Austin

Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

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

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. 

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Case CockrellReviewSong

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

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.

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AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album Review: Austin Hip-Hop artist Pat G released Talk To Me Nice

In July, Pat G released his latest EP, Talk To Me Nice, July 11 on his own, Be Relentless label. It was his first release since his 2019 LP, Whatever it Takes. So much happened in the time between the two album releases, the Temple-born, Austin-based emcee felt it appropriate to convey his personal and artistic growth with this, his fifth record.

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AlbumBrian HillsmanReview

Album review: Swallow the Rat sophomore effort South Locust positions band well for SXSW 2024

New Zealand hard rock trio, Swallow the Rat, released their latest LP, South Locust, on September 1, 2023, and are set to perform at this year’s SXSW music festival as part of the Aotearoa contingent. The band has a number of performances slated for the festival including an unofficial event, Webberville Block Party presented by The Cosmic Clash and Play to the Plants at The Lost Well, Cavalier and Fading Yellow House on Saturday, March 16.

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Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Mick Jenkins and TOBi delivered stellar hip hop shows at Come and Take It Live

Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, hip hop artist Mick Jenkins took the stage at Come and Take It Live. The Chicago native opened his set with what is possibly the strongest opening track of any album, in any genre, of 2023.  

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InterviewsRobert Dean

Austin artist profile: Filmmaker Issac French Embraces his Dark Half

while the city’s musical history is alive and well due to the musicians holding down the kitchens or wrenching on your car. But when you hit Red River Street for a night of service industry mayhem, one of the best bartenders in town has a pedigree that few others have in the Capital City: award-winning filmmaker, Issac French. 

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Christina DeStefanoInterviews

Interview: Ambient artist Bayonne released third album, premieres new video today

Today, Roger Sellers aka Bayonne released his third studio album Temporary Time. We sat down with him to discuss what listeners can expect. Temporary Time’walks through stages of grief with ambient looped composition in what he describes as ‘his most personal work to date’.

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PreviewRobert Dean

Shedding Skin: Welcome to new live music venue the Coral Snake

Sometimes, change is a good thing. There’s an expectancy in Austin that things will always stay the same. But in the case of The Coral Snake, the bar moving into its new skin is an essential evolution because as the East Side changes, the bars and what they offer need to evolve, too. 

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