Tonight Angel Ferrer, formerly of Ill Camino and currently with the Chris Perez project, will be performing with his Daylight Sessions soul band tonight at Momo's. He's a good musician, songwriter and singer. Tonight is a rare opportunity to see him doing his soul thing. He performs at the 12:30am spot after Wendy Colonna and Dave Madden. Yeah it is a little bit late, but his soul music is perfect for ending the night. Take your lady for a night cap and then go home and make babies. Check out this live video clip of Ferrer performing at Lucky Lounge in 2009.
Momo's is located at 618 W. 6th Street above Katz's Deli. Tickets are $10. More details here.
Before this Tuesday's Cinco de Mayo partying begins, there's a pretty damn good show happening at Momo's on Tuesday you need to catch. Two of Austin's best young bands, La Guerrilla and Este Vato, will be performing for a special edition of their regular World Music Nights. Both bands released their debut CDs this year and are great party bands.
I try to make it out to Momo's every Tuesday night that I can. They have a very cool thing happening there on Tuesday Nights. Promoter Brandon Badillo of Bemba Entertainment and KUT 90.5 put on "World Music Night". Many of the artists include local Latin music and touring acts. Latin is only a small part of it as I have heard Balkan music, Indian, Italian influenced music and other stuff I probably can't pronounce. Well this Tuesday I popped into Momo's to meet a new intern I was interviewing. I ended up staying to check out Puerto Rican poet and singer-songwriter, Taina Asili and her band, La Banda Rebelde.
One of my all time favorite old school soul songs is "Ain't No Sunshine" by the great Bill Withers. I credit my dad for introducing me to Withers at a young age. I think Withers often gets lost in the shuffle these days with all the other fantastic soul artists of his era, but there isn't a person alive that doesn't know and love "Lean On Me". Some of his other classic hits include "Just The Two of Us" and "Lovely Day". Now you know who Bill Withers is right? Yeah, that guy...
I saw a lot of cool music this past week. I was out and about and managed to capture some of it on my mini-cam. Here you see Chico Mann live at Momo's on March 16th at the Bemba Soul Tribe showcase. I knew of Chico Mann previously as I had the album reviewed by our electronic dance music beat writer, Christina Garcia, for Austin Vida. I love his music, specifically his Analog Drift album.
In the video above, you hear the song "Ya Yo Se", meaning "I already know". I was curious about how his live show was. I was thinking maybe he was just going to do a DJ type set off a laptop and turntables. Much to my pleasant surprise, he brought a full band with Chico getting down on his keyboards. You also see this dude painting in the video. He started that painting at the beginning of the set and he totally finished it at by the end of the set. I wonder what he did with the canvas after the show.
Suzanna Choffel in shiny pants (photo by Todd Wolfson)
In the midst of all the A-List Red River bands playing tonight, there is a special treat happening tonight at The Parish. Tonight one of my absolute favorite local artists, Suzanna Choffel, ventures out of Momo's for once to play a venue on 6th. Not only that, it's a Free Week show! For those of you who are too cool to venture off Red River, drop the ego and head to The Parish where it's warm.
I have had the opportunity and privilege of seeing Choffel many times as she is an Austin music staple. She is a great live performer and her style mixes jazz, folk, world music sounds and even R&B. I don't know what color her eyes are, but she is what they refer to as "blue eyed soul". Often compared to Nelly Furtado, Choffel has wide appeal and enough edge for Red River. So after the Longhorns stick it to those 'Bama girls, bundle up and head to The Parish. For those outside of Austin or those not yet familiar with Choffel because you live under a rock, check out the following clip from M.E. Television. Thank me later.
Also at The Parish tonight is Sounds Under Radio, which is a decent radio-rock band with hint of ambient indie. We're talking lots of crunchy guitar riffs, spacey noises, floating notes and heavy bass lines. You may want to hang out after Choffel is done, especially since it is free and warm.
This week on AustinVida my good friends Sarah Vasquez and Alysha Hernandez featured two great singer-songwriters, both Latino. I just wanted to share a little about these artists with you all and link you to the interviews. I do it to also show the wide variety of genres covered on Austin Vida, something I don't think anyone else really does in terms of Latino media based out of Austin.
