Austin Free Week 2012

Happy 2012! The first week of the new year means one thing in Austin. That it's time for Austin FREE WEEK! What started out as a small showcase of free shows along Red River has exploded to a full blown event that takes place all over town. Below is the full listing of shows going on around town along with some of our picks as the "must see" shows of the week. We are also proud to have teamed up with Austin Vida, Red River Noise, SATX Music, and Pachanga Music Festival for the Austin "Indie Latino" Showcase on Thursday January 5th at Frank. More details on that show can be found [HERE]. Everything is FREE so there is no excuse to stay home so get out there, support local music and use that money you saved on cover to tip your bartender.

Monday | January 2nd 

Mohawk Indoor - The Eastern Sea, Danny Malone , Federal State Local and My Golden Calf (Presented by Vagabond Collective)
Beauty Bar - JD Clark, Hello Caller, The Awkward Robot and Loblolly Boy
Red 7 Outdoor - Mr Lewis and the Funeral 5, Automusik, Starlings TN, mandible and Moonlight Towers
ND - Western Tink & Beautiful Lou, Damaged Good$, Curbside Jones, Pac Boi Tank, H+ (DJ Set)
Swan Dive - The Soapbox Spellbinders, The White White Lights, Little Radar and Royal Forest (presented by Austin Writes Music and Cool In Austin) [RECOMMENDED]

Tuesday | January 3rd

Mohawk Outdoor - Crooks, Guns of Navarone, Whiskey Shivers (Presented by Giant Steps Productions) [RECOMMENDED]
Mohawk Indoor - Mike & the Moonpies, Frank Smith, Franny & Zooey, The Blind Pets and Mockingbird Loyals (Presented by Giant Steps Productions)
Red 7 Indoor - Bike Problems, The Gary, The Midgetmen, Blistering Speeds and Killdeer
Red 7 Outdoor - Floating Holidays, Rings Band, Necklace of Heads, Scorpion Child and Hour Band
Beauty Bar - Zlam Dunk, Boyfrndz, Sphynx, Sip Sip, Click Clack and Major Major Major [RECOMMENDED]
ND - Mary Ann &The Revival Band, Shakey Graves, Wild Child, Chase Weinacht (Marmalakes), Lonesome Heroes, Amy Annelle & the True Vine, The Duqaines
North Door - Spin & Tonic with Mike G
Swan Dive - Maneja Beto, Este Vato, Manzanas Malas and Son De Rey (presented by Austin Vida) Hotel Vegas - The Ripe, The Nouns, Bobby Jealousy and Kay Leotard
Skinny's Ballroom - Leatherbag, Mayeux and Broussard, Tarred and Feathered and Bob Hoffnar
Club Deville - Excited States, The Dalles and Teen Noir
Beerland - Coma in Algiers, St 37, Air traffic Contollers and Rhett and Dean
29th Street Ballroom - Lonesome Heroes and Bitter Birds
Scoot Inn - Downfall of Gaia, Vestiges, Dead To A Dying World and Boars

Wednesday | January 4th

Mohawk Outdoor - 10YR (DMadness + Yadira Brown), Ton Tons w/ DJ Rapid Ric and DJ Orion (Presented by Austin Surreal and Proper Entertainment) [RECOMMENDED]
Mohawk Indoor - Killa Kyleon, Gerald G, Worldwide (Presented by Austin Surreal and Proper Entertainment)
Red 7 Outdoor - Sober Daze, The Sweethearts, Piñata Protest, Heather Go Psycho and Mariachis Del Infierno (Presented by Austin Vida)
Beauty Bar - Look Mexico, Little Lo, Buxton, Tactics and Slash Future
ND - The Rocketboys, Shivery Shakes and The Coast of Nebraska
North Door - T-Bird (of T Bird and the Breaks) DJ set
Antones - Equals, Stereo Is A Lie, Boyfrndz and Residual Kid (Presented by Loyalty Firm) [RECOMMENDED]
Hotel Vegas - Hour Band, The trim, Flemish Giant and Liars and Saints
Beerland - Quin Davis, The Zoltars, Dave Israel and Greg Enlow
29th Street Ballroom - Literature, Wiretree, Milk Thistle and No Mas Bodas (presented by Austinist)
Frock On Vintage - The Boxing Lesson and The Hi-Tones (3016 Guadalupe Street)
Skinny's Ballroom - Graham Wilkinson, Thomas Champagne, J Molin
Scoot Inn - Yer Heart!, Madeline Ava and Mitch The Champ

