Instrumental Analysis

To finish this contest, the rules are changing. All you have to do is send us an e-mail and include your contact information. We will randomly pick the winners and make an announcement early next week.

For those of you who don’t remember, our friends in Belgium’s Astroladies sent us 3 copies of their debut cd and 2 eps to give away. If you aren’t familiar with them, check out the post that I did on them last month.

Once again, good luck!

It’s one of those Fridays where the weekend is so close, yet you have no idea how you will ever make it that far. Fortunately, there are new tunes from The Magic Numbers to cheer me up. I just happened to stumble upon this yesterday and it’s a perfect elixir for today. It is from their forthcoming album Those the Brokes, and it will be released in early November. Just to add to the cheer, I am including an upbeat song from their last album and their great Beyonce cover. Is it the weekend yet?

The Magic Numbers – Take A Chance
The Magic Numbers – Mornings Eleven
The Magic Numbers – Crazy In Love (Beyonce Cover)

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Another band that I have been introduced to recently, is The Isles. They are a band from New York City who have a new album coming out on October 3. The Smiths influences are obvious, their profile even admits to them. However, don’t write them off as cheap imitators. The half of the album that I have heard is solid and they do not sound like a carbon copy of the boys from Manchester. They may not pave new ground, but they are a solid band with a release that is worth checking out.

The Isles – Major Arcana
The Isles – Flying Under Cheap Kites

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For this week’s Throwback, we would like to revisit a band that has spent the past decade in a court, rather than on a stage. In the early 80’s, a band called The Smiths formed in Manchester, England. Led by the witty persona known as Morrissey and the stellar guitar playing of Johnny Marr, they took the world by storm. It was a volatile partnership that lasted a mere five years, ending in 1987. While they had a short career, their legacy is unbelievable. The number of current bands that are influenced by bands that were influenced by The Smiths, is amazing.

They have been out of circulation for years and have no chance of reforming, yet several band members have carried on. Morrissey started a solo career shortly after the break up. While it may have cooled in the late 90’s, he has been back with a lot of success in the past few years. Johnny Marr seems to have collaborated with everyone over the last twenty years and recently became a member of Modest Mouse. Bass player Andy Rourke is having a successful career as a DJ.

My personal relationship with their music began in the early 90’s. Mike’s older brother passed down some tapes and after Mike wore them out, he passed some copies on to me. Based on our long love for this group, picking the songs for this proved quite difficult. We both said that we could easily revisit them in the future and include an entirely different set of songs. In some cases, we pulled song titles out of a hat. It is astonishing how many good songs they wrote in such a short time. We will leave you with a few of them.

The Smiths (1984)
Miserable Lie
This Charming Man

Meat Is Murder (1985)
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Nowhere Fast

The Queen Is Dead (1986)
I Know It’s Over
Cemetry Gates

Louder Than Bombs (1987)
Shoplifters of the World Unite
Half a Person
Ask
Unlovable

Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours
Paint a Vulgar Picture

A friend asked me to post this song for her:
Bigmouth Strikes Again

While I was working on this, I found a great site that has a lot of free bootlegs of The Smiths. Here is one from Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in Laguna Hills, CA that was recorded on August 28, 1986. Based on a quick browse, I thought that it was the best quality.

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
Still Ill
I Want The One I Can´t Have
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
How Soon Is Now?
Frankly Mr. Shankly
Panic
Stretch Out And Wait
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Is It Really So Strange?
Cemetry Gates
Never Had No One Ever
Rubber Ring/What She Said
That Joke Isn´t Funny Anymore
Heaven Knows I´m Miserable Now
The Queen Is Dead
Money Changes Everything
I Know It´s Over

Past Throwbacks:
09/21/06: A Tribe Called Quest
09/14/06: R.E.M.
09/07/06: The Cure
08/31/06: Morphine
08/24/06: The Lemonheads
08/17/06: Depeche Mode
08/10/06: New Order

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You already know what’s happening until Thursday, so lets take a gander at what the weekend has to offer.

