Laurie Gallardo

Ya tu sabes, güey. When it’s a show starring two bands that’ve been featured as KUTX Artists of the Month, it’s gonna rule. Cumbia/pop outfit Como Las Movies (“La Inconforme” is featured on today’s AMM), and rock ‘n’ roll trio Je’Texas are taking over the outside stage tonight, Saturday July 15, at Radio Coffee and Beer, 4202 Menchaca Rd. The music starts at 8 p.m. A summer night made even hotter with sizzling cumbia dance pop, and groovy, fuzzy ’60s-style psych-rock jams. A bit of everything. And you may see a familiar badass performing with Como Las Movies, just sayin’…

Okay, let’s skip the animatronics. It’s a love/hate relationship, actually. They can be really cool, but it…it sends your AMM host into a freaky mindset. Like, some crazy Five Nights scenario-type stuff. So if Falcon Bitch and Gumball from Being Dead actually did meet as animatronic mechs at Chuck E. Cheese, I have mental images of them reanimating the characters so that they find a way to leave the stage and start chatting up the kids while glaring at the adults, then they wander out of the building to the nearest grocery store to hang out by the entrance to people watch. Can you see it? Out at the Mueller HEB. Mr. Munch giving you the side eye while frickin’ Pasqually’s all, “Gettin’ some BBQ today or what?”

Oops. Went on a tangent. Sorry. Anyway, KUTX’s July Artist of the Month releases their new album When Horses Would Run today. And they celebrate with a big banger of a show tonight at the magnificent Sagebrush, 5500 S. Congress Ave. It’s a star-studded night with Big Bill, Borzoi and Redbud. The party gets started at 9 p.m.

But Chuck E. better not be working the door. Or Bonnie with that damn flying V. (shudder)

For those avoiding the unbearable sunlight, take heed. NITE SCHOOL is at your service. Every second Thursday of each month, NITE SCHOOL emerges from the shadows to present an array of artists and DJs representing the darkest of genres. Curated by DJ Scorpio (Sky Hutchens), this month’s event includes performances by heavy darkwave trio Troller; coldwave/darkwave artist Flesh of Morning (“We Ride” is featured on today’s AMM); spins by DJs Temptrix-13 and Scorpio; and visuals provided by artist Sean Miller.

NITE SCHOOL unleashes the darkness tonight, Thursday July 13, at Cheer Up Charlie’s, starting at 9 p.m.

Yes, this is the band that your Austin Music Minute host won’t shut up about, and mentions on her afternoon show at least every other day. And if it’s not to reference a specific album, of which there are now 26, then it’s to repeatedly recommend the phenomenal Edgar Wright documentary that your AMM host has admitted to viewing ten times now, and will probably watch several more times because it’s that great. Sparks is that great. Sparks is incredible. And Sparks is incredibly funny as well, so triple plus there.

Today’s AMM includes a giddily-shared quick list because it’s just scratching the surface: Kimono My House, No. 1 In Heaven, Angst In My Pants, Gratuitous Sax and Violins… (and kicking myself for leaving out the essential Propaganda). Frankly, the entire Sparks library is worthy of a deep dive. Brothers Russ and Ron Mael have a musical career spanning decades, with a unique stylistic evolution emerging in every phase of its existence. They’ve even thrown the most diehard fans for a loop, but therein lies the brilliance of two artists creating what they want, in the way they want to. And what do they sound like? They sound like SPARKS, man.

See the film, and make sure you catch Sparks at their show tomorrow night, Thursday July 13, at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. Doors at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. And stay tuned for a very special feature coming your way from KUTX!

It’s swoon at first listen with opener “Many Hours,” today’s AMM featured track from Tearjerk‘s Face To Face. Right after some dreamy swirls of pedal steel, vocalist/songwriter Vanessa Jollay calls forth some all-too familiar pangs of regret: “Berate myself on Sunday morning / I’m used to it…” Though heartbreak and frustration are common threads throughout the EP, this is no pity party. Face To Face is the revelatory insight into one’s transformation when confronting the pain weighing one down. Letting go is the ultimate release, even if it’s not the easiest thing to do.

Catch Tearjerk at their show tonight, Tuesday July 11, at Hotel Vegas, on a bill with Deep Sleep, and the musical project of Reagan Smith and Tyler Heath, Daybed. Doors at 9 p.m.

