New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Tonight SMiLE! will be presenting a benefit show for the Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival at the Knockout. The line up will feature Kill Moi, Spiro Agnew, The Rabbles, and Upstairs Downstairs with DJ Neil Martinson spinning Psych, Soul, Glam, Bubblegum, Laserboogie and such. Head out tonight and put your money toward helping a great institution for the local music scene. Doors at 9pm.
In a crowded market of loop-based, one-man-band type artists, Mira Cook does things a little differently. With a child-like curiosity, she adds whatever ingredients to her stew she has handy, whether it’s her new drum machine, a well-placed dulcimer, or any number of interesting vocal machinations. Her playful perspective comes to life whether she’s dreaming of traveling to India or discussing the many seeds inside watermelons (way too many if you ask me).
Mira Cook is an artist for the kid in all of us. So be prepared to come away from her shows seeing things a little differently.
She’s beginning a free residency at Piano’s Upstairs Lounge on May 8. It’s anyone’s guess what beatboxes/sounds/dulcimers she’ll show up with… so get over there and be part of the fun. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)
The Rassle – who placed at #90 in our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll – present a bratty vocal style and ramshackle rock band sound on songs like "Celebrate the Days" and "Full Speed Ahead." Positioned between the happier side of The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mick Jones’ Big Audio Dynamite. The band played several Deli shows, including one in Austin during SXSW. They will be also performing at one of The Deli’s B.E.A.F. (Best of Emerging Artists Fest) show at Brooklyn Bowl on May 26. – Dave Cromwell
Sometimes, you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But if you’re a broke college student like me, it may not be within your financial means to jet off to a tropical destination at the drop of a hat.
Now listening to this album wont get you a suntan, but you might feel like you’re sitting in the warm sun – Painted Palms’ EP Canopy is an aural vacation that takes you far away from the gritty city livin’.
If you’re an Animal Collective lover, this album definitely takes some influence from them. The opening track entitled “All of Us” (and my favorite from the EP) opens with a thumping drum that pulls you right into the song and the album and uses vocal elements similar to them. Although these elements are shared, “All of Us” is still unlike anything else out there – Painted Palms has successfully made something truly beautiful and catchy, but not kitschy.
The rest of the album is definitely more disco than the first track. Somehow, disco plus soundscapes equals awesome. Another notable track is the glittery and sensual “Great White.” While it seems to a little out of place with the rest of the album, its still a good track, regardless.
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a concept album, but it certainly feels like it. This EP takes you to the beach, under water and to the rainforest and that’s why they’re one of the most exciting electro-pop groups out right now. Painted Palms has been one of the few acts lately to get me really excited – its pop-y, beautiful, visual, catchy but somehow also really relaxing. Its just good old-fashioned happy music. – Lauren Manary
You have three chances left to check out Echotone, a highly anticipated + acclaimed documentary about Austin’s Red River music scene. Film features some of the very best + most exciting of our tremendous local musicians…including Sunset, Ghostland Observatory, Belaire, The White White Lights, Black Joe Lewis, and many many more. Don’t take my word for it: "The Best (Free) Soundtrack We’ve Ever Seen." – Paste Magazine If you’re not fired up already, here’s the trailer. Now: get on down there tonight @ 7, tomorrow @7, or Wednesday night, 9:30.
The legendary Joan of Arc are all over the place this morning. Their performance of for Giant System which was filmed at the site’s first birthday party went live today. Also the bands performance for Coach House Sound was posted this morning. The band’s new album Life Like will be released by Polyvinyl on May 10th and can be preorder in my different formats and packages right now. The band also recently performed a quality 30 minute set for Setlist TV.
The band is performing tomorrow night (4/26) at the Museum of Contemporary Art as part of the Face the Strange Music Series.
The Cool Kids break out their winter coats and film around town for their new video "Free Throws".
Wilco has announced that the first release from their newly formed self-run label dBpm Records will be their new 7" single which will feature a new song, "I Might", backed with a cover of Nick Lowe’s "I Love My Label". This release will first appear at the band’s Solid Sound Festival this June. The official release is schedule for July. Check out Tweedy’s recent performance of the new track "Open Your Mind" the CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.
