Anacortes Unknown: An Update on the Beat Happening 33 1/3
Thankful to the folks over at 33 1/3 for keeping the world updated on my travels and book research by hosting this recent short piece I wrote. From their site: In anticipation of…
The Young Share Video for “Cry of Tin”
Austin indie rockers The Young have just released a video for buzzing track “Cry of Tin.” Directed by Winston H. Chase, the video is set in a storage facility and depicts miscellaneous goings…
Show Preview: Boris at Mohawk Tonight!
Boris is about discovery for me. When a new album is announced, I love waiting to hear what it will sound like. They are constantly evolving their sound: Sludge, Drone, Punk, Dream Pop….
Dreamy Jams at the Spiderhouse Ballroom: Live Review
Friday night at the Spiderhouse Ballroom gave us four Texan bands: Dollie Barnes (Waco), Borrisokane (Austin), Chambers (Denton), and RF Shannon (Austin). A mix of dark folk and synthy pop permeated the dimly…
Allah Las Debut New Video for “No Werewolf”
A cover of a 1960 track from surf-band the Frantics, Los Angeles retro-garage-rock band, the Allah Las, deliver a driving rendition of “No Wereworlf”, mystifying in its hypnotic spinning art performance courtesy of Russian…
Little Radar, Young Tongue, Black Books at Mohawk: Live Review
Rock and roll is alive in Austin, Texas. Mohawk is the place to catch it. The club offered performances on both indoor and outdoor stages with slightly alternating set times between the two. The…
She Keeps Bees New Video for “It Is What It Is”
Brooklyn duo She Keeps Bees released their newest video today for single “It Is What It Is” off their forthcoming album Eight Houses via Future Gods Records. The downtempo rhythm and minimal arrangement give…
Peter Matthew Bauer Finds Freedom at Holy Mountain: Live Review
Saturday night, former Walkmen bassist, Peter Matthew Bauer, came to the Holy Mountain with a troupe of psychedelic supporters. The band was an excellent model of strong backing talent. Dirty guitars and a duo of lady…
New Track “Pico” by Wave Sleep Wave
Just two members, Wave Sleep Wave make punchy jams, a la “Pico” with enough muscle-building as the track progresses to keep its listener hooked. This track comes off their forthcoming album Never Notice out September…
Vagabond Collective Shares Summer Series Mix: Streaming Now
Always active arts and music promoters and organizers Vagabond Collective has shared a mix of songs from artists they’re working with on their summer music series. The series still has several more shows…
The Tontons Live at Sunset Tavern in Seattle: Review & Photos
I swear, seeing the Tontons live isn’t the only thing I do when I travel. But my trip happened to coincide with their tour in both Denver and Seattle, and who would pass…
Gap Dreams’ Dreamy “Strong Love”
Gap Dreams’ single “Strong Love” is a washed out chillwave session ready for supreme mellowing. Major seventh harmonies cascade into the programmed drums and blankets of delayed guitars. Warbling echoes fall in and…
New Track: Nicholas Krgovich – “Along the PCH on Oscar Night”
Sometimes song titles seem completely abstract from their content. Other times, as in the case of Nicholas Krgovich’s pop gem “Along the PCH on Oscar Night,” reading the song title and then hearing…
Epic Two Stage Local Bill with Black Books & Young Tongue Dominates Mohawk Saturday Night
Sometimes it’s amazing what you can get for eight bucks. You get a sandwich, or you could see eight incredible bands play at Mohawk on Saturday night. You could get two lattes, or you could see eight…
Exclusive Premiere: New Borrisokane Song – “Feel Your Evil / Clean Bill of Health”
After a bloodcurdling scream opens “Feel Your Evil / Clean Bill of Health,” Borrisokane dives into sugary background oohs and ahhs as a baritone, classic-horror-film-narrator vocal track drones over shiny guitars and upbeat…
Dallas Band Chambers Plays Austin Show with Borrisokane, RF Shannon, Dollie Barnes
