Japanese Breakfast and Snail Mail Play Scoot Inn Tuesday, April 10
Atmospheric, indie-pop band Japanese Breakfast, the project of Michelle Zauner, stops in Austin tonight for a show at Scoot Inn — just one date on an extensive tour that will ultimately traverse the…
Broken Social Scene Brings Anthemic Pop to Stubb’s Friday, March 23
I couldn’t be more thrilled that Broken Social Scene is having a quiet resurgence as one of indie-rock’s most respected outfits. The years between each of the band’s albums has grown successively. First…
Mega Bog Opens for Destroyer at Mohawk
Touring behind their second LP, Happy Together, Seattle-based band Mega Bog opened for indie rock stalwart Destroyer for a knockout billing of music this past Monday at Mohawk. Historically, Seattle brought crunchy, discordant rock…
The Districts Bring Incredible Live Show to Sidewinder Tuesday 6/27
Back in March of 2014, The Districts performed to a fairly full indoor room at Stubb’s, touring ahead of their quietly powerful breakout album, A Flourish and a Spoil. The band has continued to rise in…
BOOHER Celebrates Vinyl Release at Cheer Up Charlies Saturday
Mixing vulnerable lyricism with big rock musicianship and careful flourishes, BOOHER makes songs that are immediately likable and yield greater nuance with repeat listens. Behind the music is Michael Booher, who’s been making…
Sheer Mag Shares “Just Can’t Get Enough,” Announces Debut LP
Nobody making music right now creates a better rock ‘n’ roll song than Sheer Mag. Fresh off the streets of Philadelphia, the band’s 70s rock inspired guitar solos and riffs are filled with…
Mitski and Japanese Breakfast Bring Dark and Shimmering Pop to Sidewinder: Live Review
Someone somewhere must have done a calculation about the perfect amount of time for a band to wait before returning to Austin following SXSW, as it seems like bills of late have been…
Athens Band Mothers Brings Delicately Powerful Pop to Stubb’s: Live Review
With indie rock songs both fragile and powerful, Athens band Mothers delivered a set that left the audience at Stubb’s’ indoor room transfixed and engrossed last Thursday. Falling somewhere between the music of Angel Olsen and…
Show Preview: Stacked Bill of Local Acts at Cheer Up Charlies Tonight (ATX)
Our privileged Austin experience means that a stacked bill of outstanding local acts constitutes almost every weekend at Cheer Up Charlies, or any number of our Red River district live music venues. Still,…
Getting in the Party Spirit: Ouais and Mantiques Live Review
Last Saturday Spirit played host to four local bands with eclectic stage energy, giving the night a strange atmosphere riding the lines between humor, angst, and inebriation. Sure enough, the beer was flowing…
Other Lives Bring Brooding Pop to Mohawk Tomorrow Night
Stillwater, Oklahoma band Other Lives arrive in Austin tomorrow night for a show at Mohawk. The group’s sound shatters any stereotypes you might hold about a band from a place called Stillwater in Oklahoma,…
Young Tongue Celebrates Death Rattle Saturday at Cheer Up Charlie’s
With the help of label Punctum Records and arts collective Raw Paw, Austin band Young Tongue will celebrate the release of their new album Death Rattle Saturday night at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Once known…
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…
Sebadoh at Red 7: Live Review
For indie rock purists, Sebadoh resides unquestioningly in the hall of fame. While the Sebadoh project has been largely inactive in the new millennium, the members have all been pursuing other collaborations and solo projects….
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….
