Austin

Austin Music Awards and Industry Awards Honor the New and Established

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Nothing feels better than finding yourself in a crowded room of people who share the exact same passion. The Austin Music Awards and Austin Music Industry Awards are two annual events that serve to honor the accomplishments of both sides of the music industry, but the main purpose is to get everyone under the same roof to share in the rock and roll spirit for at least one night a year. People and businesses like photographers, sound techs, and equipment rental companies, who are usually relegated to the dark alleyways of music industry, finally get some time in the sun at the Industry Awards. While exceptional bands who stand out amongst the thousands of Austin bands get recognized for their various categories. Special guests, local celebrities, and tenured folk heroes all coalesce into a crowd at the AMAs that is no different than an Austin Grammys ceremony. While the Industry Awards are much more scaled down than the AMAs, it makes up for its production deificit with charm and humor. Emcee, Kevin Curtin, was an absolute riot, introducing presenters with gusto, and bombing on as many jokes as he hit. The house band, the former Berkshire Hounds, is led by Jim Campo who curates each intro song to the winner in a comedic way. Businesses like Antones, Mohawk, and South Austin Music accepted their awards in large groups while Michael Corcoran, Trish Connelly, and Katrina Barber and won their singular awards in style. The highlight of the night was Craig Stewart accepting his Music Industry Hall of Fame award with his partner King Coffey. Here is a full list of the winners: https://www.austinchronicle.com/austin-music-awards/year:2017/category:industry-awards/

The AMAs are a much more formal affair than the Industry awards and take place at ACL Live. A variety of artists all took home awards like Trouble in the Streets, Jimmy LaFave, Shinyribs, and many more. Mayor Adler was present to lend his political capital to the Live Music Capital of the World. Individual musicians received awards for their musical technical prowess, while bands like A Giant Dog had more fun with it – i.e. a friend of AGD came out in drag and pretended to be front woman, Sabrina Ellis, by making out with other band members. The best part of the AMAs, as most attendees will tell you, are the performances which run the gamut as far as different genres represented. Yet the main highlight came with Fiona Apple seemingly appearing out of nowhere to perform for the Austin crowd. Here are a list of the AMA winners: http://ama2018.com/2017-winners/

While some might scorn awards ceremonies for the glad-handing and ego-stroking involved, the AMAs and Industry awards feel like community above all else. As institutions that continue to evolve, both awards shows are a necessary glue that serves an annual holiday to keep the extended family of Austin music people cohesive and strong.

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Fiona Apple http://slackerlee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_1063-1.jpg
http://slackerlee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_1055-1.jpg Andy Langer at the AMA
http://slackerlee.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_0945-1.jpg Michael Corcoran
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L.A.

Hark Madley creates a groundbreaking name for himself on “Friendship 7”

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LA producer Mark Hadley, better known as Hark Madley (as of recently), has created a groundbreaking name for himself. Just released from his upcoming EP, titled EP1, is "Friendship 7." With transmissions straight from astronaut John Glenn’s spaceflight aboard Friendship 7 back in 1962 (“Am I in contact with anyone, over.”), he single-handedly immerses his audience into a world of deep bass, mesmerizing synths, and genre-defying transmissions that no other artist has landed in before.  A crashing reminder of exactly what pop, indie and electro fans are missing at their shows, this is an ambient journey of beautifully-produced and relaxing transitions which set the bar for this genre, higher than ever before.

Law of Attraction states that we have the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on, as this thought attesta: “I also feel the weight of the world right now, and hope that I can help through my music, providing a place where people can come to be still and reflect.” Taking a few minutes to listen to his SoundCloud will only make your eagerness for his EP drop even more profound. His talent is universal and jaw-dropping, to say the least. Kayla Hay

NYC

Buzz Alert: Cool Company plays Elsewhere 03.10

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Cool Company’s 2016 album, Slice of Paradise, is a salient and smooth piece of R&B/neo soul and hip-hop fusion. Each song is rife with enticing percussion, hypnotic melodies and deceptively intricate, jazz-like chord progressions. The album is appealing and original, a testament to Cool Company’s potential for greatness. The band will be bringing their smooth sound to at Elsewhere on 03.18, alongside Argonaut & Wasp and Miles Francis. Check out "Slice of Paradise" below! – Ethan Ames

