime, here are your Monday Transmissions for the week of August 18, 2008.
- James Taylor
Monday: Rest up – you’ll need it. This week's a doozy. Or stop
by Plush (7th and Red River) where I work the door and occasionally
step behind the bar. Come say “Howdy.”
Tuesday: Prosthetic Records’ Infernaeon bring their blast beats and black t-shirts to Red 7. I prefer my “Black
Metal” to be in the vein of Fishbone and Living Color. Dimmu Borgir and
King Diamond? Not so much. But hey – if that’s your thing, Red 7 is
your spot Tuesday. Manifestation, Self Induced Pain, and Disfigured support with three of the most metal sounding bandnames imaginable.
Mon Aug 18 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#2)
I realized reading over last week’s
“Monday Transmissions” that one might be inclined to think I am a metal
junkie – a black t-shirt wearing, Jagermeister drinking, long haired
and thick bearded, head banging member of the metal army. Not true. Top
five favorite recording artists of all time: Miles Davis, John
Coltrane, U2, The Clash and Sunny Day Real Estate.
But enough about me – wondering what to do this week? Here are your Monday Transmissions.
TONIGHT (MONDAY): La Zona Rosa hosts The Faint and Blood Brothers progeny Jaguar Love. This one’s sure to make hipster hearts flutter. Beauty Bar hosts the official after-party, with members of The Faint DJing as Depressed Buttons.
Mon Aug 11 2008 · Posted in Daily
MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS (#1)
This is your first weekly installment of MONDAY TRANSMISSIONS,
a regular column providing the Transmission community with useful
information & opinion on upcoming shows of interest taking place
throughout the Austin underground.
I’m starting to fall in love with Metal Mondays on ME. Last week I saw videos from locals Pack of Wolves and Set Aflame followed by Pig Destroyer, High on Fire and Red 7 veterans Goatwhore (yep, I said Goatwhore). Seriously – why go out on a Monday when at home I’ve got beer and metal on ME? Why ever leave the house when such entertainment – I mean, come on, we’re talking Goatwhore here, people – is at my fingertips? I can always just call the grocery store to have my groceries delivered.
Just
kidding. Really. Go out and support your downtown Austin economy.
Get out of the house. Disengage from the television. Save yourself.
Mon Aug 4 2008 · Posted in Daily
This Saturday @ Red 7: RUSSIAN CIRCLES
Live performance of "Death Rides a Horse" by Chicago's Russian Circles. The song appears on their debut LP, Enter (Flameshovel, 2006). Courtesy of Hallway Films.
Wed Jul 30 2008 · Posted in Daily
This Wednesday @ Red 7: GUTTERMOUTH
Video for "She's Got the Look" by Guttermouth, off their 2001 LP Covered With Ants (Epitaph). Directed by Charles Jensen.
Guttermouth are punk fucking rock. Srsly. The Guttermouth’s Myspace claims that the band has “respectively survived a myriad of the most heinous of messed up ailments that biology can inflict upon one group of Punk Rock Miscreants,” including but not limited to “a drunk driving incident where a telephone pole fell upon a member and crushed his spleen, lungs, chest, and broke both femurs (Mark); a bout with Necrotizing fasciitis (fleash eating Streptococcus) which almost claimed a member's lower leg and life (Mark and Kevin); Cytopenia, a condition where blood flow to the lower extremities is constricted to the point of Paresthesia (Scott) and Alcoholism, a condition where too many Newcastle Brown Ales cause you to hit on ugly fat girls and listen to The Cult on your iPod at 4:30 in the morning while your roommate is trying to sleep (Kevin).”
Tue Jul 29 2008 · Posted in Daily
Tonight at Red 7: Murphy’s Law
Without the influence of Murphy’s Law, hardcore - particularly New York-style hardcore - would be a different beast today. Alongside more agro peers Agnostic Front and Madball, Law was (and still is, apparently) a group of hard partying punks. At the height of the straight-edge movement, Murphy’s Law sang about beer, bongs, beer-bongs, and BBQ (as on “Crucial BarBQ,” which contains the brilliant line “Hare Krishnas stay away!”)
Vocalist Jimmy G(estapo) remains the only founding member of Murphy’s Law; a visit to Wikipedia reveals upwards of 25 past and present Lawyers, including future and former members of Hanoi Rocks, Cro-Mags, Dog Eat Dog, Bouncing Souls, Danzig, and New York Dolls. So who the fuck knows who’ll be onstage with Jimmy G come Thursday. But does it really matter? Expect a party, and a party Jimmy G will deliver.
