1/3/10 Sunday Free Week Pick: Quiet Company & The Boxing Lesson at Emo's

I almost hate making this show as my Sunday Free Week pick, but I couldn't help it. Both Quiet Company and The Boxing Lesson are what my friends and I refer to as "blogger bands". Every hack job of a blog in Austin has mentioned both bands periodically last year, but in this case the coverage or mention is well deserved. Both bands, while on the same bill, are completely different. They couldn't be more different actually.

Quiet Company is a young Ben Folds Five style indie band, some even referred to them as a "piano rock band". While they do have a piano and it is prominent in their music, I don't see them as a piano rock band. They are like a indie pop band for adults. They have intelligent lyrics, take their music seriously and an obvious desire to "make it". They've played a lot around town and regionally this year, improving every step of the way. I saw them in spring, summer and fall in 2009. They were their best in the fall, which is no surprise. Their most recent album, Everyone You Love Will Be Happy Soon, is a good album. I only really loved a couple of songs on it, but I can see why people like it. As with many bands, seeing them live is the way to go. Seeing them for free is the best way to go fro new fans or casual listeners. To give people who are new to Quiet Company an idea of what I just wrote, here's their video for my favorite Quiet Company song,"It's Better To Spend Money Like There's No Tomorrow". I dig the Iggy Pop sounding, "Lush For Life" intro.



Also on the bill for this Free Week show at Emo's is Austin's most blogged about psychedelic indie band, The Boxing Lesson.This band grew on me last year. They were talked about so much on the local blogosphere, largely in part to the arrest of their drummer at the time and because they have one hell of a publicist. Now they don't even have a drummer, their down to just two. If you are just seeing this band for the first time, notice how lead singer Paul Waclawsky looks like an older, bearded Ryan Reynolds. 

I reviewed their album, Wild Streaks and Windy Days, on Double Stereo and was only mildly satisfied with what I heard. Like the Quiet Company album, there were only two songs I liked enough to keep in my iPod. That being said, I enjoyed them a lot more live than on CD. Somehow they managed to open for a lot of headlining touring acts I checked out and I saw them five times. I never left the room during their set except maybe if the bar or bathroom was outside. Something kept my attention, maybe the synthesizer sounds. I do dig synths. Check them out live Sunday and maybe you can tell me what it is. For those not familiar with The Boxing Lesson, check out their video for "Brighter" off of Wild Streaks and Windy Days.
 


Also on the bill for this great Sunday night Free Week show are Corto Maltese and Many Birthdays. Doors are at 9:00pm. Enjoy the show.

Wednesday Night Show Pick: The Boxing Lesson at Mohawk

Tonight at Mohawk, three cool bands will be taking the stage. Austin's own The Boxing Lesson will be playing with Sian Alice Group and My Education. Mohawk is one of my favorite venues in town, but inside can get a little crowded sometimes. Damn those noise ordinances!

I have not seen My Education live yet, as I only recently got a hold of some of their music. They seem cool, but definitely a band I have to be in the mood for. I feel the same about The Boxing Lesson, although I admit they have gotten better since I first started seeing them live. They have definitely grown on me and I look forward to new recordings coming up from them in the near future.

Sian Alice group is the headliner, as well they should be as they are the touring act coming all the way from The U.K. I have some of their songs on file and dig their sound when I'm writing late at night or just wanting to hear something calm in the background. Their sort of art-indie rock is just soothing at times. I'm looking forward to checking them out live.

I posted some links for you to give a listen to and educate yourself. You could just take my word for it...and I wouldn't blame you. Mohawk is where you want to be tonight.

Sian Alice Group(photo by Ben Rayner)

www.myspace.com/sianalicegroup

The Boxing Lesson (photo by Manuel Nauta)

http://www.myspace.com/theboxinglesson

My Education (photo by Farley Bookout)

www.myspace.com/myeducation

Check out this great song from Sian Alice Group for their song, "Close To The Ground". You can find more specific show info here at Do512.

The Boxing Lesson album review on cdFuse

The Boxing Lesson is an Austin based rock band that could very well be the bastard love child of Pink Floyd and any indie rock band. Over the past year they have become an Austin staple of sorts, playing everything from Free Week to weekend gigs at Emo’s. They have gotten a lot of buzz and press around town, but all the Pink Floyd references had always kept me from being interested. After seeing them live for the first time at Antone’s recently, I finally got a hold of their album..

Click here to read full review on cdFfuse

Built By Snow at Guero's

Can you believe I got up early on a Saturday and didn't play golf? I know, sounds crazy right? Well I had a good reason as The Summerfest kick off at Guero's was happening. The first band started at noon, but I got there a little after one o’ clock in time to see a local indie rock favorite of mine, Built By Snow.

The whole event was hosted by local KUT personality Laurie Gallardo and put on by The Loyalty Firm. I thought it was cool that show such as this with a long line up was going to be at Guero’s. It had been a while since I hung out at Guero’s for show. I like shows there as it is outside and small. Plus, they have a separate outside bar right there so you don’t have to go inside for a drink.

Right after I parked, I could hear Built By Snow playing as I walked down Congress on my way to Guero’s. I recognize their video game like synthesized sounds anywhere. This was my first time seeing them live despite having their music in my ipod for some time now. Even though it was more humid and hot today than any other show I’ve been to this year, they still rocked. “Juliana” was the song playing when I arrived.

During their set I was looking up at the sky and kept thinking to myself this was going to get rained out. Once my attention was back on stage, JP (guitar and lead vocals) had his keyboard player play a ditty from an old Nintendo Game. He asked the crowd if anyone recognized it, even gave them hints that it was from an old Nintendo (NES) game. I knew it right away, but didn’t want to reveal how big of a nerd I was. Some people made good guesses such as Contra, but no one seemed to know. I didn’t want them to feel bad so I shouted out the answer for them, which was “Double Dragon”. They all looked surprised that someone there actually knew. They said to “give that guy something”, but I got nothing. Wait, that’s not entirely true. I got a good show. I mean they played “Invaders”, which is one of their better tracks. I only wish I could have caught their whole set.

Built By Snow, in addition to having cool music, have some of the coolest videos of any local band I’ve seen. As far as their sound, I describe it to friends by saying it is as if The Cars and Weezer spawned a band. Built By Snow is that band. I have also described it as “video game rock”. If you plan to be in Austin on July 12^th or 14^th, you can catch them at Emo’s. They are one of the better indie rock acts to come out of Austin. Finally, I will leave you with this video of theirs that seems to be somewhat of a You Tube phenomenon. It’s for an awesome song called “All The Weird Kids Know”.