Thursday, October 8, 2026

So Many Cults

"It's Gone Viral"

Live MusicMike CosmicReview

Live music review: Sparta Celebrates Wiretap Scars 20th Anniversary Tour at Parish

Sparta cruised into Austin’s Parish venue on July 26, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Wiretap Scars. This highly anticipated release came after their 2002 EP, Austere. Wiretap Scars was well received, particularly following the downfall of the critically acclaimed band, At The Drive-In. The breakup of At The Drive-In, due to musical differences, split the band into Sparta and The Mars Volta. Both bands definitely took different paths and crafted their own sound. 

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AlbumAmanda QuraishiReview

Album review: The Bright Light Social Hour’s new record Emergency Leisure is here to cure what ails us

Fans of The Bright Light Social Hour have been waiting patiently for their new album, Emergency Leisure (Escondido Sound) to drop ever since it was announced earlier this spring. It’s been three years since the release of their last LP, Jude Vol. II, and a lot has changed with the band since then. 

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AlbumMike CosmicReview

Album review: Rival Waves to release latest record A Meaningless Chaos August 5

Rival Waves is set to release their eagerly anticipated new album, “A Meaningless Chaos,” on Saturday, August 5 at ACL’s 3Ten venue.  The spectacular lineup is sure to make it the party to be at that evening. Openers are none other than Austin powerhouse acts The Dead Coats and Lola Tried.

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Case CockrellPremiere

Video Premiere: Exotic Fruitica continues release cycle with new track Cowboy

Austin noisemakers Exotic Fruitica are ramping up their upcoming EP release with a new track and video that pushes the band’s noisy antics to 11. For the Austin act, they’ve been releasing one song after another that always go the deafening distance. Choosing sun-baked hooks and fuzzy guitars to sculpt their catchy yet chaotic approach, the Austin noise act has been making a mission statement to rattle listeners into blown-out exhaustion. To celebrate the release of “Cowboy,” They have also dropped a video that embodies the same chaos that the music evokes. Directed by Cameron Kisel, Exotic Fruitica is quickly catching fire as one of Austin’s most exciting bands.

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Case CockrellReview

Live music review: Hot Summer Nights 2023 delivered FOMO-worthy lineup to Austin music fans

Red River Cultural District’s Hot Summer Nights 2023 returned July 20-23 with a bill that was too hot (figuratively and literally) to pass up. With bands such as Exotic Fruitica, Grandmaster, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, and Nuclear Daisies all rounding out the lineup, HSN delivered a FOMO-worthy event that was not to be missed for local fans of a wide variety of musical genres from heavy to mellow.

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Greg AckermanReview

Live music photo review: The Wood Brothers played Red Butte Garden Thursday

New York City-based roots act, The Wood Brothers performed at Red Butte Garden Thursday in Salt Lake City. The trio consisting of siblings Chris (Medeski, Martin and Wood) and Oliver Wood along with multi-instrumentalist, Jane Rix are touring in support of their forthcoming release, Heart is the Hero.

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Greg AckermanPreview

Live music preview: Hot Summer Nights offers free shows all weekend

Beginning with a Tito’s kickoff party at Swan Dive this evening, Austin’s annual Hot Summer Night takes place this weekend at various venues around the downtown Red River Cultural District (RRCD).

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Case CockrellReview

Live music review: Austin act Being Dead enlisted friends to celebrate release of debut album

For Being Dead’s Bayonet Records debut, the Austin powerhouse act not only goes the distance, but torches any doubt that anyone might have had that Being Dead would miss the mark for their first full-length outing which was celebrated with a release party at Sagebrush last Friday. 

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Mike CosmicReview

Album review: The Oxys to drop hard hitting new album Generation Irrelevant July 21

The Oxys, comprised of guitarist Jason “Ginchy” Kottwitz (Dead Boys, Sylvain Sylvain and The Sylvains) and Vocalist “PunkRockPhil” Davis is a rambunctious punk rock band from Austin, recently released their second album titled Generation Irrelevant on the label Dead Beat Records imprint.

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