The Sword added to Fun Fun Fun Fest Line Up

The Sword

www.swordofdoom.com

 Today through the magic of Facebook, I learned that the world's greatest young metal band was added to this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest Line up. That's right....Austin's own rock Gods, The Sword, will take the stage on Saturday at the black stage. Check out the Fun Fun Fun Fest website for what that means exactly.

The addition of The Sword really solidified this year's festival for me, and not just because I am the biggest fan boy on the planet. I always look forward to Fun Fun Fun Fest as it the Red River rat mecca of festivals, but this year it was missing a little something in comparison to last year. When I saw Bad Brains (even though it sucked), All, Dead Milkmen and Brownout, it kicked total ass. Even with Danzig and Jesus Lizard as the headliners, I felt Fun Fun Fun was missing a metal piece. Not anymore...good move Transmission.

For those of you who like metal and want to see the next up and coming band, be sure to check out Pack of Wolves. I have seen the guys from The Sword at some of their shows if that tells you anything. They are at where The Sword were like maybe five years ago. The first time I saw The Sword was at Room 710,may you rest in piece. Then I saw them at Emo's, then Stubb's as they embarrassed headliner Clutch. I have all the respect in the world for Clutch, but you can't play after The Sword in Austin.Only Metallica can do that, and they have as The Sword was their opener on a good leg of their world tour this year.

In case you don't have a pulse or are just plain lame, let me briefly introduce you to the world's greatest metal band and the best thing to come out of Austin since EVER. This is the video for "Maiden, Mother & Crone" off their latest album, "Gods Of The Earth":



For more info on Fun Fun Fun Fest, visit the following links:

Fun Fun Fun Fest Website

Fun Fun Fun Fest Myspace

Fun Fun Fun Fest Twitter

Tuesday Night Show Pick: Brandon's Birthday at Momo's

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.

Austin Vida Live: La Guerrilla from Austin Vida on Vimeo.

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.

New Video from Austin's Quiet Company

Quiet Company

Austin indie rockers, Quiet Company, just sent over their new video for their single "On Modern Man". The song is their show closer and has quickly become a fan favorite as the band openly invites audience members to join them on stage and perform the song with them. The video just premiered today and looks great. It was directed by Digital Shakedown's Justin Kirchhoff. Check it out and give it a listen. After watching, someone please tell me if that is downtown Round Rock. It looks really familiar.

Quiet Company - "On Modern Men" - Music Video from Digital Shakedown on Vimeo.

Album Review: The Boy Who Never by Landon Pigg

Many of you may not know Landon Pigg by name, but you have probably heard his song “Falling In Love At  a Coffee Shop” on AT&T commercials. If you went to the movie theaters to see Whip It, you may recognize his face. Now it is time you get to know Landon Pigg the musician, not the actor or commercial jingle singer. His new album, The Boy Who Never, might just make you forget he acts.

Many of you will purchase The Boy Who Never just because of “Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop”. It’s a soft, poetic love song made for chick flicks, Myspace profile songs and of course commercials. Many know it as the AT& T song, and that is the only thing not to love about it. Pigg’s high pitched vocal stylings take you in; while the cello provides the perfect romantic backdrop Pigg needs to compliment his acoustic guitar. Occasionally the piano drizzle a few notes which really complete the song. At this point, it is already a timeless classic.

As for the rest of The Boy Who Will Never, it is not worthy of the same high praise.  For an album to generate interest based on a near perfect song set the bar high for Pigg. I didn’t expect more hits like “Coffee Shop”.  There are a few good pop songs that people will love, but only Pigg’s hardcore fans will remember them.  It’s a shame really, because Pigg is a talented artist.

“Take A Chance” is good pop song that sounds like something you’d hear by The Fray on a Top 40 radio station. With indie guitar sounds (spacey notes, crunchy guitar) and heavy bass line, it is a song that even pretentious hipster audiences would love. It is a more up tempo love song about letting that special someone in and “taking that chance” on a relationship.

