Father John Misty at the Mohawk

Photo Credit: Emma Garr

J. Tillman is already an accomplished musician having released a series of solo records under his own name and playing drums for Fleet Foxes for a number of years. Father John Misty is his latest musical project. Fear Fun is not easy to put into any single genre. Like most records released post-iPod it blends influences from classic country, folk, classic rock and traditional pop. Lyrically and thematically Fear Fun borrows from ancient myths and mysticisms with Tillman embracing the notion of Father John Misty as a character persona mask he can wear to express his emotional turmoil. Based on Tillman's very public and venomous reactions to blog reviews of Fear Fun I'd say it's a very personal record. If you want to watch him bare his soul at the Mohawk tomorrow night, you best get yourself a ticket whilst you still can.


Father John Misty - Nancy From Now On video via YouTube


Har Mar Superstar is touring with Father John Misty, which means he'll be back on his home-turf tomorrow night. No, he's not from or based in, Austin but he recorded his upcoming record with Spoon's Jim Eno here and he played every week for a month in April. So, for all intents and purposes the Mohawk's outside stage is like his second home. Expect some partly goofy, partly sexy songs performed with very little clothing from Har Mar's set.

Ty Segall + White Fence at the Mohawk

Photo Credit: Ruthie Swanson

Ty Segall Band will be playing the Mohawk tomorrow in what promises to be one of the most talked-about shows of the month. As a solo artist, Ty Segall has been extraordinarily prolific releasing numerous albums but it wasn't until last year's Ty Rex album of T. Rex covers that people really started to pay attention. Since then there's been some revisionist history of his popularity but regardless of when people started to pay attention they are certainly paying attention now. Ty's set at FunFunFun Fest last year was one of the most lauded of the festival. He and his band are known for putting on a high energy set that melts both brains and faces. The upcoming release of, Slaughterhouse, will be Ty's first release to include his full touring band. I listened to it earlier this week and I can tell you it is some heavy shit y'all. His sound has always had one foot in psychedelic and one foot in classic rock. Slaughterhouse dives head first into a pool of the 13th Floor Elevator by way of Black Sabbath. Tomorrow night's show is sure to feature some of these sludgy psychedelic jams. It's also sure to sell-out. In fact it may be sold-out by the time you're reading this but you can click for tickets just cross your fingers when you do so.


Ty Segall - Where Your Head Goes video via YouTube



It should be noted that tomorrow night's show at the Mohawk is not simply the Ty Segall Band. It is Ty Segall Band WITH White Fence. Ty and White Fence released a collaborative record, Hair, which is much greater than the sum of its parts. Hair sounds like a collection of songs that were re-discovered after being left out of a Nuggets box set. It makes you want to wear paisley pants and quit your day-job to start smoking reefer full-time.


Ty Segall + White Fence - I Am Not a Game video via YouTube

This is an outdoor show with two opening acts. Memphis band, Useless Eaters should start around 9pm with local band, Rayon Beach taking the earliest support slot tomorrow. It is Friday night downtown so leave early because parking is going to be scarce and costly. See you there!

Suckers with Young Man at Red 7

Photo Credit: Marley Kate

It was SXSW 2010 when I first fell in love with Suckers. I was at a free showcase at Malverde and Suckers was one of the bands who played early in the night. Their sound was rawkus and melodic with all of the band members singing at once throughout many of the songs. Their fashion was Goodwill cast-offs from a trailer park and I loved their energy. Well it's been over two years and now they're back and their touring in support of their recent release, Candy Salad. The record picks up right where the last one left off with manic vocals that hit high highs and low lows. There are the out-of-tune full band sing alongs and some of their best melodies yet. If you even casually enjoy some of the songs you've heard from Suckers in the past then I encourage you to check out their set at Red 7 tomorrow night. Tickets are a mere $10 if you buy them in advance and I all but guarantee a good time. Candy Salad has some of Suckers best songs yet and they are going to sound even better with the live energy of the band to back them up.


Suckers - Chinese Braille video via YouTube


Playing the support slot for Suckers tomorrow night will be fellow Frenchkiss Records band, Young Man. Their latest album, Vol. 1, was released this week and it has already earned them praise from all the cool kid critics. For my money Vol. 1 blends the perfect balance of pop and melancholy. There are elements of indie-jangle along with baroque sensibilities. Thematically the record explores loneliness, finding one's-self and all of those other post-collegiate indulgences. Think of it as an indie-pop meditation and/or the foundation of a good one-man-show. You can hear it in full on Rolling Stone.


Young Man - Fate video via YouTube

Plants and Animals at Lambert's

Photo Credit: Caroline Desilets

Montreal-based band, Plants and Animals will play at Lambert's Friday night in support of their last LP, The End of That. The band describes their sound as "post-classic rock," which I find to be a very apt description. The songs have elements of Blues, and pure Rock with lots of anthemic choruses and sing-along moments. There are also very intimate acoustic guitar songs that remind me of Ryan Adams. The songwriting is superb, with personal lyrics and catchy melodies. Tickets are only $10 in advance or $12 on the day of the show and it will be a great opportunity to see a great band in a small space before their star significantly rises.


Plants and Animals - Light Show video via YouTube

Playing the support slot for Plants and Animals Friday night will be Papermoons. The band has been on hiatus for a couple of years but they are officially back with a new album coming out soon. Friday night's show will be their first in quite some time. You can hear a few of their most recent tracks over on Soundcloud.