Saturday, May 17, 2025
The Cosmic Clash

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Reviews

New Order KBP 2025 3 Christopher Alvarez
Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: New Order back in Utah after 35 years at Kilby Block Party 2025

Greg Ackerman

By now, most indie rock fans have heard about Kilby Block Party, the mid-tier sized festival that has taken place in Salt Lake City over the past six years. The paean to indie rock produced by S&S Presents has grown in stature in the music festival scene each year since it was founded in 2019 with a single-day event at its namesake Kilby Court’s location in SLC’s Granary district. This year’s expansion to a fourth evening of music was largely driven by the availability of England’s New Order who hadn’t played Utah in 35 years.

Kim Gordon APF 2025 Troy Gonzales
Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Kim Gordon Nailed It at Austin Psych Fest at Far Out Lounge

Brian Hillsman
Willie Nelson Oh What a Beautiful World landscape
AlbumReviewScott Rollins

Album review: new Willie Nelson record Oh What a Beautiful World covers Rodney Crowell

Scott Rollins
Austin Psych Fest Experience by Renee Dominguez for APF25--5
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Austin Psych Fest brought eclectic talent from across the psych spectrum

Case Cockrell
Hard Proof
AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album review: Hard Proof dropped third LP Code Noir last month

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Austin’s hometown jazz-funk collective, Hard Proof, released their latest album, Code Noir, in early February. The all-star Afrobeat collective released their third studio record followed by a Continental Club album release party. The recording is a listen that is bound to get you up and dancing in living room. It may be their best effort yet. 

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Killer Kaya press photo
AlbumCase CockrellReview

Album review: New Killer Kaya record Live at Wall of Fog a revelation

Case Cockrell 659 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

With powerhouses in the realm of Osees, Ty Segall, The Warlocks, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre all still in prolific, touring machine form, Santa Barbara-tested, Austin-approved Killer Kaya has been a worthy entry into the vortex of whirling, reverberated uproar that continues a 60s legacy that is irreversibly alive and well. With the release of new LP Live At Wall Of Fog yesterday, the now-Austin residents have crafted an effort that further proves trippy expertise as well as genre-clashing, tasteful retro emulation.

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Water Damage Ann-Marie Rijn
Case CockrellLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Seven more buzz bands to see at SXSW 2025

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The South By Southwest music festival is less than a week out, and the roster of artists can seem overwhelming at first glance. With a lineup that can satisfy every kind of music lover, The Cosmic Clash brings you another seven buzz bands you should put on your list for the upcoming long week of music in Austin. All set times and venues can be found on the SXSW website and SXSW GO mobile application. All listed acts are official SXSW artists. 

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Mike CosmicPremiereSong

Song premiere: Veteran Austin act The Living Pins released new track Gold today

Mike Cosmic Cota 783 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Living Pins featuring veteran Austin musicians have released their new song, “Gold” today. The track shows the band’s deft songwriting skills and talent at making a great rock n roll tune. The well-crafted song was produced, engineered and mixed by longtime Austin music producer, Chris “Frenchie” Smith at his The Bubble Studios. The song exemplifies how experienced musical hands can create great new music.

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Frankie and the Witch Fingers mosh
Case CockrellLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: seven buzz bands to see at SXSW 2025

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The 2025 edition of South By Southwest is fast approaching, and the list of acts making their way to Austin for the six-day music festival spans multiple genres and geographic origins. With this in mind, the Cosmic Clash team has curated a group of seven buzz bands we think you should put on your list for the long week of around-the-clock music. All acts are Sx official artists. All set times, along with venues, can be found on the SXSW website and SXSW GO cell application. 

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Helmet 4 Mohawk Casey Chumbley
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: metal titans Helmet led triple bill at Mohawk Sunday

Case Cockrell 1011 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Last Sunday night in the Red River Cultural District, beloved downtown venue Mohawk held a legacy show that presented a gracefully aging spectacle from alternative metal titans Helmet along with opening help with talent from different heavy music spheres worldwide. For a show where doors had to open at a move-your-ass 6 p.m., the triple-punch bill made the best use of its time through acts to warm up for the deafening drop-tuned explosion of the long-running New York headbangers.

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Los Lonely Boys 04 Center April Riggs
April RiggsLive MusicReview

Live music review: Los Lonely Boys played a lovely acoustic show at O4 Center

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Had I stayed firmly planted in the Comfort Zone, I’d have gone grocery shopping after dinner on Sunday night instead of being treated to a really lovely concert at the church-turned sweet-sounding concert venue, The 04 Center with the Los Lonely Boys and Lisa Morales. 

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BOCPURPLEWIDE Casey Chumbley
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: 50 years of Blue Oyster Cult at Paramount Theatre

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For Long Island’s Blue Oyster Cult, the heavy metal and hard rock foundations still burn through as an enormous source of inspiration for artists both past and present. At the historic Paramount Theatre, in a rapidly gentrifying Austin, fans of all different backgrounds made their way to Congress Avenue to witness a legacy over 50 years in the making.

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Chat Pile 2 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Sludge metal act Chat Pile pummeled Mohawk fans Sunday

Case Cockrell 1000 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

A lot of Austin residents consider Interstate 35 to be an existential crisis. If you drive far enough north, you might eventually hit the cursed town of Oklahoma City. Even though most of us would never make such a wretched trek, the Oklahoma noise rock quartet Chat Pile emerges from the depths, delivering their socially aware brand of sludge metal for fans that have been indoctrinated into the music blogosphere from their spotty at best college dorm WiFi. On yet another frigid Sunday night in Austin, fans of the outspoken loud rock act packed out the Red River Cultural District stronghold Mohawk for a thought-provoking excursion that pummeled attendees’ eardrums as well as giving a powerful message of social reform

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Die Spitz mohawk Troy Gonzeles
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Cold rain could not stop Die Spitz fans on Valentine’s Day

Case Cockrell 804 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Rain was sprinkling down on a cold February Friday night as the moshers and crowd-surfers at Austin Red River Cultural District staple Mohawk caused crisis-level pandemonium for a sold-out Valentine’s Day gig. For local rockers Die Spitz, the usual attendees are sure to bring their worst, punk rock behavior.

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AlbumMike CosmicReview

Album Review: Austin post punks The Stayres new record Duplex drops tomorrow

Mike Cosmic Cota 944 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin post-punk power-pop trio The Stayres will release their new LP, Duplex, on February 14 via Flak Records. The new record builds upon the pop hooks and driving guitars of their 2023 self-titled debut, adding a brighter, janglier sound and more narrative-driven lyrics.

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