The chilled 80s synth rock of Lower Dens and front person Jana Hunter creates a unique sort of rock enigma on stage, as evidenced by the gentle “Will you please have my babies” cried out by an audience member during their show at the Barracuda this past Friday. 

The opening bands perfectly fit the dynamics at play within Lower Den’s aesthetic. Local jangle pop band, Slideshow, maintained a good energy and experimental sitar player and vocalist Ami Dang was transcendent. Both acts worked well with the crowd’s growing anticipation and made the venue their own. 

 When Lower Dens took the stage, they did not disappoint. As great as all of the band’s records are, the songs take on an entirely different form when played live. They become more vibrant, and the energy is amped up about a thousand times. The synth packs a deeper punch underneath the drums and bass when played live. Hunter also has a strong stage presence; he held all the attention in the room without demanding it or taking up too much space. New and old songs were played with the same amount of passion. “Drive” and “Ondine” were both played beautifully and received well. 

The romantic dystopia that Lower Dens creates in their music is wonderfully replicated on stage, as well. Most of Hunter’s music deals with isolation in confrontation with desire and identity, and in doing so he creates a space for his audience to seek comfort they wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. It was easy to find that comfort on stage, with warmth emanating from each member as they performed. The live performance cuts right through the bones of the loneliness the music speaks of. If this wasn’t obvious alone from their performance, the looks of comfort and quiet rapture on the faces of more committed audience members certainly provides enough evidence for it. 

The quieter moments had a very ‘last call at the bar’ vibe. The band held intimate moments within each beat that gave people space to interpret the song however they wanted. “Suckers Shangi-la” was a perfect moment of catharsis. It was the soft, lonely fantasy world everyone needs to escape to once in awhile.

– Avril Carillo

 A quiet Wednesday night became bustling with hundreds of people at Stubbs. People were willing to bear the cold on this once-in- a-lifetime chance to see a show that could never be forgotten. With about a 20 year build up and opening for many bands such as Metallica, Silversun Pickups left the audience in a buzz with their latest leg of their tour thru Austin. Anticipation was filling the air and everyone knew that what was about to be experienced would be worth the bitter chill of the windy February night. 

As the crowd began to fill Mohawk indoors for Texas psych-rock staple Holy Wave, Mosaic Sound Collective founder Dan Redman took the stage. He spoke on the mission of the organization, the growth they’ve seen, and plans for the future. In almost opposite energy, attention was directed to a live mural painting by Kengo Hioki, aka “Yellow” from comic punk act Peelander-Z. Hioki, who performed music later in the night, screamed “I don’t know how to paint!” and began to attack a huge yellow tarp with giant pink brush strokes and blue splatter. The mural quickly became fully realized, colors dripping down and seeping into one another, and as “Yellow” yelled his adieu and focus was shifted back to the stage.

Holy Wave took their places behind their instruments and began their first tune. The 5-piece seemed to breathe the same breath, interlocked drums and bass grounded sprawling synths and woven guitars creating a thick aura of tactile motion. Many of the song’s arrangements seamlessly grew from their initial grooves into denser, more intricate resolutions. Each of the band’s singing voices were so distinct, fresh vocals and lush harmonies ebbed and flowed from track to track. A multitude of sounds criss-crossed through the audience’s ears as effects pedals and samplers were utilized to distance the group from more tiresome rock groups. Evoking Pink Floyd and Spaceman 3, these compositional choices make the band truly psychedelic. 

Towards the end of the set, center stage guitarist/keyboardist/singer Ryan Fuson told the crowd the set had been entirely new songs. With their last album Adult Fear being released early 2018, a new record seems just on the horizon.

An eclectic bill featuring Y La Bamba and Durand Jones and the Indications sold out and packed in a crowd of lovers at Scoot Inn on Friday night.

Luz Elena Mendoza gracefully leads the indie-encompassing folk group, Y La Bamba. Established in 2008, the band released their latest album, Entre Los Dos, in fall 2019. Menodza dances like a black flame on stage – with each cha cha step she moves with magic and belongs to herself, an embodiment of her music and experience. The musicians surrounding her are just as beautiful, all alive in their eyes. The sound is mystical, and performed with a tacit invitation to engage in the spiritual healing of their music.

