Esme Barrera, well known the Austin music scene, was tragically murdered on New Year's Eve/Day in her Austin home. Tributes and benefit announcements are quickly increasing in number online including tweets by the likes of Ted Leo, Okkervil River, Ringo Deathstarr, YACHT, and Centro-Matic. Even Matador's Gerard Cosloy wrote a blog post about her...

"There's not a shred of hyperbole in my voice when I tell you such a party would've been sorely lacking without Esme's presence. As will all future parties, because in the early hours of Sunday morning, she was killed just blocks away from the venue where she and so many others who loved her to bits were ringing the new year."

On Thursday, January 12th, Permanent Wave is holding a benefit in her honor at
Big Snow Buffalo Lodge (89 Varet St Bk NY 11206, Bushwick, NY) with Kelli Scarr, Golden Ghost is in town, Jo Schornikow (The Shivers), and Shannon Barnett. You can also make a donation in her name to Girls Rock Camp Austin where she volunteered.

Rest in Peace Esme.

by Bill Pearis

Sheer Agony at Halifax Pop Explosion 2011

We've had a lot of Montreal acts through town this week. Last night, Karkwa played Rockwood Music Hall, The Barr Brothers played Union Pool and Doldrums hit both Glasslands and Shea Stadium. For those looking to tic two more spots on your Montreal Indie Super Saver Card, head to Big Snow Buffalo Lodge tomorrow (12/10) to catch two newish bands: Sheer Agony and Each Other.

Sheer Agony only have two songs on their Bandcamp page, but both are pretty great and you can stream/download them below. It's nervy pop, big on melody and packing a lot into a short running time, much the way groups like the dB's, Soft Boys and the Sex Clark Five did in the early '80s. I want to hear more.

Each Other features member of Halifax band Long Long Long and are perhaps a little more on the psych (in a Syd Barret kind of way) with some skronky/noodly guitarwork, but there's still an emphasis on melody, with some really nice harmonies to boot. You can stream/download their Taking Trips mini-LP at the bottom of this post as well.

Calgary, Alberta (via Pittsburgh or the other way around) is represented as well with Feel Alright who are also out in the psych-pop field picking poppies, letting the tape hiss shine on their recordings, some of which are streamable below. In a similar vein are Street Gnar, the sole Brooklyn act on the Big Snow bill tomorrow.

Click through for the show flyer and more dates and streaming players for all four bands.

Continue reading "check out Montreal's Sheer Agony & Each Other (both play Big Snow Buffalo Lodge this weekend)"

Just like in nature documentaries, the circle of life continues in the Williamsburg indie community. As Bruar Falls was having a it's Last Weekend Ever, a new DIY venue was having its first shows. Big Snow Buffalo Lodge is located at 89 Varet St. in East Williamsburg, just a couple blocks from Don Pedro. It's run by some of the same folks that bring us It was started by some folks that used to work at Shea Stadium and its first show was last Thursday (10/27) with Dustin Wong, the So So Glos, Lost Boy?, Day Dress and Pigeons.

Big Snow Buffalo Lodge's upcoming slate includes a Chat Logs and Many Mansions record release party tomorrow night (11/5), DIVE (11/10), Celestial Shore (11/12), and Caged Animals (12/01). Has anyone gone yet? What's the space like? Full schedule is below.

Continue reading "Big Snow Buffalo Lodge is a new venue in East Williamsburg, open now (upcoming shows)"