Now, if you landed here expecting some new interesting tunes from these artists who seem to be involved in a project that you weren’t aware of, you are correct. But, the interesting part of this is that, the Groundwork Music Orchestra is a group that is making music for kids. Music for the little ones that you might have in your life. You might not have many or any in your life right now, but one day soon…And while you might not think about it much, some of these kids are going to be the future of rock-n-roll. They might be playing the songs that you might be listening to in the sooner than you think future. Best get them on the right track now.

The Groundwork Music Project is a project that provides free to low cost music education to children in the very early years of their life. A time in their life when learning music skills can benefit them in many ways with their development. And some of you out there that I know, probably could have benefited from a little more music early in life.

Ben Kweller, Guy Forsyth, and David Garza join Ground Work Music Project leader Neal Kassanoff to make an album for the kids. And they have made it available for FREE. Donations are accepted and encouraged of course.

Download it for free HERE.

Now, I would prefer that my kids grow up listening to the Beatles and Flaming Lips for inspiration, but not all folks would agree with that approach to music education.

Austin’s Frank Smith turned heads in the Austin music scene with their 2009 release Big Strike In Silver City. Being the band’s 5th release, it was the first release since relocating to Austin, the music city that can swallow up great music and not think twice about doing so. The band has been plugging away at the follow up, recording at the Bubble Studios with Alex Lyon, and if this track titled “Nineteen” is of any indication of what to expect…well, you tell me what you think.

The track is only available for stream on the band’s website or myspace.

No release date mentioned, but I’m guessing sometime in the Fall.

Some might argue that I don’t support the local bands enough here on the site, so here is a big plug for a slew of local acts bringing their local skills all over the course of one day in one place.

Makers Mark presents Red River On The Rocks @ Mohawk this Saturday 8.28 beginning at 2 p.m. and going all day until closing time 2 a.m. Bands, bands, and more bands playing both the inside stage and outside stage, offering up some of Austin’s finest in the genre of modern rock. DJ’s spinning (they don’t really spin anymore these days) tunes to keep you tapping your feet when taking a break from the head bobbin, fist pumping rock and roll. And it’s presented by Makers Mark, so you know what that means? The booze will be flowing. Some of it for FREE if you pay for VIP or pre-sale. Word is that there is going to be FREE pizza as well! Say isn’t isn’t so, sounds too damn good to be true! But that’s how we roll in the ATX when throwing down a party. And when we party, there’s always a photo booth available to capture these treasured moments of our lives, and Alison Narro does a fine job capturing beautifully. Nothing like showing your kids later in life hundreds of photos of you blasted out of your mind on free booze, night after night, after night, after night. Ooooh, the memories. Funny hats, sunglasses, toy guns, feather boas, what next?

And then there is the music..

Outside
3pm The Georgian Company
345pm Booher and the Turkeyz
430pm The Mercers
515pm The Noise Revival Orchestra
6pm Frank Smith
7pm The Eastern Sea
8pm FUTUREBIRDS
9pm Hacienda
10pm Dead Confederate

Inside
315pm Alkari
4pm My Education
445pm Young Girls
530pm Red Falcon
615pm The Boxing Lesson
7pm Melogrand
745pm STEREO IS A LIE
830pm The Pons
915 Built By Snow
BLOCK
1130pm Ume
1215am Fresh Millions
1am ZEALE

And of course, you  know I’m going to see the boys from Athens, Ga both Dead Confederate and FUTUREBIRDS. Dead Confederate will be celebrating the release of their 2nd full length Sugar, which is reason enough to pick up tickets now and get your Red River Rocks off!

TICKETS

Brick by brick, Austin’s Monahans are building their latest release 2010 Recordings by releasing a song a month on their website. The latest track from the band “I Break The Silence” surfaced today, and has a much different feel than anything you may have heard from them previously. Drums, almost tribal, dominate this track throughout with the guitars a bass playing support. Roberto Sanchez could be one of the more creative drummers you might see around town, as he doesn’t use a snare, and this track showcases his unique style.

On a side note, former Spoon bassist seems to be on staff with the band for a little while at least, playing on the recording, and recently in the live shows as well.

If you haven’t been collecting the tracks, which count at 6 now, head over to the bands website.

MP3> Monahans ‘I Break The Silence’

The L.A. based Future Sounds has teamed up with some of Austin’s finest, including fellow bloggers Covert Curiosity and Austin Town Hall (I know, you’re not a blog site!) to bring you an eve of local music for the low, low, low price of FREE!

Going down Wednesday night 8.11 @ Beerland: The Sour Notes, Hollywood Gossip, and Literature bring you some of Austin’s finest future sounds for FREE!. Did I mention that it was FREE? How about FREE beer? not really.

