Surely by now the RSVP hand cramps and headache are starting to set in, and you’ve plugged so much SXSW information into your melon, it’s becoming a cloudy sea of March dates, sponsorship logos, and band names you aren’t quite that familiar with, but have checked. I too, have begun that list, trying as much to keep it simple, so that I can focus on the stuff that I really want to see, while leaving some time for those pleasant unexpected surprises.

Haven’t heard the name Yuck? I hadn’t until a couple of weeks ago, when a track being played on KEXP caught my attention just long enough for me to catch the name. Then I see the band featured in Under The Radar magazine as one to watch in 2011, and then I came across this video yesterday by chance when checking out the new Walkmen video..the music gods are speaking to me.

Yuck might be the sign that the indie sounds of the 90′s might be ripe for filling some of the holes in between the overplayed 80′s resurgence in music. Hinting at Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads, and even Superchunk, would sound understated, but Yuck make you feel right at home today while pining for yesterday.

Check out some Yuck, check your schedule.

Thur 3/17 @ Club de Ville

Fri 3/18 @ East Side Drive In @3:30

Fri 3/18 @ Kiss and Fly

Yuck – Yuck by Yuck

Battles are set to release their latest in recorded, titled Gloss on June 7th. Seems like a lifetime away, but it will be here sooner than you expect.

And while we await..a reminder of why we like the band to begin with..

Local instrumental outfit Balmorhea, who happen to reside on one of the most prestigious local indie labels Western Vinyl, have newly recorded material available, along with a local show to kick off a pending tour. Candor/Clamor is a two track vinyl option from the band currently available that continues on the band’s path of creating music suited for your best daydream soundscape.

The band will be performing this Friday at Mohawk with Eastern Sea and Danny Malone, and if you want free tickets to the show..send me an email. Winners for a pair of tickets will be randomly selected and notified by noon on Friday.

MP3> Balmorhea ‘Clamor’

Balmorhea tour:

It will be here soon, and your chance to get wristbands for this years SXSW Music Festival will be gone soon. First round of $139 wristbands is gone and now the second round of 2000 are up for grabs for $165. Get them HERE. Must be able to prove Austin residency.

Grid is up with full schedule of all things SXSW, and you can check that out HERE.

Surely you got the memo. Radiohead have a new recording out tomorrow, make that now. King of Limbs is available for purchase online only at this point.

Thom Yorke celebrates this momentous event with a dance…

Mogwai – Hardcore Nill Never Die, but You Will

Two words – Danceable and distorted, like those dark sounds you would hear in a German discotequethe. Picture a lot of warehouse concrete and strobe lights. However, these guys are from Glasgow, Scotland and formed in 1995. Their recent album has monster instrumentals, pitting suppression against resolution. Throughout the album, sounds vacillate between epic soundscapes and minimalist jam sessions. I recommend checking it out for something different than your typical chillwave. Favourite Song – “Mexican Grand Prix”

Out today 2.15.11

Mogwai – Mexican Grand Prix from Sub Pop Records on Vimeo.

Earlier this year it was announced that this little blog, has joined the Austin Rumble. Organized by the fine folks over at Futuresounds, we have become part of a group of folks who curate a free show on a somewhat monthly basis, featuring some of Austin’s newest and finest talent. And we are are in good company.

This Wednesday features a stellar lineup with two bands that have been generating quite a bit of a buzz lately, Black Books and Not In The Face, and a band I’m not that familiar with, but am digging everything that I’ve heard so far, Agent Ribbons. And if all that talent isn’t enough to drag you out on a Wednesday night, I might also add that the show is FREE. Oh, and it’s Black Books vinyl release show for their EP titled An Introduction To..

Beerland Wed night 2.16 for FREE!

MP3> Black Books ‘Green Screen’

MP3> Not In The Face ‘Yuppy Monday’

MP3> Agent Ribbons ‘I’m Alright’

Yep, you heard right..Radiohead drop a big piece of news on this Valentine’s Day 2011. They will release their next full length album titled King Of Limbs this coming Saturday 2.19.11 digitally and will start shipping vinyl copies the following Monday. No single, no CD sales (one is included with vinyl purchase), and one might be lead to believe that you might not be able to buy this in a store.

Is Radiohead squashing the Compact Disc format single handedly? You better get your turntable soon. This might be the end of CD’s and the beginning of a vinyl explosion.

Oh yeah…get your new Radiohead HERE.

Cloud Nothings – Cloud Nothings

I think there’s something kind of punk rock about an artist that makes you want to face punch your speakers because you hate them so much when you hear them.

The Cloud Nothings are not a punk rock band. They are garage-y pop, formulaic riff rock with vocals like Daniel Johnston meets They Might be Giants, or Alvin and the Chipmunks Overall, the vocals sound so far away it’s not just the next room, it’s the next house. Lyrics are catchy albeit indiscernible.

