Oxford Collapse return to Austin at Mohawk tonight. They were last seen in town back in June with Frightend Rabbit, playing a high energy set that was unfortunately marred by technical difficulties (blown amp, mythical black cat on stage, etc). They have since released a new album entitled BITS, that continues the band’s 90s college alt-rock sound, but delivers songs with more flushed out melodies. Opening is fellow Brooklyn band Love as Laughter, who are also playing a free in-store at Waterloo Records at 5pm.

Oxford Collapse w/ Love as Laughter @ Mohawk. Doors: 7, Show: 8

MP3> Oxford Collapse ‘Lady Lawyers’

Oxford Collapse Tour:

8/27 Austin, TX (Mohawk)
8/29 Tuscon, AZ (Solar Culture Gallery)
8/30 Los Angeles, CA (Spaceland)
9/2 San Francisco, CA (Rickshaw Stop)
9/4 Portland, OR (Berbati’s Pan)
9/5 Seattle, WA (Sunset Tavern)
9/6 Vancouver, BC (Media Club)
9/8 Edmonton, AB (Velvet Underground)
9/9 Calgary, AB (Marquee Room)
9/10 Saskatoon, SK (Amigo’s)
9/12 Fargo, ND (The Aquarium)
9/13 Ames, IA (The Maintenance Shop)
9/15 St. Louis, MO (The Bluebird)
9/17 Chicago, IL (Schubas Tavern)
9/19 Pontiac, MI (Pike Room)
9/20 Toronto, ON (Sneaky Dee’s)

Just a little more than 2 weeks away, Monolith 2008 has added the Handsome Furs to the lineup, much to the delight of many I would assume. For those not familiar with the band, it’s possible you might be familiar with vocalist/guitar player, Dan Boeckner’s other project, Wolf Parade. Boeckner and partner Alexi Perry make up the lineup for Handsome Furs, and as the original concept was to be a bit more sparse and stripped down, the end result is bigger and definitely full of rock, especially live. A fan of the band’s 2007 release Plague Park, I was more than impressed with their 2008 SXSW performance, and would not hesistate to make a second appointment with the band.

Handsome Furs take the New Belgium Stage 3:45 on Sunday Sept 14th.

MP3> Handsome Furs ‘Dead + Rural’

Here they come again, those boys from the South, spewing Sex, Fire, Rock-n-Roll, while eating chicken, getting drenched with water, and tearing up some books. Sweet! Maybe?

Sex On Fire

Land of Talk‘s first release since signing to Saddle Creek Records, Some Are Lakes presents us with the first singe of the same name. Some Are Lakes was produced with assistance from Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and is set for release on October 7th, but is available for pre-order and will be delivered September 23rd with your pre-order purchase.

Who doesn’t find Elizabeth Powell just absolutely adorable?

MP3> Land of Talk ‘Some Are Lakes‘

TOUR DATES:

Fri-Sep-11, New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Graham Williams and Co. over @ Transmission Entertainment are busy folks these days with Fun Fun Fun Fest coming into focus (which has been getting quite the bit of national press mind you), plans on putting out White Denim’s album here in the U.S., and re-opening the location @ 507 E. 6th by the end of the year with the new name, Radio Room. Taking a peak at of Montreal‘s tour agenda, one finds a booking for November 13th at this location in Austin. Maybe it’s to be one of the first shows for the new club? November’s going to be fun!

of Montreal Myspace

Syracuse band Ra Ra Riot have released their new video for their song “Ghost Under Rocks.” That song is from the band’s debut album entitled The Rhumb Line, which has garnered enormous praise from bloggers and print publications alike, since it’s release this past Tuesday. The album is laden full of catchy chamber pop causing even the darker themed songs sound almost joyful. They are embarking on a massive US tour and play the Late Night with Conan O’Brien show on Sept. 2nd. Their live show is always a fun one, so be sure to check them out.

Tour Dates:
Sep 2 Late Night with Conan O’Brien
Sep 3 Lambi – Montreal, Quebec
Sep 4 Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, Ontario
Sep 5 Mojo’s – Jamestown, NY
Sep 6 Bug Jar – Rochester, NY
Sep 7 Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Sep 9 The Basement – Columbus, OH
Sep 10 Case Western University – Cleveland, OH
Sep 11 Subterranean – Chicago, IL
Sep 12 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, mn
Sep 14 Jackpot Saloon – Lawrence, KS
Sep 16 Hi Dive – Denver, CO
Sep 17 Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
Sep 18 Neurolux – Boise, ID
Sep 20 King Cobra – Seattle, WA
Sep 21 Media Club – Vancouver, B.C.
Sep 22 Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
Sep 24 Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA
Sep 28 The Casbah – San Diego, CA
Sep 29 Modified – Phoenix, AZ
Sep 30 Plush – Tucson, AZ
Oct 2 The Loft – Dallas, TX
Oct 3 Stubbs – Austin, TX
Oct 4 Rudyards – Houston, TX
Oct 7 The Social – Orlando, FL
Oct 8 Club Downunder – Tallahassee, Florida
Oct 10 Drunken Unicorn – Atlanta, GA
Oct 11 Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC
Oct 12 Black Cat Backstage – Washington DC
Oct 14 Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
Oct 15 Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
Oct 16 Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
Oct 17 Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
Oct 18 Middle East Downstairs – Cambridge, MA

