Dead Confederate’s Sugar arrived at the office just a few days ago, and it has been spinning non-stop, while I try to digest this monster of rock album. There’s some seriously heavy shit on this record, along with songs like this, which show a different side to the band that previously revealed on their debut LP Wrecking Ball.

Push play, turn it up, and sing along while J. Mascis adds his shred to the track.

Don’t forget, that the band will be giving it away on the Mohawk stage Aug 28th. GET TICKETS

You’ve been warned, and here it starts to arrive. The Black Angels have their newest work Phosphene Dream in the pipe and ready for release on 9.14, and single number 2 has just surfaced. I promise you, it might take you back a bit with it’s 60′s garage rock almost upbeat feel. Times they are a changing.

MP3> The Black Angels ‘Telephone’

Taking the man who masks himself behind a wall of sonic dissonance, feedback, smoke, and a disorienting light show when playing live and exposing him almost naked with an acoustic guitar seems risky. But the folks over at They Shoot Music Don’t They, do just that.  Behind the sonic annihilation that A Place To Bury Strangers fronts, is a really cool down to earth guy named Oliver Ackerman. So when asked to shed the image for a few acoustic songs on the street, Ackerman obliges and turns out some interesting acoustic versions of APTBS tunes.

Well, maybe not like a sieve, but I’ve always wanted to use that term. More like a drippy faucet.

So, if you haven’t been keeping score, Fun Fun Fun Fest leaked 3 artists for this year’s event last week. Keeping it real with the old school as Funx3 Fest is great at doing, rapper Slick Rick and hardcore punks Suicidal Tendencies were 2/3 of the initial leak. Introducing something new and fresh, the 3rd artists leaked last week is LA’s Best Coast, who’s surf/pop/gospel is promising to keep it easy breezy.

And that brings us to today. The day that finds us with more sweet leaks from the Funx3 Fest, featuring Dirty Projectors (yay!), Yelle (oh, they’re French), Snapcase, The Gories, and Cap’n Jazz.

Surely the leaks will keep on a comin, and if you pay attention here, you’ll get more info on the bands that we are really excited about, and maybe a few that need a closer look.

“I’m not crazy, you’re the one that’s crazy!”

I can’t say that I reach for a New Pornographers record that frequently, but my experience with the band live spurs this recommendation for Friday night at Stubbs. There’s something incredibly mesmerizing about watching this band so rich in talent work together like a well oiled machine churning out catchy tune after catchy tune. Especially when Neko Case is present.

I’m also extremely curious about opening artists Imaad Wasif. His latest release The Viodist has spent a fair amount of time with my attention, and the fact that Spoon’s Britt Daniel is seen sporting a Wasif’ shirt in just about every photo taken of him over the last 6 months surely means something? Time to do laundry?

Don’t know anything about the DoDos.

New Pornographers will surely be testing the newest of their offerings, from the most recent release Together, but there better be a “My Rights Versus Yours” scribbled on the set list.

Tickets are still available HERE for now.

Austin’s Black Angels are looking to drop another bounty of their self-styled psych-rock, in the name of Phosphene Dream on 9.14.10. Changes are involved with a new label, the recently resurrected Blue Horizon, a new producer, Dave Sardy, and possibly a new direction with their sound.

Patiently we await, and until the drop, a sneak peak…

The Black Angels : Phosphene Dream from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Blonde Redhead have their 4th 4AD release scheduled for a street date of 9/14, and as expected a nice little tour to follow in support of Penny Sparkle. It’s been 3 years since the band’s previous release 23 secured their reputation as a mainstay in the music scene, that doesn’t threaten to become commercial, but remains as pertinent if not more.

You may remember the surfacing of the track “Here Sometimes” not too long ago that we speculate will be found on Penny Sparkle.

There will be a pre-sale for many of the shows, so click HERE for details, including opportunity to upgrade with poster, CD, and an instant MP3. Oh yeah, password for pre-sale is “Sparkle”, and the presale begins 48 hours prior to city’s general on-sale date.

Dates after the jump, jump, jump, jump around Read more

If you haven’t tuned in to the sounds of Austin’s Monahans, you might be missing out on one of Austin’s currently undiscovered great secrets. While the band’s popularity quietly begins to bubble under the surface, they are introducing us to their newest recording, simply titled 2010 Recordings, one track at a time. The band began releasing a track a month in March and today finds us with track number 5 titled “We Tremble” with a short statement about the track from the band:

“Building on last month’s theme, the title “We Tremble” echoes the refrain of a classic eerie-yet-powerful hymn. Please pardon our progress as we plunge into darkness. (As if this Texas summer heat wasn’t oppressing enough!) We recommend revisiting Track 1 or watching Double Rainbow after you’ve heard this one.”

