Vampire Weekend in Brooklyn in 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

SXSW already revealed one round of artists, then a second, and now they've just revealed a third announcement which includes Vampire Weekend, Local Natives, The Thermals, Black Lips, Camera Obscura, Merchandise, Clutch, Rockie Fresh, Baauer, Bleached, TOY, Waxahatchee, Bleeding Rainbow, Count Bass D, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, ST 2 Lettaz, Eagles of Death Metal, Parenthetical Girls, Single Mothers, Eddi Front, Indians, Night Beds, IO Echo, KEN Mode, Today is the Day, Killa Kyleon, Lemuria, Love Inks, Moon King, Pac Div, Prince Paul, Pure Bathing Culture, Sepalcure, Stagnant Pools, and many many more.

Full round 3 list below...

Continue reading "SXSW announces even more artists (Vampire Weekend, Local Natives, Thermals, Clutch, Rockie Fresh, Waxahatchee, more)"

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"

We've got less than a week to go and if you're still getting your New Year's Eve plans together, here is a number of concert options in Austin.

TX chillwaver Neon Indian returns to town, and as mentioned, is playing an outdoor show at Mohawk with Silent Diane and S U R V I V E. The show will have "New Year's Eve libations provided by your host at midnight, neon cocktails, tarot card reader, confetti cannons, toasting & more info to come!" Tickets are on sale now.

Local country legend Willie Nelson and friends are playing two nights (12/30-31) at Moody Theater with support from The Mavericks on night one and Iron & Wine on night two (aka NYE). Tickets for night 1 and night 2 are available.

Synth/psych legend Silver Apples is playing "a psychedelic new year's eve celebration in space" at The Museum of Human Achievement with some solid support from Zorch, Xander Harris, SLEEP OVER, Amphibian Lark, and Soundfounder. Tickets for that show are on sale.

Old school hardcore bands Adolescents and Youth Brigade are playing an outdoor show at Red 7 with American Heist and Lower Class Brats. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Ringo Deathstarr are teaming up with Japanther for a NYE show at Frontier Bar with The Boxing Lesson, Megafauna, Residual Kid, and M.

A bunch of good bands will be teaming up for a show at Cheer Up Charlie's including Deep Time, Hundred Visions, Love Inks, The Sour Notes, Mirror Travel, Pompeii, The Laughing, and a DJ set by DJ S.I.R. to close out the night. The first 100 drinks will be sponsored by Tito's Vodka and there's a champagne toast at midnight. $5 at the door.

Three Austin venues Hotel Vegas, The Volstead, and Pine Street Station will be presenting a 1984-themed NYE party with the music of New Order, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Gang of Four, Adam Ant, Violent Femmes, X, Prince and The Revolution, Gary Numan, The Go-Go's, Van Halen, The Smiths, Gun Club, Spinal Tap, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Replacements, Tina Turner, Run DMC, Dead Kennedy's & George Thorogood...performed by members of: Bad Lovers, Dikes of Holland, Dead Space, Windsor for The Derby, The Pharaohs, Holy Wave, The Bad Lovers, Foreign Mothers, Feral Future, The Nouns, Poor People, Sexploits, P-Tek, American Sharks, Sweat Lodge, Lola Cola, Bobby Jealousy, Naw Dude, Ugly Beats, DD Dagger, December Boys, Moonlight Towers, Strange Attractors, Crisis Hotlines, Gory Details, Ghost Knife, Church Shoes, Tijuana Bible, Space Camp, Sweet Talk, Motel Ball Band, Ghetto Ghouls, and These Are Words. Tickets, which gain you access to all three venues, are on sale now. There will be two vans to shuttle you between the venues. More info HERE. Trailer video below.

Altercation Comedy is presenting an End of Days Bash at The New Movement Theater with Chris Cubas, Jake Flores, Rise Against's Zach Blair, Krum Bums' Dave Rodriguez, Mack Lindsay, The Lizard Man, Satan from Stanhope's Unbookables, open mic lap dance with Burning Angel XXX star Miss Genocide, and more. Altercation Comedy's JT Habersaat will be hosting. Tickets are available.

The Red Eyed Fly is hosting two shows: one outside with Mike Truth & The Replacement Killers, Gidzillah, Agave Love, and Audiolight ($5 adults/$8 minors); and a free show indoors with Kingdom, Black Ladder, and Estelline. Both shows are all ages.

