You still don't have Blakroc?

I can't believe I am having to blog about this, but I have been finding too many people either don't know about this album or haven't heard of Blakroc. I find this to be both absurd and disheartening. This was the best album of 2009, although many may have missed it initially because it was released late in the year. Still, I had a hard time finding a physical copy in town until I went to Waterloo. I even scored the vinyl. God bless Waterloo.

So all that being said, let me briefly enlighten those in the dark. This is yet another brilliant Black Keys project, the same Black Keys out of Ohio fronted by Dan Auerbach. Known for their mix of '70s style rock and blues, The Black Keys were a favorite of so many subgroups, from hipsters to bikers and everyone in between. Auerbach had an impressive solo album, Keep It Hid, which was more mellow but still with the bluesy Black Keys vibe.

Now imagine that with some of hip hop's most lyrical MCs like Mos Def and Jim Jones. I know what you're thinking..it's rap-rock. Well it is indeed rap-rock, but no that cheesy stuff form the late '90s or the early 2000s. Think rap-rock that was of Rage Against The Machine like quality. Unlike my beloved RATM, this Blakroc album is more bluesy than metal. It's also more hip hop than blues given the talent of the MCs involved. This is the one album to bring together musical fans from all walks of life. In fact, it saved hip hop for me in 2009.

With all the God awful, samesy radio rap minus maybe Kanye, only Mos Def's latest album did anything for me. It's sad to admit too because I grew up listening to a lot of hip hop, but to me it went down in quality after 2000. Not since Enter the 36 Chambers have I been this passionate and excited about a hip hop album. There is even a hint of R&B to it with the ressurection of Nicole Wray. Remember her one hit, "Make It Hot"?

Alright I'm done ranting now. I could go on all day on all sorts of tangents. Seriously though, Blakroc is the Bees Knees. Instant classic. Give this video for "Ain't Nothing Like You" a look and listen.

I love you Free Week, but now I'm tired...

Man oh man, am I sleepy. For the past ten days in Austin, my Red River cohorts and I have been venue hoping all over downtown for Free Week. With Beauty Bar and The Parish participating in Free Week this year, there was even more to check out. It was fun to see some of my favorite local bands I usually pay to see and to check out some new bands I had yet to check out live.

I didn't go out every night of the week, but almost all. I was glad to see people come out despite the cold weather. After talking to random strangers, old friends I hadn't seen in a while and eaves dropping people's conversations, I learned that a lot of people were really excited about what they were hearing. I only hope that their excitement carries over throughout all of 2010. As much as I love to go check out major touring acts, which I do regularly, there is just something special about seeing a good Austin based band. It is as if our local bands are only for us cool Austin kids and no one else. Some may call it snobby or pretentious, but Austin has the best local scene in the world.

So which band did I "discover" or check out for the first time? Well I liked a young band called In Situ Sound and finally got to see Haunting Oboe Music for the first time. Sadly enough, they will be playing their last show soon from what I'm hearing. Bummer. Other than that, 2010 is off to a good start.

Here's one of the clips I captured on my new toy. It features The White White Lights, a cool indie band with a foxy lead singer and killer guitar player. She even wished David Bowie a Happy Birthday. I just wonder which Bowie she was talking about. Was it Ziggy Stardust Bowie?

1/9/10 Saturday Free Week Pick: T Bird and the Breaks at Mohawk

After getting my aggression out at Red 7 on Friday, I'll be ready for a change of scenery and venue Saturday night. Saturday is a feel good night that should lead you to get your last bit of Free Week fix at Mohawk. One of my favorite bands, local or non, is T Bird and the Breaks. I've talked about on here before, but in case you're visiting for the first time, they are a blue eyed soul band that sound something from your mom's old record collection. If you like Black Joe and the Honeybears, Brownout, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or just some good old school soul music, then you will love-love-love you some T Bird and the Breaks.

As for your worries about it being cold and this show being on the outdoor stage, fear not. Mohawk has outdoor heat lamps and the wall surrounding the outside area blocks wind for the most part. You can always hang out inside by the bar and inside stage to catch some more Free Week goodness, but come out when T Bird plays. I know there is lots to do and see Saturday night, but seeing T Bird for free at Mohawk is a must. They don't play Red River too often as they usually do the Momo's, Antone's and Continental circuit. If miss them Saturday, catch them at Hole in Wall over by UT campus on January 23rd. I'm glad to see they are giving love to the old Hole in the Wall, a venue I admit I never go to enough.

