Jack Anderson

Patricia Vonne: “Cumbia Navidad”

Like it or not, Christmastime is officially upon us. And with no apologies to the Scrooges, Song of the Day‘s final week of 2021 is dedicated strictly to the seasonal stuff. First up is Austin’s Patricia Vonne, an actress who’s not only had a fruitful relationship with Robert Rodriguez, but is also an award-winning filmmaker, animator, and singer.

Patricia Vonne recently released her LP My Favorite Holiday, featuring ten original tunes and one cover, all recorded with an impressive cast of collaborators and produced by fellow Austinite Rick Del Castillo. It’s a genuinely enthusiastic take on what’s historically been a polarizing genre, and Vonne’s vocal fervor is infectious throughout, especially on the Latin-leaning, Spanish-language “Cumbia Navidad”!

Polock: “Amargo”

Beginning with their 2010 debut LP Getting Down from the Trees, Valencia quintet Polock (pronounced like the pop art painter) has historically penned all their songs in English, referred to by the group as the “language of rock”. That tradition was only broken last year with Polock’s bilingual full-length Romance, which also marked a further refinement of their unapologetic indie-pop-rock arrangements and irreverent lyrical themes.

It’s been a whole year since Polock’s last single – the Phoenix-evoking, Spanish-language “Mar Dorado” that ended up being the opening track on Romance. But now at the tail end of 2021, despite its bitter title, Polock’s got another super sweet one fresh off the presses – “Amargo” – that keeps in tune with their Phoenix-adjacent aesthetic but punches it up with trap-style 808 drums and bass.

Jac with No K: “Caroline”

Pittsburgh-born poet Jac Carson was inspired early on by ’90s alt-rock soundtracks (Van Wilder and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater to name a couple) before getting his chops up onstage in Philadelphia and eventually moving down to Austin. And it’s here that Carson’s project Jac with No K has really flourished – blurring the lines between alternative blues and Americana into a style that the three-piece has deemed “New Texas Groove”. If you want to check out Jac with No K live, you’ve got a couple good opportunities this weekend; this Saturday Carson plays solo 3-6pm at Lone Star Court and the full band performs that same evening 9pm to midnight that same evening at The Drafting Room. Either way, let Carson’s crystalline vocals help you crest over the rest of the work week with his charmingly-calm composition “Caroline”!

Lucas/Heaven: “Every City Has a Rhythm”

Under the handle Heaven the Dude, multi-instrumentalist producer Lucas Gorham’s already gotten some serious love from the electronic/beat crowd. Not too long ago he produced Houston MC Fat Tony’s 10,000 Hours record, making the country-rap concepts a beyond-satisfying reality. But more recently Gorham’s been hankering to tap into something a little more idiosyncratic, leading us to his new solo moniker, Lucas/Heaven. Lucas/Heaven shares his debut LP Blues of the World early next year, covering a ton of sonic territory from acid jazz to cumbia, funk and beyond – all underneath biting societal commentary in the vain of Gil-Scott Heron. Blues of the World is out February 18th, and Lucas/Heaven’s given us a taste of his exalted acoustics with the urban-meets-tropical, yacht-rock-adjacent “Every City Has a Rhythm”,just in time for your Best Of 2021 playlists.

The Cactus Blossoms: “Hey Baby”

Although Minneapolis brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey didn’t begin singing together until they were in their thirties, The Cactus Blossoms and their handsome harmonies have already flourished a reputation that gives The Everly Brothers a run for their money. A half decade after The Cactus Blossoms released their debut LP You’re Dreaming and just two since their 2019 sophomore Easy Way, Burkum and Torrey have just announced a new full-length, One Day.

One Day drops February 11th of next year and The Cactus Blossoms have shared a little bit of its pollen early to keep our honey jar healthy, courtesy of the record’s soft-spoken, indie-folk-foot-tap lead single, “Hey Baby”!

The Eldridge Band: “All Away”

Based out of Tennessee, guitarist-vocalist-organist Jon Eldridge has enlisted some of Nashville’s finest for his eponymous rock project The Eldridge Band – fellow multi-instrumentalists Johnny Boyd and Caroline Browning as well as drummer Will Morrison. And after tracking their debut full-length Hindsight this past year, The Eldridge Band teamed up with acclaimed Jack White/Chris Stapleton engineer Vance Powell to mix the record and take it to another level. It’s been a couple weeks since Hindsight dropped in late November, giving us plenty of time to look back and fully appreciate how well put-together this album is; Hindsight‘s impressive sonic and dynamic range finds The Eldridge Band topping crests of psych-and-country-driven rock before effortlessly lulling back down into delicate valleys of soft piano-centric Americana, alongside some perfectly-packaged, radio-ready, harmony-heavy standouts like “All Away”!