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.

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

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’

Taking an approach to releasing their music that most bands would shrug off, the Austin based Monahans are releasing a track a month from their most recent recording titled simply 2010 Recordings. And I should mention, that the tracks are free for download.

The latest to surface from the Monahans camp is track #4 titled “A Memory Of God”.

In addition to the free tracks being released, the band is also dropping video footage and various reference material as well. If you want to get in on this action, you might want to visit the band’s website and sign up for the email list. Or you could just keep tuning in here, as I’ll likely pass along this stuff to you as well, as I kinda dig these guys.

In related news: The previous incarnation of Monahans, Milton Mapes have received a little attention by some guy named Robert Plant? This guy is recording a version of their track “The Only Sound That Matters”. Nice.

Austin’s Black Angels have a new recording looming in the near future titled Phosphene Dream, recorded with producer Dave Sardy (new for the band), and on the recently revived label Blue Horizon (new for the band). What does all of this change mean for the local artisans of psychedelic drone? For those in attendance of this year’s Austin Psych Fest, you were treated to what Phosphene Dream has wrapped up inside, when The Black Angels performed the recording in it’s entirety live on Saturday night of the 3 day fest. And first impression suggests that change is good.

MP3> Black Angels ‘Bad Vibrations’

The band has several European festival dates lined up before they head back to the states for an appearance @ The Jim Jarmusch curated stage during ATP New York.

The mysterious man behind Ultra8201.com sees another in his life marked by a birth date and does what he does best to commemorate this event…he throws a party for all.

Thursday night at the Parish is when and where it all goes down, and L.A.X , Love At 20, The Politics, and a personal fav of mine…The Redboys are all on hand to make it happen.

Music documentaries, films about music, or even live performances captured on film get me off like nobody’s business. I love that shit. And to have one capturing the scene happening in my own backyard, is pretty damn exciting.

Here’s what we’re looking at…

Internationally known as ‘The Live Music Capital of the World,’Austin’s music culture has led it to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. As nearly two dozen high-rises pop up throughout the city amidst economic downfall, how does the working musician get along? This lyrical documentary provides a telescopic view in the lives of Austin’s vibrant young musicians as they grapple with questions of artistic integrity, commercialism, experimentation, and the future of their beloved city. Echotone is a cultural portrait of the modern American city examined through the lyrics and lens of its creative class.
There is rising star soul revivalist Black Joe Lewis selling out concert halls by night and delivering fish by day. There’s Cari Palazzolo of synth pop sensation Belaire, poised for commercial success, but conflicted over the thought of her music turning into a commodity. Then there is experimental troubadour Bill Baird, whose band Sound Team enjoyed a major label deal with Capitol Records and were subsequently dropped after one album. The tales of these young artists forms a mosaic illustrating the universal struggle many contemporary fringe cultures are experiencing.

A modern parable on integrity, Echotone is a feature documentary that explores the world of Austin’s vibrant music culture as it struggles to balance notions of personal ethics and sustainability amidst an economic, cultural, and political paradigm shift.

The film focuses the music of indie mainstays (and Austin bands) like The Black Angels, The White White Lights, Dana Falconberry and more!

And here’s your trailers….

Dig the tunes, dig the video, and dig the work of Fishman (Mac and Cheese). He did a great job at our SXSW show, and we’ll be keeping an eye on what he’s got going on in the future.

Candi&TheStrangers “Tetsu” from Mac&Cheez on Vimeo.

Austin is littered with bands that have come and gone, while reaching a level of success that lay on the brink of something most bands only dare to dream about. Seven Percent Solution is one of those bands. Following closely to the success that the newly reformed Sixteen Deluxe saw in the 90′s, Seven Percent Solution experienced a healthy following outside of the comforts of the Live Music Capitol, while managing to catch national media attention even by the likes of Rolling Stone magazine on several occasions. A band that managed to scrape the ceiling while reaching for the stars, and a band whose music stays relevant even today, seemingly unaffected by the constantly churning and changing music industry.

There’s no telling if Seven Percent Solution is peering skyward once again, feeling the need to revisit the dream, or if this show will be another of a last hurrah.

Saturday night @ The Highball, and it’s FREE! Seven Percent Solution starts the dance @ 11 pm.

MP3> Seven Percent Solution ‘Bruise’
MP3> Seven Percent Solution ‘The Innocentes’

One of Austin’s great dirty little secrets of a band, Monahans, have been patiently releasing newly recorded material on their website, and just recently set loose track # 3 titled “Quell”.

The band will be releasing a track a month for the remainder of the year, so if you “dig” you might want to sign up for the band’s email list.

MP3> Monahans ‘Quell’