Interview: Hikes’ Woodsy Selves Ready for Utopiafest
Yesterday we brought you a Q&A with Austin band Borrisokane. Today, we’re proud to bring you another interview with an artist performing Utopiafest this weekend. Hikes will play tomorrow at 2:15 PM. Band…
Austin Band Borrisokane Talks About Upcoming Utopiafest Performance
Austin’s music scene is diverse to be sure. However, few bands exercise the kind of diversity within their body of work as Austin’s Borrisokane. They’ve been called dream pop, gloom pop, synth pop,…
Hungry Cloud Darkening Shares “Blue Green” from Glossy Recall
Anacortes, Washington based band Hungry Cloud Darkening is set to release their new album Glossy Recall, out October 7th via OFF TEMPO. After a close listen to the band, you won’t be surprised to…
SOAK Shares Single, Signs to Rough Trade
UK songstress Bridie Monds-Watson is 18 years old, and she’s already garnering acclaim with her songs that employ diverse production values and emphasize her smoky vocals. Likely that’s what prompted stalwart indie imprint Rough…
Show Preview: Delta Spirit with EDJ at Emo’s Thursday, September 11th
Touring in support of their newly released album, Into the Wide, Delta Spirit will bring their famed, energetic live show to Emo’s tomorrow night. With four albums under their proverbial belt, the band has…
Gridiron Maiden Week One
In case you missed it, 10 representatives from across Austin’s music community are playing in a fantasy football league called Gridiron Maiden. You can win tickets to a Transmission show by predicting the…
Contest: Win Tickets to Slow Magic at Mohawk September 17th
Mysterious, masked DJ Slow Magic, who blends electronic beats with live drum performance will play the Mohawk a week from tomorrow on September 17th. Slow Magic is yet another DJ in the rising…
Live Review: Raw Paw Closes Out Summer with Epic Scoot Inn Show
Despite rain in the early evening, the weather was just fine, if a little muggy, for local arts and music collective Raw Paw’s epic send off to summer at Scoot Inn on Friday…
Parquet Courts Share New Video, Play Dates Under Multiple Pseudonyms
Today slacker rock band Parquet Courts shared a new video for “Bodies,” a track culled from their recent effort Sunbathing Animal. The track features the group’s distinct, lackadaisical vocal delivery over wavering guitar lines…
Raw Paw Hosts Stellar Bill Tonight with Hikes, Milezo, Chipper Jones
Tonight at Scoot Inn, arts and music collective Raw Paw will host an awesome bill of bands and reveal the theme to their new zine. If you’ve been to one of the collective’s…
Austin’s Music Geeks Are Playing Fantasy Football
You heard me. Pop Press International has organized a fantasy football league of folks from Austin’s music community, employees of Transmission Entertainment, Mohawk, Holy Mountain, Cheer Up Charlies, Side One Track One, Austin…
Should We Be Watching Football?
When I read this Buzzfeed article about Michael Sam being cut from the Rams earlier this week, my guilt reached meltdown proportions. Although Oshinsky has a few issues with the logical structure of…
Austin Bat Cave Benefit Hosts Benefit with Bill Callahan, Jon Dee Graham
Austin Bat Cave is a non-profit writing and tutoring center serving a diverse population of young people. The center fights the good fight daily to keep our young people interested in reading and…
Hear Tracks from Taft/Little Lo Upcoming Split on Punctum Records
We’ve written before about how much we like both NYC-based dream pop band Taft and expansive indie rock outfit Little Lo. So, we’re naturally thrilled that the two projects will share a 7-inch…
Non-Profit Experimental Theater Company Twin Alchemy Plans First Season
On recent trip to Houston, I had a conversation with a close friend about the abundance of live theater in Houston. We’ve had similar conversations in the past about the city’s arts community as…
Bishop Allen at Holy Mountain: Live Review
Bishop Allen hasn’t played Austin in years. His show last week at Holy Mountain was a must see for me, as I’ve been a fan from the earliest days. I was eager to…
Mother Falcon at Mohawk for United We Jam: Live Review
Last weekend, on both Friday and Saturday nights, Austin Music People’s fundraiser United We Jam hosted bills of local bands at myriad venues across the city. Our own Lukas Read wrote yesterday about…
Jamie xx at Mohawk: Live Review
I’m glad there’s a market for Jamie xx. There’s certainly risk in the work of the esteemed DJ behind The xx’s electronic soundscapes and beats. It doesn’t offer the emotive depth and traditional instrumentation that…
Mineral Plays First Show in 17 Years
Although I was lucky enough to catch a couple of sets from Mineral spinoff projects after moving to Austin in 2001, I was several years too late to see the quintessential emo band….
