The Grizzly Life - A Music Blog For The Music Capital (And Beyond...)

The Grizzly Life's Guide to a Free SXSW - 2011

2011-03-12T23:43:00.005-06:00

Its that time of year again. I have to get up off my ass and have a whole lot of fun with the rest of you. SXSW is back in Austin for the 25th year but somehow, it never gets easier. This year's lineup is full of amazing talent (too many to name here) but I'v compiled a handy little guide to help you get into all the best free shows (and maybe get some swag, beer, and food while you're at it). It'll probably be updated in the next couple of days as I find more insanity to add to the already outrageously long list, but you'll be the first to know if that happens. In the meantime, click the link to download the guide and start planning for the best week of the year.

The Grizzly Life's Guide to a Free SXSW - 2011

Tonight : Wild Nothing + Abe Vigoda and more @ Red 7

2011-02-04T19:08:00.003-06:00

Tonight is going to be another cold one and you might feel like staying inside where its all warm and cozy but you should get out of the house and come see some great bands. Wild Nothing, Abe Vigoda and more will be playing the inside stage at Red 7 this evening. If you haven't seen / heard these bands before, you should get on it before the doors open at 9:00 p.m. and its too late. You won't want to miss this one. Wild Nothing put out one of my favorite records of the year and they show no signs of slowing down. Hopefully this tour will garner them a lot more support and if you come to tonight's show, you'll see why they deserve it. They won't let you down, and, have I ever steered you wrong?

Photos / Review : Deerhoof @ Mohawk

2011-02-04T10:56:00.003-06:00

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In a world full of stagnant musicians and bedroom projects that never evolve beyond their original inception, there is Deerhoof. With the recent release of the band's 11th studio album, Deerhoof vs. Evil, the group has fully reinforced their status as purveyors of some of the finest, strangest, most fun music out there. They have a way of simultaneously taking no prisoners and being the most lovable band around.

Tuesday's show at Mohawk has to be one of the coldest the band has ever played and certainly one of the coldest the members of the audience had ever been to. The crowd wasn't exactly crowding the stage for the openers, not because of the quality of the music (which was good), but because the cold kept them under the heaters at the back of the space, shivering, smoking cigarettes and clutching cups of whiskey.

By the time Deerhoof took the stage, however, the crowd mobilized and headed for the stage, maintaing a manageable level of body heat from person to person. The band set up quickly and launched into material from Deerhoof vs. Evil to Offend Maggie and Friend Opportunity, mostly. The set was driven by the energy of the crowd and the bite of the cold. The band didn't let up and crowd wouldn't have wanted them to anyway because they were moving and singing along when they could. Drummer Greg Saunier took his usual breaks from playing to joke with the crowd in his own unique way about how the band was excluding him on their side of the stage and he felt left out so he got on the mic to talk to the people and air his grievances. He even traded his helm at the kit with guitarist John Dieterich and played guitar and sang for one song, further staking his place as one of today's most talented musicians. Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez were fully in sync throughout the show and weren't afraid to let the crowd know how much fun they were having. Satomi left the bass behind a few times to join the crowd on the front row and do her signature dances which everyone seemed to enjoy. The synchronization between the four members of the band was the most shining aspect of the show. The loud, fuzzy guitars with the spastic drums and Satomi's bass lines acting as the foundation for which the colossus was built on made some of the richest live sounds I've ever heard.

Tonight : Deerhoof @ Mohawk

2011-02-01T08:31:00.003-06:00

Deerhoof has long been a favorite band of the blog and (we think) for good reason. They're smart, they're funny, they're innovative, and to top it all off, they're great musicians. They blend all of those qualities into quirky songs that make you stand up and take notice and even if you aren't too sure if you like it, you'll probably ask "Who's this?" when you hear them playing and aren't quite sure. They baffle a lot of listeners but for those who understand the band, it makes a lot of sense. You can see all this at work (and at play) this evening at Mohawk when the band takes the stage. Doors open early for this one and the temperatures are supposed to be very low tonight so chances are the venue might change or something else not scheduled but we'll keep you updated if that does happen.

Video : Deerhoof - "Chandelier Searchlight"

Photos : Girl Talk @ Austin Music Hall

2011-01-18T15:31:00.003-06:00

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Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, played to a sold-out crowd on Friday night. All the under-age / way-too-old and fraternity / sorority booty shaking was captured by yours truly.

Tonight : Girl Talk @ Austin Music Hall

2011-01-14T18:24:00.003-06:00

(Grizzly Life file photo)

This show couldn't have come at a better time. All the students are making their way back to Austin for the beginning of the spring semester (which starts on Tuesday). Its cold outside. There's a definite lull in the amount and ferocity of parties in Austin. Its really a prefect storm. Girl Talk will hit the big stage at Austin Music Hall tonight to keep your body warm and your booty moving. Whether you're about to pledge to that frat, want to impress a certain someone with your dance moves, or just looking for something to do on the Friday before the semester begins, this is the place to be. And as long as I hear Willow Smith mixed with something obscure and funky I will be whipping my hair back and forth in delight. See you there. Oh yeah, and its sold out so good luck getting in!

Tonight : No Age @ Red 7 (not Mohawk)

2011-01-11T16:58:00.002-06:00

L.A.'s finest punk-noise-indie band No Age will be hitting Austin tonight and you won't want to miss it. After their amazing 2010 release, "Everything In Between", the band is sure to bring more than you can handle. Each time we've seen them, they've put on an amazing show and it'll be a cold night in our fair city but this show is destined to make you sweat. The show was moved from Mohawk to Red 7 because of the low temps and that should give you even more of a reason to make it out.

Photos : Wolf Parade @ La Zona Rosa

2010-11-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

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Photos : Dr. Dog / Here We Go Magic @ Stubb's

2010-11-13T15:55:00.001-06:00

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Photos : Lower Dens / Future Islands / Sun Airway

2010-11-13T15:42:00.001-06:00

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Photos / Review : Joanna Newsom @ The Paramount Theater

2010-11-13T13:58:00.006-06:00

Few can do what Joanna Newsom did when she took the stage at the historic Paramount Theater on Thursday night. First of all, when you think of Austin and it's ever-happening live music scene, the first thing that comes to mind certainly isn't a seated show with nearly 1,200 people dressed up, watching someone play the harp. But that's what happened at Thursday night's performance and it would be safe to speculate that the same scene has been happening all across the country on Newsom's current tour.

The venue was packed with forty, thirty, twenty, and even teen-somethings, most of whom came to the performance neatly dressed, all awaiting that beautiful voice they knew was coming. Newsom took the stage all by herself for the first song. She was all smiles and giggles as the occasional catcall was hurled her way and she launched into "The Book of Right-On". The song was immediately recognizable and garnered shouts and cheers from the first few plucks of her harp.

At the end of the song, her five piece band took the stage and backed her throughout the rest of the performance, breathing new life into her already anything but stagnant catalog. The set featured new arrangements of the material from her most recent album, Have One On Me.

Almost every song, same as the first, was loudly applauded by a select group of fans before the first words were ever sung. There was a simultaneous fervor and calm that is seldom found at a live performance. The audience was seemingly mesmerized by the performance, Newsom's calming, stirring, piercing voice and the band's arrangements which roused and soothed all at the same time.

The Paramount was the perfect venue for Newsom, who said she had been looking forward to playing in the theater for quite some time and had only seen it in photographs until the day of the performance. At one point, she finally noticed the harp-toting angle painted on the high ceiling and said, "Is that a harp on the ceiling? How about that. It looks like they got my rider." The audience laughed, as they tended to do after she said just about anything in between songs.