Thursday | January 5th

Mohawk Outdoor - Maneja Beto, Lemurs and My Education [RECOMMENDED]
Mohawk Indoor - BOY, Daniel Francis Doyle, The Sour Notes, One Hundred Flowers and Burgess Meredith
Red 7 Indoor - Grand Champeen, A Giant Do, Elvis, Wes Coleman and Grape St.
Red 7 Outdoor - Hard Proof Afrobeat, Hundred Visions, Smoke and Feathers, Zlam Dunk, East Cameron Folkcore and Kay Leotard (Presented by From The Mind Of Adi & Austin Music Weekly) [RECOMMENDED]
Beauty Bar - The Mole People, The Couch, The Baker Family, The Nouns and The NYC Queens (Houston) Presented by Eye in the Sky Collective
ND - Feathers, Ricky Jean Francois, Distance Runner and Reaganometry
North Door - CLIMACK: Exploded Drawing DJ Series
Frank - Austin Vida "Indie Latino" Showcase - Politics, Pop Pistol, Vinyl Dharma and Friday Avenue [RECOMMENDED + SPONSORED]
Antones - Oh No Oh My, Leslie Sisson and The Frank Mustard
Stubbs - The White White Lights, Black Books, Les Rav and The Clouds Are Ghosts [RECOMMENDED]
Swan Dive - The Boxing Lesson, New Roman Times, Megafauna and The Couch [RECOMMENDED]
Hotel Vegas - Coma In Algiers, Bloody Knives and Chainbow
29th Street Ballroom - The Energy, The Gospel Truth, Cruddy, The Best, Nazi Gold
Skinny's Ballroom - Lord Buffalo, Salesman, Little Radar and Soup
Scoot Inn - Cabra, We'll Go Machete and Tow The Line

Friday | January 6th

Mohawk Outdoor - Calm Blue Sea, Missions, Clouds Are Ghosts and Octopus Project DJs, Presented by Lucy The Poodle Productions and Switched On
Mohawk Indoor - Total Unicorn, How I Quit Crack, Technicolor Hearts and Silent Diane, Presented by Lucy The Poodle Productions and Switched On
Red 7 Outdoor - Eagle Claw, Fleshlights, Woodgrain, Not In The Face, Dikes Of Holland and Este Vato
Red 7 Indoor - Church of the Divine Spirits, The Smites (Smiths), Yuppie Pricks (Sex Pistols), Germ Free Adolescents (X Ray Spex) Jesus Christ Superfly (American Hardcore) and Scary Mondelos (Social Distortion) Beauty Bar – Brownout, Roxy Roca, Bangaar, Gobi and Bulletproof Tiger
ND - The Boxing Lesson, Politics, (boy + kite) and Flemish Giant [RECOMMENDED]
Emo's - Quiet Company, My Education, Follow That Bird, Speak and Oh Look Out (Presented by Loyalty Firm)
North Door - DJ Kon Karne
Antones - Phranchyze, Zapata and The Hour Band
Stubbs - Chris Perez Band, Maneja Beto, Vitera and Kalua (presented by Austin Vida)
Scoot Inn - La Snacks, Markov, Skyscratchers and Trip Crystals
Hotel Vegas - The Blind Pets, Amplified Heat, Scorpion Child and The Red 100's
Frank - The Soldier Thread, Stereo Is a Lie, The Baker Family and December Boys [RECOMMENDED]
Cheer Up Charlies - Sundress, Whalers, The Magnificent Snails (Tour Kick Off) and Sweet Nuthin
Beerland - OBN III's, Pharoahs, Golden Boys and Church Shoes
Club Deville - Equals, Sorne, Bali Yaaah and Limb [RECOMMENDED]
Skinny's Ballroom - Kay  Leotard, Schmillion, World Racketeering Squad and The Scarlet Effect

