Laurie Gallardo

That eternal question lingers in the air. Where does the time go? And here is UTOPIA Fest eleven years later, as strong and solid as ever, built by individuals madly in love with the music and, very importantly, the people that bring it to life.

UTOPIA founder Travis Sutherland, along with a mad-talented creative crew consisting of Wayne Dalchau, and Onion Creek Productions badasses Aaron Brown and Jamie Brown, have been to hell and back carefully shaping this family-friendly experience, named in honor of its original location in Utopia, TX. This year’s event is another music festival standout: Attendance is capped at 2,000 to keep things as uncrowded as possible (sounds like heaven to your AMM host, frankly); camping is free of charge; and one is able to see every performing artist without another performance overlapping. The Arrowhead and Cypress stages on site have all been scheduled accordingly, so attendees can see all of the bands.

All of them, without having to choose one over the other, thank you very much.

All the magic happens at Reveille Peak Ranch, 105 CR 114, in Burnet, TX. After kicking things off this afternoon, UTOPIA Fest continues tonight with sets by Sir Woman, Whiskey Shivers and Mamafesta, plus a grand display with a guaranteed sick line-up brought to you by the UTOPIA Players at 10:30 p.m., and late night sets by Matthew Logan Vasquez, Whiskey Shivers and Jenny Parrot, into the wee hours of the morn. Tomorrow afternoon, you can catch Garrett T. Capps (featured on today’s AMM), and The Deer.

Check UTOPIA Fest’s website for more details, and be listening for more UTOPIA Fest 2019 picks from the Austin Music Minute.

-Image courtesy of UTOPIA Fest.

Sounds from the twilight, music haunting one’s dreams. It’s how the day breaks, how the night shines. Wisps of smoke, fragrant wafts within a breeze, or distant howls from wide, open spaces. All of this and more would be most fitting in attempting to describe the magic of Little Mazarn. They’re everywhere…perfect moments caught in time captured in one’s mind forever.

Little Mazarn shares an outstanding bill tonight at the Hole In the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe, that features legendary avant-folk artist Ralph White, and ATX Cajun music outfit The Ditch Crickets. The music begins at 9 p.m. Very recommended.

-Photography by Julia Reihs for KUTX.

You know those bass chords. Peter Hook played that bass as though it was a guitar. The riffs are instantly recognizable if you’re a longtime Joy Division fan – or even a New Order fan.

The songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer is best known as bassist and co-founder of both, though these days you’ll find him on tour with his own band, The Light. Don’t miss them tonight at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Dr. The show includes performances of the albums Technique and Republic by New Order, in their entirety, with an opening set featuring the music of Joy Division.

Doors at 7 p.m. Very recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

Welcome to this celebration of music inspired by sounds within the psych vein and beyond. LEVITATION has two more days of assorted badassery happening in the Red River District and East Austin. Your Austin Music Minute maven has a few picks for your wanderings about the festival, including:

-A few early sets this afternoon by Acid King and The Well at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St. (music starts at 2 p.m.); Allah Las and White Fence at Empire Control Room, 606 E. 7th St. (2 p.m.); and AMM fave Chelsea Wolfe and Ionna Gika at Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 8th St. (music begins at 4 p.m.).

–Tonight features LEVITATION founders The Black Angels sharing a bill with John Cale at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, 801 Red River; Blushing, Tan Cologne and Single Lash at Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River; and Flipper with David Yow at Hotel Vegas, 1501 E. 6th St.

–Tomorrow includes Dinosaur Jr. and Kurt Vile at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater; AMM fave Dallas Acid and Black Moth Super Rainbow at the Mohawk, 912 Red River; and a free Creek Show at Waterloo Greenway (1111 Red River) with another AMM favorite, Annabelle Chairlegs at 8 p.m. And, as featured on today’s AMM, much love for A Place To Bury Strangers, who have a Sunday night performance at Barracuda, with Christian Bland & The Revelators, and Ringo Deathstarr.

These are but a few selections for your LEVITATION weekend. Visit the website for a complete schedule. So recommended.

-Artwork from another phenomenal poster design by Robin Gnista. Robin is a badass.