The laughter and banter with the crowd was one of the more remarkable aspects of the evening. It was so unexpected that you couldn't help but be drawn in to her effervescent charm. At one point, she asked if anyone had any questions and someone yelled out, "Tell us about your beautiful harp!", to which she responded by first telling the audience the harp was actually a rental but then quickly listed off the specific model number and features of the harp and ending by fully endorsing that particular line of harps. She did it all in a very self-aware, matter of fact sort of way that had everyone smiling.

The act came to a close with the typical announcement of "one more song" but everyone had to have known she would be back. She and the band received a standing ovation after "Peach, Plum, Pear" and returned to the stage to play the heart-droppingly gorgeous "Baby Birch". Someone shouted out "Seven more!" and she quickly quipped, "Did you bring your pyjamas?". The request would not be met, but the show closed with a solo performance of "Sawdust & Diamonds", another standing ovation and the lifting of the lights.

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Setlist

1. The Book of Right-On

2. Have One On Me

3. Easy

4. Cosmia

5. Soft As Chalk

6. In California

7. Inflammatory Writ

8. Go Long

9. Good Intentions Paving Company

10. Monkey & Bear

11. Peach, Plum, Pear

------------------------

12. Baby Birch

13. Sawdust & Diamonds

Thursday : Joanna Newsom Plays Paramount Theater

2010-11-10T07:59:00.004-06:00

(photo by Annabel Mehran)

2010 found Joanna Newsom with an amazing, expansive new album, Have One on Me, and a new vocal style. Apparently, Newsom had some sort of nodules built up on her vocals chords that left her unable to speak or sing for quite some time and the new vocal style we hear on Have One on Me is a result. Thank God she didn't stop singing and playing music because the new album, spanning 3 CDs and 3 discs on vinyl, is one of the year's best. He voice is as clear as a bell and more listenable for some. Her songs are winding and a well-rounded experience in both their composition and their subject matter.

Newsom will take the stage at Paramount Theater on Thursday, November 11. She is full of smiles on stage and what better way can you think of to spend a Thursday night than with that beautiful voice and that beautiful harp playing? Tickets are still available and are relatively cheap for a show at the beautiful Paramount.

Photos : Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Sunday

2010-11-09T14:28:00.000-06:00

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Photos : Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Saturday

2010-11-09T14:27:00.000-06:00

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Photos : Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Friday

2010-11-06T10:53:00.003-05:00

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The first expansion of Fun Fun Fun Fest into a 3 day (2 1/2 really) festival seemed to be a success. There were more people out there than I ever really anticipated but the crowd for Weird Al was especially surprising. He had the crowd laughing and singing along as some fans waited more than an hour for their spots on the front row. He came out with a medley, prominently featuring his take on Lady Gaga with "Polka Face" and cruised through other hits like Justin Beiber and Katy Perry. He played some of his own material, smashed a guitar, dressed like Kurt Cobain and Yoda and projected videos from his expansive career. Chris Hardwick got the crowd ready and Apples in Stereo had them dancing and singing along early on.

2010-11-06T09:30:00.002-05:00

Here's our custom schedule for Saturday and Sunday of Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010. I'd like to think this is the best of the best but you may have other opinions. The full schedule is available here.

Our top 5 picks for today would have to be The Antlers, Delorean, Dirty Projectors, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, and Man Man but if they are on our schedule they are probably worth checking out. See you out there!

Fun Fun Fun Fest is This Weekend!

2010-11-05T12:43:00.003-05:00

Austin's smaller but much more fun music festival, Fun Fun Fun Fest, is happening this weekend and we will have coverage for you from all three days. The festival has expanded to 2 1/2 days this year, kicking off tonight with a headlining set by Weird Al Yankovic, and full days on Saturday and Sunday. There are also a ton of awesome after parties that are either free or deeply discounted with festival wristbands and we will let you know all about it throughout the weekend so keep checking back!

Photos : Jónsi / Mountain Man @ Austin Music Hall

2010-10-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

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Tonight : Jónsi and Mountain Man

2010-10-26T09:26:00.004-05:00

One of the bigger tours rolling through town this fall is Jónsi's "Go" Tour and it is happening tonight. He will be bringing Mountain Man along to open up the show so get ready for a mix of theatrics and mellow music that should make for an excellent night out. The show starts early, with doors opening at 7 pm and the show at 8 pm at Austin Music Hall.

Jonsi and Mountain Man were scheduled to play a free, acoustic in-store performance at End of an Ear before the show to provide fans with a more intimate setting to get closer to the Sigur Rós frontman, but the in-store performances have been cancelled after the first date in Los Angeles. According to his press team, the performance was very uncomfortable for Jónsi and they are essentially taking all the blame. All of the main shows are still on, as scheduled, so make it out for a special evening.

Photos : Caribou / Arp @ La Zona Rosa

2010-10-15T15:51:00.001-05:00

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Enjoy the photos for now. A write-up will be coming very soon.

Photos : Blitzen Trapper / The Fruit Bats / Pearly Gate Music @ La Zona Rosa

2010-10-15T15:47:00.003-05:00

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Thursday : Caribou and Arp @ La Zona Rosa

2010-10-13T20:04:00.003-05:00

Caribou and Arp will be in town tomorrow night, Thursday October 14, at La Zona Rosa. The show is likely to sell out due in large part to Swim, the most recent Caribou album. Dan Snaith created his best album to date with club-inspired songs that transcend decades of what's already been made in the genre. Their live performance is always something to marvel at with dueling drummers and a whole lot more going on over the course of one set. Arp will be opening the show and their ambient, psychedelic tunes are sure to set the right tone for Caribou. It will be easy to get lost in Arp's sonic waves so show up early and treat yourself. Austin in lucky to get such a great show and you'd be a fool to miss it.

Video : Caribou - "Sun"

Wednesday : Blitzen Trapper and The Fruit Bats @ La Zona Rosa

2010-10-12T23:49:00.005-05:00

La Zona Rosa will be playing host to a few great shows this week and the first of those features Blitzen Trapper and The Fruit Bats. You'd be a fool to miss either band play and they will both be sharing the stage this Wednesday evening, October 13. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. and tickets will be $16.

Video: Blitzen Trapper - "The Tree"

Photos : Zola Jesus @ End of an Ear

2010-10-10T23:01:00.001-05:00

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The Grizzly Life's Custom Picks for Sunday - ACL 2010

2010-10-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday's schedule for ACL might be the best day of the festival. Its definitely hard to pick one out of the three, but the lineup for Sunday is superb. Starting things off with Warpaint, then Ted Leo and the Pharmacists or Foals, depending on your preference for punk or Brit-pop, respectively. The Morning Benders vs. Gayngs is a tough choice, but both are pretty easy going. The Morning Benders have a bit more energy but Gayngs will definitely pull people in thanks to the Bon Iver connection. Yeasayer vs. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is yet another tough choice. If you want the cultish, crowd-pleasing performance you'll get with Edward Sharpe, go that route. If you want something a bit more electronic and on the weirder side, Yeasayer is the one for you. The Flaming Lips vs. Band of Horses should be an easy choice if you've seen one band and not the other. If you've seen The Flaming Lips, you've seen about all there is to see with one of their shows. If you're a huge fan, you'll be there anyway, but if you're luke-warm, go see Band of Horses if only for the harmonies and mellow vibes. One of the biggest pulls for Sunday should be The National. Their most recent album, High Violet, is at the top of this year's releases and their performance is sure to be commanding. They are justified in having such a high bill and they are sure to keep you enamored.

