With this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest so ripe with talent (has been in the past as well), the list of conflicts are sure to be in plenty. My first Saturday conflict happens around 4:20 with Red Sparowes taking to the Orange Stage a mere 5 minutes before The Sword takes the Black Stage. I’ve seen The Sword, and they are local, but selling out 2 nights at Mohawk recently will surely heighten the anticipation and add to the crowd for this performance. Red Sparowes, I’ve not seen, so….

Red Sparowes are from Los Angeles and their style of music is listed as post-rock. A new one for me. The band consists of members from Isis, Halifax Pier, Angel Hair, and Pleasure Forever.  A quick listen suggests for fans of Pelican and Explosions In The Sky.The song titles are quite inventive and interesting for sure.

MP3> Red Sparowes ‘We Left The Apes To Rot, But Find The Fang Grows Within’

Red Sparowes on the Orange Stage Sat 4:20 p.m.

The Sword may have home-field advantage, but have also just played 2 nights @ the Mohawk not long ago. You want Metal? The Sword has just that. Modern day axe maneuvering fitting for a time when Metal Gods like Mettallica and Iron Maiden ruled the scene.

MP3> The Sword ‘To Take The Black’

The Sword on the Black Stage Sat 4:25 p.m.

Tonite, Friday Nov 30th, Austin’s own Black Angels descend on The Mohawk, to spin their unique style of drone-n-roll, and if you don’t know what that is, do yourself this favor, and go. The band plays few shows around town, so this a special opportunity.

Aside from the Psych Fest 3 preparation, and their legal woes, I hope that there’s newly recorded material on the horizon. I’m sure that there will new tunes tonight.

Friday Nov 30th: The Black Angels, Kurt Vile, and Shapes Have Fangs

Mohawk: 10 p.m.  Tickets

MP3> The Black Angels ‘You On The Run’

Portland Oregon’s Blind Pilot began as a the duo of Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski traveling up and down the West Coast on bicycles bringing their catchy style of folk influenced, acoustic rock, that is both simple and beautiful. As the popularity of the band demanded more time on the road and recording an album, the band has grown, and has been entertaining audiences for the better part of this year.

The band makes it to Austin for at least the 3rd time this year, and appropriately enough are playing a personal favorite venue, The Parish tomorrow night. A perfect setting for the delicate, rich sounds of Blind Pilot.

Doors @ 8pm with The Low Anthem starting things off. Purchase Tickets

I caught up with founding member Israel Nebeker early this year for a series of Get To Know In 7.

Watch “One Red Thread” from the band’s recent performance on My Old Kentucky Blog’s Laundro Matinee:

Blind Pilot – One Red Thread from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Ever opportunity that presents itself to catch Black Rebel Motorcycle Club live, should be seized by any self-proclaimed fan of rock-n-roll, especially of the addictive blend of blues influenced, neo-psychedelic, garage rock. For those not fortunate enough to have caught the live show by this trio, whose current line-up consists of Peter Hayes (1998 – present), Robert Levon Been (1998 – present), Leah Shapiro (2008 – present), a live performance DVD is lying await on the horizon.

The DVD was recorded during the Baby 81 tour in the towns of Glasgow, Berlin, and Dublin. It is set for physical release on Nov 10th, or you can pre-order for digital download @ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.com

MP3> Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock and Roll” Live

photo : valerie@fremin.net

This should come as to no surprise to anyone that knows me and my musical taste even slightly. Dead Confederate have been one  of my favorite bands to swing the heavy hammer of guitar rock into the current modern music scene in need of a good dose of “heavy”, since I first heard the EP version of “The Rat”. The band’s debut full-length appropriately  titled Wrecking Ball recorded here in Austin with producer Mike McCarthy, didn’t fair as well as it should have, being one of the most solid from front to back, rock-n-roll records produced in the past few years. Sure there’s hints of early Nirvana and early Pink Floyd if you listen hard enough, but the sound remains purely Dead Confederate.

The band’s live show sustains their popularity, as intense and well executed as the record multiplied by 10. Sharing the stage with the likes of Dinosaur Jr., The Meat Puppets, The Whigs, and A Place To Bury Strangers over the past year while constantly touring only confirms the quality of the band’s live performance.  A performance at Fun Fun Fun Fest will put the band in front of the largest Austin audience since they were invited to open for fellow Athen’s residents R.E.M. during SXSW 2008. A performance that you should definitely mark on your schedule of Fun Fun Fun Fest must see’s.