Saturday | January 7th

Mohawk Outdoor - Special Guest, The Hi-Tones, Boxing Lesson and The Midwives [RECOMMENDED]
Mohawk Indoor - OBN III’s, Grape St, A Giant Dog, Ghostknife, Shivery Shakes and DJ Richard Henry
Red 7 Indoor - Lower Class Brats, Black Irish, Night Siege, Jensen Eyes and The Boiling Sea
Red 7 Outdoor - Dixie Witch, Tia Carrera, Wo Fat, OMGWTFBBQ and Mindless
Beauty Bar - Ringo Deathstarr, Sundress, The Clouds Are Ghosts, Ishi, My Education, Black Books, Bali Yaaah, Stukenberg, Presented by Lucy The Poodle Productions [RECOMMENDED]
ND - Salesman + Baker Family, Whalers and The Saddle
North Door - DJ Chorizo Funk
Antones - What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Happen-Ins and Gold Beach
Stubbs - Art vs Industry with Eyes Burn Electric
The Parish - Fresh Millions, Frontier Brothers, Marmalakes, Wild Moccasins and Hello Wheels [RECOMMENDED]
Hotel Vegas - Cowboy and Indian, The Greyhounds, Nakia and The Dead Left [RECOMMENDED]
Frank - Henry and The Invisibles, Gobi, The Shears and BK & Mr. E  [RECOMMENDED]
Cheer Up Charlies - Slug Bug, The Couch, The Long Tangles and Lean Hounds
Swan Dive - Quiet Company, The Pons, Stereo Is A Lie and Dead Black Hearts
29th Street Ballroom - TV Torso, Hundred Visions and Austin Leonard Jones [RECOMMENDED]
Scoot Inn - Major Major Major, Western Ghost House and Guns of Navarone [RECOMMENDED]

Sunday | January 8th

Mohawk Indoor - Broken Gold, Bremen Riot and The Gentlemen Rogues
Red 7 Indoor - La Migra, (Boy + Kite), Church Shoes, The Wolf, Psychic Palms, Scorpio Rising and Lux Divon
Red 7 Outdoor - The Triggermen, Parking and Kill City Beauty Bar - Cause in Effect, The Bye and Bye, Little Emily Warfield and GoGo Beware (Presented by 101x No Control Radio)
ND - Hot Rod Radio, Superlite Bike, Melissa Bryan and The Bang Bang Theodores [RECOMMENDED]

Austin FREE WEEK | 2011

Hope everyone had a great time during the first weekend of 2011! Austin's annual FREE WEEK continues tonight and throughout the week up until Sunday night. Btw, you can follow us on Twitter (@ultra8201).

Monday (1/3):

• Moon, Sad Accordions, Distance Runner, Love at 20 at Red 7 (inside) | Show @ 10
• Sober Daze, Bike Problems, Medium Head Boy at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 10
• Hatred Surge, Night Siege, Naw Dude, Shitty Carwash at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• One Hundred Flowers, Deer Vibes, The Bubbles at Beauty Bar
• Pack of Wolves, Eagle Claw, Tia Carrera, Scorpion Child, High Watt Crucifixers, Black Earth at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 8:30
• Wild America, Tenement, Women In Prison, Uppers, Serious Tracers at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 8:30

Tuesday (1/4):

• Stereo Is A Lie, Motel Aviv, New Roman Times, Final Exam at The Parish | Doors @ 8
• One Hundred Flowers, Invisible Inks, Burgess Meredith, Gold Beach at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• Tiny Tin Hearts, MTN, Expensive Shit, DJ Huxtible at Emo's (outside) | Show @ 8
• Woodgrain, We'll Go Machete, Watching The Moon, Come and Take It, Half Mile Fox Fur at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• A Sky Jet Black, Pink Sugar, Knifight, Young Girls, DJ Scorpio at Beauty Bar
• Creamers, Cruddy, Reicide, Randa Briggs at Beerland
• Get Money Brotha$$$ at Red 7 (inside)
• Crew54, Riders Against The Storm, Kill City, The Means at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 10

Wednesday (1/5):

• Trashy Farmer, Fresh Millions, Focus Group, Sphynx at The Parish | Doors @ 8
• Marmalakes, Danny Malone, Little Lo, Dark Water Hymnal at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• Quiet Company, The Boxing Lesson, Smoke & Feathers, My Education, Red Leaves at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 8:30
• A Giant Dog, Shapes Have Fangs, Elvis, Rayon Beach, Flesh Lights at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• Neon Cobra, Snake Handler, Emily Warfield and The Cosmic Bats, Paperthreat, Warplanes at Beauty Bar
• Easy Tiger, St. Philistine, The Bubbles, American Sharks at Beerland
• DJ Richard Henry at Red 7 (inside)
• The Gary, Artificial Heart, The Midgetmen, Beautiful Supermachines, Blue Kabuki at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 9:30

