One night flipping through the channels I came across this band playing on one of the late night talk shows, and became completely mesmerized by them. I’m not sure what is was that appealed to me, but they just had this energy and spunk that seemed fresh and interesting. Nothing too slick, just a guy banging out the tunes on his piano, with the band jammin along, seeming to enjoy every minute of what they were doing.

I still don’t know much about this band, but that moment intrigued me enough to want to investigate the live peformance, and tomorrow is the chance. Delta Spirit is going to be playing @ Emo’s on Saturday, and if the bands recent show history is of any indication, there will be a crowd, if not sold out crowd, interested in the same thing I am. Don’t fret if you miss this show, because the band will be back for SXSW 2009, and the buzz should be in full swing, time that comes around.

MP3> Delta Spirit ‘Trashcan’

Sat 2.28 @ Emos Inside: Delta Spirit, Other Lives, Dawes

Doors @ 9 Show @ 10

SXSW is just around the corner, and you know what that means? Festival season is underway. This year might prove to be the year of survival for the festival circuit considering the current economic situation, but the Pitchfork Music Festival is sure to stand tall and strong. Known for showcasing a wide variety of up and coming acts mostly in the indie-rock scene, the event is sure to sell out as past years have proven.

Mark July 17th-19th on your calendar and book your flight to Chicago to find yourself in beautiful Union Park. Tickets on sale March 15th with lineup to begin revealing itself soon enough.

Reported in Rolling Stone’s Smoking Section, Austin Skaggs writes this on the upcoming full length from one of our favorite tune crafting units, Wilco.

Last year’s IFC Crossroads event featured My Morning Jacket and Yo La Tengo, and it was awesome! This year, they promise us The Decemberists and Gomez, and it’s free. And it’s open bar. Did I mention free and open bar? All the necessary info is in the flyer, and I would think that a few hours in line wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice for an event like this. I’m not sure about it being at Pangea instead of the Parish, but should be cool enough either way.

The Chronicle hints at it today in the latest issue, and I have a feeling that there might be a little bit of truth to this suggestion.  Maybe a lot of truth? Just a gut feeling.

Can you imagine the mayhem stacked on top of the already happening mayhem? Crazy it might be.

Who’s excited?

Not this guy.

Rachel Ray might quite the splash @ SXSW 2008 with her Austin fiesta, and is heading back for more. Not a fav amongst many of us in the food industry thanks to her $40 a day show, which features tips on how to eat well on a mere $40 while skimping on the tips, she’ll definitely garner fans with this lineup.

The Hold Steady
New York Dolls
The Airborne Toxic Event
Ra Ra Riot
Bob Schneider
The Cringe
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Semi Precious Weapons
The Thermals
John Pringle

It’s Saturday @ Maggie Mae’s. Details, including eats and drinks can be found on her website, which you’ll have to find on your own.

photo:Dania Heller

A string of tour dates have been announced by the Marshall stack masters of 90’s rock, Dinosaur Jr, and it all kicks off here in Austin, Tx on March 20th @ Cedar Street Courtyard. Another band that should require the warning label “earplugs required”. J Mascis and company are sure to blow the roof off of any buildings in the vicinity, and it shall be glorious.

MP3> Dinosaur Jr ‘What Else Is New’

Dino Jr Tour Dates:

03-20 Austin, TX – Cedar St. Courtyard
04-01 Milford, CT – Daniel Street
04-02 Providence, RI – Club Hell
04-03 Portland, ME – The Station
04-04 South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
04-06 Buffalo, NY – The Town Ballroom
04-07 State College, PA – Lulu’s
04-08 Akron, OH – Musica
04-09 East Lansing, MI – The Small Planet
04-10 Bloomington, IN – Bluebird Nightclub
04-11 Dekalb, IL – Otto’s Nightclub
04-13 Chattanooga, TN – Rhythm and Brews
04-14 Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
04-15 Baton Rouge, LA – The Varsity Theatre
04-16 Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Room
04-17 Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
04-18 Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
04-20 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
04-21 Augusta, GA – Sky City
04-22 Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds
04-23 Tallahassee, FL – The Moon
04-24 Jacksonville Beach, FL – Freebird Live
04-25 Charleston, SC – The Music Farm
04-26 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
04-27 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
04-29 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
04-30 Richmond, VA – Toad’s Place Richmond
05-01 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
05-02 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

I haven’t invested much time in the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, although I really did like “Maps” for it’s interesting guitar work. That, and Karen O is quite the mysterious creature and puts on one entertaining show.

