Friday, March 6, 2026
The Cosmic Clash

Americana

Neko Case Paramount Theater Troy Gonzales
Live MusicReviewTroy Gonzales

Live music review: Neko Case returned to the Paramount Theater in Austin for Thanksgiving

Troy Gonzales 1332 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

So on a warm Tuesday night, a two days before Thanksgiving, Neko Case and her touring band returned to the Paramount Theatre in support of her latest album, Neon Grey Midnight Green, her eighth studio album, which also follows her recent bestselling memoir,  The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You.  I’ve been lucky enough to have seen the New Pornographers on a couple of occasions but have only seen Neko Case solo once at the Paper Tiger in San Antonio. While I haven’t always thought of the Paramount Theatre as my go to place to see live music, I will concede that certain musical artist do benefit from its historic ambience, which can lend a sense of intimacy and warmth that you can’t find at any other venue.

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Wet Leg by Greg Noire for ACL Festival 2025 107024
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Eight artists that stood out at ACL Festival 2025

Case Cockrell 2016 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) 2025 weekend one on October 3 – October 5 marked another successful installment at Zilker Park, with an eclectic array of acts making their way to Austin for yet another October in the heart of the city. The talent performing featured acts from all over the world, bringing all genres to generations of music lovers who make their way to Central Texas by the tens of thousands for the musical extravaganza. Between legacy acts and rising artists, there was no shortage of spectacle to behold during the first weekend at the big park with a beautiful view of the city skyline. The Cosmic Clash team made their way to Zilker to capture the action and highlight eight artists that stood out to us throughout the first weekend of programming. 

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MMJ ACLTV HOF 2025 announcement
April RiggsLive MusicReview

Live music review: My Morning Jacket got inducted into ACL TV Hall of Fame and I missed it

April Riggs 4163 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I sent The Cosmic Clash crew a text about the upcoming Austin City Limits taping of My Morning Jacket, when I realized the band was being inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame on Friday, August 1, by Cameron Crowe. Our editor responded to say it was all mine since I was the first to mention it. I had previous plans to see Dead cover band Deadeye play for Jerry Garcia’s birthday as well as catching the live streams for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and the 60th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead Money Grab happening at the same time, but I’m flexible and enjoy seeing MMJ and their bandleader Jim James anytime I can

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New music
AlbumReviewRobert Dean

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

Robert Dean 3929 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I wanted to give you a few new things to listen to if you’re in the market for new ear candy. When the world is a constant depression machine, the power of music is unmatched, a salve that can make us feel human again when there’s just too much punishment on our hearts and souls and by the grace of god, some caveman, somewhere, figured out that if you beat a few rocks together with sticks over a cowhide, the beautiful noise happened.

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ReviewScott Rollins

Album Review: Willie Nelson gives songs new life with First Rose of Spring

Scott Rollins 7827 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The First Rose of Spring is Willie Nelson’s seventieth album. That is 70, seven-zero. Let that sink in a minute. The sheer volume of Nelson’s creative output is staggering. The record was released or “dropped” as the kids say, July 3, just before Nelson’s annual Fourth of July Picnic which was live-streamed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You would think there isn’t anything new to say about Willie Nelson. You would think there isn’t anything new and good enough that Nelson could sing. You’d be wrong on both counts.

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ReviewScott Rollins

Album Review: Sophomore effort Public Life by Joshua Lee Turner out August 7

Scott Rollins 3274 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

While some of you may have binge-watched your new favorite shows on NetFlix, laid off your diet or shared protest posts on social media, Joshua Lee Turner wrote, recorded, produced, engineered, and accompanied himself on a new recording. Public Life is an intellectual exercise in eclectic beauty, refusing to classify itself into any single genre.

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ReviewScott Rollins

Album Review: An essay on Dylan in context of new record Rough and Rowdy Ways

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In light of the fantastic new Bob Dylan album, Rough and Rowdy Ways which was released last week, I‘ve wondered if everything if everything that can be said about Bob Dylan, has already been said? Honestly, what else is there to discuss? Dylan just “is” Dylan. I think the hardest part of being an artist is having “experts” and “critics” compare and dissect your work, stretch it out and lay it down against your last.

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ReviewScott Rollins

Album Review: Homegrown released by Neil Young 45 years later

Scott Rollins 1739 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

While I am not one to fall into regret, I do enjoy exploring the road less traveled. That turn you didn’t take, the zig when you should have zagged, the song no one else recorded, or the B-side the DJ never flipped. I love discovering “new old music” as exemplified on Neil Young’s record Homegrown which was released last week; 45 years after it was recorded.

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Morse Code Reina del Cid
ReviewScott Rollins

Album review: Reina del Cid’s Morse Code record is a lesson in songwriting

Greg Ackerman 3794 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Reina Del Cid has released a new album, Morse Code and it is nothing less than an impressive and intellectual exercise of masterful songwriting and musicianship. The record actually dropped back on October 4 with a release show in Minneapolis and I’m finally able to file an album review. Been chomping at the bit to share it with you.

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ReviewScott Rollins

Live music review: Legendary singer Rodney Crowell kicked off tour in Houston

Scott Rollins 2146 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Heights Theatre on 19th Street in Houston was the setting on August 15 for legendary singer Rodney Crowell to kick off his tour supporting his fantastic new album Texas. Nestled in the Northwest quarter of the 610 Loop, in “The Heights” neighborhood of Houston, the Spanish Mission-style structure was built in the 1920s as the neighborhood movie house.

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