The BMX DJ duo is no stranger to Austin. I caught them hanging around after SXSW last year at the Gogol Bordello concert on St Patrick’s Day. They were walking around with bicycle helmets with wheels spinning on top of them. That alone should have tipped me off that these guys were different. Monareta is returning to Austin for SXSW again this year. Be on the lookout for them, as their show is not one you want to miss. For those of you who are strangers to Monareta, read and learn why Monareta's Picotero is one of the coolest albums I own.
Visit Austin Vida to check out DJ 2DQ talking about the switch from The Beat to Hot 93, Pangaea Live, Vinyl Dharma on MTV2, Puerto Rican punk rockers, reviews, sports talk with Dennis De La Pena and more.
San Antonio's own Hacienda will be performing on February 6th at The Mohawk in Austin for the second annual Fashion Freakout. This rock and roll fashion show...
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Some of Austin’s best local talent was recently featured on an Austin Week segment of some sort on MTV2. I missed it because I stopped watching MTV2, or anything MTV, a long time ago. When I do peek at video channels on rare occasions, it is usually Fuse or one of the Spanish music networks, which are not all that great by the way. When I heard that MTV2 was doing an Austin week, I was thinking it was going to be along the lines of another Real World Austin, Jack Ass, or some other dumb downed garbage. Instead, they were showcasing great Austin talent. One of those bands was The Story Of. After learning they were one of those featured bands on MTV2, I wanted to see what the buzz was about.
Love She Wrote is another member of what I refer to with my friends as “Generation Fall Out Boy”. That is good or bad depending on your musical preferences. If you hate what the Warped Tour has become these days or despise bands will overly colorful t shirts and skinny jeans, no need to keep reading. If you like young, high energy bands with catchy hooks then perhaps you should give Love She Wrote a listen.
I first discovered Austin’s own The Calm Blue Sea at this year’s Free Week, a January tradition here in Austin. They were actually the first Free Week performance I caught and was no doubt one of the best I have ever seen. It was a beautiful night for a concert at the Mohawk on January 2nd. The CalmBlueSea played early and on the outside stage. I admit that I wasn’t there for them, but I couldn’t be happier about what I heard and saw that night. They took me by total surprise and I have been hooked on their music ever since.
Austin Vida just launched a new article about the upcoming Manu Chao performance on Austin City Limits. KLRU was also kind enough to work with us so that could provide a sneak peek video of the Manu Chao performance. You can see it now on Austin Vida in the music section, and can even play it full screen. Thanks also Scott Newton and KLRU for the great photo pictured above.
Two hot young cdFuse artists, Driver F and Zlam Dunk, will be playing Friday at Stubb’s. They will be playing with Austin rock group, Spin Alley, as they release their new album entitled Victims. I have not yet checked out Spin Alley, so I look forward to seeing them for the first time. From what I hear on their myspace page, its sounds a little like 311 meets Faith No More.
I have seen co-headliners Driver F and Zlam Dunk many times this past year. Neither band ever disappoints me. Both bands are young and very high energy, but my comparison stops there. Both are worth checking out, and here’s why:
Driver F has the best album release of 2008 with Chase the White Whale. Don’t believe me? You can listen for yourself here on cdFuse or view their praise on the Driver F myspace page. All those critics and publications can’t be wrong. In addition to their great CD, their live show is the best it has been right now. They always had that “it” factor, but lately they sound more polished.It is a great blend of keys, horns, guitars, and energy. The horns don’t over power but compliment the vocals of Tyler Welsch and (W)Andy Lane. Even your mom will like Driver F.
Zlam Dunk is the hottest young band on the scene since Driver F. Having only been together since last spring, they too continue to improve their already exciting live show. Since they don’t fit a specific genre, I call Zlam Dunk’s music “dance punk”. It is certainly punk enough to mosh to, but hip enough to make you dance. There are lots of drums, keys, guitars, a tambourine and even the quintessential cowbell….because we all need more cowbell. Let me warn you though, their music and live show never slow down. You know when some bands play a couple of fast tracks and slow it down for a song or two? Not the Zlam Dunk guys. This band needs ritalin, but even that probably wouldn’t work.
If you don’t like mosh pits or crowd surfers, avoid the front and post up with me at the bar. I'll see you there!
Rock en Espanol in Austin has a new voice and youthful energy with Kalua’s debut album, La Novedad. What’s hidden in that youthful energy is an old spirit that summons the old Mariachi classics of our abuelos. Every song is passionately sung in Spanish, the native tongue of all four Kalua members, who hail from Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela respectively.
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.
The BMX DJ duo is no stranger to Austin. I caught them hanging around after SXSW last year at the Gogol Bordello concert on St Patrick’s Day. They were walking around with bicycle helmets with wheels spinning on top of them. That alone should have tipped me off that these guys were different. Monareta is returning to Austin for SXSW again this year. Be on the lookout for them, as their show is not one you want to miss. For those of you who are strangers to Monareta, read and learn why Monareta's Picotero is one of the coolest albums I own.