Welcome, music freaks, to day two of LEVITATION, a celebration of music influenced by the psych realm and beyond. Touring and local artists are performing at venues along Red River and in East Austin, and as you’ll see by today’s Austin Music Minute, it’s a bit overwhelming – in the best way possible. Tonight’s shows include:

-The glorious visual spectacle and mind trip of The Flaming Lips, with Mercury Rev and ATX-based band Holy Wave at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, 801 Red River.

-Near and dear to your AMM host’s dark little heart, David J. (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) performs at Elysium, 705 Red River, with an awesome line-up that features Dallas-based tradgoth/punk outfit Rosegarden Funeral Party, and darkest of dark ATX artists Curse Mackey and SINE.

-Experimental psych/surf rockers Strange Lot take over Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River, with Astragal and El Lago.

-Memphis noise-punk badasses NOTS let loose at Hotel Vegas, 1501 E. 6th, sharing the bill with Hash Redactor, Aquarian Blood and Benni.

-The mighty Black Mountain (featured on today’s AMM) performs at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, along with Kikagaku Moyo and Stonefield.

Check the LEVITATION website for a complete weekend schedule.

-Artwork from poster design by Robin Gnista.

First, a bit of background for you: LEVITATION got its start as Austin Psych Fest back in 2008, founded by ATX-based band (and longtime AMM favorite) The Black Angels. The band is extremely reverential when it comes to the artists who paved the way for today’s psych-rooted musicians, so the festival is named in honor of ultimate psych pioneers, The 13^th Floor Elevators.

LEVITATION is now a world-renown music festival with curated events in France, Chicago and Vancouver, in addition to several other international happenings, but Austin remains the official HQ, where it all began. This year boasts another great set of line-ups, always a fantastic mix of local and touring artists, at various Red River and East Austin venues. Of course, one of the big performances coming up is The Black Angels sharing a bill with John Cale at Stubb’s on Saturday night. (As in, the John Cale.) Portland-based band formed by Collin Hegna, Federale makes an excellent opener.

Things kick off tonight with recent Studio 1A guest Angel Olsen, Devendra Banhart and Vagabon at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, 801 Red River; High On Fire at the Mohawk, 912 Red River; Kikagaku Moyo at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St.; TR/ST (featured on today’s AMM) at Empire Control Room, 606 E. 7th St., and more.

Check LEVITATION’s website for complete show schedules and venues. Recommended.

-Artwork from LEVITATION poster design by Robin Gnista.

Imagine: It’s just you, and the open highway. Somehow, Wil Cope pens the songs that shape that very vibe into music. It’s haunted. It can be desolate. It’s loaded with memories and twilight times, maybe a few regrets, always a string of best-laid plans that might’ve gone south.

Cope’s 8-song EP, Denial River, is arguably his strongest work yet. He recorded it with producer and band mate Doug Walseth, and something about it carries an otherworldly shadow hovering above a long stretch of road, alongside a shimmering body of water flowing toward somewhere unknown, unexplored. There’s Cope. And there’s no turning back now.

You’ll get to hear some tracks from it and then some when Cope plays tonight at Hole In the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe, sharing the bill with North Carolina-based artist Alma Russ. The music starts at 9 p.m. So recommended.

-Photography by Jacqueline Badeaux.

For Daniel and Jenna Watters, their most powerful muse has been their life journey, both individually and as Americana soul duo The Watters. Though born and raised in Sedona, the wandering Watters have lived in different cities, from Los Angeles to Denver to Nashville, and now the ATX. And within every environment, every atmosphere, they’ve mined endless inspiration for their roots style blending rock, soul and jazz.

The Far Out Lounge and Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave. in South Austin, is putting The Watters in the spotlight for its next musical residency, Wednesdays with The Watters, kicking off tomorrow night. Doors at 7 p.m. Recommended.

-Photography by Barbara FG.

Another instant favorite of the Austin Music Minute, immersed in brushstrokes of twilight hues… This is the golden hour in music form.

