Stream: Politics | "Warning" + Upcoming Show Announcements

Last week we previewed the first track from Politics and now we are just a few weeks away from their debut EP release via the Ultra8201 LABEL*. The band is excited to announce two upcoming performances coinciding with the release and we are proud to stream another track today titled "Warning".

You can catch the band when they play their very first show at Emo's with Radiation City from Portland. The band is currently on tour and will be in town on September 3rd. They have been called "a super dreamy potpourri of some of the most pleasing music of the last few decades..." - by My Old Kentucky Blog"

[Politics] ///Upcoming:

September 3rd at Emo's with Radiation City [Tickets]

Show Spotlight: The Dig, The Boxing Lesson, Love at 20 and Bitter Birds at Emo's (Tonight)

I have had multiple conversations about how amazing The Dig is with Bianca Flores so tonight I feel compelled to see what the fuss is all about. We also some of Austin's finest are offering support with the Boxing Lesson, Love at 20 and Bitter Birds (formerly Red Leaves) all taking stage. Plus I really "dig" the flyer (pun very intended). Get a ticket below and save $2.

The Dig with The Boxing Lesson, Love at 20 and Bitter Birds
Emo’s (inside) | 603 Red River Street
Door: $8 / Doors at 9p
Tickets available here: http://tinyurl.com/3jd6s7e

Show Spotlight: Maps and Atlases, CULTS and The Globes Tonight at Emo's

Cults

[Download or Stream Full EP]

Don't miss out on this one, you will be really bummed you did later. Tickets are only $10 and doors are at 9pm.

[Tickets]

Voxtrot Breaks Up / Announces "Goodbye, Cruel World" Tour (w/ Austin Date)

It seemed as though this was a long time coming but it's still sad to see a band with such promise call it quits. The band posted a lengthy explanation of why they are disbanding on their website today. Here is an excerpt:

The career path of Voxtrot was truly one of long, simmering build, explosion, and almost instantaneous decay. Slowly, I am learning to replace any feelings of regret with positive memories of how amazing the whole thing was, and how it has, in an unexpected way, fortified my character.

Making great art requires one to be fearless, and sometimes I've given too much energy to fear. Whenever I read an interview in which a band claims they are going to return to the sound of their earlier, more popular work, a small part of me aches for them. It doesn't work like that-the popularity of the earlier work is based upon the sense of newness felt by the musicians at the time of creation. So, how to get back the newness…?

Approximately eight months ago, I spoke to my friend Simon and indicated that I was ready to give up on music, or at least leave it for the indefinite future, but he reminded me that you can't dedicate yourself to another job or a degree, or some other distraction just because you've got nothing else going-if you have the feeling that you were born to do something, you've got to follow that feeling.

As he told me, "Do it because you love music. Do it with passion."

[Read More]

Goodbye, Cruel World... 2010 Tour Dates

MAY 21 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
MAY 22 – Appleton, WI @ Lawrence University
MAY 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
MAY 29 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
JUNE 3 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
JUNE 23 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
JUNE 25 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

SXSW 2010: The Pitchfork/Windish Austin Party and the Pitchfork SXSW Showcase

The Pitchfork/Windish Austin Bash (Emo's, March 19):

12:00 - Warpaint (Emo's Jr.)
12:30 - Local Natives (Emo's)
1:00 - Javelin (Emo's Jr.)
1:30 - Free Energy (Emo's)
2:00 - Real Estate (Emo's Jr.)
2:30 - Washed Out (Emo's)
3:00 - Dâm-Funk (Emo's Jr.)
3:30 - Best Coast (Emo's)
4:00 - Memory Tapes (Emo's Jr.)
4:30 - Surfer Blood (Emo's)
5:00 - Neon Indian (Emo's Jr.)
5:30 - Japandroids (Emo's)

The Pitchfork SXSW Showcase (The Scoot Inn, March 20):

7:30 - Titus Andronicus
8:15 - The Smith Westerns
9:00 - Here We Go Magic
9:45 - Pictureplane
10:30 - The Very Best
11:15 - Bear in Heaven
12:00 - Freddie Gibbs
12:45 - Sleigh Bells

Austin Free Week : 2010

MONDAY // JANUARY 4th

Mohawk: Baron Grod, Honey and Salt

Red 7: Head Panic, Blood Royale, Night Siege, Shredheads, Dead Reckoning (9pm)

