photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

I've been hounded for the last few weeks to do a 'best of' post for the shows I've been to and the pictures I've taken in 2012. After several false starts, I decided to just walk through chronologically and try and do justice to all of the wonderful shows without missing too much. Frankly I should be concentrating on posting all of the stuff I shot that never made it live instead of this (woops), but that is next on my list.

The pictures aren't meant to be exhaustive or all-inclusive of what was the best (I'm certain I've missed many things; I'm not even touching festival stuff, and I went to BELGIUM!), but here we go. Personally 2012 was quite the roller-coaster, and every show was a wonderful escape. Some of the shots may or may not be my best work - but if it's in here, then the show, band or bands there, venue and everyone else involved were some of my favorites for 2012 (at least up until November). Loved Gary Clark Jr. and Esperanza Spalding too, but since they are recent you'd find them easily enough.

Have at it. Pictures below. Apologies to anyone I've left out.

Continue reading "Tim's picks of his pics for 2012"

photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

Emily Wolfe @ Cactus Cafe - 9/17/2012

Emily Wolfe has been performing every Monday in September as the artist-in-residence at The Cactus Cafe, most recently with Nano Whitman. Her final show is tonight (after performing at KUT earlier in the day), and you should check it out - Updated: archived on KUT. From Cactus' site:

Wolfe's debut record "Director's Notes" is rooted in folk-pop melodies accompanied by a unique, soothing vocal quality and topped with inspired lyrics about the ups and downs of young love."Director's Notes" displays her extraordinary musicianship as a multi-instrumentalist, including guitar, banjo, drums, percussion, bells, piano and Rhodes, helping her weave a layer of vulnerability through each recording. Her style has been compared to the likes of an upbeat Sarah Jaffe, an indie-rock Brandi Carlile, or Sara Bareilles with a guitar.

The quarterly residency series is designed to continue the Cactus Cafe's tradition of providing a platform for promising local talent to reach new audiences. This year, Lone Star Beer's support helps promote the free concert series.

You can get tickets here; it is a free show (with Dawn and Hawkes as openers), though you are welcome/encouraged to donate to support programs like this, and will have a chance while reserving the tickets.

More pictures from the 9/17 show below.

Continue reading "Emily Wolfe played Cactus Cafe w/ Nano Whitman; September residency ends tonight (pics, dates)"

words & photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

Asli Omar & Justin Martinez of The TonTons @ Stubb's - 6/15/2012

The Tontons, Wild Child and Emily Wolfe came to Stubb's on Friday (6/15) for a solid night of music that filled the inside stage.

Austin's Emily Wolfe took the stage and charmed the audience with some witty repartee, and worked through a warm 45-minute set including a lovely cover of The Bee Gees 'You Don't Know What It's Like', and set the tone for a great evening.

By the time local favorites Wild Child took to the stage, it was hard to move about with the audience squeezing between the walls of the cozy venue. The band worked the crowd like pros, and kept the everyone jumping and dancing throughout their set.

Houston's The Tontons, fresh from their Free Press Summer Fest performance and a day after having 'Golden' as KUT's Song of the Day, made the night complete with Asli Omar's voice and dancing leading the 4-piece through a great finish to the night. I first saw them on the Stubb's outside stage in March, and then inside at Mohawk in April - this was my favorite performance so far.

Pictures of all three bands below...

Continue reading "The Tontons, Wild Child, & Emily Wolfe rocked Stubb's inside (pics)"

by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

Stacy Dupree-King of Sucré @ Mohawk on 4/23/2012

Sucré is Stacy Dupree-King (of Eisley), Darren King (Mutemath drummer) and composer/producer Jeremy Larson. Their debut, A Minor Bird (Red Velvet), came out on April 10th and you can stream the entire album. TheOwlMag writes:

If we were able to select a soundtrack to play while we wistfully float into dreamland at night, A Minor Bird would be our musical accompaniment of choice....

...Larson's string arrangement and Stacy's angelic vocals throughout the single "When We Were Young" left us feeling entranced and reminiscing of the days of princesses and tea parties. We fell in love with soft meets funky vibe on "Chemical Reaction." Tracks such as "Troubled Waters" and "No Return" have us recalling early Björk, with its light and whimsical flare.

Sucré's A Minor Bird weaves Stacy King's airy lyrics with swelling string arrangements that continues to haunt us long after the album has ended. Make sure to catch Sucré touring this spring in support of their debut album.

They just played two shows in Texas (Austin was 4/23, Dallas 4/24) with The Tontons.

Austin's Emily Wolfe kicked off the show Monday night at Mohawk. Pictures of all three bands from that one, below...

Continue reading "Sucre, Tontons & Emily Wolfe hit the Mohawk (pics)"