Yesterday I told you about the We Are Scientsists/Twin Tigers show happening at Emo's, which is my number one pick tonight but it's not the only cool event going on that's fo sho. My friends over at KVRX are hosting a hip-hip dance party at the United States Arts Authority tonight. Doors open at 9p and they'll have two stages, the cover is $5 but for $10 you get into the show AND you get a T-Shirt, so there's that. Also, they'll be doing a costume contest so this might be a good night to try out your first costume of the year. Come on this is Austin, you gots to have at least three Halloween costumes.
If you want to be a little more mainstream you can check out Interpol at Stubb's. Expect lots of chatter from the crowd and mugging from the stage but not much else. If you do feel like spending $35 to go to Stubb's tonight make sure you catch White Rabbits I genuinely enjoy them. For me, Interpol without Carlos D. is much less handsome and just as boring in person as they were when their first LP came out and I saw them in Boston. Das right, I said it. What? PS. It looks like this show is sold-out but there's always scalpers, whom I wouldn't pay more than $20.
White Rabbits - The Plot video via YouTube
If you're looking for a more epic/legendary/I can't believe I'm witnessing this kind of show tonight, I would head on over to the Mohawk for Bad Brains. Personally, Bad Brains is not my thing in the least but I can not deny their importance to music as we know it. I just had a really scary experience smoking pot in a foreign environment with Bad Brains blaring from a stereo, which scarred me for life. That's my bad though, not theirs. Somehow tickets for this show are still available as of the writing of this post but methinks they'll be sold-out before the show itself so don't expect to be able to pay at the door.
Bad Brains - Banned in DC video via YouTube
The last show I'll mention happening tonight is, local favorites, Ghostland Observatory. I enjoy listening to GLO and I know they put on a great live show but I also know that I refuse to support Ticketmaster/LiveNation and that this show is taking place at the Cedar Park Center so if you're attending you're supporting the Ticketmaster corporate machine. You're also driving out to the suburbs to see a band that used to play at muthaphuckin Trophy's. Sure they have lasers now but couldn't those lasers be set up at say La Zona Rosa? I'm sure you can still get tickets to tonight's show but I ain't linking to 'em. Peace! (Gawd I'm such a bitch sometimes)
Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City video via YouTube
Read more!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
We Are Scientists w/Twin Tigers at Emo's
We Are Scientist may look a little more gray and a little less-scientific than they did when they first "burst" onto the blog-scene in the early aughts but they can still crank out some rockin', clever tunes. Their latest LP Barbara has really flown under the radar this year despite having a very disturbing, viral video (viewable after the break). This blogger had the chance to see them do their thing at Emo's already this year and I can testify to their kick-assedness. If you want to make a testimonial to the kick-assedness of We Are Scientists I recommend you get yourself some $13 tickets.
We Are Scientists - Live at Emo's video via YouTube
We Are Scientists - I Don't Bite video via YouTube
The We Are Scientists guys will, most likely, be taking to the outside stage around 11:45. So, make sure you get there by 10:30ish if you want to catch Twin Tigers and trust me when I tell you that you DO want to catch Twin Tigers. They have been around since 2008 but have only just released their first full-length LP this passed March. They played some high-profile gigs during SXSW and this tour with W.A.S. is a really great pairing. Also, as someone who works at a restaurant I really appreciate that this band was formed after 2 of its member met while working at a restaurant owned by Michael Stipe in Athens, GA. Wouldn't it be weird if Michael Stipe was your boss?
Twin Tigers - Red Fox Run video via YouTube
Read more!
We Are Scientists - Live at Emo's video via YouTube
We Are Scientists - I Don't Bite video via YouTube
The We Are Scientists guys will, most likely, be taking to the outside stage around 11:45. So, make sure you get there by 10:30ish if you want to catch Twin Tigers and trust me when I tell you that you DO want to catch Twin Tigers. They have been around since 2008 but have only just released their first full-length LP this passed March. They played some high-profile gigs during SXSW and this tour with W.A.S. is a really great pairing. Also, as someone who works at a restaurant I really appreciate that this band was formed after 2 of its member met while working at a restaurant owned by Michael Stipe in Athens, GA. Wouldn't it be weird if Michael Stipe was your boss?
Twin Tigers - Red Fox Run video via YouTube
Read more!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ra Ra Riot To To Night!!!
Alright budget ballers, I know it can be tough to spend the dough to head downtown in these harsh economic times but you have, pretty much, no excuse to miss Ra Ra Riot in Austin today. Firstly they are playing a FREEEEE in-store performance at Waterloo Records at 5pm today. If you plan on checking that out, I would take the bus because parking is tighter than a _____'s _______ and you should know that Bookpeople will totally tow you if you park there and cross the street. You should also know that it's going to be packed so get there roughly an hour early. Since you're already at Waterloo you should pick up a copy of the Orchard, it's clever, it's beautiful, and you'll love it or we're not friends anymore.
