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.

News video below...

Continue reading "Slim Dunkin killed over a piece of candy?"

Police are still looking for answers in the shooting of a Brooklyn drummer who was found dead in his apartment Friday.

Troy Young, 29, was found in his basement apartment on Fourth Street in Carroll Gardens Friday with a gunshot wound to his head.

By Saturday, police said that Troy was shot in the left shoulder and that the bullet passed through his heart.

The door to the apartment was unlocked and nothing appeared to have been stolen, police said.

Young was the drummer in the Brooklyn band "Curious Mishap."

"Troy was very hard working, he went to New York to 'go where the big time is,' " said his grieving father Ed told the New York Post. [NBC]

RIP Troy.

"After about 30 hours of deliberation, a jury on Monday convicted music producer Phil Spector of second-degree murder in the death of actress Lana Clarkson more than six years ago.

Wearing a black suit with a red tie and pocket square, Spector showed no reaction as the verdict was announced. Now 69, he faces a sentence of 18 years to life in prison when he is sentenced May 29.

Asked if he agreed to the sentencing date, Spector quietly answered, "Yes."

Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler declined to allow Spector to remain free on bail pending sentencing, citing Spector's years-long "pattern of violence" involving firearms." [CNN]