June 26, 2008
- The City of Austin has set up a site online to serve as a local carbon reduction resource.
- Austin Public Library Foundation hires new Executive Director.
- Dripping Springs Rep. Patrick Rose testified about the Pedernales CoOp before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in D.C. today.
- Swimsuits, sleeping masks and more were found at the home of Billy Dan Carroll and said to be used in his crimes against children.
- Alleged gang leader of SUR 13 to be extradited from Round Rock to Florida.
- 18-year-old daughter of Georgetown Police Chief might face up to 22 years in jail for drug charges, resisting arrest, and kicking a cop.
- Raid at Houston rag-exporting plant leads to the capture of 160 illegal immigrants.
Thursday, June 26
Hole in the Wall (2538 Guadalupe St)
9pm, 21+
[info]
Before viral marketing, writing songs for toothpaste commercials or hassling people via MySpace to check out your songs was commonplace, the best way to get the music out there was to either hand out LPs on the street or start gigging. Sometimes the old-fashioned way is still the best, and for three promising but slightly under-the-radar bands, this Thursday night could be the perfect way to get the word out.
United by a few common strings, Pataphysics, Antarctica Starts Here and The Sour Notes are sharing the bill at the Hole in the Wall this evening. Goofy to a fault, Pataphysics align themselves with the Business Deal records crowd and commonly write songs with titles like “Mexican Seafood” and “Jesus Grow a Handlebar Mustache.” Despite the tongue in cheek theatrics, the songs are still ripe with solid hooks and engaging vocal interplay.
If Pataphysics is the goofy younger brother grossing his siblings out with nose picking and other shenanigans, Antarctica Starts Here is the sedate older sister, reading Proust on a long road trip and trying to ignore the squealing in the backseat. A five-piece from Space City, a.k.a. Houston, Antarctica Starts Here prefers the moody middle ground, that thing we call atmosphere. They’re also (“Karen,” “Caroline,” “Ruth,” “Shannon”) into naming songs after girls. Try listening to them and not thinking of the Cocteau Twins. Somewhere in the middle ground between these two bands sits The Sour Notes, who really, desperately want you to know they are pop. And pop they are – their new record The Meat of the Fruit specializes in gentle and bittersweet sad love songs.
Pataphysics: [myspace]
Antarctica Starts Here: [myspace]
The Sour Notes: [website] [myspace]
The U.S. Drought Monitor's map for the past week shows Travis County split between severe and extreme drought. Only about 18 counties in the northeastern part of the state seem unaffected by any form of drought. And the summer's just getting started! [U.S. Drought Monitor]
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June 26, 2008
Photo courtesy of Okay Mountain The Mountain Is Alive: An Okay Mountain FundraiserSaturday, June 28Okay Mountain Gallery (1312 E Cesar Chavez)Free[info]This Saturday, Okay Mountain is opening its doors for an evening of auctions, raffles, games and music. The gallery, which is hoping to raise money to aid in operational costs, has assembled an impressive ensemble of artists to fill its walls. Works will be shown by: Kevin Bewersdorf, William Hundley, Travis Millard, Mel Kadel, Mike...
Continue Reading "The Mountain Is Alive!"Come to the Midnight Special variety show at Coldtowne Theatre for Austin comedy savant Fred Bothwell, but stay for the show. Over the course of the hour, there is much to enjoy, from a gong show (which you, too, can win!), to improv, to musical goodness. ...
Continue Reading "Austinist Reviews: Midnight Special at Coldtowne"If we read one more article about how My Education sounds a bit like a certain currently famous Austin instrumental four piece but-seriously-they're-really-good-too we're going to throw up in our mouths. They don't. Yes, you are correct in assessing that they both play music that lacks vocals - which are simply another instrument, not the defining taxonomic characteristic by which we categorize bands - but they are distinct entities making distinct music....
Continue Reading "My Education - Bad Vibrations CD Release Tonight At Emo's!"Back in the old days, when I still drank, I’d finish up a bartending shift on 6th Street, by which I mean throw back a few cocktails. Then I’d float, heavily buzzed, on down to the 311 Club to see CJ. The 311 was not really “my” kind of place. Except for CJ, a bartender so amazingly skilled I would go just to watch him. Okay, well that and get a little drunker. The thing about CJ was that he could make any customer—big, small, young, old, stupid, suave—feel like his one true love in the few moments it took him to mix a drink, run a charge card, and wink like he meant it. Maybe it was an act, all this showmanship, but I had the feeling that CJ genuinely liked people and wasn’t just shaking it for tips....
Continue Reading "I Am So Popular: Of Aphid Asses and David Sedaris"Austin City Council today unanimously elected Council Member Brewster McCracken to the position of Mayor Pro Tem, replacing outgoing Council Member Betty Dunkerley, who retired this month. The position means that McCracken will serve in the mayor's stead when he's unavailable, and includes responsibilities such as presenting official proclamations and keeping city council meetings running smoothly. "It's a very nice honor to be elected," said McCracken to the Daily Texan. "[Dunkerley] has always been a leader, even before she was mayor pro tem. She's been the heart and soul of the city council." [DailyTexan]
Since 1991 or so, the brothers Kadane (Matt and Bubba) have been performing together, first as Bedhead and then as The New YearContinue Reading "Austinist Interviews Matt Kadane of the New Year"
Well, there isn’t really much that’s sour about this Austin pop group. They’re pretty much all sugar, although sometimes it can be a little bittersweet. The group – Jared Boulanger, Chris Page, Brandi Dipietro and Travis Hackett – formed just this year and has recently released The Meat of the Fruit, their first 7-song album....
Continue Reading "Le Diamant Brut: Frog Eyes & The Sour Notes"Austin360 reports that American Idol producers have opted to skip Texas during this year's upcoming auditions. The tour, which runs from mid July through August, will instead include stops in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Puerto Rico. Those of you still craving your fifteen minutes of fame should start planning your road trip to Kansas City, Missouri. [Idol Chatter]