Be sure to follow Austin Vida(.com) at the following links to stay up to date with all of our new live videos featuring Sour Soul, The Young Maths, Vinyl Dharma and more.
This was captured by a local blogger I know very well. It's not bad quality for a mini-cam. The set by The Young Maths was killer as was the rest of the Austin Vida showcase. Of course I'm supposed to say that but the numbers and quality of talent don't lie. More footage and pics to come your way soon.
Many outside of Austin don't see Austin as a "salsa town." That is true in terms of salsa bands maybe, but not when it comes to salsa music lovers and the amount of salsa dancers we have here. That is why my crew and I at Austin Vida, together with DJ Orion and The Parish, have put together a salsa happy hour tomorrow night. DJ Orion is one of the few DJs I know with a good salsa collection and the good taste not to play any newer, poppier salsa. Him and I see eye to eye when it comes to our love of old school Fania Records classics and obscure salseros from records our parents have tucked away that no one has ever really heard of. We did this once already with mild success and his set was fantastic.
The other details include $3.50 drink specials for my favorite alcoholic drink, the mojito. It is an early evening event so working folks, such as myself, aren't dragging Wednesday morning at work. The Parish is a beautiful room with an epic sound system right smack in the middle of 6th street. My favorite part is the no frills, everyone 21+ is welcome vibe. Salsa can get a little too uppity in this town for my likings sometimes, but not at our Mi Gente events. Come as you are, be yourself and listen to some of the best in classic salsa. It's just a cool hangout with a good setting and good people. I hope to see you there.
I almost forgot...
We are celebrating the release of the new El Rey, Tito Puente CD, from Fania Records. DJ orion will be spinning some of the tracks from the two disc anthology. Here's a small sample:
Have you ever seen Los Amigos Invisibles in concert? If not, you need to. Seriously. Do it now. Austin Vida and Blastro teamed up to bring you their sold out show at Antone's this past spring on high quality video. We have the entire fifty three minute set online now at Austin Vida right now. Watch it here:
One of my favorite things to do other than see live music is buy vinyl records. One of my favorite groups of all time is Los Amigos Invisibles. What do you do when they come to town besides catch their amazing live show? You take them record shopping at an indie record store. While you are at it, you shoot a video interview with Blastro for Austin Vida. Here you see the photos by my good friend and Austin Vida photo editor, Mari Hernandez, from that day at End of an Ear. You can watch this actual video interview with live footage of the concert here:
Hacienda live at Pachanga Fest (photo by Mari Hernandez)
My boys from Boerne, Texas (right outside of San Antonio) came through Austin to perform at this year's Pachanga Festival on May 22nd. I sat down with them again to talk about their new life, new album and San Antonio. Their new album, Big Red & Barbacoa, is the bees knees. It is actually stamped on red vinyl for those of you who are also vinyl junkies. Check out the interview on Austin Vida here:
I'm still waiting for time travel to be invented so I can show my junior high self this picture and interview I did with Sen Dog from Cypress Hill. I sat down with Sen Dog when they came through Austin and we had a good talk about everything from his personal health, his yard sale and their new album, Rise Up. Not much more can be said that hasn't been said about Cypress Hill already, but this was definitely one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. He was open, honest and even funny at times. Check out the interview online at Austin Vida here:
Robert Livar of Bombasta (photo by Isabel Salazar)
One of my favorite San Antonio bands, Bombasta, is playing Pachanga Fest on Saturday. They aren't going to be one of the bigger bands being talked about, but they totally should be. They are puro San Antonio, and in my interview with lead singer Robert Livar, you'll see what I mean. Their sound is a fusion of Tejano, R&B, soul and cumbia. Check out my interview with Livar on Austin Vida to learn more. It's more of a preview for fans and readers who already know about them. I'll get more in depth with them later.
The big event is this Saturday at Fiesta Gardens. Pachanga is the it Latino event that happens in this Latin Music Month here in Austin. Pachanga is the only festival to feature Latino musicians of all music genres, where as in other cities they stick to one genre, typically just salsa, Tejano or Latin Alternative. With Pachanga Fest, you can hear great modern rock, punk, cumbia, Tejano, salsa and indie. It is a truly unique and memorable experience that everyone can enjoy.
That being said, my friends and I at Austin Vida are giving away tickets this week through our Austin Vida Facebook fan page. How dope would it be to go to one of the best music festivals in the country for free? It could happen. All you have to do is add or "like" Austin Vida on Facebook to get more details and be eligible to win. Add Austin Vida on Facebook here:
My dear Ximena Sariñana, Mexico's best pop star and talented actress, is finally coming to Austin. I was super excited when I got the news this week. She will be performing at Stubb's indoor on May 24th. Latino or not, you need to get familiar with Ximena Sariñana. Trust me.
