Girls, Smith Westerns, Videos

I saw, the much blogged about, Girls at the new and improved Parish last night. I thought they put on a totally solid performance, with hooky, jangly tunes that wear their influences on their sleeves. Apparently, lead Girl, Christopher Owens' mother was in the audience last night. He said she hadn't heard him sing or play guitar since he was 16, which was a long time ago I suppose. Have you heard his whole back-story about the religious cult and all? It's pretty interesting, scope the wiki for the full, possibly verified story. In any case I did have the trusty Flipcam in my pocket so I did steal their souls during a few songs, just for you dear reader.


Girls - Darling video via YouTube


Girls - Ghost Mouth video via YouTube

What? Did you think I didn't shoot them performing any of their "singles"? Well I did...


Girls - Lust For Life video via YouTube

Chicago band, the Smith Westerns were the opening band, with Magic Kids playing the middle set. I'm going to try to not judge, Magic Kids too harshly because I haven't heard their songs on record yet. However, I will give you one word to describe my feelings throughout points in their set last night and that word is, "cringe". Check my twitter feed if you want some more specific feedback. Also, I wasn't standing in a good spot during the Magic Kids set so I don't have any video of their performance.


Smith Westerns - Gimme Some Time video via YouTube

As you can see, I was in a good spot for the Smith Westerns set last night and I was quite impressed. I have their self-titled album and it's a grower, not a shower. It took me a few weeks before I began to enjoy it but I was already a fan before seeing them last night. On record they sound really bratty and the mix of the album is very treble-enhanced so to actually hear the vocals and not have everything sound tin-ny was quite pleasant. It's like the band Wavves if you've only heard the records you probably don't get the hype but when you see them live you can actually hear the songs.


Smith Westerns - My Heart video via YouTube

While I'm on the subject of good mixing versus bad mixing of albums, have you heard the latest from Yeasayer yet?!?! It sounds SOOO effing good, especially compared to their last album, which sounded very far away and didn't do their songs justice whatsoever. Kudos to bands who work with great ears, maybe if y'all performed with earplugs you'd recognize when your albums are mixed like shhh. <---This comment is aimed at no specific band.

This is where I would have embedded the newest Yeasayer video if their label allowed FREE PROMO!!! WTF labels, live in the now.

So Much Thursday Action

It should come as no surprise by now, that Thursday night is packed with good shows. I feel like every week I have to choose between several cool acts playing simultaneously across the city. The first thing I want to mention, since I haven't said anything all week, is that Jonathan Richman is playing his fourth, and final, night in Austin at the Continental Club. From what I've gathered Mr. Richman isn't viewed with the same status here in Austin as he is in New England. Back in Boston he's the shhhh. I also want to give a promotional shout-out to my bloggy-brethren over at Ultra 8201 who will be celebrating their bloggiversary over at Ghost Room. That show will feature three top-notch local bands: the Authors, Politics, with New Roman Times in the headlining slot.


New Roman Times - VCR video via YouTube


I'm always a fan of shows at the Parish Room, so I think my Thursday night will be spent there with the Fiery Furnaces. FF is one of those bands who I didn't like when I first heard them but eventually found myself humming their tunes and now it's full on love. I'm interested to see if their live performance will live up to the sounds of the albums. Their reputation precedes them in the live show category so I don't expect to be disappointed.


Fiery Furnaces - Even In the Rain video via YouTube

I also don't want to forget my homies in Quiet Company who seem to have a regular gig at Stubb's inside stage. They'll be sharing a bill with Whitman and Buttercup. I caught the latter at Jen Leduc's Beauty Bar birthday bash Friday night and thoroughly enjoyed their set. I'd call it power-pop with a dash of indie, not really jangly enough to be truly indie in my eyes though.


Whitman - The Wanting video via YouTube

Isn't that a lot of choices for a Thursday night? Keep impressing me Austin and I'll keep blogging 'bout it.


Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner video via YouTube


M.I.A. - Bamboo Banga video via YouTube