L.A.’s Warpaint were everywhere this past SXSW 2010, and if for some reason you didn’t catch one of their many shows, the ladies will be back at the end of April performing on Friday of Austin Psych Fest 3.

Here’s a video from the band’s performance at the Purevolume House during SXSW 2010.

Here We Go Magic are one of many a “buzz” band that I find myself really liking some of the material and some of it is completely lost on me. Sorry, but I’m an album guy. I like a record that is solid from front to back and the self-titled release didn’t quite achieve that for me, but there’s always next time.

The band is prepping it’s follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2009 release, and what Luke Temple and company have in store for us, is the question that will be answered when Pigeons drops June 8th on Secretly Canadian. A sneak peek, some of you may have caught live during SXSW 2010 and another opportunity arises on April 14th here @ ND @ 501 Studios (formerly The Independent). Buy tickets HERE.

A auditory peek is in the form of this, titled “Collector”

MP3> Here We Go Magic ‘Collector’

Dead Confederate, along with several other Athen’s bands that I’m quickly becoming fans of, rolled into SXSW 2010 and brought along some new material to the stage. The band wrapped up recording their follow-up to the 2008 release Wrecking Ball, last month with famed producer John Agnello. According to the band the new material will be a slight shift in direction with shorter tracks, less grunge, a pull back on the sludge,  and a pinch of southern rock. A little known guitarist with the initials JM might be heard shredding on a guitar solo as well as a special guest.

No word on a release date as of yet…

Here’s a new song “In The Dark” performed during SXSW 2010 @ The Red Eye Fly. The audio quality isn’t great, but how many crowd shot videos have great audio?

The first single from The National‘s upcoming release High Violet due out May 11th, has just hit the interweb, and by the initial reaction it seems that the response is positive. Now, I’m as excited as anyone else might be about new music from the band, but it’s going to take a few spins to really figure out how much I really like this track. It sounds good, but it’s The National, they almost always sound good, but is this great?

Listen for yourself…to “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

MP3> The National ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’

Phoenix have been one of the biggest success stories of the past year, after years of achieving minimal success, the band has, as the kids might say “blown up”. Just months after performing @ La Zona Rosa to a sold out crowd, the band has sold out another upcoming date at Stubb’s.

The band recorded a performance in Sydney earlier last month and is making it available to fans for FREE!

Live In Sydney can be downloaded HERE.

Well, that’s a big WTF?? Sorry to hear, but not even a year into their relocation to our fine city, WOXY.com has suspended live broadcasts. What does that leave us with? A big hole in my soul.

This was posted on the WOXY.com site…

WOXY Listeners, Fans and Friends…

Due to current economic realities and the lack of ongoing funding for WOXY’s operations, we’ve been forced to suspend our live broadcasts as of March 23rd. We’re continuing to explore options to keep The Future of Rock and Roll alive. For business inquiries, please contact Bryan Jay (bryan@woxy.com) or John at Future Sounds (john@futuresounds.com).

Thanks for your years of dedicated support.

The 3rd installment of Psych Fest taking place over three days in April @ The Mohawk, has revealed to us about 20 bands scheduled to play the 2010 event. Some old familiars, and a welcomed addition of Warpaint, whom you might get your fill of this week during SXSW. Sometimes it’s okay to over indulge.

You can see the lineup and link to purchase your 3 day passes over at…Austin Psych Fest 3

The highly anticipated (by myself of course), forthcoming release by The National titled High Violet, isn’t due for legal until May 11th here in the States, but the band previewed the lead track on Jimmy Falon last night. “Terrible Love” is the name, and it all sounds like The National, but upon just one spin, I can’t come to any conclusions on the song, so develop your own.

The fact that Eastbound and Found sounds somewhat similar to another event taking place that day, and that it is taking place the same time as the other event, might cause question as to why I would be posting this. Why, because I love those guys putting on the event, and the fact that it is only a block away from our event, makes it even better. More choices for the public in a very small area.

[RSVP]

Stage One

This year, the Mess With Texas Party is moving locations and going head to head with the Fadar Fort. Two HUGE FREE events taking place right across the street from each other. With all of this going on within a block of each other for two days, what reason would you have to cross to the West side of I-35?

