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.

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.

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….

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’

Click over to Covert Curiosity for the skinny on the artists

A nice little tune from Brazos

MP3> Brazos ‘Mrs Virginia’

Doors are actually at 9:00 from what I understand as well. Not 9:30 as listed on poster, which follows after the jump

Buy your Hippies

Have you got a video??..yep

And I bet no one got my Young Ones reference….

This weekend, the 3rd installment of Austin Psych Fest takes place @ Mowhawk, happening April 23rd, 24th and 25th. Three days of music and art in an environment encouraging and embracing the idea of artistic expression.

While the success of Psych Fest has been a bit of a slow grow, the founder’s, consisting of members of Austin’s own Black Angels, continue on with the festival seemingly satisfied with the spirit of what they have created, and not focused entirely on financial success. While psychedelic rock may bear the weight of it’s history, rife with the imagery of tie-dye wearing hippies expanding their minds chemically, Austin Psych Fest has done a great job merging the forefathers of the genre with some of the modern purveyors that straddle the fringe. An accomplishment that hasn’t quite been fully recognized, but should see more appreciation with this upcoming installment of the event. Booking Warpaint, The Raveonettes, The Duchess and The Duke, Silver Apples, and even Austin’s own Yellow Fever are prime examples of expanding the festival to reach out to more music fans.

Three days, two stages, a crawfish boil on Sunday @ 3:33, and all for $40. In this economy, it’s a pretty good deal. You can buy single day passes as well for $15 advance or $18 at the door.

Lineup and some picks after the jump

FRIDAY APRIL 23

Outside Stage

8:00 – Ringo DeathStarr

9:00 – Warpaint

The female outfit from Los Angeles grabbed my attention early this year with the late 2009 EP release Exquisite Corpse, which fostered attention from Beggars Banquet who signed the band soon after their CMJ performance. Their live appearance at The Parish a few months back solidified the belief that the band has a solid future ahead. Sexy, beat driven psych tinged rock that never seems to repeat itself.

10:30 – The Raveonettes

Embracing the sounds of pop music from the 50’s and 60’s rooted in psychedelic rock,  this Danish duo will be of interest for many a music fan who may normally shy from Psych Fest. Definitely one of the biggest draws of the weekend, and they kick it off on the first night.

Inside Stage

8:30 – Christian Bland & The Revelators

9:30 – Von Haze

11:50 – Indian Jewelry

1:00 – Daughters of the Sun

SATURDAY APRIL 24

Outside Stage

2:00 – Shapes Have Fangs

3:00 – Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor

4:00 – The Tunnels

5:00 – Smoke & Feathers

6:00 – Headdress

7:00 – The Night Beats

8:00 – Golden Animals

9:00 – Pink Mountaintops

Big fuzzy guitar rock with female vocals thrown into the mix from British Columbia. What else needs to be said?

10:00 – Spindrift

So good during Austin Psych Fest 1, they’ve been invited back. Just listen to “The Legends Of God’s Gun” on their myspace and you’ll be intrigued.

11:00 – The Black Angels

They’re hosting the party for crying out loud. And if you call yourself a music fan, live in Austin and haven’t seen The Black Angels, it’s time to check your cred.

Inside Stage

2:30 – Ancient River

3:30 – Tia Carrera

4:30 – Telepathik Friend

5:30 – Cry Blood Apache

6:30 – Screen Vinyl Image

7:30 – City Center

8:30 – The Frequency

9:30 – Greg Ashley

10:30 – (intermission)

11:50 – The Vandelles

Hailing from Brooklyn, The Vandelles seem to share the same blood as fellow Brooklyn noise rockers A Place to Bury Strangers while channeling Duane Eddy’s soul.

1:00 – The Meek

SUNDAY APRIL 25

Outside Stage

5:00 – Mondo Drag

6:00 – Sky Parade

7:00 – The Dutchess & the Duke

8:00 – The Black Angels

9:00 – The Warlocks

“Time isn’t constant or concrete. It’s made of color and shade. Time flows, blurs and fades away in dim morning light. Time melts. And The Warlocks are the ecstatic, hazy, foreboding, holy tick tock of time that isn’t anything at all.”

I got that from their myspace page. It was too good not to use.

