Laurie Gallardo

There is…hesitancy with your AMM host on doing this, but the day and the occasion call for it, so…

The force is strong with this one.

Kalu and The Electric Joint’s Garden of Eden was due for release in 2020, but that was around the time all hell broke loose, to put it mildly. The album would have to wait. However, that wasn’t about to stop the music completely. The band released a few singles along the way, including two from the album, “Like, Maybe” and the title track. As the world gradually began to reopen, they took the time to revisit these songs written before the pandemic to show them some extra love. As Kalu James explained to KUTX Music Editor Jeff McCord in a recent Music Matters column, “…we took advantage of that and really kept at it at a time when there was nothing coming in money-wise or anything like that. We engaged the band and kept rehearsing.”

Garden of Eden is now ready for the world, via Spaceflight Records. And Kalu & The Electric Joint will celebrate with a grand release show tonight, Thursday May 4, at The Paramount Theater. Doors at 7 p.m., and artist Kam Franklin (The Suffers) opens the show. Plus…the AMM has it on good authority that a very special guest star will join Kalu and the band for a couple of songs. Don’t miss it.

It’s a great song, perfect for the road, all about choosing rock ‘n’ roll with no regrets. Maybe you just see the title and you kinda start singing it to yourself. But rather than “Ride On,” today’s AMM features another track from The Nude Party‘s self-produced Rides On LP, “Tell Em.” Just tell ’em the truth, the good and bad times. Music’s not made for holding back.

KUTX’s 10th Birthday Concert series includes a grand returning performance by The Nude Party, following their outstanding set during SXSW at KUTX Live at Scholz Garten (“Leave it to radio people to book an 8 a.m. showcase…”). Their tour brings them back to Austin for a show tomorrow night, Thursday May 4, at the Historic Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. (recently relocated from Antone’s; all tickets purchased will be honored). The line-up includes UK artist Fonteyn, and Austin’s own Cactus Lee and Hippie Scum. Doors at 7 p.m.

Seriously, just sign your AMM host up for all of these killer residencies going off this month. Damn. Another badass rez starting this week features Austin-based pop-rock outfit Slomo Drags at Hotel Vegas, and the first show makes for one hell of a special night. Not only will you get the magnificent stylings of R&B/soul pop songwriter KindKeith on the bill, but also raw and riveting new solo music by Sabrina Ellis (A Giant Dog, Sweet Spirit, Como Las Movies), celebrating the release of “Silk” and “Evil Side” via Nine Mile Records.

Catch the show tonight, Tuesday May 2, at Hotel Vegas. Doors at 9 p.m., and the music starts at 10 p.m. Soooo gooood.

Gather round for Monday evening magic as Ambitions of Ambiguity songwriter/crooner extraordinaire Buffalo Hunt (also known to rogue royalty and underground moguls alike as Stephanie Hunt) invites special guests to join her for Songwriter Mondays at South Austin hotspot Sagebrush.

Every Monday in May, Hunt will be joined by fellow artists for a round of great performances. Tonight’s guests include two AMM faves, David Ramirez and Ley Line co-founder Lydia Froncek. Next week, a most unique voice and presence – Pope Coke partner, Free Lunch founder, and longtime Hunt collaborator Jazz Mills will be part of Monday’s soiree; May 15 features local artist by way of LA, Suzanne Santo and Austin-based songwriter via the Bay Area, Caelin; and rounding out the month, a spectacular line-up with Helyn Rain, Star Parks‘ Andy Bianculli, and Casen Hutton.

Doors at 8 p.m., and the music starts at 8:30 p.m. Swoon worthy, m’dear.

