Fun Fun Fun Fest Day One Recap with Yelle, Run the Jewels, and Dana Falconberry
We’ve been looking forward to this weekend for months. Fun Fun Fun Fest outdid themselves this year with a no-filler lineup that featured stellar artists across genres. There were some strange bumps and…
Six Bands You Can’t Miss at FFF + All Our Festival Previews Linked in This Post
We’re killing all the birds with one stone. Today, the fest is upon us. To celebrate and send you off with the knowledge you need, we’re bringing you a list of six bands you…
Album Review: Iceage – Plowing Into the Field of Love (Pop Press Pick)
Danish punk band Iceage’s new album Plowing Into the Field of Love moves the band into more structured sonic terrain and showcases increasingly complex arrangements while holding onto a sense of chaos and raw energy….
Hear New Beacon Track “L1” Now
With a new EP en route entitled L1 due out December 2nd on Ghostly International, Brooklyn ambient-elecronica band Beacon promises to delve further into the complex psychological realm first unveiled in their debut…
Album Review: Foxygen’s “…And Star Power”
As we approach this weekend and the wonderfulness that is Fun Fun Fun Fest, Pop Press International is greasing the gears and filling the tank, ready to tackle yet another successful festival at…
Stream LNS Crew’s New Track “Pot Luck” feat. Cory Kendrix, ST 2 Lettaz, Kydd Jones, Dee-1, and Pacboi Tank
LNS Crew are mainstays in Austin’s hip-hop scene. They’ve cut enough tracks that there’s bound to be something that works for everyone. But their new track “Pot Luck” might be my favorite thing…
Live Review: A. Sinclair Celebrates New Vinyl at Mohawk
A. Sinclair rocks. And by that I mean that Aaron Sinclair has always rocked. He rocked when his band was called Frank Smith, and he rocks now. It helps that Sinclair is backed…
Album Review: His Name Is Alive – Tecuciztecatl
If any album this year is vying to carry the torch of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” for best-played alongside a muted version of Wizard of Oz, it’s Tecuciztecatl, the fourteenth…
Signal to Noise: Immune Recordings
Signal to Noise is a new column penned by Neil Lord. It will run periodically on Pop Press International. This feature column will spotlight and discuss artists, labels, and trends within the noise…
Yuma Celebrates Day of the Dead at Mohawk
The Mohawk celebrated Day of the Dead this Sunday with four superb Austin bands: Brother Bear, The Please Please Me, Magia Negra, and Yuma. A real diverse curation of unique bands who all seem to…
Tennis & Pure Bathing Culture at Red 7: Live Review
I’ve always liked Tennis, but their show at Red 7 on Saturday night convinced me that they’re receiving significantly less credit than they deserve. Built around the creative forces of husband and wife…
FFF Fest Preview: Courtney Barnett Talks Ghost Gum & Fish Tacos
Some of the artists we’re most excited to see at this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest are the up-and-coming acts that will take the stage in the early or mid-afternoon hours. You’d serve…
Nightblooms Celebrate Album Inside Inflatable Planetarium
Cosmic consciousness expanding, I am transcending physical existence. Last Thursday night at Museum of Human Achievement, Karla Manzur celebrated the release of Star-Taker, the first album from her project Nightblooms, which also includes help…
Eight Reasons You’re Lucky the Nites are Free: FFF Fest Preview
You owe Fun Fun Fun Fest a solid, because these dudes have totally hooked you up. In addition to their killer lineup, they’ve brought in a slew of artists to play shows only…
Seven You Might Miss at Fun Fun Fun Fest
One of the benefits of music festivals is getting to see a bunch of bands you’ve never seen in such a short time frame. Which is why I’m always shocked by the fact…
The Ultimate Fun Fun Fun Fest “Can’t Miss ‘Em” List
Ok. Let’s give it a shot and try to narrow it down to the absolutely-can’t-miss acts at Fun Fun Fun Fest (from this point on referred to as “FFFFest” and the “Can’t Miss ‘Em” List)….