10:00 – Silver Apples

Don’t really know much about this band, but they are going to bring a new element to the festival with their electro psych rock. Expand is right.

11:00 – Gaslamp Killer

Inside Stage

5:30 – All in the Golden Afternoon

6:30 – Strangers Family Band

7:30 – Rayon Beach

8:30 – Ghost Songs

9:30 – Pure Ecstasy

10:30 – Yellow Fever

11:50 – Voices Voices

1:00 – PJ & the Bear

A simple video for “Written In Reverse”

Man, I’ve gotten lazy with writing lately…..

The Black Angels and Reverberation Appreciation Society have announced the location and dates for the 3rd installment of Austin Psych Fest.

Lineup is still pending announcement, but you can mark your calender for April 23rd, 24th, and 25th and set your sites on The Mohawk.

The Austin Psych Fest 2 DVD was recently released, featuring performances by A Place To Bury Strangers, Dead Meadow, Golden Animals, Wooden Shjips, and more. You can purchase HERE.

Shearwater have established themselves as a band who make beautiful music that is more cerebral and less inviting upon first listen, but always delivers upon time committed. The third release from the band The Golden Archipelago is already being pitched as “not an easy or immediate record”, confirming that the band is staying true to the musical path that they have chosen.

The Golden Archipelago is set for release digitally on Feb 16th and will see physical, both shiny and waxy, on Feb 23rd.

Released MP3 from upcoming album

MP3> Shearwater ‘Black Eye’

Shearwater tour datesSat 3/13 AUSTIN, TX – Red 7 (Jonathan Meiburg solo, supporting Xiu Xiu)
Wed 3/24 ATLANTA, GA – The Earl – with Wye Oak
Thu 3/25 CHAPEL HILL, NC – Local 506 – with Wye Oak
Fri 3/26 WASHINGTON, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel – with Wye Oak
Sat 3/27 NEW YORK, NY – Bowery Ballroom- with Wye Oak
Sun 3/28 PHILADELPHIA, PA – Johnny Brenda’s- with Wye Oak
Tue 3/30 BOSTON, MA – T.T. the Bears – with Wye Oak
Wed 3/31 MONTREAL, QC – La Sala Rosa – with Wye Oak
Thu 4/1 TORONTO, ON – Lee’s Palace – with Wye Oak
Fri 4/2 ITHACA, NY – Castaways – with Wye Oak
Sun 4/4 CHICAGO, IL – Lincoln Hall – with Wye Oak
Tue 4/6 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – 400 Bar – with Wye Oak
Wed 4/7 GRINNELL, IA – Gardner Lounge at Grinnell College – with Wye Oak
Fri 4/9 NORMAN, OK – The Opolis – with Wye Oak
Thu 4/22 PHOENIX, AZ – Rhythm Room
Fri 4/23 TUCSON, AZ – Club Congress
Sat 4/24 LOS ANGELES, CA – Spaceland
Sun 4/25 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Bottom Of The Hill
Tue 4/27 PORTLAND, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
Wed 4/28 VANCOUVER, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
Thu 4/29 SEATTLE, WA – Triple Door
Fri 4/30 PULLMAN, WA – The BellTower
Sat 5/1 BOISE, ID – Neurolux
Tue 5/4 DENVER, CO – The Walnut Room
Fri 5/7 AUSTIN, TX – The Parish

Pillow Queens Pack It In Tomorrow Night (And An Open Letter to Patrick Caldwell)

Spoon. If you don’t know who they are by now…..well, I wouldn’t know how to respond to that exactly.

The band is set to release it’s newest offering, and it’s first self-produced, titled Transference on Jan 19th. You can stream the entire album currently @ NPR’s “Exclusive First Listen”, which I’m doing right now. If you are looking for an album that is going to follow closely in the footsteps of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, you might be a bit surprised. Britt Daniel and Co return to the sound that established the band as one of the more original and creative indie band’s over the past 15 years. A bit raw and crafty in timing, while holding on to some of the stylistic songwriting that Daniel has achieved over the years. Upon first listen..Bravo!

In another collaboration with NPR, Spoon will play Stubb’s on March 17th as part of the station’s SXSW coverage.

More Spoon news to surface soon, I would suspect….