The rain didn’t stop it. And gusty winds won’t, either. Welcome to day two and three of Austin Psych Fest, the OG that launched the Levitation vibes round the world. Two stages, no overlap, and all incredible. Just don’t wear a hat today, unless it’s strapped to your head…

• It’s an extra special Saturday, at least for your AMM host, who will most assuredly lose her mind over Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Black Angels performing Directions To See A Ghost to celebrate its 15th anniversary, and (OH MY HOLY HELL) The Raveonettes. Longtime fan. Long time. Plus Austin-based artists DAIISTAR, En Orbito, Acid Dad, Hey Cowboy, Superfónicos and Sheverb hit the fest today, along with Night Beats and Toronto band Wine Lips. There’s also a 13th Floor Elevators tribute with what may well be an all-star cast of musicians going all out, starting at 7 p.m.
• You won’t wanna miss Sunday‘s extravagance of talent. Vieux Farka Touré, Los Bitchos, South Korean traditional music group ADG7, Columbian-American band Divino Niño, Melody’s Echo Chamber, and Jenny Juárez‘ musical project Bratty are on the line-up, with ATX artists El Combo Oscuro, Nemegata and Little Mazarn. Of course, rounding out the night is a badass set by headliner Cuco.

Doors at 2 p.m. both days. And all of it is glorious.

Levitation followers on Instagram got the briefest onsite glimpse on a post last night. “Getting the spaceship ready for liftoff here at The Far Out Lounge and Stage. See y’all tomorrow, can’t wait!” Even that snapshot of the light projection was enough to generate excitement – but those insane pics of everybody losing their s%$t at the kickoff show at Mohawk also helped. (A Place To Bury Strangers, plus The Warlocks, plus Archer Oh, plus Austin’s own Blushing and NYC outfit Gift equals sssick.)

Since its beginnings in 2008, Austin Psych Fest has been in constant evolution, building something special from the ground up simply out of passion for the music. There were no intentions of getting huge or going global, but that’s how the story unfolded. The rebranding into Levitation brought opportunities to take the festival around the world. And now, the founders are getting back to the hometown roots that started it all.

Austin Psych Fest’s three-day event highlights some of the best in psych, dream pop, and all manner of independent music with as much reverence for ‘60s influences as for the wave of the future. The festival opens today at The Far Out Lounge and Stage with headliners Toro Y Moi, Yves Tumor, Mdou Moctar, Automatic and the legendary Acid Mothers Temple, as well as Austin bands Annabelle Chairlegs and Being Dead. Tomorrow features Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Raveonettes, and The Black Angels performing their album Directions To See A Ghost in celebration of its 15th anniversary. And Sunday includes performances by Cuco, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Los Bitchos, Vieux Farka Touré and more, along with Austin bands El Combo Oscuro, Nemegata and Little Mazarn.

More Austin Psych Fest picks on Saturday’s AMM. Stay tuned.

The futuristic afro-electronic/hip-hop/neo soul voyage of Satisfy Saturn by Trouble In the Streets is also a celebratory ode to the wisdom of ancestors; a determination to hold space for hope as darkness seeps through; or, perhaps just going for it, even if it all seems pointless. Songwriter/vocalist Nnedi Agbaroji serves as your cosmic guide through the tumult and discovery. “Denying you are hungry no longer / Child from the stars / it’s time to hold your own hand,” Agbaroji cantillates on “Fantastic Vastness,” “You are walking into the darkest rainbow / Reach towards the precipice of your mind past your longest shadow…”

Trouble In the Streets requests that you pull together your sharpest and most celestial ensembles for their interstellar release show and Intergalactic Prom, happening tonight, Thursday April 27, at The Parish, 501 Brushy St. Doors at 7:30 p.m., and ultra-glam femme boy fatale Caleb De Casper opens the show. One not to miss, earthlings. Dance along those shimmering Saturn rings…

 

Two Austin Music Minute favorites are heading out on tour together, and they thought, “Hell, why not have big tour kick off show?”

Elliot Frazier of Austin-based shoegaze shredders Ringo Deathstarr is a longtime friend/producer of Austin’s noise punk outfit Pleasure Venom, so it’s a natural fit. Frazier also produced PV’s scorching full-length debut Rebirth/Return, a high-voltage annihilator powered by songwriter/lead vocalist force majeure Audrey Campbell.

