Keeping the arts alive in our public schools one collaborative album at a time, Attendance Records connects students and teachers with local artists, writers, and musicians. At the end of the program the 9th and 10th grade students have their poems, short stories, artwork, and lyrics published in an installation or recorded by a local band and pressed onto vinyl. This year they worked with local bands, Marmalakes and Belaire, to produce the album which they’ll be debuting tomorrow night at Mohawk! 

Come out and support arts education. Loaded with sponsors and tons of awesome local bands, all you have to do is show up and enjoy the event to help keep music alive in our public schools. Doors open at 7:00pm. $5 for the 21+ crowd and $7 for minors to get in. All ages welcome! –Written by Charise Sowells

Spinning, trancing vocals through ambient chords, Migrant Kids‘ music acts to posses listeners. They describe it as a drug trip, and that captures dead on what I remember feeling the first time I listened Migrant Kids’ music: it clouded my thoughts and took me over. In describing their sound alone, the chill vibes of their instrumentals full of other worldly sounds riding on the beat of Bryan O’Flynn’s drums along with Miguel Ojeda and John Zakoor’s hushed, but sensual and powerful voices, puts me somewhere between a heart attack and passing out.

The first time I listened to Migrant Kids was not only painful because it was just too good, it was painful because there was only one song available at that point. As a lucky writer for The Deli, I got a sneak peek at their new album and it couldn’t be more satisfying than the rush of a good hit. One of their singles and the song that originally drew me in, "Canvas of Me" has haunting lyrics, dripping in heartbreak: "I’ve drawn myself out of your blood. You can’t stop this from drying." They really go right for the feels.

Their songs lead you through a web of poetics where you’ll encounter fear, uncertainty, and depression as the album takes you through the many stages of a breakup. Be sure to check out their new self titled album (along with my personal favorite “Act I”) 9/24/2013 and catch them at their album release show 9/27/13 at Spider House Ballroom. In the meantime, head over to The Parish on 8/15/13 to see Migrant Kids live with Home By Hovercraft. —Written by Katy Glass 

If you’re in the mood for an acid trip without all of the unwanted repercussions, DEEP Space is just the band to take you on that psychedelic journey. With their latest album, Evil Dreams, the 5 piece band creates a labyrinth of grave, psych rock music that features spacey guitars, droll synth sounds, and terrifying spoken word messages. 

Reminiscent of the Pissed Jeans, Monster Magnet, and the weirder parts of Pink Floyd’s Meddle, tracks like "Motorcycle" will reach into the parts of your soul where fear, panic, and the unknown all come together to create a trembling 15 minute soundtrack to your nightmares. After you’re through with your, “I’m pretty sure I channeled Jim Morrison,” hallucination, the tempo picks up and your dancing shoes magically appear for the fun and whimsical track, “Inner Light”.

See them live at Lamberts on 8/17 with The Vliets and The Demings, after they return from a short tour though Oklahoma and Colorado. –Written by Jodi Lang 

Maybe it’s obvious, but the big payoff from scouring the indie music scene is when you stumble across a release that, like Shakespeare, transcends time, style, and fads. Such is Lost in Transition, the 6-month-old release from genre-crossing, soul-voiced Sydney Miles. A compilation of (what we’ll call) acoustic soul ("Cheaper to Keep Her", "I Have a Secret", "Fall Away from Me", "A Child Sleeps"), bluesy pop ("Shorty"), and hip-hop ("Cougar Lady"); this one also manages to pop in on pop ("Karmic Ghosts", "Wading While Waiting"); and even, heaven help us, bring the occasional toe-tapping, boot-scooting country number ("A Good Man’s Love", "Crazy Hearted Whiskey").

Yet despite this collection’s genre-crazy divergence, a rock-solid center holds these numbers together – the lyrical mastery and brilliant vox of a songstress confident enough to experiment and skilled enough to bring home 11 solidly-irresistible tracks. Just back from a short European tour, Miles’ Austin residence is sure to include more forays into some of our better venues. Stay plugged in via facebook so you won’t be kicking yourself for missing the next gig. It takes a bit of scouring to uncover a gem like this one, so don’t let Lost in Transition get lost on you. –Written by Scott Osborn

Thanks Light is an eclectic quintet that released their album, Pop Rox, this past April. Their influences are as diverse as the songs on their soundcloud playlist, which is full of awesome ear candy. In “Bones”, lead singer Zane’s melancholy wailing is reminiscent of The Highwaymen, as are the solid country guitar riffs. Yet in “Starting Up” and “Re::Evolution”, their songs take on a more cosmic feel, similar to Gauntlet Hair. 