The band’s highly anticipated release for 2009 titled It’s Blitz has oozed a couple of tracks to set the tone for what is to hit listeners ears legally sometime in April. I can’t say the heavy wash of synths turns me on at all, in fact it only seems to fall in line with previous statements that everything is starting to sound like the 80’s. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are gonna make you dance, dance, dance. Or attempt to do so.

Here’s “Zero” and “Heads Will Roll”

Listen for yourself and take a gander at the album artwork up top.

Zero – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

“Heads Will Roll”

Our good friends @ Navdo Presents are helping to put on one kick ass, long ass party during SXSW 2009. Great lineup and good friends = good times on Thursday March 19th.

RSVP for this event @ Do512.com

I’m sure that some of you out there are wondering what sort of complex process that SXSW has put into place this year for wristband access. Here’s the breakdown straight from the horse’s mouth, or rear. Depending on how you feel about them I guess.

SXSW Music Fest Wristband Sales Date Will Be Announced Soon

• This year all advance wristband sales will be online at http://wristband.sxsw.com.
• In this first-come, first-served sale for area residents only, wristbands are $129 (includes sales tax).
• You will pick up your wristband at the event (March 17-21), and will need to place it on your wrist at the time of pick-up.
• You can only buy one wristband for yourself and one for a friend whose name and email you must provide at time of purchase.
• All purchasers must use a credit card with a local billing address. The name on the credit card must be one of the wristband users.
• Wristbands will be put on sale on short notice, and will be available online at the $129 rate until they sell out or until March 9, 2009, whichever comes first.
• All wristbands are assigned by name and are non-transferable and non-refundable.

To be notified by text message of the sales date, text the word “join” to 47979.

A new series of videos called Dead Venues Live is being put up @ the newly remodeled Dell Lounge and has been set into motion with episode 1 spotlighting the legendary Club Foot and local band Ume.  This first, in what I hope to be a series that features more legendary Austin clubs (c’mon with the Liberty Lunch episode!), features former Skunks member and current music writer, Jesse Sublet. Jesse relives the glory days of Club Foot while chatting it up with members of Ume.

The Skunks will be performing a long awaited reunion show on March 27th @ The Continental Club.

Watch episode 1 as well as Ume performing “The Conductor”

I’ve already expressed my lack of enthusiasm for this year’s Coachella lineup, as well as a lack of serious interest in Bonnaroo, but this year’s Sasquatch! lineup is an attention grabber for sure. Not that there aren’t some acts of interest performing @ Coachella or Bonnaro, but Sasquatch! managed a significantly more solid lineup in my opinion. Nice job on tapping into the NIN/Janes Addiction “anti poseurs and pussies” tour.

Also on the bill: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Doves, Grizzly Bear, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, M. Ward, Sun Kil Moon, and many other notables.

Full list and ticket info: Read more

A Place to Bury Strangers

No times listed as of yet, but here are the bands in all of their glory. Please remember the earplugs for A Place to Bury Strangers.

Tickets are on sale for this pre-SXSW event that’s going to be a great way to kick off a week of music, music, music, and more music.

MP3> A Place to Bury Strangers ‘Ocean’

Sunday the 15th
A Place to Bury Strangers
The Warlocks
The Strange Boys
Asteroid #4
Forever Changes
The Vandelles
The Upsidedown
Miranda Lee Richards
Christian Bland & The Revelators
Cavedweller
Cartright

It’s been a little more than a couple of years since Manchester Orchestra’s debut album I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child set into motion months of constant touring and work for the little band from Atlanta.  The band has managed time to record the follow up, and has selected famed producer Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, My Morning Jacket, U2, Oingo Boingo) for the sophomore release. Mean Everything to Nothing sees release 4.21, and the first single from the upcoming release is out and titled “I’ve Got Friends”.

Manchester Orchestra will be making a stop @ SXSW 2009 along with vocalist Andy Hull’s side project Right Away Great Captain!. Stay tuned for more details on these SXSW performances.

MP3> Manchester Orchestra ‘I’ve Got Friends’

The official schedule for SXSW 2009 has just been listed on the SXSW website and it’s time to start planning. Between the official showcases and the parties that are starting to reveal themselves, the task of planning seems slightly daunting. Just a wee bit.

A real quick glance reveals that Austin’s own Black and White Years scored a showcase on the Devo bill @ the Austin Music Hall on Friday night. Well done guys!