The Cosmic Clash

BADBADNOTGOODforAustinBluesFest2026byDusana-106164

Live music review: Austin Blues Fest aims to preserve Antone’s legacy

May 6, 2026 Case Cockrell 226 Views alt-country, Americana, Austin Blues, Austin Blues Fest, BADBADNOTGOOD, BBNG, BLues, concert review, funk, George Clinton, jazz, Larkin Poe, live music, Megan Lovell, Moody Amp, Moody Amphitheater, music festival, Parliament-Funkadelic, Rebecca Lovell, Review, soul

There are few homegrown Austin events left as of 2026. We still have HAAM Day, Austin Psych Fest and Levitation, Eeyore’s Birthday, and a handful of others, but times are tough, and the good folks that organize all these great things need the community to keep the traditions going. For Austin institution, venue and record store, Antone’s Austin Blues Fest, a gathering of adoring locals flocked to the Moody Amphitheater to experience both Texas Blues classics and other legacy acts to build a festival slate with so much talent in one weekend, it proved to be a must-see. On Sunday April 26, a stacked bill commenced for a day of showcasing undeniable fun with an experience that was uniquely Austin.

Greg Ackerman Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six bands to see at Kilby Block Party 2026

May 6, 2026 Greg Ackerman 470 Views American Football, Automatic, Ben Kweller, Die Spitz, festival preview, Gelli Haha, Granddaddy, hardcore, Hayley Williams, indie rock, KBP, Kilby Block Party, live music, Lorde, metal, music festival, pop music, post-punk, preview, punk rock, rock n roll, Salt Lake City, This is Lorelei, Turnstile

Utah’s most exciting music festival, Kilby Block Party is entering its seventh year in 2026 with its most ambitious lineup to date. The fest runs May 15-17 at Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. It feels like this unassuming fest which began on a closed-off road behind Kilby Court, the beloved DIY venue it’s named for has become something else entirely with a lineup featuring a pop star (Lorde), a rocker turned pop star (Hayley Williams) and a melodic hardcore act (Turnstile) which shows just how far this independent music fest has come in a relatively short time. Rather than focus on the obvious headlining sets to profile, we’ve selected seven bands to see at KBP 2026. Before we dive in, fans should know some ticket options are already sold-out or nearing sold-out. If you’re considering attending, grab tickets here.

Brian Hillsman Live Live Music

Live music review: GZA performs Liquid Swords for 30th Anniversary at Far Out Lounge

May 2, 2026 Brian Hillsman 725 Views Austin, Austin Live Music, Ben Buck, Far Out Lounge, GZA, Hip Hop, Liquid Swords, live music, rap, SpaceGoonz, Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang Clan

On Thursday, April 23, legendary Wu-Tang founding member, Gary Eldridge Grice better known as GZA, performed his classic album, Liquid Swords, at south Austin’s Far Out Lounge with live band, Phunky Nomads, on instrumentation. The show marked the Austin stop on the tour commemorating the album’s 30th anniversary.

Greg Ackerman Live Music Review

Live music review: Ty Segall played Metro Music Hall with Primitive Ring

May 1, 2026 Greg Ackerman 415 Views Bert Hoover, Charles Moothart, garage rock, Jon Modaff, live music, Metro Music Hall, Mikal Cronin, Primitive Ring, psych-rock, punk rock, Review, rock n roll, SLC, Ty Segall

When Los Angeles supergroup Primitive Ring reached out via their PR rep to premiere their new single and video, we quickly realized this power trio touring with Ty Segall signaled the veteran garage rocker’s return to power rock n roll after touring acoustic, solo material on recently. Thus was the case at Metro Music Hall April 17 when Segall and his band brought their tour to Salt Lake City. Fans were there to rock out and Segall delivered with a career-spanning setlist that seemed to please everyone in the room with punk, psych and garage rock themes throughout the performance. Segall’s full range was on display.

Live Music Review Robert Dean

Live music review: Eyehategod at Little Darlin 10th Anniversary

April 28, 2026 Robert Dean 535 Views 10th Anniversary, concert, Eyehategod, glam metal, hard rock, hardcore, hardcore metal, Little Darlin, live music, Mean Mistreater, metal, Review, rock n roll

Thanks to the power of social media, bands like Crowbar and Eyehategod are drawing bigger crowds than they have in years—and honestly, good for them. Get that bag, dudes. You earned it. Somehow, the algorithm has decided the ultra-heavy hardcore riffs of the two New Orleans kingpins are worth worshiping, and the clips are endless; people talking about how chaotic EHG is and how gnarly Crowbar riffs are. And it’s not just old head nostalgia. The kids are showing up. And they’re selling venues out. The two bands went out on the road together, and if the show Sunday, April 26 at The Little Darlin’ is any indication, those rooms are filling up fast. Radio-friendly Metallica these bands are not.