For some quick and brief T Bird and the Breaks goodness, click play on this widget and turn it up. I also posted a couple of links below for you to explore if you wish.




More helpful links:

T Bird and the Breaks on MySpace

T Bird and the Breaks official website

1/8/10 Friday Free Week Pick: Lower Class Brats, Krum Bums & Sober Daze at Red 7

Tonight at Red 7 is probably the one show I have been really looking forward to more than any other Free Week show this year. Three of the absolute best punk rock bands Austin has to offer are playing together for this amazing show and of course for free. I almost feel guilty picking this show as I know everyone who would be interested in this show already knew about it. That's how punk rock fans are, more specifically Austin punk rock fans. Still, the best show tonight features non other than Lower Class Brats, Krum Bums and Sober Daze.

Lower Class Brats (LCB) have been around a long time and are still an Austin heavy hitter. With a loyal fan base, respect of all the other young bands and a new 7 inch to promote, LCB keep on truckin' in 2010. Even if you aren't a big punk rock fan, Austin music aficionados should at least see LCB as some sort of required right of passage. It might as well be free. They headline the show so be sure to make plans to stay out late. It will be well worth it. I'm stoked because the last time I saw LCB was when they opened for Rancid in 2008.

Playing before LCB are two sick punk rock bands, Krum Bums and Sober Daze. Both bands are personal favorites of mine and I have been following both for a few years now. Krum Bums could easily headline their own show anytime they want as they draw well on their own thanks to their crazy live sets and solid album catalog. Sober Daze on the other hand, are an up and comer that started in the punk rock house party scene. They had a big 2009 when they opened for The Vandals and got featured in Austin Vida. I posted links for you to check out below this video we captured for Austin Vida of Sober Daze at Red 7. The video is on the outside stage, but tonight's show will be inside.



Helpful links:

Krum Bums;a decade late the punk don't stop by Alysha Hernandez

Sober Daze, the next big thing in punk rock by Ian Morales

1/7/10 Thursday Free Week Pick: Suzanna Choffel at The Parish

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.

1/6/10 Wednesday Free Week Pick: The Strange Attractors, Stereo Is A Lie, New Roman Times and She Sir

I give full credit to my good friend and partner in crime, Ajay Miranda, for this one. Stereo Is A Lie is pretty good band that grows on me the more I hear them. Playing along side New Roman Times, She Sir and The Strange Attractors is a great way to get selected as my Wednesday Free Week pick amongst everything else great going on. This band kind of came out of IV Thieves, whom I saw a few years ago at a Roller Derby match of all places. Glynn Wedgewood fronts this semi-new band at Beauty Bar Wednesday night, so fans of IV Thieves who want some more Wedgewood can get their fix for FREE. Check them out here on this 'Nites video where I first saw Stereo Is A Lie:



New Roman Times and The Strange Attractors are also really good bands worth seeing on their own, much less together for Free.For indie lovers and Austin bloggers, this is your ideal showcase. Even I have to tip my hat to whomever booked this as it is the best overall bill of the night. Oh, and Beauty Bar is a good spot despite the uber hipstery clientele. It's only supposed to be around 56 degrees so don't be afraid to leave the house and take advantage of Free Week. Here's some more quick video goodness for you of New Roman Times from their in-store at Waterloo Records.

1/5/10 Tuesday Free Week Pick: Cruiserweight at Red 7

Cruiserweight photo by Wylie Maercklein

Tuesday will take me to Austin's best hardcore venue, Red 7, for a pretty good pop-punk show of all things. A genre that really blew up in the '90s and got mainstream in the early part of the previous decade, pop-punk had a real strong hold in Austin a few years ago it seemed. Bands like Dynamite Boy, Riddlin' Kids and Tuesday's headliner, Cruiserweight, were a big part of that movement. Around ten years later, when all those other bands they played with in those days are making their reunion show circuit, Cruiserweight have sustained.

It is really refreshing to me that they have sustained. In a day where most local blogger blow hards and snobby Austin music media fail to acknowledge the relevance or existence of pop-punk, Cruiserweight remains. When I see them live now a days, I see myself in their young teen and early twenty-something fans. I was around that age when I first saw them live. Those same young teens and early twenty-somethings make me feel really old when I catch their shows now, but there are always a few old fans my age hanging around to make me feel less cool. I'm also glad to see front woman, Stella Maxwell, still battles on the dance floor at the end of every set. She hasn't lost a step or her passion. If you've never seen them live, you're missing out. You'll see me there as I'll be the old guy who knows the words to most, if not all, of their songs.