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…
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…
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…
Hear New Löwin Track “Lobo”
Löwin’s new song “Lobo” showcases everything that has always drawn me to Sara Houser’s work. Front and center in the mix are Houser’s astounding vocals, and her lyricism takes center stage. The song…
Spoon Shares “Rent I Pay” From Upcoming LP They Want My Soul
I’ve been meaning to post the new Spoon all week. Although it’s unlikely, if you somehow managed to miss it all week, you’re welcome! If you’ve seen it slathered everywhere, as I have,…
Cleanup & Chipper Jones at Cheer Up Charlie’s: Review & Photos
Earlier this week, instrumentally-focused math rock bands Chipper Jones and Cleanup played at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Both bands are part of a current trend that’s seeing a revival of styles of indie rock…
Bear In Heaven Shares “Time Between,” Announces New LP on Dead Oceans
Bear In Heaven’s new single “Time Between” possesses undeniable grooves. The song’s buzzing synths and relentless snare provide the backbone for Jon Philpot’s reverb-tinged vocals as well as wonderfully nuanced bass and guitar…
Hear Local Natives Discuss Their Sound in New Video
Amplifier and audio equipment company McIntosh just released a new video in their “Behind the Sound” series. Past episodes have featured artists such as Deltron 3030, White Denim, and Washed Out. The most…
101X Sponsors A. Sinclair & Otis the Destroyer Dual Release Show at Mohawk
This show promises to be as epic as the headline. Both A. Sinclair (formerly Frank Smith) and Otis the Destroyer can kick out muscular indie rock jams, and both bands will celebrate the…
Mutual Benefit Shares New Video, Announces Tour Dates
Mutual Benefit has debuted a new video for their song “‘Let’s Play’ / Statue of a Man” to accompany the announcement of a slew of new dates being added to their current tour. The video…
Album Review: Popstrangers – Fortuna
New Zealand band Popstrangers’ new album, Fortuna, the band’s sophomore follow up to Antipodes is out now on Carpark Records. Because of or despite a certain degree of chaos that can be found…
Album Review: Papercuts – Life Among the Savages
When a band takes a three year hiatus in between albums, it’s usually a fair assumption that they’ve been working not only on new music, but a reinvention or transformation from what they…
Album Review: PAWS – Youth Culture Forever
It’s hard to imagine that an album full of passionately fuming lyrics could be so fun to listen to, but the sophomore record from the male trio PAWS proves that it’s possible. Youth…
Show Preview: Future Islands at Mohawk Wednesday, April 23rd
Future Islands have exploded in the last few months. The buzz surrounding the band permeated the week of SXSW, and the band made their network television debut with David Letterman last month. The…
The National’s First Night at ACL Live
I’ve been looking forward to this show for a long time; it has been on my radar since the second and third nights were announced. The National’s High Violet is a masterpiece, but I’m in…
The Pixies at Austin Music Hall with Best Coast: Live Review
The Pixies played “Cactus” third. “Bone Machine,” “Wave of Mutilation,” and then “Cactus.” If that fact means nothing to you, it’s likely you were never as completely obsessed and dedicated to the music…
The Tontons Play Stubb’s Tonight, Opening for Bright Light Social Hour
We’ve written about The Tontons quite a bit here at Pop Press International and are huge fans of the band, which has seen increasingly widespread acclaim in recent months. Tonight, the group will…
Photo Set: Little Lo at Holy Mountain
Last Saturday night, Austin’s Little Lo performed a set of their layered indie-rock to a crowded Holy Mountain. The band is in the process of finishing up the recording process for their new…
Superchunk with Waxahatchee at Mohawk: Live Review
It’s below freezing in Austin, Texas on a mid-week night. Tomorrow morning, public schools, colleges, even the city’s official offices will be closed. But you don’t care, because you’re indie-rock giants Superchunk. A…
Album Review: Lanterns on the Lake – Until the Colours Run
Lanterns on the Lake released their sophomore album in The States, Until the Colours Run at the start of this year. Preceding their current release was the debut album, Gracious Tide, Take Me…
The War On Drugs Announces Album, Shares Single
Unequivocally: “Red Eyes,” the new track from The War on Drugs, is incredible. Subtle synths and awesome noodley guitar tones add depth to the song’s steady strum. Reverb-laden vocals echo, bouncing between introspective…
