Brian Hillsman

Brian HillsmanLiveReview

Live music review: An Automatic Weekend at Austin’s Dozen Street

On a recent Friday night in Austin, late June in the dimly-lit, Dozen Street Bar in East Austin’s burgeoning 12th street scene, the enticingly thick smell of gumbo and fried oysters flooded the air like a lure from the Cajun restaurant next door. Automatic Weekend…

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Brian HillsmanLiveReview

Live music review: Tacocat, Paranoyds brought power-packed shows to Barracuda

Meanwhile, the indoor stage at Barracuda offered a relentlessly stacked show featuring Tacocat with support from L.A.’s Paranoyds and Cosmic Chaos. Three bands that know how to attack a crowd like an angry swarm of Texas mosquitoes.

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Brian HillsmanLiveReview

Live music review: L7 brought remedy for political unease

The 1990’s were a helluva time for music. Grrrl rock, heroin chic and flannel all featured prominently in the music scene.  At the heart of it all was Grunge music made by the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and similar artists. Near the center of that magical era was L7. The Los Angeles, all-female, four-piece began their collective career in the mid-80’s. In the 1990’s, the group toured with the likes of Alice In Chains, Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam.

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Brian HillsmanLiveReview

Live music review: Deerhunter slayed at Mohawk Monday with surprise guest

There is something refreshing when a band consists of members playing various roles within its construct.  Throughout their set at Austin’s Mohawk on Monday, Deerhunter band leader Bradford Cox managed tambourine, guitar, bass and lead vocals. Javier Morales masterfully operated the keyboard, synthesizers and saxophone. Guitarist Lockett Pundt took over lead vocals in a crowd-moving execution of song, “Desire Lines.”

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Brian HillsmanLiveReview

Live music review: Emily King’s Celebration of Life and Self-Reflection at Antone’s

When dealing with hardship, change your outlook; keep it positive.  If there is one message or sensation at which one might arrive after witnessing Emily King live, this may be it. It could very well be her graduate thesis.  After seeing her show, one may feel the nostalgic sensations reminiscent of a gratifying, uplifting gospel Sunday church service.

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Brian HillsmanReview

Austin Punk Scene Takes an Eccentric Turn with Cowpunk Quartet Leche

The self-proclaimed “Lords of Shit City” have graced various Austin stages for nearly a decade.  With several regional US tours under their belt, the Austin four-piece, Leche has found themselves smack-dab in the middle of the modern Austin punk scene.

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