indie rock – The Cosmic Clash

Cabaret Voltaire by Pooneh Ghana for Lev 26-07988

Live music review: Peter Hook, Cabaret Voltaire thrilled at Far Out Lounge for Levitation 2026

September 17, 2026 April Dawne 682 Views Cabaret Voltaire, electronic musc, Far Out Lounge, goth music, indie rock, Joy Division, Levitation, Levitation 2026, live music, music festival, New Order, Peter Hook, psych-rock, Review, rock n roll

I like to think of myself as a diehard rock and roll lover who does what she can to see and do all the things. Sometimes that’s easy and sometimes life gets in the way. Be it money problems, work schedules, personal issues, you name it, they come up as reasons not to leave the house, much less attend a music festival, but when it’s one of your favorite festivals, Levitation which took place last weekend in Austin, you find a way to rally.

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live Music Review: Reverb Appreciators Survived the Heat at Levitation 2026

September 16, 2026 Case Cockrell 613 Views 13th Floor, Angine de Poitrine, Automatic, Cabaret Voltaire, darkwave, DITZ, Doom Gong, Earth Tongue, Far Out Lounge, Gus Baldwin, Iguana Death Cult, indie rock, Leviation, live music, mohawk, Molchat Doma, music festival, Peter Hook, Primitive Ring, psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Review, shoegaze, Spacemoth, Stubb's, Temples, The Well, Uncle Acid and the Dead Beats

Levitation Festival returned to Austin this past weekend (September 10-13), bringing a stacked international lineup back to a multi-venue format for its 2026 edition, with showcases scattered across the city. The bill pulled in longtime regulars, first-time festivalgoers, and a handful of acts making their first Central Texas appearance since they formed. Oppressive heat ran through all four days as the festival’s defining backdrop, but it didn’t stop Levitation from delivering for its loyal reverb appreciators once more, extending a run that’s outlasted a wave of beloved festivals in an increasingly unstable independent music scene. The Cosmic Clash team was on the ground for all four days. Here’s part one of what stuck with us.

Review Troy Gonzales

Single review: Wild Heaven’s “One To Go” Is a Slow Burn With Teeth

September 10, 2026 Case Cockrell 657 Views Aja Pollock, album preview, alternative rock, Andi LaGrone, Austin bands, Austin Music, Austin scene, Blake Bowles, Chess Club, Cosmic Clash, Ice Cream Factory, indie rock, Laura Blewitt, live music, local music, Luli Presents, Mad Whit, Maiden Mother Crone, Matt Parmenter, music premiere, new single, One To Go, single release, Social Dissonance, Wild Heaven

Who said lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place? We have once again been given the privilege of previewing

Live Music Matt Bass Review

Live music review: The Rupert Selection Turns Off Cabot Into Evening to Remember

September 4, 2026 Matt Bass 573 Views alt-rock, Bad Larry's, BENefit, Boston music, Cabot Hall, concert, indie rock, live music, Off Cabot, Play to the Plants, Reilly Somach, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze, Spinworld, The Rupert Selection

Do you ever leave a show and have that moment of realization that you just witnessed something really special? That was the vibe walking out of Off Cabot this past Sunday (8/23) after The Rupert Selection, Bad Larrys, Spinworld, and a surprise set by Reilly Somach + The Frozen Ponies rocked the sold-out downtown club in Beverly, Massachusetts, all while the sun was still out. The event was a benefit for Reilly who’d been diagnosed with cancer.

April Dawne Live Music Review

Live music review: Black Moth Super Rainbow set weekend vibe at Radio East

August 11, 2026 April Dawne 1035 Views Austin, Black Moth Super Rainbow, concert, dream pop, electronic dance, electronic music, Giant Day, indie rock, live music, progressive music, Radio East, Review, The Octopus Project

It’s been an uncomfortable year between perimenopause and aging and three different car wrecks, so forgive me for not keeping up with the setlist for Friday’s bad-ass Black Moth Super Rainbow (BMSR) show at Radio East. I’m thankful that it’s near my house and a delightful place to see an outdoor show, so even if I’m feeling oddly antisocial, I can typically make myself get out to see a show there. Even at my most awkward, I wasn’t missing this BMSR show, and I’m glad I didn’t. Black Moth Super Rainbow set my weekend vibe to a T.

SubparSnatch 4 13th Floor HSN 2026 Drew Doggett

Case Cockrell Live Music Photos

Photo Gallery: Hot Summer Nights 2026 brought the heat to Austin’s Red River District

July 22, 2026 Case Cockrell 1126 Views Bat Lips, Creeping Death, death metal, French Film, garage rock, High Cost of Playing God, Hot Summer Nights, indie rock, live music, metal, mohawk, Mugger, photos, punk rock, rock n roll, shoegaze, Swan Dive

The annual sweat-fest, Hot Summer Nights returned to the Red River Cultural District last weekend, marking another successful year of cover-free showcases that benefit local businesses throughout downtown Austin. The RRCD neighborhood non-profit presents the free showcases to keep venues and other establishments busy during the summer slow period in both the service and music industries for employees and musicians until the things pick back up in the Fall.

