Denton’s Midlake have been keeping us all at bay for what seems wayyyy toooo long since they dazzled and wooed us with the old world adventures on the 2006 release The Trials of Van Occupanther. The band’s forthcoming release, which is easily one of the most anticipated releases in the already promising music year of 2010, The Courage Of Others is quietly revealing itself. The “Acts of Man”/”Rulers, Ruling All Things” limited edition 12″ is out today, and you can stream both songs over @ The Hype Machine.

Both songs sound amazing as expected, yet not quite as strayed from the The Trials of Van Occupanther as I was expecting.

The band has also released a string of tour dates, which unfortunately doesn’t have an Austin appearance yet listed. I say yet, because if they don’t make an appearance here soon, heads will roll.

Dates after the jump…. Read more

A Place to Bury Strangers

So, the show isn’t happening until March of 2010, but A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Parish is a show that you should mark down on your calender now. The last appearance in town, albeit always enjoyable to see the band, was a bit of bust as a result of having to play inside @ Mohawk because of rain. I’m just now familiarizing myself with the United Kingdom outfit called The Big Pink, but they are stirring the buzz pot here in the states after just completing their first North American tour, and with the Sept 2009 release A Brief History of Love on the 4AD label. You know I love me some 4AD..don’t you?

If you were hoping to catch either band @ SXSW 2010, the chances might be slim with a performance scheduled so close, and the tour ending on the 4/15. Don’t miss the opportunity.

The Big Pink w/A Place to Bury Strangers @ The Parish 4/08/10. Advance tickets on sale 12/12/09 right HERE

MP3> A Place To Bury Strangers ‘In Your Heart’

MP3> The Big Pink ‘Velvet’

And pardon me for just a second, but..HOW in the HELL is this @ 101x show??!!?? They don’t play the cool music but they want to put their grubby hands all over the shows?? Play some A Place To Bury Strangers guys!! And not just on the Next Big Thing.. stop playing the Toadies for crying out loud and get with the program. (for the record, I have nothing against the Toadies, other than the fact that are borderline Classic Rock at this point). Actually I don’t listen to 101x enough to know that they don’t play A Place To Bury Strangers, but I would be willing to bet…..

The Big Pink w/ A Place To Bury Strangers Spring Tour dates Read more

I love the cycle of discovering new music. It seems when I really am craving something new and interesting, it’s a barren desert of a musical landscape I find myself scouring, and when I’m not really paying attention, I get slapped up aside the head with tiny little gems of sweet sounds. One of the most recent sweet sounds I’ve come across is the mostly female outfit Warpaint, based in Los Angeles. The bands originally self released debut EP Exquisite Corpse was re-released on this past October on Manimal Vinyl, and the band has recently signed with Rough Trade Records.

Warpaint and Exquisite Corpse sound a bit darker than what you get from this foursome. It’s delicate echo and reverb drenched pop psychedelia, that at times reminds me of some early Cocteau Twins. Something in the vocal delivery I’m feeling. Song titles like Elephants, Beetles, Stars, and Burgundy are found on this debut EP which I highly recommend.

In a time when the music scene is mostly dominated by Prozac junkie, slag, watered down versions of The Arcade Fire, Warpaint are a welcomed soft glow of feminine comfort.

The band will be hitting the road with Akron Family early 2010 and finds the Parish stage here in Austin Feb 24th. You know who will be there….

MP3> Warpaint ‘Elephants’

The debut recording from the California band Girls titled Album is curious enough in itself with a very lo-fi feel, sometimes a bit psychedelic and sometimes a bit Beach Boys’ish, but the story of band member Christopher Owens is even more interesting. Click on the link found on the band’s myspace page to take you to the “official” website and you land on a pill identification website?

Check out the curiosity for yourself at the Parish here in Austin on January 29th. It’s a ways away, but mark your calendars now, as it might be one of those quiet successes.

Tickets on sale Sat 11/14 @ Frontgate Tickets

MP3> Girls ‘Laura’

Phoenix turned out one of the most favored sets at this year’s ACL Festival and has quickly been taking the indie-rock world by storm. The band has an Austin date scheduled @ La Zona Rosa on Dec 17th along with Hockey, and local breakouts White Denim. This will sell-out fast!!

Tickets on sale Sat @ 10 a.m.

Supergroup? You might say so. A collaboration of some of the more prolific songwriters these days, Monsters Of Folk might be something more than that.

Consisting of Jim James, M. Ward, Mike Mogis, and Connor Oberst, Monsters Of Folk have just released their self-titled release, and of course the tour follows. The tour brings the band to Stubbs on Friday Nov 13th. Surely tickets will go quick for this one, so snatch ‘em up here if you are a fan of folk or monsters.

If I remember correctly, Will Johnson (Centromatic) will be sitting behind the kit on this tour.