Maybe I enjoy the darkness unknowingly, because I really dig this track.

MP3> Monahans ‘We Tremble’

Upcoming Austin shows for the band:

FRIDAY JULY 30 at Club DeVille
with Telegraph Canyon and Aaron Sinclair (of Frank Smith)

FRIDAY AUGUST 13 at ND/501 Studios
Milton Mapes (duo set) opening for AA Bondy and JBM

Got your tickets? Hope so, because the only other way you are going to get into the festival is purchase a $850 VIP ticket or start shopping over @ craigslist.

For those with tickets in hand, itching for the grid so they can start planning their weekend, you’re in luck. The day has arrived. No major conflicts for me at this point, as most of these bands have been through town already this year, but for some of you, there might be some decision making to be had. Just head HERE.

While I would like everyone to believe that I take the time to listen to every band that sends me music whether it be a physical copy or via the digital, I really don’t. I try to give each one a fair opportunity to grab a moment of my short attention span, but most fall short of doing so, and quite frankly, I’m sure I miss out on some good music at times.

Why this band managed a feat that most cannot, I cannot answer.

Grand Lake’s music has been haunting me since I received the package in the mail just days ago.  I continually find myself revisiting the band’s work, seeking some sort of grasp of what it is they are to trying to convey with their music, and while doing so, all I can really manage is a sense of enjoying something that feels honest and fresh.

Grand Lake is the current result of a long ongoing relationship between Caleb Nichols and Jameson Swanagon, who have continually crossed paths since they met as young boys in California. The two brought on John Pomeroy for drums  and even more recently Danae Swanagon for the keyboards.  The upcoming release from the band Blood Sea reflects the duo’s musical kinship shared over the past 10 years covering plenty of ground musically without straining to be something that it isn’t. A delicate, subtle darkness weaves it’s way through the album while the music forges ahead on with the journey being the priority. The album finds itself turn after turn alternating between fuzzed out art-rock, gentle string accompanied slow dance moments, and slow rolling mood rockers.

Blood Sea is currently available on iTunes and will see “official” release on 8.10.10.

Now we just wait for the tour bus to find it’s way to us.

MP3> Grand Lake ‘Carpoforo’

Grand Lake – Spark from Ryan Pierce on Vimeo.

Montreal’s Land of Talk have always been one of those bands quietly bubbling under the surface, just threatening to become recognized for the talent that it posses.  Or maybe I should say for the talent that Elizabeth Powell posses? The crafty songstress and gifted guitarist for the band has been the foundation for the band since it’s incarnation and continues to grow as a writer and performer.

August 24th will see the band’s sophomore full length come legal, on the Saddle Creek label mysteriously titled Cloak and Cipher. Soon after, the band embarks on a headlining tour that will bring them to Austin for a performance @ The Parish. If I’m not mistaken, this would be their first performance in town in more than 2 years. I’m not mistaken that I’m completely giddy about seeing this band once again.

Cloak and Cipher was produced by Jace Lasek ( Besnard Lakes, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) and features a slew of Canada’s finest in the modern rock scene. Patrick Watson, Jeremy Gara of Arcade Fire, and members of Stars, Wintersleep, Besnard Lakes, and Esmerine.

A sneak peak with the band performing Cloak and Cipher’s “Quarry Hymn” on La Blogotheque’s Take Away Show

Tour dates follow the jump Read more

The moniker Ola Podrida which local musician David Wingo masks himself behind, dropped one of my favorite recordings of the past year, late in 2009 on the Austin based Western Vinyl label, titled Belly Of The Lion. The acoustic based recording brings into fold simple instrumentation that stretches between sublime sonic guitars, subtle drum beats, banjo, tambourine, and Wingo’s own lyrics. Lyrics that soundtrack the simple stories of naive human relationships while exposing the genuine and honest treasures lying within.

Wingo has assembled a band for a U.S. tour launching tomorrow night @ Mohawk. Get there early, as the tiny inside Mohawk stage will surely be a bad bet for showcasing one of Austin’s most promising talents.

“I’ll skinny dip with girls in lakes of wine……….”

MP3> Ola Podrida ‘Lakes Of Wine’

Dead Meadow brought the serious “rock” to Emo’s last Sunday night while on the road in support of their most recent CD/DVD release The Three Kings. A recommended grab for anyone familiar with the band, or in need of a solid dose of guitar, bass, and drums ala psych/stoner rock.

Photos: Mary Rehak