MP3> Dead Confederate ‘Start Me Laughing’

When: Day 1 Nov 7th @ 5:05 pm

Where: Stage Yellow

Not only is it a great cause to contribute to, but the lineup is friggin sweeet! Port O’ Brien was a welcomed discovery this past year @ SXSW 2009, as the live show was a huge exclamation point to the music.

On the inside stage @ Emo’s

Sea Wolf – 11:30

Ben Kweller – 10:30

Port O’ Brien – 9:30

Sara Luv – 8:45

Tickets

Read more about the Pablove Foundation and the Pablove Across America trek @ Pablove.org

MP3> Port O’ Brien ‘Stuck On A Boat’

Since the first time I heard this band and saw singer/guitarist Elizabeth Powell at work on the stage, I was hooked.

The video,which is cool, for “It’s Okay” (favorite track) off of the band’s most recent release Some Are Lakes:

Although Psych Fest #2 didn’t fair as well as some may have desired, the founders of the festival, which include members of The Black Angels, are gearing up for the 3rd edition of the event. The show must go on, as some would say. And I say..bravo!

Details are promised to be on the horizon, but if the tradition of bringing some of the best vintage, modern, established, and up-and-coming acts that push the envelope of mind expanding music continues, I’m sure to be there once again. There is something there for just about anyone. Last year’s performances by A Place To Bury Strangers and Dead Meadow, were epic.

The festival has a new website that features some photography from our own Valerie Fremin, a store, and a jukebox featuring some live performances from previous festivals. Look for the release of Psych Fest #2 DVD in December which was produced and directed by Oswald James of AltaReal Pictures.

Spring 2010..details soon

One music magazine that doesn’t look to be in a state of near collapse (seen the latest issue of Paste? like my last date, thin and dull), death + taxes have introduced a new concept for the music magazine. The newest issue, featuring Jay Reatard on the cover, features this new technology, and one wonders if this is the wave of the future, or just a spitting breeze. Don’t get me wrong, I love this magazine, it’s one of current favs. I especially appreciate the fact that the fashion industry isn’t slut-ted out all over the musicians throughout the pages. I like to see Jay Reatard wearing what Jay Reatard likes to wear, not Jay Reatard wearing shirt by Rag & Bone, underwear by Hanes. I’m sure that’s a cool bonus for the musicians. That jacket sure does look familiar Brian…ahhh.

So here how this new technology works: Read more

The excitement surrounding this “supergroup” runs thick with testosterone fitting for a frat party of rugby players, and as my initial encounter with the band @ this year’s ACL Festival left little impression, this song ain’t bad. It is nice to see Dave Grohl behind the drums again, as the Foo Fighters front-man persona was starting to feel more David Lee Roth.

Details on upcoming album are nicely packed into this clip:

The lovely St. Vincent taped an episode of Austin City Limits earlier this year, and the fruits of her labor are scheduled to air this Saturday the 24th. A behind the scene video has surfaced as well as a preview of her performance, featuring the track “Marrow”.

Behind the scenes here, and the link to “Marrow” follow:

St. Vincent performing “Marrow” on Austin City Limits

The little festival that could, and has grown into one of the most popular festival’s in Austin, TX has put together another cool event to benefit both fans and Caritas. A scavenger hunt taking place this Saturday 10.24, and it sounds like a ton of fun..

Details:

WHAT: Fun Fun Fun Fest Scavenger Hunt, brought to you by TE & FYF
Compete to win tickets to Fun Fun Fun Fest, VIP Upgrade and the chance to be made legendary and famous.

WHERE: Kick off at Red 7 (611 7th Street, next to Beauty Bar)
Ending location at Waterloo Park parking lot (12th and Red River)

DATE: Saturday, October 24

TIME: Sign up begins at 3:00P.M. and the hunt begins at 4:00P.M. sharp.

FEE:  No fee.  Five cans of food per person to benefit Caritas of Austin is the recommended donation. Items on the hunt will be donated to Caritas of Austin as well.

