Thursday, April 3, 2025
The Cosmic Clash

BÖNDBREAKR

"Iconoclast "

Reviews

Lauren Mayberry 6 Scoot Inn Drew Doggett
Drew DoggettLive MusicReview

Live music review: Lauren Mayberry begins captivating new chapter after CHVRCHES

Drew Doggett

Lauren Mayberry has spent over a decade commanding festival stages as the charismatic front woman of CHVRCHES. I remember seeing her at Pitchfork Fest 2015, right after Mac Demarco, playfully pointing out the scattered cigarette butts left on the floor. The sound of CHVRCHES is filled with shoegaze-y synths, shimmering reverb and pulsating beats. But on February 26 at the Historic Scoot Inn in Austin, she stepped out in a new role as a solo artist.

New music
AlbumReviewRobert Dean

New music: Teddy Long, Dim Light and Hugo Monster albums are fresh finds

Robert Dean
Tear Dungeon 2 HV SXSW 2025 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: SXSW 2025 finished with Space Agency Booking, Webberville Block Party

Case Cockrell
DoomBoyz 2 Stoner Jam SXSW 2025 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Midweek SXSW 2025 jaunt to Radio East and Stoner Jam at Far Out

Case Cockrell
White Denim Sagebrush Paul Ramsey landscape
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: White Denim delivered epic two set show at Sagebrush

Case Cockrell 1147 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

White Denim appeared earlier this year at Red River Cultural District staple Mohawk, joined by Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, and featured a sit-in from guitarist Raze Regal to commemorate their long-awaited joint album Raze Regal and White Denim Inc. Petralli and company opted for far-South Austin haunt Sagebrush on September 26 for their triumphant return to Austin. Not only this, the announcement came with the note that the Austin gig would be a two-set performance, producing a career-spanning evening with the legendary Austin indie rock act. To describe the Thursday night shindig, a word that comes to mind is “Epic.”

Read More
King Dunn at Antone's
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Butthole Surfers member JD Pinkus and Melvins front man Buzz Osborne at Antone’s

Case Cockrell 848 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

If you’ve ever seen Washington’s Melvins in a live setting, you know the uncontrolled chaos that ensues with every live occurrence. For frontman Buzz Osborne, he lives and breathes it. Since releasing the latest Melvins LP Tarantula Heart, Osborne has embarked on a solo acoustic tour with none other than Texas legend JD Pinkus from the titans of weird, The Butthole Surfers. A chilled-out crowd made their way to coveted downtown Austin music haunt Antone’s on September 21 for a stripped-back gauntlet of tunes fans of the main Melvins act rejoice in with thunderous audience fury in their typical, abrasive format.

Read More
ALC Festival 2023 Greg Ackerman
Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

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

Greg Ackerman 2064 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

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.

Read More
Bat Fest 2024 Kotah Mack
Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Bat Fest 2024 featured Ghostland Observatory, Paul Wall and more

Brian Hillsman 1049 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The 18th annual Bat Fest took place, once more, on the South Congress Bridge, from 3 p.m. to the late hours of the evening on Saturday, September 7.  On a warm, late summer afternoon, the sun beamed down on patrons and vendors, as preparations for the showcase ensued. The all-day party which takes place on the bridge where the largest urban colony of bats reside with performances by an eclectic list of artists; hard-rockers, CORE, hip-hop duo Luniz, Screw legend, Paul Wall and headliners, Ghostland Observatory. The fest is known for its unusual lineups and the 2024 edition was no exception. 

Read More
Luke Trimmer
PreviewRobert Dean

Fundraiser: White Horse employee Luke Trimmer needs our help, benefit concert this Sunday

Robert Dean 1253 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

One of Austin’s best and brightest this past week, Luke Trimmer from White Horse, was hit by someone who had too many sodas and turned a wrong turn – down I-35. And now Luke is in a bad way. Just a guy like many of us, after a long shift on his feet, looking forward to a plate of tacos and the warmth of his bed. That’s pretty much everyone reading this; every time we get ready to head home after a late night, no one expects to be pulled from the twisted metal of a car wreck.

Read More
Sexpop PR photo Who To Call
Case CockrellReviewSong

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

Case Cockrell 1314 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.

Read More
Roi Hernaandez cover photo
Live MusicPreviewRobert Dean

Fashion Feature: Roi Hernandez of Elysium has vision for large sized men’s styles with House of 1912

Robert Dean 880 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Because art moves with the flow of the thoughts of outsiders looking inward, it’s no surprise that Austin-based designer Roi Hernandez’s House of 1912 is getting acclaim around Texas fashion circles. It will also not be a shocker when he gets his due credit in bigger fashion circles. Roi doesn’t come from a fashion background; he came from the music industry. Hernandez is key leadership staff at Red River club, Elysium. He decided to make clothes for more prominent men because he wanted to see them dressed better than boxy nightmares with Hawaiian print or corny t-shirts splashed with faded X-Men comic book covers or a Mountain Dew logo. Instead, he’s reclaiming what goth is, which is something that’s not whatever Hot Topic is peddling – a reflection that even though clothing may be considered “goth,” everything doesn’t have to always be black and spooky.

Read More
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

Greg Ackerman 1209 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

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. 

Read More
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 1732 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.

Read More
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 1002 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. 

Read More