Show Preview: Octopus Project, Tele Novella, and Borrisokane play Mohawk Friday December 7th
You need more reasons? I just gave you five excellent ones in the headline! The epic dance party that will undoubtedly ensue anytime Austin faves The Octopus Project plays is a damn good…
Built to Spill, Genders, and Slam Dunk at Stubb’s: Live Review
Built to Spill has been pretty quiet for the past few years in terms of releasing new matieral, but hasn’t given up touring as the band has made their way through Austin at…
Superchunk Shares New Video for “Void”
After almost a decade of silence, 90s lynchpin indie rock outfit Superchunk released Majesty Shredding in 2010 and continued their return by following up with I Hate Music earlier this year. Today the group released a new…
Cass McCombs at The Belmont: Live Review
Hey, we did everything we could to get you our for the Cass McCombs show on Friday night. If you missed it, it’s on you. And if you were worried about the cold…
Show Preview: Cass McCombs Plays The Belmont Friday November 22nd
Cass McCombs is one of independent musics most underrated songwriters. Furthering his catalogue of reflective, somber pop that channels rock and Americana through diverse production styles, McCombs issued the expansive and excellent 22-track…
Angel Olsen Announces Album, Shares “Forgiven/Forgotten”
Earlier this year, stalwart indie label Jagjaguwar added Angel Olsen to their lineup and, now, have announced a forthcoming LP from the songwriter. Burn Your Fire for No Witness will be released on February…
Hear A Track From Vertical Scratchers’ Merge Records Debut
Daughter of Everything will be Vertical Scratchers debut and will be released by Merge Records on February 25, 2014. The band’s upbeat, fuzzy pop promises frenetic drumming and fun melodies and follows in…
Dum Dum Girls Announce Third Album, Share Video
Austere dream-pop (nightmare pop?) act Dum Dum Girls will issue their third album, Too True, through Sub Pop on January 28th, and have shared the video for album track “Lost Boys and Girls Club.”…
The Starfolk Channel 90s Indie Rock in New Video for “Into the Clouds”
Minneapolis indie rock outfit The Starfolk released their self-titled album last month and have recently dropped a video for album track “Into the Clouds.” Moving between isolated minor chords strumming patters and soaring…
Beach Fossils Share New Video, Play Fun Fun Fun Fest
Beach Fossils’ reverb-laden sound and surfy guitar lines certainly feels contemporary, akin to many other like-minded indie rock bands, but there’s a certain element that reminds me of Joy Division, and that’s a…
Album Review: Cass McCombs – Big Wheel and Others
Cass McCombs has created music that ranges from odd, reverb laden rock, PREfection’s “Subtraction” and “Equinox,” to somber folk, A’s “Gee It’s Good To Be Back Home,” to ethereal pop, Wit’s End’s “County Line.” Most recently,…
Weekly Rundown: Mirror Travel, Crystal Antlers, Tycho, Matthew Squires
In an effort to make your consumption of what’s happening in popular music and in Austin, TX easier, we’re rolling out a new post called “Weekly Rundown” that will run near the beginning…
Local Natives ACL Taping Review
I was a fan of Local Natives second album Hummingbird, which dropped earlier this year. The album was careful, deliberate, and swelled to anthemic heights repeatedly throughout its eleven tracks; it also garnered…
Show Preview: Broncho Plays Stubb’s Saturday September 14th
This Saturday, Broncho will perform a KUTX sponsored set inside Stubb’s. The band is a good bet for a high energy weekend night with songs that incorporate distorted guitars, uptempo riffs, and quick…
New Track: Kevin Morby – “Miles, Miles, Miles”
The Babies’ Our House on the Hill, full of fuzzy, uptempo rock and laden with immaculate melodies, was one of last year’s most underrecognized albums. Frontman Kevin Morby, who is also a member of celebrated…
Dana Falconberry, Brass Bed, and Reservations at Mohawk: Live Review
You’d think that being a brilliant lyricist and accomplished musician would be the thing that sets an artist apart. And to a point, you’d be right. Dana Falconberry’s distinct voice always stirs something…
SISU Shares Track “Harpoons” from Forthcoming LP, Tours
We previously brought you music from SISU, the project of former Dum Dum Girls drummer Sandra Vu. This week, SISU premiered a new track over at Brooklyn Vegan and announced the release date…
Social Studies Live at Brick and Mortar Music Hall
We’re big fans of San Francisco based band Social Studies, and were even privileged enough to host them at one of our SXSW day parties last year. While on vacation in San Francisco,…
