Friday, March 6, 2026
The Cosmic Clash

jam band

Parker Woodland Free Week 26 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Free Week returned in 2026 with cover free showcases

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Free Week 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 non-profit presents Free Week to keep venues and other establishments running during the slow period in both the service and music industries for employees and musicians until the Spring. With 80+ artists across 10+ venues, Free Week 2026 proved a massive success, as thousands attended to welcome yet another year in the vibrant Austin scene. The Cosmic Clash team participated in both days of the festival and wanted to highlight what stood out to us about the extravaganza.

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Shannon and the Clams Holilday Hootennany 2026 Troy Gonzales
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Holiday Hootenanny at Radio East featured Tune-Yards, Shannon and the Clams

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The second annual Resound and Pooneh Presents Holiday Hootenanny on December 13 at southeast Austin venue Radio/East marked another musical holiday celebration, bringing national talent and local acts alike to mark the end of another pivotal year for the Austin music scene. For the occasion, promoters filled the backyard venue with holiday decor, themed mechanical bull rides, a holiday gift vendor market and booked a national lineup that brought the holiday cheer for another successful installment.

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PPPP 5 Mohawk Drew Doggett
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong packed Mohawk last Friday

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Baltimore funk jam outfit Pigeons Playing Ping Pong soared into Austin for another musical extravaganza, their third visit since 2022, in celebration of their eighth studio LP Feed The Fire. This time, the venue of choice came in the form of Mohawk in the Red River Cultural District on Friday night. Over the three-hour excursion, fans from all kinds of music spheres made their way to pack out the downtown Austin venue for two sets of pure joy. With loyalists being dubbed,”The Flock,” the level of fan inclusiveness was palpable throughout the packed venue for an episode of victorious energy. 

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PPPP band portrait Jordan August
Case CockrellInterviewsLive Music

Interview: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong talk Austin, Domefest and touring in 2025

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Baltimore funk institution Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are a staying force in the world of jam bands. Rounded out by singer and guitarist Greg “Scrambled Greg” Ormont, bassist Ben Carrey, guitarist Jeremy Schon, and drummer Alex “Gator” Petropulos, the road warriors from Maryland aren’t accustomed to taking any time off since their inception 17 years ago. Ahead of their show at Mohawk on Friday, November 14 in the famed Red River Cultural District in downtown Austin, The Cosmic Clash caught up with Ormont and Carrey to discuss their storied career and thoughts about  Austin’s vibe

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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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Phish Renae Huemer
April DawneLive MusicReview

Live music review: Phish at Moody Center – Whatever You Do Take Care of Your Shoes

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I’m still processing last weekend’s rollicking two night Phish run in Austin at the Moody Center. The last time the nerdy foursome from Vermont played Austin was on a sweltering July day in 2018 outside and I was in the midst of an on-again/off-again thing that was off who also happened to be at the show.

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King Gizzard at Germania
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: King Gizzard played marathon three hour set at Germania Amphitheater

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The trek out to Austin’s Circuit of the Americas racetrack where Germania Amphitheater is located is a daunting one. From taking in an hour of traffic, ludicrous drink prices, and baffling ticket expenditures, the Formula 1 Racing spot has most Austin music fans disinterested in driving out to the sticks to experience its monstrosity. (17 miles outside of the downtown area to be exact.) In last Friday night’s case, fans of a certain Australian band made an exception.

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Billy Strings Moody Ctr 4
Case CockrellReview

Live music review: Billy Strings Moody Center debut kicked off Austin run with 3-hour spectacle

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With two nights of music prepared for Austin at Billy Strings Moody Center debut Friday and Saturday, Strings unveiled three and a half hours of music, with the first night of the residency being Strings’ longest live show to date.

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Melvin Seals
Greg AckermanLiveReview

Live music review: Melvin Seals and JGB return to Austin 37 years later

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When it was announced that Melvin Seals and JGB (Jerry Garcia Band) booked two nights at The Mohawk last weekend, we scratched our heads. Not because the booking was strange, many a jam band has graced the outdoor stage at

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Gateway to the Galaxy album art
Greg AckermanLiveReview

Live music preview: Marcus Rezak and Shred is Dead are coming to Austin

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A new wave of experimental and improvisational artists are gaining popularity nationwide. Touring progressive music guitarist Marcus Rezak is part of that trend, emerging from the respected music program at Berklee College in Boston to join the ranks of skilled hired guns touring festival stages while working with Digital Tape Machine, Grateful Dead/JGB progressive instrumental act Shred is Dead and Katharsis. Rezak has made his first solo album, “Gateway to the Galaxy” with drummer Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee), legendary saxophonist, Bill Evans (Miles Davis), bassist Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa) and Joel Cummins (Umphrey’s) on keys. Indeed a true super group was assembled for the recording of the record at The Attic in Nashville.

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