Not nearly as frightening as the name might suggest, UK’s The Horrors kicked of a U.S. tour early this month in support of their most recent release Skying, that will find them taking to the beloved Parish stage in Austin on 9/21. If you’ve had your fill of the electronic bleep blip, dj riddled, get so friggin happy scene, like myself, The Horrors inspire memories of Bauhaus, Peter Murphy, and even Echo and The Bunnymen at times. It’s okay to wallow in darkness every now and then. That’s why we have Prozac.

The Horrors w/The Stepkids opening things up at The Parish. Doors @ 8p.m. TICKETS

MP3> The Horrors ‘Moving Further Away’

The Horrors US tour:

9/21 – Austin, TX – The Parish
9/23 – St Louis, MO – The Firebird
9/24 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock
9/25 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
9/27 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
9/28 – Montreal, QC – Cafe Campus
9/30 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
10/1 – Asbury Park, NJ – ATP
10/2 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
10/3 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
10/4 – New York, NY – Webster Hall

How does a dance/rock punk duo that existed for only 5 years and put out only 1 album score a prime spot at one of the biggest music festivals? I don’t have the answer to that question, but it surely will be worth investigating this current resurgence of interest in Death From Above 1979. Some of you might remember the small riot that took place at Beauty Bar this past SXSW? Death From Above 1979 was the band playing during the incident. Spurring small riots and landing prime spots on big festival stages…the year you reunite?

Only problem with this gig is that it conflicts with Elbow…arrrggghhhh!

Death From Above 1979: Sunday at 5:30 on the Honda Stage

LITTLE GIRL REHEARSAL from DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 on Vimeo.

A little grunge, a little duet, a little blues, little hurricane offers an intimate conversation between folk narrative and the rough edges of county blues. They hail from San Diego and the two band members are ironically ahead of their time in their sanctification of retrospect; they met online over a love of vintage equipment and “down and dirty” blues music. Think the naked guitar riffs of Cream plus the vocal clarity of the Local Natives. The sound seems a cousin of the White Stripes, but racing within the lines of a stripe of its own. Check out the songs “Get By” and “Give Em Hell.”

little hurricane: Sunday at 12:20pm on the Austin Ventures Stage

This is one band that is high on the list of  “must see” this weekend’s ACL Festival. Elbow is that band that you fell in love with years ago, yet somehow manages to sit quietly in the background only to give you that reminding poke that they are still making great music years later. A band that has achieved little more than cult status in the US, they have maintained a solid following in the UK, continuing to record award winning albums that chart well. The band’s most recent release Build A Rocket Boys demonstrates a band’s necessity to grow it’s music as they grow in years.  Beautifully layered multi-instrumental progressive rock perfectly accented by Guy Garvey’s image evoking lyrics and recognizable vocal style. A rare opportunity to see a band riding a lengthy wave of success in an arena of turn and burns.

Elbow: Sunday at 5:30 on the Google+ Stage

Seattle band, The Head and the Heart is a gem in a brimming jewelry box; they’ve toured extensively with big names such as Vampire Weekend and The Walkmen, and aired on Conan with their debut album this year. Soulful, bright, think updated optimism of The Mama’s and the Papas with Beatle’s-worthy harmonization. Songs to check out: “Lost in my Mind” and “Sounds like Hallelujah.”

The Head and the Heart: Sunday 1:30-2:30 on the Google+ Stage

An acoustically harmonic duo with a sound that morphs folk rock into a resonant power pop theatricality, Los Angeles siblings Barbara and Ethan Gruska command both ear and the car window. They conjure archetypal image of driving down an endless highway on the West coast, hair blowing in the wind, sunglasses reflecting clear skies. The Belle Brigade speaks to generations that revere Simon and Garfunkel and generations that embrace the philosophy of The Fleet Foxes. Songs to check out (in your car, obviously): “Fasten You to Me” and “Losers.”

The Belle Brigade: Saturday 1:15-2:00pm on the Honda Stage

The recent wildfires around the Austin area have devastated the land, the communities, and the lives of many. Tomorrows East 6th Street benefit is one of many ways to help out with rebuilding these lives and communities, and is an easy one. Just visit your local haunts on East 6th and your money spent will go to a great cause.

The ‘East 6th Street Bastrop
Wildfire Relief Benefit’ is being promoted in a very general way so
that we can all come together as a business community, yet each
participate in whatever way we feel comfortable. The idea is simply
to let as many people as possible know that whatever business they
choose to go on Wednesday September 14th, they will be
able to contribute to the relief fund.

Participating businesses include: Cheer
Up Charlies, Shangri-La, Birds Barbershop, Fast Folks, Violet Crown,
East Side Kings, Way South Philly, East Side Show Room, Sputnik, Papi
Tino’s, Rio Rita, The Brixton, Volstead, Nuevo Leon, The Eastern,
Trailer Perk, Regal Ravioli, Liberty, Grackle, Graze, La Pearla,
Gypsy Lounge, Miso Hungry, and Bijou Tattoo. An awesome list!

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Phosphorescent, the moniker under which Matthew Houck records these days, should receive a warm response from fans at this year’s ACL Fest. Making friends with Texas legend Willie Nelson certainly doesn’t hurt, especially when you’ve penned a tribute album for said legend. Titling your latest album Here’s To Taking It Easy bodes well with the mentality of Austinites as well.

