Jack Anderson

Hot Mustard: “Jerkwater Strut”

Although everyone’s spice tolerance is a little bit different, I think we can all agree that hot mustard hits a lot harder than the plain old yellow stuff. Enter South Carolina duo Hot Mustard – multimedia producer and guitarist Jack Powell and bassist Nick Carusos – whose tangy instrumentals pack golden age funk-soul flavors, hints of ’90s hip-hop, and a taste of true Brooklyn barbecue thanks to Big Brass Beats.

Right around the same time Oktoberfest influences our collective pretzel intake, Hot Mustard is set to serve up a delectable debut, Mother Sauce (out September 3rd), a ten-piece course that’s sure to sate any instrumental cravings. Today Hot Mustard pulls up to the Memorial Day BBQ fashionably late with Mother Sauce‘s first sample, that along with an animated music video that’d make Terry Gilliam giggle, will keep you cool and confident wherever you need to flaunt your “Jerkwater Strut”!

Zero Percent APR: “Free to be Evil”

After a week of inclement weather and thunderstorms keeping us cooped up here in Austin, we can all sort of feel like we’re trapped in a dreary, damp dungeon. But if anyone knows how to keep good company and keep spirits out of the moat, it’s “dungeon folk” duo Zero Percent APR.

Despite their salesman-like, buzzword-imbued, and near un-Googleable name, Zero Percent APR doesn’t need much to sell you on their analog sound, instead basking in the obscurity of lower fidelities. Off the heels of this April’s Halbum and driven less by narrative, more by atmosphere than their Mesopotamian predecessors, Zero Percent APR soon spins their own epic, Gilgamesh II. Get your hands on Gilgamesh II tomorrow, and accept Zero Percent APR’s early offer, “Free to be Evil”!

Giovanni Carnuccio III: “PCHDMT”

Aside from having one of the most exquisitely flamboyant names, Giovanni Carnuccio III packs a truly imaginary vision to the picnic. Based right here in Austin, the drummer-producer’s provided percussion for the likes of Turnpike Troubadours and John Fullbright, even racking up a “Best Americana Album” Grammy nomination for the latter.

But looking past his impressive session work, “Nooch” is also gearing up for the sequel to his 2020 debut solo EP, Spaghetti Western. Bursting through the saloon doors with a full six cylinders plus an extra round, A Matter Of Time challenges the norms set by Ennio Morricone with mouth-watering sonic clarity, modern flourishes that’ll make a gunslinger gawk, and bizarrely beautiful instrumentals like “PCHDMT”, whose psychedelic submersion and pop sensibilities are sure to make your cross-country road trip a bit more exciting!

Ladyfang: “Replay”

When it comes to the arena of glitter rock, it’s all about standing out. Enter keyboardist-vocalist Cara Juan and her compatriots in Ladyfang, whose controlled-but-chaotic pop rock helps the quartet outshine other glittery contenders in the Austin scene. That’s not to say Ladyfang just gnashes styles together; rather they floss in between coexistent genres with the eccentric energy and commanding confidence fit for a Lady.

So before you catch Ladyfang 10pm next Thursday at Far Out Lounge, sink your teeth into the group’s latest single, the driving-yet-ethereal “Replay” that’ll live up to its title in another way with guaranteed repeat listens.

Tee Double: “Go Off”

Having independently released nearly three dozen albums over more than three decades, earned the designation of his own official day (September 30th) in Austin, and remained a founding face of local non-profits Urban Artist Alliance and Music Moves Austin, Terrany Johnson AKA Tee Double is a powerhouse of entrepreneurship, talent, and drive. But in light of Tee Double‘s tremendous output over all the years, these past three have been conspicuously quiet for the rapper-producer, a health-related hiatus that finally came to a close when Johnson received a pancreas and kidney transplant last fall.

Now, back and hellbent on success more than ever before, Tee Double’s just released the thirty-fifth installment to his discography, the aptly-titled Local Transplant LP. Local Transplant boasts a calm, collected, and confident flow from Johnson over mesmerizing, self-produced sample-based beats that recall the crate-digging days of the ’90s, particularly on “Go Off”!

Shopgirl: “Killer”

For those that remember the majesty of Austin synth-pop trio Sphynx, you’ll recall that all three members possessed the talent and presence fit for a frontman, even when the energy was apportioned out song-by-song. Well, since Sphynx went the way of the…sphinx…a couple years back, the prospect of pursuing solo projects has become more and more tempting for each player. And just months after singer-guitarist Aaron Miller launched his solo venture Josie Lockhart, keyboardist-vocalist Cory Dennis has ushered his own pop star persona, Shopgirl, into the spotlight.

Where Sphynx sank into streams of ’80s-style retro-pop, Shopgirl splurges on all the accoutrements of modern pop, complete with futuristic vocal processing, emotionally exploratory lyrics, and some slick mastering from Tame Impala engineer Greg Calbi to top it all off. Look out for Shopgirl’s debut album Waves later this year, and treat yourself this New Music Friday to Shopgirl’s first-ever studio single, one that looks back on Sphynx, the glory days, and their quiet conclusion, “Killer”!