This weekend is hopping! I’ve got my favorites, but you decide what’s worth your time. Friday at Emo’s has the inside/outside for same price! Featuring Serena Maneesh, Magnolia Electric Company, and Xiu Xiu. If you want those thumping dance hall beats and incredible mixes, DJ Spooky is at Waterloo Park. And for that rockabilly side that is waiting to jump out, The Reverend Horton Heat, along with the Horrorpops, rock out at Stubb’s.

The Reverend Horton Heat

If you want to get a little local on Friday, head down south to Trophy’s and check out Grand Champeen, The Personals, and Just Guns. I did a blurb on Just Guns for the first part of the week. Check it out! There’s another local show worth checking out, but that will be my local focus later on in the post.

On Saturday, the big name locals come out to play! Stubb’s has folk-rock troubador Mason Jennings, along with Jennifer O’Connor and local bluegrass faves The Gourds. I implore you to check out their version of Gin and Juice on their MySpace page. Never thought that could cross musical boundaries, but it works! Trophy’s has something interesting, billed as The Who Hoot Night. One can only imagine. If you watch CSI and sing along with the opening credits, you may have a shot. Finally, at Emo’s, supported by Brothers & Sisters and Fishboy, is local hot, then not, then hot again, every critic’s darling buzz band, Spoon. This show will probably sell out. But who knows, it’s Austin, not much sells out in this town.

Spoon

Sunday is sparse, but it’s Sunday. At La Zona Rosa is my not so favorite original local band, Live. Pray they play a lot from Throwing Copper and Mental Jewelry. Another DJ mxing it up, this time DJ Shadow makes Stubb’s groove. And at Emo’s Lounge, country singer Richard Buckner and Centro-Matic band member Will Johnson take the stage.

Hey, not a bad weekend. Now let me let you in on three Austin secrets (or not so secret if you heard of them before). Playing Mohawk on Friday night (and I hope to be there) is The Early Tapes, The Paper South, and The Mercers. The Early Tapes have a sound that is reminiscent of the psychedelic rock of the late 60s and early 70s. Compare them to another Austin band, The Black Angels, but a little less on the heavy guitar drone and more on the experimental side. In more of a modern vein, The Paper South draw upon a definite Death Cab vibe. Although a relatively new band, the members have been part of Winslow and American Analog Set in previous musical lives. The vocals are almost whisper soft, the guitars come out to play every once in a while, but mainly hang back with the vocals. I will quote them:

“The Paper South cut their brisk blasts of concise, atmospheric melodics with pockets of turbulence that develop so naturally its like the songs are playing the band.”

The Mercers

Lastly, The Mercers play music they say is influenced by “cheap beer; big dreams; sad, sarcastic, pop burts”. Another band that keeps the country influence by having a pedal steel, but much like Just Guns, it works in the rock world. And they must be doing something right, they got a blurb in the July issue of Esquire Magazine. Singer Peter Wagner sounds up the sound like this: “some kind of 80’s british pop influenced indie rock with country tendencies.” Whatever you want to call it, it is catchy and easy to get caught in the music.

Hell of a weekend ahead. I’ll be at Mohawk (hopefully) on Friday. See me there!

Magnolia Electric Co. – Lonesome Valley
Xiu Xiu – I Love the Valley OH
Reverend Horton Heat – Liquor, Beer, Wine
Horrorpops – Miss Take
Grand Champeen – Raul Vela
The Personals – Forget Everything
Just Guns – The Subway Sleeps Tonight
Spoon – I Turn My Camera On
Borthers and Sisters – Breathing Lessons
Fishboy – Tree Star
Mason Jennings – Be Here Now
The Gourds – Bottle a Dime
Jennifer O’Connor – Today
Richard Buckner – Blue and Wonder
Will Johnson – Just to Know What You’ve Been Dreaming
DJ Shadow – Organ Donor
Live – White, Discussion
TheEarly Tapes – Betty and Thomas
The Paper South – Ready or Not
The Mercers – Sexy Youth

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It is no secret that I like Voxtrot, so I was pleasantly surprised when Gorilla vs Bear premiered a new track of theirs. It is from a 3 song disc titled Your Biggest Fan and will be available on November 7.