Having to work within the confines of a 45 min set is the only drawback that I can find about this pending performance as Phosphorescent are definitely capable of putting together a performance that feels like a never ending party in your backyard with your closest friends. Don’t be surprised if you catch me singing the words to “Mermaid Parade” with cold beer in hand and a huge smile on my face..

Phosphorescent: Saturday 2-2:45 on the AustinVentures Stage

The National playing live in Austin..YES! Playing at the Austin Music Hall…BOOOOOOOO! Once written up in a magazine article during SXSW a few years ago as “the place where good music goes to die”, the Austin Music Hall is one of my least favorite venues in town. You would think that spending the millions that they did on the remodel, something decent would have resulted, but not the case. Either way, its the National and they are bringing indie darlings Local Natives along for the ride.

Dec 4th is the date and tickets will be selling HERE.

If you haven’t bought into the idea that the sounds of the 80′s New Wave have permeated much of today’s modern music, then Twin Shadow will surely change that. It’s a good thing though.

Operating under the Twin Shadow name, George Lewis Jr. weaves hazy electronic tinged pop tethered to R&B rhythms, that feels at home in the current music climate and would coexist nicely in the 80′s pop scene. Twin Shadow’s most recent released full length titled Forget, produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor set legal last Oct, but is still garnering attention.

Twin Shadow is currently smack dab in the middle of it’s Clean Cuts Tour which features a clean cut for each city on the tour, except Austin…boo.

Twin Shadow: Saturday @ 1 p.m. on the Google + Stage

TWIN SHADOW “SHOOTING HOLES” from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Beardyman mixes ironic themes with dance and dubstep, serving a rich and informed experiment. Oh yeah, and the music is all beatboxing, electronically distorted via trending “live-looping” – sound manipulation applied to the mouth better than auto-tune, if you ask me. This guy will bring something original to the BMI stage; worth a listen. Songs to check out: “Where does your mind go?” and “U R Mine.”

Beardyman: Friday 4:30-5:30 on the BMI Stage

Shortly after landing himself on the Matador Records label, Kurt Vile began to generate a slow buzz in the music community, capturing the attention of Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon along the way. Gordon mentioned in an interview that Vile’s Childish Prodigy had become a guilty pleasure for her, guilty because she listened to it too much. Vile has followed up the 2009 Childish Prodigy release with this year’s Smoke Ring For My Halo, which continues and builds on Vile’s style of music ranging from soft acoustic driven songs to tracks that are capable of bringing the noisy Crazy Horse crunch. Tours with Thurston Moore, Dinosaur Jr, and Bright Eyes indicate that Vile and company put on a show worthy of complimenting some of the best in the industry.

Kurt Vile and the Violators play the Austin Ventures Stage @ 5 p.m. Friday

Is that a glockenspiel, you ask? Yes, a well-placed glockenspiel surrounded by glittery guitars, synth-infused beats, and a vocal power duo. Cults’ sound is reminiscent of Shiny Toy Guns, but with a pop flair. Lovers of MGMT and The Animals may enjoy the organ chords plucked straight from the pulpit. Outfitting for ACL will be interesting as well, considering the female vocalist Madeline Follin wears an anemone-like wardrobe made of balloons in the video “Oh My God.” Songs to check out: “Go Outside” and “Abducted.”

Cults : Friday at 11:45am on the Honda Stage

Originally opened as the Independent @ 501 Studios, a conflict with the original Independent venue in San Francisco forced a slight change in the name, and the venue proceeded to operate under the name ND. Three years later the concept of the venue is coming to full fruition. Operator Mike Henry who ran the local hot spot venue in the 90′s, the Electric Lounge, rolled up his sleeves, shut down the venue for a short stint and set to complete the concept of ND. A separate sexy back bar called The North Door has been added, grub from Tamale Molly, and the “live in the studio” style of recording series called ND Sessions. To celebrate the changes Henry and staff have a weekend full of party fun scheduled with a variety of activities starting Thursday Sept 8th. Just check the artwork…

Has it been 5 years already? Time flies when you’re having fun…and we have had plenty of that at Mohawk.

To celebrate these 5 years of bringing some of the best in live music to Austin’s music fans, Mohawk has a 4 day party planned, and it’s gonna be pretty sweet. Here are the deets via Mohawk..

Austin’s Favorite Live Music Venue announced today that it is
celebrating its 5th Birthday with the likes of New York City’s indie
punk veterans Les Savy Fav, the Grammy winning locals Grupo Fantasma,
southern rocker alt country favorites Lucero, a few Special Guests,
and a Free Sunday bill entirely dedicated to local Austin musicians
that have been with the Mohawk since its inception in 2006.

The Anniversary celebration will be a 4 day event, beginning on
September 29th, and will feature live music, food, and custom ‘thank
you gifts’ from the Mohawk. Tickets will be available at Front Gate
tickets for each individual event and discounted 4 day passes will be
available for Mohawk fans and regulars. The preliminary schedule
starts by presenting 3 popular veterans of Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest,
and is as follows:

OUTSIDE STAGE SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 29th
LES SAVY FAV
TBA
+Johnny Hottub

Friday, September 30th
GRUPO FANTASMA
TBA

Saturday, October 1st
LUCERO
TBA

Sunday, September 29th
LOCALS ONLY (FREE)
TBA

A series of shows will be booked for both the outside and inside
stages, along with a different style of DJ for each event (see: Johnny
Hottub). Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early at
http://mohawk.frontgatetickets.com . Expect the bottles to be poppin,
especially the Champaign of Beers.