It’s devastating. And it’s spot on. LA-based artist Wallice paints a self-effacing portrait illustrating the high-adrenalin elation and soul-obliterating pitfalls of fame on ‘90s American Superstar, the tale of a fictional pop star’s rise and fall in mega-stardom. Though it’s not autobiographical, Wallice didn’t shy away from examining her own dealings with fame, and the aftermath, as a music artist. It’s all there: The good, the bad, the ugly, and the what-level-of-hell-is-this moments, dark but irreverently funny.

Wallice will be in Austin for a show tomorrow night, Tuesday July 11, at Antone’s. Doors at 7 p.m., and the show starts at

It seems impossible to shake off a romantic interest turned sour. Nothing erases the memory. They even have the nerve to show up in one’s dreams. But now, it’s time to reclaim the love. Body Pillow vocalist/songwriter Leslie Crunkilton examines the unfaltering desire in “Want It Back,” the new single featured on today’s AMM, coming out July 16. Perhaps it feels detestable (“Thought I was immune to you…”) but all isn’t lost. Keep the hunger. Extinguish the old flame to nurture the new fire. “Are you gonna eat that? / Or can I have it…?” queries Crunkilton amidst the pangs. “I gave you everything / You didn’t have to ask… / I want it back.”

Body Pillow kicks off a July residency at Hotel Vegas with a show tomorrow night, Sunday July 9, on an excellent bill with songwriter KindKeith and post-punk outfit Ragabash.

It used to be a thing: Peu importe ce que je fais, j’ai toujours faim de toi. But one could do without the indigestion, sooo…K bye.

The Belle Sounds‘ 2013 self-titled debut moved in a direction similar to that of songwriter/vocalist Noëlle Hampton‘s solo work, weaving lush and delicate acoustic folk pop that holds a quiet power beneath its gentle surface. But even then, Hampton and husband/creative partner André Moran knew an evolution was brewing in the band’s style. And since Hampton took on the role of producer, it’s expanded further into a synth-pop realm that compliments the band’s shimmering melodies. The new EP Four Fathoms Deep is the latest to show off the exploration of electronic layers with a vibrant ‘80s-inspired palate of synth-and-hook pop.

The Belle Sounds celebrate their latest release with a show tomorrow night, Saturday July 8, at The Pershing, 2415 E. 5^th St. The evening includes a solo performance by Sabrina Ellis (A Giant Dog, Sweet Spirit). Doors at 8 p.m.

The influences that drive Je’Texas’ Dylan Bishop come from the old-school rock ‘n’ roll his dad introduced him to when he first started playing guitar. From that moment on, traditional blues proved to be the pivotal point. As KUTX Music Editor Jeff McCord observed about KUTX’s January 2023 Artist of the Month, the band’s only been around since 2020 but you’d never know it by their sound. Bishop and bandmates Damien Lanes (drums) and Gian Ortiz (bass) wield a mighty ‘60s psych jam band style that tends to blow the roof off of every live show they do.

“Our music is mostly rooted in that rhythm and blues stuff and we each bring some other ingredients into the mix of course,” Bishop explains. “Things definitely evolved over time.”

This month, Je’Texas begin a July residency at C-Boy’s Heart and Soul on South Congress. You can see them play tonight, Thursday July 6, and every Thursday this month, at 10 p.m. Texas psych/garage rockers The Point follow with their set at 11:30 p.m. This show rules.

Don’t miss out on Curtis Roush‘s weekly summertime residency at The Far Out Lounge and Stage, another great show in KUTX’s 10th Birthday Concert series. The guitarist/vocalist of Bright Light Social Hour does a solo set and is joined on the bill by a special guest each week. Tonight, the July leg of the residency kicks off with a performance by KUTX Artist of the Month alumnus Moody Banks. Roll up and “Work It Out.” Doors at 7 p.m.

If, like your AMM host, you’re enamored with Aguas Frescas (parts I and II) by Wildfires, as well as their self-titled Skateland release, you may know guitarist Johanna Heilman. The Austin-based songwriter has been a part of the local scene for over 20 years, starting out as a solo artist making the rounds before joining Wildfires in 2012.

