Fleet Foxes drummer, J. Tillman, is coming through Austin Friday night to do his solo thing at The Mohawk. The interest in Tillman is obviously The Fleet Foxes connection, but he has actually had solo stuff before joining Fleet Foxes. He music is more along the lines of indie singer-songwriter with a bluesy touch. It's definitely not something I could listen to while in traffic, but definitely when relaxing at home. His Year in the Kingdom album is a must have for not only Fleet Foxes fans, but anyone who loves good indie-folk stuff. Other than maybe A.A. Bondy, it is my favorite indie-folk album released this year.
Saturday at Mohawk marks the return one of my favorite bands of all time, Cursive, back to Austin. They haven't been here since SXSW in March. I wasn't sure they would make it back around this way, but they're coming Saturday. Their latest record, Mama I'm Swollen, is their best since The Ugly Organ. I reviewed it earlier in the year for Double Stereo, and don't have anything negative to say about it. That review turned several of my friend into Cursive fans, and they were people who I wouldn't have guessed would be into it. It just goes to show good music is good music, and that is all that matters sometimes.
I really don't even know where to begin when it comes to talking about one of my favorite bands ever, Maneja Beto. They aren't an internationally signed, although they should be. They are from right here in Austin, although that wasn't my first guess when I saw them for the first time at ACL Fest in 2005. They don't sound like anyone else, known or local. That's what I love about them. They truly are an original in every sense of the word. I feel at times, they might even be ahead of their time. They sound so far evolved from most Latin radio music out today. It is as if they took the best from traditional Latin music, indie, jazz, electronica and rock and created a completely new genre.
Tonight one of my favorite new local indie bands, Western Ghost House, plays at Mohawk. Austin Vida featured them recently and I am hoping, as Editor in Chief, that we garnered some new interest for them. I have always said that seeing live music during the week is the best time to really discover something new. Since Monday night football has not started yet, come out and join my friends and I at Mohawk.
Having already created some internet buzz in their home country of Canada, The Junction will surely create some indie buzz here stateside once they get a U.S. tour going. This indie trio from Brampton sounds s good as anything else making news in the indie world and has some real strong singles. A new video for their single “My Love Was There” was what first caught my attention. After enjoying that, I wanted the rest of their new album, Another Link In The Chain.
I first saw The Morakestra last year. What I saw and heard was a group of talented young Latinos doing some fantastic indie rock worthy of everyone's ear. This year I reviewed their latest album, Witness To Connection, for Austin Vida. I thought it was solid album with only a few songs that made me go "huh?".
Here in Austin, there aren’t too many of us who aren’t familiar with The Steps. They are one of the most polished indie rock bands to come out of Austin. After having won last year’s ACL The Sound and The Jury contest at Antone’s, their national climb to fame is really getting started. Now with their recently released Take It All In EP, music listeners everywhere will get to hear why that is.
Noise beat Propaganda is a four piece Indie-pop band from Mexicali, Baja California. We’re In Love, Yeah Right! is their new 4 track EP on Poni Republic. This EP is the reason I hate getting good EPs in the mail. They might as well rename EPs “teasers” because that’s what We’re In Love, Yeah Right! is.
Bad Veins is two man indie band from Cincinnati, Ohio. Members Ben Davis (vocals, guitar, keys) and Sebastian Schulz (drums) have put together something that will draw them comparisons to the likes of The Killers and Franz Ferdinand. After listening to their upcoming self titled album, it is hard to believe there are only two of them. Their sound is much bigger than I expected after reading their bio.
One of my local favorites, Built By Snow, will be playing next week at Emo's inside stage. I haven't seen these dudes play for a while an shame on me. They are one of those stand out bands in a crowded Austin, Texas that has bands playing in every corner of downtown. Their latest album, Mega, is still one of my top ten album releases of the year so far. You can purchase it from their store front on Double Stereo. For those of you unfamiliar with Built By Snow or have never seen them live, you're missing out on a good time. To give you an idea of what they sound like, or who they sound like, just think 8 Bit Nintendo meets Weezer. Check them out for yourself here on this Insite Night Video my good friend Ajay shot recently:Built By Snow @ INsite Night [May 16, 2009] from INsite Magazine on Vimeo.
One of last year's ACL performers, Silver Sun Pick Ups, have just gone Unplugged. The L.A. based indie rockers are on MTV Unplugged this week where you can check out the videos for "Catch and Release", "Panic Switch" and more. I miss the old MTV Unplugged series. I have mentioned that before in interviews and other blog posts. I'm glad to see these performances online and hope the Unplugged thing makes a comeback online if nothing else. Their Unplugged performance was taped at New York City's Nyehaus. Check out a clip of the Silver Sun Pick Up's Unplugged performance and listen for yourself:
I have another installment of my Warped Tour series leading up to our Double Stereo coverage for you. I sat down with a great featured band on this year’s Warped Tour, Dear and the Headlights. An energetic young indie band from Arizona, they came through Austin recently to talk about everything from performing at music festivals to winning over Paramore fans. When you need a break from all the awesome pop punk and screamo, check out Dear and the Headlights.