Beauty Bar: Major Major Major, The Night, GOBI

Emos: (Inside): The Carrots, JC & Co. (members of Voxtrot), Cowabunga Babes, Bear Claw, Literature (members of Mothfight!)
(Outside): BRAD'S BIRTHDAY BLOODFEAST with Children in Heat (Misfits Tribute!), Dolls From the Crypt, Flash Boys, Hoodrats, Scrabble Robot

TUESDAY // JANUARY 5th

Mohawk: Obsolete Machines, String, Ovenbirds

Red 7: Cruiserweight, Lemuria, O'Pioneers!!!, The Anchor, tba 9pm

Beauty Bar: Super Lite Bike, The Always Already, Planet Rye Co, The Criminal Kind

Emos: (Outside): Mutating Meltdown, Diagonals, Low Red Center, Elvis, Coma in Algiers
(Inside): Pataphysics, No Mas Bodas, The Gospel Truth, Horse + Donkey

WEDNESDAY // JANUARY 6th

Mohawk: Scorpion Child, The Roller,

Smoke and Feathers, Shitty Carwash

Red 7: La Snacks, Midgetmen, The Gary, Frantic Clam, Opposite Day (9pm)
Club Deville: Honky, Vinhomudeh, Mobley

The Parish: Wine and Revolution, Hollywood Gossip, Politics, DJ Mel

Beauty Bar: Stereo is a Lie, Strange Attractors, She Sir, New Roman Times

Emos: (Outside): Brothers & Sisters, The Laughing, Ovenbirds, Oh No Oh My
(Inside): New Disaster, Born to Lose, The Bulemics, 13th Victim

Encore: The Versatile Syndicate Free Week Melee with Muchos Backflips, We The Granada, Bridge Farmers

THURSDAY // JANUARY 7th

Mohawk: Brazos, TV Torso, Great Nostalgic (9pm, outside stage)
Ume,Transmography, Daniel Francis Doyle, Many Birthdays (9pm, inside stage)

Red 7: Hacienda, Shapes Have Fangs, Strange Attractors, Cowabunga Babes, Flowers (9pm outside stage) Get Action DJs (sabrina e, brother jamal, grandmaster b) (inside)
Club Deville: Smoke and Feathers, Prayer for Animals, Masonic
The Parish: Sounds Under Radio, Suzanna Choffel, Zookeeper, Wiretree, DJ Markus

Emos: (Outside): Jungle Rockers, The Skeletons, Nick Curran & the Lowlifes, The Sandworms, Heart & Soul Soundsystem (DJing in between sets)
(Inside): Mothfight!, YellowFever, Red Leaves, Haunting Oboe Music, The Eastern Sea

Encore: The Versatile Syndicate Free Week Melee with The Paper Shapes, Crash Gallery

and Obsolete Machines

FRIDAY // JANUARY 8th

Mohawk: The Laughing, Low Line Caller, MoTel Aviv (outside stage 9pm)
Christian Bland & the Revelators, Headdress, Tunnels, Cartright (inside stage)

Red 7: Lower Class Brats, Krumbums, Sober Daze, Black Irish, tba (9pm outside stage)
DJ Sambo (of complete control) (inside)

Club Deville: Corto Maltese, She Sir, Candi and the Strangers

The Parish: L.A.X., Auto Body, Freshmillions (with members of the Sword), Gobi, DJ

Thibault

Beauty Bar: Prince Klassen

Emos: (Outside): The Crack Pipes, The Golden Boys, The Royal Butchers, Follow That Bird!
(Inside): Ume, Speak, The Authors, White White Lights, The Always Already

SATURDAY // JANUARY 9th

Mohawk: Lucy the Poodle presents: T-bird and the Breaks, The Carrots, Ugly Beats, The Hi-Tones (8:30pm outside stage)
Lucy the Poodle presents: Missions (ex-Clap Clap), Death is not a joyride., No Mas Bodas, Clouds are Ghosts (inside stage)

Red 7: Big Mess (Devo Cover Band), Watching The Moon, We'll God Machete, Paper Shapes (9pm outside stage)
Shitty Carwash, Eagle Claw, White Rhino, Markov, Thieves (9pm inside stage)

Club Deville: Burning Hotels, Watch out for Rockets, Haunting Oboe Music

The Parish: The Bright Light Social Hour, the Frontier Brothers, MoTel Aviv, Derty Bird

Beauty Bar: Car Stereo (Wars), The Laughing, Mothfight!, All My Friends

Emos: (Outside): ATTAK (iN)FORMATION, Tia Carrera, Broken Gold, This Horn of Afrika, Zorch
(Inside): The Hex Dispensers, The Sinks, The Altars, Shanghai River