Thursday (1/6):

• White Rhino, Smoke and Feathers, Devil in the Drink, Ancient VVisdom at The Parish | Doors @ 8
• T Bird and The Breaks, East Cameron Folklore, Guns of Navarone at Mohawk (outside) | Show @ 8
• Bridge Farmers, Maneja Beto, Money Chicha, Jacob Jones at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 8
• Ringo Deathstarr, The Carrots, The Ugly Beats, The Hi-Tones at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 9
• Yellow Fevers, Missions, Spells, Silent Diane, Visuals by Vidkdiz at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• The Long Tangles (CD Release) at Stubb's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• OBN III's, Flesh Lights, Love Collector, Teenage News at Beerland
• Woodgrain, Shitty Carwash, Bethrhythm, Markov, Big Mess, Pink Sugar at Red 7 (inside) Show @ 9:45
• Krum Bums, The Bulemics, Born To Lose, Black Irish, Post Society at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 9:45
• La Snacks, Black Gum, Boy + Kite, Grandma's Ghost at Beauty Bar

Friday (1/7):

• Soundcheck Magazine Presents: What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Lemurs, Ovenbird, Salesman, The Authors at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 9
• From The Mind of Adi Presents First Frolic Friday: w/ One Hundred Flowers, Stereo is a Lie, Monarchs, Erin Ivey, Eagle Eye Williamson, BK & Mr. E, DJ uLoveI, DJ I Wanna Be Her at Club Deville | Show @ 5pm (more info here)
• Los Skarnales, Nick Curran & The Lowlifes, Jungle Rockers, El Pathos at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• The Frontier Brothers, The Laughing, The Eastern Sea, MaryAnn and the Revival Band at The Parish | Doors @ 8
• Indian Jewelry, The Laughing, Astronaut Suit at Mohawk (outside) | Show @ 9
• Motel Aviv, Attak (In)Formation, Zorch, Look Mexico at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• Art Versus Industry, Pulse Electric, Lauren Burton at Stubb's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• Brownout, Maneja Beto, Roxy Roca, Este Vato at Beauty Bar
• Hex Dispensers, Damn Times, Manikin, The Bad Lovers, Randa Briggs at Beerland
• Thieves, The Stampede, Fingers Crossed, A New Hope at Red 7 (Early Show)
• Golden Boys, Broken Gold, A Giant Dog, Air Traffic Controllers, The Dead Space, Schmillion at Red 7 (inside) | Show @ 9
• Power Trip, Rat King, Broken Congress, One Against Many, Tow the Line, Venormous Maximus at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 9:45

Saturday (1/8):

• Yes Inferno, Terp 2 It, Bali Yaaah, Shiny Empire, Co-Pilot, Rescue Mission, La Cuna Inc, FM Campers, My Education, Papershapes at Beauty Bar (outside) | Show @ 3pm
• Watch Out For Rockets, One Step Program, Pop Pistol, Love Hate Affair, Sundress, Black Books, Red Leaves, The Clouds Are Ghosts at Beauty Bar (inside) | Show @ 3pm
• Rock The Casbah #41 w/ DJ Mel at The Parish | Doors @ 10
• Mother Falcon, Royal Forest, My Golden Calf at Mohawk (outside) | Show @ 9
• Missions, My Empty Phantom, Milk Thistle, Obsolete Machines at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• The Crack Pipes, John Wesley Coleman, OBN III's, The Stuffies, Hatchet Wound at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 9
• The Chumps, The Motard Experience, Zero Skills, Baby Dick, Hot Crush at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• The Young Maths, Sour Soul, Hydra Melody, Vinyl Dharma at Stubb's (inside) | Doors @ 9
• Yes Inferno, My Education at Beauty Bar
• Elvis, Coma In Algiers, Cartright, Dikes of Holland, The Creationists at Beerland
• The Roller, Eagle Claw, Garuda, Burials, Fuck Work at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 9:45
• Fiend without a Face, West End Motel, black eyed vermillion, Western Ghost House, Country Willie, Town Hall Devils at Red 7 (inside) | Show @ 9
• The Pons, Wiretree, Leatherbag, DJ Czech One at ND

Sunday (1/9):

• Transmography, The Blind Pets, Ginsu Wives, perpetual werewolf, OMGWTFBBQ at Red 7 (outside) | Show @ 9:45
• .44, Mike and The Moonpies, December Boys, Joshua Bain at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
• Quin Galavis, Zoltars, Larry Llondra at Beerland

Austin FREE Weekend | 2011

Happy New Year and all that good stuff! As every year begins in Austin we are fortunate to have some of the best local bands in Austin performing in the Red River area for FREE at various clubs, hence the name FREE WEEK. Today, we'll share this weekend's concert listings and venues, and then on Monday we'll unveil the rest of FREE WEEK's bands for the upcoming week.