L.A.-based band Goon‘s debut LP, Heaven is Humming, was three years in the making. Front man and visual artist Kenny Becker took great care in constructing something simultaneously striking and odd, a bizarrely beautiful presence, an eerie soundtrack with elements of ’90s grunge reverberating in the dusk.

Goon is in Austin for a show tonight at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, sharing a bill with Austin bands Ama and Spirit Ghost on Mohawk’s indoor stage. Doors at 8 p.m. Recommended.

-Artwork by Kenny Becker of Goon.

If you swing by Eberly, 615 S. Lamar Blvd., you’ll notice the stairwell on the right side of the building. Make your way up and you’ll discover a lovely, cozy spot, overlooking the railroad tracks and trees nearby. That, darling, is Eberly’s rooftop – with an enclosed space that houses a small stage, mind you, but it’s the top o’ the building. This is the home of Eberly’s Sunset Sessions, a music series supporting a wonderful cause.

Sunset Sessions came from an idea to feature up-and-coming music artists in an intimate setting, but it’s evolved into a spectacular early Sunday evening experience, all in support of the SIMS Foundation, which provides access to affordable mental health and addiction recovery services for the local music community.

Tomorrow night’s show features Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, with Mamahawk kicking off the event. Doors open early at 6 p.m., and just a few tickets remain at this link. Your humble Austin Music Minute host, a proud SIMS client and supporter, will serve as emcee. Hope to see you there.

-Photography by Julia Reihs for KUTX.

Time to rule the world. Oh, wait – already ruling it.

KUTX presents a special benefit performance in support of Girls Rock Austin, which provides empowerment programs and resources for girls and women, gender fluid/non-binary and trans youth through music. With a number of mentorships, opportunities for creative expression, and musical instruction, Girls Rock Austin shows the transformative power music has in the development of life skills and leadership qualities.

The benefit happens tonight at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St., with sets by Quiet Company, Shy Beast (featured on today’s AMM), Otis the Destroyer, March and Beauty, and Girls Rock Austin Camper Band, Petty Betty & The 9 Volts, kicking off the evening. Doors at 8 p.m. Step up, represent, and see how she rules. Very recommended.

-Photo of Shy Beast courtesy of the artist.

Seriously, if you don’t think there’s anything going on tonight, fiend, you aren’t checking the right haunts. Your Austin Music Minute maven has conjured a list of spooky shows around town guaranteed to get you into the spirit. Take your pick, foolish mortal:

-More than the Mash, babe. It’s The Horror Disco, featuring CAPYAC, Calliope Musicals and more at Empire Control Room, 606 E. 7th St.

–A Very CBGB’s Halloween at the Hard Luck Lounge, 3526 E. 7th St., with local bands paying tribute to greats like The Ramones, Patti Smith, Television and more, who left their mark on the famed iconic NYC venue.

–Here’s your one chance… FANCY at The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf, with sonic sirens Christy Hays, Selena Rosanbalm and Beth Chrisman celebrating the sounds and styles of female-powered country acts of the 80s and 90s. Costumes strongly encouraged, Shania.

-He’ll getcha. Look out. The eerie, leery Ole Creepy leads the creepy crew at The Parlor, 4301 Guadalupe St., featuring Blacklight and (oh HELL yes) One Good Lung.

-Something wicked this way comes. The White Horse, 500 Comal St., does haunting the honky-tonk way with Garrett T. Capps, Kathryn Legendre, and The Saddle Sores. Head ’em out.

–Hole In the Wall Halloween, 2538 Guadalupe, with more musical tributes as performed by ATX bands Bridge Farmers, Magic Rockers of Texas, Gold Leather and Belcurve.

-It’s The Zoltars Halloween album release show for their new LP, Telling Stories, at Hotel Vegas, 1501 E. 6th. Get that album. (“I’m Stressed” featured on today’s AMM.)

–Don’t run away. It’s only me. Do512‘s Dia de Los Muertos show at Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd., featuring Alex Maas (The Black Angels, MEIN), Bidi Bidi Banda, The Matt Gilmour Band, Peligrosa, Nemegata, and The Cuckoos. Costume contest, by the way. Show no mercy.