SUNDAY // JANUARY 10th

Red 7: Set Aflame, Bonnie Blue, Let the Dead, tba (early show 6pm)
Exeter, Woolgather, In Situ Sound, The Devil Rides (late show 10pm)

The Parish: Dennis Ludiker Trio, the Copper Pots

Emos: (Outside):A Giant Dog, Bad Sports, Cause for Applause, Elvis
(Inside): Red X Red M, Woodgrain, Eagle Claw, ODEZCO, Expensive Shit

The Strange Boys | Early 2010 Tour Dates

The Strange Boys are no longer Austin's little secret. The band was better than ever at FFF 09' and ended the year opening a few dates for The Strokes' frontman Julian Casablancas. 2010 will surely be a busy year for The Strange Boys, with a new record entitled Be Brave set to be released in February. If you haven't heard the first single (and title track), take a listen down below and be sure to check out the first round of tour dates as well.



The Strange Boys 2010 Tour Dates:
02/19 - Austin, TX @ Emo's *#
02/21 - Marfa, TX @ Padre's *
02/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space *
02/24 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
02/25 - Isla Vista, CA @ Biko Garage *
02/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo *
02/27 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room *$
02/28 - Reno, Nevada @ Rainshadow Community Charter High School *
03/02 - Salem, OR @ The Space *%
03/03 - Olympia, WA @ Northern *%
03/04 - Seattle, WA @ Comet Tavern *&
03/05 - Vancouver, BC @ Media Club *
03/06 - Portland, OR @ East End *
03/07 - Boise, ID @ Visual Arts Collective
03/08 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
03/09 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
03/10 - Boulder, CO @ University of Colorado - Club 156
03/12 - Lubbock, TX @ Bash Riprock's

* = w/ Chain and the Gang
# = w/ Yellow Fever
% = w/ The Hive Dwellers
& = w/ Lovvers
$ = w/ Ty Segall, Nodzzz

(Photo Cred: Zimfo)

Harlem Working on New Album, Announces Fall Tour

Last month, local trio Harlem were holed up in a studio in Costa Mesa, CA working hard on their sophomore album (their first for Matador). Still putting the finishing touches on the album, the band will hit the road this Fall and will surely be trying out the new songs live. (via)

[Harlem Myspace]

Harlem 2009 Fall U.S. Tour Dates:
09/04 - Costa Mesa, CA @ La Cave
09/24 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves *
09/26 - Houston, TX @ Super Happy Funland *
10/02 - Austin, TX @ Emo's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $20 ^
10/03 - New Orleans, LA @ Saturn Bar
10/04 - Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
10/05 - Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo’s
10/06 - Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
10/08 - Miami, FL @ Sweat Records
10/09 - Ybor city, FL @ New World Brewery
10/13 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight #
10/14 - Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club
10/15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
10/17 - Portland, OR @ Scion Garage Fest (Satyricon)
10/20 - New York, NY @ Santo’s Party House
10/21 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells
10/23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly (Vice Party)
10/24 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl (After The Jump Party)
10/27 - Washington, DC @ DC9
10/28 - Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia
10/29 - Jackson, MS @ Hal & Mals
11/7, 11/8 - Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest [Purchase Tickets]

* w/ Monotonix
^ w/ !!!, Neon Indian
# w/ Spider Bags, Pinche Gringo

Last Night: Thunderheist, L.A.X and Vicious at Emo's

Gossip announce headlining tour (with Austin Date)

Gossip have announced their U.S. headlining tour in support of their new album Music For Men. The tour kicks off in Washington, DC at 9:30 Club on October 7 and runs through October 30 at Vino’s in Little Rock, AR (see below for full itinerary). I'm excited to say that an Austin date is scheduled as well on October 29th at Emo's. Produced by multi Grammy Award winner Rick Rubin, Music For Men is in stores on Tuesday October 6, 2009. Music For Men has the UK press raving.  Clash called it "Wild, sexy and scintillating, ‘Music For Men’ is the most euphoric thing you’ll hear this year." Guardian exclaimed Music for Men is a raised fist of a record. This record is bigger and better than anything they’ve done before.” We have already had a listen to the record and it exceeds expectations.

Gossip Tour Dates

10/07 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10/08 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
10/09 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5
10/11 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
10/15 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theater
10/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
10/17 - Madison, WI @ The Orpheum
10/19 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird
10/20 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/23 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
10/24 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
10/25 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
10/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
10/29 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s 
10/30 - Little Rock, AR @ Vino’s

School of Seven Bells | 2009 North American Fall Tour Dates :: w/ Austin dates (Emo's, ACL)

Last month during Austin's June-concertapalooza, School of Seven Bells hit up the Mohawk with Black Moth Super Rainbow. While we went to just about every GREAT concert last month (Passion Pit, Animal Collective, Little Joy, CLUES, The Golden Filter/VEGA, Santigold, Grizzly Bear, St. Vincent, The Great Nostalgic & The Authors), this was one we unfortunately missed!

