live music

Mikaela Davis at Austin Psych Fest 2024
April RiggsLive MusicReview

Live music review: Mikaela Davis was angelic at Austin Psych Fest at Far Out Lounge

April Dawne 1332 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

My first time seeing Mikaela Davis was on the BMI stage at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2015, and I expected her sound to be folkie, singer-songwriter music that I’m not typically into. When she took the stage with her harp, I heard an angelic, neo-psychedelic country sound that pleased my ears and I have followed her career via social media since. 

Fast forward nine years to Day Three at Austin Psych Fest (2024), when festival-goers almost lost a mellow day of music due to the weather. The rain moved on and Van Mary eased us into a swampy day at the Janice Stage with a super-chill set. The afternoon continued to heat up as Mikaela Davis & Southern Star took to the Willie Stage for the final day of APF.

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Mannequin Pussy
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Philly punks Mannequin Pussy rocked sold-out Mohawk in rain on 420 Day

Case Cockrell 998 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Sometimes, we’re stubborn as Austin music fans. Austin’s Red River Cultural District venue Mohawk drew a sold-out crowd on a 420 Day  evening when the weather forecast threatened to do away with the night’s concert festivities. Luckily for fans of Philadelphia punk outfit Mannequin Pussy, folks were ready to have floods of fun as the rain poured down right as the Pennsylvania band took the stage.

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Chicano Batman APF 2024
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Eclectic Austin Psych Fest returned to Far Out Lounge last weekend

Case Cockrell 1286 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Spring installment of Austin Psych Fest returned last weekend to the Far Out Lounge & Stage for a three-day, two-stage, no-overlap experience that brought over 30 acts to Texas for an eclectic weekend of music from all across the trippy psychedelic spectrum. Event organizers, Levitation was, in part founded by local psych rock revivalists, The Black Angels, but the local organization has become much more over the years.

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Two Step Inn 2024
Live MusicReviewRobert Dean

Live music review: Ludacris Came to Party and Hank Jr Wants You to Know He’s Not Gay at Two Step Inn

Robert Dean 1699 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The Two-Step Inn people are getting this thing right. Last year, being the first kick-off event, there were a few holes in the ship regarding accessibility and general needs being met, but this year, they’ve kicked up everything from just a few notches to feet, including lockers to water stations and tents for drug testing. Last year, I was lucky enough to catch both days. This year, I managed to sneak into the fest only on Sunday, April 21 but what I saw was worth the risk of getting towed.

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Austin Psych Fest Mad Alchemy lights Emi
Case CockrellLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Seven more acts to see at Austin Psych Fest this weekend

Case Cockrell 1308 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The second edition of the revived Austin Psych Fest is coming up fast. With an all-star lineup from all over the psychedelic and indie rock spectrum, different acts from all over the world will make their way to South Austin at Far Out Lounge & Stage’s massive backyard for a two-stage, no-overlap, three-day rock and roll shindig. With more than 25 artists performing over the weekend of April 26-l28, there will be no shortage of music to discover while including Levitation mainstays such as festival founders, The Black Angels, West Coast psych punk berserkers Frankie & The Witch Fingers, Aussie shredders Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and more. Here are seven more acts The Cosmic Clash team has handpicked as must-sees for the end-of-April festivities. Tickets and set times can be found via the Levitation website here. 

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Madonna at Moody Center
April DawneLive MusicReview

Live music review: Madonna delivered a fiery show at Moody Center Sunday night

April Dawne 3368 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Was it just a fever dream, an acid trip, or did my friends and I catch Madonna’s Celebration Tour Sunday night in Austin, Texas at the new Frank Erwin Center, aka the Moody Center? After what I experienced April 14, I’d say it might have been all of the above.

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Ty Segall
Case CockrellLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Garage rock titan Ty Segall brings his Three Bells tour to Mohawk April 22

Case Cockrell 1502 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The California musician has made Austin his second home, playing triumphant sets at various venues around the area. After a triumphant performance to wrap up his backing band, The Freedom Band’s era, he is embarking on another tour supporting his latest Chicago-based Drag City Records studio effort, Three Bells, one of his most polished works to date. For Austin’s stop on the tour circuit, Ty Segall will perform at Red River Cultural District staple Mohawk, in the heart of the downtown area on April 22. 

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Danny Brown at Empire 3 Caitlin Clark
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Danny Brown threw down a rager at Empire Garage

Case Cockrell 1334 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Sometimes, live music crowds can be major downers. Austin, Texas’ vibrant music scene has a massive influx of live shows that draw a variety of different crowds, some good, some bad. For Detroit-turned-Austin oddball rapper Danny Brown, an unforgettable live spectacle made sure to cancel out the entitled personalities that attempted to harsh the triumphant vibes of Danny’s homecoming for yet another Austin appearance, this time at Empire Garage on Thursday, April 11.

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The Bright Light Social Hour at Scoot Inn
Amanda QuraishiLive MusicReview

Live Music Review: The Bright Light Social Hour headlined stellar Scoot Inn performance last Saturday

Amanda Quraishi 1769 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

The band played Austin for a few SXSW-adjacent shows this spring and now they’re back on the road, taking Emergency Leisure eastward – but not before one more local show at Austin’s Scoot Inn on Saturday, April 13. Local favs The Mammoths opened early, followed by Mo Lowda & the Humble who are scheduled to continue on tour with The Bright Light Social Hour through the end of spring. By the time Mo Lowda was done vibing, the crowd was primed and the mood shifted in anticipation. 

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Austin Psych Fest 2024
Case CockrellLive MusicPreview

Live music preview: Six acts to see at Austin Psych Fest as it gears up for 2024 with special events and late night shows

Case Cockrell 1760 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

LEVITATION’s Austin Psych Fest will return to Far Out Lounge & Stage in 2024, coming with a stacked lineup April

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exotic fruitica
Case CockrellLive MusicReview

SXSW live review: Music festival wrapped up with seven great acts

Case Cockrell 1387 Views ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 

Austin’s South by Southwest finished things up with countless showcases that made the last two days of the music festival a pick-and-choose affair that didn’t let up until the crack of 2 a.m. on Saturday night. For most festival goers, energy can run slim on these last two days, and seeing what you can before the festival’s end is essential to closing the book on yet another March festival edition. Here’s seven great acts we closed out our SXSW with on the final two days of our festival experience. 

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