Ra Ra Riot - Boy video via YouTube
Later in the evening you will find myself and anyone else who matters at Emo's outside stage for a full set from the Ra Ra kids. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available and will set you back a mere $15. If you are someone who likes to be near the stage then I'd get there early. Actually, I'd get there early anyway because all the bands on the bill are pretty bad ass. NOLA band, Givers will be starting out the evening at roughly 10pm.
Givers - Up, Up, Up video via YouTube
Up next will be Villagers around 11p and last but certainly not least Ra Ra Riot will take to the outside stage around the witching hour. That's midnight for those of you who, unlike Christine O'Donnell, aren't into witchcraft.
Villagers - Ship of Promises video via YouTube
Are you as excited about this show as I am? How is it Austin has such cool stuff on random Tuesday nights?
P.S.
Jónsi (of Sigur Rós fame) is also in town and I love him but he'd have to pay ME to go to another show at Austin Shitty Music Hell that's right, I said it!
Read more!
Ra Ra Riot - Boy video via YouTube
Later in the evening you will find myself and anyone else who matters at Emo's outside stage for a full set from the Ra Ra kids. As of the writing of this post tickets are still available and will set you back a mere $15. If you are someone who likes to be near the stage then I'd get there early. Actually, I'd get there early anyway because all the bands on the bill are pretty bad ass. NOLA band, Givers will be starting out the evening at roughly 10pm.
Givers - Up, Up, Up video via YouTube
Up next will be Villagers around 11p and last but certainly not least Ra Ra Riot will take to the outside stage around the witching hour. That's midnight for those of you who, unlike Christine O'Donnell, aren't into witchcraft.
Villagers - Ship of Promises video via YouTube
Are you as excited about this show as I am? How is it Austin has such cool stuff on random Tuesday nights?
P.S.
Jónsi (of Sigur Rós fame) is also in town and I love him but he'd have to pay ME to go to another show at Austin Shitty Music Hell that's right, I said it!
Read more!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Videos from the Weekend
As you probably read on this very site, Saturday night had a lot of great shows. I was one of very few people who was on west 4th street for the Los Campesinos! show. I feel like that show wasn't promoted very well because there should have been WAAAYY more people there. However, I guess you have to factor in that there were lots of other good shows and La Zona Rosa is away from the Red River scene. For me, that's a very good reason to attend shows there but I understand other people's reluctance. In any case one of my favorite local bands, the Authors started things off. I feel like they fill a void in Austin's music scene. Their sound is reminiscent of Remy Zero, which is not a bad thing in my books. The song below is from their latest LP Get Haunted, you should probably buy it.
the Authors - Get Haunted video via YouTube
After the Authors was bratty UK alt-pop-punk rockers Johnny Foreigner. I had not heard their music before but they really blew me away. It was full of propulsive energy and a very youthful, bratty spirit. After their set I told the band that anyone who tours with a projector and a keytar is ok in my book. The song I captured is actually unreleased and was inspired by the band's last trip to the U.S.A.
Johnny Foreigner - Security to the Promenade video via YouTube
Finally, Los Campesinos! had the crowd pogo-ing, fist-pumping, and generally singing/shouting along to every song. This band really knows how whip a crowd into a frenzy and they do it all with a violinist, whoduhthunk?
Los Campesinos! - Straight In at 101 video via YouTube
Read more!
the Authors - Get Haunted video via YouTube
After the Authors was bratty UK alt-pop-punk rockers Johnny Foreigner. I had not heard their music before but they really blew me away. It was full of propulsive energy and a very youthful, bratty spirit. After their set I told the band that anyone who tours with a projector and a keytar is ok in my book. The song I captured is actually unreleased and was inspired by the band's last trip to the U.S.A.
Johnny Foreigner - Security to the Promenade video via YouTube
Finally, Los Campesinos! had the crowd pogo-ing, fist-pumping, and generally singing/shouting along to every song. This band really knows how whip a crowd into a frenzy and they do it all with a violinist, whoduhthunk?
Los Campesinos! - Straight In at 101 video via YouTube
Read more!
Gorillaz: a Live Review in Words
Well, folks I had a rare opportunity on Friday night to catch Gorillaz at the Frank Erwin Center. I know a lot of you wanted to be there but couldn't for various reasons, including financial ones. In Austin we are accustomed to paying no more than $15 for a concert so when a band comes through charging closer to $100 a seat the locals tend to freak out. Let me tell you, if you had been in the Erwin Center Friday night you would have understood the cost and not thought twice about it. At any given point in the show there were at least 18 people on stage, that number swelled to closer to 30 people at various points throughout the set.
There were also lots of guest stars from the Gorillaz latest LP, Plastic Beach including Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon, Bobby Womack AND De La Soul!! I would love to have taken lots of pictures and/or shot some FlipVid but understandably this was not allowed. I do have access to this decent-looking iPhone cam picture though.
(Photo Courtesy of Matt Shiv)
Find more words after the jump...
The whole concept of the Gorillaz project is a marriage of music and comic book imagery. As you, probably, know Gorillaz are a fictitious, cartoon band so to help pull this off in a live setting an enormous High-Definition screen projected videos for every song that was played. For those very new songs without a completed video, storyboards for the video were shown instead. I was struck by how crystal clear all of the images were given the size of the screen, which I would guesstimate to be 5-stories high.
