Bowerbirds are playing the Mohawk Thursday night, with local opener, Martin Crane. All I know about Martin Crane is that there is some affiliation with the band Brazos. I also know that Martin Crane was also Frasier's dad. Bowerbirds have been making ripples in the indie-blog world but I don't think the big buzz for them has started just yet. I've heard them on Sirius XM radio and I really enjoy it, definatly has potential to appeal to a larger audience. So I'm going to officially endorse them as Bloggy-approved.
I also, want to mention a show that's going on at Beerland Thu night. My pals in When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth are about to go on a west coast tour so I think you should check out their live show before they pile into a van. Apologies for the video re-post but it's all/the best video I could find featuring the Dinos.
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth - It's Not the Heat, It's the Humidity video via YouTube
If you do head to Beerland tomorrow you'll also have the chance to catch Daniel Francis Doyle. I think that's one of those names that sounds more famous than it actually is. That's a tip for you, dear reader, use three names and earn more respect and/or become infamous instead of famous. :-/
Daniel Francis Doyle - Your Cursive video via YouTube
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the touring support act for Bowerbirds at the Mohawk will be Megafaun. They're based in the Raleigh-Durham, NC scene and they play really nice roots-style music with Banjo and everything! Think J. Tillman/Fleet Foxes/Bowerbirds. :-)
Megafaun is also very Bloggy-approved. In fact I am heading to End of an Ear right now to pick up their album, Gather, Form & Fly. I really like what I've heard so far. I don't really like the artwork for the new album though, just sayin'.
Well folks, it looks like you may be standing in line if you want to see Amy Cook at the Mohawk tomorrow night. Twitter is all a buzz right now with the recent info that fellow Austinite, and presumed fan Ben Kweller will be playing a solo set as well. According to his Twitter account, he'll actually be taking requests. The doors open at 8p, tickets cost $8 and I'd get there early, especially if you want to get beer AND get a good spot to stand/sit.
Amy Cook - The Answer video via YouTube The official bill for this Amy Cook show says that she'll be performing with the Tosca Strings, the name sounded familiar but I wasn't quite sure until I checked, good ole' YouTube. Here's what I found:
Voxtrot - Reaching For the Lasers (Episode 4) video via YouTube
Remember Voxtrot? I like Voxtrot, they should release some more EP's, their EP's always kick ass. They're down with the Tosca Strings and so is Rick Linklater, which is neither here nor there.
Speaking of things, which are barely related to this post. Remember, when Ben Kweller teamed up with Ben Folds and Ben Lee and they called themselves the Bens? I wonder if they'll ever collaborate again? Maybe I'll request this song tomorrow night, you think B. Kweller would be pissed if I requested the Bens?
Just for the hell of it, and cause I've had Austin City Limits Festival on the brain lately, here's the Tosca Strings performing, my favorite, Vampire Weekend song with VW at ACL last year.
Vampire Weekend w/the Tosca Strings - M79 video via YouTube
Are y'all going to catch Girls with Los Campesinos Friday night? I feel like Los Campesinos played a show here in town quite recently, not that I'm complaining...yet. In any case, I'm actually as excited/more excited to catch Girls again. I know it can be tough with Women, Girls and Vivian Girls all on the scene at once but hey at least they're not all in town together like they were during SXSW. Apparently Vagina-inspired band names are the new animal-inspired band names. Although, I'm pretty sure crystal-bands were already the new animal-band but you see where I'm going with this.
Los Campesinos are known for being Canadian, and putting on a very high-energy show. It seems to me that it's a little bit easier to put on a high energy show when there are a billion people on the stage (See Polyphonic Spree). I'm not trying to knock Los Campesinos but it will be strange to see 7-11 band members after seeing Girls perform as a duo. But I digress. I'm pretty sure you can still get tickets to this show. At least at the moment that I'm writing this. That's why I'm posting about it on Monday so maybe you can actually get in to the show.
Los Campesinos are on one of my favorite labels, Arts & Crafts home to Stars, and Broken Social Scene among others. So, chances are if you like those pleasantly Canadian, indie-pop gems then you'll enjoy this one as well.
Los Campesinos - Death to Los Campesinos! video via YouTube
Chicago band Smith Westerns will be kicking things off at Emo's outside stage Friday night and tickets will set you back a cool $14 before extraneous fee-age. Check 'em out on Chicago Public-Access television. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas politics biker-style? In any case, I'm really into the whole droney, Phil Spector, surf-garage, indie-movement so this band is right up my alley (see, Austin band, Harlem for example).