The band recently signed with Vagrant Records and will be re-releasing their 2008 debut, Alpinisms this upcoming Tuesday.

School of Seven Bells - Connjur (mp3) off Alpinisms

Well it seems that SVIIB will be in Austin this October, not only for one show, but two! Before they play on Friday (10/2) at the Austin City Limits Festival, they'll be performing a show the night before at Emo's. Ticket info should be announced soon. The rest of the tour dates are down below.

[School of Seven Bells Myspace]
[School of Seven Bells Official Site]
[School of Seven Bells Tour Diary]

School of Seven Bells 2009 Fall Tour Dates:
08/14 - New York, NY @ Seaport Music Festival/Pier 17
09/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
09/26 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
09/27 - Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
09/28 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
09/29 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
10/01 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s
10/02 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/04 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
10/05 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
10/06 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
10/08 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
10/09 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
10/10 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
10/13 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
10/14 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
10/15 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
10/16 - Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Nightclub
10/17 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
10/23 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (CMJ Music Marathon)

Check out SVIIB performing a special acoustic set of "White Elephant Coat" during last year's CMJ for Live at Lime down below.

(Photo Cred: Tim Saccenti for Flaunt)

Austin Concerts This Week | 7/6 - 7/11

Here's our recommendations for this week. Also, be sure to follow us (@ultra8201) on Twitter.

Monday (7/6):

• New Roman Times at Waterloo Records [Free In-store] Starts @ 5

Tuesday (7/7):

• Abe Vigoda, Talbot Tagora, Loser Life at Emo's (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $8 | Doors @ 9, Show @ 10

Thursday (7/9):

• Spoon, Quasi, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears at Stubb's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $28 each or $20 when purchasing 4 tickets | Doors @ 6
• Balmorhea at Cactus Cafe [$10 cover] Show @ 8:30
• Deer Tick at Waterloo Records [Free In-store] Starts @ 5
• Deer Tick, Dawes, Shed Alfred at Emo's (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $10 | Doors @ 9, Show @ 10
• The Story Of, The Soldier Thread, The Bright Light Social Hour at The Parish [$6 cover] Doors @ 8, Show @ 9:25
  

Friday (7/10):

• Spoon, Low, Dale Watson at Stubb's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $28 each or $20 when purchasing 4 tickets | Doors @ 6
• Major Lazer, Matt and Kim, A-Trak, DJ AM, Auto Erotique at Speakeasy [FREE, RSVP HERE] Doors @ 8
  
• Shapes Have Fangs, Cartright, Christian Bland & The Revelators, The Tunnels at Emo's (inside) [$6 for 21+, $8 for under 21] Doors @ 9, Show @ 10
  

Saturday (7/11):

• Spoon, Atlas Sound, The Strange Boys at Stubb's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $28 each or $20 when purchasing 4 tickets | Doors @ 6
• The Coathangers, Woven Bones, La Snacks at Mohawk (inside) [$7 cover] Show @ 10pm

The Strange Boys - Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up (mp3)
The Coathangers - Stop Stomp Stompin' (mp3)
La Snacks - Devil Has Left The Building (mp3)
Balmorhea - San Solomon (mp3)
Shapes Have Fangs - This Mess I'm In (mp3)

Austin Concerts This Week | 6/22 - 6/28

There's lots of great shows this week, but there's two in particular we'd like to say a few words about. First up, this Friday at Beauty Bar will be Car Stereo (Wars) FINAL show in Austin. He'll be playing with Astronautalis, Zeale, Neiliyo, MEGAGates. The place will be sure to be packed so get there early. Doors open at 8 and there'll be FREE beer, vodka, and pizza from 9 - 10. Sounds like a perfect night to us...Good luck in New York, Chris!

Then, on Saturday we are really excited to be presenting a show at Tripp Custom T-Shirts (2405 Nueces Suite H) [MAP] with some bands we've handpicked just for the event. This time around we have teamed up with the very awesome crew at Knuckle Rumbler as well as the fine people at Rare Magazine, Sweet Leaf Tea and Tripp Custom T-Shirts for an awesome evening of music. The Great Nostalgic, The Authors, and DJ Orion will be performing at our little shindig. It's a FREE show, there will be complimentary beverages, it's going on from 6pm-9pm, and best of all it benefits the SIMS Foundation! Each band on the bill will have their own T-Shirt designs for sale with $5 dollars of every shirt sold going to SIMS. You can read more about the SIMS Foundation here. Sounds like a GREAT way to Saturday night! Remember starts at 6pm. You can read more info on the bands here.