KLRU Arts In Context: Rebirth Premieres Tonight
This Tuesday, we hit up studio 6A, the former home of Austin City Limits, to get an advance look at the first episode for the 5th season of KLRU program Arts In Context. The episode…
Stream Our Fun Fun Fun Fest Playlist Featuring Must-see Artists
Fun Fun Fun Fest starts a week from today! Rest assured, we’ll have plenty of previews for you in the coming days spotlighting the aspects of the festival we’re most looking forward to. Until…
Photo Gallery: Sinkane with Helado Negro at Empire
Electro-jazz band Sinkane and the ambient, moody Helado Negro, both Brooklyn-based, played Empire Control Room Sunday night, as part of the Beyond the Valley of the Dolls party presented by Heard Entertainment and Vulcan Video, while 1970s-themed costume…
Molybden and Co. at the Sahara Lounge: Live Review
“I saw a UFO in San Francisco. It didn’t scare me as much as I thought it would. I guess I’m stronger than I imagined,” were the words Tess Seipp, better known as…
Show Preview: Tennis Comes to Red 7 on Saturday Nov. 1st Behind New Album
Little known fact: an interview with indie pop duo Tennis is one of the first posts we ever did here at Pop Press International. The 10th in fact. 10th out of what is,…
A. Sinclair Celebrates New Vinyl Release Tomorrow at Mohawk
Before there was A. Sinclair, there was Frank Smith. Under the leadership of Aaron Sinclair, the band Frank Smith released a slew of quality albums and rallied a steady following of live-music loving…
Nightblooms Plot Theatrical Album Release Show
Nightblooms is the project of Karla Manzur. You may know Manzur as the keys player and backup vocalist for Dana Falconberry, or you may have recognized her lending her incredible talents to Alejandro…
Ariel Pink’s New Single “Black Ballerina”
As the days go by, Ariel Pink’s boldness grows and his confidence in trolling expands. He recently caused a stir with his public comments about Madonna, Grimes, and misogyny in general, but let’s focus on…
Track Premiere: Smokey Brights – “Monster House”
We heard about Smokey Brights ages ago now from our good friends who share with them the city of Seattle. However, we first saw the band for ourselves this summer at Timber Fest,…
101X Homegrown Live at the Historic Scoot Inn: Live Review
This past Saturday, local radio station 101X hosted their Homegrown Live series with a solid bill of mostly local acts at East Austin’s Historic Scoot Inn. Despite the particularly high door charge ($18!) for a local…
Lo-Fi Pop Purveyors Memory Boys & Electrician at Cheer Up Charlie’s Wednesday, Oct 29th
If you frequent the pages of Pop Press International, you know we have the deepest love for two of the nation’s music communities. One is of course Austin, where we live and see…
Stream Hungry Cloud Darkening’s Glossy Recall
Pacific Northwest label Off Tempo recently released a new album, Glossy Recall, from Anacortes based band Hungry Cloud Darkening, and we’re bringing you the whole thing in all its glory for your streaming pleasure….
