From Where They Run: Live at Momo's

From Where They Run are a true band of brothers. Literally. The members comprised of three brothers, Patrick, Tyler and Nolan Wheeler along with Daniel Matthews and AJ Molyneaux played to a packed house Thursday, November 18^th at Momo’s on 6^th street.  Since the band has played at the venue numerous times, they seemed professionally at ease. Although the band and their equipment invaded the space on stage, they still found room to move around the cramped area and transfer their energy onto the excited audience.  It is fair to say that the bands name will be on every one’s lips and their IPod’s in the next few months. With the spontaneity of the musical composition and the diligent exchange of a wide array of instruments on stage, they constantly held the attention of the crowd.

            The first song of the night was “Focus,” a slower song with the subtle slide guitar flowing over the crowd as if it were the clam before the storm. However, the following song “Mississippi,” upped the anti. One of their oldest songs known by the majority of the crowd had the audience dancing and singing along with the lead singer, Nolan Wheeler. If the talent of Mr. Molyneaux on the slide guitar was missed during the first song, he surely impressed the crowd during the second number.  Throughout the first two songs, the audience was growing in numbers and many stopped their conversations in order to move closer to the stage.  It is safe to say that the band are true entertainers, however, they further excited the crowd by playing the song “Sleep When I’m Dead,” which has grown in popularity due to a music video passed around the internet by fans. During the song, Danny Matthews and A.J. Molyneaux traded guitar solos nonchalantly adding energy to the stage presence as well as the song. 

Although some might consider the band an indie folk group, it was hard to classify them throughout the night. Songs such as  “Call me In The Morning” had an Indie feel to it, while “Ghost in the Valley” was more of a waltz and had the crowd dancing and impersonating their best waltz.  The opening riffs of the banjo heavy song added an eerie feel to the tune. The surprising addition of the night was the invitation of the Smoke Stack horn section on stage, whom frequently play with the musician Drew Smith. The group played the remainder of the set with the band including the song “Home for the Holidays,” and a new song, “Workin’ on it.” It was a great song to finish the set due to its upbeat piano intro that will surely be a new hit.

            If you have yet to see the band around town, you will have plenty of opportunities throughout the year. A debut CD will also be expected by the beginning of 2011, along with numerous shows in support of the album. You can also find a few songs on the website www.myspace.com/fromwheretheyrun

Music to Everyone's ears: The Beatles are finally on Itunes!

     Yesterday, a historic event streamed across the internet and news stations world wide: The music of the Beatles has finally reached Itunes. I understand that this may be a day late, however, I needed it to sink in.  If you haven't heard the news, I guess you must live under a rock, dislike the Beatles, or never watch television. Apple made an announcement yesterday and soon after, the Apple homepage was covered in a picture of the Beatles. Simply by clicking on the picture will take you to another page in which you have the opportunity to watch three movies: "The Beatles throughout the Years," Television advertisements announcing the Beatles on Itunes, and the iconic concert of the Beatles live at the Coliseum in 1964.
     It has taken a very long time for the Beatles to arrive on Itunes and I can assure you, a lot of people are very, very happy. Below I have posted a link to give a little more information, just incase you need "Help."

http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/16/beatles-itunes/  

Girl Talk....

Girl Talk released a new album today and it is a really good one. Since he actually believes in putting his music in anyones hands, he has made it free to the public. Not only is this awesome, it is a free CD! There are some great songs on the CD and it will be received with praises within the realm of Girl Talk fans.  SO, check out the new CD at the website below. It will be a great Christmas present to your friends and family.

http://www.illegal-art.net/allday/

Austin's own Queen cover band Magnifico are Magnificent!

            Queen may have ended with the death of Freddie Mercury, however, the spirit of the band lives on with Magnifico. Call them what you will, a cover band or a tribute band; I simply say they are amazing. The way they play the intricate songs of Queen is simply mesmerizing. Not only is every song a crowd favorite, the musicians in the band hit every note as well as the original members from Queen.  Saturday night, the band played a private party and blew the crowd away with their energy and amazing talent. Although the light show consisted of floodlights purchased from a hardware store and there was no sound technician, the band played as though they were singing in front of a crowd of thousands. The lead singer Zack Hall, whom I was introduced to after the show,  was often breaking through the comfort zone of everyone in the crowd and never stopped moving. His friendly banter with the audience was great and the crowd was obviously intrigued by the charisma of the lead singer wearing a blue leotard.