All in all the show was extremely pleasing both aurally and visually. The Gorillaz LPs have so many layers and textures that it would have been easy to be disappointed by the live re-interpretations but this was not the case at all. Having a full brass section, a full string section, two full drum kits, two bass guitars and four (or was it five(?)) back-up singers made all of the songs sound as they should but more bombastic. You could also, clearly, see that everyone on the stage was enjoying themselves immensely. Damon Albarn was running back and forth on the stage, performing from atop the monitors doing all of his best arena moves from his Blur-days all with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.
If and when this tour comes to your city, you best be shelling out the cash, trust me you will not regret the decision in the least. Also, make sure you get there early enough to catch opening act N.E.R.D. they performed all of their hits peppered with to-be-released tunes. They even played a jam from their forthcoming LP, which was produced by Daft Punk.
Oh and just a little side-note about my whole experience Friday night. If you have never been to the Frank Erwin Center, as I had not, you should know there is more than one box office. So, don't freak out and cry, like I did, when they don't have your tickets. Trust me you'll feel pretty douchey about it later.
Here is the set-list from the Gorillaz show at Frank Erwin Center from Friday night, courtesy of Setlist.Fm:
Orchestral Intro (Extended)
Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
19/2000 (with Rosie Wilson)
Last Living Souls
Stylo (with Bobby Womack) (and Bootie Brown)
On Melancholy Hill
Rhinestone Eyes
Superfast Jellyfish (with De La Soul)
Tomorrow Comes Today
Empire Ants (with Yukimi Nagano)
Broken (Extended)
Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)
El Mañana
White Flag (with Kano) (and Bashy, and the American Syrian Orchestra. Extended)
To Binge (with Yukimi Nagano)
DARE (with Rosie Wilson)
Glitter Freeze
Plastic Beach
Encore:
Cloud of Unknowing (with Bobby Womack)
Feel Good Inc. (with De La Soul)
Clint Eastwood (with Bashy) (and Kano)
Don't Get Lost In Heaven
Demon Days (with Bobby Womack)
Read more!
There were also lots of guest stars from the Gorillaz latest LP, Plastic Beach including Yukimi Nagano from Little Dragon, Bobby Womack AND De La Soul!! I would love to have taken lots of pictures and/or shot some FlipVid but understandably this was not allowed. I do have access to this decent-looking iPhone cam picture though.
(Photo Courtesy of Matt Shiv)
Find more words after the jump...
The whole concept of the Gorillaz project is a marriage of music and comic book imagery. As you, probably, know Gorillaz are a fictitious, cartoon band so to help pull this off in a live setting an enormous High-Definition screen projected videos for every song that was played. For those very new songs without a completed video, storyboards for the video were shown instead. I was struck by how crystal clear all of the images were given the size of the screen, which I would guesstimate to be 5-stories high.
All in all the show was extremely pleasing both aurally and visually. The Gorillaz LPs have so many layers and textures that it would have been easy to be disappointed by the live re-interpretations but this was not the case at all. Having a full brass section, a full string section, two full drum kits, two bass guitars and four (or was it five(?)) back-up singers made all of the songs sound as they should but more bombastic. You could also, clearly, see that everyone on the stage was enjoying themselves immensely. Damon Albarn was running back and forth on the stage, performing from atop the monitors doing all of his best arena moves from his Blur-days all with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.
If and when this tour comes to your city, you best be shelling out the cash, trust me you will not regret the decision in the least. Also, make sure you get there early enough to catch opening act N.E.R.D. they performed all of their hits peppered with to-be-released tunes. They even played a jam from their forthcoming LP, which was produced by Daft Punk.
Oh and just a little side-note about my whole experience Friday night. If you have never been to the Frank Erwin Center, as I had not, you should know there is more than one box office. So, don't freak out and cry, like I did, when they don't have your tickets. Trust me you'll feel pretty douchey about it later.
Here is the set-list from the Gorillaz show at Frank Erwin Center from Friday night, courtesy of Setlist.Fm:
Orchestral Intro (Extended)
Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach (with Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
19/2000 (with Rosie Wilson)
Last Living Souls
Stylo (with Bobby Womack) (and Bootie Brown)
On Melancholy Hill
Rhinestone Eyes
Superfast Jellyfish (with De La Soul)
Tomorrow Comes Today
Empire Ants (with Yukimi Nagano)
Broken (Extended)
Dirty Harry (with Bootie Brown)
El Mañana
White Flag (with Kano) (and Bashy, and the American Syrian Orchestra. Extended)
To Binge (with Yukimi Nagano)
DARE (with Rosie Wilson)
Glitter Freeze
Plastic Beach
Encore:
Cloud of Unknowing (with Bobby Womack)
Feel Good Inc. (with De La Soul)
Clint Eastwood (with Bashy) (and Kano)
Don't Get Lost In Heaven
Demon Days (with Bobby Womack)
Read more!
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