RF Shannon & Feverbones Return from Tour
Austin gave RF Shannon and Feverbones to the American West, and the West graciously returned them to us unharmed and road-sharpened for their triumphant arrival back in our fair city. The double bill…
Watch “BACKER” Starring Mac “The Backer” DeMarco
Get sucked into the bizarre world Mac DeMarco slithers through. This mockumentary directed by Cole Kush is a quick surreal trip into the mind of Dave Fuck, aka Backer, a regular guy specializing in car back-up…
Peek into the Cosmos with Panabrite’s Blissful “Balsam”
As if on his back in a planetarium, Panabrite’s Norm Chambers crawls effortlessly through the cosmos in “Balsam,” a standout drifter off his recently released new album Pavilion. The song seems to go from azure…
Early to the Party: Austin Finally Becomes One Giant Festival
Austin Finally Becomes One Giant Festival On November 4th, citizens of Austin will vote on Proposition 58. If Proposition 58 passes, Austin will legally be recognized as a festival and no longer as…
of Montreal’s Never-ending Dance Party at Mohawk: Live Review
Of Montreal has the right to make the claim that they’re Mohawk’s house band, having played the venue three times in the last year. What’s more amazing is that their frequent trips to…
Erica Sings: Adirondack Folk Music for the Weak of Heart
Not much can be found on the 1940’s starlet Alice Armand beyond the few glitzy Romantic Comedies she performed in (most notably The Blue Bird), but if you go off her seemingly isolated…
The Debut of Dark West
There’s something indescribably miraculous about seeing a band perform their first show. Most of our days are filled with jobs and trips to the grocery store, car rides in traffic and “to do”…
Austin Artists Dominate Initial Wave of SXSW Announcements
SXSW’s first announcement always comes as a huge shock to me. It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since the last installment of the ever-growing festival. This year, the initial…
Show Preview: Molybden Homecoming Show at Sahara Lounge
Austin-by-way-of-Marfa singer-songwriter Molybden will celebrate with a homecoming show at Sahara Lounge this Sunday, October 26, following a string of Western tour dates. Molybden is the nom de plume of Tess Seipp who has been…
Show Preview: Of Montreal and Pillar Point Play Mohawk Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Do we really need to explain why you should be at this show? It really doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen of Montreal (and it’s probably a lot since they come to…
Mutual Benefit’s Gorgeous Set at Red 7: Live Review
Last night, Mutual Benefit, the project of musician Jordan Lee, made a stop in Austin for a set at Red 7. Lee’s music consists of dreamy soundscapes that wander from loose structures teeming…
Nicholas Krgovich Shares “City of Night” Video featuring Dirty Projectors’ Amber Coffman
The Pacific Northwest has a habit of doing things their own way. Whether it was the weirdo punk of Beat Happening or the riot grrrl rock of Sleater-Kinney, the region has been a…
Mutual Benefit Plays Red 7 Tonight
Mutual Benefit, the multi-textured, dreamy pop project of Jordan Lee, will play Red 7 tonight. Mutual Benefit draws comparisons to artists like Sufjan Stevens by virtue of his sprawling, lush, crystalline song structures…
Sleater-Kinney Reunites for New Album & Tour
What can one say? Hallelujah!, perhaps? Even Sub Pop Records, who release the new album from reunited riot grrrl fixtures Sleater-Kinney seem appropriately giddy in the news post announcing the reunion, new album,…
Live Review: Pompeii Releases New Album “Loom”
Local post-rock arena-gazers Pompeii released their third album Loom at Holy Mountain Friday night. A long time coming for the band, this is their first album in five years and you can buy it…
Midnight Masses, BLXPLTN, Tennis System at Cheer Up: Live Review
Autry Fulbright, the creative force behind Midnight Masses and member of Trail of Dead, exuded raw energy at the group’s final U.S. show before departing on a European tour. As the band plays…
Run the Jewels Runs the Crowd at Red 7: Live Review
Last night, tastemakers and purveyors of music of all varieties Red Bull Sound Select (in conjunction with Fun Fun Fun Fest) brought hip-hop heavyweights Killer Mike and El-P, known collectively as Run the…
Hear “Noctilucence” From New Mark McGuire EP
Electro-prophets Mark McGuire released “Noctilucence” this Tuesday, the title track off their new EP released via Dead Oceans. This is the second release of the year from the Cleveland, OH native, who delivers…
Tennis Shares David Lynchian Video for “I’m Callin'”