            Approximately one hundred spectators were present in the crowd and only a few had seen the band before, but when the lead singer walked onto the makeshift stage, the crowd knew it was going to be an interesting night. Magnifico opened the set with the classic, “Killer Queen.” It was a great song to start the set and get the crowd ready for the re enactment of a Queen concert for the next hour.  Playing in the backyard of a house, the lead singer of the band used anything he could find as a prop, including hiding behind some plants during a “scary song.” As the night progressed, they played the classics such as “Bicycle,” and “Under Pressure” which had the crowd constantly singing along with the band. At one moment during the song “Millionare Waltz,” a majority of the crowd broke into an imitation of a waltz along with the lead singer.  Although they played a few obscure Queen songs, the set was full of tunes that excited the crowd.

            Although the beginning of the set was great, it only got better throughout the night. “We Are The Champions” was a song that seemed to excite the moral of the crowd, and “Don’t Stop Me Now” had the crowd singing to one another, even if it was to a stranger. The band ended their set with “Fat Bottomed Girls,” and everyone’s favorite song made popular by the movie Wayne’s World, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This of course was a great way to end the night and it showcased the vocal abilities of the whole band. As they were about to pack everything up, the crowd requested another song.  The band decided to play a song rarely practiced, and the lead singer informed the crowd: “We haven’t really practiced this next song, but this is cheaper than practice space, so here we go.” They played “Somebody to Love,” and although I thought the band had showcased the vocal abilities, this song was perfect.

            The band will be playing this Wednesday night at ShangriLa on East 6^th street and it shouldn’t be missed. Sadly, Magnifico rarely plays around Austin, but if you ever see their name on a flyer, it will be a concert worth paying for.  As mentioned in the review, they are extremely talented, give the songs the justice they deserve and put on a great live show.  

Upcoming shows and events in Austin.

Since most of the festivals are over, it is time to start looking other places in order to find live music. I am usually on top of things, so here are a few shows that might interest you!



Iration: If you are a fan or reggae, you might want to check out this show. Emos will be hosting the band tonight on the inside stage. The doors open at 9:00 PM and I am sure the air will smell of ganja by the end of the night. This is one show not to be missed. With a new album released late this summer, you are sure to hear some new songs from the band.

http://www.myspace.com/iration

Freelance Whales: Playing Thursday,November 11th at the ND@ 501 Studios. The show starts at 9:00 PM and they will be playing with Miniature Tigers.  If you are a fan of great indie music featuring a variety of musical instruments, this is your band! One of my favorite songs is "Generator 2nd Floor." From the first notes in the tune it is apparent that they are not going to be like any other songs out there.  Check out a few videos on their myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/freelancewhales

Dr.Dog:  Friday, November 12th is a day to mark on your calendar if you are a fan of the psychedelic rock vibes of Dr.Dog.  They will be playing at Stubbs on the outside stage this weekend.  With the wonderful weather, it will be a great time to see the highly entertaining band. The doors open at 7:30 and tickets are still on sale, so get them while you can! 


http://www.myspace.com/drdog


Senses Fail/Bayside: These two bands are veterans when it comes to playing in front of crowds. Both bands have been around for quite a while and it will be a great show to catch if you are a fan of punk rock.  They will be playing Emos outside stage on Saturday, November 13th. Senses Fail recently came out with a new album and Bayside will be releasing a new album next year. If you want to hear new music from both of these artists, don't miss this show.  Bayside and Senses Fail are both talented bands and they will leave you very impressed and wanting more.

http://www.myspace.com/bayside

http://www.myspace.com/sensesfail

T-Bird and the Breaks: If soul/R&B is your forte, you should head out to Mohawk on Saturday, November 13th for T-Bird and the Breaks.  Their liver performances are packed with energy and thier sound is very unique to Austin.  I have seen them a few times in smaller venues and the bigger outside stage at Mohawk will allow the group to put on a fantastic show.


http://www.myspace.com/tbirdandthebreaks


Anarchy Championship Wrestling Presents: 5th Annual Lone Star Classic:  Although this is not music, I am sure it will be interesting. If you are a fan of wrestling, grab your speedo and Lucha Libre mask and head over to The Mohawk on Sunday, November 14th at 6:00 PM to see some great live action. 


ttp://www.mohawkaustin.com/events/

We Are Scientists Interview

Chris Cain (We Are Scientists) and I at Emos.

As I began my walk towards Emo’s, a range of emotions were coursing through my body. I was excited, nervous and extremely star struck that I was going to have the privilege to conduct an interview with We Are Scientists. As I walked in to the venue, I soon met with Chris Cain, the bass player of the group. While we tried to deliberate where we would conduct the interview, the mention of tequila and possibly warm white wine brought us to the dressing room. Upon arrival, we found one bottle of tequila, some beer chilling in a square shaped bucket and a dingy backstage dressing room with uncomfortable seating. After the unexpected tour of the backstage area, it was decided to move to the outside “courtyard” of Emo’s, enjoy the national beer of Texas, and start the interview. 

