Athens Intensified at Austin Town Hall

It seems that every other day, someone has a festival going, especially here in Austin; there’s always something.  I’m okay with that, but over the last few years I’ve noticed a lot of small boutique festivals carving niches for themselves. With  this in mind, I was connected with Gordon Lamb, formerly one of the gents… Continue reading Athens Intensified at Austin Town Hall

Joanna Gruesome at Austin Town Hall

After an excellent album on Slumberland Records last year, Joanna Gruesome are here with a brand new 12″ to illustrate why they’re one of the most exciting acts of the last few years.  They’re splitting this 12″ release with Trust Fund, with three songs coming from each band; the US release will come via HHBTM in late September.  The immediate infectious quality… Continue reading Joanna Gruesome at Austin Town Hall

Hobbes Fanclub at Austin Town Hall

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve heard from Hobbes Fanclub, but after rounding out a full band, the group are finally ready to unleash their debut album.  The first single has this delightful bit of indiepop slightly obscured by a wash of feedback; it gives it that dreamy quality, laying somewhere beneath this great… Continue reading Hobbes Fanclub at Austin Town Hall

Lunchbox at Austin Town Hall

After a brief name change to Birds of California, Lunchobx has returned to their name sake in order to release a brand new album, said to be their best in their 15+ year career.  Their working with Jigsaw Records to release Lunchbox Loves You, which will hit the world running on August 12th.  The song moves along with a raucous bit… Continue reading Lunchbox at Austin Town Hall

Joe Jack Talcum at Austin Town Hall

Joe Jack Talcum is probably better known for his comical word play in songs like “Big Lizzard,” but it seems that the Dead Milkmen songwriter has long had a soft side that I wasn’t even aware of, despite calling myself a fan. HHBTM is releasing the second collection of Talcum’s home recordings, illustrating a more down-trodden songwriter; this song has… Continue reading Joe Jack Talcum at Austin Town Hall

Eureka California at Austin Town Hall

Once in a blue moon you stumble across an album that defies the odds.  You might recognize bits of various genres within this sort of album, but every song sounds completely refreshing.  You’ll get precisely this when you listen to Crunch, the newest album from Athens’ Eureka California; they’ve created a pop rock record that doesn’t give… Continue reading Eureka California at Austin Town Hall

Bastards of Fate at Austin Town Hall

Somewhere in the last decade we’ve all started taking our artistic statements way too seriously, especially as commenters on the world of music.  Personally, I accept that fault, but I still hold a really special place in my heart for oddball pop songs that might not get the appreciation they deserve.  Such a tune came… Continue reading Bastards of Fate at Austin Town Hall

Eureka California at Austin Town Hall

I really love a track that just gives into the soul of the song, discarding all the bullshit to the side.  That’s the feeling I get when I listen to pretty much every song on the up-coming Eureka California album.  Their songs are catchy, as you’ll see below, but aside from standard song structures, the group doesn’t… Continue reading Eureka California at Austin Town Hall