Tennis, the husband-and-wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore, released their third full-length Ritual in Repeat, last month on Communion Records. Today, the band shared a new video for “I’m Callin’,” which features an…
Fun Fun Fun Fest Shares Full Set Times and Nites Schedule
If you’re a fan of independent label music or punk rock or weirdo pop or metal or parties or just dancing your ass off, it’s likely your favorite time of the year–the advent of…
KLRU Arts In Context Hosts Premiere Party for New Episode Featuring Les Rav
Although KLRU’s Austin City Limits series is undoubtedly their most well known contribution to music television, their Arts In Context program has brought us stories about some incredible artists, including The Octopus Project, Shakey…
Show Preview: Sharon Van Etten at Mohawk this Saturday
Sharon Van Etten returns to Austin Saturday night (October 18) when she plays Mohawk to what will most likely be a packed house. A favorite amongst Austin residents, Van Etten released Are We…
ACL Music Festival: Past, Present, and Future
With the past two weekends in the books, we can now reflect on the 13th annual Austin City Limits Music Festival and see what all us thousands experienced. There were reunions and first-timers, Chvrches…
Literature Schools Hometown Crowd at Hotel Vegas: Live Review
Sunday night at Hotel Vegas was a homecoming for the revered pop punkers Literature, now residing in their northeast haven of Philadelphia PA. Kicking the show off late with blistered guitars and flailing…
Photo Gallery: Raw Paw Hosts Ditch The Fest 7
Adorned with radiant tulle and opalescent bubbles, Ditch The Fest Fest 7 shone this past Saturday, wrapping up its series for the year. Just like last weekend’s Ditch The Fest 6, 25 Austin-based bands joined together…
Walter TV’s Mohawk Pizza Party: Live Review
Walter TV has been coined “Mac Demarco’s touring band,” “Mac Demarco’s friend’s band,” and “Mac Demarco’s side project.” These pseudonyms aren’t a far cry from the truth, but only if you’re comparing the…
Moonsicles, Borrisokane, and Van Allen Belt at Cheer Up Charlie’s: Live Review
With so many high profile events in Austin, it’s easy to forget that great music happens on a nightly basis. While much of the public can barely keep up with which festival is…
Midnight Masses, BLXPLTN Play Cheer Up Charlie’s Tomorrow
The music never stops. Forget the fact that you’re tired after two weekends of ACL. Tomorrow night brings you a must-see show. Midnight Masses, the project of …And You Will Know Us by…
Spoon Digs Out Old Material at Stubb’s: Live Review
I wasn’t surprised when Spoon’s set for their 4th ACL taping centered on their newest effort They Want My Soul. After all, they’ve recorded many of their old songs during past appearances on…
Childish Gambino Brings Deep Web Tour to ACL Live at the Moody Theater
Although the wait for Childish Gambino to emerge for his late night ACL show seemed interminable, the crowd had plenty to keep them occupied. As part of the Deep Web Tour, Childish Gambino had…
Interview: Meet the Members of Walter TV, Mac DeMarco’s Backing Band
On Sunday night Walter TV, the band that operates as Mac DeMarco’s band will play a show at Austin venue Mohawk. Prior to the show, Pop Press INTL. contributor Laney Feeser was able to…
Hometown Heroes Spoon Play New Hits at ACL Taping
Playing songs primarily culled from their new album They Want My Soul, Austin indie rock heroes Spoon played their 4th ACL Taping last night. I recently wrote about just how much I love the…
Temples ACL Late Night Show: Live Review
Despite having seen Temples on four occasions, Saturday night was my first time to see the group in a small venue when they played a show at The Parish as part of ACL’s late night…
Live Review: Raw Paw’s Ditch the Fest 6 at Empire
Many of us Austinites who decisively chose to steer clear of ACL for one reason or another gathered at Empire Control Room Saturday for Raw Paw’s Ditch The Fest Fest 6. There, 25 local bands…
Full Photo Gallery: Three Days of ACL 2014
You didn’t ask for it, but we’re giving it to you anyway. Our full photo gallery from all three days of ACL 2014 featuring over 100 photos, including quite a few previously unpublished…
Stream the Hazy New Single “Bleached Teens” by Holy Youth
On October 14th, Happenin Records will release the debut record from Montevallo, Alabama’s Holy Youth. Lead single “Bleached Teens” finds itself stumbling around long after the house party is over. Glistening lead guitar…
Everyone’s Invited: Day Three of ACL 2014
ACL is not the coolest festival on the planet. It’s not even the coolest festival in Austin. And it doesn’t need to be. After all, coolness often requires a certain element of exclusion….