Album Becky Rodriguez Review

Album Review: Austin’s Paper Sister release dreamy and punchy Quiet Betrayals EP

June 16, 2026 Becky Rodriguez 1081 Views album review, Austin Music, Camille Jackson, dream pop, indie rock, Kim Gordon, new music, Paper Sister, PJ Harvey, Quiet Betrayals, shoegaze

The new record, Quiet Betrayals is the first EP release by the four-piece band from Austin, Paper Sister. Combining elements of shoegaze and post-punk, dream pop, and indie alt rock, the 6-track EP highlights selected singles over the past couple years, with some releases as recent as April of this year. The dreamy and punchy EP featured a release party presented by 101X Homegrown Live at The 13th Floor on May 29 with French Film, Feedr, and Variety to celebrate the group’s new recording.

Courtney Barnett 8 Radio East Drew Doggett

Case Cockrell Live Music Review

Live music review: Australian indie rocker Courtney Barnett is back with a new record

May 29, 2026 Greg Ackerman 1373 Views Austin, Australian rock, concert, Courtney Barnett, indie rock, live music, new music, Radio East, Review

Australia has long produced standout rock talent – Amyl & The Sniffers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, The Chats, and legacy legends AC/DC among them, proving rock and roll thrives down under no matter what generation is listening. For Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett, the past decade yielded indie rock anthems full of emotional honesty and millennial angst. With 2026 LP Creature of Habit marking her first full-length since 2021, Barnett reunited with her band to feed live music fans once again. She opened her North American tour in Austin at Radio East on Friday night with a rain-soaked evening of sing-alongs and good vibes.

Greg Ackerman Live Music Review

Live music review: Day one at Kilby Block Party 2026 featured Turnstile with up and coming acts

May 17, 2026 Greg Ackerman 1823 Views art rock, concert review, Die Spitz, garage rock, Gelli Haha, grunge rock, hardcore, indie rock, Kevin Morby, Kilby Block Party, Kilby Court, live music, music festival, Newdad, punk rock, Review, rock n roll, shoegaze, Sports, Turnstile

It was a picture perfect day in Salt Lake City at the Utah State Fairplex on Friday as Kilby Block Party geared up for its seventh edition of the mid-tier sized music festival with a lineup heavy on up and coming acts. Ireland’s Newdad, Austin’s Die Spitz and L.A. via Boise artist, Gelli Haha all turned in impressive performances as the schedule moved towards red-hot, melodic hardcore rock band Turnstile’s incredible main stage set to close night one of KBP. Fans enjoyed a silent disco featuring local DJs, art installations and came dressed for fun.

Greg Ackerman Live Music Preview

Live music preview: Six bands to see at Kilby Block Party 2026

May 6, 2026 Greg Ackerman 3046 Views American Football, Automatic, Ben Kweller, Die Spitz, festival preview, Gelli Haha, Granddaddy, hardcore, Hayley Williams, indie rock, KBP, Kilby Block Party, live music, Lorde, metal, music festival, pop music, post-punk, preview, punk rock, rock n roll, Salt Lake City, This is Lorelei, Turnstile

Utah’s most exciting music festival, Kilby Block Party is entering its seventh year in 2026 with its most ambitious lineup to date. The fest runs May 15-17 at Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. It feels like this unassuming fest which began on a closed-off road behind Kilby Court, the beloved DIY venue it’s named for has become something else entirely with a lineup featuring a pop star (Lorde), a rocker turned pop star (Hayley Williams) and a melodic hardcore act (Turnstile) which shows just how far this independent music fest has come in a relatively short time. Rather than focus on the obvious headlining sets to profile, we’ve selected seven bands to see at KBP 2026. Before we dive in, fans should know some ticket options are already sold-out or nearing sold-out. If you’re considering attending, grab tickets here.

Drew Doggett Live Music Review

Live music review: Luck Reunion moved at a different speed to close SXSW 2026

April 7, 2026 Drew Doggett 1994 Views Carrie Rodriguez, country music, Hudson Freeman, indie rock, Kaitlin Butts, live music, Loula, Luck Presents, Luck Ranch, Luck Reunion, Lukas Nelson, MARCEL, outlaw country, Review, rock n roll, singer songwriter, St. Vincent, SXSW, SXSW 2026, Trampled By Turtles, Willie Nelson

After a week of SXSW, time starts acting strange. Days blur. Nights stretch. Everything feels loud, urgent, and time is slightly out of reach. Luck Reunion on March 19 at the tail end of Sx (a day after closing night) somehow felt like the opposite of that while still being every bit as packed and overstimulating. It was dusty, crowded, sunbaked, and full of movement, but it moved at a different speed. Less like a comedown and more like an oasis. A long exhale at the end of a marathon

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