MP3> Monsters Of Folk ‘Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)’

photo : valerie@fremin.net

Seattle’s Cave Singers have been a fav of mine since the put out their debut release Invitation Songs a couple of years back. Invitation Songs was a wonderful, simple piece of folk inspired, indie rock songs, stripped down and wonderfully structured. An interesting shift in musical styles for the three members Pete Quirk (Hint Hint), Derek Fudesco (Murder City Devils, Pretty Girls Make Graves), and Marty Lund (Cobra High), that found them embracing and executing a style of music somewhat unfamiliar. Executing well, I might add.

With the band’s second release on Matador Records, Welcome Joy, eset for release 8/18, the trio finds itself in familiar territory, while expanding on their unique style of folk inspired rock. The songs still rely on the simple looping of riffs, building gently on that foundation, yet are subtly textured and have a more developed depth to them. In addition to this step forward in song structure and instrumentation is the addition of vocals provided by Amber Webber (Black Mountain, Lightning Dust) and Ashley Webber (Lightning Dust), adding a whole new feminine element. Welcome Joy is just that..welcomed and joy.

MP3> The Cave Singers ‘Beach House’

The Cave Singers hit the road and will see a stop here in Austin @ the Mohawk, on Sept 26th. I would like to add these guys to my wish list for Fun Fun Fun Fest ’09.

7/24 SPOKANE, WA EMPYREAN COFFEE HOUSE w/Kaylee Cole
7/25 SLOCAN, BC LITTLEFEST
9/05 Vancouver, BC The Biltmore Cabaret
9/07 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot (Festival)
9/12 Chicago, IL Schubas w/Lightning Dust
9/13 Detroit, MI Magic Stick w/Lightning Dust
9/14 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern w/Lightning Dust
9/17 Cambridge, MA T.T. the Bear’s w/Lightning Dust
9/19 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/Lightning Dust
9/20 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s w/Lightning Dust
9/21 Washington, DC Black Cat w/Lightning Dust
9/23 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone Cafe w/Lightning Dust
9/24 Birmingham, AL Bottletree w/Lightning Dust
9/26 Austin, TX The Mohawk w/Lightning Dust
9/29 Phoenix, AZ Modified w/Lightning Dust
9/30 Las Vegas, NV Beauty Bar (Las Vegas) w/Lightning Dust
10/01 Los Angeles, CA The Echo w/Lightning Dust
10/02 San Diego, CA Casbah w/Lightning Dust
10/06 San Francisco, CA The Independent w/Lightning Dust
10/16 PORTLAND, OR Mississippi Studios
10/17 Seattle, WA Neumos

Last time Scottish band Frightened Rabbit were in Austin was Fun Fun Fun Fest “08, and for this lad, it’s been way too long. The live show is always great and the folk inspired tales of life, love, and the naked truth involved, wrapped in catchy rock tunes demand regular listens from myself.  And hopefully you as well.

The Rabbit is teaming up with fellow Scots Twilight Sad for an American tour, with a stop at this year’s Pitchfork Festival.

9/24 @ the oh so popular Mohawk is where you’ll find me soaking in the sounds of Frightened Rabbit.

MP3> Frightened Rabbit ‘Old Old Fashioned’

Tour:

The reunion has been leaked on Idolator, and now Austin 360.com has confirmed an Austin date for the reunited Sunny Day Real Estate and the pending tour. The tour starts on Sept 17th just 2 days after Sub Pop reissues the bands second release Diary on both vinyl and cd. Oct 7 sees the band stepping on the La Zona Rosa stage here in Austin, Tx. Sweeet!

MP3> Sunny Day Real Estate ‘The Ocean’

Sunny Day Real Estate Fall 2009 US Tour

September 17th – Vancouver, BC/Commodore Ballroom
September 18th – Portland/Crystal Ballroom (Musicfest NW)
September 20th – Salt Lake City/Murray Theater
September 21st – Denver/Ogden Theater
September 23rd – Minneapolis/First Avenue
September 24th – Chicago/Metro
September 25th – Detroit/St Andrews Hall
September 27th – New York/Terminal 5
September 28th – Boston/House of Blues
September 30th – Washington DC/930 Club
October 1st – Philadelphia/Trocadero
October 3rd – Atlanta/CW Center Stage
October 5th – Dallas/Granada Theater
October 6th – Houston/Warehouse Live
October 7th – Austin/La Zona Rosa
October 9th – Tempe/Marquee Theatre
October 10th – Anaheim/House of Blues
October 11th – Los Angeles/Henry Fonda Theater
October 13th – San Francisco/Fillmore
October 15th – Spokane/Knitting Factory
October 16th – Seattle/Paramount Theatre

One of the hottest tickets of this concert year, could belong to the darlings of the blogs, Grizzly Bear who are plodding along in full stride, fresh on the heels of their sophomore release Veckatimest. The album that has been ringing “Album of The Year” all across the interweb as well as on the lips of music hipsters and music geeks months before it’s official release.  This show at The Parish this coming Tuesday has followed suit, selling out months before as well.