A. Sinclair: “Secrets”

One of the most auspicious arbiters of rock here in Austin is undoubtedly A. Sinclair. Since 2014’s Pretty Girls, Aaron Sinclair’s consistently curated an intricate indie rock sound bolstered by cavalier-but-calculated vocals and gorgeous guitar work, a legacy that’s continued with this year’s Sunshine Ghost LP. This two-time Studio 1A veteran joins a roster of fellow Mr. Pink Records artists this Sunday at Hole in the Wall for the release of A. Sinclair’s latest single, “Secrets”. Over a mere three minutes, “Secrets” escalates from a stripped-down pairing of dry vocals and acoustic guitar into an enormous, reverb-drenched indie rock masterpiece that’ll have you sharing it with your own network of music nerds in no time.

Anand Wilder: “I Don’t Want Our Love to Become Routine”

Some of you may still be distraught over the 2019 disbanding of Yeasayer post-Erotic Reruns, but former core member Anand Wilder has come with a bit of good news. Wilder’s recently announced his upcoming solo debut I Don’t Know My Words for release early next year, in which Wilder reignited the self-imposed creative challenges of his childhood by performing and recording each and every featured instrument.

The announcement comes along two new tunes and a music video, both of which recall some elements of Yeasayer’s songwriting formulas, albeit in a slower, more retro-acoustic manner. This carefully crafted pair presents a ton of potential for Wilder’s solo endeavor, as he clearly knows what he’s doing on I Don’t Know My Words, especially with the psych-folk finishes on “I Don’t Want Our Love to Become Routine”!

Strand of Oaks: “Easter” [KUTX Pop-Up]

Singer-guitarist Timothy Showalter took the trauma of his early twenties and transformed it into his solo project Strand of Oaks while he was still in Pennsylvania but it’s open been since he moved down to Austin that his style has fully flourished. Following the release of his eighth album In Heaven back at the beginning of October, Showalter’s been touring America alongside Jason Isbell and embarks on an international tour beginning next February. But the latest from this three-time Studio 1A veteran is a pop-up session which Strand of Oaks graciously allowed our multimedia team to capture in Showalter’s own home, and even though we just got done with Thanksgiving, we’re confident that the set-opener “Easter” is perfect for a playlist of any season.

Sarita: “Never Give Up”

Austin’s Sara Maria may only have a couple singles to her musical moniker as of now, but just those two tracks alone are plenty enough to impress us with the potential of Sarita. Sarita’s been blending a variety of genre nooks and crannies for her upcoming debut album, be it from folk, pop, R&B, or soul, and rounds out these eclectic sonics with a powerful feminine voice that falls somewhere between Janis Joplin, Norah Jones, and Sade.

So keep an ear out for Sarita’s record in the near future, and keep the tranquil Thanksgiving-weekend vibes alive with a calming cornucopia of horns, guitar, and vocals on “Never Give Up”!

Clarence James: “Freedom Comes”

Following all the cranberry sauce, stuffing, and more, the post-Thanksgiving digestion period can be plenty liberating. But even with the knowledge that everyone’s still full and high on family time (be it for better or worse), Austin singer-guitarist Clarence James has just come out of the kitchen with a double dish of socially-conscious soul, courtesy of his new two-track EP.

But despite James’ jazz-adjacent vocals and tender guitar work, this pair of self-produced originals is far from just comfort food; they instead recreate experiences of racial profiling and “driving while Black” in the opening track and champion for nourishment through unity in the George Floyd protest-inspired closer “Freedom Comes”.

Akina Adderley: “Home Before Dark”

The term “songstress” is a relatively outdated one, but if there’s anyone here in Austin that fits the description, it’s absolutely Akina Adderley. In addition to her work providing vocals for the world-jazz group NORI and as one third of retro-girl-pop project Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, Adderley’s long maintained a reputation as a must-hear powerhouse performer, be it on her own or with her eponymous trio.

Akina Adderley plays with NORI on December 11th at Central Market North Lamar and with The Akina Adderley Trio on December 29th at Geraldine’s, but the big news comes in the form of a standalone single. Touting a gospel-blues-adjacent waltz of a groove and lyrics that look at our collective path as a nation, “Home Before Dark” will keep you in bright spirits even in these wintry early nights.

Buffalo Nichols: “Lost & Lonesome” (Studio 1A Version)

For the past few weeks you’ve heard plenty from our November 2021 Artist of the Month Buffalo Nichols, the Houston-born/Milwaukee-raised singer-guitarist who just released his self-titled debut. Carl Nichols’ worldly travels and keen sense of observation have both leant themselves to the lyrical praises for Buffalo Nichols and just last week he dropped by Studio 1A to both break up the kenopsia and entertain a socially-distanced, masked-up crowd. So add Buffalo Nichols to your streaming player and check out the Studio 1A session below, one that kicks off with the heady but coherent piece of jazz-folk poetry, “Lost & Lonesome”.