I also have to note that on the Smith Westerns' Myspace page they describe their music as sounding like "blogs", which I find to be both funny and true or possibly funny BECAUSE it's true.
Oh and here's one more from Girls before I sign-off.
I was following along with the happenings at Lollapalooza this past weekend, via Twitter, and it got me thinking about ACL Festival. The first thing I wanted to look at is what are going to be the tough decisions? In other words, two Bloggy-approved acts performing simultaneously and/or inter-lapping time-slots on separate stages. I'll get to all of that fun-ness after the jump. The other two concerns I have at the moment, with the festival still three months away, are what will the after-shows be this year? Also, who will take-over the headlining slot now that the Beastie Boys won't be in attendance?
I feel like to fill-in the Beastie's slot could be pretty tough but at the same time I'm sure the festival audience will be satisfied with any big name. Personally, I haven't heard any rumors or rumblings regarding a replacement act. I remember a few years back when Muse filled in for the White Stripes in their absence. That was definitely a good swap in my humble opinion. Usually, we could look to other festivals for clues. Perhaps, Austin will have an evening with Phish but somehow I find that unlikely. A Tribe Called Quest could keep the classic-rap vibe going but I don't know if that would excite as many people as the Beastie Boys. Who do you think will fill in the giant gap/Friday headlining spot?
Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump video via YouTube I feel like for the VS. portion of this discussion I should wait until the festival gets closer but I'll still give you a preview. On the first day of ACL you'll have to decide on Phoenix VS. Daniel Johnston. Oh, the problems we have to deal with at festivals, I could just cry.
For now I want to just devote this post to conjecture. As I have mentioned several times in the past, I prefer to check out the whole after-show scene at the clubs/bars downtown rather than hoofing it in the heat with the masses. Call me a snob if you must, I'm ok with it. Last year I had a great time at all of the after-events although I will tell you I spent almost as much on tickets for all of those shows as I would have for festival passes. I'd say my favorite event from last year was catching Jamie Lidell at the Parish room. That was a pretty bad-ass show.
This year my after-show predictions are based on the idea that there are usually three venues hosting after-shows on Fri, Sat, and Sun nights and maybe one or two hosting pre-show shows on Thu night.
For the pre-show position there aren't a lot of acts that stand out to me there. Last year David Byrne played a pre-show at the Paramount. So, I'm thinking maybe Andrew Bird, he played the Paramount last time he was in town and he is a KGSR/Adult-Alternative friendly artist. He's also playing a close-to headlining slot Friday night of the fest.
For my Friday night ACL after-show conjecture, I'm really hoping to catch Phoenix at the Parish but that's VERY wishful thinking. Chances are, even if there is a Phoenix after-show La Zona Rosa is a more likely venue but that's fine with me as well. I also, sort of hope/expect there to be a Thievery Corporation after-show, probably at Emo's. I'm also gonna tag Bassnectar and the Walkmen for possible after-shows Friday.
Phoenix - Listzomania video via YouTube. We love you John Hughes, your films and inspiration will live-on forever.
You are keeping in mind, that I'm making all of this up just using educated guess-work right? For Saturday night, there are lots of possibilities this tends to be the night with the most/best after-shows. It's the middle of the fest, people are still hyped and not totally exhausted...yet. So, the first artist I'm going to tag for a Sat night ACL after-show is, the Decemberists they love to play Austin and almost every time they have a show here, they have three shows here. They could pretty much play anywhere but I'd like to see them at Club Deville. I also feel like a ...Trail of Dead after-show is to be expected. At first I was thinking Ghostland but they're headlining a stage Sat night so I expect that will be their only show. Other than that I'm thinking !!! is a pretty likely possibility as well as Devotchka. But, I'd be really psyched if Deer Tick and/or Grizzly Bear did a Sat night after-show.
Deer Tick - Easy video via YouTube. Sorry 'bout the fake vid but this is what I could find.
For Sunday night that's usually a night that only has a couple of after-shows but they are power-house shows. Last year I saw M.Ward, Jenny Lewis, and Conor Oberst on a shared bill Sunday night. So for this year's Sunday night I'm going to tag, the Dead Weather, Arctic Monkeys, Passion Pit, Girl Talk and maybe Clutch.
PS22 Chorus - Seaweed Song (Passion Pit song) video via YouTube
So, that's my festival conjecture for now. Put your predictions in the comments we'll see who is best at predicting the future.