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, March 9 – 11

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Today, the debut album from The Skull Eclipses drops via Western Vinyl, and tonight, the dynamic duo showcases their sonic chemistry on stage at Johnny Brenda’s. Raj Haldar, a.k.a. Lushlife, grafts his masterful emcee skills with Austin-based producer Spencer Stephenson, a.k.a. Botany. A cool-commanding passion taps into an uncanny ability to thread storylines at a lightning pace.  Making sharp lyrical turns while creating unexpected connections via a torrent of terms, there’s an explosive precision. That premium blend of speed and control doubles down, interacting with complex beats that calmly stack layers of sound within the deck-balancing elements, bridging points of the past, through the present and into the future. Hypnotically tunneling with an ear and eye on the ground, reacting to the world real-time, this feels like a combination of foreshadowing and flashback that fits in the here and now. This evening’s lineup will also be fortified by the heady, heavy, noise-lace hip hop of Dälek and the full eclectic, electro/hip-hop spectrum of Hprizm. – Michael Colavita

More places to hear jams this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI The Skull Eclipses (Lushlife +Botany), Son Step, Ellen Siberian Tiger, The Ada Babar Situation

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Red 40 & The Last Groovement, OOLALA

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mark Lanky/DJ Deejay, SAT Miggs Son Daddy/Mat Burke and The Painkillers, Emmett Drueding/Fame Lust/Night Sweats, SUN Sonja

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SUN Dark Blue, DJ BCBG (Matt Korvette of Pissed Jeans)

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Pete Donnelly Combo, SAT In The Presence Of Wolves, Moonstriker, Tyler John

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) The Planets

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Ringtail Howitzer, Onett, Blueroom, SUN Flamingo Chicks

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Little Stranger, D. Lynch, SAT GainStrive (EP Release), Egocentric Plastic Men, Skyline the City, Oblivion Her Majesty

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Low Energy, Crazy Tom Martin, Faringwell, Readership, SAT Mesmeric Haze, Flat Mary Road, Dan Malloy, SUN Benefit Music Matters Project

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Port Arthur, Pete Hill, SUN Wrong Planet, 3weekoldroses

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Francisco Collazo

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Johnny Moskal, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI The Towering Pine, SAT Mage Hand, Gnarbot

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sour Kid, Swim Camp, Caleb Michael, Key Oui, SAT Fitzwater’s 4th Annual Concert for Student-Run Emergency Housing: Super Bonanza

Century (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI The Invasive Species, Thunder Thighs, SAT Decap Attak, Acolytes, SUN Deathmonger A.D, Hold Down The Ocean

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Generation Empty, Goddamnit, Alpha Audio

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Delmont, Vanderlyle, Queue, Somarai, SAT Overcoming Gravity, The Parameters, Caterpillars, Easily Amused

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Menace Of The Canvas, Xpresidents, SAT Drums Like Machine Guns, Chronic Anxiety/Douse, Chloe Likes Olivia, SUN Moon-liters

Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.) SUN Augusta Koch, Anika Pyle, Worriers (solo)

Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Caracara, Brave Face

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Mavis The Dog, Spring Onion, Jesse Magenta

Austin

5 Austin Hip-Hop Acts Worth Seeing At SXSW

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1. Abhi The Nomad

Well-traveled and rhymes on point, Abhi is one of the brighter lights emerging from the underrated Austin hip-hop scene. His lyrical flows are stimulating while his mellow vibes keep his addictive music on a palatable frequency.

 

 

2. Magna Carda

Megz Kelli and Dougie Do have been on a mission in Austin to drop invigorating tracks that continue to evolve and progress. Ingenious beats with enviable flows, Magna Carda needs to be witnessed live.

 

 

 

 

3. Riders Against the Storm

This wife and husband hip-hop duo continue to fuse funk, hip-hop and R&B into inventive and catchy tracks. Politics, race, and activism is on the menu as these two continue to tap into higher consciousness with earworm beats and hook-filled flows.

 

 

 

4. Blackillac

Zeale, Phranchyze, and Gary Clark Jr have created a super group that is straight out of Austin and no gimmicks. The all-star lineup doesn’t disappoint with rapid fire bars and hard-hitting beats.

https://www.facebook.com/blackillac/

5. Blastfamous USA

Austin’s own response to Run The Jewels,Blastfamous USA is a collaboration between Zeale and the production duo NGHT HCKLRS. While they might not be an official SXSW artist, they more than deserve your audience since their aggressive rhymes and beats are bound to turn heads in 2018.