Ladies On Top: Day Two of ACL 2014
I believe in my heart that every human being possesses the same intrinsic value and should have the same rights, access, and visibility as any other member of the human race. It’s why I was…
Between the Weekends: Borrisokane, Moonsicles, Van Allen Belt at Cheer Up Tomorrow
When the ACL weekends come along, it’s interesting to see how many coworkers are sluggish throughout the next week. But for some true believers, this is a constant way of life. We can’t get enough…
Worshiping at the Fest: Day One of ACL 2014
No one can be perfect all the time, but with repentance, we might be lucky enough to find forgiveness. After working hard on some final previews for the first of two busy ACL…
Dear Someone: Sex : Art :: Dog : Lion
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…
Five Shows to See If You’re Skipping ACL
So you’re skipping ACL? We don’t blame you. Sure we’ll be out there, and we like supporting this hometown festival, even if it has grown to epic, almost repulsive proportions. There’s still something…
Raw Paw Hosts Epic ACL Alternative Ditch the Fest at Empire Control Room
Local arts and music collective Raw Paw does things right. We hold a deep admiration for the collective’s commitment to up-and-coming, interesting artists and bands as well as their ability to throw a…
Lia Ices Plays Holy Mountain Monday, October 6th
After just releasing a new record on indie stalwart Jagjaguwar, Lia Ices has set out on a national tour that hits Austin Monday night at Holy Mountain. Lia Ices’ songs incorporate skittering synths, bombastic percussion,…
Photo Gallery: Marfa’s Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love at El Cosmico
This past weekend, I took a brief hiatus from writing reviews and allowed my co-corespondent Lukas the verbal spotlight to tell the tales of our magical Marfan weekend at the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love, while…
Jenny Lewis Brings Rainbow Brightness to Her ACL Taping
Last night’s Austin City Limits Taping kicks off Jenny Lewis’s tour of Texas. In addition to her ACL Live show, you can find her at Stubb’s on Friday at her official Austin City…
An Interview with ACL 2014 Artist The Districts
We were impressed with the Districts when we saw them a few months back at Stubb’s. Their live set is aching and raw, full of sustained tension and cathartic explosions of emotion. The…
We Were Marfans at El Cosmico: The Final Chapter
Saturday morning starts with a sweaty rise from inside my tent. The high desert sun shines on the faded yellow east side of my tent, turning the inside into a greenhouse and my…
Eleven Bands You Shouldn’t Miss at Weekend One of ACL
Do you really need to be told to see Outkast? Do we have to explain that Scotland’s Belle and Sebastian don’t make the trip across the pond much? Have you heard of Eminem?…
Album Review: Niagara – Don’t Take It Personally
Italian experimental duo Niagara have been turning heads and perking ears since their debut album Otto dropped onto the scene last year. Their follow-up, Don’t Take It Personally, released earlier this month on…
Why You Can’t Miss These Ten Bands at ACL’s First Weekend
So 2014’s ACL is right around the Thursday corner. Lucky for you, I’m here with Bryan to show you the way to a successful outing this first weekend. While he and I are…
We Were Marfans at El Cosmico: Part II
At the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love, music starts at seven and goes till midnight (1am on Saturday night), giving the guests plenty opportunity to rest up during the day and focus…
Ultimate Painting Shares New Track “Ten Street”
We’ve written before that UK duo Ultimate Painting are bringing all the glory of lo-fi 60s rock of the Velvet Underground to the current day with their own mellow indie pop tracks. After…
Phosphorescent Plays Two-Hour Set at C Boy’s Heart and Soul
Before kicking off a string of tour dates, Brooklyn-by-way-of-Athens band Phosphorescent booked a last minute show at the tiny C Boy’s Heart and Soul venue on South Congress. It seems that kicking off…
The War On Drugs, Psyched Out Americana at Stubb’s: Live Review
Although The War on Drugs’ show at Stubb’s in Austin was not sold out when the doors opened at 7:00 on Sunday night, an enormous line soon snaked around the block to purchase…
We Were Marfans For A Weekend at El Cosmico