Two New Videos Released from Those Darlins’ Forthcoming Album
On October 1st, Those Darlins will release Blur the Line via Oh Wow Dang. The first two official videos to surface come for the songs “Optimist” and “Oh God,” which tell widely different stories of…
New Track: Mirror Travel – “Mexico”
It has been a truly pleasurable experience to watch Mirror Travel evolve from the young Follow That Bird into the powerful indie-rock trio that they are. Lauren Green, Tiffanie Lanmon, and Paul Brinkley…
Watch Volcano Choir’s New Video for “Byegone”
Volcano Choir, the Justin Vernon / Collections of Colonies of Bees joint venture, will release their second LP Repave on Jagjaguwar on September 3rd. The album will be a follow up to the critically…
Dog Bite Shares New Track “Cold Weather”
Atlanta based indie rock band Dog Bite has announced the release of a new EP. The LA EP will drop on September 17th on Carpark records, and you can hear the first single “Cold…
Brass Bed Live at Hi-Dive in Denver
While Pop Press International is on vacation in Colorado, we took the opportunity to check out one of the local venues that houses many of indie-rock’s stalwart, national touring acts. We felt lucky…
Borrisokane, Pageantry, and The Calm Blue Sea at Mohawk Live Review
Borrisokane is a band gaining credibility quickly as they’ve played some great shows and solid bills in recent months. We loved their album release show, which pulled out all the stops. Opening the…
Album Review: Royal Forest – Spillway
From the first snippets of sound and previews of songs that preceded Royal Forest’s new album Spillway, I’ve been pumped for the release of this album. The band’s frontman Cody Ground has been…
Live Review: Joanna Barbera Album Release with The Couch at Holy Mountain
We were on double duty in Austin’s busy music scene last Thursday night, and after a great Mikal Cronin show at Mohawk, we almost jogged down to Holy Mountain to see Joanna Barbera’s…
The Pixies Release First Song in Almost a Decade
The Pixies were among three or four bands that got me through high school. I’ve probably listened to Doolittle as much or more than any other record in the history of music. Today’s release…
Album Review: Heliotropes – A Constant Sea
Heliotropes make their music in a Brooklyn studio, but the all-female band’s musicians originally hail from all over the nation. It’s no wonder then, that their music is a collaboration of many influences…
New Track from Smith Westerns – “Idol”
“Idol” is the third song to emerge from Smith Westerns’ new album Soft Will and follows the previously released songs “Varsity” and “3 AM Spiritual.” We previously reported the release date of the album as…
Album Review: GRMLN – Empire
GRMLN’s Empire is a refreshing reminder that rock and roll can be fun. Yoodoo Park draws influences from Kyoto, his birthplace, and southern California, where the 20 year-old currently lives. Throw in 90’s…
Interview: Radiation City Talks Musical Influences, Rattlesnakes, and Flat Tires
As soon as Radiation City’s Cameron Spies answers my call, the relaxed Pacific Northwest ethos is immediately apparent. The band is currently travelling across my home state, a good stretch from their own…
Video: Good Field – “These Dreams”
If you read Pop Press International with any regularity, you likely know that we completely adore Austin band Good Field. We listen to their self-titled, debut LP constantly and had the band play…
EP Review: TEEN – Carolina
Carolina, the new EP from Brooklyn’s TEEN, features an impressively varied and divergent array of sounds across its five songs. The EP is a follow-up to last year’s well-received and buzzed about full…
Show Preview: Win Tickets to Quiet Company May 31st at The Belmont
Austin’s Quiet Company has slowly but surely risen to being one of the city’s most lauded bands. Following a rapid expansion of their fanbase, fueled by appearances at festivals and on television, the…
Album Review: Free Time – Free Time
The self-titled debut album from New York indie-garage group Free Time, headed by Melbourne transplant Dion Nania and out this week via Underwater Peoples, strives for an unhurried, unworried charm with easy melodies…
Album Review: Alex Bleeker and the Freaks – How Far Away
Formed by the bassist of Real Estate, Alex Bleeker and the Freaks drops their second album this week, How Far Away, out on the Woodsist label. Having assembled a motley crew of bandmates…
Show Preview: The Boxing Lesson Record Release Show Tonight at Mohawk