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears are playing Emo's East with Jesse Dayton and Wild Child. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Austin's Quiet Company will be performing at a NYE celebration on the second floor of the W Hotel, which also includes a live set by The Tontons and DJ sets by I Wanna Be Her and Bird Peterson. Tickets gain you access to the music, plus dinner, an open bar, and a midnight toast. VIP tickets incude a meet and greet with the artists, complimentary valet parking, and "premium bar offerings."

Latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma, who have backed GZA on tour a few times recently, are playing Beauty Ballroom with Foot Patrol. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

T Bird and the Breaks and Henry and the Invisibles are playing Stubb's BBQ (indoors). Tickets for that show are on sale.

What did we miss?

Head to Showlist Austin and Do512 for more.

In NYC or Chicago? We have guides for those too (at the links).

Trailer video for the 1984 party below...

Continue reading "A guide to New Year's Eve shows in Austin (Willie Nelson, Silver Apples, Neon Indian, Ringo Deathstarr, a 1984 dance party & more)"

Robert Ellis at Mercury Lounge, NYC, April 2012 (more by Chris La Putt)

The TonTons at Stubb's August 2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

BV Austin is gearing up for a road trip, visiting our big brother BrooklynVegan next month for the 2012 CMJ Festival which happens 10/16 - 10/20 in NYC. And we're throwing a party once we get there with The Convoy Group, Regressive Records, and Eye in the Sky Collective, along with Tito's Handmade Vodka! It's called The Texas Takeover Party and it's both an official and FREE CMJ event.

The party happens on Thursday, October 18 at Rebel NYC (251 W. 30th St.) and features an all-Texas line-up with Robert Ellis, Wild Child, The TonTons (who just played Pop Montreal), Shakey Graves, Josiah Hall and New York City Queens.

The fun starts at 6 PM and CMJ badgehoders can just walk right in. Everyone else who wants to come should RSVP here. Free Tito's vodka while it lasts. So if you're in NYC during CMJ, come on by. Flyer for the show is below.

Continue reading "BV Austin is heading to CMJ (with Robert Ellis, Shakey Graves, Wild Child, The TonTons, and more) "

The Tontons (photo by Megan Tipps)

Houston's The Tontons (Adam Martinez, Asli Omar, Justin Martinez, and Tom Nguyen) have been making some waves recently ahead of their Pop Montreal appearances later this month, and have just released a video for "Golden" off of their latest EP (which you can stream here).

(Houston, TX) Houston-based indie rockers The Tontons are pleased to announce the release of their new music video for "Golden" from their most recently released EP, Golden. MTV's Buzzworthy blog raved about "Golden" making comparisons to Metric and front woman Emily Haines while Austin's NPR affiliate KUT deemed it "Song Of The Day". Upon hearing the MTV news, rap legend Bun B announced The Tontons as the "Best Band In Houston" to his 550k+ Twitter followers. Extremely grateful for the recent recognition, The Tontons are stoked to share with the world the visual that accompanies "Golden". Written and directed by Tom Adams and Tom Nguyen.

Check out the new video, as well as full tour listings for The Tontons (including Pop Montreal and CMJ dates) below.

Continue reading "The Tontons made a video for 'Golden', are playing the W Hotel, Pop Montreal, CMJ & other dates"

photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

Quiet Company, The TonTons, and Bobby Jealousy @ Stubb's - 8/30/2012

On Thursday (8/30) Austin's own Quiet Company kicked off their fall tour at the Stubb's inside stage. They packed the house and pretty much went insane on stage (which was matched by the home-town audience's fervor) for their entire set with a quieter moment thrown in here and there, one being their cover of The Smiths' "Ask."

The TonTons (whose song 'Golden' was recently declared "Buzzworthy" by MTV) and Bobby Jealousy helped with the send-off. Bobby Jealousy are really killing it with their live shows; definitely worth checking out when they play Lambert's on 9/27.

Quiet Company will be on the road until their return for the ACL Festival. Pictures of all three, and QC's tour link below.

Continue reading "Quiet Company kicked off fall tour at Stubbs with The TonTons and Bobby Jealousy (pics) "

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.

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)"