We Are Scientists originated from Berkley, California in 1999 and in 2001, they decided to move to New York. Since the bands existence, a lot of changes have shaped the band, and Mr. Cain soon informed me on the previous line-ups. “Keith, the singer and guitarist now, was the original drummer, and Scott Lamb was the guitarist. When we left Berkley Scott stayed and Keith became the guitar player. Since then we have had a few different drummers. Andy Burrows did the new record with us, but is not touring with us.” Although one might believe We Are Scientists took the name from their profession as scientists, they actually came upon the name when they were moving. “ We had rented a U-haul and as we were returning it, the man who was looking over the truck noticed we were all wearing glasses. He first asked us if we were brothers, then asked us if we were all scientists.”

             One thing that sets We Are Scientists apart from others is their unique sound.  Although their music does not reflect previous influences that have created the We Are Scientists sound, they are always listening to fellow indie rock musicians.  “We are huge fans of Wild Beasts, whose record from last year (Two Dancers) deserves mention since American’s in very small numbers have embraced it,” said Chris.  He later stated that although the music does not fully influence them, “anything you end up loving is bound to influence the way you think about your own stuff, however, I feel like we have a We Are Scientists sound and we write We Are Scientists songs.”  The band is scheduled to be touring in Europe during November starting in Hanover, Germany. A long way from home, however, it is not there first time in Europe.  “It’s our hundredth time. We will be celebrating our hundredth trip to Europe,” joked Mr. Cain. “We do a lot better over there, and have since we started doing this full time in 2005.” With their recently released album Barbara, the band will have new material to show their fans. 

            As the interview came to an end, we finished our drinks and after a short conversation about an interesting twenty-four hour diner in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we parted ways. As I walked around the venue I noticed Keith selling merchandise, and taking pictures with fans.  Although I did not get to speak to him during the interview, I could tell that he along with Chris truly enjoyed their job of entertaining audiences with their music.  

Kid Liberty: The new bullies on the playground.

I wrote this review for some great friends of mine a while back. They are currently on tour and will probably always be on tour because they want everyone to hear their music. It really is great stuff. Feel free to check them out at www.myspace.com/kidliberty....  

Standing back stage at the White Rabbit in San Antonio I watched as the musicians from Kid Liberty set up their gear. Their interesting brand of pop punk influenced with hardcore breakdowns and heavy metal solos was a perfect fit for their “home away from home, ” in San Antonio. In the crowd stood approximately 50 kids ready to start singing and chanting to the music about to blow out of the PA system. Sadly, the reality of a touring band is the unpredictability of the crowd attendance, however, this did not phase the members of Kid Liberty.  As they took the stage to the cheers of a small audience, you could feel the energy from the band radiate into the crowd.  This particular show marked a monumentous occasion, because they were on tour in support of their new album. They opened up with the song “I’m Right Here” off their debut album Fight With Your Fists on Bullet Tooth records, and   the crowd erupted with energy along with the band on stage.  They followed the first song of the night with “This Is a Stick up” which was a crowd favorite. The lead singer Trey Sexton was often thrusting the microphone into the crowd allowing others to sing along. One of the most memorable moments was the participation of the audience singing along to the ever so catchy chorus, “As we give three cheers to our hometown and everyone we love, looks like we made it, we made it out alive.” As the band managed to keep the audience entertained with songs from their new album, they soon played the song “I Am the 86” from their first EP Never Say Never.  Although this song was not on their debut album, it was evident that the crowd had followed the band and were excited to hear an older song.

Their last song of the night was “Cool Guy Deluxe,” another song off their debut album.  It was a fantastic end to the show and had everyone singing along as well as jumping on stage.  As the members of the band started packing up their instruments, the audience requested an encore and after looks around the stage and deliberation with the crowd, they decided to play a song that had only been played one time before entitled “That’s What She Said.” Since this was a song only played once before in front of an audience, the crowd was truly grateful and very excited. One member of the crowd jumped on stage and started singing with Trey during the chorus. Although this is a fairly new band in a genre that is often over looked, Kid Liberty is a band that is full of energy and has music with catchy lyrics that you can’t help to sing a long with.  I would highly recommend this show to anyone that loves to have a good time and watch a band that pours every ounce of energy on stage in order to get the crowd excited about their music. 

American Fangs took a bite out of Austin.

         I have recently heard rumors about a new band from Houston named American Fangs putting on one hell of a live show. Wednesday night at Emo’s, those rumors were put to rest. I have somewhat followed the band ever since they were recommended to me from a friend and have patiently waited for them to come to Austin and see them live. Their brand of awesome, kick you in the face rock and roll is refreshing to me. I love hearing a different take on music that most people do not or can not categorize and group into a certain genre. Their music has so much energy, passion and a down right fun attitude.