As I navigate Route 67 south towards Marfa, TX, en route to the 8th annual Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love, the mountains grow more jagged, the plains reach further to the horizon, and the…
Alex Napping’s Album Release at Cheer Up Charlie’s: Live Review
To celebrate the release of their debut LP This Is Not A Bedroom, Alex Napping recruited a standout lineup of Austin bands–Big Bill, Soft Swells, and Löwin–to play alongside them on Friday night at…
Phosphorescent Plays Last Minute Show at C Boy’s Heart and Soul Tonight
The last time Austin had a visit from Phosphorescent was the 2013 installment of ACL Fest. Almost exactly a year later, the Brooklyn by way of Athens based project of primary creative force…
Lower’s Mean Spirited New Video for “Daft Persuasion”
Spitting venom at one anonymous, despicable individual, Lower’s Adrian Toubro seems especially ready to persuade the viewer to feel his animosity. A hooded figure lightly drapes his arms across Toubro’s chest, as if…
Future Islands Leave It All on the Floor at ACL Taping
After an ingratiating and soft-spoken greeting in which Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring tells a packed Moody Theater about how in North Carolina, where he’s from, sometimes the only way to see music…
Swedish Duo JJ Creep Around the Desert in New Video “Dynasti”
The new video “Dynasti” from mysterious Swedish duo JJ pulsates with occult imagery and pagan ceremony. As girls spin around in glitter masks with cloaked minions, they set on fire enough upright pianos…
Alex Napping Celebrates Album Release at Cheer Up Charlies Friday, September 26th
With namesake Alex Cohen at the helm, indie-pop four-piece Alex Napping will celebrate the release of their debut LP tomorrow night, September 25th at Cheer Up Charlies. This is Not a Bedroom dropped earlier…
Oddball Comedy Fest at Austin 360 Amphitheater: Recap & Photo Gallery
This Sunday marked the final show of the Oddball Comedy Festival. After twenty shows in sixteen different states with guest comedians including Demetri Martin, Kristen Schaal, Flight of the Concords, Dave Chappelle, and…
Reflections on Conor Oberst’s Show at Stubb’s
In July, when news broke that Joan Faircloth, the woman who had accused Conor Oberst of rape, had retracted her claims and admitted that 100% of the story was fabricated, I was relieved…
Album Review: Terry Malts — Insides EP
Garage-punk trio, Terry Malts releases new material this week via Slumberland Records with a 7” entitled Insides EP. The story of Terry Malts’ formation isn’t one that you’ll hear from the direct source, rather the…
Marianne Faithfull Breathes Life Into A Dark New Single
Marianne Faithfull began her career in the early 60s by immersing herself in the exploding London scene, befriending the greater Rolling Stones entourage that helped get her career started with, “As Tears Go…
Show Preview: The War on Drugs at Stubb’s w/ Genuine Leather After Show
The War on Drugs’ newest effort Lost in the Dream, is one of the year’s most lauded records. Full of Americana points of reference slathered in introspective, garage rock sensibilities, the songs are somewhere…
Yonatan Gat’s Incredible Cheer Up Charlie’s Show: Live Review
Watching Yonatan Gat and his band perform will blow your mind. The former Monotonix member’s live show leans heavily on improvisation and borders on performance art, incorporating signature lighting and expelling an incredible…
Album Review: Odesza – In Return
When club music veers into alternative territory, splashes through the waters of chillwave and resurfaces amongst the electronica glitter, you get the sound that is Odesza. For sure, the Seattle duo’s first full…
Ramesh at The Belmont: Live Review
Sometimes unexpected and less than desirable elements make for a more magical evening of music. Former Voxtrot member Ramesh, who recently released his first solo full-length The King, was supposed to play Belmont’s outside…
Song Premiere: Yuma – “Gone Before You Leave”
Yuma’s new single “Gone Before You Leave” explodes from the speakers at the onset, all squealing guitars and staccato snares. After a half minute of those early aughts guitar textures, the mix falls…
Live Review: Daybender at Empire Control Room
Empire Control Room hosted the Daybender party this past Saturday, taking on a dual role as part of Weekender Austin and as the release celebration for Punctum Records‘ Taft and Little Lo‘s split 7-inch vinyl, as if the bill…