Voxtrot – Trouble

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Someone who I have started listening to recently, is José González. I stumbled upon his video for Crosses and instantly became intrigued. He is a Swedish singer songwriter of Argentinean descent. José is not very flashy. He uses very little production, has basic packaging and promotion and does his recordings at home. It seems like he is all about the music and it shows. His songs are very basic and instead of using exotic arrangements, he showcases his songwriting. His album is called Veneer and it has been out since 2003. Helped by his collaboration with Zero 7, he is starting to gain some interest in the states and he’s supporting that with a tour. For those of you in Austin, he plays The Parish tomorrow night.

José González – Crosses
José González – Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)
Zero 7 – Futures (featuring José González)

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This was the first week in a month, that Baltimore’s The Oranges Band didn’t make the weekly concert preview. So of course, they had to do something to garner a post. They recorded an exclusive new track for WTMD. The song is called Jenny, I’m Sneaking Out and it features Shawna Potter from Avec on guest vocals. According to their website, this is the first of many things that are coming up for the band. They say “Think new songs, new albums, new labels, new website, new surprises.” As they warn, this won’t be the last that you hear from them.

The Oranges Band – Jenny, I’m Sneaking Out (featuring Shawna Potter)

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Fall is upon us and September is coming to an end. Fortunately, good music continues to find its way through the region.

The week starts off with the beats of Ladytron and CSS finding their way to the 9:30 Club on Monday Night.

Tuesday brings Kansas City’s The New Tragedies to The Sidebar. Yo La Tengo support their brand new album at the 9:30 Club.

Wednesday night is kind of crazy around here. Drive-By Truckers and Bobby Bare, Jr. stop for a date at Chameleon Club. Snowden and their internet buzz drop in at The Talking Head. Sunset Rubdown make an appearance at Black Cat. In my opinion, the show of the night happens at Sonar when The Long Winters, What Made Milwaukee Famous and Menomena hit the stage.

Things don’t slow down from there. On Thursday, The Mountain Goats and Christine Fellows make a stop at Black Cat. DC’s Lejeune, Baltimore’s Pontiak and Raleigh, NC’s DMVB play a show at DC9. Local favorites The Payola Reserve and Blonde Hair Blue Eyes play The Talking Head. If you miss this show, Blonde Hair Blue Eyes play Red House Tavern in Canton on Friday night. Massive Attack plays to two full houses at the 9:30 Club on Thursday and Friday.

Friday night starts off right with Los Lobos at the Maritime Magic fundraiser. Mates of State and Starlight Mints play an early show at Chameleon Club. Finally, Mobius Band bring the indie love to Sonar.

Like the rest of the week, Saturday night has another full slate of shows. Local legends Laughing Colors, have their yearly reunion show at Ram’s Head Live. For those up for a short trip, Bob Schneider and Charlie Mars bring the singer songwriter love to Jammin’ Java. Even the metalheads have something to savor when Tool brings their road show to the Verizon Center. In what should be a great show on Saturday night, DC’s Paul Michel and Columbus OH’s The Receiver, release their albums and start their US Tour at DC9. NYC’s Soft will be providing support.

Where will I be this weekend? I am heading to the beach for the Dewey Beach Music Conference in Deleware. The free showcase runs from Thursday through Saturday and is headlined by Mellowdrone on Saturday night.

If you can’t find someone to see this week, you really aren’t trying. If I missed anything, let me know.

Ladytron – Destroy Everything You Touch
CSS -Let’s Make Love and Listen Death From Above
The New Tragedies – Talk To Me
Yo La Tengo – Beanbag Chair
Snowden – Anti-Anti
The Long Winters – Fire Island, AK
What Made Milwaukee Famous – Sweet Lady
Menomena – E is Stable
Drive-By Truckers – Feb 14
Bobby Bare, Jr. – Bionic Beginning
Sunset Rubdown – Stadiums and Shrines II
The Payola Reserve – Music Is Not Music
Blonde Hair Blue Eyes – The New Disco
The Mountain Goats – Woke Up New
Christine Fellows – Phantom Pains
Lejeune – Moon Shy City
Pontiak – TransAtlantic
DMVB – Eat Sleep Breath Repeat
Massive Attack – Angel
Los Lobos – This Time
Mates of State – Fraud In The ’80s
Starlight Mints – What’s Inside Of Me?
Mobius Band – The Loving Sound of Static
Laughing Colors – War On Drugs (live)
Paul Michel – Expire
The Receiver – Corner Pt. 2
Soft – Higher
Bob Schneider – Sweet Sound
Charlie Mars – One Horse Town
Tool – H
Mellowdrone – Oh My

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In the past, I have been letting you in on who is playing where around Austin, from the big boys to the guys from just up the road and giving a one line blip of what to expect, if even that. Time to shake things up a bit. I will still mention what is worthy (in my opinion) of seeing, but I will also take a few of the locals playing during the week that, from what I heard and read, impressed me and fill in a little more detail about them.