For those with tickets in hand, eagerly awaiting what could be the most talked about show of this year and fixated on the Grizzly Bear, there’s a good reason to get there early. Here We Go Magic will be performing opening duties for Grizzly Bear @ The Parish on this Tuesday night, as they have been for quite a few dates on this tour. Here We Go Magic’s debut release is the work of Luke Temple, who shed his singer songwriter identity established with his two previous recordings, to record this shaping of sound and melodies. Recorded mostly on his own, Luke Temple’s moniker has now become a complete band, to bring the recording to life in the live setting. Quick on the tongue of some of the most recognized music press, Here We Go Magic’s debut is determined to establish Temple as a future darling of the indie-rock world.

Both band’s recordings have been occupying plenty of my time lately with combinations of delicate beauty and crafted songwriting stimulating the idea of how the live performance is to take place @ The Parish. One of the most suited settings for a show of this virtual magnitude and tender workmanship. If you are seeking those desired tickets, I would suggest that you reserve your efforts to engaging both bands at this years ACL Festival. Unless you know the door guy pretty well..or really well.

It will be the night to evaluate the true value of what many of us perpetuate to be the…thing. The current thing.

Watch yourself a little Here We Go Magic “Fangela”

I would be a bit more excited about this news if we hadn’t already been notified of the band’s scheduled performance @ Fun Fun Fun Fest ’09, but it should get the blood going for many of those in the cities listed on this tour. The return of The Jesus Lizard to the stage is sure to be one of the highlights of the year for myself. It’s gonna be mean, nasty, and a hell of a lot of fun. Hopefully David Yow is still got it in him, to pull off the crazed madman performances that he is so well known for delivering.

The band will also reissue their first four albums Head, Goat, Liar, and Down September 22nd on CD and vinyl via Touch and Go.

MP3> The Jesus Lizard ‘Puss’ off of Liar

And now, the Tour Read more

The Brooklyn trio, School of Seven Bells, left just enough of a positive impression on me during SXSW 2009, that I quickly marked Tue 6.2 on the calendar, when the bands scheduled appearance @ Mohawk surfaced. Wafting over the afternoon crowd, the lucid, soothing sounds produced by twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza backed by former Secret Machines guitarist Benjamin Curtis were a welcomed alternative to most else that I had experienced that day.

Black Moth Super Rainbow, which I admittedly know little about, are the headlining act for the evening, but it would be my suggestion that those planning on attending, arrive early enough for School of Seven Bells.

Local band, and recent falling into favor with myself Balmorhea kicks off the evening of music, scheduled to start @ 8 p.m., followed by School of Seven Bells and Black Moth Super Rainbow. Outside Mohawk, is the place to be on Tuesday.

MP3> School of Seven Bells ‘Connjur’

School of Seven Bells – “My Cabal” from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

Tour Dates: Read more

Speaking of Sonic Youth…

I kid, I kid. The comparisons have been made on many occassion, but with the latest release of the Sunshower EP, local trio Ume, have proven that they are carving out their own individual and unique sound that has much of the Austin music scene abuzz. The band has been recently recieved to play Canada’s NXNE and will take the buzz on the road during their trek to rock our friends up north.

After the jump, the tour.

MP3> Ume ‘The Conductor’

Ume 2009 North American Summer Tour Dates: Read more

Post-punk icons, Sonic Youth are still at and haven’t slowed down much since they first hit the scene, quite a few years ago. The band has a new record coming out June 9th, on a new label for them, Matador Records, titled Eternal. What’s gonna be different with the new recording, other than the label? Hopefully not too much, as Sonic Youth are perfectly fine doing what they have been doing for years. Making glorious sonic noise, and doing better than many others that have tried to follow in their footsteps.

Download the first available track and check out two video clips from Later With Jools Holland for 3 songs off of the upcoming release. “What We Know”, “Sacred Trickster”, and “Antenna”.

The band is playing this years ACL Festival, much to my delight, and the tickets are going fast if you haven’t heard. More tour dates after the jump.

MP3> Sonic Youth ‘Sacred Trickster’

Sonic Youth Tour Dates Read more

When listening to the lyrics of Elvis Perkins it’s hard to not assume some connection between the words and the life of the man behind the words. Yet, as easy as it could be a practice in self loathing and pity, the songs of Perkins embody a sense of hope and wellness within his world, and his life.

Elvis Perkins In Dearland brought the solemn, beautiful, passively uplifting talents to the Parish on Monday night, following a much buzzed performance by opening act, Other Lives. Perkins and his band Dearland, as he fondly announced them, drifted through their set precisely, conjuring up hints of Lennon and Dylan at times, while staying firmly grounded in Dearland. Leaning heavily on tracks from the bands self-titled  2009 release, selections including “1, 2, 3 Goodbye”, “Chains, Chains, Chains” and “I Heard Your Voice In Dresden” drew instant acceptance from the audience, while a rousing rendition of “Doomsday” performed with members of Other Lives, closed out the seductive set.

Elvis Perkins In Dearland Tour: Read more