Mumblr Shares “Got It” Ahead of Full of Snakes
If you’re looking for a soundtrack to laying around on a thrift store rug, semi conscious, surrounded by a sea of red Solo® cups, then you’re in luck! Philadelphia based rock quartet Mumblr…
Show Preview: Bishop Allen at Holy Mountain Saturday Night
I’ve been a fan ever since a friend put a Bishop Allen song from Charm School, their first album, on a mix CD for me. I listened to all of the songs from their EP…
Album Review: Bishop Allen – Lights Out
Bishop Allen hasn’t released an album since 2009. Their newest effort, Lights Out, dropped via Dead Oceans earlier this week. “Start Again” and “Why I Had to Go,” the album’s first two songs,…
Cinema East Screens Final Summer Film, The Heart Machine
Cinema East’s summer series has included a run of phenomenal films, viewed on French Legation’s lush lawn beneath the Texas night sky. If you’ve attended any of them, I probably don’t need to…
Austin Music People’s United We Jam 2014 Dominates Downtown this Weekend
– We were proud to partner with Austin Music People last year for the first annual Austin Music Blogger Awards. Austin is lucky to have an organization of people devoted to handling the…
If You Like Mineral, You’ll Love The Parking Lot
Yesterday, The Austin Chronicle published an article about Mineral reuniting. It’s fair to say that people are pretty stoked about Mineral’s reunion and upcoming performance at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Tonight, there’s a must-see…
Suspirians Celebrate Album Release at The Lost Well
We’re not the only ones who think Suspirians are great; we were happy to se the band show up on Do 512’s list of five bands you should be listening to right now….
Cool Off At Float Fest This Sunday
I love new ideas. The creators of Float Fest are giving you an opportunity to experience music in tandem with cooling off while floating the river. If you’re going to have a music…
Show Preview: Christian Lee Hutson at Holy Mountain Tonight
Solid sonic textures, a dash of grit, and embellishments such as faraway whistles and multi-tracked vocals make Christian Lee Hutson’s song “Ghost to Coast” convincing and endearing. The song feels like Wilco at…
Show Preview: Jamie XX at Mohawk Tonight
If you xx die-hard fans are looking for a way to tide yourselves over during the long stretches of time between the band’s trips to Texas, you should be at Jamie xx’s Mohawk…
Watch: Patch – “Who Will I Dream?”
Built on accordion, tambourine, and acoustic guitars, Austin band Patch’s song “Who Will I Dream?” is a boozy, late-night, lover’s lament. The song’s narrator pines the departure of a loved one, ensuring us that…
Versus Project Showcases Local Band Collaboration at Scoot Inn: Live Review
For months, we’ve been telling you about The Versus Project — an ambitious collaboration between some of Austin’s best bands that resulted in the release of a six disc box set of EPs…
Blood, Sweat, and Cheers with Night Beats at Red Bull Sound Select Showcase
More than once, I’ve written about Red Bull Sound Select‘s ability to book killer shows. The corporate-backed music series refuses to stick to one venue, one city, or even one genre. Red Bull…
Tinnarose Preps LP; Plays Stubb’s Saturday
Austin folk pop band Tinnarose will release their new eponymous LP next Tuesdeay via Nine Mile Records. The band creates layered folk pop that employs both sunny riffs and crunchy guitar tones while…
Watch the Trailer for Scott Walker and Sun O)))’s Collaborative Album
I’m not sure that there will be a time when we can remember the fact that Scott Walker and Sun O))) once worked together on an album, because it’s likely upon the release of…
Seattle Band S Releases Second Single from Forthcoming Cool Choices LP
We were excited when we heard the news that Carissa’s Wierd (yes spelled that way) member Jenn Ghetto had plans to release new material from her new(ish) band S. The first single had us…
Utopiafest Releases Schedule, Hosts Pre-Party Tonight
We’ve already told you about what a magical experience Utopiafest can be, as well as that the lineup this year is stellar. If you, like us, already have plans to attend, you’ll be…
The Versus Project feat. Borrisokane, Young Tongue, & Knifight Live at Scoot Inn on Saturday
We couldn’t be more excited about seeing a live incarnation of the bands who participated in The Versus Project. We’ve written about it time and time again, even premiered a track or two,…
Sylvan Esso with Dana Buoy at Emo’s: Live Review
In light of Sylvan Esso’s outstanding debut effort as well as the quality repertoire of Akron/Family and member Dana Buoy’s solid new solo recordings, Sunday night’s double-bill at Emo’s stood out as a…
The Mole People Celebrate Lost Age LP Release at Spiderhouse
Lost Age isn’t just the title of The Mole People’s excellent new album, out last week on Punctum Records, it’s a holistic philosophy. The bands–Big Bill, Those Howlings, and The Mole People–that played…
Donate to Austin Musician Andrew Collins, Injured in Motorcycle Accident
Austin musician Andrew Collins was in a serious motorcycle accident on Tuesday, and is currently in a coma. Collins is best known as the vocalist for Austin bands including At All Cost, LAX, and Vegatron….
