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

Is the buzz bigger than the band?

It’s a question that comes up from time to time, and the buzz surrounding the “experimental rock” band from L.A. called Warpaint has steadily and rapidly become ever so present. Some might attribute some of that to the band’s attractive looks and playful attitude. Thursday Feb 24ht was a chance to address that question. The band took the stage in Austin @ the Parish opening up for The Akron family, to a crowd eagerly awaiting the arrival of the female outfit in what would be their first performance in Austin since turning heads at CMJ 2009 and landing a recording deal shortly there after with the Rough Trade label.

With a 6 song EP the only recorded material released by the band at this point, the band had plenty of room to spread it’s wings and showcase material that the band might have marked for their full-length debut, reportedly due out sometime in the first half of 2010.

I was definitely curious as to what the band had planned for filling the drummer position, which has been the one spot that has remained fairly fluid with several taking turns on the beats for the constant trio fronting the band. Reports of experimenting with a drum machine, concerned me, but the appearance and performance of Stella Mozgawa served the lineup well. Starting out the set with an all instrumental jam, the band members worked into establishing their talents and instrumental roles on stage. Bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg bouncing up and down while laying down the thick infectious and at times a bit funky, bass lines driving the songs in the appropriate places along with the experience of Mozgawa on drums. Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman sharing the spotlight graciously taking turns adding effectively placing their guitar styles and talents adding to the dynamic of each track. The instrumental lead rolled into the single “Stars” which showcases the band’s talent for image evoking lyrics wrapped in lucid guitar sounds. While the band readily shares vocal responsibilities throughout the set, it becomes clear that guitarist and vocalist Emily Kokal is an undeniable force in the democratic unit. Comfortable with her guitar, which at times sounds influenced by the moody tense style of Disintegration era Cura ala Robert Smith, and vocally resembling another 80’s icon Siouxsie Sioux, Kokal blends sounds and textures within the alternating rhythms that warrant attention.

The band demonstrated it’s versatility with a 4 part vocal harmony on “Billie Holiday” while leading into a live version of “Beetles” that resounded more ominous and darker than it’s recorded version, showcasing Kokal’s influence on the band’s result. The set also featured a new track that hadn’t even be graced a title, along with a lengthy instrumental jam to close out their stage time, featuring members of Akron Family joining on stage for the “jam”.  Warpaint spread their wings for sure, and showed the audience that there is more to the quartet than looks and a few catchy songs. They showed us that there is definitely more in store for both the band members and the rapidly growing fan base.

And the answer to the question is…No

No secret here, our love for some Twin Tigers. The band just released the video for the track off of the Grey Waves release, titled “Red Fox Run”. And it’s here..

And you might find Twin Tigers during SXSW playing a little party @ The Independent being put on by some really, really, really good friends..Rawr!

Twin Tigers @ SXSW
3/17 Wednesday
10am WOXY.Com Radio Session

3/18 Thursday
Sonic Itch Music Day Party @ the Independent

3/19 Friday
12:35pm Twin Tigers @ Sneak Attack Day Party @ Clive Bar w/Jukebox the Ghost, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Speak, The Spring Standards, Danny Ross
9pm Official SXSW Showcase @ Emos Annex WOXY.Com Showcase w/Bear in Heaven, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Crystal Antlers, French Miami, TV Torso

3/20 Saturday
1:30pm Old Flame/Obscure Magpie Day Party w/Born Ruffians, Black & White Years, Dead Confederate, Many More
5pm 40 Watt Party with Futurebirds, Dead Confederate, James Husband, Gift Horse, American Cheeseburger, more

I’m sure that most of you are looking forward to SXSW 2010, and have been keeping a close eye on the list of parties that has been slowly revealing itself over the past few weeks. Time to start getting those RSVP’s in, and planning your schedule.

For complete and thorough listings, check out:

*The Austinist’s list of Day Shows, Afterparties, and More

*Do512’s Special SXSW list

And stayed tuned for a special announcement of a party that myself and some other fine folks are putting together…..Rawr!!

Here’s a short list of notable events that always are on my list of visits..

Filter has their hands in a couple of events that you should consider.. Read more

The headlining act for Wednesday night’s bill may be Akron Family, but my curiosity is fixated on the mostly female band that is opening the show, Warpaint. I can’t really remember where I first heard the band, but my interest in them has been borderline obsessive at times, and I figured out why recently. Shortly after releasing their debut EP Esquisite Corpse the California based band signed to Rough Trade, which is part of the Beggars Group. I have a relationship with music that is a bit more lengthy than some, and there was a time period that a majority of my music consumption was fueled by the innovative sounds by many of the bands were on the 4AD label which is part of the Beggars Group.  Back then Cocteau Twins, Wolfgang Press, Pixies, Throwing Muses, Bauhaus, and many other great artists were a part of this label, and I loved it all. It’s taken me a bit to put 2 and 2 together, but Warpaint takes me back to this time, while still remaining fresh and functional in the current scene.

History provided, and now we have Wednesday night at the Parish which is the near future. A near future you should engage in, if possible. The members of Warpaint cautiously spin a seductive style of music that dances with psychedelic lush arrangements, and lyrical temptations. Stick around for Akron Family as well.

Warpaint @ The Parish 2.24 BUY TICKETS

The band will be back in March for SXSW, so stay tuned….

MP3> Warpaint ‘Beetles’

The reunion story of the year (technically last year), if you haven’t caught wind of it yet, is Pavement. The 90’s art-rock, indie/alternative band that influenced many a band you have spinning on your iPod these days are doing what all the “cool” kids do these days. A year full of tour dates including some essential festival stops will be accompanied by the release of  the best of Pavement album titled Quarantine The Past. Now, I’m not usually one that recommends “best of” albums, but the band has a pretty lengthy catalog of material, and being the creative edgy art rockers that they were, it would take a bit of work to sort through some of the material that at some times can test the listener. The band’s label Matador has compiled a pretty comprehensive collection of tracks from the band, that really does capture the “best of” Pavement.

Quarantine The Past sees release on March 9th, and is well worth the time it takes to make your way through the 23 tracks on the album. Have I mentioned yet, that Pavement is one of my favorite bands of all time? Yepper, I dig these kids.

The remastered “Gold Soundz”

MP3> Pavement ‘Gold Soundz’

Tour dates as of now: Read more

What’s Better Than The Van? Winning a van full of music gear.

The good folks over @ Better Than The Van, who have been helping touring musicians find a better place to spend the night than in their van have a HUGE giveaway planned for this year’s SXSW Festival. A van full of music gear, to be given away on Saturday March 20th. Guitars, drums, pedals, straps, cymbals, strings, and much more from the likes of Epiphone, Ernie Ball, Zildjian, and Pro-Mark, just to name a few. And you get the van!

Go to Better Than The Van to register to win..

BTTV VAN GIVEAWAY! from Better Than The Van on Vimeo.

What do us Americans need most in times when the economy and employment are in the crapper? French pop music of course via Phoenix! Alternative (Pop) Music according to the Grammys. Alternative to what?

They wowed us @ ACL 2009, and recently @ LaZona Rosa, and are coming back for more Austin love.

April 29th @ Stubbs

It’s a short tour with some festival dates. Read more