My new project over at Austin Soundcheck has been taking up most of my time.
I'm currently considering other blog projects and will be sure to update here.
I'm still supporting local music by promoting shows and doing live and album reviews. Click over to Austin Soundcheck or email ana.wolken@b5media.com to send me your music!
Monday, April 7, 2008
In case you hadn't noticed yet...
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
New Weezer out June 17th
Billboard is reporting that Weezer's new album will drop June 17th. Though the album will be self-titled, it is rumored to be referred to as The Red Album.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Everlast - Letters Home from the Garden of Stone
Below is the new video from Letters Home from the Garden of Stone by Everlast. It's a bassy, funky tune from his new album Love, War and The Ghost of Whitey Ford. I haven't heard any other singles yet, but so far so good.
News on new Lacuna Coil Album
From Andrea Ferro, the male vocalist.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93526
"I've been very busy with the works on the new LACUNA COIL album that has started taking shape. We feel like we're on the right creative mood but we still wanna write a lot more material before we call it done."
This Week in Austin
Here's this week's list of recommended shows, fresh off the SXSW hangover.
Tuesday 3/25
Gobi @ Beauty Bar
Wednesday 3/26
Firekills & Goodnight Goddess @ Red Eyed Fly
Thursday 3/27
The Hold Steady @ Emo's (outside)
Black Joe Lewis @ Emo's (inside)
The War Against Sleep @ Emo's Lounge
Friday 3/28
The Rite Flyers @ Emo's Lounge
The Archibalds @ The Parlor
Higher than Why @ Headhunter's
Primm @ One 2 One Bar
Saturday 3/29
Fu Manchu @ The Mohawk
Les Claypool @ Stubb's
Krum Bums @ Red 7
Yellowcard (acoustic) & Playradioplay @ Emo's
Rockland Eagles @ Trophy's
Grady, Chili Cold Blood & Rubber Monster @ Red Eyed Fly
Matson Belle (acoustic) @ Flipnotics
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Bon Iver robbed at SXSW Showcase
Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon was robbed last Thursday at the Parish during the NPR SXSW Showcase. Among the items stolen were his drivers license and passport, which hurt his plans for a European tour in May.
Read more about the theft here.
If you have any information contact Bon Iver's publicist Lucy Robinson at lucy@jagjaguwar.com.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
This Week in Austin [Recommended Shows]
The list of recommended shows this week is pretty scant, what with the SXSW Hangover and all. Things should liven up again next week, but if you are in the mood for some good music, these are the shows to be at.
Thursday 3/20
Muchos Backflips & Bee vs. Moth @ Room 710
Friday 3/21
The Story Of @ The Parish
Saturday 3/22
Scott H. Biram @ Red Eyed Fly
Sunday 3/23
Total Foxes @ Hole in the Wall
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Full Service : New Video 'Blueberry Farm' + SXSW Events
Back in January I blogged about Full Service, Austin's premiere crunchy, reggae rock band. They're back at it, with a new video for their single Blueberry Farm and SXSW events. Click here to read my review of their new album, The Dig, and download Blueberry Farm.
They are appearing this week in Austin:
Wed March 12 @ Trophy’s (S. Congress and Mary St ). FREE @ 8pm
Sat March 15 @ TX Rockfest Guitar Hero II Outdoor Stage (6th and Trinity) @ 4pm
Sat March 15 @ Rockin Tomato. FREE beer, admission, and pizza. Full Service plays at 8pm. Hall Monitors at 6pm and Swedish rock legends Soundtrack of our Lives at 9pm.
Free Shows this week at Spiderhouse
If you're looking for some good music, but want out of the three ring circus downtown, Spiderhouse is a good alternative. Not your typical coffee house, they also serve cold beer and some delicious eats.
The schedule features names you may be familiar with, such as Cassettes Won't Listen, The Crack Pipes, Dead Confederate, Toko-Ri Get High and Amplified Heat.
More info is below.