Casie Luong: “Last Call”

As a music educator, actress, and budding non-fiction writer, it can be tough to keep up creatively with Austin’s Casie Luong, especially since she somehow always finds time for more. In the midst of penning a family memoir and overseeing operations for Mother Falcon Music Lab, Luong’s managed to connect the dots between Kacey Musgrave’s exquisite melodies and Taylor Swift’s otherworldly pop soundscapes for her first project serving as both engineer and producer, the two-part EP Freed.

Freed Pt 2 comes out tomorrow and precedes the Hero EP, out later this summer, so liberate yourself along with Luong as she lashes raw emotion, unbridled nature, and pure nostalgia together to channel acts like St. Vincent and Sarah Jaffe on incandescent originals like “Last Call”!

Danilo: “All I Want”

Born in Brazil but transplanted into the Live Music Capital early on, singer Danilo Riggs was stunned and won over by Western music, eating up ’80s pop icons like Prince and Michael Jackson before graduating to Jeff Buckley. Going mononymously by Danilo, Riggs has fused the traditional Latin music of his youth with the modern electricity of genre giants like The Weeknd and Bruno Mars for an intoxicating intercontinental sound.

On July 16th Danilo drops his debut EP All I Want, five falsetto-spiced appetizers that give us a taste of Danilo’s dynamics, structured out shower thoughts, and detailed dreams. Danilo performs Saturday July 17th at Far Out Lounge along with our November 2017 Artist of the Month Kalu and the Electric Joint and August 2015 Artist of the Month David Ramirez, so you’re guaranteed some good company in mid-July. Til then you can tide yourself over with the ’60s-psych-tinged title track, “All I Want”!

Ben Brown: “When Fear Disappears”

Having built up his repertoire with pub rock group No Show Ponies as well as post-punk band The Savage Poor, Austin’s Ben Brown has been around the block once or twice. But as was the case with countless others who’ve thrived on the live music scene, Brown got hit hard by COVID and soon found himself cooped up with a head full of feelings.

Rather than be overwhelmed by emotion, Ben Brown un-bottled it all on his upcoming debut full-length Sayonara Sorrow, digging up and out of the depression of quarantine with an impressive artistic undertaking. Sayonara Sorrow covers a lot of ground lyrically and sonically, but may best be enjoyed by Americana enthusiasts in search of sincere introspection, heard abundantly across “When Fear Disappears”!

Balkan Taksim: “Cartes Postales”

Since their first-ever single in 2019, Balkan Taksim has given listeners unequivocal access to a fascinating intersection of ethnic music. Multi-instrumentalist Sașa-Liviu Stoianovici and producer Alin Zăbrăuțeanu dive into a variety of Southeastern European sounds, tethering ancient to contemporary for Balkan Taksim’s timeless blend.

This Friday Balkan Taksim releases their debut full-length Disko Telegraf, a baker’s dozen of exotic, emotional originals that put the duo on the map with weirdo psych sounds and chest-pounding grooves like “Cartes Postales”!

Sunny Jain: “Heroes”

After thirteen years on the road at the front of his global dance group Red Baraat, percussionist-songwriter Sunny Jain was especially affected by the constrictions of COVID. But, ever the optimist, Jain began sifting through his rolodex and soon formed a half-hundred intercontinental collective willing to help out in the writing and recording process of a new project.

Well, today, after countless hours of remote collaboration, Sunny Jain released the aptly titled Phoenix Rise LP, re-assembling the infectious energy of Red Baraat with the idiosyncrasies of his newfound team players, complete with music videos and even a 22-recipe vegan cookbook. Sunny Jain and company glisten throughout the album, effortlessly blending genres like jazz and hip-hop underneath striking vocal performances, as heard on one of Phoenix Rise‘s lead singles “Heroes”!

Cryptolog: “Do Me a Favor”

Shedding any connotations caught in the volatile world of Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and the like, Dallas four-piece Cryptolog has recaptured the cool in “crypto”. Since 2014, the quartet’s concocted a curious but catchy take on indie rock, crafting their sonic character across 2015’s Somewhere Else and 2017’s Picture Day.

This year Cryptolog’s set to let loose on their debut full-length, which is pretty much certain to exceed our expectations given the record’s latest lighthearted single (and music video), the subtle-but-powerful “Do Me A Favor (Blind Love)”!

Boyish: “Your Best Friend”

First meeting at Berklee College of Music over a collaborative demo, singer India Shore and guitarist Claire Altendahl began exploring realms of alt-country as The Blue and released Carnation in 2018. But despite considerable acclaim over The Blue’s debut, the duo opted for a do-over after graduating the following year and rebranded themselves Boyish.

Boyish charmed us last Valentine’s Day with Garden Spider, championing the two’s inherently queer identities over an enthralling lo-fi blend of dream pop and indie. And next Friday the Brooklynites share We’re all gonna die, but here’s my contribution, a half-8-track that serves up a realistic coming-of-age aesthetic, balanced between the optimism of youth and pessimism after painful adult experiences, perhaps heard best on the EP’s lead single, “Your Best Friend”.