Saturday's ACL After-Shows

2010-10-08T20:03:00.004-05:00

ACL brings so many bands to town that the festival cannot contain them all on the grounds of Zilker Park. The festival is completely sold-out, but that doesn't mean that you have to miss out on seeing the bigger bands on smaller stages after the gates of the park close. Here's a rundown of tomorrow's non-festival festivities:

Zola Jesus in-store @ End of an Ear - 2 p.m.
Lance Hahn memorial show with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Zola Jesus, How I Quit Crack, and more @ Red 7
School of Seven Bells and more @ Mohawk
Sonic Youth / Warpaint @ La Zona Rosa - SOLD OUT
Girls / The Soft Pack @ Antone's
Gayngs / Bear In Heaven @ Emo's (outside)
The Black Keys / Foals @ Stubb's

Each and every one of these shows is worthy of your time and hard-earned money, so if you've got the energy, you should definitely get off the couch and make it out to one of these!

The Grizzly Life's Custom Picks for Saturday - ACL 2010

2010-10-08T19:37:00.003-05:00

Saturday's line up is marred with schedule conflicts, but with a little clever planning, you can make the best of it. Starting the day with Austin's Balmorhea is an easy choice. The band puts on a great show and I feel like they should have a higher billing. If you can't make a decision between First Aid Kit and The Very Best, my suggestion would be to camp out for Bear in Heaven. The band's latest album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, will be on our best of 2010 list and their performance has to be worth waiting for.

Mayer Hawthorne and The Black Lips play at the same time and if you like something a bit easier to listen to, Mayer Hawthorne is the place for you. The Black Lips will definitely put on a crowd pleasing, probably weird show, so if that's your thing, get out to the stage and enjoy their performance.

Local Natives and The xx are must-see bands on our list. Local Natives put on a great show and are sure to get the crowd on their side in no time. The crowd will more than likely not be familiar with their material but when the gates close on Saturday night, most who catch their performance will head home and download Gorilla Manor, the band's debut LP. While The xx are more than likely not best seen in a huge festival setting, they seldom play shows in these parts, so check them out while you can.

Monsters of Folk take the stage during The xx's performance, but their two hour set time will give you plenty of time to see a bit of both. If folk isn't really your thing, LCD Soundsystem might do the trick and they'd be a great band to end the day with. If you still haven't gotten your fill, the choice between the lesser of two... lesser acts, would be M.I.A. Muse is a high-flying, big budget act with soaring, epic songs. M.I.A. has been on a bit of a down-slope since her huge radio success with "Paper Planes" and I wouldn't be surprised if she chose to avoid the song altogether. Still, I'd be more interested to see her performance.

The Grizzly Life's Custom Picks for Friday - ACL 2010

2010-10-07T23:25:00.003-05:00

Friday was probably the easiest day to pick a schedule that is practical and not full of conflicting set times. Starting the day off with The Soft Pack and The Mountain Goats is a no-brainer. If you have to skip The Soft Pack to get a good spot for The Mountain Goats, do it. The band is incredible in a live setting and it should be interesting to see them on a huge stage.

The battle between Miike Snow and Girls is a tough one but I would say that you should go with whichever is more important to you. Miike Snow have great songs and would probably translate really well in the festival setting. Girls make for a more intimate performance but they have some crowd-pleasers in their catalogue that will probably appeal to everyone, even the Greek life kids out there.

The rest of the day is smooth sailing. From The Black Keys to Beach House to Spoon to Sonic Youth to The Strokes, you can't really go wrong. My only question is, why are The Strokes at a higher bill than Sonic Youth? Vampire Weekend is also playing at the same time but if that is a tough decision for you, you're probably better off at Vampire Weekend. The contest isn't a real one though.

ACL IS HERE!

2010-10-07T23:18:00.002-05:00

Everyone's favorite local, big-time, (not quite) summer music festival, Austin City Limits, is rolling into town tomorrow and all the out-of-towners and locals alike will be able to bask in the fantastic weather and good music that has been provided for all of us this year. Honestly, I cannot remember a time when the weather was this good for ACL. Anyone who's going should count their lucky stars, as the whole thing is completely sold-out at this point. The line-up is heavy on the lesser-known acts and we will be highlighting our picks for each day over the course of the festival. We will also be informing you of the after-shows you can hit up if you want a more intimate setting, didn't get to see the band thanks to a lame scheduling conflict or just didn't get tickets to the festival. Stay tuned!

Photos: The Drums / Young Friends @ The ND

2010-09-30T11:30:00.000-05:00

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Photos : Efterklang / Bower Birds / Buke & Gass @ Mohawk

2010-09-30T11:23:00.001-05:00

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Photos / Review : Titus Andronicus @ Emo's

2010-09-05T23:50:00.003-05:00

New Jersey's Titus Andronicus brought their literary, historically-minded, energetic live show to a raucous Wednesday night crowd at Emo's. While the venue wasn't jam-packed, the majority of the audience was either singing along with lines like "You will always be a loser" and "I need a whiskey", or dancing in the pit during the majority of the band's performance. Their most recent release, The Monitor, has garnered its fair share of positive reviews but the set was split between the band's most recent material and songs from their 2008 debut LP The Airing of Grievances. The sing-alongs came on songs from both albums and it's interesting to experience that level of fandom from a band that has flown under the radar until just recently.

Singer and guitarist Patrick Stickles was drenched in sweat from head to toe by the middle of the band's set and showed no signs of slowing down even in the waning songs of the performance, which stretched into the 1 a.m. hour. The band as a unit was tight and ever-consistent, never missing a beat and still finding space to interact with the crowd. Some bands produce carbon copies of their studio material when they take the stage but not Titus Andronicus. They give their material a fresh once-over and add a bit more raw power to the songs and Wednesday night's crowd at Emo's rewarded them for it.

Photos by Trent Lesikar.

(It's been a while since I've done a review and photos from a show (or anything else here for that matter) but the Titus Andronicus show was really worthy of some words.)

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Photos : A.A. Bondy / JBM @ The ND

2010-08-16T11:00:00.001-05:00

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New Former Ghosts : "Chin Up" from forthcoming album New Love

2010-07-28T17:07:00.004-05:00

Former Ghosts is an aggregate of talent, featuring Freddy Ruppert, Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu and Nika Roza Danilova of Zola Jesus. Their 2009 album Fleurs was my favorite of the year and they are set to release their new album, New Love, on October 4. You can now hear one of the tracks, "Chin Up", check out the album art and track list. Get excited!

1. The Days Will Get Long Again

2. Winter's Year

3. New Orleans

4. Until You Are Alone Again

5. Chin Up

6. And When You Kiss Me

7. Taurean Nature

8. Trust

9. Right Here

10. I Am Not What You Want

11. Only In Time

12. Bare Bones

13. New Love

Photos : The New Pornographers / The Dodos / Imaad Wasif @ Stubb's

2010-07-25T10:38:00.001-05:00

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Photos : Phosphorescent @ The Independent

2010-07-23T15:23:00.003-05:00

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Tonight : Phosphorescent @ The Independent

2010-07-22T11:56:00.003-05:00

Phosphorescent had their gear and their van stolen at the beginning of this tour but it has all been recovered and the band is back in Austin tonight. The band will be bringing their folky, left-field brand of country to The Independent. Doors are at 9 and Shiny Around the Edges start things off at 10.

Jamie Stewart and Jonathan Meiburg's Blue Water White Death self-titled album out October 12

2010-07-21T17:07:00.005-05:00

Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater and producer John Congleton were in Dallas earlier this year working on their newest project, Blue Water White Death and more details have finally surfaced. The band will be releasing their self-titled album on October 12 and the track list (below) and album art (above) have surfaced. Get ready!