As local bands grow within their communities, it’s eventual that they’ll become curious about carving out some recognition in nearby cities. Dallas indie rock outfit Chambers have received quite a bit of love from…
Album Review: Melted Toys – Melted Toys
The psychedelic-pop wake is currently making its second resurgence in the music scene with a vengeance, and it shows no sign of losing momentum. New bands are constantly emerging to join the in-crowd…
Axxa/Abraxas’ New Video for “I Almost Fell”
Here’s some legit indie shit. Today, Captured Tracks artist Axxa/Abraxas released his video for single “I Almost Fell” off his S/T debut. Like labelmate Mac DeMarco and Beach Fossils, Axxa/Abraxas’ (aka Ben Asbury)…
Sordidly Saved: Nick Cave’s ACL Taping
If you’ve read any reviews of Nick Cave’s performance at a taping for the 40th season of PBS series Austin City Limits this past weekend, you’ll know critics are describing Cave as the Devil incarnate; I…
Iska Dhaff at Mohawk: Live Review
Buzzing synths and a curtain of feedback introduced Seattle Washington’s Iska Dhaff at Mohawk on Thursday night. The duo, comprised of singer/guitarist Nathan Quiroga and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Verdoes, launched into a set stuffed…
Nicole Atkins at the Belmont: Live Review
Nicole Atkins’ voice is a study in the positive effects of harnessing great natural power. Her small frame (can’t be more than 5′ 2″) belies the volume and grace that streams directly from…
Wye Oak at Neumos in Seattle: Live Review
As a huge fan of music from our nation’s Pacific Northwest, I’ve lamented not being to see bands when I’ve noticed them listed as playing Seattle venues Neumos, The Crocodile, or Showbox on…
Hiss Golden Messenger’s “Lucia”
Here’s Hiss Golden Messenger’s new video for “Lucia,” a quiet solo acoustic take on a summer jam which debuted yesterday and will appear on HGM’s forthcoming fifth album, Lateness of Dancers. The album will be…
Watch: Avi Buffalo – “So What”
After four years without an album, Avi Buffalo returns with At Best Cuckold, due out on September 9th via indie giant Sub Pop. The band debuted the video for album track “So What” yesterday….
Bishop Allen Shares Second Track from Upcoming Album
As previously reported, Justin Rice’s indie pop project Bishop Allen will return with a brand new album, Lights Out, due out August 19th on Dead Oceans. The group has already shared one single, and…
The Tontons at Larimer Lounge in Denver: Live Review
Pop Press International is on vacation. Well, while some of the newest team members are holding down the Austin scene, while I am in Denver and Seattle on a trip to gather information for my upcoming…
Marissa Nadler Climbs the Holy Mountain: Live Review
Marissa Nadler sailed into Austin Sunday evening at Holy Mountain atop a mystical ship of reverb and fingerpicked 12-string guitars. She was accompanied only by a single cellist, Janel Leppin, who masterfully complimented…
Caribou Shares Extended Mix of “Can’t Do Without,” On Tour in the Fall
Composer and producer Daniel Victor Snaith, aka Caribou, is set to release his new album Our Love, which drops October 7th on Merge. Anticipation is high for fans, as Snaith has proved he can continually…
Big Bill’s Tour Kickoff with Daniel Francis Doyle and Mirror Travel at Holy Mountain
Thursday night at Holy Mountain was a night of paradoxes. Playful yet aggressive, bizarre yet familiar. As I type this, listening to Daniel Franics Doyle’s solo 7-inch vinyl, I find myself at somewhat of…
Sharon Van Etten’s Intimate New Video for “Our Love”
Sharon Van Etten released Are We There on Jagjaguwar Records earlier this year (read our review here), and released an accompanying video for single “Our Love” yesterday. Its gorgeously soft black-and-white treatment emphasizes the intimacy…
Polyphonic Spree at Central Presbyterian: Live Review
For Tim DeLaughter’s Polyphonic Spree, a church seemed an appropriate venue for the ensemble’s grandiose live show that was first hidden by a large white sheet in front of the stage as the group set up….