Both bands hit the road soon, but before that, send them off at their show tonight, Wednesday April 26, at Hotel Vegas on E. 6th. Doors at 9 p.m., and the music starts with Stab at 10:15 p.m. Piercing you through and through. No mercy.

Coming up this week at Emo’s, an evening of electronic and industrial music innovators. The AMM is all over it.

Ministry, a pioneering figure of industrial rock and metal founded in 1981, used to move more along poppier synth styles in its earlier stages. But as band founder Al Jourgensen experimented with the latest technology emerging at the time, Ministry evolved into a darker, heavier, often jarring presence musically. Albums like Twitch (1986), The Land of Rape and Honey (1988), and The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (1989) reconfigured the course of electronic arrangement. “Industrial” seemed a fitting term for the raucous, metallic and harsher terrain of the music.

This year, Ministry’s headlining a series of spring tour dates with two very special guests: Iconic electronic artist Gary Numan (featured on today’s AMM), and electro-industrial band Front Line Assembly. See them all tomorrow night, Wednesday April 26, at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Drive. Doors at 6 p.m.

Today’s featured AMM track “Sunset” is on Caroline Polachek‘s second album released earlier this year; Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, a poetic homage to the metamorphic powers of desire, sometimes ruled by a frenzied momentum. There’s exhilaration, there is anguish – and every detail is savored on Polachek’s striking arrangements. Desire can be as destructive as it is intoxicating, but above all else, it keeps us moving forward. Or…alive, perhaps?

Caroline Polachek will be in Austin for a show tomorrow night, Tuesday April 25, at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. Doors at 6:30 p.m., and LA electronic artist George Clanton opens the show.

It’s a bit of Texas, a bit of Louisiana, and an incredible line-up of artists bringing you the best of both worlds. Yee-Craw: A Tex-Orleans Experience celebrates music artists from Texas and New Orleans with live music – and it wouldn’t be complete without a crawfish boil, too!

Everything kicks off tomorrow afternoon, Sunday April 23, at Empire Control Room and Garage on E. 7th. Doors at 2 p.m., and the event includes performances by Galactic (featured on today’s AMM), The Suffers, Greyhounds, and THEBROSFRESH, along with two late-night sets by Mike Dillon and Punkadelick, and The Iceman Special.

Laissez les bon temps rouler. As good as all git-out, y’all.

Don’t sleep on it. Austin-based artist and AMM fave David Shabani has a couple of nights remaining in his April residency at the fabulous Geraldine’s. Shabani and The Nu Leopards deliver the smoothest grooves of hip-hop, soul and R&B, this time with an expanded band and a few special guests joining in. Catch Shabani and crew tonight, Friday April 21, starting at 9 p.m. You’ll find Geraldine’s inside Hotel Van Zandt, at 605 Davis St.

Welcome to your Friday night flight. Like Shabani says: “A feeling you can’t really force…”

For those who celebrate, the AMM wishes you a very happy – and hopefully mellow – 420! Speaking of which, Latin psych outfit Los Alcos is presenting a spectacular 420 Fiesta with a badass line-up tonight, Thursday April 20, at The 13^th Floor, 711 Red River. Check out performances by Los Alcos, Billy King and the Bad Bad Bad, She23, Alesia Lani, and Norman Ba$e. Doors at 8 p.m., and proceeds from the party benefit The Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit reform project working to free individuals imprisoned for cannabis.

It’s always the same. Your AMM host soaks in every sweet mellow groove of “Simply Belong To You” by Austin outfit Shinyribs, then waits ’til the very end for Kevin Russell to hit those high notes. What a treasure.

Shinyribs is a free-flowing musical melting pot in the local scene, consisting of so many ingredients in the recipe – from Texas blues to New Orleans funk, Memphis soul to country twang, generous helpings of every kind of roots music you can dream up. And this band thrives on the live experience, which could mean anything from a raucous sing-along to a literal conga line through the audience.