Monday (6/22):

• Jenny Lewis, Heartless Bastards at Stubb's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $17 | Doors @ 7pm

Tuesday (6/23):

• FADER Presents Prince Klassen at The Scoot Inn [FREE, RSVP here] 8pm to 11pm | Complimentary beverages (Note: RSVP is now closed!)
  

Wednesday (6/24):

• Talib Kweli, Strongarm Steady, Zeale, Traygod, Bavu Blakes at Emo's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $15 | Doors @ 9pm, Show @ 10pm
• Scorpion Child, Ringo Deathstarr, Spain Colored Orange at Beauty Bar | $5 Cover
• Prayer For Animals, Haunting Oboe Music, Frank Smith, The Astronaut Suit at Emo's (inside) [$5 Cover] Doors @ 9pm, Show @ 10pm
  

Thursday (6/25):

• 2 Live Crew, DMG$, Ms Prissy, Dubb Sicks, DJ Orion, Richard Henry at Mohawk (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $15 | Doors @ 8pm
• Zest of Yore, The Golden Boys at The Parish [$5 Cover] Show @ 9pm
• Scion A/V Presents Trouble and Bass Crew: Drop The Lime, AC Slater, Star Eyes, The Captain, King Louie at Beauty Bar [FREE, RSVP Here] 10pm-2am | 21+
  
• Monahans at Waterloo Records [FREE In-Store] Starts @ 5pm
• Austin 360 Concert Series: w/ Built by Snow, The Soldier Thread, Speak at Stubb's (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $6 | Doors @ 9pm
• Red Leaves, International Waters, Many Birthdays, Butcher Bear and Charlie at Emo's (outside) [$5 Cover] Doors @ 9pm, Show @ 10pm
• Arum Rae, Chris Catalena, Shapes Have Fangs at Club Deville
  

Friday (6/26):

• Vinyl Entertainment Presents: Car Stereo (Wars) Farewell Party, Astronautalis, Zeale, Neiliyo, MEGAGates at Beauty Bar (Doors @ 8pm) FREE Beer, Pizza, and Vodka from 9pm-10pm
• John Vanderslice, The Tallest Man on Earth at The Parish [Purchase Tickets] $12 | Doors @ 8pm
• Monahans, Telegraph Canyon, One Wolf at Mohawk (outside) [$6 Cover] Doors @ 9pm
• She Sir at Beerland
  

Saturday (6/27):

• Ultra8201 Presents: The Great Nostalgic, The Authors and DJ Orion at Tripp Custom T-Shirts : 2405 Nueces Suite H (map) [FREE] 6pm-9pm | Complimentary Beverages (more info here)
• Ben Kweller, Jones Street Station, Murdocks at Emo's (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $18 | Doors @ 8pm, Show @ 9pm
• Belaire, Cryptacize, Black Before Red at Mohawk (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $7 | Doors @ 8pm
• Gary Clark Jr. at Antone's [Purchase Tickets] $10 | Doors @ 8pm, Show @ 9pm
  

Sunday (6/28):

• Psychedelic Sundays: Hosted by Christian & Alex of The Black Angels at Antone's (Doors @ 9pm, Show @ 9:30pm)

The Great Nostalgic - County Line (mp3)
Monahans - It's Enough To Leave You... (mp3)
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (mp3)
John Vanderslice - Fetal Horses (mp3)
John Vanderslice - Too Much Time (mp3)
Heartless Bastards - The Mountain (mp3)

Austin Concerts This Week :: 5/18 - 5/24

Here's our recommendations for this week.

