Friday, March 6, 2026
The Cosmic Clash

electronic music

Bryan Ritchie courtesy of Bryan Ritchie
Case CockrellInterviewsMusic News

Interview: The Sword’s Bryan Richie works hard to sustain the Austin music scene

Case Cockrell 721 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

If you’ve spent any real time in the Austin music trenches, you know the difference between hype and longevity. Bryan Richie has been on the longevity side for over 20 years. Between his work with The Sword, Spaceflight Records, and his electronic outlet Galactic Protector, he’s watched the local ecosystem evolve through boom cycles, venue shakeups, and the streaming era’s slippery slopes. We caught up with him to talk about staying busy, supporting artists the right way, and why Austin’s scene, while ever-changing, is far from dead. Richie is gearing up for a European tour this year while celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Sword’s triumphant debut Age of Winters, and will release the sequel to his 2019 solo record on February 24. We caught up with him to discuss the upcoming release and why the Central Texas music system still matters and how every bit of fan support is crucial to making it all happen. 

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Been There 4_Mix Master Mike 2_20251108_OlkerPhoto_096
Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Been There 4 benefit at Radio East featured Mix Master Mike and Austin artists

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The two-stage setup in the Radio/East backyard was the perfect setting for the Been There 4 benefit live music event – “the party to end homelessness.”  The event took place on Saturday, November 8 with Beastie Boys’ wax authority, Mix Master Mike atop an impressive bill that included a raft of high quality Austin artists amid a decidedly upbeat vibe. The annual fundraiser began humbly at Camp Esperanza, the state-ordered Northeast Austin homeless encampment that The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF) set about to support with a wealth of services for folks struggling to make ends meet. The TOOF staff included many members of the music community and their friends, including filmmaker Aaron Brown (Onion Creek Productions) and his partner at Been There Lenny Barszap. 

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Clown Core Halloween Freakend Troy Gonzales
April DawneLive MusicReview

Live music review: Everyday Isn’t Halloween, But it Was Levitation’s Freakend

April Dawne 1084 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

I love The Far Out Lounge (FOL), I love the people who book the shows, bartend, run the door, and clean up after all of us. This spot opened up safely, from a distance, during the lockdown to give live-music hungry people a safe place to see a show. We were like Footloose and unable to dance, and we had to remain socially distant, but we could feel a sense of normalcy that was sorely missed. All this to say, I love that The Far Out Lounge gets to host Levitation events like Halloween Freakend. Two, easy-to-get-to stages, with zero band overlap, in a large gravel yard in far South Austin with food trucks, bars, merch area, poster museum, and more to keep you entertained between sets.

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Lauren Mayberry 6 Scoot Inn Drew Doggett
Drew DoggettLive MusicReview

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

Drew Doggett 5018 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

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.

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LEVITATION 2023
Greg AckermanPreview

Live music preview: LEVITATION expands for 2023 with stellar lineup

Greg Ackerman 2188 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

LEVITATION has stayed true to it’s roots, curating a lineup each year that is both reflective of past greats while spotlighting some of the best new bands of the Neo-psych-rock era and beyond. Besides festival founders, The Black Angels, the 2023 edition features cutting edge acts, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Neo-jazz outfit, BADBADNOTGOOD along with 80s new wave / Neo psych-rockers The Church and festival veterans The Dandy Warhols.

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Boy Harsher at Empire
Michael MalyReview

Live music review: Boy Harsher thrilled a sold-out Empire Garage

Michael Maly 2757 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The sold-out crowd at Empire Control Room last Friday night was treated to an electronic, ambient music voyage by composer, performer Hiro Kone as the anticipation for headliners Boy Harsher was slowly increasing as the hour grew closer. The band last took the stage in Austin, in this same venue during the 2021 Levitation Festival and the hearty reception they received less than a year ago indicated the band’s rise in popularity.

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Kraftwerk at ACL Live
Greg AckermanReview

Live music review: Electronic music trailblazers Kraftwerk presented in 3D at ACL Live

Greg Ackerman 2382 Views ,  ,  ,  , 

German electronic music trailblazers Kraftwerk played ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Monday presenting in 3D during a performance that ran through the group’s entire catalog. During a rare (for this Summer) thunderstorm that brought bolts of lighting from the sky, the quartet delivered a sonic and visual experience that exists to present their groundbreaking music in the most ideal setting possible.

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Hamerzya
Christina DeStefanoPremiere

Video premiere: Austin synth duo Hamerzya released Ethereal Ones clip today

Christina DeStefano 978 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Hamerzya (pronounced hammer+z+eye+a) emerged in the Austin music scene in 2015, with Michael J. Pena as drummer and keyboardist and Lisa Marie Perkins on vocals. The self-produced band creates future synth, new wave melodies with brooding ballads, paying homage to the 1980s and Tron video games. Today we’re introducing the premiere of the duo’s new video, “Etheral Ones.”

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AlbumMike CosmicReview

Album Review: The synth vibes of new Dena Hope record In Transit

Mike Cosmic Cota 1241 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The local electronic music scene has expanded rapidly with a raft of female powered acts dotting the landscape. Synth-popster Dena Hope is one of the latest artists to hit the Austin scene. Joining local acts who have already adopted the expanding genre, Hope brings her own artistic vision with likes of Austin acts Primo the Alien, Flora and Fawna, and Dossey.  Her latest endeavor the “In Transit” EP set to release on January 31

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Greg AckermanReview

Live music review (photos): Ghostland Observatory’s Halloween party in Austin

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Thursday music fans celebrated Halloween with Austin’s Ghostland Observatory at Carson Creek Ranch. The celebrated electronic dance duo performed with Fort Never and DJ Chicken George in front of approximately 1000 people. A good portion of those attendees wore outlandish costumes for the occasion. We’ve included images taken by The Cosmic Clash photographer, David Castaneda of the spectacle, fans and fun things to do at the ranch which sits across the highway from Austin Bergstrom Airport.

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