Saturday (1/1):

Car Stereo (Wars), Parking, Gobi, Politics at Red 7 (outside)
Yuppie Pricks, The Distant Seconds, Mistress Stephanie and Her Melodic Cat, Jesus Christ Superfly, Blowhole at Red 7 (inside)
Motel Aviv, Masonic, Lovies, Last Nighters at Beauty Bar | Show @ 9:15
The Laughing, Til We're Blue or Destroy, Butcher Bear & Charlie at Mohawk (outside) | Show @ 8
Watch Out For Rockets, The White White Lights, Lean Hounds, Hundred Visions at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 8
Crooks, Western Ghost House, Black Books, Not in the Face at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
The Gary, Shells, Killdeer, Blue Kabuki at Beerland

Sunday (1/2):

Candi and the Strangers, Bali Yaaah, She Sir at Club Deville | Show @ 10
Amplified Heat, The Hi-Tones, The Boxing Lesson, Black Forest Fire at Mohawk (inside) | Show @ 9
Set Aflame, Lions of Tsavo, Falsetta, The Brigade, Let the Dead, unmothered at Emo's (outside) | Doors @ 8:30
The Blind Pets, Jesus Christ Superfly, The Riot Scene at Emo's (inside) | Doors @ 9
White Rhino, Lights Go Out, Sideshow Tragedy, White Dress at Red 7 (inside)
Gods Are Ghosts, Fatback Circus, Obsolete Machines, Sheer Kahn and the Space Case at Red 7 (outside)
Shitty Carwash, Vitamins, Not in the Face, Sex Dragon at Beauty Bar
The Lilies, The Act Rights, These Are Words, Bloody Knives at Beerland

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

Last Night: Ume, Harlem and El Paso Hot Button at Emo's Free Week

Video:

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 6

Hope everyone is still enjoying all the Free Week shows, still got a few more days to go.

Club De Ville:

It's always a good time when we get to see Corto Maltese.  They are definitely one of the best bands in Austin.  The Austinist describes them as "having an adventurous sound worthy of the 'rogue with a heart of gold.' The indie rockers are inevitably compared to Arcade Fire, Ben Maddox’s vocals are spot-on Win Butler, but they forgo the bevy of eccentric instruments in favor of a grungier guitar base."

Playing right before Corto Maltese will be The Great Nostalgic, who we wrote about on our Day 1 preview of Free Week.  If you missed them last Friday, here's your chance.

Opening up the show will be The Authors.  They're a band I haven't seen live, but sound pretty intriguing on their myspace.

[Corto Maltese Myspace]

[The Great Nostalgic Myspace]

[The Authors 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]

FREE WEEK(END) 2009: Day 2 and Day 3

Hopefully everyone made it out to at least one of the amazing shows that was going on last night. The party continues this weekend so we will keep going with the previews. There are so many options this weekend regardless of your musical tastes. Here are some of our suggestions. What a way to start the year off!

Saturday :: January 3rd

The Mohawk

Riverboat Gamblers, Harlem, Alright Tonight 

If you missed out on Harlem last night here is your second chance of the week, they are joined by Austin favorite The Riverboat Gamblers. They haven't been seen around in a whie so maybe we can get a sneak peek at some new material.

[Riverboat Gamblers]

[Harlem]

[AlrightTonight]

Bankrupt and the Borrowers, Cartright, Whitman, The Greyhounds 

Bankrupt and the Borrowers are a dirty crew of vagrants and scoundrels, and, as such, they come from a long line of decadent tradition and pain. They are, as their name eludes . . . poor.  They live together in a house in Austin Texas. Usually you can find someone passed out somewhere in one of the many rooms. There is incomprehensible writing scrawled all over the walls alongside marker drawings and sprawling holes.

[Bankrupt and the Borrowers]

[Cartright]

[Whitman]

[The Greyhounds]

Emo's

The Ugly Beats, The Jungle Rockers, Amplified Heat, Dans La Lune

[The Ugly Beats]

[The Jungle Rockers]

[Amplified Heat]

[Dans La Lune]

What Made Milwaukee Famous, Oh No! Oh My!, The Pons, The Mercers, The Georgian Company

WMMF is an Austin staple and I don't think we could have a free week show without them. Their latest effort really grew on me over the year and seeing lead singer Michael Kincaid at pretty much every show I went to impressed me so much. Anyone that into music may know what they are doing.

[What Made Milwaukee Famous]

[Oh No! Oh My!]

[The Pons]

[The Mercers]

[The Georgian Company]

Club Deville

Til We're Blue or Destroy, Hollywood Gossip, Ichi Ni San 

Til We’re Blue or Destroy (TWBOD) is an energetic, nine-piece pop/rock band from Austin, Texas. Originally started by Will Rhodes in early 2005 as a recording project incorporating most of his musically inclined friends, TWBOD soon became an actual band. The group takes advantage of the versatility of their large lineup by at times melding vocal harmonies similar to Stars’ Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan; dipping through melodic, shoegaze Brit-pop; and s

plashing bursts of electronics and horns into their continually danceable beats. 

[Til Were Blue or Destroy]

[Hollywood Gossip]

[Ichi Ni San]

Stubb's

Tiny Vipers, Balmorhea, Precious Blood 

Being a solo acoustic female singer songwriter comes with its share of conspicuous baggage. And, Seattle’s Jesy Fortino, who records and performs as Tiny Vipers, has been spared little of it: she’s played coffee shops, on mismatched bills with by-the-book folkies, and fielded far too many questions that address her gender rather than her music

[Tiny Vipers]

[Balmorhea]

[Precious Blood]

Sunday :: January 4th

Emo's

The Always Already, Haunting Oboe Music, Prayer for Animals, j.be.

Some of my favorite local bands all in one bill. When the line up was first announced for free week this was one of the shows I was instantly excited about

[The Always Ready]

[Haunting Oboe Music]

[Prayer For Animals]

[J.Be]

The Tunnels, Christian Bland (of The Black Angels), Elvis, Woven Bones, The Astronaut Suit, DJ Scorpio 

[The Tunnels]

[Christian Bland]

[The Astronaut Suit]

I'm curious to see Christian Bland do some solo material so this might be worth the trip alone. 

FREE WEEK 2009: Day 1 (January 2)

Tonight is the first of the many days of Free Week.  We're here to help you get ready for the shows tonight.  It's a Friday, gotta love that!  Lots of good shows, let's get into it.  Please feel free to let us know if you are going too!

Emo's: (Outside)

The outside stage features music from Lemurs, a band that has been around since 2004.  The Austinist describes them as, "expertly alternating between guitar driven synth-rock and memorable power pop ditties, making for a rousing live peformance that has the audience dancing and bobbing their head in agreement all show long".  They are definitely coming into their own.  We've seen them numerous times, most recently when they opened for the secret Matt & Kim show at Mohawk a few weeks back.

The Lemurs - Blackspot (mp3)

The lineup also boasts music from one of our favorites around town, Ringo Deathstarr.  The White Noise Revisited describes them as a "four-piece from Texas who recall the glory years of Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and Drop Nineteens".  Distorted, fuzzy, and loud guitars are a staple at their shows.

Ringo Deathstarr - Some Kind of Sad (mp3)

Ringo Deathstarr - Swirly (mp3)

The Boxing Lesson are always on point every time we see them and will provide the Emo's crowd with their part space rock, part psychedelic guitar.  Add in a moog and there you have it.

The Boxing Lesson - Muerta (mp3)

The Great Nostalgic has been hailed as one of the local bands to watch in 2009 according to the Austin Chronicle.  They are currently recording their debut album with producer Erik Wofford of Cacophony Recorders.  The man has worked with The Black Angels, Explosions In The Sky, Zykos, and Octopus Project.  Read an interview he did with Austin Sound last year.

Ovenbirds, which feature ex-members of Zykos are also on the bill.

[Lemurs Myspace]

[Ringo Deathstarr Myspace]

[The Boxing Lesson Myspace]

[The Great Nostalgic Myspace]

[Ovenbirds Myspace]

Lamberts:

Headlining the intimate stage at Lamberts will be Autobus signees Brazos.  Earlier this month, Daytrotter recorded a session with the band and had this to say, "Martin Crane, the leader and songwriter of the band, does big and bombastic on a smaller scale.  He takes the massive span of what a group such as U2 or My Morning Jacket builds into their everyday, musical actions and boils it down into something that he and his talented mates know how to play with".

Brazos - Mary Jo (mp3)

Harlem is one of our new favorite bands in Austin, and chances are, you'll probably be seeing plenty of them in the future as well.  

"They're something scampish about the trio that makes them incredibly charming, unloading garage pop with a cathartic energy that seems to combine the best elements of local favorites White Denim and the Strange Boys into one roguish blitz of infectious melody and scruffy guitars".  I think Austin Sound summed it up pretty well.

We put up their video for "Witch Greens" last month.  If you missed it or just want to watch it again, check it out here.

Canopy will be the opening up the show.  Soundcheck Magazine had a few things to say about their EP Anopy.  "Upon a brisk listen, Canopy could easily get categorized as just fun indie-pop with clever lyrics and stylistic instrumentals.  This isn't a bad thing per se, buy Ayyagari (singer/guitar) takes it one step further.  He uses mild, experimental aspects of electronic noise, glittering guitar solos, horns, and jazzy drums to create a subtle smattering of sounds wrapped up in a neat package".

Watch a video for their song "Narrow Bones" here.

[Brazos Myspace]

[Harlem Myspace]

[Canopy Myspace]

Mohawk: (Outside) 

Transmission Entertainment present Low Line Caller, Calm Blue Sea, Motel Aviv (formerly known as A.U.X.), and L.A.X.

Low Line Caller originally started off as an instrumental band.  In 2007, they added vocalist Marc Ferrino of Black Before Red and they really started to grow as a band.  They are an up-and-coming band here in Austin.  I'm wouldn't really be surprised to hear them on the radio in the very near future.  You catch watch their video for the song "Killing The Cool" here.

Low Line Caller - Over The Counter Kids (mp3)

If you like instrumental rock, then the Calm Blue Sea is for you.  Our friend Ana over at Austin Sound Check describes their self-titled debut as "only six songs, but clocks in at 46.5 minutes.  Both of these things are completely standard and expected in the instrumental genre.  What's fresh and unique to the Calm Blue Sea are the bold peaks and valleys of their songs.  The piquant crescendos and decrescendos are hallmarks of skilled songwriting and composition.  Most striking are the soft, ethereal piano choruses, bookended by driving guitar verses that hold your attention and simultaneously leave you wanting more".

[Buy their debut album via iTunes]

Motel Aviv (formerly known as A.U.X.) and the duo L.A.X. open up the show.

[Low Line Caller Myspace]

[Calm Blue Sea Myspace]

[Motel Aviv Myspace]

[L.A.X. Myspace]

Mohawk: (Inside)

Party Ends presents music from Built by Snow, The Always Already, Zlam Dunk.

2009 should be a great year Built by Snow.  In a few weeks on January 20th, the band will release a new album entitled, Mega.  If you'd like the digital copy, it's already available on iTunes.  Here's a song off the new album entitled, "Implode Alright".

Built by Snow - Implode Alright (mp3)

Our friends at Party Ends describe The Always Already as "a trio of arty dance rock enthusiasts who bring the crowd equal parts post-punk and new wave".  The guys are working on a new EP that should be out in February as well.

Zlam Dunk opens up the show.

[Built by Snow Myspace]

[The Always Already Myspace]

[Zlam Dunk Myspace]

FREE WEEK 2009

For years Graham Williams booked Emo's.  He had the awesome idea to put together a Free Week at the beginning of every year to showcase all the great local bands Austin had to offer.

In 2007, Williams left Emo's to start his own company, Transmission Entertainment.  His company are the ones behind Fun Fun Fun Fest and do the booking for Mohawk, Red 7, Lamberts, Club De Ville, and the soon to be opened Radio Room.  Now his clubs will be getting in on the act of Free Week.

It's all going on January 2nd - 10th and we're here to help you get ready for the shows, every single day.  Stay tuned all week (we should have a post everyday), we've picked out the shows that caught our eye and we'll have a little more info on the bands.

[Emo's]

[Mohawk]

[Lamberts]

[Red 7]

[Club De Ville]

[Transmission Entertainment Official Site]

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.

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