The indie rock and latin infused sounds of the album are a fertile landscape for Mendoza’s songwriting. The lyrics unwind the way good poetry transcends. There may be added mystery to the bilingual lyricism, especially if the listener doesn’t know Spanish. From the album’s namesake song, “Entre Los Dos,” Mendzoa longs, “y yo me saltaré de mi ventana/y la muerte ahí me espera con otra vida” [“and I will throw myself out my window/and death waits for me there with another life”].  Although the poetic lyrics are somber, the sound is zestful, delivering a juicy juxtaposition of emotions.

“Paloma Negra,” [“Black Dove”] from the Mujeres single from 2018, had the everyone aye-aye-ing and ooh-oohing. Another song that embodies Mendoza’s divine feminine energy balanced with dark motifs and jovial affirmations: “Voy lentamente pero bien segura” [“I go slowly but very sure”]. Would you like a taste? Y La Bamba’s Tiny Desk Concert features “Paloma Negra” as the first song. Or, just see them when they come back through Austin, destined to play a headlining bill of their own on a larger stage with another enthralled crowd.

-Melissa Green

 Australia is currently facing its most devastating fires to date. At least 27 people have died, more than 2,000 structures have burned, and 18 million acres of land have been torched by the wildfires sweeping across the continent. In addition to this, almost a billion animals have died. Various organizations are working 24/7 to provide relief efforts to communities that affected – they need our help!

Join us this Saturday Jan 25th (Australia Day) at Cloud Tree Studios as we raise money for the Australian Red Cross. Enjoy local art collections, a host of musical showcases and some delicious beverages from the The Roadie ATX. Bar & Gallery will open at 2pm with live music from 3pm. Come and celebrate Australia Day with your mates at Cloud Tree Studios, it’ll be great!

Featured musicians include Jake Lloyd, Corbella, Poly Action, Munn & more.

Iconic Austin Collection by local artist @tarahluke & friends.

Any and all are welcome, suggested entry is $10. Food and drinks available for donation.

https://www.facebook.com/events/161758565130361/

Special thanks to our sponsors: Hops & Grain Brewing, Greater Goods Coffee, Austin Eastciders, Dulce Vida, Tito’s Vodka & Kwik Ice.

 Houston based, R&B and soul group, The Suffers, were the second opener for New Orleans native, Big Freedia, at Emo’s Saturday night. Their self proclaimed, "Gulf Coast Soul" celebrates the melange of different cultures blending together in one of the most diverse cities in the United States. 

Their blend of African American soul, Cajun, Caribbean, and Mexican music, lead by the powerhouse vocals of front woman Kam Franklin, gave spiritual energy to an eager audience and turned Emo’s into a house of musical worship. 

Franklin emulated some serious Diana Ross vibes, with her signature natural hair and a matching silver sequin outfit. When the horn section wasn’t blasting their instruments, they were backing up their leading lady in true doo-wop fashion, dancing and clapping in synchronized rhythm.  

Not only did Franklin give a religious like performance to a congregation ready to receive the spirit, playing songs like "Make Some Room" and "Do Whatever", but she also delivered a powerful sermon, imploring the audience to continue to support live music and the artists who give us so much. She also gave recognition to local Austin artists like The Vapor Caves, Jackie Venson, and Gary Clark Jr. 

Her message is a strong reminder of the struggle most local musicians face, especially in a growth explosion city like Austin. As patrons of the arts, she reminded us that it is our responsibility to support and show up for artists whose music we consume. 

– Amy Arnold

“Excuse! I don’t mean to be rude, just give me that mic and let me do what I do”

The queen diva had arrived in Austin on Saturday to bring her New Orleans-based, twerk-filled, bounce music to the Central Texas masses. Igniting the dance party with hits like “Louder” and “Ya’ll Get Back Now”, Big Freedia and her troupe of high-energy backup dancers assaulted every part of the audience’s sensory in the best way possible.