The Both (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo) at Mohawk: Live Review
The Both, a collaborative project between accomplished songwriter Aimee Mann and alt-rock hero Ted Leo, brought not only their music but also their A-game stage banter to Mohawk’s outdoor stage last Wednesday night….
Vagabond Collective Hosts Summer Series Finale with Marmalakes & More
Vagabond is doing it big, y’all. The local art and music collective has already thrown several epic summer parties, some of which we wrote about. This final installment of their summer series boasts…
Ultimate Painting Share New Track “Winter In Your Heart”
With its jangling guitars, mellow vocals channeling Lou Reed, and steady kick and snare drum beat, Ultimate Painting’s new track “Winter In Your Heart” is an immediately addicting track. It floats by effortlessly…
Sylvan Esso Bring Their Beats to Emo’s Sunday, August 17th
In case you missed our review, we are into Sylvan Esso’s debut record, which dropped earlier this year. We were also pretty enamored with the duo’s FPSF performance earlier in the summer. The pair employ buzzing,…
Album Review: The Mole People – Lost Age (Pop Press Pick)
The Mole People’s Lost Age has undeniably classic appeal—think early David Bowie or Blondie fronted by a charismatic and unhinged dude rather than Debbie Harry. Or if you want a (fittingly) less common…
Letting Up Despite Great Faults Celebrates Neon Release Saturday at Holy Mountain
We already wrote a bit about the new, beautiful, pristine, and shimmering synth pop tracks from Austin band Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Over the years, the group has continued to expand an incredibly…
Seattle Band iji Wows Cheer Up Charlies: Live Review
I met Zach Burba on my recent trip to Seattle at a Lake / Bouquet show at Hollow Earth Radio. When I told Zach I was from Austin, he said he’d be playing…
Aimee Mann & Ted Leo Collaboration The Both Comes to Mohawk on Wednesday
Although we live in an era of the revitalized music legend, where an extensive list of performers we never thought we’d see take the stage have relaunched careers, Ted Leo is one legend…
NYC Band Little Cinema Shares “Diving Board” feat. Dana Falconberry
Although it may seem out of the blue for a little indie pop band based in Brooklyn to have so many Austin-centered components: the group’s first single was recorded here, at Deadly Sparrow Studios…
Show Preview: Alex Napping with iji at Cheer Up Charlies Tonight
The Stereogum premiere of Alex Napping‘s debut single “Weak Knees” made such a splash, we hardly need to tell you about it, but in case you somehow missed it, we’re sharing it with…
Song Premiere: Young Tongue’s “Matriarch” from The Versus Project
The Versus Project is going to be amazing. And that’s not a hard claim to make, since several songs have been shared from the forthcoming six-disc, six-band collaborative box set both on this…
Matthew Squires Performs Endearing Guitar Pop at Cheer Up Charlies
Although I’ve written about Matthew Squires and listened to his music, I had managed to be occupied during almost every show he’s played until this week at Cheer Up Charlies. As one would…
Roger Sellers Hosts Fundraiser for Debut Album
What I love most about Roger Sellers is his complex approach to making music. When I first saw his “Roger Sellers is not a DJ” tag line, I thought it was a wry…
Yonatan Gat’s Transfixing Show at Seattle’s Sunset Tavern
Yonatan Gat’s set at Seattle’s Sunset Tavern last week was a surprise musical miracle. Gat was a member of underground garage rock band Monotonix from Tel Aviv, Israel. I was clueless about Yonatan…
Wonders in the Hidden Cave of Seattle’s Hollow Earth Radio
A tiny, narrow, urban grotto in Seattle’s Central District, serves as the home for Hollow Earth Radio, a young internet radio station committed to giving voices to underrepresented musical formats and artists, including…
Utopiafest Returns with Great Lineup, Provides Rare Festival Opporunity
I first attended Utopiafest three years ago for their third annual event. I had such a great experience that Pop Press International ponied up to be a sponsor the next year for a…
Anacortes Unknown 2014 as Magical as Ever