I got to finally meet and talk to Carrie Rodriguez last week. I've waited a long time. She lives in Austin now and will be playing with full band this weekend at the soon to be defunct Cactus Cafe. She'll be performing on both Friday and Saturday, April 16th-17th. She is one of the few Americana type artists I actually listen to, other than maybe Band of Heathens. We talked about here move back to Austin, her new covers album, touring with Alejandro Escovedo and growing up in Austin.
Vinyl Dharma is a five-piece indie-electro outfit from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas but has called Austin home for the past few years. After making an immediate entrance into the Live Music Capital’s local scene and capturing national attention on MTV2, Vinyl Dharma recently released what may be the best EP the Austin indie music scene has yet to embrace. The six-song, self-titled EP may be Austin’s best kept secret.
So this year's Pachanga Fest line up was announced this week and I liked what I saw. It is now a two day festival, taking place on May 21st and May 22nd. They kept the variety of musical genres that they have always had since the festival's inception in 2008. Other than it being a celebration of Latino musicians, that variety of genres is what makes Pachanga one of my favorite music festivals. There really is something for everyone, not just Latinos.
I just published my new interview with San Antonio band, Nancy Silva Project. They just got signed recently and are one of my "bands to watch for" for 2010. They do make it to Austin on occasion and are worth checking out live. They look very dark and goth, maybe even metal-ish, but they are melodic modern rock that's ready for mainstream rock radio. Check out my interview with band on Austin Vida here:
Vinyl Dharma has got what we industry types refer to as "it". They sounded so tight and together last night. No disrespect to Vinyl Dharma, but I don't remember them sounding so good. I have high expectations for these Rio Grande Valley transplants. Team Dharma!
Our headliner last night was none other than Sexy Marvin from Monterrey, Mexico.They have some Coldplay and Interpol elements to them. I am so glad my crew and I were able to bring them (thanks Vivo Alternativo & GoHispano) because otherwise, I'm not sure anyone else would have. After last night, I plan on getting these guys back in the future and bring Austin more great music from Mexico and Latin America. There are some real gems that Austin needs to hear. I can't share my iPod with everyone after all.
What is up with Tuesday nights being better for live music than most other weekdays? Here in Austin it seems Tuesdays may be the new Friday. April proves this with the announcement of Ocote Soul Sounds Tuesday night residency at Lambert's.
This is it folks...our first Austin Vida showcase at Stubb's. That's a big deal for us as a Latino publication. We solicited the promotional efforts of my friends from Gohispano.com and the production help of Vivo Alternativo. We are bringing indie lovers Latino bands from both sides of the border who sing their songs in English coincidentally. The quality of this show is second to none if I do say so myself.
The latest album from Maldita Vecindad, Circular Colectivo, comes out tomorrow from Nacional Records. It is their first studio release that they have put out in almost 13 years. I got to see Maldita Vecindad for the first time during this year's SXSW. They headlined a big Latino showcase at Antone's and I was able to capture some of it on my mini-cam. Check out Maldita performing their song "Fut Callejero" from the new album:
If you want to see more videos from this show, check out my YouTube Channel. For detail on the listening party presented by Austin Vida, visit the Austin Vida blog. We'll be giving away tickets to Pachanga Fest, Los Amigos Invisibles and Sexy Marvin. You should definitely come.
Want to go check out Gilberto Gil for free at Hogg Memorial this week? We are giving away a pair of tickets away on the Austin Vida Facebook page later today. If you don't see this time to win the tickets but still want to go to the concert, and you totally should, purchase advance tickets at the following link:
Win these on Tuesday, March 2nd at Mi Casa Tamales & Cantina!
We just announced on Austin Vida that we are giving away two free tickets to see Los Amigos Invisibles when they come to Antone's on April 2nd. What makes this show even better is that Ocote Soul Sounds will be opening up for them. If you haven't seen or herd either, you are in for a treat. These two bands are some of the best the Latin Music world has to offer.
Ian is a graduate of Round Rock High School and attended St Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. In 2008 he joined the team at Double Stereo (formerly CD Fuse) as their Blog editor where he reviewed concerts, albums, and did interviews for the popular music site.In January 2009, he became the Editor in Chief for Austin Vida. In 2010, with the help of some of his most talented friends, he launched Red River Noise. "Ian's Music Blog" is also one of the few blogs selected to be a Do512 All-Star.
On any given night of the week he can be found in downtown Austin on 6th Street and the Red River live music district.