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Goose wrapped Spring tour in Texas

April 27, 2026 Case Cockrell 790 Views Big Modern!, concert, Cotter Ellis, Goose, jam band, jam music, live music, Moody Center, Peter Anspach, Polica, Prince, Review, Rick MItarontonda, rock n roll, Spring tour, Trevor Weekz

Connecticut jam band trailblazers Goose wrapped up their Spring 2026 tour in Texas over the weekend, their first shows in the Lone Star state since New Year’s Eve to cap off 2024 at Austin’s Moody Center. Friday night, April 24, saw the return of Goose to the Austin arena with their solidified four-piece lineup.

Live Music Review Robert Dean

Live music review: Lamb of God played Moody Amp for Into Oblivion Tour despite storm

April 24, 2026 Robert Dean 712 Views concert, Fit For An Autopsy, hardcore metal, heavy metal, Kublai Khan, Lamb of God, live music, Moody Amp, Review, rock n roll, Sanguisugabogg

One thing I love about metalheads is their undying love for the music and its culture. They wear old band T-shirts from twenty years ago like a talisman against the world, they tattoo band logos on themselves to show devotion, rock patch-covered battle vests, and will stand in the middle of a rainstorm without considering moving because the band is about to go on. That’s serious commitment.

Case Cockrell Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Seven bands to see at Austin Psych Fest 2026 at Far Out

April 23, 2026 Case Cockrell 1191 Views Austin Psych Fest, Boogarins, Christian Bland, Dead Canyon Family Reunion, DIIV, dream pop, Elysium, Far Out Lounge, Gran Moreno, Gus Baldwin, Holy Wave, Levitation, Melody's Echo Chamber, New Candys, Night Beats, psych-rock, psychgaze, rock n roll, space rock, The Black Angels

The 2026 edition of Austin Psych Fest returns on May 8 – May 10 to the Far Out Lounge & Stage, their fourth consecutive Spring edition since reviving the original brand to a one-location format. With an all-star lineup from all over the psychedelic and indie rock spectrum, acts from all over the world will make their way to South Austin at Far Out’s massive backyard for a two-stage, no-overlap, three-day, rock and roll shindig designed with the true music fan in mind. Stage visuals will include projections from Mad Alchemy, Slim Reaper, TV Eye, Attic Space, and more. The fest will also feature satellite events to kick off the weekend and late-night shows in downtown Austin after Far Out programming concludes.

Culture Live Preview

Live event preview: Fairy Fest 420 or No Tech Bros at the Altar of Frankie G

April 17, 2026 Robert Dean 671 Views Austin, Austin event, Coven Nightlife, culture, Fairy Fest, femme, Frankie G, LBGTQA+, live event, Pease Park, preview

And at the altar of groove, with her candles burning bright, is Frankie G, Austin’s Grand Madame of the Night. She’s a little bit Elysium — our beloved goth institution — but also lurid, international, mysterious, and a girl’s girl who wants to upend the system. Her parties go viral because she curates them for energy, for women to feel like goddesses and the algorithm is noticing. Monday’s upcoming Fairy Fest at Pease Park is a good example. The 420 themed party has this description on their ticketing page:

Mike Cosmic Premiere Review

Song premiere: Austin music scene veterans Mean Jolene drop single Private Plane today

April 15, 2026 Mike Cosmic Cota 653 Views Andrew Cashen, Austin Music, garage rock, Gummy Fang, Hole in the Wall, live music, Mean Jolene, Mike Cosmic, new music, power pop, Private Plane, single release

Veteran Austin power-pop and garage-rockers, Mean Jolene release a new single “Private Plane” today. The track is on their up and coming third studio album, Play Nice, recorded and mixed at Estuary Recording with John Michael Landon. The song’s theme “fantasizes about a return to innocence — reflecting on escapism as a form of self-preservation and how this can directly conflict with the desire to grow and overcome adversity.”

Greg Ackerman Music Video Premiere

Video premiere: supergroup Primitive Ring drop new single and video today – play Metro in SLC Friday

April 14, 2026 Greg Ackerman 768 Views Bert Hoover, Charles Moothart, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Fuzz, garage rock, Jon Modaff, Lies From the Other Side, Metro Music Hall, new album, new music, premiere, Primitive Ring, punk rock, rock n roll, song premiere, Ty Segal, Video

If you’re a garage or punk rock music fan then you likely know who Ty Segall is. The prolific musician is known for releasing a wide range of music under various names that all stem from the same punk rock ethos. One of Segal’s longtime collaborators, Charles Moothart (Fuzz) launched a new project in 2024 with Bert Hoover (Hoover III) and Jon Modaff (Frankie and the Witch Fingers) called Primitive Ring. Today the band premieres their latest single and video, “Lies from the Other Side.” in advance of their new self-titled LP, due out May 15. Fans can pre-order vinyl of the forthcoming album via In the Red Records.

Reviews