Two days ago, celebrated Austin band The Boxing Lesson dropped their new album, Big Hits! on Frenchie Smith records. Tonight, the band will celebrate the release with a show at Mohawk that includes support…
Album Review: The Shivas – Whiteout
Shimmering guitar feedback splashes as an announcement of the onset of the Shivas’ Whiteout, released at the end of April on K Records. A piercing scream, a clear play on the song’s title…
Show Preview: Yo La Tengo at Mohawk Friday May 3rd
Yo La Tengo’s oeuvre spans an impressive array of musical styles and years, consisting of more than a dozen studio albums. Their newest effort Fade is outstanding–one of the finest albums of the year so far…
Album Review: Brass Bed – The Secret Will Keep You
Lafayette, Louisiana based band Brass Bed’s new album The Secret Will Keep You is a swift-moving, riverine composition of indie-rock teeming with the alluvial guitar bursts and thumping bass that are deposited along…
Show Preview: Youth Lagoon with Majical Cloudz at Mohawk
Youth Lagoon’s Wondrous Bughouse is one of the year’s best albums, and tomorrow Trevor Powers will bring his musical project to the Mohawk for a show with Majical Cloudz, who will drop an anticipated…
Bob Mould and Ringo Deathstarr at Mohawk Live Review
Punk pioneer and indie-rock veteran Bob Mould brought a blistering performance to the Mohawk Saturday night. A packed house chanted along with almost every song, pumping their fists as Mould plowed with reckless…
Album Review: Born Ruffians – Birthmarks
Birthmarks, the third full-length album from Canadian indie group Born Ruffians, takes its title from the matching birthmarks that frontman Luke Lalonde and his girlfriend share. But before you think it’s purely a…
The National Shares Another New Track “Don’t Swallow the Cap”
After just releasing one song, “Demons,” from their forthcoming album Trouble Will Find Me, somber indie-rock outfit The National have released a second new track, “Don’t Swallow the Cap.” The song features elegant piano…
Album Review: Frank Smith – Nineties
On their ninth album, Nineties, Austin band Frank Smith delivers some of the tightest, most powerful songs of their long career. Previously firmly rooted in Americana and folk-rock, the band leans in that…
Marmalakes Share New Track “Wells”
We’ve written about Austin indie-folk-pop trio Marmalakes more than a few times here at Pop Press International. Today, we’re thrilled to bring you news that the band has released a new single entitled…
Album Review: Telekinesis – Dormarion
The third LP from Telekinesis, Dormarion, embraces varying takes on buoyant indie-pop and manages to simultaneously foray into diverse territories of sound while remaining cohesive. Moving between eighties synth, nineties rock, and acoustic…
Album Review: Caveman – Caveman
Brooklyn quintet Caveman’s self-titled sophomore album, out this week on Fat Possum, is what I would classify as “cold rock.” Some refer to it more condescendingly as “Dad rock” because it borrows its…
The Strokes Release B-side, Album Comedown Machine Out Today
Today, The Strokes release their 5th studio album, Comedown Machine. Along with that, the group has released “Fast Animals,” a B-side for album single “All the Time.” The B-side’s title plays on the fact…
Album Review: The Strokes – Comedown Machine
The trouble with releasing a universally lauded debut album is that you’ll forever be measured not only by its greatness but also by its particular qualities. In this way, how “good” either the…
Album Review: Good Field – Good Field
Good Field’s self-titled debut consists of 11 songs of tight indie-pop that integrates folk, psych, and pop without feeling pigeonholed. God, it feels good to see a band just doing everything well without…
Frank Smith Shares “How Many Ways” Ahead of New Album
We couldn’t be more excited about the new record from Austin’s Frank Smith (not a guy but a band), fronted by Aaron Sinclair. Frank Smith has been one of Austin’s most stalwart bands…
Tame Impala Live at Stubb’s with Sour Notes and Feathers After Show
Tame Impala is a band at the pinnacle of hype right now; their second album Lonerism has received universal rave reviews. Tuesday night, these Australian psych-rockers paid a visit to Austin to play…
Album Review: Popstrangers – Antipodes
Popstranger’s album title Antipodes comes from a geographical term used to indicate the areas of Australia and New Zealand, and which also denotes the opposite of something. The title is fitting, since noise-fuzz…
Video: Hikes – “Shepherd’s Clock” (Recommended)
This song is killer. I’ve been hearing hype about this band for a while, and everything in me is hoping they will be as phenomenal live as I want them to be. If…