-These are the spectres to party with. Ghostland Observatory takes over Carson Creek Ranch, 701 Dalton Ln.

-Bring your fangs. Capes optional. Drakulas and Slomo Drags invade Spider House Ballroom, 2908 Fruth St.

-We dance on your coffin…though, what with the whiskey, some of us might face-plant. Mr. Lewis & The Funeral Five, Caleb De Casper, DD Dagger and Horti scare up the scene at Dozen Street, 1808 E. 12th St.

-This one’s not for the kiddos. Welcome to the Adult Night of Horror, a superb Walker Lukens residency presented by KUTX at the Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. Lukens and special guests will do a live score for David Cronenberg’s The Fly. (pppttthh…everybody gon be there to see ol’ Goldblum in his skivvies…)

Take your pick, ghoul. Here’s to a Happy Halloween. And, in the immortal words of your Austin Music Minute host’s queen:

“Unpleasant dreams!”

Its mission is simple and direct. And its very existence is meant to represent a multitude of voices you may be discovering for the first time. Check it all out.

One Road Austin, a concert series created to celebrate Austin’s diverse musical community, made its official debut just last year, and a premiere of sorts last week at venue 3Ten. Now you have the opportunity to experience endless waves of talent through One Road Austin with Songs of Love, Equity & Soul, a huge show happening tonight at Antone’s, 305 E. 5th St.

The evening features local artists performing much-beloved classics by Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, Santana, The Beatles and more. And this is one sick line-up: Kalu James (Kalu and The Electric Joint), Vallejo, Jai Malano, The Watters, Stephanie Bergara (Bidi Bidi Banda), Kiko Villamizar, Lesly Reynaga, Nagavalli, Haydn Vitera, Tomar Williams (Tomar and The FCs), Nelson Valente Aguilar (Como Las Movies), Curtis Lee, Johnny Goudie, and a special performance featuring School of Rock artists, in addition to surprise guests.

It’s a lot to see – and it’s fantastic. Doors at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Very recommended.

-Photo courtesy of One Road Austin.

Stiff Little Fingers got their start in 1977 in their hometown of Belfast, Ireland, as, of all things, a cover band called Highway Star. Difficult to believe, but true. However, all that changed with their discovery of punk rock. With a new name and attitude, SLF came out roaring with their fiery debut, Inflammable Material (1979), on Rough Trade. The first single, “Suspect Device” (featured on today’s AMM) was sent to John Peel, who – as the story goes – played it quite a bit on his show. Chaos reigned supreme.

Despite a break-up in 1982, and several line-up changes over the years, with vocalist Jake Burns being the only remaining founder in the band, Stiff Little Fingers continues to tour throughout the world. This year, they’ve embarked upon their 40^th anniversary tour commemorating their debut album, and that includes a stop in Austin for a show tonight at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St. San Francisco band – one of the first to emerge in San Francisco’s scene –  The Avengers kicks off the show, which is one hell of an opener. The real deal. Doors at 8 p.m. So recommended.

-Photography by Shirley Sexton.

It’s a big night this evening for fans of UK nu-jazz/electronic outfit The Cinematic Orchestra. Their tour supporting To Believe, their first studio album since 2007, includes a stop in Austin for a performance tonight at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, on the outside stage. Electronic experimental artist Evan Shornstein‘s solo project Photay, and L.A. artist PBDY, open the show.

But today’s Austin Music Minute also puts the spotlight on the following show on the inside stage at the Mohawk, featuring sets by Austin-based songwriter and guitarist Michael Hays; local indie-psych outfit Pretty Little Thieves (featured on today’s AMM), and alt.-folk band Dead Animal. Doors at 8 p.m. All recommended.

-Photo of Pretty Little Thieves courtesy of the artist.

White Denim gets a few prog rock references thrown into various critiques, and fair enough. But the live performances speak in more vast volumes. Imagine prog flipped over on its behemoth technical and artistic complexities into a kind of funk/soul maelstrom – the fusion, but on fire.

