Jack Anderson

Taking its name from the first ever world atlas, Austin group Atlas Maior covers a globe of diverse music ranging from Latin America, the Middle East and right here in the United States. The band initially got their start a decade ago, inspired by everyone from Egyptian composers, Lebanese string players, Israeli bassists, North American jazz artists and more. Their manifold musicality has earned them an international tour in Turkey and the Austin City Council proclamation of Atlas Maior Day on March 27th.

Atlas Maior’s latest endeavor is the recently released fifth album, Riptide, and they’ll be joining us in Studio 1A This Thursday before the free release show 10pm this Friday at Stay Gold! Get caught up in the maelstrom of Riptide with one of eleven new tunes from Atlas Maior, “Cumbia Raposa”!

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Photo: Alicia Michelle

As the daughter of a Hollywood actress and an L.A. film composer, Jess Clinton was exposed to the studio life earlier than most. Clinton’s undying love of creative expression led her to an affection for guitar, voice lessons, an art obsession, and bouts of secret songwriting. When she moved to NYU, Clinton’s fascination for folk, rock, musical narratives, theatrical vocals and Celtic music all collided and she’s set to bear it all on her upcoming album, Real Glass Heart.

This immensely intimate record gives off vibes similar to Lucius or PJ Harvey and while Real Glass Heart isn’t out until July, you can get a clear view of the Brooklyn songwriter’s energy with the LP’s penultimate track, “The Runaway“!

While the prospect of being on the road all the time had Joey Ramone begging for sedatives, for Brooklyn songwriter Adir L.C., the journey really is the reward. The jangle indie folk jet setter got his start in New Jersey before college in New York and a subsequent two-year relocation to Tel Aviv, and in the process has become a sort of twenty-first century traveling bard.

That sense of kinetic creativity lent itself to Basket Star, Adir L.C.’s latest album and one that weaves together gentle horn arrangements, impressionistic lyrics and dreamy guitar across a dozen originals. Basket Star is available today so make the first move with the record’s inaugural track, “Best Version (of my short life)”!

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Photo: Adam Kolodny

Detroit-born cousins Miguel Ojeda and John Zakoor have been playing together for a decade and a half and with the addition of Austin’s Bryan O’Flynn, they barrel along as Migrant Kids. This three-piece specializes in what they’ve dubbed “psychedelic jungle rock” and have been in constant pursuit of their musical dreams for the past six years. Between an opening tour spot for The Bright Light Social Hour and a handful of prestigious local awards, these aural emigrés are a key piece of the Austin Music Experience and they continue the saga with their next record, We All Forget, due out July 26th.

Keep your eyes peeled for Migrant Kids on Austin marquees and step in line for the upcoming album from Migrant Kids with the lead single, “Follower”!

Toss R&B, soul, funk, and a bit of modern ingenuity into a food processor and you get Ottawa two-piece Garçons. Nigerian-raised singer Deelo Avery first teamed up with producer-director Julian Strangelove half a decade back and ever since the landmark decision to make music together in 2017, they’ve been catching lightning in a bottle. Last year we got their debut record Body Language and coming up in the fall Garçons shares their as-of-yet untitled EP, one that promises even more excellence from this soulful twosome.

The album’s lead single (and music video) finds Avery and Strangelove in a playful, edgy, and most of all groovy mood, topped off with a retro Fela Kuti-esque afrobeat feel for an absolute toe-tapper. Garçons’ sophomore EP isn’t out until August 28th but today you can begin the bump with “Pedigree”!

For the first phase of his life, Briston Maroney bounced between Tennessee and Florida and couldn’t find permanent ground to plant himself. Now rooted in Nashville, the twenty-one year-old rock singer-songwriter has already come quite a way since the release of his 2017 debut EP Big Shot. This Friday Maroney releases his third record, Indiana, a four-song meditation on the dichotomy between adolescent aspirations and the realities of adulthood.

Maroney spends the next couple months on an international tour and joins us for both weekends of Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. Indiana is out in a few days and today you can tear into one of the record’s lead singles, “Caroline”!

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Photo: Nolan Knight

What started off for Aly Spaltro at a video rental store in mid-2000s Brunswick, Maine has since blossomed into Lady Lamb. Now at two EPs and three LPs, Lady Lamb has been chopping through the conventions of indie for some of the most honest, heartfelt songwriting you’ll ever hear.

Spaltro spent a good amount of time off the grid for her latest record, Even in the Tremor, in the process uncovering vulnerability, self-acceptance and a commitment to creating only what is necessary in light of anxiety and life’s other afflictions. Even in the Tremor came out last month and Lady Lamb’s been on the road ever since, continuing with a show tonight at Antone’s! Be sure to catch Spaltro onstage and negotiate Even in the Tremor with one of the album’s centerpieces, “Strange Maneuvers”.