 

Philadelphia

New Surprise Shamir LP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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While we were already expecting a new 7" single release from Shamir today, the fearless, prolific, multi-talented artist also dropped a surprise LP, Resolution, from the ether for our listening enjoyment. The album takes hold from the very start, with the powerfully empathetic "I Can’t Breathe," before opening the door for a much-needed look inward, for both the artist and listener. Shamir’s continued songwriting maturation is quite evident with his latest, no-hype-needed release. 

Philadelphia

New Video: “You Came” (Live – Swell Tone Session) – Sixteen Jackies

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One finds him/herself in a relaxed seductive haunt as Sixteen Jackies perform “You Came” for a Swell Tone session. Draped in blue and pink lighting, the band feels at home on stage. However, the alternative white/grey of the empty warehouse stirs up some ghosts.  Sixteen Jackies’ double EP Movie Was Bad/Mascula is due out on May 4 via Philly’s own Born Losers Records, which you can preorder HERE. In the mean time, you catch them next in Philly on Wednesday, March 21 at Bourbob & Branch, with Stereo League and Monogold.

NYC

Native Sun plays Baby’s All Right 03.18 with Yaasss and Coco Verde

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 "I Don’t Mind," off New York’s Native Sun‘s 2017 EP, Songs Born From Love and Hate, is eminently danceable, particularly for fans of ’70s punk and the moody, ’90s alt-rock of The Pixies. With their unrelentingly heavy drums, growling power chord-laden guitars, and in your face vocals, the band wears their punk influences on their sleeve, but enjoys occasional drifts into unsettling, psychedelic territory. For Native Sun, however, brevity is an asset, and they don’t wade too long in the muddy waters of psychedelia before bringing it back to the meat of the song. It’s compelling and energetic music which makes for a rollicking live show. Check out "I Don’t Mind" below, and don’t miss them when they play at Baby’s All Right on 03.18, with Yaasss and Coco Verde! – Ethan Ames

Chicago

Lume

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Local Trio, Lume has released a video for the first single, “Keep Me Under”, from their forthcoming debut LP, Wrung Out. This record will be released on April 20th via Equal Vision Records.

Lume is the work of Dan Butler and brothers Dylan and Austin Hulett. When asked, Butler had this to say about the lyrics of “Keep me Under”. “Lyrically, the song centers around the idea that being a pessimist does nothing but decrease your quality of life, yet sometimes we hold onto these negative feelings and outlooks because they feel good in the moment".

Lume is heading down to SXSW soon, but you can catch them at Burlington Bar on May 5th.

NYC

Rivergazer plays Rough Trade NYC 03.15

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Rivergazer, the solo project of New York guitarist and songwriter Kevin Farrant, is playing at Rough Trade NYC on 03.15, with Tall Heights. Farrant, also known for his work as lead guitarist in Porches, is a contemplative and versatile songwriter. His most recent release, 2017’s Giver, showcases his ability to find his own unique groove across a broad palette of musical styles. Though the album is an inviting blend of indie pop, funk and R&B sensibilities, Farrant’s smooth, polished arrangements belie the turmoil and vulnerability contained within his lyrics. On "Loves the Hardest," featuring Greta Kline (a.k.a. Frankie Cosmos), Farrant indulges in lush synthesizers and autotuned vocals, over which he muses on love and loss: "I never wanna be the one/To say it’s over when it’s done." Listen to "Loves the Hardest" below, and don’t miss Rivergazer at Rough Trade NYC on the 15th! – Ethan Ames

NYC

Dick Stusso plays Santa Cruz, CA Thursday 3.08, SXSW next week

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Dick Stusso is a character—as in, a fictional person. Nic Russo, on the other hand, has been crafting melodies and songs and successfully entertaining close friends and families for years. They took notice of an obvious talent, collecting live performances and stems and eventually was coerced into completing the albums Nashville Dreams and Sings the Blues. In the two years since, Russo’s Stusso project has garnered lots of attention and in January 2018, the Oakland, CA based musician was signed to Sup Pop Records’ Hardly Art imprint. Check out the first single from his upcoming record, In Heaven, below. Stusso plays Thursday, March 08 in Santa Cruz, CA at The Catalyst Atrium and his tour worms its way to Austin for SXSW in two weeks. – Joshua Huver, Photograph by Cara Robbins

Chicago

Deanna Devore “A Cause”

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Deanna Devore has release the title track and first single for her forthcoming album, "A Cause”. This track a beautifully dark, beat and synth driven, song that perfectly highlights Deanna’s lush vocals.

A Cause will be the follow-up to her 2016 EP, “X Number of Days”.