Spider House
2908 Fruth St. (29th & Guadalupe)
TUESDAY MARCH 11th 2008
USAA Building Spiderhouse:
11:30pm Dzjenghis Khan (SF, CA)
12:30am Ripe (Austin, TX)
w/ DJ's MAMMA CASSEROLE, SCORPIO, SCANDALIZER
WEDNESDAY MARCH 12th 2008
Spiderhouse Courtyard:
12:00 The Antlers (NYC)
1:00pm Woodhands (TORONTO)
2:00pm Birds and Batteries (SF)
3:00pm Home Video (NYC)
4:00pm Project Jenny Project Jan (NYC)
5:00pm Chris Bathgate (ANN ARBOR)
6:00pm Ravens and Chimes (NYC)
7:00pm Son Lux (NYC)
THURSDAY MARCH 13th 2008
Spiderhouse Courtyard:
12:00 It Lives
1:00pm Power Douglas
2:00pm Os Crunk Tesla
3:00pm Cassettes won't listen
4:00pm Apollo Heights
5:00pm Fresh Kills
6:00pm Ex Humans
FRIDAY MARCH 14th 2008
Spiderhouse:
"Bad Music for Bad People"
DJ Sets by:
DJ Angel Von Ripper(Austin)
DJ Sheri Barclay(Canada)
DJ Scandalizer(Austin)
Live band sets by:
1:00pm The Gospel Truth(Austin)
2:00pm The Hormones (Austin)
3:00pm The Crack Pipes(Austin)
4:00pm Kid Congo Powers(New York)
5:00pm Dazzling King Solomon Band(Austin)
6:00pm Tokyo Sex Destruction(Barcelona)
7:00pm Mae Shi (LA, CA)
FRIDAY MARCH 14th
US ART AUTHORITY (SPIDERHOUSE ANNEX)
8:00pm O'DEATH (BROOKLYN)
8:20pm Killer Whales (CHICAGO, IL)
8:40pm Quiet Hooves (ATHENS, GA)
9:00pm Ecstatic Sunshine (BALTIMORE, MD)
9:20 pm Mouser (ATHENS, GA)
9:40pm Pony Tail (ATHENS, GA)
10:00pm DD:MM:YYYY (TORONTO, ON)
10:20pm Red Rocket (PHILADELPHIA, PA)
10:40pm Video Hippos (BALTIMORE, MD)
11:00pm The Selmanaires (ATLANTA, GA)
11:20pm The OhSees (SF, CA)
11:40pm Dark Meat (ATHENS, GA)
12:00am All the Saints (ATLANTA, GA)
12:20am Dead Confederate (ATLANTA, GA)
12:40am We vs. The Shark (ATHENS, GA)
1:00am Christian Bland (of Black Angels) (AUSTIN, TX)
SATURDAY MARCH 15th 2008
STAGE 1 Spiderhouse: "More Bad Music for Bad People "
DJ sets by:
Scorpio (Austin)
Mamma Casserole(Seattle)
Live Music Sets by:
1:00pm Dzjenghis Khan(Oakland)
1:30pm Orange Sunshine(Netherlands)
2:00pm Thee Makeout Party!(Anaheim)
3:00pm Apache (San Fransisco)
4:00pm Magic Christian (San Fransisco)
5:00pm Toko-Ri Get High(Austin)
6:00pm The Dirty Novels (Albuquerque)
7:00pm Sons of Hercules (Austin)
8:00pm Amplified Heat (Austin)
SATURDAY MARCH 15th
New York Night Train, Social Registry, and Cake Shop Day Party
STAGE 2: Spiderhouse Courtyard,
live band sets by:
12:30pm Minetta
1:00pm Inoculist
1:30pm Crystal Stilts
2:00pm Tall Firs
2:30pm Mike Bones
3:00pm Doug Armor
3:30pm Hopewell
4:00pm Freshkills
4:30pm Services
5:00pm Pterodactyl
5:30pm SSSSpectres
6:00pm Knyfe Hits
6:30pm Shellshag
7:00pm Bandit Teeth
7:30pm Puddin Tang
8:00pm Dan Melchior Un Das Menace
8:30pm The War on Drugs
SUNDAY MARCH 16th 2008
Spiderhouse:
"Amplified Heat Bloody Sabbath BBQ"
DJ SETS By:
Angel Von Ripper, Scandalizer
Live Band sets by:
1:00pm Hacienda
1:50pm Shapes have fangs
2:40pm Golden Meanies
3:30pm Apache
4:20pm Big Black Smoke
5:10pm High Strung
6:00pm Ripe
6:50pm Aaron Fraanz
7:40pm Forever Changes
Friday, March 7, 2008
Check it out...
I've got a feature on AustinSoundcheck.com about some of the Austin artists playing SXSW.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Built By Snow : Noise EP
Built By Snow's EP Noise has been entered into heavy rotation on my iPod, and for good reason. Self-proclaimed nerds, the band describes their music as rock music for smart kids, weird kids, rocket scientists and NASA engineers. I think they are selling themselves short, as they have a quirky yet cool edge that is appealing across the board.
The press comparisons to Weezer and The Rentals are dead on. More specifically they sound like early Weezer (think Blue Album or Pinkerton). Built by Snow seems to be a natural progression of that genre, infusing keyboards/synth into rock riffs and catchy vocal harmonies.
Underneath is without a doubt the standout single from Noise. I've included the video for Underneath below, but more on that later. I also highly recommend Radio (Pay for air, but static is free!) and Sleeping Machines.
These guys sound too good to be true, right? Well, start believing. Built by Snow is opening for Bob Schneider at Antone's tomorrow night (3/7). I haven't been out to one of their shows yet, but I've heard from several people that they are just as good live as they are recorded. I'm planning to go see them at an upcoming show at The Parish (with photographer in tow) and will report back then.
Now, more on the video. If you are or have ever considered yourself a gamer, check out the video for Underneath below. If you've ever wanted to be a pilot in an 8-bit video game, or ever blown into the end of your NES cartridge when it started getting glitchy, this video is for you.
Visit Built By Snow
[Website]
[MySpace]
M.I.A. YouTube videos
Here's a couple new videos featuring everybody's favorite Sri Lankan, M.I.A. First is a video of M.I.A. behind the scenes at an in-store performance in San Francisco's Amoeba Music.