1. This Is the Scrunchyface of My Dreams

2. Song for the Greater Jihad

3. Grunt Tube

4. Nerd Future

5. The End of Sex

6. Death For Christmas

7. Gall

8. Rendering the Juggalos

Photos : Lightning Bolt @ Mohawk

2010-07-12T22:57:00.000-05:00

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Saturday : Lightning Bolt @ Mohawk

2010-07-10T16:09:00.004-05:00

Austin will host one of the most intense shows you will probably ever see. Lightning Bolt hasn't been to town in over 3 years and we are all long overdue for a dose of their insanity. The show will only cost you $10 at the door ($8 in advance) and you are likely to leave feeling like a million bucks (or you might end with a sore neck and ringing ears). Either way, a good time will be had by all. Let's just pray that it doesn't rain. Pictures should be posted here on Sunday or Monday. Stay tuned.

This Week on The Bear Cave...

2010-06-30T22:50:00.001-05:00

I will be playing a selection of some of my favorite love and anti-love songs on The Bear Cave this week. Tune and and "get your heart throb on".

Photos : Passion Pit / Tokyo Police Club @ Stubb's

2010-06-21T01:06:00.003-05:00

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Photos from Passion Pit / Tokyo Police Club's second of two Austin dates in their two-night jaunt at Stubb's. Review coming soon, but enjoy the photos!

Saturday : A Few Good Shows

2010-06-19T09:55:00.003-05:00

Tonight's biggest billed show is sold-out so your chances of getting a ticket after-the-fact are slim to none if you don't have a 50 dollar bill to give some young entrepreneur on Craigslist. This show, of course, if the second night of the Passion Pit / Tokyo Police Club jaunt at Stubb's. We will be covering the heck out of the show, so stay tuned for some photographs and maybe even a write-up.

Another big one is Daniel Johnston's only Austin date for the whole year over at Mohawk. It's (surprisingly) not sold-out at the moment of writing this, and tickets will be a measly $15 at the door. There are a handful of other bands on the bill so head out early and check them out if you plan on going.

If we weren't covering Passion Pit this evening, we would definitely be covering this next show. Tiny Vipers put out one of the best albums of 2009 and Jesy Fortino's live show is absolutely entrancing. She will be playing at The Parish with Sleepover and Lost River/Old River.

The Grizzly Life on the Radio - KVRX 91.7

2010-06-08T23:21:00.002-05:00

Do you ever get tired of reading? Do you just want to listen to The Grizzly Life? Well, now you can. I now have a radio show at KVRX 91.7 FM here in Austin from 5-7 am on Thursday mornings so if you're ever up that early/late, tune in and find out what I'm digging these days. The blog has been on hiatus for a while because life has been too crazy, but I hope to bring it back in full force sometime soon. If you aren't near Austin or a radio, you can stream the show online at KVRX.org. Feel free to call in and hassle me. (Please note that I will never be plugging the site on the show, just the other way around)

Hear Two New Arcade Fire Songs Now

2010-05-26T15:59:00.006-05:00

Arcade Fire sure do take their time making records but the time has finally come for you to get a listen to some of their new material. The two songs, "The Suburbs" and "Month of May", come from a white-label double A-side record. No word on when it will be out, but you can stream the two new songs right this second. Head over to blog for radio station 107.7 to stream both of the songs.

Edit: Here's another link, this time from One Thirty BPM, just in case the other is down.

Sleigh Bells' 'Treats' Out Today, Stream Online Now!

2010-05-11T09:41:00.003-05:00

Sleigh Bells have been making music for just a short time now but have already captivated huge audiences at SXSW, CMJ, Coachella and other music festivals. Their new album "Treats" is out today and you can stream the entire thing on NPR right now. It hits pretty hard and is worth listening to a few times before you make a complete judgement call so set aside half an hour and give it a go. Mine: "Treats" will show up on a ton of year-end lists (maybe ours) and you'll be hearing a lot from this duo.

Video: Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring"

So Many Shows This Friday Night!

2010-04-30T19:34:00.004-05:00

If you can't find something to do tonight, you might just want to move to a different city because I don't think Austin is the place for you. There's a lot going on, so here's a rundown of the highlights:

First up: KVRX presents Lights Out! @ Seaholm Power Plant with Best Fwends, Chest Pain, Ringo Deathstarr and some comedians. The show runs from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. and will cost you $10. I'm pretty sure this one is taking place inside the power plant which will offer a more interesting venue than the outside of the plant like we've seen before. It should be fun and one you will be talking about for a while now.

Next: Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) w/ Snowblink @ Mohawk outside. Owen Pallett's newest album (and first under his actual name), "Heartland", has been getting lot of attention for good reason. His live show is one that will keep you staring and leave you wanting more when it's all over.

Next: Mono w/ Balmorhea @ Emo's outside. If you'd like to take in two great bands on one stage, this one is for you. You will probably end up running the emotional gamut so you might want to have someone there to comfort you. It should be a good night though.

If none of those options suit you, Dosh will be playing inside at Emo's and Cowabunga Babes will be at Beerland. Please enjoy the night.

Photos : Local Natives @ Waterloo Records & @ Antone's w/ Suckers

2010-04-26T13:12:00.001-05:00

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Photos : Beach House / Washed Out @ Emo's

2010-04-24T11:54:00.002-05:00

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Caribou's 'Swim' Out Today / Set Austin Date for May 16 @ Emo's

2010-04-20T09:39:00.004-05:00

One of our favorite records of the year hits store shelves today and you should go out and buy a copy or two for yourselves. Caribou has been an intriguing band from the beginning and "Swim" takes the band to new creative heights. The record finds Dan Snaith doing some heavy meditation on dance tracks that meld perfectly with Caribou's brand of accessible, "out-there" indie. Here's what Snaith had to say about the record:

"So much of contemporary music is soaked in referencing this or that. I wanted people to put the record on and not be able to say, 'This sounds like so-and-so.' I want people to say, 'This sounds like Dan!'"

If "Swim" is really what Snaith sounds like, I hope he stays true to himself and puts out more records in the future in this same vein. The record is out on Merge today and if you order it on iTunes, it will come with a bonus track, "Odessa (Junior Boys remix)".

Oh and hey! The band will be playing in Austin on May 16 with Toro y Moi at Emo's. The venue has been moving a lot of shows due to early ticket sell-outs, so you might want to get yours now!

Saturday is Record Store Day!

