photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

The French Inhales @ Beerland on 1/8

Here are some pictures and a video from the Gerard Cosloy-approved Free Week show that went down at Beerland on Sunday, January 8th. Donations were collected at the door for Esme's family. The bands were: Come & Take it (now with Dugg on drums), The French Inhales, The Restrooms, and Smithers (but not the Stuffies who were originally also on the bill).

More below...

Continue reading "The French Inhales, Come & Take it, The Restrooms & Smithers @ Beerland (Free Week pics)"

Tragic news to start the year. KXAN reports:

"Austin police are asking for help from the public to find the person responsible for the New Year's Day killing of Esme Barrera in her North Central Austin home.

Monday evening, they released a sketch of a man who may have attacked at least one other woman in the same block where Barrera, 29, was killed...

...According to several social media sites, Barrera was an El Paso native and active in the Austin music scene. She worked part time at Waterloo Records, where employees and friends were grieving her death on Monday.

Barrera was also a teacher's assistant at Casis Elementary where she worked with special needs children for the last five years.

"I am just shocked beyond words," said friend Heidi Knape, who worked with Barrera at Casis. "She was just the most energetic, fun girl that would help anyone out on campus."

She was also volunteer for Girls Rock Austin, a camp for young female musicians."

Tributes are popping up all over the web. You'll find one and a link to more HERE as well as a dedicated tumblr HERE, and update: a blog post by Gerard Cosloy HERE, and update two: a tweet from Ted Leo and Okkervil River and Ringo Deathstarr, YACHT, and Centro-Matic.

Update three: Brooklyn benefit planned.

Rest in Peace Esme.

OBN IIIs at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Rising Austin band OBN IIIs have three local shows coming up soon, including one TONIGHT (12/28) at Emo's with Video and Wiccans. Tickets for tonight's show are still available, and it's one of the last at the venue, ending with Killdozer's show on 12/30.

The other two OBN IIIs shows happen on January 6 at Beerland with Pharoahs, Golden Boys, Church Shoes, and Teenage News and January 7 at Mohawk with Grape St, A Giant Dog, Ghostknife, Shivery Shakes, and DJ Richard Henry.

OBN IIIs will be featured on the second installment of the upcoming Matador singles series, and their 2011 record (available at eMusic) made the year end lists of a few of the people at Matador Records, as did Brooklyn's The Men, who will also be featured in their singles series too.

One of the lists OBN IIIs appeared on is Austin's own Gerard Cosloy's list, which also includes Wiccans, who open the Emo's show tonight. OBN IIIs also played Gerard's party at Beerland earlier this month. Did you catch it? How was that one?

Gerard's full end-of-year list is below...

Continue reading "OBN IIIs releasing single on Matador, made Gerard Cosloy's year-end list, playing more shows (including Emo's tonight)"