Author: Greg Ackerman

Fastball at Scoot Inn
Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Fastball played Scoot Inn in support of their new album Sonic Ranch

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Fast forward to last week’s show at Scoot Inn on the East Side of the Live Music Capital when fans gathered to hear the band introduce their latest effort, Sonic Ranch. What may surprise fans who haven’t kept up with group, is this record is quite good. If you were at Scoot Inn on Thursday last week, you saw the pride on the faces of bandleaders, Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga as they introduced their new songs. They have every right to be proud.

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Love is Evermore 2024 banner
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: The Bright Light Social Hour to play Evermore benefit at Radio East November 17

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On the heels of Rocktober, as the holidays approach and touring shows become more infrequent, the live music focus in Austin turns towards local acts. Local lineups appear at the Armadillo Christmas Bazar, holiday themed events such at The Last Walz and occasionally worthwhile benefit concerts like the Love is Evermore event taking place at Radio East a week from today on November 17 at Radio East with The Bright Light Social Hour headlining their only Austin Fall performance with Parker Woodland and longtime Austin musician, Oliver Steck’s Squirrel Show. Evermore is a bereavement advocacy group that works on policy initiatives and provides resources to the public. The group is dedicated to making the world a more livable place for bereaved people.

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The Bright Light Social Hour
Greg AckermanMusic VideoPremiere

Video Premiere: The Bright Light Social Hour release “Call My Name” today

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Austin’s The Bright Light Social Hour release a brand new video for the track “Call My Name” today at The Cosmic Clash. The song is from their latest release, Emergency Leisure which dropped August 2, 2023. The band soon followed with their most ambitious tour in five years, playing dates across North America from September of last year through May of this year. The 36 city tour took the band as far north as Canada and across the United States. This exceptional act has put in a ton of miles, making new fans and bringing old ones back into the fold with a stellar new record and a long overdue extended tour. The new video highlights a track that stood out when the album dropped last year so it makes sense the band would make a corresponding video.

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Grupo Fantasma-BeenThere-150
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Been There 3 for The Other Ones Foundation levels up at Radio East November 2

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The Other Ones Foundation is entering year three of their annual event, Been There which launched with performances by Grupo Fantasma and the once red-hot Nané (whose incendiary bandleader tragically passed away not long after) played the inaugural event at Camp Esperanza which is also where The Other Ones Foundation is located, providing housing, job training, meal service and more to unhoused individuals. Many staffers are musicians which makes this organization particularly beloved amid the sea of NPOs with Austin’s music community. This year’s event, Been There 3 moves to Radio East’s more accessible outdoor venue space on Nov 2, while the lineup upgrades to something worthy of an annual event fans may opt to travel to Austin for with headliners Galactic and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe along some of Austin’s best musical acts on the bill; Carolyn Wonderland, Chali 2Na, Deadeye, Grandmaster and Riders Against the Storm. It’s a full day of amazing live music programming versus an evening event like the previous events. 

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ALC Festival 2023 Greg Ackerman
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Six buzz bands to see at ACL Festival 2024 Weekend One

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Each year when the lineup for Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Festival) drops, reactions to the headliners listed often dominate the online discussion that follows but logically with nearly 80 acts on the bill each weekend, there are bound to be buzz bands to see. Weekend One has quite a few artists that made our list of acts to watch perform. We narrowed that list down further to two recommendations per day. Also included are the remaining bands that we took note of when examining the exhaustive roster which includes newbie pop sensation, Chappell Roan whose set got moved from Saturday to Sunday in order to move her performance to the largest stage at the festival, Amex.

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SIMS Sat Sept 7 banner
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: SIMS Saturdays rolls on September 7 with Forever Changes, The Living Pins and The John-Pauls

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The quarterly live music series that benefits The SIMS Foundation, SIMS Saturdays rolls on September 7 at Love Wheel Records with performances by Forever Changes (Love tribute) along with The Living Pins and The John-Pauls presented by The Cosmic Clash. The rotating act show which matches store sales for the day by an anonymous donor, raises funds for the Austin-area music industry mental health and recovery organization that puts those services in reach of industry members who cannot afford a therapist on their own. This Saturday the store is open at 11 a.m. with music running from 4-7 p.m. RSVP here. 

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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

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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

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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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Matador Sphere band photo
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

New Music: Matador Sphere drops new single August 23, announced Ulrika Spacek, Queen Serene show at 13th Floor

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Florida to Austin outfit, Matador Sphere (fka Fading Yellow) have made a big splash in Austin in a relatively short time. The band formed in Tallahassee but actually got their start in Austin, moving to the city before ever playing a gig or recording a song to make their push as a group in the Live Music Capital. On Friday, August 16 the group announced a new single, “Water Bug” which is coming soon to music listeners on all streaming platforms. For now, fans can hear this track as well as listen to their previous EP, Stereo Assessment which The Cosmic Clash wrote about last year.

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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

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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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