Cut to life being completely upended in 2020, just before the release of the single “Silver Grey.” As if navigating life during a pandemic wasn’t harrowing enough, Heilman was diagnosed with breast cancer in December that year. Throughout treatments and surgeries in 2021, Heilman wrote songs to process the trauma of her recovery – and the trauma of a planet unraveling around her. These observations became the ethereal tapestry of When We Were Electric, a contemplation of mortality and nostalgia. And just what is left behind after one ceases to exist? But this is not a brooding, somber portrait. Heilman’s frankness and humor about her experiences bring a kind of hopeful tone to the dark narrative.

Tonight, Johanna Heilman celebrates When We Were Electric with a release show at Chess Club, 617 Red River, with Abram Shook and Simitree (Charlie Kessenich) on the bill. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

Here it is, the grand finale of this year’s Sonik Frootz musical residency at Antone’s tonight, Friday June 30, and it’s a big one. Not only do you have Riders Against the Storm guaranteeing an action-packed night, but this evening’s spectacular event includes special guest Topaz Jones, New Jersey-born rap artist and creator of the critically-lauded album and accompanying film, Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma, a hip-hop chronicle of Jones’ formative years brilliantly utilizing the Black ABCs in a powerful and gripping narrative.

Tonight’s show also features performances by funk/rock/jazz/soul outfit Sketch.Band, a return performance by rockers The Past Lives, and reggae/R&B/soul artist Lady Shacklin. Doors at 7 p.m., and proceeds benefit the DAWA-powered Black Live Music Fund. ROLL UP.

Welcome to the enchanted forest, adventurer. Batty Jr. is your guide as you curiously meander through From The Land Of Insofaras (2017), moments captured in song, atmospheric sound, and the humor and candor of songwriter Zeke Jamon. Seriously, there’s something ridiculously sweet about Jamon singing “I don’t really have time for this…” on opener “Had A Little Tree.” The tree is lovely, it’s Love, the roots run deeply, but…moving forward means uprooting. “And there is no way I would ever leave her, well / There was no way I was ever going…” Of course, the Shakey Grave‘ fave “A Little For Later” has Sadie Wolfe‘s gorgeous cello gently gliding you into a dusky gem of rest and recalibration. In Shakey Graves’ own words on Insofaras: “The best thing since sliced object. Get off my lawn, Zeke.”

Here’s an extra shoutout to Wormholes track “Blue,” for its gentle expression of regret at the end that leaves you grinning for the rest of the day. The entire album was recorded in Marfa (at Janelle’s house, btw), and it seems to encapsulate the tiny town’s summertime vibes in each captivating track.

Now make way for Batty Jr.’s invitation to spin back round for DO A U E!. Jamon, Wolfe, drummer Daniel Coborn and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Ry Black return with more sunlit melodic magic, coming out next Friday. Kick back and enjoy the new tunes and well-loved faves at Batty Jr.’s show tonight, Thursday June 29, at the Far Out Lounge and Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave. Doors at 7 p.m., and the evening starts with a set by songwriter Lori Ellen, followed by Shane Cooley & The Midnight Girls. It’s gonna be a beautiful night. This is a love letter. Can you tell?

For Roger Sellers, the songwriter/musician behind the moniker Bayonne, working on his latest release Temporary Time became both a source of balance, and a way of channeling grief after the loss of his father to cancer. The pandemic was yet another layer in an unnerving situation, capped by isolation and perhaps too much time in one’s head. Still, it all provided ample time to create and release.

Sellers considers Temporary Time his most contemplative record to date, as he focused on refining his lyrics. “I definitely spent more time than ever on the lyrics themselves,” Sellers told KUTX Music Editor Jeff McCord. “They have always been kind of a second, I focus much more on the music. But I felt I was growing older and it was therapeutic and introspective for me to really dig into them, you know?”

Bayonne returns from tour for a hometown show tonight, Wednesday June 28, at The Parish. New York electro-pop duo mmeadows opens the show. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

*At the time of this post, a wait list is currently in effect for possible openings to this sold-out show. Please check with The Parish for details.

This month, darkwave goth rockers Haunt Me released “Dormido” and “Bésame,” two new singles from their first ever Spanish EP set for release July 15th. One song has the narrator longing for the dreams of their love that don’t come soon enough in slumber; the other, a dark desire overflowing because one kiss is not enough…

It’s a hot goth summer. Your AMM host is delighted. Catch Haunt Me at one of the only shows they’ll have this summer in their hometown tonight, Tuesday June 27, at Hotel Vegas. They share the bill with goth rockers Dragon Rapid and shoegaze/dream pop band Daydream Twins. Doors at 9 p.m.

