Tristen Returns to Austin

Photo Credit: Eddie Mills

There are times, as a music blogger, when I find myself questioning, "Why this artist and not this artist?" As in, how come The Shins are a big name but The Helio Sequence continue to dwindle in obscurity. Why Bon Iver but not every other singer-songwriter with a falsetto? Tristen is an artist who should be a household name. She is a fantastic song-crafter, a wonderful performer and she has loads of personality. She's everything Lana Del Ray is not, yet she's not as famous. If you have read this site with any sort of regularity you may be tired of me writing about Tristen but each time she passes through Austin I will do my best to spread the word. I implore each and everyone of you to go to the Swan Dive Saturday night and hear for yourself. Tristen has been touring with a full band and she was opening for Justin Townes Earle on his recent tour. The band is going to be tighter than ever. Tickets are still available and if you buy them now they will only set you back $7. I know going downtown on a Saturday night is not an ideal situation but if you miss Saturday night's show, you're really missing out.


Tristen - Special Kind of Fear video via YouTube

Playing the support slot Saturday night will be one of Austin's best homegrown bands, Follow That Bird. I don't know about you but it's been WAY too long since I've seen Follow That Bird. I'm guessing they've got lots of new material since they were recording in Marfa earlier this month so, make sure you arrive early enough to catch their set.

Robyn Returns

Swedish pop princess Robyn returns to ACL Live tomorrow night. I had the opportunity to see her last performance in the venue a little more than a year ago and it was one of the most fun shows I've ever been to. Imagine a room full of gay men, fun women and open-minded dance music fans shaking their asses and singing along to every word of every song and your almost there. Robyn performs with a live band, she wear crazy outfits and she does the cutest dance moved. You just want to pinch her little cheeks and then put her in your pocket. Tickets for tomorrow night's show are still available but I feel like they will be gone before doors open so get on it! Also, I should mention that if there are still standing floor tickets available you should definitely get those. I know that it can be nice to have an actual seat for a show but you won't want to sit down through a Robyn performance.


Robyn - Call Your Girlfriend video via YouTube


The current Robyn tour is still in support of her 2011 release Body Talk. If you still haven't heard it, you really should it's non-stop dance-floor-fillers that will have you singing along at the top of your lungs. It's also great driving music. This stop in Austin is a warm-up date before Robyn hits the road with Coldplay. Her most recent Austin appearance was in support of Katy Perry. In other words, this is one of your only chances to see a headlining set from Robyn in the near future (or near past) so be there!

Lil Kim at Emo's East

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I became a Lil Kim fan the moment I heard her on the Junior M.A.F.I.A. track Get Money back in early 1996. By the time she dropped her debut album Hard Core later that year, I was hooked. It was a little shocking to hear such filthy rhymes coming out of such a beautiful petite woman, but I think that  only served to make me love her more. I mean, how could I not be enamored with somebody who built an entire song chorus around the phrase "I don't want dick tonight, eat my pussy right"?


Lil Kim - Keys to the City featuring Young Jeezy video via YouTube

Her provocative (and often downright filthy) lyrics have always been combined with hot beats and big producers like Puff Daddy, Jermaine Dupri, Kanye West, Swizz Beats and Timbaland. It's been a hot minute since her last full-length album (2005's The Naked Truth), but that is excusable since she had to spend some time away in jail and then focus on a much higher level of mainstream visibility by being cast on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars."

While we await a new album and a book about her incarceration, Lil Kim has been working hard at relaunching her music career. She has a new mixtape called Tax Season and she's been out on the very well-received Return Of The Queen tour that is making a stop at Emo's tomorrow night. According to reviews, she has been delivering fan favorites like The Jump Off, How Many Licks? and even Lady Marmalade, so you can expect some old school jams along with her new material.

With rumors swirling of a tour with Missy Elliott & Eve to follow after this one, this Emo's show is a rare opportunity to jump off with the Queen Bee right here in Austin. Get your tickets while you can.