Grandmaster

Greg AckermanLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Been There 3 for The Other Ones Foundation levels up at Radio East November 2

The Other Ones Foundation is entering year three of their annual event, Been There which launched with performances by Grupo Fantasma and the once red-hot Nané (whose incendiary bandleader tragically passed away not long after) played the inaugural event at Camp Esperanza which is also where The Other Ones Foundation is located, providing housing, job training, meal service and more to unhoused individuals. Many staffers are musicians which makes this organization particularly beloved amid the sea of NPOs with Austin’s music community. This year’s event, Been There 3 moves to Radio East’s more accessible outdoor venue space on Nov 2, while the lineup upgrades to something worthy of an annual event fans may opt to travel to Austin for with headliners Galactic and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe along some of Austin’s best musical acts on the bill; Carolyn Wonderland, Chali 2Na, Deadeye, Grandmaster and Riders Against the Storm. It’s a full day of amazing live music programming versus an evening event like the previous events. 

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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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Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: The Grandmaster Orchestra Gala at Stateside Theatre promises more annual events

May is a big season for any city like Austin. College students are closing the book on school, prom kids are, well, prom-ing, and the city of Austin has its usual everyday festivities going in full force. Austin’s Grandmaster Orchestra has been at it for over a year, assembling a lineup that spans some of the best artists the local music sphere offers. The members of the Grandmaster ensemble, honorably dubbed “Zealots,” take their leader, the Grandmaster’s mission, to heart. The local nonet, turned duodecet for the Austin act’s album release show at Stateside Theatre in downtown Austin, featured a star-studded bill that delivered musicianship and auras of longtime friendship that showed a pivotal moment for the Austin music scene of the current era

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Case CockrellPremiere

Video premiere: Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band released great new single and clip Dig Me As I Am

Since restructuring his live ensemble in 2022, Potter and his trusted associates have been performing at a frantic pace, but no signs of new material with the second version of his band have appeared until the release of their new single and self-produced video “Dig Me As I Am.” The single comes as the first offering from the band’s forthcoming new record, The Perils Of Being Trapped Inside A Head, due out April 26.

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Case CockrellPremiereReview

Song premiere: Austin act Grandmaster has released their latest single Holy Star today

Austin act Grandmaster has released their latest single, “Holy Star” today. The single will be featured on their upcoming full-length studio release produced by Nolan Potter, due out May 3 to coincide with the Grandmaster Gala, scheduled to take place on May 4 at State Theatre at the Paramount in downtown Austin.

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Case CockrellLive MusicReview

SXSW live review: Austin acts welcome festival goers with amazing performances

The first weekend of South By Southwest 2024 showed some of Austin’s finest local talent, warmly welcoming out-of-town visitors, local music fans, and touring bands alike. Austin is still a global music hub in 2024, and SXSW amplifies that fact for a couple weeks each March to show that music is still a hot commodity in the city, no matter what time of year it is. With opening, all-day showcases such as Hotel Vegas’ Anniversary Party, SX Soundcheck, Do512 Smokeout, and others, there’s plenty to keep music attendees busy before official music week begins today (March 11). Here’s what stood out to us in the opening days of SXSW, most of which will perform again before the festival concludes.

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Case CockrellPremiere

Song premiere: Grandmaster introduce latest single Castle Door

The Austin masked crusaders Grandmaster have released their newest single, “Castle Door.” The new release comes ahead of the band’s upcoming debut record, due out this Spring. The new single is produced by fellow Austin mainstay Nolan Potter of Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, who also lent his hand to engineer the Grandmaster Orchestra’s upcoming full-length debut. 

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