Review

The Well
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

SXSW live review: Austin acts welcome festival goers with amazing performances

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The first weekend of South By Southwest 2024 showed some of Austin’s finest local talent, warmly welcoming out-of-town visitors, local music fans, and touring bands alike. Austin is still a global music hub in 2024, and SXSW amplifies that fact for a couple weeks each March to show that music is still a hot commodity in the city, no matter what time of year it is. With opening, all-day showcases such as Hotel Vegas’ Anniversary Party, SX Soundcheck, Do512 Smokeout, and others, there’s plenty to keep music attendees busy before official music week begins today (March 11). Here’s what stood out to us in the opening days of SXSW, most of which will perform again before the festival concludes.

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Danny Brown and Hannibal Buress podcast taping
Case CockrellpodcastReview

Live podcast review: The Danny Brown Show and Hannibal Buress celebrated 100 episodes

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Detroit-turned-Austin rapper Danny Brown has been hosting podcast The Danny Brown Show with YMH Studios since the emcee’s big move to the Austin, Central Texas area. For Brown’s 100th episode after a whole year on the air, the rapper-comedian-host took to the vibrant local comedy club The Creek And The Cave for a celebration.

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Austin Music Awards 2024 marquee
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Austin Music Awards performances featured the best in local music at Antone’s

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Every musical calendar year in Austin is special. The countless live gigs, new albums released, and fresh talent that emerges every year make Austin one of the most significant music stops in the world. For local publication Austin Chronicle, the alt-weekly curates an evening that captures each respective year in the scene’s prolific, often positively saturated body of work. For 2024, The Austin Chronicle showcased an event that covered essential bases to magnify the widespread musical range of the city and pay homage to Austin legends along the way. For this year’s event, the Chronicle took to the world-famous Austin music staple, Antone’s Nightclub for a 3-hour event that benefited Austin non-profit, SIMS Foundation to support mental health and substance use recovery services and programs for musicians, music industry professionals, and their dependent family members.

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AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album review: Swallow the Rat sophomore effort South Locust positions band well for SXSW 2024

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New Zealand hard rock trio, Swallow the Rat, released their latest LP, South Locust, on September 1, 2023, and are set to perform at this year’s SXSW music festival as part of the Aotearoa contingent. The band has a number of performances slated for the festival including an unofficial event, Webberville Block Party presented by The Cosmic Clash and Play to the Plants at The Lost Well, Cavalier and Fading Yellow House on Saturday, March 16.

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White Denim at Mohawk
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: White Denim played triumphant homecoming with Nolan Potter at Mohawk

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White Denim returned to their hometown of Austin, for a special homecoming Saturday, February 17. Founding singer, songwriter and guitarist James Petralli is something of a local legend. With over ten records, countless tours, and a now-defunct Austin studio all in his prolific body of work, White Denim has since relocated to Los Angeles, taking his rock vehicle with him and rendering the White Denim name synonymous with his own creative musings. For Saturday night’s gig at Red River Cultural District’s Mohawk, Petralli and company proved that their ties with Austin are indispensable, no matter how far away they go from their once hometown sanctuary. The venue was packed with fans.

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Bulch promo
AlbumCase CockrellReview

Album review: DIY act Mulch Cult released their eclectic new EP Bulch

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Austin uutlaw punk rock outfit Mulch Cult has released their new EP Bulch. The latest release comes after their 2023 LP Gulch, released to amid the underground Austin DIY scene’s acclaim last year. For this new release, Mulch Cult takes a step forward, delivering three new tracks that turn the page for what’s next for the band.

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Mick Jenkins
Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Mick Jenkins and TOBi delivered stellar hip hop shows at Come and Take It Live

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Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, hip hop artist Mick Jenkins took the stage at Come and Take It Live. The Chicago native opened his set with what is possibly the strongest opening track of any album, in any genre, of 2023.  

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AlbumDaniel SalasReview

Album review: Semihelix has a new seven inch EP out that will revive your faith in indie music

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Rock music is doing just fine thanks to artists like Semihelix. Based in Austin, Semihelix play a mix of American indie underground of the 80s with a smidge of C86 jangle-pop with their chiming guitars, driving bass lines and dreamy vocals. Semihelix has been in the scene over 12 years comprising of mastermind and founding member Geannie Friedman on guitar and vocals, along with long standing comrades Mike Cota on bass and Valdermar Barrera on drums. This solid EP release comes with three bangers; “Slower Pace,” “Renovate” and “Downstream” released on Strawberry Pancake Records.

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