I'll be talking about Cruiserweight more later I'm sure, so I'll save my rants, raves and odes to Cruiserweight for another day and an actual publiction. I know they have yet another new record in the works, so maybe they will perform some of those. I'm crossing my fingers that they are. What I will bet the house on is that they play the following classics I've posted below. If you have never seen or heard of Cruiserweight, then I strongly encourage you to watch and listen to both as well as check them out for free on Tuesday night.

"Cautionary Tale" off their album This Undoubtedly Come Out Wrong




"Yellow Lights" off their album This Undoubtedly Come Out Wrong



Playing before Cruiserweightwill be The Anchor and Buffalo's own Lemuria who are on tour. Oh and I almost forgot, O'Pioneers. They are one of my favorite post-rock or post-punk bands (depending on who you ask) that I saw for the first time in 2008 when they opened for Less Than Jake. Get to Red 7 at 9:00pm so you can find parking and absorb it all.

1/4/10 Monday Free Week Pick: Head Panic at Red 7

Monday night is the first night that will bring me to Red 7, Austin's premiere hardcore venue. With nothing else that really interests me anywhere else Monday night, an old local punk rock favorite of mine headlines. Austin's own punk rock outfit, Head Panic, is a great band for punk rock lovers to check out. I admit I haven't seen them in over a year. The last time was at Room 710, may it rest in peace. I reviewed their album, America, on cdFuse in 2008 before it made the change to Double Stereo. It was one of the better, lesser known punk releases of 2008.

Fronted by the talented Phil Bracey, Head Panic is a punk band with a bi-coastal sound that incorporates dub, hardcore and ska. They sound like a '90s punk band actually, which is a good or bad thing depending on your personal tastes. They don't have huge mohawks or skinny jeans. They probably fall somewhere in between which makes them approachable to all sorts of punk fans. They are both political and fun, while always being a good live band to see. I don't think they have taken off locally they way I thought they would, but then again they do their fare share of touring regionally and nationally. Most of the shows I caught from them were at head Hunter's and Room 710. I hope they move into the bigger Red 7 level gigs that enable them to open for bigger touring acts so more people can get exposed to them. Check out this cool widget that has some of their music on it and give them a listen. If you like what you hear, head to Red 7 Monday night and enjoy Free Week.

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.

1/2/10 Saturday Free Week Pick: The Lions and Ghostknife

I hope you guys got to check out Amplified Heat at Emo's Friday Night. If you were at Beerland, I hope you saw Sober Daze, a crazy ass punk rock band I've been following for a few years now. Well if you are like me and took the day to recover and rest Friday, then Free Week starts for you on Saturday night. For those of you in clouds or from out of town, Free Week is where the best venues on and around Red River waive the cover charge. It's like five bucks or so if you are 18+, but still a great deal none the less. It goes from January 1st through the 10th. I'll pick the best of the best of stuff to check out that may not be on the average readers' radar. Let the Free Week picks begin....

Get downtown early at Emo's to check out Mike Wiebe of The Riverboat Gamblers and his side project, Ghost Knife. I saw them open for Mike Herrera's Tumbledown this past fall and they sounded good. They aren't as punk-ish as The Riverboat Gamblers, but in the same realm of taste for fans. Think post rock and indie with a slight hint of hardcore. Weibe has a great rock voice, so you already know they are good. You won't be able to find them on MySpace or online anywhere that I know of. When I last spoke with Mike maybe a couple of weeks ago, he was showing me his stitches in his left hand and telling me about Ghost Knife. He told me he hadn't made anything for it yet as far as online stuff. So, you have get to Emo's early as Ghost Knife opens.

The Lions (photo by Katrina Hercules)

After Ghost Knife finishes, I'm heading over to Mohawk on 10th and Red River to see one of my favorite local rock groups, The Lions. They're kind of a '70s throwback to the time when psychedelic, cock-rock was king. I've heard older folks call it "camaro-rock". Either way, it's bad ass. I am listening to their album, My Generation, as we speak. Some of you may have even played one of their songs on Guitar Hero called "Heavy Metal Lady". That song doesn't appear on My Generation, but it still rocks. Check out this clip.



Playing before The Lions are local rock bands Vinhomudeh and Eagle Claw. Don't let any kind of cold weather keep you home. Mohawk has those tall space heaters and the wall around the outside stage blocks the wind pretty good. Also, it's Free! Free! Free! So get there and support good local live music. For more Free Week selections, check in again with soon. I'm always available by email for questions and/or suggestions.