Monday (5/18):

• The Dears, Great Northern, Eulogies at The Parish [Purchase Tickets] $13, Doors @ 8

Tuesday (5/19):

• The Crystal Method, LA Riots at La Zona Rosa [Purchase Tickets] $22.50, Doors @ 7, Show @ 8

Wednesday (5/20):

• Ponytail, Harlem, Teenage Cool Kids, Yellow Fever at Red 7
• Watch Out For Rockets, Zest of Yore at Beauty Bar
  

Thursday (5/21):

• Do512 Presents Buffalo Billiards 10th Birthday Party: w/ The Black and White Years, Car Stereo (Wars) at Buffalo Billiards [FREE w/ RSVP] Doors @ 8, Show @ 8:30 (Free Lonestar Tall Till 9)
• Dopplereffekt, Discobelle DJ's, Markus with a K at Beauty Bar [FREE w/ RSVP] 10PM-2AM (21+)
  
• {{{Sunset}}}, Sleep Good at Baby Blue Studio (E. 12th between Comal and Chicon)
• Yellow Bike Project 12th Anniversary Show w/ Shearwater, Theater Fire, Yellow Bike Gospel Choir, Buttercup, Red Cortez at Red 7 (Show @ 9) Check out a video about Yellow Bike Project
  
• Followed By Static, Daniel Francis Doyle, The Numerators, Transmography at Club 1808
  

Friday (5/22):

• Balmorhea, Pompeii, Alex Dupree and the Trapdoor Band at Stubb's (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $8, Doors @ 9:30
• Chaos in Tejas Presents The Thermals, The Shaky Hands, Til We're Blue or Destroy at Mohawk (outside) [Purchase Tickets] $12 , Doors @ 8, Show @ 9
• Stereo Is A Lie, Motel Aviv, Colour Wheel at Beauty Bar [$3 Cover]
  

Saturday (5/23):

• Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, Telekinesis, Everything Now at Mohawk (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $10, Doors @ 11
• Chaos In Tejas presents Times New Viking, Nodzzz, The Strange Boys, XYX, Ratas Del Vaticano at Emo's (inside) [Purchase Tickets] $12, Doors @ 8, Show @ 9
• Gary Clark Jr. at Antone's [Purchase Tickets] $10 , Doors @ 9:30, Show @ 10
  

Sunday (5/24):

• Harlem, Black Shirts, Persian Wars at Hole in The Wall (Show @ 9)

The Dears - Half Mast (mp3)
Great Northern - Houses (mp3)
Eulogies - The Fight I've Come To Like (mp3)
Balmorhea - Harm & Moon (mp3)
Shearwater - Leviathan Bound (mp3)
{{{Sunset}}} - The World Is Awaiting (mp3)
The Strange Boys - Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up (mp3)
The Thermals - Now We Can See (mp3)
The Shaky Hands - We Are Young (mp3)
Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina (mp3)
Til We're Blue or Destroy - All Shook Up (mp3)

FREE WEEK 2009: Day 8

Last night show at Emo's was awesome!  Can I get an amen?  We should have pictures and video up in the next few days.  It's Friday today and another good night for music, lots of music!  Let's get on to it, shall we?

Emo's:  (Outside)

The Strange Boys, Hacienda, the white white lights, The Teeners, Man Stamps at Emo's.  Doors @ 8, Show @ 10.

Definitely gonna be a good one!  The Strange Boys headline the outside stage.  They've been making music since 1991 and have a definite 60s vibe to them.  Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney is a big fan.

The Strange Boys - Drugs Iggy Drugs (mp3)

Hacienda is a band that comes from San Antonio but does loving playing Austin quite a bit.  They have a big year in store for them, as they're opening up for and performing backing band duties for Black Keys' frontman Dan Auerbach on his solo tour in support of his debut solo album, Keep It Hid, due out February 10th on Nonesuch.  Nice segue, huh?  You can check out those tour dates here.

The white white lights are one of the more promising bands in Austin.  We're big fans of them, having seen them multiple times at Beauty Bar.  They're a relatively new band, having formed last year but you wouldn't know it seeing them live.  It'll be great to see them on a larger stage and I know they won't disappoint.

[The Strange Boys Myspace]

[Hacienda Myspace]

[the white white lights Myspace]

[The Teeners Myspace]

Mohawk: (Outside)

Headlining the Mohawk stage will be The Laughing, a band we grown fond recently.  They've come into their own quite nicely and are a building quite a following around town.  Come see what all the fuss is about.

The Laughing - Wearing The Colors (mp3)

[Photo by Aubrey Edwards]

Also on the bill are Moth!Fight!, an experimental band led by Kevin Attics (ex-member of Octopus Project).  Their sound relies heavily on classic orchestral instrumentation (trumpets, cellos, violins, banjos, barbershop harmony).  The also utilize hand-made tape loops, samples, circuit bent toys, and musique concrète.

Rounding out the bill are Golden Bear and DJ Richard Henry will be on the ones and twos.

Show should be starting @ 9 by the way.