A room full of booty-shakers swooned as their iconic orchestrator led them through a series of earth-shattering and dance-inducing hits. Bangers like “Y’tootsay” and “Mo Azz”  whipped the crowd into a frenzy while the gravity-defying theatrics of Big Freedia’s stage dancers kept a manic energy at full tilt. A twerk contest for concert-goers culminated in a stage full of local aspiring glute masters showcasing their goods while Big Freedia oversaw their efforts like a drill sergeant on new recruits.

While nearly half of Freedia’s set list comprised of cover songs, it was her original track’s that brought out the diva’s rhapsodic spirit and vim.  Ending with tracks like “Rent”, “I Heard” and “Gin In My System” – the audience hit a critical mass of dance exuberance. Even after Big Freedia left the stage, the party continued on into the night with members of the crowd and back up dancers trading dance moves while they basked in the afterglow of raucous yet perfect night of dancing.

-Lee Ackerley

 Weaver opened for a toasty crowd at Spider House Ballroom on Saturday night. Formerly a two piece from Israel, the band recently added a bass player from the Bronx: Liraz on guitar, Eliav on drums, and Febian on bass. They may be injecting new blood to the Austin music scene, but their style of psychedelic rock feels right at home here. 

Red lights reflecting off the red velvet curtains behind them, the whole room glows red with their passionate energy on stage. The hypnotic rhythm of the drums and deep throb of the bass replaces the cadence of your heart beat, while the shredding guitar spirals you into your inner mind. The loops and dips of one song felt like a Tom and Jerry chase scene, running your mind in circles. There’s no lyrics or song titles, only raw sound and chemistry. There’s not even a set list. Listen, close your eyes, and forget what decade you’re in. A couple of songs from their newest EP are available on Bandcamp, Amaranth and Alice. 

Sans lyrics and sans titles, the last songs of the set were improvised raw garage rock magic. The instrumental 3 piece tip toes along grunge and punk, but stays true to psychedelia. The bassist and guitarist angle themselves toward the drums allowing the sounds to reverberate and dance off each other. A delicious, fuzzy synergism fills souls and overwhelms the room. There is an attractive mysteriousness surrounding this band that makes you want to hear more.  

Weaver is playing Free Week – catch them at The Sahara Lounge on January 2nd. Check out their instagram for other future shows; their bio aptly promises a “fuzz-laced hit for your inner mind.”  

Mel Green

 Tåsi’s music is described as “coral reef meets poetry,” and as abstract as that sounds it’s also the perfect descriptor for Marlon Hedricks’ romantic, lo-fi rap. Tåsi urges himself and his audience to reflect, a theme that plays out both lyrically and sonically. His production is smooth but not entirely unfractured, with beats and drops that create a mirroring effect within each song. It’s a very chill, relaxing house of mirrors.

 Tåsi does a lot of collaborations, blending his sound well with the sound of his fellow musicians. His most recent release was East 10th St, a 5 song LP he produced with Lungfulls, Falling Awake Sound Therapy and Malekinho. Tåsi & BLakchyl wrote and recorded the entire album at 1609 East 10th, a street that has significant meaning for both artists. As they say in the description, ”this is our love letter:” The LP starts out strong and ends even stronger.  The speech sampling done on “DDD” is thoughtful and powerful, but it doesn’t distract the audience from the song at all. It’s a great example of Tåsi’s strengths as both a solo artist and a collaborator.

-Avril Carrillo

    Prolific singer/songwriter Jesus Acosta, aka SOBBRS, released his first full length LP Fortunato on October 7th. Compounding catchy hooks, detailed grooves, and savory synths the record crafts an original pop sound with one foot planted in 80’s throwback and the other stepping forward into the world of modern production. Rewarding repeated listens, Fortunato uses pop music tropes in a very controlled fashion, the key change for the last chorus of “Monsoon” for instance, while having the foresight to subvert those same tropes later. Consistent quality is prevalent but “Cameo”, “Motherlode”, and “Bones” are stand-outs. 