But, their music does grow on you. Because of my punk-rock roots, the snotty vocals on Not Important softened my initial reaction. However, I still couldn’t get past the lollypop-kids falsetto on Understand at All. Sometimes, the Lo-Fi, DIY sound makes it hard to tell if they are trying too hard, or not hard enough.
There has been a drastic improvement in this album over their previous recordings over, and this could very well be a stepping-stone to taking Cloud Nothings to the next level. My favourite song on this album (drum roll please)… “Not important”. I suggest checking it out.

MP3> Cloud Nothings ‘Not Important’

I’m pretty sure that if they, being the band Work Drugs, keep sending me the tracks, I’ll keep posting them. Hopefully this surfacing of the 3rd track from the Philly chillwave duo, signals getting closer to putting together a full album? Either way, enjoy “Rad Racer” and the video that accompanies the track. And if you have heard the other 2 tracks do a little searching here on the site and you’ll find them pretty easily.

MP3> Work Drugs ‘Rad Racer’

I don’t really know much about this band, but have always wanted to check them out just because of their name.

Cold Cave have an album in store for release on the Matador label. You still  have a while to wait though, as the upcoming release Cherish The Light Years doesn’t come legal until May 5th. April sees the band hitting the road in support of the Kills, and if you haven’t already scoured some leaked copy of the album, you can catch most of it live.

MP3> Cold Cave ‘The Great Pan Is Dead’

Tour dates Read more

Phosphorescent produced one of the more enjoyable albums and live shows that I had the privilege of experiencing last year. The band released it’s fifth full-length titled Here’s to Taking It Easy on the Dead Oceans label, and damn if that ain’t a fine statement to live by now and then.

The band just announced a huge tour, which takes them around the world with notable festival appearances. The best news is, that they will be making a stop here in ATX at the perfectly suitable Parish. I promise you, it will sound awesome, and you’ll talk about it for months after.

May 5th @ The Parish…that’s Cinco de Mayo to all my Mexican amigos.

And I love this song

MP3> Phosphorescent ‘The Mermaid Parade’

Tour dates Read more

The influence that Echo & the Bunnymen have had on much of today’s modern music, is probably well understated and in many cases not even recognized. I had the opportunity to see these guys in San Diego with Gene Loves Jezebel and New Order..yep, I walk with a cane and qualify for social security.

Well, the E & B are back, and are plotting a short North America tour to play two of their classic albums back to back, Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here. Check out this clip of the band performing “Stars are Stars” in Liverpool this past December and get a taste for what unfortunately isn’t heading close to Austin. Might be time for a little trip this May. Tour dates follow.

Echo & the Bunnymen – Stars are Stars (Live) from Girlie Action on Vimeo.

Echo & The Bunnymen 2011 North American Tour

5/9  Boston, MA  @ Paradise Club
5/11 Washington DC @ 9.30 Club
5/12 Philadelphia ,PA@ Trocadero
5/13 New York,NY @Irving Plaza
5/16  Toronto,Canada  @Phoenix Theatre
5/17  Chicago,IL  @ Vic Theatre
5/19  San Francisco ,CA @ Warfield Theatre
5/20  Las Vegas,NV @ Red Rock Casino
5/21 Los Angeles, CA  @Club Nokia Theatre
5/22  Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues

Ah, yes. Just speaking about this band, for which I have a special place in my little music heart. It took me awhile to understand the simplistic beauty that Low produces, but once you slow yourself down a bit, and listen, the gesture is greatly rewarded.

Low will release C’mon, April 12th on Sub Pop Records. And of course there is a pre-order for CD and LP with an advance stream for those who do so.

Recorded in an old church in Deluth, MN, Low front-man Alan Sparhawk puts to words his take on what is being called one of the most accessible and affecting albums by the band.

“Warm, pretty, large like Nashville without the country. Mim and I are talking to each other in the lyrics, sometimes it’s not pretty, but it’s as honest as love.”

And, as expected a tour is set to launch starting here in Austin, TX with an appearance during SXSW 2011. Can’t wait.

Check out the first track from the album titled “Try To Sleep” and tour dates after the jump.

MP3> Low ‘Try To Sleep’

Read more

I can’t say that the cancellation of Devo for last year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest wasn’t a big letdown for this little blogger, but true to their form (or some sort of contract stipulation) the Fun Fest folks are bring the thumb’s intact, 80′s troubadours to Austin. Devo is set to play the new ACL Live stage on March 27th with local multi-media, beat weavers Octopus Project. I can’t say that I’m nearly as excited about the possibility of seeing the band on the ACL Live stage compared to the option of seeing them in Fun Fest atmosphere, but it is what it is. And it’s a 101x sponsored show…

Tickets on sale Feb 3rd @ 10 a.m.