Landon Pigg

www.myspace.com/landonpiggmusic

For those looking for more great ballads from Pigg, “Look So Tired” should give you your fix. Other noteworthy tracks include the brass accompanied “A Ghost” and the folksy “Made For Glory”. Pigg is totally capable of making great pop songs that don’t’ sound like the slow ballads he is best known for. He already proved that to me when he released his This is a Pigg EP.

Landon Pigg is a talented artist who should remain a mainstay in music world and specifically in the Top 40 realm. For those not yet familiar with Pigg, think of him as the love child of James Blunt and The Fray. That’s how he sounds to me. I’d love to see him take high singing voice to a track that rocks a little harder to see how that would sound. Continue to expect big things from Pigg in the future.

Checkout the video for “Falling In Love In a Coffeeshop” off of Landon Pigg’s album, The Boy Who Will Never:

"Coffee Shop" music video for Landon Pigg from Kip Kubin on Vimeo.

For more on Landon Pigg, visit the following links:

Landon Pigg on Twitter

Landon Pigg Official Website

Review published on Double Stereo. For more reviews, interviews, videos, blogs and downloads, visit www.doublestereo.com

Ian's Indie Girl Crush Series, Volume Three: Yuki Chikudate

Yuki Chikudate

In what began as an inside joke between a friend of mine and I, my indie girl crush series posts have my highest numbers this year. It is evident that blog readers love such silliness, including my friends who have already asked me who my next crush will be. I have also had publicists send me a few suggestions for my next crush, which isn't something I planned on doing again really. Like I mentioned, it was an inside joke amongst a few friends and it has now taken on a life if it's own. If this sort of column can help me introduce cool new bands or artists to the masses, then I will go indie girl crazy.

My most recent indie girl crush is a little different from my previous crushes, Ingrid Michaelson and Zooey Deschanel. I recently became twitterpated with a beautiful lead singer of the Brooklyn indie group whose name means "casual sex" in Japanese. My latest indie girl crush is none other than Yuki Chikudate from the fantastic indie group, Asobi Seksu. Accompanying Yuki Chikudate in Asobi Seksu is James Hannah.

Asobi's Seksu's music falls under the indie genre referred to as "shoegazing", which basically means kind of spacey guitar effects like floating notes or crafted uses of distortion. Chikudate's voice is perfect for this sort band, as it is not overpowering but can still be heard clearly. She also has a smokin' hot look that I describe to friends as indie meets mod-chic. The fact that she's of the Asian persuasion adds that extra touch.

Check out this recent video from Asobi Seksu for their single "Me & Marry" off their current album, Hush. If you're in Texas and like what you hear, you're going to have to just pick up the album as Asobi Seksu won't be back around here as they are on tour. Some of you lucky Austinites may have caught them at Mohawk recently, and if you were there, I absolutely hate you.


Asobi Seksu - Me & Mary from Aaron Stewart-Ahn on Vimeo.

For more on Asobi Seksu, visit the following links:

Asobi Seksu on Myspace

Asobi Seksu on Twitter

Friay Night Show Pick: Dear and the Headlights at Emo's

Dear and the Headlights

www.myspace.com/dearandtheheadlights

Tonight at Emo's (inside) marks the return of one my favorite bands I discovered this year, Dear and the Headlights. Coming off this summer's Warped Tour, believe it or not, the guys are touring to support their album Drunk Like Bible Times. These guys are constantly touring and are certainly in love with Austin. They've been here at least twice that I know of this year already. I also caught them at Warped Tour this summer in San Antonio. They were the lone indie(ish) band there but still had a great reception amongst the punk kids.

Dear and the Headlights are indie rockers with a hint garage rock and pop. Some of their songs sound very '60s, some sound very Pitchforky. That's referring to the online indie site, not a comment on musical pitch. My favorite song that I'd suggest to you is "Talk About" off of Drunk Like Bible Times. It's also cool that the lead singer is named "Ian". Okay, maybe that's not that cool but I like that name for some reason.

I'd usually go into more detail on my blog here, but I already have a recent interview with the guys I did before Warped Tour. If you like what you hear on this YouTube clip, check out the links below to learn more.