[The Laughing Myspace]

[Moth!Fight! Myspace]

[Golden Bear Myspace]

[DJ Richard Henry Myspace]

Mohawk: (Inside)

[The Ugly Beats Myspace]

[Death Is Not A Joyride Myspace]

[Dans La Lune Myspace]

[Many Birthdays Myspace]

Club de Ville:
A pretty eclectic lineup, with indie rock, folk, hardcore music, and even a DJ.  Definitely a little something for everyone!

[La Snacks Myspace]

[Weird Weeds Myspace]

[Cry Blood Apache Myspace]

[DJ Miss Manners Myspace]

FREE WEEK 2009: Day 7

It's the seventh day of Free Week and Emo's has one of the best shows the week has to offer in our opinion.

Emo's:  (Inside)

El Paso Hot Button, Ume, Harlem, and The Blacks at Emo's.  Doors @ 8, Show @ 10.

El Paso Hot Button is the moniker for Mickey Reece, aka "the musician who can play everything by himself."  He was one of our essential artists to watch at last year Fun X3 Fest.  Richard has seen him a few times, but tonight will be my first time seeing "the one-man band."  You can check out a video of him jamming out here.

Another I've been digging lately is Harlem.  I can't stop listening to their debut album Free Drugs ;).  We wrote about them playing on Days 1 & 2 of Free Week.  We expect some big things from this local band.  Don't miss em'.

Preceding Harlem will be Ume, also another one of our essential artists at last year's Fun X3 Fest.  We've seen them many times in the past year and the thing I love about the trio, is they give it their all no matter the size of the crowd (although lately their crowds have getting bigger and bigger).  Don't let the size of singer Lauren Larson fool you, this girl can flat out rock (see picture above).  They're also releasing an new EP on January 24th at The Mohawk.

Ume - Wake (mp3)

Ume - Hurricane (mp3)

San Francisco's The Blacks (not to be confused with local band The Black) open the show.  If I could describe them, Luisa Black's (singer) voice reminds me a little of Karen O and the music resembles that of The Jesus and Mary Chain.  The trio are currently on tour with El Paso Hot Button as well.

The Blacks - Raincoat (mp3)

[El Paso Hot Button Myspace]

[Harlem Myspace]

[Ume Myspace]

[The Blacks Myspace]

Club De Ville:

Loxsly, Haunting Oboe Music, and Peel at Club De Ville.  Starts @ 9.

[Haunting Oboe Music]

Headlining the evening will be Loxsly, a quintet who our friends at Austin Sound are big fans of.  They describe them as "southern steel guitar mixed with vocal harmonies and solid bass and drum.Past their obvious influences like The Flaming Lips and 1960’s pop, Loxsly’s unique approach to indie pop-rock has given them the ability to rise above in a saturated genre."

Last year, Haunting Oboe Music took on the daunting task of releasing a new EP every month.  Talk about a truly hard working band!  If you missed your chance to see them on Sunday, this will be the last time they play until SXSW.  They also have a tour planned sometime in April as well.  Check out their video for "Homeless" here.  Our friend Ajay over at 'Nites has video of the opening band Peel.

Loxsly - Lamprey Eels (mp3)

Peel - In The City (mp3)

[Loxsly Myspace]

[Haunting Oboe Music Myspace]

[Peel Myspace]

FREE WEEK 2009: Day 4

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Here is a preview of Day 4 of Free Week.

Emo's:  (Inside)

Last August, Daytrotter recorded a session with Zookeeper (Chris Simpson).  They describe the singer as one who, "drinks the pessimistic fire that, when it’s recycled and channeled back out into the slinking fingers of airy waviness, is rousing and beautifully sad.  It’s as if you’re watching flowers hitting the grave from below the dirt, or you’re feeling them thumping down on your buried face – less morbidly, of course, but it’s a striking way to experience things and somehow Simpson makes it seem like it’s happening".

Zookeeper - Tax Collector (mp3)

Zookeeper - Snow In Berlin (mp3)

Booher and the Turkeyz are a relatively new band.  Former Zykos frontman, Mike Booher formed the band, which includes members of Zookeeper, Sad Accordions, and Frank Smith.  Last year they played a few dates with Okkervil River.

Sad Accordions is a great band to also check out and some of their members also play with Zookeeper as well.  Definitely a fantastic way to start the night.

Doors @ 8, Show starts @ 10.

[Zookeeper Myspace]

[Frank Smith Myspace]

[Masonic Myspace]

[Sad Accordions Myspace]

2009 Starts With Free Show Week All Along Red River

2009 in Austin will start off with Free Week, which means a week full of concerts from some of the best local bands Austin has to offer.  Already a yearly staple at Emo's every January, Graham Williams of Transmission Entertainment has decided to expand Free Week to include Mohawk, Club de Ville, Red 7, Beauty Bar and others to get in on the fun.  It's all going down January 2nd through the 10th.