Back To School Alright! 8.25.08

A bit dramatic, but it gets the point across. Should be fun.

photo : michael maly

Bloc Party. I like ‘em a bit. They are that cute band from across the pond that make “fun” music, that is lighthearted and danceable.  I didn’t care for the last record, and I hope that this one sparks more interest from me.

The most recent work from the band, Intimacy, which managed not to leak in this day and age, is now available for purchase and download. Intitial reaction is that the lads may have corrected themselves and put out something that might received some positive attention.

Get Intimacy downloaded now for $10. How much is that in Euros?

MP3> Bloc Party ‘Halo’

I know, it’s hard to even fathom thinking about SXSW 2009, but it’s started. Registration for attendees is underway as well as the time for bands to apply for a showcase. Register early and save some $$$.

Register: SXSW 2009 Registration

Apply: SXSW 2009 Application

SXSW has an updated website, which I have found to be more inviting and more informative than in the past. I’m not sure why, but I like it. I did find this video posted on the site, which is quite humorous.

Glen Campbell covers “Sing” by the band Travis. What the f***?

photos : valerie@fremin.net

Once upon a time there was a rock trio by the name of Heartless Bastards, fronted by vocalist and guitar player Erika Wennerstrom, based in Cincinnati, Ohio doing everything they could to get folks to listen to their music. Along comes Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, who takes an instant liking to the band and things start to happen for The Heartless Bastards. A signing to Fat Possum Records and now two albums in the bag, we find Erika Wennerstrom relocated to Austin, positioning herself with the newest version of The Heartless Bastards for a new album release, a performance @ ACL Festival 2008, and a smattering of tour dates to follow.

The most recent version of the band is taking to the stage this Thursday @ The Continental Club for their second live performance, following their sold out debut last Thursday at the same venue. With an ACL Festival performance scheduled a little more than a month away, you can assure yourself that the band is going to be covering familiar territory as well as material that has yet to make its way to public release. If the first performance is of any indication of what to expect, then I suggest if you don’t have plans to attend, change your calender now. On the agenda: Soulful, bluesy rock, led by Wennerstrom’s powerful lyrics, and vocal presence. She does a pretty good job on the guitar as well.

Heartless Bastards w/Dead Black Hearts, Thursday 8.21  Show starts @ 10 p.m. $12 @ the door.

Heartless Bastards Myspace for tour dates

MP3> Heartless Bastards ‘Into the Open’

I can’t tell you how excited I am that this day has come. Not just because of the lineup, but for the fact that out of the 5 festivals that I attended last year, Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest was….the most fun. The name speaks for itself. It’s not a lineup chocked full of heavies, but It’s pretty friggin cool regardless. Some standouts for me: The National, St. Vincent, Minus the Bear, Kool Keith, Islands, Frightened Rabbit, Magnetic Morning, Bad Brains, Flipper, Dan Deacon, and a few others. C’mon, Bad Brains? That’s the shit!

Two day tickets are going for $59.99. Keep checking the official Fx3 Fest page for updates.

Zeee lineup:

Stage One:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
The National
Atmosphere
Minus The Bear
St Vincent
Trail of Dead
Deerhoof
Rival Schools
Islands
The Annuals
Bishop Allen
Centromatic
Sleepercar
Frightened Rabbit
Spinto Band
Parts and Labor
Colourmusic
Expiremental Dental School
27
Till We’re Blue or Destroy
Paul Green’s School of Rock

Stage 2:
Shearwater
Tim Fite
Magnetic Morning (Adam Franklin of Swervedriver/ Sam Fogarino of Interpol)
Kevin Seconds
the Cynics
Ugly Beats
Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Rival Schools)
Pepi Ginsberg
Frank Smith
Spot
The Revival Tour [w/ Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Tom Gabel (Against Me!), Ben Nichols (Lucero), and Tim Barry (of Avail)]
Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show
Coldtowne Comedy Hr
Altercation Punk Rock Comedy Hour
Matt Beardan
Chris Fairbanks

Stage 3:
Bad Brains
ALL
Dead Milkmen
Flipper
Adolescents
Integrity
Bouncing Souls
Swingin Utters
DOA
Killdozer
Cromags
Scared of Chaka
Young Widows
Leftover Crack
Trash Talk
World Burns to Death
Krumbums
Mammoth Grinder
Cute Lepers
Bitter End
High Tension Wires
Born to Lose

Stage 4:
Clipse
Z-trip
Dan Deacon
Grupo Fantasma
Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon
Dengue Fever
Brownout!
Franki Chan
Toxic Avenger
Hawnay Troof
Starlynx and Bigface
Richard Henry
Yacht

Photo by: Briana Purser

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is the third in what I hope to be a long series of “Get To Know In 7″ and any suggestions or recommendations on questions that you might want used in future editions, please, please, let me know.