Second, the video for Sound of Kuduro by Buraka Som Sistema, featuring M.I.A. and DJ Znobia.
Exciting News!
I've accepted a position with b5 Media and will be blogging for them at AustinSoundCheck.com.
I'll be covering the Live Music Capitol of the World 365 days a year. Including rising local stars, local festivals and events, as well as SXSW, ACL and all the other exciting music-related happenings in Austin.
This blog isn't going away either. I'll still be posting here regularly, but be sure and add AustinSoundCheck.com to your bookmarks, your RSS Feeds, etc.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Metal updates
I've got a random assortment of metal news items for you today. All conveniently packaged together in one post. And you thought I didn't appreciate my readers!
Headbanger's Blog has news of a nu-metal supergroup in the works. Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit), Munky (Korn), Billy Gould (Faith No More) and Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion) are teaming up to form Fear and the Nervous System. Details are sketchy, but a new album is due for release on August 8. You can visit Fear and the Nervous System on the web and on MySpace.
Below is new video of Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia on stage with Megadeth in Milan, Italy.
Mastodon has released part one of four in a YouTube video series on their recent performance at Brooklyn's Masonic Temple. It is below for your inspection.
More free SXSW Shows
Who says you need a wristband to enjoy SXSW? I've never had one and still managed to catch incredible shows. Below are a few more non-wristband required events.
Roadrunner Records is hosting a free dayshow on Saturday 3/15 at Creekside Lounge. They don't have a snazzy poster for me to put up, though. Click here for more info.
More info here.
More info here.
More info here.
More info and RSVP here.
More info here.
More info here.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Viper Room Austin (SXSW)
Monday, March 3, 2008
In This Moment play free SXSW Day Show
In This Moment is scheduled to play a free SXSW day show at Red 7 on Saturday 3/15. The show is sponsored by Monster Energy Drink. The female-fronted hard rock band is fresh off Ozzfest 2007 and are rumored to be preparing a followup to 2007's Beautiful Tragedy.
Source [Blabbermouth]
Ghostland Observatory rocked the Music Hall
I hope you were fortunate enough to see Ghostland Observatory play last Friday (2/29) at the Austin Music Hall. If not, let me tell you what you missed...
The most entertaining live show I've seen in at least a couple years. Complete with smoke, lights, lasers and the always on Aaron Behrens and Thomas Turner. Throw in the UT Marching Band and about 3000 energetic music fans and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. You could feel the power in the room. It wasn't just when everybody sang along with Sad Sad City or the roar from the crowd when current single Heavy Heart started. It was, as Behrens said on stage, incredible to see so many people truly appreciating what Ghostland Observatory is all about.
Thanks to my friends at Ultra8201 for the incredible video and picture below. Sadly, I was sans photographer at Ghostland, but look out for some new live pics coming up.
Heavy Heart
This Week in Austin [Recommended Shows]
Things are a bit slower this week as Austin (and all is local musicians) gear up for SXSW Week.
I'll be seeing you all in the venues next week, but in the meantime, there are some really excellent shows to warm up on. You know, to hone such fine skills as standing for hours in chucks and living off Best Wurst and Sweet Leaf tea.
Monday 3/3
Justice @ Stubb's (outside)
Wednesday 3/5
They Might Be Giants @ Stubbs (outside)
Haunting Oboe Music @ Mohawk
In Dudero @ Beerland (Nirvana cover band featuring member of The Sword and Those Peabodys)
Thursday 3/6
Bone Thugs n Harmony @ Emos
Elliot Smith tribute Night @ Emos Lounge (featuring members of Lions, The Rite Flyers )
Friday 3/7
Dropkick Murphys @ Stubbs (outside)
American Graveyard @ Continental Club
Bob Schneider & Built By Snow @ Antone's
Saturday 3/8
Middle Ground, Cheryl Murdock, Phoenix Saga, Blackfeet @ Hanover's
The Scab's @ Antone's
Sunday 3/9
Prey for Sleep @ Red 7
Friday, February 29, 2008
Otep & Kanye West [Videos]
No, they aren't touring together. (Although that would be weird and cool!)
Otep released a new video for Confrontation today. It's about what you'd expect. Dark, edgy and filled with political lyrics. Well done, Otep, well done.
Mr. West also helped a fan video make the rounds on the internet today, posting it to his blog this morning.. It's an interesting fan interpretation of Stronger.
Both videos are below for your enjoyment.
Fan video for Stronger by Kanye West
Heartbroken : Postal Service followup not a priority
The Postal Service's 2003 album Give Up was and continues to be one of my favorite albums of all time. Sufficed to say, I've been waiting (patiently) for Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello to grace us with a tour or at least (GASP!) a second album. Give Up is the second highest selling Sub Pop release to date, bested only by Nirvana's Bleach. Clearly there are several of us anticipating more Postal Service.
Imagine my dismay when I sat down to read the overnight blog updates, only to see this article on Spinner. Here's an excerpt that is incredibly disappointing:
"It's just not a priority for either of us," Gibbard tells Spinner. "So the next Postal Service record may or may never happen."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
SXSW Day Shows : Free Goodness
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