The first interview is with Seattle based Vicci Martinez. She came through here last month sometime and performed at Momo's, a great venue for this type of genre. I got wind of her when I was reading something online one day and saw her name. Truth be told, I thought it was a friend of mine by the same name that I hadn't seen in years. I "Googled" her and came across a musician's MySpace page. Coincidentally, singer-songwriter Vicci had an Austin date on her tour schedule and the rest is history. She has a great voice, especially from someone who is so little. This girl has something. Give her a listen and check out Sarah's interview with Vicci Martinez.
Also on the singer-songwriter front this month on Austin Vida is Arthur Yoria. I have known about this dude for a while, but he hasn't blown up the spot like I think he's capable of. He is of Colombian descent but born and raised here in the U.S. He is a creative dude to say the least, but not in that weird sense where general audiences would be turned off. Some of my crew and I saw him at Momo's recently, at midnight on a Tuesday. It was the best Tuesday at midnight show I remember seeing. Yoria was like the Carrot Top of singer-songwriters, pulling out different instruments left and right.
Yoria uses some sort of music recorder mechanism that records sounds and loops that sound it records. He then creates another sound, records it and adds it to the loop. It makes him a one man band, literally. It is not something I haven't seen before, but it's been so long and the last time I saw someone do it live it didn't impress me like Yoria did. Watch this video all the way through to get the idea.
Click the link below to read the Arthur Yoria interview by Alysha Hernandez on Austin Vida:
If you like what you hear, please check out the links on Austin Vida. While Vicci Martinez doesn't have anything on the books for Austin anytime soon, Yoria will be here again in December. See the article for details.
With all your relatives in town, or if you're visiting from out of town, you are going to want to get out of the house. You'll either want to A) get the hell away from the them until it is time for them to leave back to the crap city that they came from or B) go out and show the family you love a good time in Austin, Texas. Even on holidays such as Thanksgiving, there are plenty of good live shows to choose from. How do you choose from so many? I'll make it easy on you.
My Thanksgiving pick is for one of my favorite local groups, T Bird and The Breaks. I first saw these guys at the 2008 Sound & The Jury contest at Antone's. In fact, they were who I would have chosen as the winner even though I wasn't there to see them that night. This ten piece soul group is a throwback to time when music was good. They are a throwback to the blue eyed soul your parents grew up listening to on vinyl. With a brass section, three female back up singers and one funky ass white boy singing lead, they can do no wrong. They kind of remind me of this group from one of my favorite '90s movies, The Commitments. Anyone else remember that one? With the those cool Irish dudes?
After stuffing your big ass with turkey all day and watching the Cowboys barely beat the Raiders, you will need to work off everything you ate. There is no better way to do that then heading down to Momo's Thursday night on 618 W. 6th St. You'll see it right by Katz's Deli for those of you who may need a land mark to reference. Also playing at Momo's Thursday will be Brett Randell at 8:00pm and Blues Mafia at 10:00pm. T Bird and The Breaks go on at midnight. By then you should be tipsy or stupid drunk, so T Bird will sound even better than they all ready do. I'm telling you, they are a great party band even your momma will like. Check out their latest single here and listen for yourself:
For more on T Bird and The Breaks, visit the following links:
This Tuesday night, October 13th, it all goes down at Momo's. World Music Night is also promoter Brandon Badillo's Birthday party. Badillo is the owner and driving force behind his Bemba Entertainment Company. Badillo turns thirty, which we all know is the new twenty. Most known for his Souled Out shows at The Victory Grill and Xemumba Fest, Badillo is making quite the name for himself with World Music Night at Momo's on Tuedays nights. Last month(also coming up in November) Charanga Cakewalk was the main draw every Tuesday.
One of my favorite local Latin groups is playing Badillo's birthday bash, La Guerrilla. A great Latin fusion band, La Guerrilla is the next new thing in the local scene. With a new album on the way and more local notoriety, they are well on their way for a big 2010. Check out La Guerrilla live here on this clip Austin Vida shot at Mohawk this summer.
There are many other great bands on the line up for Tuesday. For more info on the show, checkout the post on Do512 here for more details.Get there early though, as the show starts at 7:30 and is free...but do make a donation as those are welcomed.
Ocote Soul Sounds make their return to Austin tonight at Momo's with headliner Charanga Cakewalk as part of the KUT World Music Night. I first saw them live this year at Pachanga Fest back in May. Ocote's live set is really something, given all the talented musicians and great songs they have. Pictured above are Ocote members Martin Perna and Adrian Quesada. While both members are part of Ocote, both are members of other great bands here in Austin and Brooklyn.