Whether you’re in the mood to folk out or mellow out, Thanks Light will be performing on July 31st in Austin at Beerland. Joining them will be: After Hours, Those Howlings, Alma Forrer, Baptiste W. Hamon, and The Navasota String Gang. Check it out! –Written by Faith Braverman

Milezo released their home recorded album, Major Tree Love’s Secret Songs for Imaginary Gurls, last May. With an album title like that, how could you not be intrigued to listen? These “secret songs” are full of love enclosed in psychedelic, rock and folk sounds. It is a dense album in which you will hear new things each time you listen.

In just over a year, this prolific four-piece is already close to completing a new album scheduled for a release this fall. Most recently, Milezo came out with a trippy video for “Animal Revelation”. As for the live act, they’re playing the Moonage Daydream Festival at Club Deville tonight. –Written by Courtney Pierce

Technically, Octant is a one-man band. Matthew Steinke stands alone on stage singing fragile dream-pop melodies over reverb-laden guitar sounds. But he’s not the only thing making noise; makeshift player pianos churn out soaring ornamentation while a bevy of percussion beats itself in time. And somehow, it all sounds surprisingly human — maybe there’s some life in Steinke’s algorithms.

While you’re waiting for Octant’s new album to release this fall, take a peek at his electromechanical backup band in the new video for “Forget", off their 2011 release. And come see Octant tonight at the Parish for a Summer Fling with Mighty Mountain, Borrisokane and Tiger Wave. –Written by Kevin Allen

Last year at Art Outside, I walked into the biggest crowd I’d seen for a daytime show to find out what all the fuss was about… and then I heard it. Dani Neff, lead singer and guitarist of Megafauna, is one of the best shredders I’ve seen in all my life. And the best part is, she makes it look so easy! Her dainty fingers seem to effortlessly glide over the strings as this hard but intricately melodious sound oozes from her guitar.  

Quickly on the rise, their latest music video, "Precious Blood", was directed by David Bellarosa of Lonely Giant. It also stars Laurie Gallardo of KUTX and The Good Music Club. This is an Austin music video that can’t be missed. Click here to watch. –Written by Charise Sowells

“There’s just something about music with soul. People like Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Etta James… Their music hits me right in the stomach; the same way I bet it did my grandparents." Listen to Aaron Stephens and after 30 seconds you will hear the passion he has for this genre. Stevens’ EP To Reach Your Soul will demand your attention from the get go.

Not only is his voice rich, but like any great soul musician his lyrics are powerful. He sings, “Everyone has a weapon of choice; let mine be my voice.” If that’s the case, get out of his way. Nothing stands a chance against someone who has this much spirit and love for their craft. Aaron is touring all over Texas and will be back in Austin on July 30th to move you at The Hole in the Wall. –Written by Courtney Pierce

Time to gear up for Summer Slang II. It was so good last time that a sequel was in order. This year’s soiree will be hosted in style by Heard Entertainment at the Empire Control Room & Garage (across the street from Holy Mountain). On the inside, we’ll get Cabrini Green, Jeffi DeLuxe & MoxieContin, Texas Microphone Massacre, Young Pharaohs, and FLAVOR RAID.

Outside is for DJs, and they are going to have the best there is in Austin: DJ Miguel Sanchez, DJ Scorpio (the brains behind Nite School and Blacklist), and DJ Nathan Green. But naturally you want more, so they’ll be throwing in "…an immersive 8-projector visual experience and sound system that embraces your body…". And who doesn’t like their body to be embraced? –Written by Scott Osborn

Rixon is a rock/jam band from Austin on a mission to be "the best band on the planet.” With the kind of credentials these bandmates have, they are well on their way to accomplishing that goal. Each of Rixon’s five band members have studied at the renowned Berklee College of Music, and it shows. Their seamless blend of rock, pop and jazz is unique and catchy, while their technical skills are flawless.

Dan Rixon, lead singer/guitarist and the band’s namesake, has injected his love for the Dave Matthews Band, the Beatles, and Pink Floyd in their debut album When Morning Comes. Rixon’s hauntingly melodic voice, the band’s natural rhythms, and the overall tight instrumentation create a symphonic journey through their music’s psychedelic tendencies. See Rixon play live, this Friday at Dizzy Rooster, 8:30pm. –Written by Faith Braverman  

Canned Beets are an up and coming band that’s been spreading their psychedelic sound waves all over Austin and Central Texas. This self-described “groove trio” has a quite a bit of clout. Band members RyDogg Johnson, Doug Leveton, and Rolf Ordahl are no strangers to the Austin music scene and have been involved in several other successful music projects.

Their latest collaboration combines improvisation with solid pocket grooves, making them reminiscent of the Roots or Phish. With their wah-wah rhythms, New Orleans inspired organ funk, and danceable beats, Canned Beets will have you biting that lower lip and moving to the groove in no time. Their next two shows are at Easy Tiger on July 24th and 31st. –Written by Faith Braverman