FRIDAY, MARCH 19th

Man Man / Billy Bragg / Man or Astroman?  / Frightened Rabbit / Black Angels / YACHT / Mariachi El Bronx / Grupo Fantasma / The Bronx / Jeff the Brotherhood / OFF! (Featuring the man with the longest dreads on the west coast, Keith Morris and Steven McDonald) / Admiral Radley (Members of Grandaddy & Earlimart) / Brazos / Lissie / Jim Jones Revue / DJ Spooky and GHP / Hacienda / Jail Weddings / Suckers / Lost in Trees / Oh no Ono

SATURDAY, MARCH 20th

GWAR / Andrew W.K. with full band / Fucked Up / Crystal Antlers / Big Freedia “The Queen of New Orleans Bounce” / Neon Indian / The Soft Pack / Japandroids / Japanther  / Avi Buffalo / Holy Fuck / Adam Green / Dam Funk / Pivot / Fool’s Gold / The Duchess and the Duke / Smith Westerns / Let’s Wrestle / Katie Stelmanis

@ the MWTX Lot

1001 E. 6^th St

Austin, TX

12:00PM BOTH DAYS

FREE / ALL AGES / OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

RSVP AT: WWW.MWTXPARTY.COM

You know I’m a big fan of the Athen’s music scene, and the 40 Watt Party happening during SXSW is always a great opportunity to catch some of city’s finest.

Once again taking place at the Side Bar, this year’s event is featuring 3 stages, one dedicated to the recently passed Vic Chesnutt. 3 stages and a healthy dose of music, including the lovely ladies in Warpaint and the veteran’s Camper Van Beethoven.  Open to the public and no wristbands or badges needed.

Party will be held at the Side Bar, located at 602 E. 7th Street in Austin, TX, onSaturday, March 20th from 12PM- 8PM. Below is the line up in order of appearance, first to last. Set times TBD.

Minus The Bear have remained on my radar ever since I came across the Menos El Oso recording, and as much as I want still be a big fan of the band, some of the singles that they have been releasing lately, just don’t seem to have the same hold on me as some of their earlier work.  I’m still holding out for the full recording though, before I jump to any conclusions.

The band recently signed to the Dangerbird Records label, and have a newly recorded album to set loose May 4th, titled Omni. The release was recorded with Grammy Award winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, My Morning Jacket). My least favorite MMJ album.

MP3> Minus The Bear ‘My Time’

SXSW Dates:

March 18th            Filter Showcase @ Cedar St Courtyard (3:30pm)
March 19th             Relix Magazine Party @ Antones (3:20pm)
March 19th            Musebox @ Rusty Spur (1am)
March 20th            Stubbs (9pm)
March 20th            Dangerbird Records @ Mellow Johnny’s (11:20pm)

The thought of what song(s) that you might want played at your funeral was brought up today by a friend, and as I found myself searching through my completely unorganized collection of music for a specific Uncle Tupelo song, I pleasantly revisited “Fatal Wound”.

For those of you not familiar with Uncle Tupelo, the band played a large part in fusing traditional country sounds with a rock approach, fueling the alt-country movement in the early 90′s. Hands down, one of my favorite bands of all time. The band achieved a reasonable amount of commercial success signing to Sire records for their final release, only to disband at the height of their career due to internal issues. Founding members Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar soon found themselves at odds personally as well as musically. Tweedy went on to form the group Wilco, and Farrar forged ahead in his outfit Son Volt, both achieving a level of success with their own unique style.

“columns of sunlight
and glorious cities
oceans of opportunity
and all your decisions seem ancient
but you wait around until
you’ve received that fatal wound” – Uncle Tupelo “Fatal Wound”

MP3> Uncle Tupelo ‘Fatal Wound’

I’ve had this record, Exploding Head, in my dirty grimy paws for months now, and each time I put it on for listen, it reveals something more mystical and intriguing than the previous spin. The drive home tonight with “Ego Death” playing on the stereo, accompanied by the 3/4 moon all dark yellow and jaundice looking,  hanging low on the horizon and peeking through the low tree branches and power lines, felt the soundtrack of someone’s life, possibly my own.

The album is appropriately titled Exploding Head, and if you have ever been to a live show of A Place to Bury Strangers you would understand how relevant that is. The band will bring it’s beautiful destructive dissonance to the Parish next month performing opening duties for The Big Pink.  A visual and auditory assault is in-store for those scampering in early for the Euro pop-synth sounds of The Big Pink, and “Dominos” will fall…

I chatted with Oliver from APTBS awhile back..

A Place to Bury Strangers and The Big Pink @ The Parish 4/8 Tickets

MP3> A Place to Bury Strangers ‘Ego Death’

Austin music bloggers Covert Curiosity and Sonic Itch Music team up once again to present a special music and visual event that will showcase their individual styles and musical leanings.

Sponsored by Spectacle Sunglasses along with Salvation Pizza, Birds Barbershop, and Do512

+ featuring visual art by:

EricPowerUp and Total Unicorn

Eastside Get Down
is happening
Thursday, March 18th noon-6 p.m.
@ The ND @ 501 Studios
corner of 5th and Brushy
Austin, Tx
www.ndvenue.com

and features:

Twin Tigers (Athens, GA) – 5 PM

About the bands: Read more