Adrian Quesada is a guitarist for the Latin super group, Grupo Fantasma and the ultra funky Brownout. I know he's been busy lately with all the promoting of the latest Brownout album, Aguilas y Cobras. Be sure to pick that up if you haven't already as it is awesome from beginning to end. Tonight we'll get another look at Quesada with Ocote Soul Sounds.
Martin Perna seems to be a jack of all musical trades and down with every hip circle there is. A baritone saxophonist with the New York Afro-Beat funksters Antibalas, Perna has jammed with everyone in the sun. He's a founding member of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings as well as being a classmate of Tunde Adebimpe who fronts TV On The Radio.
In case your curiosity has been sparked now, check out this live video of Ocote Soul Sounds from Fiesta gardens this past May. I also posted for you a couple of helpful links about Ocote Soul Sounds and tonight's show.While you're there be sure to pick up their new album, Coconut Rock.
For more on tonight's show, check out the show's post on Do512 here.
It's a Tuesday in September, which means you need to get to Momo's around eight o'clock to catch Austin's own, Charanga Cakewalk. Headed by musical genius, Michael Ramos, Charanga Cakewalk is a Latin Fusion band that can play just about anything from Latin jazz, cumbia, norteno, salsa, you name it. Momo's is a great little spot right above Katz's Deli on 618 West 6th Street. Other performers tonight include Federico 7 and The Hashashins at at 10pm and The Reddies at 11pm. It is World Music Night sponsored by KUT and it's only $7 to get in. This show is worthy of a Saturday, so take advantage while there are still some Tuesdays left in September. Bring your dancing shoes as you won't be disappointed.
If you are in search of something to do tonight, then let me suggest you head down to Momo's to catch one of my absolute favorite artists. That artist is none other than Austin's own Suzanna Choffel. You may have seen her on M.E. Televison if you are here in Austin and have cable. Otherwise, I doubt you've heard of her unless you're live music junkie like myself.
Often compared to Nelly Furtado, Choffel is an RnB songstress posing as a singer songwriter. Perhaps it is because she's white that she shocks so many when she starts to sing. Ask anyone that was at the Solange Knowles concert at Antone's last spring, they'll tell you. Her music is amazing and she truly crosses boundaries within different audiences when given a chance.
Choffel has shared the stage with some of Austin's best, including the incredible David Garza. She is a often taken for granted I think, as she is a staple at Momo's. She seems to play regularly and is always around. The same can be said for September, as she has three shows at Momo's this month. After September, you will have to wait a bit to see her as she doesn't have anything in the books for Austin in October or November. Check your calendars and go see her perform. Take my word, you can thank me later.
She is scheduled to go on tonight at 8:30, but get there early and stay late as there are some other good bands on the bill with her. Momo's is right above Katz's on 618 W. 6th. For more info, check out the links I posted below. First, watch this live performance from M.E. Live of my favorite Suzanna Choffel track, "Hey Mister".
For more on Suzanna Choffel, visit the following links:
Tuesday nights in September just got better Austin. One of the best Latin acts I have ever seen on any level, Charanga Cakewalk, has five shows at Momo's in September. Headed by the talented Michael Ramos, Charanga Cakewalk is a brilliant Latin Fusion band like no other. They blend jazz, cumbia, Norteno accordion, salsa and whatever else you can throw into the equation into their music. I have had the privilege of seeing them live on many occasions, mainly with my dad as Charanga Cakewalk is his favorite local band. That's also the appeal of Charanga Cakewalk. They can transcend generations. The music I have from Charanga Cakewalk, including their Chicano Zen album, is something even my grandparents enjoy. I think it is because above all else, their music is very danceable. Others who are not Latino or do not speak Spanish will appreciate Charnaga Cakewalk for the creativity, originality and sweet Latin rhythms. KUT was smart enough to sponsor this series or September residency. Charanga Cakewalk has five shows on the following dates:
Sept. 1
Sept. 8
Sept. 15
Sept. 22
Sept. 29
All shows are at Momo's located on 618 W. 6th Street above Katz's Deli. If you eat at Katz's before or after the show, I suggest ordering the Yankee Potroast. It's excellent.
For those unfamiliar or interested in Charanga Cakewalk, check out this video for my father's favorite song, "La Negra Celina"
For more on Charanga Cakewalk, visit their Myspace:
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.