Making the trek from Austin, TX to Anacortes, WA, each July has become an essential pilgrimage for me. Jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, hidden in the furthest northern reaches of Washington state,…
A Transcendent Weekend at Timber Outdoor Music Festival
After driving an hour east of Seattle, through beautiful country on highways lined by towering evergreen trees, parking the car, and loading down with the necessary gear for the weekend, we finally arrived…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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: 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,…
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…
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…
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…
Swans Got Heavy at Mohawk Friday Night
After taking a break from the project and recording and touring as Angels of Light, Michael Gira’s Swans are back in full force. The group reassembled around 2010 after more than a decade…
Exclusive Album Stream: Genuine Leather – Losers
Austin’s Genuine Leather is set to release their second LP, Losers, this week, and for the next few days, Pop Press International is the exclusive place to hear the album. The record is perfect for lazy…
Portland’s Cars & Trains Release New EP
Portland band Cars & Trains just released a new EP, “The Moon and the Earth,” comprised of three somber pop tunes created with acoustic guitars, synths, and toy instruments. The group’s folk and…
Swans & Xiu Xiu Play Mohawk Tonight
Swans is one of those bands that is still quietly under-appreciated while having a still fruitful second life. The band took a hiatus while central creative force Michael Gira wrote and performed music…
Pink Mountaintops Embrace “The Second Summer of Love”
Pink Mountaintops newest effort Get Back, released by Jagjaguwar in April was full of no frills rock ‘n’ roll. A spirit that was more than clear when we spoke with frontman Stephen McBean…
SW/MM/NG Shares Shimmering Summer Anthem
With wet-as-a-pool-party guitars and upbeat rhythms, SW/MM/NG have created “Some Dreams Come True,” a perfect soundtrack for your summer swimming-hole adventures. Despite the easy-going vibes, the song’s content explores an opposing frame of…
Show Preview: Tele Novella, Real Live Tigers, & Sick/Sea at Lambert’s
Tomorrow night, three solid Texas bands will take the stage at Lambert’s BBQ. The upstairs venue has been recruiting more diverse live music acts in recent months. Friday’s show includes psych pop group Tele…
Little Lo Debuts Track from Upcoming LP
Verberation View is the upcoming album from Austin indie-rock outfit Little Lo, who have shared the title track from that forthcoming effort. The record was recorded at Big Orange Studios in Austin with Stuart…
Cinema East Screens Documentary Approaching the Elephant on Sunday
Cinema East kicked off their summer film series this past Sunday with a screening of narrative feature I Believe in Unicorns. The series continues this Sunday, June 29th with a screening of documentary feature Approaching the…
The Mountain Goats’ Anthemic Evening at Mohawk
Everyone sings along when frontman John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats belts out, “I hope the people who did you wrong/ have trouble sleeping at night/ People were mean to you but I always thought you were…
Cut Copy with Classixx at Stubb’s: Live Review
Sometimes I think I don’t like fun enough. I’d rather watch a provocative, transfixing, and artistically challenging musical performance than hit up a dance party any day of the week. My tendencies often put…
Jess Williamson & RF Shannon Celebrate Split 7″ at Cheer Up Charlies
We’ve been singing the praises of these players for months now. Punctum Records managed to get two of Austin’s best artists on a record together. Last week, the label released a split 7″…
Basketball Shorts Release Song from Split Cassette on Fleeting Youth
Austin garage punk band Basketball Shorts will release a split in digital and cassette formats with Surfin’ Mutants Pizza Party on July 22nd via Fleeting Youth Records. The release will contain six songs…