Get to Emo's tonight at 8:00pm to catch Kinch and Rajiv Patel, both Arizona based artists. Tickets are $10 and the show is all ages. My guess is that this is your last chance this year to catch Dear and the Headlights in Austin. Take advantage. Trust me. You'll dig 'em.

For more on Dear the Headlights, visit the following links:

Dear and the Headlights official website

Dear and the Headlights interview on Double Stereo

Purchase Tickets Here 

Thursday Night Show Pick: Pitbull and Kat DeLuna at The Austin Music Hall

Pitbull

www.myspace.com/pitbull

Tonight at The Austin Music Hall, the world's hottest hip hop act takes the stage. Mr. 305, Armando Pérez aka Pitbull is coming through Austin in support of his new album, Rebelution. As a long time of fan of Pitbull, I look forward to hearing his radio hits, but moreso for me his street stuff that never makes it the radio. Tracks like "Dammit Man" and "Everybody Get Up" get you through a weight workout. I doubt he'll perform them because those aren't songs fans will be able to sing along to, but you never know.

When he first came on the scene with his major breakthrough album, Money Is Still A Major Issue, I couldn't have been more proud of the fact that he was Latino. He has proven that a talented Latino rapper can be a commercial hip hop star that gets love from the blacks, whites, Latinos, all hip hop fans. He didn't fall into the trap that is the label "Latin Rapper". Everyone loves Pitbull and with good reason. He makes hot club tracks that turn nice girls into naughty girls dancing in cages. Your abuelita dances to Pitbull.

Something else I love about Pitbull that no one really points out or notices are all the freestyle and DJ Laz samples he uses. He did the Spring Love remake with the original artist, Stevie B. He gets down with Reggaeton stars, like Rakim y Ken Y, on songs like "Tell Me". He can probably pull a Nelly and cross over into country if he wanted to. Pitbull is the real deal. No one has the diverse portfolio or resume Pitbull has in any genre of urban music. People tend overlook that because of his radio success. Lately he has stuck to party songs,but no one does them better. Check out the music video for "I Know You Want Me" off his new album, Rebelution.

Also performing tonight is MTV3 and Mun2 darling, Kat DeLuna.She is no slouch as an opener by any means. Her breakthrough hit, "Whine Up" still gets spins in the clubs and radio play on occasion. She'll be performing new songs tonight off her upcoming new album. DeLuna fans won't want to miss that.

Arrive by 7:00 to ensure a good spot for the show. The Austin Music Hall is located 208 Nueces. Look for a parking garage and parking lot by some condos. You'll have to pay to park, but that's like anywhere else and those spots make your life easier after the show ends.

If you still need your tickets., click here to purchase.

Jay Reatard Says "No Pee Got On The Dude"

Jay Reatard

www.myspace.com/jayreatard

I actually have been wanting to see Jay Reatard live. I dig his music, but he's not getting a lot of love after a recent YouTube Video that's surfaced of his Goner Fest performance. I know musicians drink before and while performing on stage, but usually they hold their need to pee until after the set is done. Well apparently Jay Reatard couldn't hold it and didn't want to interrupt his show to excuse himself. To top it all off, he goes full fledged rock star and pees with his hands waiving in the air in front of the audience. It's like a scene from a bad movie. I guess I'll play it safe and just enjoy the records or stay in the back of the venue when I go see him live. Check it out in case you haven't seen it yet.



After watching the video, I saw this on his Twitter: "Fyi .. No pee got on the dude I was pissing on the ground .. Also that is not my solo band its the reatards .. Get your bands straight ."

Wednesday Night Show Pick: Born To Lose at Red 7 w/Capital Scam

Born To Lose is one of my all time favorite punk bands. It is still hard to believe as good as they are that I still get to see them at Red 7 on Wednesday. Their sound is so gutter, raw but yet polished, and worthy of a mid to high level Warped Tour stage. I have been to many a Warped Tours and three fourths of the bands there don't hold a candle to Born To Lose. I even saw Born To Lose play Warped a few years ago in front of a small but satisfied crowd. Seeing them live is like reliving my early twenties all over again.