Haunting Songstress Marissa Nadler Plays Holy Mountain Sunday: Show Preview
Marissa Nadler’s voice captivates upon first listen with its ethereal ghostliness and rich timbre. The Massachusetts-based musician writes songs that recall Leonard Cohen’s aching and melancholic sensibilities. Often, her arrangements have the ability…
Lukas Read Expands Lineup for Lambert’s Show: Live Review
The first time I saw Lukas Read, he was doing a stripped down, seated, solo performance of world-weary guitar tunes, channeling the old-world folk of the kind of troubadours who played NYC’s Gaslight…
New Track: Laetitia Sadier – “Then, I Will Love You Again”
New single from former Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadier, “Then, I Will Love You Again” sits nicely with a plucky bassline groove and punchy drums, certainly holding onto its Stereolab influences. This track gives me…
New Track: Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Wrapped”
Austin synth pop band Letting Up Despite Great Faults has shared the initial single from their forthcoming album Neon, due out on August 12. The cover for Neon features an array of flowers in a…
Dub Thompson with Ought at Holy Mountain: Live Review
I’ve spent the last week completely in awe of Montreal-based post punk band Ought. The post-punk outfit channels Joy Division and Television with angular guitar riffs, but retains their own voice with ambling,…
Show Preview: The Polyphonic Spree at Central Presbyterian Church
After a period of inactivity from 2007 to 2012, beloved, cult-like collective The Polyphonic Spree released two albums in 2012 and 2013 and have been increasingly active in playing shows and festivals. Tomorrow,…
The Donkeys at Mohawk: Live Review
The Donkeys rolled into Austin supporting their new album, Ride the Black Wave, perhaps having ridden it too long and not sure what day it was, to a packed audience indoors at Mohawk…
Moonsicles at Cheer Up Charlies: Review & Photos
Austin band Moonsicles is something of an early 2000s dream team. The band consists of Carolyn Cunningham of Pillow Queens, Aaron Russell and Lindsey Verrill of Weird Weeds, and Sheila Scoville of Ichi Ni San Shi…
Dear Someone: Tough Love, Gentrification, & Bathroom Etiquette
Walker Lukens is a musician living and working in Austin, Texas. His latest album is called Devoted. His advice column Dear Someone runs semimonthly on Pop Press International. You can send in your own inquiries by emailing…
Album Review: Skygreen Leopards – Family Crimes
Shimmering, shining and alive. Breathing, enveloping and visceral. San Francisco’s Skygreen Leopards are back with their (more or less) eighth release, Family Crimes, conjuring mystic California dreamscapes and pastoral nature-folk vibes that would…
Early to the Party: Missed Connection
Samantha? – m4w – Red River We were standing next to each other at the concert the other night and I instantly felt a connection without even having to talk to you or…
Speak Album Release at Empire Control Room: Live Review & Photos
Local music and art purveyors Vagabond Collective continued their Summer Nights series by helping SPEAK celebrate the release of their new album Pedals. In addition to SPEAK, the night featured a powerhouse bill…
Amen Dunes with Axxa/Abraxas & Hidden Ritual at Hotel Vegas: Live Review
“This next song is an old one. It’s about taking drugs in New York,” Damon McMahon, aka Amen Dunes, informed the crowd, smirking and jumping into a breezy rendition of “Christopher” from 2011’s…
SPEAK Celebrates Album Release at Empire Control Room Saturday July 5th
Tomorrow night, Saturday, July 5th, local art and music promoters Vagabond Collective will present an epic bill of outstanding Austin bands in celebration of SPEAK’s new album Pedals. The evening will include a performance by…
Devo Plays for Hardcore Fans at ACL Live’s Moody Theater
Wednesday night, quirky post-punk pioneers Devo ended their “Hardcore Devo” tour in Austin at the Moody Theater. The tour nomenclature serves as an apt descriptor for the fans in attendance—those clad in plastic…
George Lucas’ THX 1138 Tonight at Drafthouse with Live Score by Conveyor
Tonight, revered filmmaker George Lucas’ first film THX 1138 will screen at Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Austin with a live score provided by Conveyor. The film’s director’s cut release summarizes it as: “A chilling exploration…
S Signs to Hardly Art, Announces Cool Choices
Jenn Ghetto has been doing somber pop for a over a decade now. I first became a fan of her work when she played in orchestral sad-rock band Carissa’s Wierd (yes, spelled that way). Since…
Spoon Shares New Track “Do You” Ahead of They Want My Soul
Yesterday, Austin indie rock outfit Spoon shared “Do You,” the second single from their upcoming studio album They Want My Soul. The song’s backbone features Brit Daniel’s recognizable melodic growl and Jim Eno’s tight, no-frills…
Spoon Incentivizes Vinyl Purchases at Independent Record Stores with New LP
Spoon’s new plan for encouraging vinyl purchases ahead of their new album has me almost weepy over humanity’s ability to still be uplifting and beautiful. We all lament the failings of these systems…
Fun Fun Fun Fest Announces Comedy Lineup feat. Fred Armisen & John Waters
Fun Fun Fun Fest always does it right. This morning, the Austin festival announced their comedy lineup, which takes place annually on the Yellow Stage. The roster includes Portlandia and SNL star Fred Armisen and…
Woman’s Hour Share Live Video of Track “Conversations”
Exactly two weeks from today, UK synth pop band Woman’s Hour will release their debut album Conversations on Secretly Canadian. Today, as a lead up to that release, the group has shared a live…
The Henry Millers Share New Track “Beautiful Woman”
Of course the Henry Millers released a new track called “Beautiful Woman.” Like the author before them, the NYC-based indie-pop band is celebrating the female form through art, although their medium isn’t avant-garde prose. The group…