Benjamin Lazar Davis: “Medicine”

New York’s Benjamin Lazar Davis already showed off his multi-instrumental indie pop chops on his 2018 debut Nothing Matters but in the three short years since then he’s leveled up even further. A proven mastermind of sonic choices and vivid, varied arrangements, Benjamin Lazar Davis released his eponymous sophomore full-length today, blurring the lines between the delicacy of Sufjan Stevens and the psychedelic boundlessness of Flaming Lips. Benjamin Lazar Davis is a carefully crafted ten-track testament to Davis’ inert songwriting intuition and faith in the collaborative process, with an extensive dynamic range that creates a one-of-a-kind listener experience. This LP is guaranteed to expose you to some of the most unique sounds of 2021, heard most compactly in “Medicine”.

EXES with Luke Wild: “Girl of My Dreams”

One of the trickiest parts of pop songwriting is conveying emotion in a genuine way that’s both catchy and accessible. But for L.A. duo EXES – vocalist Allie McDonald and producer Mike Derenzo – that’s their bread and butter. Thesekindred collaborators have been creeping up into the indie pop scene since 2019 and coming off the alternative sounds heard on their EP Nothing Ever Ends, EXES is eager to explore more elements of rock on their upcoming full-length, Don’t Give Up On Me Now. Don’t Give Up On Me Now is due out February 4th, 2022, right around the same time EXES hits the road for a quick national tour. The LP’s announcement coincided with the release of its debut single (and charmingly cinematic music video) last Friday, one that’s co-written by featured singer Luke Wild but is far from a traditional love song in spite of its title, “Girl of My Dreams”.

Emily Shirley: “Survivors” [PREMIERE]

Emily Shirley might be most recognizable here in Austin for her rolewith The Belle Sounds performing synth, piano, and vocals, but she’s also got plenty of other merits elsewhere. The classically-trained Connecticut native was the lead singer of Boston soul-breakbeat group Amun Ra for their two albums before moving to Austin a decade and half back. Shirley shared her debut solo EP Tiny Truths in 2010 before becoming a member of The Belle Sounds in 2013, then interspersed the full band energy with a solo endeavor once again by releasing 2015’s Duotone before joining The Big Fix in 2017. Following the release of 2018’s Courage Up, Emily Shirley’s taken her pandemic-based time to focus on writing and recording a new set of singles, including today’s latest, “Survivors”. “Survivors” pays tribute to us Texans who toughed it out during the deadly freeze this past February and will warm your heart with its purposeful piano arrangement and incandescent vocals.

Sara Jean Kelley: “Bleeding Stone”

Like many Americana artists, Nashville native Sara Jean Kelley grew up with an adoration for nature and has since continued to explore how us humans interact with the world that’s grown around us, be it for better or worse. Kelley first put those thoughts on record with her 2013 debut The Waiting Place, revealing the singer-guitarist’s bleak-but-humorous honesty within her lyrics while showcasing her infectiously twangy guitar and vocals reminiscent of Lucinda Williams or Patti Griffin. On the heels of her 2019 EP The Wild, Sara Jean Kelley’s set to share yet another rock-leaning meditation on the human condition and the laws of nature with Black Snake, out this Friday. Though Black Snake was tracked in just two days, you can hear how much care was put into these six rustic originals that’ll slither right into your heart without making you hiss, heard most recently with “Bleeding Stone”.

Stellar: “Enemy”

Though they’ve already proven their outspokenness as an anti-racist organist/activist, Stellar‘s passion is about shine in a separate-but-adjacent setting – folk music. The Austin-based singer’s style falls somewhere between Sinead O’Connor, Indigo Girls, and Joni Mitchell, framing candid societal commentary over enthralling instrumental arrangements. Stellar releases their debut LP RAINBOW SHADOWS this Friday and shares it digitally via livestream that same day, and you can get a grasp on this record’s full spectrum of worldly reflections with a quick listen to the album’s societally-charged lead single, “Enemy”!

Ladyfang: “Narcissist”

Previously under the name A Case for Brooklyn, the quartet Ladyfang has become a fabulous force of glitter, glam, and the like within Austin’s rock scene. Between their eye-catching outfits, less-than-reverent lyrics, and unpredictable nuances within their genre’s framework, Ladyfang’s kept us plenty entertained for the past half decade. Ladyfang performs tonight at Empire Control Room and tomorrow evening at Indian Roller in celebration of their latest single, whose lush vocal harmonies and satisfying production techniques will keep you grinning to yourself in the mirror before you hit the town, “Narcissist”!

Futon Blonde: “Sisyphus Strut”

With an initial frame assembled from the demos of Janson Sommer in 2014, Futon Blonde has since reclined and extended for maximum listener comfort. Since finalizing the lineup heard on the 2016 EP Solid State, this Austin quartet’s proven time and time again that blondes do indeed have more fun, thanks to eclectic grooves that stand out against the otherwise predictable realm of indie rock sonics. Futon Blonde’s trickled out a couple singles since their 2019 LP Uppercut, but they all pack a similar punch in their own right. Case in point: “Sisyphus Strut”, which taps into ’90s-era hip-hop production techniques to roll a boulder of indie-adjacent funk psychedelia, guaranteed to help you break out of any workplace monotony and push through to the weekend.