Joining Murphy’s Law will be fellow beermeisters Brewtality Inc., Condemned Unit, Reagan Era, and Laughin Dogs – four bands that all play a mix of thrash, hardcore and punk in the late 80s vein of Murphy’s Law and friends.
Murphy’s Law play Red 7 tonight. Doors are at 8:00. More info here.
Watch: Austin’s own Raw Time interviewing Jimmy G here.
Watch: Murphy’s Law video for “What Will The Neighbors Think?”
By blog contributor James Taylor.
Thu Jul 10 2008 · Posted in Daily
Tonight at Red 7: Burning Brides
It must have been last October sometime when a reunited Helmet made a stop at Austin’s Red 7. To say Page Hamilton and Co. blew me away would be an understatement. To say supporting act Burning Brides was every bit as impressive would be a stretch but, for the most part, still accurate.
The band’s sound is somewhere between the hazy grooves of Queens of the Stone Age, feedback-laden, Mastodon-esque metal, and Foo Fighters at their most agro – a sonic diversity that has offered the band the opportunity to support bands ranging from The White Stripes, A Perfect Circle, and My Morning Jacket on recent tours.
The Brides - consisting of Dimitri Coats (vocals/guitars), wife Melanie Coats (bass), and Pete Beeman (drums) - are currently touring in support of their self-released fourth album, Anhedonia (buy it here) (the band was at one point signed to Richard Branson’s Virgin Records follow-up, V2 Records, putting out two albums before the label, essentially, folded in 2007). Visit the band’s Myspace profile to check out 6 songs from Anhedonia (that’s like, half the album). The record was recorded live, allowing for a no frills, no bullshit sound.
One last note: Burning Brides tour in a biodiesel-fueled van. Having once been the proud owner of a waste-vegetable oil-powered van, I can attest to the hard work that goes into making this possible. Kudos Brides, kudos.
Show info & tickets here.
By blog contributor James Taylor.
Tue Jul 8 2008 · Posted in Daily
July 4th at Austin’s Red 7: Set Your Goals
The really great thing about the Van’s Warped Tour skipping over Austin en route to larger markets like San Antonio and Houston is the prospect of the “off-date” – when festival acts band together to play a non-festival show in another town, rather than spend their day off doing nothing. Because really – when you’re on tour, nothing sucks more than a day off.
Tomorrow, July 4th, Red 7 plays host to Warped Tour road warriors Set Your Goals, along with locals Krum Bums, Bad Motivators and ex-Riddlin' Kids Say Hello to Angels. Coincidentally, Hellcat Records’ Time Again and The Casualties will be in town as well, making for an all around great punk rock show.
While punk clichés The Casualties and Time Again are likely the biggest draw on this bill, I simply can’t get into bands like these. The spikes, the ‘hawks, the ‘tude… seems like a punk rock boy band to me. Uniforms are for soldiers, guys. So who am I excited to see? Set Your fucking Goals, of course. Described as “New Found Glory after 8 cans of Red Bull” by Alternative Press, Set Your Goals write sing-a-long pop-punk songs full of youthful optimism and hardcore idealism – anthems of hope, with lyrics every kid who’s ever dreamed of being in a band and touring the world can relate to.
Doors are at 7pm, with free food “while supplies last.” Free food? I’m so there.
Listen: Set Your Goals’ cover of The Police’s “Message in a Bottle”
Watch: Set Your Goals’ video for “Mutiny," off their Eulogy Records album of the same name.
By blog contributor James Taylor.
Thu Jul 3 2008 · Posted in Daily
Deadbird @ Red 7 (Austin, TX), July 3.
Starting today, we'll be regularly posting the musings and commentary of a handful of music writers from the Transmission community at large. These contributors are die-hard music fans with something to say, and we want their voices to be heard. They've got skills. Respect.
Transmit Socially,
TRANSMISSION ENTERTAINMENT
Arkansas’ Deadbird have a PhD in Sabbathology. Thursday, the four-piece will be at Red 7 in support of their At a Loss Records debut Twilight Ritual. With metal wunderkind Billy Anderson (Eyehategod, Melvins, Brutal Truth, and so much more) manning the knobs, Twilight Ritual brings to mind modern marvels like Mastadon and locals The Sword, as well as old favorites like Neurosis, Maiden and the aforementioned Sabbath, bloody Sabbath. Be prepared to bang your head at a slow and steady pace to the band’s sludgy metal riffage and resin-ated grooves. Fellow Anderson-alum (and one of Austin’s most underrated metal acts) Lions of Tsavo support, along with Faithealer, Mala Suerte.
Visit Deadbird online and check out “Death of the Self” for a glimpse of what’s in store Thursday, July 3 at Red 7.
Show starts @ 9pm.
By TE blog contributor James Taylor.