2010-04-16T23:21:00.006-05:00

Austin is full of record stores and you are the lucky one who gets to peruse them all tomorrow on Record Store Day (and if you aren't in Austin, I'm sure you're near at least one great independent record store!). There will be a ton of special releases in honor of the day and Austin's record stores are always chock-full of great used records. Here's a run-down of the exclusive RSD releases, many of which are highly limited (this list isn't exhaustive, but you can check out the full deal here):

Against Me! - 2 song 7" - 2,500 copies
Album Leaf - There Is a Wind 12" - 1,000 copies
Beach House - Zebra 12" - 1,500 copies
Beastie Boys - "super surprise" white label 12" - 1,000 copies
Black Keys - 2 new songs 12" - 50,000 copies
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us - extremely ltd. foil double LP
Bon Iver/Peter Gabriel - both artists cover each other on a 7" - 2,000 copies
Built to Spill - 7" single of new tracks - 2,500 copies
Deerhoof - Apple O' and Green Cosmos - released on colored vinyl for RSD
Dum Dum Girls/Male Bonding - 2 new tracks from each artist 7" - 1,000 copies
Flaming Lips and Stardeath and White Dwarfs - covering Pink Floyd's dark side of the moon - sea-foam green 12" - 5,000 copies
Fucked Up - Daytrotter Sessions 7" - 1,700 copies
Great Lake Swimmers - acoustic live version of Lost Channels album on CD
Japandroids - Post Nothings LP on 180 gram vinyl - 300 copies
Joy Division - 4 LP 180 gram box set - 820 copies
LCD Soundsystem - Pow Pow one-sided 12"
Mountain Goats - Life of the World To Come - 50 min. live film + 45 min. Q&A - 2,000 copies
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone - on clear vinyl - 2,000 copies
Of Montreal - 7" w/ one cover and one new song - 1,000 copies
Surfer Blood/Holiday Shores - split 7"

Please get out and support one of the many independent record stores that call Austin home. They are staffed by the nicest people on the planet and you can pick yourself up a nice piece of limited wax, something used you thought you'd never see again, or a record you've been meaning to get for a while now. Most of all, have fun out there and support the locals!

Tonight : Casiotone for the Painfully Alone / Magical Beautiful @ Emo's (inside)

2010-04-16T16:58:00.004-05:00

Tonight, if you can muster up the nerve to get out of the house on such a not-so-beautiful evening, you can tap those toes and dance your little butt off to the sometimes sad / sometimes happy / all the time fantastic sounds of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at Emo's on the inside stage. It might not always work out for the characters in Owen Ashworth's songs, but it should work out for you tonight if you choose to attend the show. It's been a while since we've covered a show on the intimate stage at Emo's and we've never seen CFTPA so tonight should be fun. Magical Beautiful will be opening (I presume) and will also take the place of Ashworth's backing band, so this show should be extra-special.

Photos : Here We Go Magic / White Rabbits @ The Independent

2010-04-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

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Tonight : White Rabbits and Here We Go Magic @ The Independent

2010-04-14T12:56:00.004-05:00

Talk about a double-bill! Tonight's show at The Independent features two great bands, White Rabbits and Here We Go Magic. If you aren't in tune with either of them, it's about time. If you are, you know what you'll be missing if you decide to skip out on this show. Doors open at 9:00 p.m. and tickets are $13-15. The entrance to the club can be a bit difficult to find, from my understanding, but it is located near 5th and Brushy, so don't get lost!

Video : White Rabbits - "Percussion Gun"

Video : Here We Go Magic - "Fangela"

Super Late - Photos : SXSW Day 3 - Friday

2010-04-14T12:50:00.002-05:00

Life is crazy right now and as you can tell, I'm a bit behind with the SXSW stuff, but please feel free to enjoy the shots from Friday. The set features Local Natives, Free Energy, Surfer Blood, Washed Out w/ Small Black, Zola Jesus, and Andrew WK.

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Hey Austin! It's a Big Weekend!

2010-04-10T17:43:00.004-05:00

There's so much going on this weekend that it will be a shame if you don't get yourself out to one of these shows:

Saturday:

Yeasayer / Javelin @ La Zona Rosa ($15-17)

Girl Talk / White Denim @ UT (Free / 7 p.m.)

Vampire Weekend / Abe Vigoda @ Stubb's (SOLD OUT)

Citay / The Tunnels / Salesman @ Mohawk

Elton John @ The Erwin Center

Sunday:

Yeasayer / Javelin @ La Zona Rosa ($15-17)

Harlem @ Waterloo Records (free / 5 p.m.)

The Octopus Project @ The Highball

Adult Swim Block Party w/ Fiery Furnaces and more @ Emo's (outside / free)

New Xiu Xiu Video : "This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)"

2010-04-08T13:15:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest Xiu Xiu video. It's for the song "This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)", which is about the relationship woes we have all experienced and can all understand and the video features some 8-bit cartoon madness that none of us can understand (fully). It's awesome and worth a watch and a listen.

Video : Xiu Xiu - "This Too Shall Pass Away (For Freddy)"

Photos : King Khan & The Shrines / The Fresh & Onlys / The Strange Boys @ Emo's

2010-04-08T10:15:00.002-05:00

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Tonight : King Khan & The Shrines / The Fresh & Onlys / The Strange Boys @ Emo's

2010-04-05T16:48:00.003-05:00

Austin gets a killer show in the form of King Khan & The Shrines, The Fresh & Onlys, and The Strange Boys at Emo's on the outside stage. All three bands are fantastic in their own rights and put together, this show is bound to be a winner. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $17, but it will be worth it. Trust us. We caught King Khan & The Shrines a couple of times last SXSW and their live show was one of the highlights of the whole week. They played each show like it was their last and had a lot of fun doing it. Those old-school vibes, cheerleaders, the suggestive dancing, and the full band will make it worth your while. The Fresh & Onlys were also one of our favorite bands from this year's SXSW and they deserve your attention as well. See you there!

Video : King Khan & The Shrines - "Land of the Freak"

Video : The Fresh & Onlys - "Vanishing Cream"

Tonight : Red Sparowes @ Red 7

2010-04-02T19:24:00.001-05:00

Tonight! Doors are at nine, so show up early and enjoy the night.

Photos : SXSW Day 2 - Thursday

2010-03-30T12:51:00.003-05:00

Thursday was an intense day for us and we managed to catch a lot of great bands including The xx, Dum Dum Girls, Yellow Fever, Real Estate, The Antlers, and Califone at the Lawn Party at the French Legation Museum and Woods at the Cole Street House, followed by Thee Oh Sees on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge.

Photos : SXSW Day 2 - Thursday

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Photos : SXSW 2010 Day 1 - Wednesday

2010-03-30T12:41:00.002-05:00

I'm still recovering from SXSW this year, but here's the first of our wrap-up posts featuring a ton of photos from The Brooklyn Vegan day party at Emo's with Fucked Up (w/ members of Wu Tang), Japandroids, The Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, The Morning Benders, and The Rural Alberta Advantage. We also caught the Hozac Records party at Trailer Space Records with Woven Bones and Girls At Dawn and then managed to see These Are Powers at Cheer Up Charlie's.

Photos : SXSW Day 1 - Wednesday

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Early Arrival : These Are Powers @ Cheer Up Charlies

2010-03-19T17:54:00.001-05:00

Here's a photo of These Are Powers playing at Cheer Up Charlies (aka Ms. Bea's). If you get a chance to see this band, take it. They are amazing.

Early Arrival : Thee Oh Sees @ The Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

2010-03-19T10:41:00.003-05:00

According to some big blog, this show wasn't happening, but it looks like it did. And it was so much fun. Thanks to all the people who held their ground behind me so I could take photos. I love you.

Early Arrival : The xx @ French Legation Museum

2010-03-19T00:17:00.002-05:00

The xx playing at the French Legation Museum for the Lawn Party. More to come later.

Heads Up : Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall @ The Lamar Pedestrian Bridge Tonight

2010-03-18T23:03:00.003-05:00

We hadn't heard anything about this one until someone started talking about it at a house party, but Thee Oh Sees facebook page confirms that they are, in fact, playing a show on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge tonight with Ty Segall. If you haven't been to a show on the bridge, now is the time to get out there and enjoy yourself. The bridge shows are legendary and one of my favorite parts of SXSW/Austin in general. Let's do it! It is set to start at 1 a.m., so take a quick cat-nap and hit the road for an awesome show. Sleep in tomorrow!