Williams started Free Week years ago when booking at Emo's, but left last year to broaden his horizons under the Transmission umbrella.  "After leaving Emo's last year, I decided this January that I'd keep my original concept going at multiple clubs.  I began talking to other venues who also had a similar idea," he says.  "I'm sure Emo's will continue to do free as it always has, but I love the idea and always wanted to see all of Red River doing it.  It's almost like a free local only SXSW for all the folks in town." [Via Austinist]

This year's festivities will include such bands as:  Riverboat Gamblers, Loxsly, Golden Boys, Peel, The Laughing, Moth!Fight!, Golden Bear, Complete Control, Crash Gallery, Til We're Blue or Destroy, Tia Carerra, The Strange Attractors, Calm Blue Sea, Transmography, Scorpion Child, Haunting Oboe Music, Pack of Wolves, Lower Class Brats , Harlem (pictured to the right), The Applicators, The Ugly Beats, La Snacks, Cry Blood Apache, Weird Weeds, Shapes Have Fangs, Cavedweller, and many, many more.  We'll be sure to keep you posted.

Update:  Check out our previews for each day here.

101x Independent Workforce XMAS: w/ The Ting Tings, Black Kids, Eagles of Death Metal

It's getting closer and closer to the holidays and now we bring you some great news. This year's 101x Independent Workforce XMAS Celebration will include music from The Ting Tings, Black Kids, and Eagles of Death Metal, The Black and White Years, The Airborne Toxic Event, Shapes Have Fangs, Low Line Caller, and Ringo Deathstarr. Mark those calenders, it's all going down on Thursday, December 11th at Emo's. Tickets are $25 and go on sale this Saturday (11/8) for the all ages show.

Update:  The show is now SOLD OUT!!

Also check out our pics/video from The Ting Tings show last month at The Parish.

[Buy Tickets]
[101x Official Site]
[Join the 101x Workforce]

Here's the schedule:

-Outside Room-
Doors 8pm
The Black and White Years 8:20-9pm
The Airborne Toxic Event 9:20-10pm
Eagles of Death Metal 10:20-11pm
Black Kids 11:20-12:20am
The Ting Tings 12:45-1:45am

-Inside Room-
Doors 8pm
Shapes Have Fangs 9-9:30pm
Low Line Caller 9:45-10:30pm
Ringo Deathstarr 10:45-11:45pm

Emo's Free Week

Friday:

[Inside] Those Peabodys, Ugly Beats, Black Joe Lewis, Transmography

[Outside]Lions, Brothers and Sisters, A Few Nice Things, Strange Attractors, Alright Tonight

[Lounge] Hex Dispensers, Ape-Shits, Teeners, Party Garbage, Scrabble Robot

Saturday:

[Inside] Cruiserweight, The Applicators, The Little Bicycles, The Anchor, Masonic

[Lounge] Car Stereo (Wars), Kevin A. (from Moth! Fight!), Quiet Lovely, La Snacks

[Outside] The Strange Boys, The Crack Pipes, Zykos, Brazos, Lalaland

Sunday:

[Inside] Ume, Red Leaves, Tre Orsi, Sharks and Sailors, Follow That Bird!

[Lounge] Til We're Blue or Destroy, Bee vs. Moth, Benko, Noise Revival Orchestra

Monday:

[Inside] Scorpion Child, Big Black Smoke, Consider the Source, Panther Zora, Cobretti

[Lounge] Pleasant Grove, Hollywood Gossip, The Easies, Many Birthdays, Single Frame

Tuesday:

[Lounge] Kissinger, The Midgetmen, Nathan Singleton and his Sideshow Tragedy, The Blind Pets

[Inside] Pack of Wolves, Warwolf, The Roller, Disgruntled I Hate You Face, Confuzatron

Wednesday:

[Inside] Australian Cattle God showcase with The Snake Trap, Megazilla, Manikin, Good Times Crisis Band, Red X Red M, A formatik Ontact

[Outside] Australian Cattle God showcase with Lick Lick, Cat Scientist, Gorch Fock, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Tia Carrera

Thursday:

[Inside] Rubble, Dazzling King Solomon, Cavedweller, Bridges and Blinking Lights

[Lounge] Ringo Deathstarr, My Education, The Boxing Lesson, Horse + Donkey, The Story Of

[Outside] Crash Gallery, Lax, The Laughing, Death is Not a Joyride, Snafu Kitties

Photo: Matt Wright via Flickr