THE RULES:

·    Teams will be made up of 2 – 5 people.
·    Each team MUST have a name.
·    The Scavenger Hunt list will include 50 items, announced at kick off location.
·    Each item is worth a specific amount of points.
·    The team with the most points wins the grand prize and points will be totaled at end of the game.
·    All teams will be encouraged to dress in costumes.  This is worth 25 extra points (team portraits will be taken inside of Red 7).  Examples: Gangs from The Warriors, favorite band (ie Turbonegro, Run DMC, Devo, etc)…you get the point.
·    MUST bring a digital camera of some sort, cellphone camera are OK as well.
·    This is all ages and open to the public.

PRIZES:
·    The winning team will receive FFF Fest weekend passes for the entire team.  IF the teammates already have fun fun fun passes, your tickets will be upgraded to PIPs.
·    Over $500 in prizes and gift certificates to a number of our FFF vendors, such as: free haircuts from Birds Barbershop, gift card to Prototype Vintage, free food at Boomerang’s Pies, free funnel cakes and more from Snowie onsite at fest, free gift certificates for food at Frank, free popcorn from Cornucopia, gift certificates to Woodland restaurant and Jamie’s Spanish Village, free gift cards to Tiff’s Treats cookie shop, Kebabaliscious awesomeness, bags and cell phone covers from Incase, Alamo Draft house passes and much, much more!
·    FREE tickets to these TEN (!!!) upcoming Transmission Entertainment shows:

1) Islands @ Mohawk (10/27)
2) Jello Biafra (dead kennedys) @ Red 7 (10/28)
3) Black Angels @ Mohawk (10/30)
4) Municipal Waste @ Red 7 (11/12)
5) Thao and the Get Down Stay Down @ Mohawk (11/ 12)
6) Revival Tour w/ Chuck Ragan and more @ Red 7 (11/13)
7) Friendly Fires, The XX @ Mohawk (11/19)
Eyedea and Abilities w/ Themselves @ The Highball (11/19)
9) J. Tillman (of Fleet Foxes) @ Mohawk (11/27)
10) Cursive @ Mohawk (11/27)
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And FINALLY, the most amazing wizard statue in the universe (as seen @ funfunfunfest.com)

*The FFF Scavenger Hunt is brought to you by Transmission Entertainment and FYF

Love me some Frightened Rabbit, and hope this means a new album to be expected soon.

The latest from the band ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’ has got a video…

As mentioned before, Brooklyn’s A Place To Bury Strangers recently released their follow up to their self-titled 2007 release, Exploding Head. The album has already garnished positive responses from critics, and is destined to make fans of those who may have found their debut a bit abrasive and unapproachable.

The weather on Sunday suitably fitting for a day full of APTBS, dark, gloomy, and drizzly, started with an instore appearance at Waterloo Records that had casual unsuspecting shoppers hurrying to complete their purchases as the bands performance grew ever more intense as each song progressed. Unfortunately the weather forced the show scheduled for the outside stage at Mohawk to move to the smaller confines of the inside stage, and a PA that may have not been suited for the intense, incredibly loud, warped sounds of APTBS. No offense to Mohawk, but there has to be a better solution to the weather issue.

For those who managed to squeeze into the tiny room inside and got close enough to see the show, which couldn’t have been easy through the dense cloud of stage fog, the band delivered an all out assault on the senses. As the show progresses the intensity increases with the effects building into waves of distorted, effect heavy, sounds complimented with visual effects and strobe lights that intoxicate the soberest of observer. Exploding Head seems all too appropriate. As the show completed it’s climatic finish, I walked away slightly disoriented and with the feeling that I had been punched in my right ear. Might sound a bit unpleasant to many, but the experience for many is just what they bargained for, and APTBS delivered.

And yes, I wore earplugs.

As if October wasn’t chocked full of a ton of great shows, especially this weekend with Murder City Devils on Saturday (Sold Out). The self-proclaimed loudest band in Brooklyn, A Place To Bury Strangers are poised to launch their attack on the senses on the Mohawk stage Sunday night. Bring earplugs, seriously.

The band’s latest release Exploding Head (think about that title) which dropped 10.6, is destined to bring much deserved attention to this trio. It’s already become one of my favorite releases of 2009.

The band is also scheduled for an in-store appearance @ Waterloo Records @ 5 p.m.. I’m going just to see the crowd’s reaction, cuz they are going to wreck it for sure. Not unless they are doing some low-key acoustic set (no fun).

All The Saints and Darker My Love get things started.

GET TICKETS

MP3> A Place To Bury Strangers ‘Deadbeat’