The fine folks of Do512 have collected a trio of female-fronted acts to take the stage this Friday (6/18) over at The ND venue (501 Studios), including Ume, Agent Ribbons, and Candi & the Strangers. For those who, like me, were unfamiliar with Agent Ribbons (above) until this morning, they’ve got something of the Ditty Bops, something of the Dresden Dolls, and very very much to like going on. Line them up with Ume + Candi & the Strangers and I believe the word we need is panache. These bands have it.  

The Teenage Cool Kids will descend upon Austin once again…down from their faroff home of Denton, TCK return after making previous appearances during the Chaos in Tejas. The band, carrying with them critical love (and multiple Built to Spill and Meneguar comparisons), will take the stage at the Mohawk this June 25th. 

Just to give you prep time, Daniel Johnston, patron saint of all things weird, musical, and Austin, and songwriting darling of many worldwide, (check out the lineup on the Discovered Covered tribute album, it’s remarkable) will perform his only 2010 Austin show next Saturday the 19th at the Mohawk, in the company of Jason Falkner, Brackett & Co., and The Sour Notes. All his friends are vampires. 

Instrumental soundscape sculptors The Calm Blue Sea recently announced only their third show of 2010 – opening up for The Twilight Sad this Friday night (6/11) at Emo’s. We recommend you absorb their brilliance directly through your pores. 

The Daily Brothers are back! PWR pop studio obsessives unique in today’s file sharing landscape, the Daily Brothers have new music nearly ready to let loose. The first single from their forthcoming full length album project HOT DAMN! (due for release late Summer) is now streaming on the DB’s blog. "Je Vous ai Dit" is a rhythmic pulse pop sure to be hit with special guest vocals performed by a mysterious artist working in Austin. Listen today and stay tuned for record release details.

(Ed.: this post taken from The Daily Brothers’ post on our DIY Open Blog, check out other Open Blog posts in the Deli Kitchen.)

…turns out they’re alright. This may come as a shock, but there’s a festival in town this weekend: installment number 4, if my math is correct, of The Kids Are Alright Festival, held at the Bob Bullock State History Museum. It’s what we call a U21 festival. Prices are exceedingly friendly – free for events on Friday and $6 for a wide array of music on three stages Saturday. (Above is Sienna of the group Schmillion, winners of the Chronicle’s 2009 ‘Best U18 Band’ poll…) The kids, it turns out, are not just alright, they’re total pros. 

Off in the not-too-distant future approaches the day of at least two CD release parties: on June 26th White Rhino (armed, above) will get down & dirty at 501 Studios (5th & Brushy) celebrating the release of the modestly titled Heroin Thunder. Meanwhile, The Mother Truckers will be celebrating their own release, Van Tour, at Antone’s with co-headliner Micky and the Motorcars. And so and so and so. 

Pure & intimate…Miranda Dodson’s voice is like an old friend you haven’t seen in a while…familiar…refreshing & when you leave you think…"we should do this more often." Her songs are simple and pure, Alt Folk with a progressive edge. Miranda Dodson is one to remember. Miranda’s innovative folk winds through guitar strings, around vintage horns and forward-thinking synths, through wide-ranging-heart-filled vocals to turn listeners into believers. With lyrical images that reach right into the imagination, Miranda draws the listener into story and into sound. From impassioned alt-country ballads to fun head-bobbing folk-pop each track of her album "Change A Thing" stands strongly on its own but also hangs together united by collaborative creativity. With Producer Robert Harrison (Future Couds & Radar & Cotton Mather) at the helm & Lars Goransson (Alpha Rev, What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Solider Thread) sitting in as mix engineer and co-producer, this record is a true collection of artistry. A blend of folk-pop & alt-country, this record features some of Austin’s best musicians: George Reiff on bass (Jakob Dylan, Court Yard Hounds), Rick Richards on drums (Ray Wylie Hubbard), Joshua Zarbo on bass (Spoon, John Vanderslice), Derek Morris on piano (Alpha Rev)… and more! This strong rhythm section sets the foundations for a record that teams with quality & creativity… a perfect compliment to Dodson’s soaring vocals and down-to-earth lyrics.

(Ed.: this post taken from Miranda Dodson’s post on our DIY Open Blog, check out other Open Blog posts in the Deli Kitchen.)

It begins…the festival that puts a boot in the teeth of SXSW, Chaos In Tejas, is shining up some chains and slouching into town. Full printable schedule right here, shows May 27th-30th, at Beerland, Red 7, Mohawk, End of an Ear, Trailer Space, and more. (Teenage Cool Kids, above, will be part of a free show Saturday at Trailer Space that also includes Ghost Knife and Mind Spiders.)    

Woven Bones: their rock is so fuzzy even their images are fuzzed up. Here’s the "Your Way With My Life" vid, up yonder is the mp3, and the full album (In and Out and Back Again) shows extraordinary streamability right here. 

"A Headache" – a quick assessment of the plight of the indie rock band, courtesy of Stegosaur. And accompanied by this lovably goofy vid.  

Band here for you called The Zoltars. They play what they’re calling voodoo chant songs. And they now have a full album of them, having just completed their debut…name TBA. They’ll celebrate release of said album, which includes the inimitable "Party At the Bat Cave", at Beerland on June 5th, with all attendees receiving a FREE free copy. And that’s it.