            

         Wednesday night was the first time for the boys in the band American Fangs to play in Austin, and they played at the ever so famous Emo’s, opening up for The Wonder Years and Four Year Strong.  It was very obvious that the band was excited to play in front of an Austin crowd, and although the majority of the fans were there to see the headlining band, American Fangs left with a new following of Austinites. They opened up the show with the song “Leukoplakia” which energized the crowd from the first notes played by the band. At one point during the set, the lead singer Gabriel jumped off the stage and started singing in the midst of the crowd. Throughout the night, they played a mixture of old songs from their debut self titled EP and songs that will soon be on their debut LP. One of the best songs of the night was the song “Le Kick,” which is one of the bands most popular songs.  American Fangs definitely puts on a great, fun show. Be sure to look out for these guys when they come back to Austin.  You will be impressed.

Four Year Strong

         While standing in the crowd waiting for Four Year Strong to start, I couldn’t help but to ask myself why I always get excited about punk rock shows. I was obviously the oldest person there by at least ten years.  It wasn’t my scene anymore. My friends had all outgrown the music, clothes and ideals and a younger generation had taken over where we all left off. However, as Four Year Strong walked on stage and started playing the first song I realized why I always find myself at punk rock shows: they are fun. There is a sense of nostalgia that follows me as I look at the crowd and listen to the positive, energy laden songs. 

            The band walked on stage to blue lights shining on them, and although the color choice seemed to add a sense of melancholy to the members on stage, it had no impact on the band.  With the opening song of “ What the Hell Is a Gigawatt,” it was apparent that Four Year Strong came to Austin in order to put on an energetic show. As the members transitioned to the second song, the crowd was cheering at a defining level.  They followed the first song with another energetic song, “On a Saturday.” One of the memorable moments of the show was when the audience starting clapping in unison during the breakdown.  Following the first two songs, Four Year Strong played the title track “It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong” off their new album Enemy Of The World.  The bearded singers/guitar players seemed to loom over the crowd as their tall stature was increased by the height of the stage.  Although they were touring in support of their new album, the band played a mixture of new and older songs from their previous albums. During the set, the band played  “Prepare to be Digitally Manipulated,” which was a crowd favorite and it was apparent that they had a fan base spanning from their first album. It was refreshing to see the crowd familiar with older songs. For a fairly new band, Emo’s outside was very full of fans. 

            For their last song of the night, Four Year Strong played the song “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer).” I feel this was a great song to end the night. It was a great energetic song to end the night and had the fans cheering for an encore.  Dan O’Connor and Alan Day soon returned with acoustic guitars and began the song “One Step at a Time.” It was different to see the two guitar players with acoustic guitars; however, it was a nice and refreshing break from the pop punk theme of the night.  The final song of the night was “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die.” Although it was an older song, it was a great fit to the end of the show, paying homage to the fans that had been with them from the beginning. Even though I was one of the older attendees, it was a show worth going to.  Four Year Strong was a great live show and they really know how to entertain the crowd.

Fun Fun Fun Fest.

         This year marked the fifth year of Fun Fun Fun fest, and sadly I was not there; for the fifth year in a row.  Fun Fun Fun Fest has always been on my radar, but I always seem to neglect buying tickets. This year was no different than the last, however, I was a little more excited this year. So many bands were present in Waterloo Park this weekend for a great three day festival.  Although this was the first year to have three days, it seemed more like a two and a half day festival. Weird Al Yankovic opened up the festival with a set Friday night and The Descendents closed the festival Sunday night. Some of the bands I wanted to see were Snapcase, The Vandals, The Bronx, Mariachi el Bronx, Mastadon, Washed Out and Dirty Projectors amongst many others.
        Since I did not get tickets this weekend I was also absent for the triumphant return of The Descendents. Although so much great talent graced the stages in Waterloo Park this weekend, they were the only band I really wanted to see. After hearing the The Descendents were going to replace DEVO for the closing act of the festival, I was immediately taken back to a time of listening to punk music, skateboarding where we shouldn't be, and trying to imitate our "heros" by starting a punk rock band with my closest friends. Even while friends change their taste in music, the music that fueled a soundtrack to our lives will always bring us back together.
        After this year,  I will be buying tickets to the sixth annual Fun Fun Fun Festival.  Although it is a smaller festival, I feel it attracts a different breed of musicians as well as fans. The bands that usually play the festival might not be artists that win Grammy's, however, the fans that flock to this fairly new festival are the most loyal followers I have ever met. Especially the punk rock aficionados. This year had a great line up and I am very excited to see what next year brings.