Review

Sexpop PR photo Who To Call
Case CockrellReviewSong

Single review: Sexpop drops new song and video for Who To Call

Case Cockrell 979 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Blaise Eldred’s Sexpop was just a one-man band when the Berklee College of Music attendee arrived in Austin as a member of the now-defunct psychedelic collective Acid Carousel. Before arriving in Austin, Eldred had two albums of material with his musical vehicle Sexpop and another record with Boston-based indiegaze act RVRCT. (pronounced Rivercat) On new single “Who To Call,” Eldred takes a break from local funk mega-ensemble Grandmaster, revisiting his passion project with a fresh, refined approach with an accompanying music video to boot.

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My Morning Jacket 1 PCSS Ryan Odom
Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Park City Song Summit day two featured My Morning Jacket, Larkin Poe and Anders Osborne

Greg Ackerman 1474 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The fifth Park City Song Summit festival continued on day two (August 16) at Canyons Village Amphitheater with two-hour headlining set by My Morning Jacket.. The undercard featured standout performances from the talented guitarist sisters of Larkin Poe and Anders Osborne with Jackie Greene. Those high-quality acts plus grade-A production and event values amid astounding mountain views and ideal Summer condition minus an afternoon thunderstorm on Saturday added up to an exceptional experience for fans and artists alike.

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Park City Song Summit 2024 Brian Lima
Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

A Different Kind of Music Fest: Park City Song Summit Labs featured Jim James with Danny Clinch and Steve Poltz with Jay Blakesberg

Greg Ackerman 853 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Last weekend musicians, music industry members and fans gathered at Canyons Village in Park City for the fifth edition of the Park City Song Summit which took place August 15-17. The small capacity festival provided an intimate and gorgeous setting for fans to engage in Summit Labs sessions that included performing artists discussing various aspects of music as it relates to mental health and wellness. Programming included a presentation by Canadian singer-songwriter, Steve Poltz and photographer Jay Blakesburg as well as a session that included, My Morning Jacket band leader, Jim James and longtime MMJ photographer, Danny Clinch. The festival offered daytime performances by various acts with headlining shows in the amphitheater situated on the adjacent Canyons Village ski slope which provided top-tier sound and lighting throughout the weekend. It was evident that this was a different kind of music fest than most fans are accustomed to. 

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Phantogram and Kings of Leon Moody Center Drew Doggett
Drew DoggettLive MusicReview

Live music review: Kings of Leon and Phantogram Prove They Have Plenty of Fire at Moody Center

Drew Doggett 1895 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I hate the term “guilty pleasure.” Loving music based on the approval of others will drain you. While I’m not saying I’ll grab the aux cord to blare “Sex on Fire” during a road trip, I will die on the hill that Aha Shake Heartbreak was a seminal record for 2000s alternative and indie rock. Maybe it’s the Nashville boy in me, the lover of arena rock, or the nostalgia for how their southern riffs colored my upbringing in Tennessee. Kings of Leon rock. And on August 14 at Austin’s Moody Center, they brought a 28-song, anthemic setlist to prove it.

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Redd Kross Parish Troy Gonazales 8
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Legendary alt rockers Redd Kross played Parish on Rock and Roll Party tour

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Since reforming and recording a double, self-titled record, Redd Kross is touring again and bringing what bassist McDonald would call a “Rock and Roll Party” to every city the Kross has placed on their itinerary. For the Austin stop on their tour, the California alt-rockers rolled into East Side hideaway, Parish on August 7, ready to deliver their top-down assault of tunes that made for a career-spanning performance. 

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Urban Heat at Metro Ryan Odom
Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Rising Austin synth act Urban Heat played Metro Music Hall with Gvllow

Greg Ackerman 1183 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Rising Austin synth pop, post-punk act Urban Heat played Salt Lake City’s Metro Music Hall on August 7 with intense, darkwave band Gvllow from Southern California.. Led by veteran musician, Jonathan Horstmann whose previous project, BLXPLTN was well regarded in a crowded Austin music scene. With Urban Heat, Horstmann has elevated his game, earning Song of the Year at the Austin Music Awards last March with the single “Have You Ever.” The trio’s superlative performance last Wednesday in SLC showed just how far the young band formed in 2019 has gotten in a relatively short period of time.

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Snooper parish Troy Gonzales 8
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Nashville punks Snooper played sold out Parish with Blank Hellscape and Water Damage

Case Cockrell 1015 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

For Snooper’s Summer Austin appearance on August 3, the band enlisted the help of Blank Hellscape and Water Damage. After their last SXSW appearance of 2024 that featured the former, Snooper was ready to make it all about their Texas musical kindred spirits at ATX East Side alternative music stronghold, Parish. It was a business as usual Saturday night for the Country Music town punks in the best and most incendiary of ways. 

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Pat G skyscaper portrait
AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album Review: Austin Hip-Hop artist Pat G released Talk To Me Nice

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In July, Pat G released his latest EP, Talk To Me Nice, July 11 on his own, Be Relentless label. It was his first release since his 2019 LP, Whatever it Takes. So much happened in the time between the two album releases, the Temple-born, Austin-based emcee felt it appropriate to convey his personal and artistic growth with this, his fifth record.

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Buzz Electro PR photo
AlbumReviewRobert Dean

Album review: Spare Parts by Austin act Buzz Electro features loud guitars and nasty riffs

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Guitars should be loud, and riffs should be nasty. The drums should sound like they hold the keys to the entryway to hell. Luckily, Buzz Electro got the memo. On their newest record, “Spare Parts,” the band gives it their all as one of the acts in Austin doing their best to be the loudest, horns up, drinks spilled version of rock and roll out there.

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Tied Up band Ausitn
ReviewRobert DeanSong

Song Review – Anyway You Like: Tied Up is one of Austin’s Newest to Check Out

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Taking the hip-hop approach by dropping singles one at a time, Tied Up recently gave us their newest, “Anyway You Like,” on the heels of their prior single, “Gun.” Both are wicked glimpses into what the band will give us moving forward, which says a metric fuck ton, considering they only have two tracks out for public consumption. And those two tracks do not play. This is the rock and roll you want;

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