Travis Linville: “I Saw You”

Known mainly to many as the guitarist for Hayes Carll‘s touring band but having rounded out his resume through countless studio collaborations, live shows, and with his budding solo discography, Travis Linville‘s covered a ton of territory in his career. This frequently sought-after session guitarist released the Sun or Moon EP nearly a full decade back, and continued to spread his country-rock wings with 2014’s Out On the Wire, his 2017 full-length Up Ahead, and most recently on the 2020 record Sounds of the Street.

On Friday Travis Linville imprints his masterful presence once again with the LP I’m Still Here, cooked up with a dream team of contributors and produced by fellow Broken Arrow artist and longtime fan JD McPherson for nine intoxicating originals (and a Willie Nelson cover featuring Hayes Carll) that toe the line between indie, country, rock, and beyond, including the piano-driven Tulsa-sound-evoking “I Saw You”!

Big Bill: “Coma”

Following a full decade since their foundation in 2011, Big Bill hasn’t egressed from their early eccentricities at all. The quirky quartet’s deadpan humor and disjointed song structures give even The Minutemen a run for their money, channelling fellow Austinites The Dicks and Big Boys, and everyone from Devo to Talking Heads, The B-52’s and more, guaranteeing Big Bill a path into that pantheon of punk rock.

For a four-piece as loudmouthed (in the best way) as they are, Big Bill‘s been awfully quiet since the release of their 2017 full-length Stand By Your Bill. But according to the band, they’ve been tinkering away on their newest single in that intermittent time, hashing out some of the finer points during live shows, and ultimately cranking out a track about growth, vulnerability, fury and suffering, “Coma”!

Golden Dawn Arkestra: “Phenomenal”

Between their cosmic character, otherworldly outfits, and label-evading sound, Austin’s Golden Dawn Arkestra certifies as a spectacle to say the least. The collective got started around 2013 and since then, under the direction of singer-shaman Topaz McGarrigle, these three-time Studio 1A veterans have invited hundreds, if not thousands, to participate in their intergalactic rituals incorporating elements from afro-beat to disco, electronic to jazz, and psychedelic to funk and beyond.

Teasing their upcoming album that descends from the stratosphere to tackle what challenges our own terrestrial realm, today Golden Dawn Arkestra shares their latest single, produced by KUTX favorite Walker Lukens and paired with a music video in the near future. Golden Dawn Arkestra is best experienced live, so if you’re in Houston on the 22nd or Dallas on June 5th, be sure to make a pilgrimage to their stage and channel what it means to connect with our fellow lifeforms, as heard on “Phenomenal”!

American Dreamer: “Redwood”

If there’s one group who champions the true foundations of folk here in Austin, be it basic concepts like renewing ties to nature and always aiding your fellow human, it’s undeniably American Dreamer. After bonding over their respective graduate degrees at UT’s Butler School of Music, the four began developing their brand of acoustic indie-folk, one that bridges between twentieth-century traditional and modern elements to keep the sound fresh.

As with any real folk act, American Dreamer’s already taken their style across the country and performed throughout their home state, playing everywhere from schools and hospitals to major venues and music festivals. And today American Dreamer was kind enough to let us unfurl their newest single, “Redwood”, whose soothing vocal harmonies and gorgeous guitar/cello/violin/bass arrangement make it as timeless as the eponymous sequoia.

Michael Hays: “Flashback Moonlight”

Having moved from Mississippi to Austin in the ’90s, then to L.A. in 2004, and finally back to our auspicious city limits about halfway through the last decade, singer-guitarist Michael Hays has become a trustworthy transplant in the Austin music experience. By the time Hays released his solo debut in 2014, he’d already worked in a wind chime factory, apprenticed as an accordion technician, professionally taught guitar, and become a must-have session player, not to mention performing with his fair share of rock and fusion bands. Between the birth of his daughter in 2015 and the current year, a little under a dozen song ideas evolved into Michael Hays’ sophomore LP, Red Willow, which drops next month.

Red Willow reintroduces listeners to Hays’ brand of Americana-folk-psych with sounds that bridge David Gilmour to Elliott Smith, waterfowl-centric album artwork that picks up where Christopher Cross’ 1979 debut left off, and surreal cinematic visuals that further enhance already-stimulating sonics, as seen and heard in “Flashback Moonlight”!

Kasai Allstars: “Betrayal By Gossip”

With membership landing anywhere between fifteen and two dozen, Congolese collective Kasai Allstars is nothing short of spectacular; truly a sight and sound to behold. The Allstars represent five different ethnic groups originating in their namesake DRC region, and much like the diversity of their players, Kasai’s music takes cues from a wide range of sources, be it traditional spirituals or modern electronic.

Thirteen years after their 2008 debut In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic, Kasai Allstars has unleashed another mouthful, Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound. The twelve-song LP dropped last Friday and you can settle back into the work week with the patio-appropriate “Betrayal By Gossip”!