White Denim will release their first-ever live album, In Person, this Tuesday through their label, Radio Milk – which, by the way, is also their recording studio and an awesome East Austin performance space. In Person follows two spectacular back-to-back releases: Performance in late 2018, and Side Effects, which came out earlier this year.

Tonight is the second night of two album release shows for In Person at Radio Milk, 2300 Coronado St., starting at 8 p.m. This one comes very recommended.

-As of this writing, tonight’s show is sold out.

-Photo of White Denim courtesy of the artist.

One of the newest up-and-comers to shake up the local scene is ultra-fab glam-punk outfit Lord Friday the 13th, featuring siblings Sloane Lenz and Felix Lenz. Just add having a band to their already full roster, which includes modeling, acting, art and fashion (Sloan is a designer with her own fantastic and whimsical line).

La familia Lenz has had their band for just under a year, but are making headway with this magnificent DIY aesthetic, a renegade blend of dirty glam/punk/rock, and a rotating cast of badass talented musicians (Jon Fichter of Sweet Spirit and Hong Kong Wigs; producer Frenchie Smith). And it looks as though a new album is on the not-too-distant horizon, if the band’s recent chat with Johnny Goudie on How Did I Get Here? is any indication. Let’s hope that’s the case.

More to come from these movers and shakers. Truth be told, your Austin Music Minute maven is one smitten kitten. Don’t miss Lord Friday the 13^th when they play tonight at The Electric Church, 5018 E. Cesar Chavez. They join Houston psych rockers Cactus Flowers and Central Pennsylvania-based rockers Split Pistols on the bill. Doors at 9 p.m. So recommended.

-Photography by Kat Alyst.

You’ve probably seen these guys around before, if you’re a music lover here in the ATX. If you dig Black Pumas, Matthew Logan Vasquez, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, The Tender Things, Nikki Lane, Israel Nash…then yeah, you may have seen them onstage. Are you into PR Newman? Magic Rockers of Texas? All right then. These faces will be familiar ones.

Once upon a time, in 2011, Spencer Garland and Jim Campo were roommates and stuff. And things. Without any specific direction or ideas – or a clue, they made a band that your Austin Music Minute maven became an instant fan of. Berkshire Hounds soon had drummer Jordan Cook and bassist Alexander “Z” Lynch (as in, mob) on board for this rock ‘n’ roll hoodlum tangent. It was awesome, especially the raucous and demented Are Not Amused (2013), but after five years and three releases in tow, the band went el foldo. They each moved on to multiple projects – it’s not like they weren’t busy – and that was that. Until now.

This year marks the return of Berkshire Hounds with a new single, “Don’t Doubt the Team” (featured on today’s AMM), and a new album coming out next year. The band intends to raise hell at their single release show tonight at Hole In the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe, with friends Mean Jolene, Otis the Destroyer, The Oysters, and Annabelle Chairlegs on the bill. You need to be there. Doors at 8 p.m. 

Don’t abandon me again, Berkshire Hounds. (That’s not hostile or passive aggressive, is it?) Totally recommended.

-Spencer Garland and Jim Campo of Berkshire Hounds. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Será uma noite inesquecível, and KUTX is proud to be a part of it.

KUTX’s October Artist of the Month, world-pop outfit Ley Line, is ready to release their new album We Saw Blue early next year. But you’ll have the opportunity to hear some of the new music when Ley Line performs tomorrow night at Radio X, a show presented by KUTX’s Latin music progam Horizontes at Radio Coffee and Beer, 4204 Manchaca.

The music starts at 8 p.m., but your Austin Music Minute maven recommends getting there earlier to snag the perfect spot for this outdoor performance. So recommended.

-Photography by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon for KUTX.

The long-awaited Hot Motion, the third studio release from UK band Temples on a new label, was two years in the making, And with it, in the band’s own words, comes a new sonic journey. This time, the band reverberates within slightly darker realms, delving into something a bit more transcendent – and bolder.

KUTX’s recent Studio 1A guests have a performance tonight at the Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St., with otherworldly interstellar country artist Honey Harper opening the show. Doors at 6:30 p.m. This entire show comes very recommended.

-Photo of Temples courtesy of Laurie Gallardo.