Sunday, August 23, 2026

Review

Live MusicReviewScott Rollins

Live music review: Mandy Barnett and Symphony of Southeast Texas delivered beautiful performance

The historic Julie Rogers Theatre is home to the Symphony of Southeast Texas (SOST), hosting classical, pops, educational, holiday performances, as well as many specials throughout the year. On October 14,  the SOST welcomed Mandy Barnett, performing music from her Nashville Songbook. 

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Brian HillsmanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Warmduscher, CIVIC, and Lothario put on energetic punk show at Hotel Vegas for LEVITATION

Despite the warm humidity and off-and-on torrential downpour, the Levitation Lounge —adjacent to Parish — was bustling with patrons, eager to head to one of the many showcases lined up for the evening on Friday, October 27. Just down East Sixth Street, Hotel Vegas had a line forming at the side gate for an all punk bill featuring Warmduscher, CIVIC and Lothario that took place on the beloved Vegas patio.

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Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: Nation of Language treated Scoot Inn crowd to sublime synth rock vibes

Brooklyn’s Nation of Language treated the Scoot Inn crowd last Thursday to an 80s synth rock influenced masterpiece of of a show. The upstart trio who got a huge boost in the midst of the Pandemic with 2021’s A Way Forward which garnered streaming fans far and wide. The record’s success also got the band slots at ACL Festival last year where The Cosmic Clash witnessed an early afternoon set at a minor stage that impressed despite the less than ideal setting in the heat of the Texas afternoon

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Greg AckermanLive MusicReview

Live music review: GUM impressed fans at Parish October 12

Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, singer and producer, Jay Watson brought his solo project GUM to Parish Thursday evening to a mostly full venue. The artist is better known for his contributions to Australian psych-rock act, Tame Impala and the group he co-founded, Pond.

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Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Eclipse Utopiafest brought eclectic music and community to Central Texas this month

Utopia Festival organizers Travis Sutherland and Wayne Dalchau have spent over the past decade working tirelessly to craft a small cap music festival that stresses the importance of expanding any music fan’s horizons while cultivating a community that keeps fans of the festival coming back year after year. For this Fall’s edition of the festival, the Utopia team celebrated the solar eclipse with an eclectic lineup that brought an array of diverse musicians that take the Utopia Festival mission to heart. 

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Case CockrellLiveReview

Live music review: Kendrick Lamar shocks ACL Festival with 65-minute delay, abbreviated 31-minute set 

Compton’s Kendrick Lamar is billed as the headliner for each Friday of the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Festival), a big draw for most attendees at Zilker Park on Friday night. Upon approaching the stage, fans were told on the American Express Stage’s screens that Lamar’s set would be delayed due to “Plane Issues.”

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Amanda QuraishiLiveLive Music

Live Music Review: The Bright Light Social Hour Works Magic at Mohawk

The Bright Light Social Hour is currently on tour following the release of their new LP, Emergency Leisure but the band made a pitstop in their hometown last Saturday night, playing The Mohawk before a throng of loyal, exuberant fans. 

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Amanda QuraishiLiveLive Music

Live Music Review: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily Perform Love in Exile at Bass Concert Hall

On the evening of Friday, September 29 2023, Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily took to the stage at Bass Concert Hall to perform their spellbinding collaborative project Love in Exile. What transpired over the course of the next hour was, in every sense of the word, art. 

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Case CockrellLive MusicReview

Live music review: Night Beats and Daiistar gave Austin a modern psychedelic rock treat Saturday

When a band in Austin gets to make a record after playing their material for local audiences for months, sometimes years on end, it’s worthy of multiple rounds of applause. For Austin shoegaze/noise-pop act Daiistar, it’s been a long time coming. To celebrate the release of Daiistar’s new album Good Time, the rising Austin act enlisted the help of Seattle-born, now Texas-based band Night Beats, who are on a new album cycle of their own.

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