Early Arrival : Fucked Up @ Emo's

2010-03-18T11:38:00.001-05:00

Here's a photo to tide you over : Fucked Up playing the Brooklyn Vegan day show at Emo's

RIP Alex Chilton

2010-03-18T02:43:00.001-05:00

Photos : Thee Oh Sees / The Fresh & Onlys / The Beets and more @ The Day Before the Mess Fest - SXSW 2010

2010-03-17T19:13:00.002-05:00

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Photos : Noveller / Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater / Xiu Xiu @ Red 7

2010-03-16T17:18:00.002-05:00

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Tonight : Day Before The Mess Fest @ 21st Street Co-Op

2010-03-16T16:50:00.003-05:00

The music portion of SXSW 2010 is upon us all and you can start it off on the right (and unofficial/free) foot by celebrating at the Day Before the Mess Fest at the 21st Street Co-Op, House Of Guys, and some house off of 30th and Red River. It is going to be so much fun and so sweaty, so brave the rain and join us in celebrating SXSW 2010. Here's the line-up and the set times:

- Thee Oh Sees (SF, 1am), The

Fresh and Onlys (SF, 12:20am), Woven Bones (midnight),

Wounded Lion (LA, 11:40pm), The Baths (SF, 11:20pm),

Shapes Have Fangs (11pm) at the 21st Street CO-OP (707

W. 21st St.)

- Harlem (11:30pm), The Beets (NY, 11pm), Beach Fossils (NY,

10:30pm), Air Waves (NY, 10pm), Total Slacker (NY,

9:30pm), Fungi Girls (Denton, 9pm) at House of Guys (1907

Rio Grande)

- The Carrots (8:30pm), Reading Rainbow (PA, 8pm), Eternal

Summers (VA, 7:30pm), The Girls at Dawn (NY, 7pm),

Predator (GA, 6:30pm) at a house off of 30th and Red River

(near Austin vet hospital)

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : Shake Some... Action

2010-03-13T13:40:00.003-06:00

We are having a helluva time trying to choose which shows to go to and we hope things are hard for you as well. The Shake Some... Action party at Karibu Ethiopian on East 7th Street will stretch from the 18th-20th and host bands like The Fresh & Onlys, Woven Bones, Pure Ecstasy, JEFF the Brotherhood, Rangers, Teenage Cool Kids, Cloud Nothings, Fungi Girls, The Coathangers, La Panza, Woodsman and a bunch more, so start planning now! Hey! Some of those bands are playing the showcase we are sponsoring . There will be more details on that when we can get a full version of the flyer and the full line-up, but you will find it here first so stay tuned!

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : Brooklyn Vegan's Day Party

2010-03-13T10:23:00.002-06:00

This is likely to be the first day show we attend this year and we are looking forward to it. GZA, Fucked Up, Japandroids, Torche, Titus Andronicus, and Yellow Fever make this one hard to pass up. Hit up Emo's on Wednesday, March 17 from noon - 6 p.m. for all the fun.

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : The Windish Agency / Pitchfork Day Party

2010-03-12T23:38:00.002-06:00

The Windish Agency / Pitchfork day party is always a good one and their 2010 line-up does not disappoint. Just read the poster and show up.

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : Mr. & Mrs. T / Rachael Ray's Feedback Festival

2010-03-12T23:29:00.002-06:00

Yeah yeah yeah. Rachael Ray is one of the most nerve-grating people on the planet, but she sure does have someone behind her who can pick out a line-up. You can catch She & Him, Dr. Dog, Andrew W.K., School of Seven Bells, Local Natives, Freelance Whales and a bunch more at her party. There will also be free food and drinks, so you will probably want to show up early at Stubb's when everything starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 20.

Saturday : Xiu Xiu w/ Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater and Noveller @ Red 7

2010-03-12T17:36:00.004-06:00

Xiu Xiu will be in town tomorrow night and you know where we will be. Their latest album, Dear God, I Hate Myself, is out now and it will be our favorite release of 2010. Hands down. Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater and Noveller are opening the show. Doors at Red 7 are at 9 and tickets are $12.

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : The Lawn Party @ The French Legation Museum

2010-03-11T14:28:00.006-06:00

The line-ups for a lot of the free shows at SXSW this year are ridiculously good, and The Lawn Party at The French Legation Museum is certainly no exception. Taking place over the course of two days, Thursday, March 18 and Friday, March 19 at 802 San Marcos Street, there's really no reason you'd have to leave this party to go to another because the line-up is stacked. With bands like The xx, Dum Dum Girls, Thurston Moore, Real Estate, Califone, The Antlers, Zola Jesus, Memory Tapes, Woods, Talk Normal, and more, you can't really go wrong, can you? Didn't think so.

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : Levi's Fader Fort

2010-03-10T14:29:00.002-06:00

If one thing is always a big deal during SXSW, it's the Levi's Fader Fort. We've managed to avoid it for the past four years, but for those of you who can't turn away from its bug-zapper like pull, you can RSVP for the event right here. It takes place March 17-21 at 1101 E. 5th Street and runs from 1-8 p.m. every day. Oh, and you have to be 21+ to enter. The headliners for this year's Fader Fort haven't been announced yet, but Harlem, Best Coast, Neon Indian, Local Natives, Japandroids, The Very Best, Fool's Gold, Memory Tapes, Salem, Dum Dum Girls, Washed Out, Real Estate, A Trak and a slew of others have been announced. Head on over to Austin 360 to check out the full deal (minus some headliners).

SXSW 2010 Free Show Alert : Mess With Texas

2010-03-10T13:59:00.002-06:00

HOLY.CRAP. This is going to be awesome. I was beginning to wonder if Mess With Texas was happening this year and it is and it is going to be amazing. It will take place over the course of two days, Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 at 1001 E. 6th Street. The lineup this year features bands like Man Man, Andrew W.K., Fucked Up, Billy Bragg, Yacht, The Bronx, Japandroids, Japanther, Crystal Antlers, GWAR, Smith Westerns, Neon Indian, and plenty more. It is free, all-ages, and runs from noon until 9 p.m. each day.

The Grizzly Life's Guide to a Free SXSW - 2010

2010-03-08T15:17:00.003-06:00

It's finally here! We did it last year and it was a big success, so we decided to make another Guide to a Free SXSW. With help from Showlist Austin, we have compiled the best of the best free shows from every single day at SXSW (and even the day before). If you follow our guide, there's no reason why you should have to pay to see most bands on your list and we don't think there's any reason to feel left out if you don't have a badge or a wristband. We stuck to the guide last year and saw just about every band playing SX that we cared for, so it's possible! Check back later in the week because there may be a revised version of the guide coming up as more shows emerge, but this is a pretty thorough version.

With this guide, you can see the following bands for free: Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh & Onlys, Zola Jesus, Warpaint, Toro y Moi, Andrew W.K., White Denim, Washed Out, Besnard Lakes, GZA, Neon Indian, Real Estate, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Torche, Fucked Up, Japandroids, JEFF the Brotherhood, The xx, Thurston Moore, Sea Bear, Le Loup, Vivian Girls, The Soft Pack, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Dum Dum Girls, The Antlers, Bowerbirds, She & Him, Tyvek, The Beets, Shearwater, Surfer Blood, Titus Andronicus, Memory Tapes, Sleigh Bells, Local Natives, Ty Seagall, Born Ruffians, Dr. Dog, The Smith Westerns, Woods, Superchunk, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Best Coast, Javelin, and about a million more.

Also, add me on Facebook and I will have tons of recommendations for this year's festival. There will also be a poster post for those visual learners out there.