There is way too much going on this week for me to cover in one post, so I am splitting it up. This one will be Monday-Thursday. The weekend post will be coming later.

Starting off the week, a Monday (that’s right) at Emo’s featuring the British act Art Brut and their, shall I say, eclectic sound, the lyrics half rapped over pop-punk guitars. Co-headlining is We Are Scientists from Brooklyn. Along for the ride is The Spinto Band, a sextet based out of Wilmington, Delaware.

Hit Emo’s again on Tuesday for legends The Queers, playing punk for the fun of it since 1982. Joining them are Australia punkers The Hard-Ons, who have toured with The Ramones and the Foo Fighters, among others and Toys That Kill from California. Check out their Myspace picture, getting props from The Stooges.

I guess it is the place to be this week. Emo’s again! Thursday has five bands, three inside, two out. Outside, the electronic beats and synth of Ratatat pulsate into the night, supported by Swedish outfit Envelopes and Portland based Panther, who is anything but predictable, throwing out so many styles, you just can’t label him. Inside is one of our favorites, Maritime, , some members formerly of The Promise Ring. They are supported by locals Ghost of the Russian Empire.

Just Guns

That’s the approved “roadshow” artists. Now its time for the locals to shine. If punk is not your thing on Tuesday, I highly recommend going north on Red River to Beerland. Four bands are playing that night, but one really sticks out to me, Just Guns. They take everything the Austin music scene has to offer and blend it into their own unique sound. You hear one song and label them a country band, yet you hear another and can put them on the college radio along with Death Cab and Interpol. There is a definte country twang to the guitars in almost every song (thanks to a pedal steel that is ever present), but the vocals vary from what you hear coming out of the honky-tonk on the side of a country road to the plaintive shoe-gaze you hear on your local college radio show. If you want more info, check out the article from ATX Magazine. They have been around for about 5 years and have a handful of Cd’s, so grab yourself a copy. If you miss them on Tuesday, catch them on Friday at Trophy’s.

Wednesday is kind of light for the music scene. There is one act that may be worth checking out. Forget Last Friday is bringing back the synth pop and new wave of the early 80s to Trophy’s. I haven’t heard music like this in ages. If you remember The Buggles, then you can get some idea what the sound is like. Some of the melodies sound like they come directly from the soundtracks to old NES games. If you want something old made new again, go and see them.

The Bellfuries

If you aren’t checking our Maritime and Ratatat, head on down south across the river to Trophy’s to catch two local bands, The Alice Rose and The Bellfuries. The Alice Rose formed 5 years ago, but recently became a five piece last year. They play 60’s pop, with jaunty guitars, simple backing beats, and great harmonies. Very Beatles and Beach Boys-esque. It is like taking a step back in time musically. Playing with them, The Bellfuries grabbed my attention when I first heard them. I could have sworn the song I heard had Elvis Costello singing lead. They too have a definte 60s pop vibe, with a mix of country for good measure. A CD release is scheduled for November. After listening to both bands, I can safely say it will be a good time south of the river Thursday night.

Art Brut – Good Weekend
We Are Scientists – Human Technology Will Render You Obsolete
The Spinto Band – Trust vs. Mistrust
The Queers – Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter
Toys That Kill – Run Away
Ratatat – Wildcat
Envelope – It Is The Law
Panther – You Don’t Want Your Nails Done
Maritime – Tearing Up The Oxygen
Ghost of the Russian Empire – August 1914
Just Guns – Waiting To Be
Forget Last Friday – Don’t Care
The Alice Rose – I Know Your Ghost
The Bellfuries – Give It Get It

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