Kanye is the most exciting man in rap because he puts out quality, popular albums. Forget the artless 50 Cent and Akon—Kanye tries harder, and Graduation, which has 13 bangers and zero skits, reflects the man’s tireless work ethic. Having united backpackers and clubbers with his first two albums, this…
Sometimes the simplest music is the most affecting. So it goes with PJ Harvey’s new studio album, White Chalk, which often feels like a sequel to Björk’s Vespertine. Absent are the scorched-earth guitars and feral vocals for which the songwriter is known. Instead, Chalk finds solace and strength in desolation…
Though he bears an uncanny resemblance to fictional Tanqueray gin spokesman Tony Sinclair, Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke seems about as far from his socialite doppelgänger as you can get. Sure, both men are British, which brings along its own aristocratic expectations, but Okereke and his bandmates are more at…
On Tuesday, September 4, less than a day after local musician Carter Albrecht was killed by a gunshot wound, another young local musician died. Darin Matthew Archer died of a self-inflicted wound. Archer was raised in DeSoto, lived in Dallas and was the drummer for local band the Sheena Militia…
KDGE The Edge radio station (102.1 FM) announced some of the details of its Hullabaloo show. The “alternative” radio tapped a few of its heavy rotation favorites to hold down the stage at the Nov. 2 concert, including Blue October, Shiny Toy Guns, Yellowcard and Sick Puppies. The show is…
Jacknife is back home from its summer tour with The Autumn Offering, and ready to shred at home. The metal band will take over Tomcats in Deep Ellum on Friday, Sept. 28. Industry 6, The Crimson Veil and others will open. The show kicks off at 8 p.m. and $10…
Bryce Avary at the Granada Theater a few months back. (Brian Harken) Good news for anyone (and everyone, it seems) familiar with Bryce Avary, a.k.a. The Rocket Summer: Colleyville’s most famous panty-dropper and writer of catchy pop-rock tunes has won the most recent Yahoo! Music “Who’s Next?” contest, wherein fans…
The Door has up and moved, our buddies at Unfair Park tell us. The all-ages venue’s old digs at Elm and S. Hall streets has been bulldozed to make room for more condos. Apparently, we just don’t have enough condos. On the upside, The Door has moved into the Gypsy…
We just got word Shanghai 5, that odd, fun little torch-rock-twisted-burlesque band fronted by she-with-the-mind-bending-voice singer Amy Curnow, is prepping for a big ol’ political extravaganza. Tuesday, Sept. 25, the Dallas County Young Democrats will host a wing-ding with S5 headlining and the Kul opening. If you haven’t heard the…
Lest you missed it last night, Carter Albrecht’s girlfriend Ryann Rathbone spoke with WFAA Channel 8 about the night her boyfriend was shot after exhibiting bizarre, violent behavior. Specifically, she speaks of the smoking-cessation drug Chantix, which both she and Albrecht were using, and which some people surmise can cause…
Our buddies at Unfair Park tipped us off that WFAA-Channel 8 will air an interview with Carter Albrecht’s girlfriend Ryann Rathbone at 10 p.m. tonight. She’ll talk about the events leading up to his death two weeks ago. — Chelsea Ide…
Every day in My Morning Jacket is like a day at the beach. (Mark C. Austin) If you know anyone who skipped out early at ACL, we know what they missed. Sunday’s sets included Bloc Party (in direct sunlight), My Morning Jacket (pretending to be at a beach) and our…
PlayRadioPlay may not be playing a show anywhere near us until Nov. 21 (the band is currently on tour with Spill Canvas and Daphne Loves Derby), but fans can get excited now. PlayRadioPlay is sharing a new ethereal indie tune, “Selfish Introvert,” on its MySpace page. Check it and let…
To the Arctic Monkeys a festival like Austin City Limits is old hat. (Merritt Martin)So, the whole festival thing is such a mixed bag. There are the hassles you know about that I won’t really detail too much here — expense (admittedly, the beer and food prices are reasonable here),…
We can’t help but smile at the Spinal Tap-esque shirt rocked here by Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke. (Merritt Martin)So, something about blogging about ACL just makes me want to make funny lists. This will probably piss off all the music purists who desire set list details and various musical…
“So, Elaine said to me, ‘You get those people on those buses and you get them there, regardless of whether they can read!'” — Lady trying to get drunken festival-goers aboard shuttle buses efficiently, speaking to other shuttle lady. “I like the Smashing Pumpkins and marijuana.” — Dude to his…
Anyone with a crush on Luis Dubuc, a.k.a. The Secret Handshake, may want to pre-order the new Secret Handshake disc through SmartPunk. By requesting the disc, One Full Year, be at your door on Sept. 25, you’ll get a bonus signed poster of Dubuc. DC-9 hasn’t heard the new disc…
Last night’s The National and St. Vincent show drew hundreds of people down to the Granada. As promised, our photographer Melanie Gomez hit up the show. Her pictures will make you feel like you were there, and help prep for St. V’s ACL performance this weekend. — Chelsea Ide…
Sometimes, words aren’t enough. We know. If you’re aching to see what the first day of Austin City Limits was like — and not just the fire — hit up our slideshow. We snapped pictures of your favorite bands — from Pete Yorn to M.I.A. to Kaiser Chiefs (pictured) –…
Spoon managed to bore us at Austin City Limits. (Merritt Martin) Best moments of ACL Day One, in order of awesomeness: 5. Goddamn, the hot dogs are good. All burnt on the outside and juicy on the inside. 4. Beer ain’t too expensive. Four bucks for a small. 3. The…
So, before we get into the thick of it, let’s talk about the fires, shall we? Yesterday, the fest kicked off with, um, a near the AT&T stage where Pete Yorn was performing. Sources say it was a combination of the 90+ degree heat and the high grease factor of…
We’re headed out to the Austin City Limits festival this weekend, and before seeing any bands, we’ve got big news. There is a massive fire at the festival. Our writers can see an overwhelming plume of smoke from their car on I-35. Reports say several propane tanks exploded at a…