Insert obligatory Buc-ee’s photo here, if Austin is your destination.

Today’s featured AMM track is “Sinking Feeling” from Hideaway by San Diego-based band Wavves. After weathering some not-so-positive experiences – well, outright craptastical experiences, to be blunt – with a couple of major labels, Wavves returned to Fat Possum Records to make this album and its predecessor, King of the Beach.

Time to make Wavves in the ATX. They’ve got a show tonight, Monday June 26, at Mohawk on the inside stage. Cleveland band Cloud Nothings, who are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their album Attack on Memory this year, and Oakland post-punk rockers Ultra Q share the bill. Doors at 7 p.m.

It’s a fact. Prince got it. Prince totally got Brownout. Surely, you do as well?

The Austin-based Afro-Latin funk/soul outfit proved it’s no mere Grupo Fantasma offshoot with the fiery 2008 debut, Homenaje. The collective pretty much bled its entire soul into this homage to their ’70s Latin funk influences, from Fela Kuti to Manu Dibango to Santana. Seeing Brownout unleash this level of fervor at a live show totally sealed the deal. Brownout is a force.

So many musical adventures paved the way for this band of badasses, from the mind-blowing Black Sabbath tributes Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath and Brown Sabbath Vol. II, which even won over some of the most diehard metal fans, to the originals on the four-track shredder Over the Covers, to the phenomenal Public Enemy-inspired Fear of A Brown Planet. This impressive resume led to opportunities to step in as a backing band for the likes of rapper GZA, keyboard maestro Bernie Worrell, and the aforementioned, His Royal Purple Highness.

It sounds weird to say it all started twenty years ago, but it’s true. Brownout has a lot to celebrate, including the 15-year anniversary of Homenaje. Catch the fire at their big anniversary show tonight, Saturday June 24, at Mohawk on the outside stage. Doors at 7 p.m., with Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band kicking off the party. This one’s so recommended it hurts…

It’s a celebration of Black music on every level. Not only do you get to witness some of your favorite local artists performing on the Antone’s stage, but it’s all in support of relaunching the DAWA-powered Black Live Music Fund, connecting directly with artists to help sustain their careers, while working with organizers to build long-term platforms promoting Black music in Austin and beyond.

The Sonik Frootz musical residency at Antone’s continues tonight, Friday June 23, with another spectacular line-up led by Riders Against the Storm, and featuring Goldie Pipes, Ivy Roots (“Reflect On Me” is on today’s AMM), Black Tourmaline, and returning for another performance, the fabulous Latasha Lee. Doors at 8 p.m., and proceeds benefit the Black Live Music Fun.

*Please note: The AMM erroneously included Topaz Jones in this week’s line-up. Jones will perform at Sonic Frootz next week, June 30th.

If you caught yesterday’s badass KUTX Song of the Day, you’re ahead of the game. Lola Tried‘s new airtight power pop/punk blitz “Don’t Care At All” is officially out in the world today, and damn it, it’s love at first infectious hook. Check out the new video that goes with the new track (your AMM host is here for the shreds and the windswept hair, thank you), and catch Lola Tried at their single release show tonight, Thursday June 22, at Chess Club, 617 Red River. The line-up features pop-rockers Billy King and the Bad Bad Bad, and jangle-pop five piece Dad’s Home. Doors at 8 p.m. Gotta get it.

KUTX knows how to celebrate a birthday – namely ours, because you know live music is a huge part of the party. We’ve got the shows lined up for celebrating, including some badass local artist residencies, like this one: The KUTX 10th Birthday Concert series presents Curtis Roush & Friends at the Far Out Lounge and Stage, spotlighting solo sets by the Bright Light Social Hour vocalist/guitarist, with a special guest on the line-up each week.

This week, the musical guest joining Rouch is cumbia-pop project Como Las Movies. Doors at 7 p.m. Don’t miss out! And FYI, Roush’s residency continues with a show next Wednesday with Taylor Alexander, and each Wednesday in July featuring Moody Bank$, the Madam Radar Duo, Junerise, and Heartchaser.