The self proclaimed “loudest band in Brooklyn” (and I’m not one to argue), A Place to Bury Strangers are currently touring the country in support of NIN, while taking the occasional gig on off days supporting Reznor and company. The band made a stop in Austin, to bring it’s “total sonic anniliation” agenda to Emo’s. Once again, I cannot argue the claim of “total sonic annihilation”, as it was truly an aural onslaught of effect drenched guitars and vocals cutting through the smoky haze like a chainsaw thru jello. I’ve seen a few bands that push the envelope of loud, and until this night, Bob Mould’s band Sugar, held the top spot on this list. It’s taken a few years, but I believe that spot may now belong to APTBS.

Aside from leading the sonic charge for the band as guitarist and vocalist, Oliver Ackerman also designs and builds guitar pedals. Ackerman’s Death by Audio is not just a pedal company, it’s also the name of a compound that serves as a practice space, workshop, art collective, and live music venue to many, including the members of APTBS. Aside from being essential to APTBS’s sound, Death by Audio pedals have found their way to the stage and studio with members of Spoon, T.V. On the Radio, Wilco, and NIN.

Ackerman took a few minutes before the set on Sunday night, to answer 7 questions, for my continuing series Get to Know In 7.

1. What is your birth city? “Allentown, PA.”

2. What is your favorite season and why? “I guess I like Fall, cuz it’s cool, everything’s dying, and it turns all pretty colors. You know it’s kinda psychedelic, and I like some psychedelics”

3. What is your favorite physical attribute of women? “Shoot, I don’t know man, I like the whole thing. It’s hard to say, I like women..I like all sorts.

4. What’s your favorite part of being on the road? “All the different parts of women. No, I’m just joking. You know, just getting out, meeting different people, getting away from home.”

5. If you had to choose one pedal that you couldn’t live without, which one would it be? “I would choose the Octave Clang. Even though I don’t use it all the time, it still sounds f****** sweet.I’m always surprised by the great sounds, and love it.”

6. Last album/recording you selected to play. “Probably some band nobody’s ever heard of before, Heaven Piano Company.”

7. Vinyl, CD, or Mp3? “I like vinyl you know. I like records, but I love Mp3′s too. I like having records, I like holding mp3s though, I like the feel. Not the cheap ones though, extra bitrate, those are the best ones.”

Oliver Ackerman has a funny side. The band has a full shedule of shows in North America booked well into the later part of October. I recommend you check them out, but be sure to bring ear plugs. Seriously.

MP3> A Place to Bury Strangers ‘I Know I’ll See You’

David Byrne has reunited with his old Talking Heads co-producer Brian Eno for a new album called Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Luckily for all of us, hearing that album happens today. The album is streaming in the below player, and is also available for purchase in various formats here. After just a quick listen to all 11 songs, it’s easily the best thing from David Byrne in years and is probably one of the better albums released this year. Also make sure to check out the short, but interesting video about the making of the album at the end of the playlist.

The first round of artists have been announced for this year’s CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival. Included in this first round are A Place to Bury Strangers, Dungen, Deerhoof, Lykke Li, Minus the Bear, Monotonix (I’ve heard these guys are insane live), Octopus Project, The Dears, The Rosebuds, and many more. Click the pic for the full list and watch for updates.

I posted this YouTube video awhile back while discussing a rumor that And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead might be a yet to be announced artist for this year’s Fx3 Fest. I knew that the band was scheduled to record their upcoming release with Mike McCarthy and was surprised to hear that they had begun sessions with “Frenchie” Smith over at The Bubble. What I didn’t know at the time, was the switch was made because the band was, should I say…unhappy with McCarthy? I found this posted on YouTube as commentary for the video that I had posted:

“Due to some bad shit we have stopped working with Mike “Total Asshole” Mccarthy. We moved over to Bubble studios to work on guitars and vocals. Frenchy is a really cool dude who recorded our first record. Enjoy the ramble. Recorded on June 05, 2008 using a Flip Video camcorder.”

I’m not sure what kind of “bad shit” they might be referring to, but maybe they should take that up with their dealer.

The video once again: