On the Fence About Bad Veins

As a subscriber to satellite radio I have the luxury of actually hearing music I've never heard before...on the radio. Remember that? Back when you were younger and you would turn the radio on and wonder, "Who is this?" shortly followed by, "I want this tape so bad(ly)!" Nowadays terrestrial radio is full of familiar stalwarts from "alt-rock"'s past mixed in with some mall-punk. Unless you listen to top 40 or something else, in which case, why are you reading this right now? But I digress.

Sirius XMU keeps playing tracks from this band, Bad Veins. Their name immediately makes me think of junkies, not a great first impression, but the music itself seems like something I would normally like. It's somewhat dark, somewhat electronic, somewhat like Helio Sequence but it just not as melodious or something. I want to know what the Bloggy people think.


Bad Veins - Gold & Warm video via YouTube


If your interest has been piqued, I did notice that Bad Veins will be here in Austin late in August. The show will be at Emo's outside stage and will feature some Austin up-and-comers as well. Tickets will set you back $5 and as you know, shows at Emo's start late and end late. Here's one more from Bad Veins then I'll post some vids from the local bands playing the same show.


Bad Veins - Falling Tide video via YouTube

Alright, I don't know about you but the live video pretty much sold me on Bad Veins. But, if you're still not convinced enough to check them out at Emo's maybe the local acts will do the trick. Black and White Years is probably the biggest local name. The way the show is listed on Emo's site makes it seem like they'll actually be performing after the touring act?


Black & White Years - Power to Change video via YouTube

Built By Snow will also be appearing that same night. Now, I posted their videos yesterday but after seeing them at Beerland last night I think I'll re-post a vid cause they were kick ass. My only complaint about the live experience is the songs seemed to end very abruptly, like no one really knew when to start clapping. Not really sure how to fix that, maybe a nice Van Halen jump for emphasis/punctuation.


Built By Snow - Drag Away video via YouTube

Lastly but certainly not leastly, you can catch The White White Lights at Emo's in like a month and probably lots of other places in the meantime. I have only seen them once, I made a, possible-rude, suggestion regarding their performance and they corrected it at the next show. So obviously I'm a fan/supporter now even if I wasn't before.


The White White Lights - Unknown to Me video via YouTube

By the way the above video is courtesy of my brothers in blogging over at Ultra8201 check 'em out.

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Bloggy's Back Y'all!

So hopefully I didn't alienate all of my readers with that extended hiatus but I'm back y'all. Access to the internet has returned and the town's people are rejoicing. Just in time for me to give you the heads up on a free, early show...with free beer. It's happening tomorrow night and it's brought to you by some of my favorite internet brethren. The folks over at Do512 and those crazy cats over at Better Than the Van are bringing us two bands for the price of none. It's all going down at Beerland tomorrow night starting at 7p. Finally, an event that's friendly to those of us who work at 6am. I can get drunk, get live music AND get enough sleep for my early Friday morning. You will have to RSVP to get into this event and I suggest an early arrival. Any time there's free booze there's long-ass lines.


Quiet Company - Fashionable - Fashionabel video via YouTube

Free Mp3 courtesy of SXSW.com, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Built By Snow - All the Weird Kids Know

***UPDATE***
My friends with Quiet Company sent along this link to a three song sampler EP for their latest album, Everyone You Love Will Be Happy Soon. Thanks, QC

Free Mp3's ---> Quiet Company - 3 - Song Sampler EP

I didn't even mention that the two bands performing tomorrow night are on my list of Austin bands that you should check out in '09. Obviously, one of the bands is Quiet Company, who you're hopefully listening to right now. They'll be going on first, with a 7pm set time. Imagine the sun will still be out and we'll be in the dark confines of Beerland sweating our aces off to the gentle melodies of QC...likely with Lone Stars in hand. By the way, I love that one of the comments on the YouTube page for the above video says, "The guitar player is my personal trainer". That's so Austin, the drummer might have been your waiter, bartender or massage-therapist?

This next tune from the Quiet Company might be my favorite song title ever...or at least lately. It's also very pro-economic recovery while at the same time speaking the of the truths that lead to our credit downfall in the first place, but I digress.


Quiet Company - It's Better To Spend Money Like There's No Tomorrow Than To Spend Tonight Like There's No Money video via YouTube

Going on at 8p at Beerland tomorrow will be another band to watch, Built By Snow. Honestly, I have yet to see these guys perform live but I'm pretty excited to see them tomorrow. The stuff I've heard from them is the perfect blend of pop and jangly-ness with an occasional touch of sad-bastard-punk. They also have a penchant for quirky, nerdy videos, which is always nice for me as someone who likes to post videos.


Built By Snow - Underneath video via YouTube

This video is a bit older and I've already posted it but I needed more evidence of their love for odd/quirky/zany/nerdy/etc. videos. What do you want to bet that one or more people in Built By Snow works at the Alamo Drafthouse, I <3 Video, or Vulcan? They seem like "film" people as opposed to movie people like you or I.


Built By Snow - Drag Away video via YouTube

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