    Finding balance is Fortunato’s biggest accomplishment. The instrumentals forge an energy that finds balance in equal parts kinetic spectacle and melancholic meditation, leaving the listener the choice to either dance or cry. Lyrically drawing from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, the reflective words strike equilibrium between adverse themes of isolation and belonging. Even Acosta’s vocal delivery is balanced between rhythmic certainty and an emotive, quivering vibrato. This overall balance displays the benefits in both active and passive listening. 

    Upon the record’s release, SOBBRS packed Mohawk, seamlessly guiding the tracks into a live setting. His backing band consists of Springful’s Jim Hampton on guitar and Flora & Fawna’s Mason Ables, who is also responsible for the record’s intricate production, on keys and beats. Although playing the same songs, the group infused new life into them through the performance, teetering the scale towards dance and elation. With a St. Vincent cover, the premiere of a music video for “Crossfire”, and a celebratory onstage cake, it was a wonderful night.

-Hayden Steckel

In its sixth year, Black Fret continues to hit high watermarks as an organization; the deluge of financial grants to Austin artists continues while an expansion into Seattle is also underway. Black Fret founders, Matt Ott and Colin Kendrick, are now seeing their nonprofit surpass over $1.5 million in payments to artists. The Black Fret Ball, the nonprofit gala where grants are awarded, took place this Saturday at ACL Live and, as usual, it was a vibrant display of Austin’s diverse social scene.

The gallimaufry of musician mentors, donors and grant recipients at the Black Fret Ball is almost as entertaining as the show itself. Austin musicians are interwoven between local philanthropists and industry titans, creating a unique and rare scene in Austin.  The show itself featured brief but ebullient performances from Go Fever, Cilantro Boombox, Ley Line, The Watters and a knee-buckling performance from Tje Austin.  

In an act of good faith, The Black Pumas, who were slated to receive a $20k grant, deferred their grant money in order to boost all $5k recipients to receive $7k instead.  The local funk/soul band has been on a tear playing sold-out shows and just recently was nominated for a Grammmy for ‘Best New Artist’. The beauty of Black Fret is that any of the newcomer recipients can easily be on the same trajectory to national recognition as the Pumas; examples like Shakey Graves, Sweet Spirit and Bright Light Social Hour have paved the way for upstarts to dream big.

Some of the grants elicited heart-warming reactions when given, most notably Sydney Wright and The Watters, who were emotive and appreciative upon receiving the grant. With over 15 performing artists, the Black Fret Ball is an exciting and eclectic sampling of all genres of Austin music. With Black Fret’s growth, there seems to be much more on the horizon for giving back to the Austin music scene and beyond.

-Lee Ackerley

Young and ambitious, JackLNDN has a wizard-like ability to transform a room. The native Londoner has been playing sets and creating music at a breakneck pace that even his more experienced peers cannot keep up with. While Indiana-based rapper, Freddie Gibbs, performed through a cloud of smoke at Empire’s outdoor stage, JackLNDN invited an understated yet dedicated crowd to his set on the indoor stage. 

Local opening DJ, Ben///Jester, deftly set the mood for the crowd with samples and remixes of tracks by Bob Moses, Parcels and Bonobo. The youthful DJ orchestrated a dance party with assiduous attention to detail and endeared the crowd to his upbeat vibe by curating a gentle ebb and flow of danceable tracks. 

While the DJ openers made sure to limber up the Austin crowd, it was JackLNDN who would prove to be the tipping point in making Saturday a memorable night. While JackLNDN’s bedrock is firmly rooted in house music, he switches the lenses of which his music flows from pop to jazz to progressive.  Sliding through hits like “All I See”, “The Feels” and “Never Get Enough” – he kept his audience on his hook with an incessant barrage of grooved-out chord progressions. 

Playing late into Saturday night, JackLNDN showcased an incredible voice and a sharp skillset of playing keys while simultaneously mixing his own music. An entertaining light show with intricate visuals only added to the lounge atmosphere that continued a slow burn of sexuality throughout the night. While many in the audience were in constant movement for over 3 hours straight, the mollifying effect of the music unburdened the crowd for a cathartic release.

-Lee Ackerley