They have been a Red River staple for years now. The reason you only see their name in show listings every so often if that much of their time is spent kicking ass and taking names in Europe, a much better place for punk bands from what I hear. Everyone who loves punk that I have shared their music with has always become a big fan. When they played at Emo's this summer with Gallows, the crowd loved them. People saw me singing along to the words during the whole show, which prompted them to approach me after and ask questions about them. "Who are these guys again?" "Are they local?" "Can you send me some MP3s?"

Born To Lose

www.myspace.com/borntolose

Their current album, Saints Gone Wrong, is in regular rotation in my truck's CD player. People new to Born To Lose need to pick that up first as it is their best. If you really want to get into Born To Lose, pick up Blessed Days. The recording and sound quality isn't as good as on Saints Gone Wrong, but the songs are phenomenal. In fact my favorite Born To Lose song is on Blesses Days, a song called "Borrowed Time".

Tonight Born To Lose takes the stage with any great local punk band called Capital Scam. I have seen these guys around, I believe most recently at The Broken Neck skate park. Tonight's show is also serving as Capital Scam's tour kick off show. Expect nothing but their A-game as always. I suggest arriving at Red 7 around 9:00. Red 7 is located on 611 E. 7th, right off I-35 and adjacent to the uber hipster Beauty Bar. I couldn't find anything that mentioned the cover charge, but it can't be more than ten dollars.

For some punk rock goodness or to check out Born To Lose for the first time, take a look and listen to this video for "Saints Gone Wrong".




For more info about tonight's show and the bands, visit the following links:

Capital Scam Myspace

Born To Lose on Double Stereo

Red 7 Myspace

Tuesday Night Show Pick: Trivium, White Chapel & Darkest Hour at Emo's

Typically Austinites have to wait for No Control on Friday nights to get this much metal in one night. Local promoters DAG Presents is bringing a kick ass metal show featuring heavy hitters Trivium, Dirge Within, White Chapel, and Darkest Hour. Make sure to put on your best black t-shirt and call in Wednesday morning. Metal heads will not want to miss this.

 

Darkest Hour

www.myspace.com/darkesthour

Although Trivium may be the main attraction and headliner, I am more excited about checking out Darkest Hour. I missed them during SXSW this year and have been eagerly awaiting their return to Austin. I figured if they did tour Texas after SXSW, they'd hit up San Antonio at the very least. Austin, although it has been a little better this year, isn't the metal haven San Antonio or Dallas are. When it comes to metal touring acts, Austin gets skipped over a lot. Hopefully that nonsense stops sooner than later. As I see more hardcore shows pop up online, the more I see that starting to change little by little.

 Darkest Hour is touring to support their current album The Eternal Return.Categorized by most as a melodic death metal band, Darkest Hour is no Johhny Come Lately. With five albums in their catalog, there seems to be no slowing down anytime soon for Darkest Hour. The Eternal Return is my favorite album of theirs as they sound more polished, faster and even darker than on previous albums. As far as good older material from Darkest Hour, check out Deliver Us as well. That album was almost what The Eternal Return is, but not quite. If you haven't checked them out yet, then you're clearly not into metal.

Something else cool about tonight' show for Trivium fans especially is with each purchased ticket, you will be able to download a full soundboard quality recording of Trivium live from the show. All one has to do is use the ticket barcode on Trivium's website to redeem it. I only wish they'd let us download a full live album. Still, not a bad give away for a show you'd be buying a ticket for anyway. Doors are at 6:30, so get there early.

I have posted some helpful links about the groups and about tonight's show specifically. Also, check out this video of Darkest Hour performing at Red 7 during SXSW this past March. They're performing "Doomsayer" off their album Deliver Us.


SXSW#9: Darkest Hour-Doomsayer from Denman C Anderson on Vimeo.

Helpful Links:

Trivium Myspace

White Chapel Myspace

Dirge Within Myspace

Purchase Tickets Here