Download : The Grizzly Life's Guide to a Free SXSW - 2010

Saturday : Oxjam 2010 - Benefiting Oxfam Haiti Relief @ The United States Art Authority

2010-03-03T09:36:00.004-06:00

Not only is Oxjam 2010 benefiting a great cause, but it will also benefit your ears. Some of those other charity shows have great ambitions but can be lacking in the line-up department. Proceeds from the show will go to Oxfam's relief fund for Haiti. It all takes place at 9 p.m. at The United States Art Authority. There will be two stages, silent auctions, and lots of fun to be had.

Photos : Vetiver and The Clientele @ Mohawk

2010-03-02T23:11:00.001-06:00

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Tonight : The Clientele and Vetiver @ Mohawk

2010-03-01T16:48:00.002-06:00

Has your day/week/month/year been a little bit too hectic? Would you like to be soothed by a bunch of great musicians? If so, Mohawk has the answer to your problems with tonight's billing of The Clientele and Vetiver. It should be a good one, but bring a jacket because it might be raining!

Today : West By West Campus

2010-02-27T08:12:00.003-06:00

SXSW is just a few weeks away, but if you're already in Austin, you can get a little taste of multi-stage many-band mayhem today with West By West Campus. There are tons of bands playing over a sprawling three-house setup, its free, all ages, and BYOB. What more could you ask for in a community music festival? (Okay, maybe a keg, but that's okay!) Everything starts rolling around 2 p.m. and lasts throughout the day until a little after midnight. Check out the website or the Facebook page for all the details and get out there and have some fun!

Review & Photos : Akron/Family and Warpaint @ The Parish

2010-02-25T22:31:00.006-06:00

The Akron/Family and Warpaint show at The Parish last night was the most fun I've had at a concert in a good while. The level of energy and joy in playing music these two bands exhibited hasn't been seen in a long time. Both bands were clearly enjoying themselves and that energy rubbed off on the crowd in the best possible way.

Warpaint played one of the longest opening sets I've ever seen and they were incredible. Their mixing of different genres works well and they do it better than most bands who attempt the same. The crowd was extremely receptive to the band's sound and they were the perfect opener for Akron/Family. I would go so far as to say the band almost served as a second headliner and some in the crowd felt the same way.

Akron/Family truly enjoy making and playing music and that seeps out of their performance. They engaged the crowd batter than most bands and had everyone smiling throughout their performance. Their set was well-balanced between fun-loving sing-alongs and noisier songs that found the crowd closing their eyes and drifting off. The highlight of the show, spectacle-wise, was the breaking of one of the largest pinatas known to man in celebration of Stella Mogzawa's (she plays drums in Warpaint) birthday. It was full of candy and confetti that showered the crowd and surely made for an unforgettable concert-going experience. Scroll through the photos for all the action.

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Tonight : Akron/Family and Warpaint @ The Parish

2010-02-24T17:28:00.003-06:00

Come check out Akron/Family and Warpaint tonight at The Parish. It's sure to calm you down and get you pumped for life, all at the same time. Doors open at 8. See you there! Tapers are welcome, according to Akron/Family's website, so bring out the reel to reel and get recording!

Photos : Balmorhea / Damien Jurado @ Central Presbyterian Church

2010-02-22T20:34:00.001-06:00

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New Broken Social Scene : "World Sick"

2010-02-19T10:41:00.005-06:00

It's been five years since anyone has heard new studio material from Broken Social Scene. That's a long time. There's a five-year-old out there who has grown up in a BSS-less world. That's all about to change when the band releases their new record Forgiveness Rock Record on May 4. Until then, you can listen to a new track called "World Sick". The wait isn't so long when you weigh it against five years. The band will be in Austin playing SXSW on March 18 and 19, so if you'd like to check out some of this new material in a live setting, hit up those shows!

mp3 : Broken Social Scene - "World Sick"

Tomorrow : Balmorhea's 'Constellations' Record Release w/ Damien Jurado @ Central Presbyterian Church

2010-02-18T13:23:00.006-06:00

As you may have gleaned from the poster, Austin's own Balmorhea will be playing a record release show this Friday at Central Presbyterian Church to celebrate the release of their new record Constellations. Damien Jurado will be opening and things kick off at 9 p.m. It should be a good evening.

SXSW Wristbands On Sale at 10 a.m.!

2010-02-18T09:47:00.006-06:00

Austinist tipped us off to this monumental news: SXSW wristbands will be going on sale in about 15 minutes and they can be yours for the price of $129 big ones. Hit up THIS LINK at 10 a.m. and you can get the piece of plastic that grants you access to every official showcase (subject to capacity and after badge holders enter, of course). OR you could just chance it and pay a cover charge to that one big show you want to go to and follow our guide, which is coming soon, to every awesome free show your little heart desires. The choice is yours, and yours alone.

The SXSW Grids Are Here!

2010-02-17T18:00:00.003-06:00

We haven't even begun to cover SXSW like we would like to, but it's all coming up so soon and we will have a ton of coverage for you so stay tuned. If you're one of those official types, the good folks at SXSW have released the official showcases and you can check them out here. If you aren't one of those people, we will have a guide to all the good free stuff just like we did last year, so keep your eyes peeled to the GL and you will get all the good info soon. Stay tuned!

Review & Photos : RJD2 and Kenan Bell @ Emo's

2010-02-16T10:45:00.009-06:00

It's rare that as a concertgoer, you get to see what a full performance is like. A show, with different dimensions, however far reaching, is hard to come by. RJD2's performance at Emo's on Saturday night did just that. There were so many dimensions to his performance that the $18 cover charge was well worth the price and the fans thought so too because the venue was at capacity before RJD2 hit the stage.

Happy Chichester started things off, but not on the right foot. Most if not all of the crowd was itching to get dancing, have a good time and keep warm on the cold February night (which, by the way, all of the acts remarked how warm it was compared to their other gigs) but Chichester just wasn't doing it for most. He was pleased to be there and had a few people shouting "Happy!", but after he left the stage, the crowd had no energy.

That all changed with Kenan Bell. Bell, somewhat of an internet buzz machine with his remixes of Pink Floyd and Jose Gonzalez and rapping over The Smiths, really got things started. With the backing band and Bell's ability to work the crowd, nearly everyone was transfixed and surprised by his talent. He's worth a listen.

RJD2, as I said earlier, put on a full, multi-dimensional show. He came out in a jumpsuit with reflective tape all over it with some kind of beat-making sequencer pad attached to his crotch on kind of a lazy susan. When he turned around, the back of the jumpsuit read "Commisioner Crotchbuttons". Needless to say, the show started off on the right foot. After the Crotchbuttons intro, RJ headed behind the turntables and started the set off with a mix of his Mad Men theme song which got just about everybody dancing. I almost forgot he composed the theme for the show and it was a pleasant surprise to hear it right off the bat. From there, the set continued on the turntables and then went to the full band, where they pulled from RJD2's latest release, The Colossus. After the band portion was finished, RJ went back behind the turntables and used a video camera to show the crowd the intricacies of his set up and what he was doing to make the music they were hearing. His sequencing pad had a portion of the Donkey Kong music programmed to each button and he brought out a Mario puppet who jumped over a barrel while the music played. All this played out on the screen behind him, played through the camera he had set up. It was quite the set up and one of the most unique aspects to the show. The differences between each act of the performance and the fact that they worked well together made for a fun and interesting evening.