–Jack Anderson

Raised in Harlem near the legendary Apollo Theatre, singer Carlton Jumel Smith is inspired by some of the finest names in funk and soul. From Al Green to Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack and beyond, Smith has kept a meticulous personal list of the sets he’s seen at the Apollo to keep his mindset among the greats.

Now backed by Finland’s Cold Diamond & Mink band, Smith brings the classic spirit of his idols to the 21st century on his debut full-length, 1634 Lexington Avenue. There’s a certain elegance and class that Smith’s vocals invite to these already rich arrangements over ten tracks of punching horn lines, frenetic rhythm guitar, and drum fills that keep the adrenaline flowing. 1634 Lexington Avenue is out today and although it’ll be hard to help yourself from checking out the full thing ASAP, enjoy one of the album’s centerpieces, “Help Me (Save Me From Myself)”!

If you’re parched for some calculated electronic psych-pop, the duo Drinker is just for you. New York producer Ariel Loh has joined forces with L.A. singer-songwriter Aaron Mendelsohn to create some of the slickest beats and synth arrangements 2019 has to offer. Last Friday Drinker’s debut full-length, Fragments, broke apart whatever expectations a first-time electronic music listener may have, proving that just because it’s heavy on electronics, it doesn’t have to be EDM.

Through nine tracks of coast-to-coast cool, hints of indie rock, and Mendelsohn’s waxing-and-waning vocals, pinning down Drinker’s sound on Fragments other than “really good” is almost a lost cause. For a complete look at Fragments, you can stream and download the full thing at your own leisure, and for today get a baseline with “Model”!

Although he first got his start providing bass and vocals for LA indie outfit Princeton, Matt Kivel is also a hell of a songwriter in his own right. Since his decision to go solo in 2013, Kivel has put out four albums and he recorded his upcoming record from a temporary home right here in Austin. last night in america features minimalist arrangements and instrumentation performed entirely by Kivel himself. This latest offering is a haunting and endearing meld of Americana, folk, lo-fi and ambient, begging for another listen immediately after the first.

Kivel has moved onto New York City, but he’ll be in town next Friday at the Cactus Cafe. last night in america is out this Friday but you can ascend over this Hump Day with a sneak peek, courtesy of “the tower”!

Continuing the Austin tradition of large Latin ensembles, Superfónicos has been blowing us away since day one. You’d think from their controlled, masterful live shows that they’ve been playing together for decades, and yet their debut EP, Suelta, only came out last year. The group specializes in a saucy rendition of Cumbia-Funk with textures rooted in Africa, Colombia and Texas, and if you’re not shakin’ your rump by the end of the first song in a live set, there’s something seriously wrong with you.

Spoon’s Jim Eno recently produced a new 7-inch for Superfónicos, where both A-side and B-side pay tribute to the band’s primary influences. Cumbéalo/Tropidelico is out on Friday, the release show is Saturday at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, and today you can marinate in a free download of “Tropidelico”!

Although their name is inspired by an Erykah Badu album, London quintet Mamas Gun brings a completely different brand of soul and R&B to the table. Their blue-eyed, classic-but-modern take on the genres have earned them acclaim in the decade they’ve been together and on their fourth record, Golden Days, Mamas Gun took production responsibilities on themselves. This auteur approach gives us ten robust, idiosyncratic tracks for an ideal summer record, sure to win over anyone needing to balance all the sunshine with a bit of shady soul. You can add Golden Days to your vinyl collection when it comes out on Friday, and enjoy Mamas Gun’s thoughts on Brexit, “On The Wire”!

 

As the old saying goes, don’t mess with Texas. Well, I’m starting to think they should change it to don’t mess with Audrey Campbell-the frontwoman of Austin punk rock band Pleasure Venom. In true punk rock fashion, Pleasure Venom pushes boundaries with their hard-hitting songs and pointed lyrics that explore taboo topics with fearless ease. Their latest self-titled EP was recorded in at Wolf Shield Ranch and released in November of 2018. They’ve apparently not been busy enough because on May 8th they will be at Barracuda for their Tour Kickoff and Music Video Release Party starting at 9 pm. We might have to wait till then for the music video but-now- let’s listen to your KUTX song of the day, “Hive.”

–Simone Puglia

To put it simply, Ida Mae has some serious chemistry. The blues-roots husband-and-wife duo has recently been added to Greta Van Fleet’s tour and their debut album Chasing Lights is out early next month.

And if that’s not enough oomph for you, check this out; Ida Mae’s lead single from Chasing Lights features the one and only Dweezil Zappa on guitar. Wiggle on into the weekend and spark the fuse on your new favorite band right now with, “Boom Boom Boom”!