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Tonight : RJD2, Happy Chichester and Kenan Bell @ Emo's

2010-02-13T17:59:00.004-06:00

RJD2 will be bringing a huge party to Emo's this evening, so put on your dancing shoes and get ready to get sweaty! The weather is beautiful outside (at least right now), so the outside stage at Emo's should be perfect for tonight's show. Door open at 9 and tickets will be $18 at the door. If you don't have a valentine, you may end up finding one this evening and it could be the best $18 you've ever spent. It'll be a story to tell the kids and the grandkids. Happy Chichester and Kenan Bell are opening. It's going to be a good night.

Video : RJD2 - "Let There Be Horns"

SXSW : The Day Before The Mess Fest @ 21st Street Co-op

2010-02-11T10:57:00.003-06:00

This one is going to be awesome. Before the hoards of music fans descend on our fair city, you will get a chance to take in some awesome bands with the locals (and probably a few early arrivals from out of town). The 21st Street Co-op is hosting The Day Before The Mess Fest, featuring Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh and Onlys, Woven Bones, Wounded Lion, The Baths and Shapes Have Fangs. It kicks off at 9 p.m. on March 16th and runs through 2 a.m. on the 17th. It may or may not be free, but if anything, there might be a suggested donation of a few bucks to help out the touring bands. It will be worth it!

Review & Photos : Julie Doiron and Bowerbirds @ Mohawk

2010-02-10T13:46:00.004-06:00

If anything can be said of the show featuring Julie Doiron and Bowerbirds, it is that both acts are endearing and play music reflecting that. Doiron was clearly happy to be playing music, unlike some of the acts that come through town. She was giddy and smiling through the whole performance and interacted with the crowd like they were her hometown audience, full of friends who had seen her play a million times before. At one point in the night, she said this show felt like her first, as if she had just started out, but she played it like a veteran of the road.

Bowerbirds played a sometimes quiet, sometimes rousing set that seemed to please the almost-full crowd at Mohawk. The crowd sang along and looked up at the band with adoration throughout the entire set. Doiron and her guitar player came back on stage for an encore that ended the show in a way unique to these kinds of shows where bands who are also friends tour together.

Photos : Julie Doiron and Bowerbirds @ Mohawk

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Buy Los Campesinos! First Glockenspiel, Help Haiti

2010-02-02T11:38:00.005-06:00

Gareth of Los Campesinos! has put the band's first-ever glockenspiel on Ebay and it can be yours if the price is right! As of writing this, the glockenspiel has received 25 bids and is up to 180 British pounds sterling. Here's what Gareth has to say about it:

"It is featured on our initial demo recordings, their Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP and their debut album Hold On Now, Youngster... . It was also used in approximately our first fifty live performances. Taking in shows in the UK, Europe and their first ever gig in the US, at Lollapalooza festival. I have treated it sternly but sensually. I will also throw in some 7"s of our previous singles. Some very limited edition. ALL MONEY RAISED FROM THE SALE OF THIS ITEM WILL BE DONATED TO THE AID RELIEF IN HAITI. The glockenspiel will be signed by all band members, past and present, upon request. Please bid generously to own this piece of ROCK MUSIC HISTORY, and to donate to a very worthy cause."

So, if you want to own this piece of history and want to help support the relief efforts in the Haiti, now is the time!

Review & Photos : Girls @ Waterloo Records / Girls @ The Parish with Magic Kids and The Smith Westerns

2010-02-02T10:40:00.007-06:00

It's hard to tell if Girls will be able to keep the momentum that has been following them, but there's no doubt that they are here and people are taking notice. The crowd at the free in-store on Friday evening at Waterloo Records was a big indication that Girls have taken off in a big way. The record store was practically filled to capacity (at least all the spots worth viewing the stage from were filled) despite the band showing up half and hour late and I haven't seen that since the in-stores at SXSW. I'm not quite sure I've ever seen a crowd exhibit such zen-like patience for a short-by-design record store show but it payed off. The band played several of their Album crowd-pleasers and signed autographs after their set.

I honestly didn't expect the band's show at The Parish to sell out and neither did a lot of the people who were there. The line started forming a good hour before the doors opened and fans took their places at the front of the stage as soon as they were let upstairs into the venue.

The Smith Westerns kicked everything off with their nostalgia-filled garage/punk sounds and were certainly a pleasing last-minute addition to the bill. The baby-faced members of the band look so young that a few girls in the crowd spent a good deal of time trying to figure out exactly how old they are.

Magic Kids played a more than interesting set. I'm not even sure what the band has released but when they get a few good reviews under their belts, they are sure to get some kind of a following. They took a good deal of time to set up but their performance didn't even feel that technical. At the end of the set, the stage was covered in water and it was hard to find someone without a smile.

This particular show was a special one for Girls frontman Christopher Owens. He said his mother was in attendance and this show was the first time she had seen him play since he was about 16. He must have done her proud by playing in front of a sold-out crowd in the music capital. The crowd was singing along to the songs from Album and taking in all the new material the band played throughout the set.

Girls @ Waterloo Records

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Girls / Magic Kids / The Smith Westerns @ The Parish

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Review & Photos : The Fiery Furnaces and Drug Rug @ The Parish

2010-01-29T09:36:00.004-06:00

The Fiery Furnaces played a rousing set featuring songs and sounds from all over the map. Songs were blended into one another and would change tempos at breakneck speed, keeping their audience on their toes. Their live sets have been known to be drastically different from their records and that's what Austin got at The Parish this Thursday night.

Jason Loewensten and Rod D'Amico, along with Matthew Friedberger, soaked the music in an intensity that gives their live show the unique quality that makes the ticket price worth it. Matthew Friedberger ditched the piano for this tour and focused all of his energy into playing the guitar, which he does exceptionally well. If he wasn't so good at it, I would say stick to the piano, but his guitar playing matched the heaping amounts of bass and drums perfectly. Eleanor Friedberger has a commanding stage presence and a 1,000 yard stare that could make someone at the back of the club fall in love or crumble to their feet (or both).

The band's songs were pulled from all over their catalogue (if my ears serve me) but the songs that got the best reaction were those whose rock elements shone through and hit the crowd square in the chest. The band played a lengthy encore, in which the first song, "Waiting To Know You", was played exclusively by the Friedberger siblings, with Eleanor on drums and Matthew on guitar and vocals. The length of the encore was a bit surprising but it was well-deserved and the crowd wasn't complaining.

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Tonight : The Fiery Furnaces @ The Parish

2010-01-28T16:13:00.004-06:00

Don't let the rain get you down. This week's weather in Austin went from incredible to gloomy and staying at home will do nothing for your sanity. Flee cabin fever and come out to The Parish this evening to catch The Fiery Furnaces, supported by Drug Rug. Door open at 8 p.m. and tickets are a paltry $15.

Video: The Fiery Furnaces - "Keep Me In The Dark" (live on KEXP)

Review & Photos : Spoon @ Waterloo Records

2010-01-26T12:50:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in Austin and Spoon only added to it with what I believe was the first-ever Waterloo Records in-store held in the parking lot. The official quote said the lot held 1400 at capacity and there must have been that many people in attendance. Folks were seated on the lot as early 11:30 a.m. according to a few on the front row. The weather was certainly in favor of an outside show and it couldn't have been much better. While the crowd was facing the sun, most made due and enjoyed the set. The crowd even spilled out onto the sidewalks surrounding Waterloo as spectators chose that particular spot over the crowded parking lot. Britt Daniel and crew ran through their most recent release, Transference, and a few older favorites during their hour-long set that featured a crowd-pleasing encore. Someone in the audience took the time to shout the question, "How's the weather in Portland?", to which Daniel responded, "I wouldn't know. We've been hanging out here." Some probably have a bit of animosity towards Spoon for uprooting to Portland but they weren't playing a free show to 1400 people in Portland, now were they?

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