Remember that Shinyrib’s upcoming show, part of the KUTX 10th Birthday Concert series, has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Thursday April 20, at The Far Out Lounge and Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave. Doors at 6 p.m., featuring an opening set by Texas String Assembly. Yes, this is epic. Go forth, and celebrate.

This is your Tuesday night sorted. Another awesome line-up on the bill at Chess Club: A recently-featured AMM fave, Futon Blonde, who just released their 6-track EP Something That We’ve All Experienced Together Before – start with opener “Lonely as the Sun” and you’re hooked; songwriter Aaron Miller’s solo project Josie Lockhart – today’s AMM featured track is “If There’s A Heaven” from the Santa Rosa LP; and Walkabouts, led by songwriter Sam Shaffer.

All are playing tonight, Tuesday April 18, at Chess Club, 617 Red River. Doors at 8 p.m., and the music starts at 9 p.m. Do it.

This is one of those show that you stay up late for on a Monday. The AMM has spoken.

Austin heavy psych-rock trio and KUTX Artist of the Month alum The Well is winding down a spring tour, following several tour dates across the U.S. with Swedish doom metal outfit and fellow badasses Firebreather. Just before doing a couple more shows in San Antonio and Dallas, The Well returns to the ATX to play tonight, Monday April 17, at The Lost Well, 2421 Webberville Rd. Firebreather joins them on the bill, along with Austin desert rockers Greenbeard. Doors at 7 p.m. Don’t leave the earplugs at home.

This’ll get you going, pure joy in music form. Austin-based R&B funk/soul outfit Honey Made is the kind of band that sets the tone the moment they hit the stage, bringing infectious grooves and the kind of call-and-response energy that ignites any crowd in an instant. It’s also a big reason why Radio Coffee and Beer in South Austin is thrilled to have them perform tonight, Saturday April 15. The music starts at 8 p.m., with rock ‘n’ soul band Brother Thunder opening the show.

Imagine all the James Brown, Sly, Parliament and even Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars party vibes combining forces for one big blowout. Go for it.

This is probably one of the last opportunities you’ll get to see A Giant Dog for awhile, at least in a headlining capacity like tonight’s Sagebrush show. True, A Giant Dog is opening for Dinosaur Jr. at Lakeline Park on April 29, bringing the polar opposite vibe of Soul Asylum‘s scheduled acoustic set that night.

But there’s a few changes going on and other projects in the works, as you may know: In addition to solo magic, songwriter/vocalist Sabrina Ellis performs killer sets with Como Las Movies; Andrew Cashen morphs from mesmerizing cult leader-like crooner to fearsome bloody overlord in .02 seconds, or vice versa, whichever strikes first; and Daniel Blanchard, the guy in the white shirt in the band pic at the top who drums like a beast, is running away to Pittsburgh or something. That’s just a few examples. Your AMM host is forgetting stuff.

Busy times. All good. So jump on it. Catch A Giant Dog tonight, Friday April 14, at Sagebrush, 5500 S. Congress Ave. It’s an excellent line-up presented by Yawn Productions featuring Pelvis Wrestley and recent Studio 1A guests The Stacks. The music starts at 10 p.m.

Can you handle it?

Revival Cycles is hosting the 8th annual Handbuilt Motorcycle Show this weekend, a grand celebration of the craft and design of custom motorcycles with…a helluva lot of great live music, including national headliners and so many of the outstanding local artists we champion on KUTX 98.9.

The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show is Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16 at Austin American Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave. And what an incredible set of line-ups each day: Friday – Sudan Archives (featured on today’s AMM), Magna Carda, Geto Gala, and DJ Lady Wonder; Saturday – Soccer Mommy, Good Looks, Redbud, Animals On TV, Mom Rock, Gus Baldwin and The Sketch, and DJ Hollywood Jones; Sunday – Allah-Las, Superfónicos, Money Chicha, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, Amplified Heat, and DJ Bambi. Everything kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

From the ashes of the Red River District venue formerly known as Barracuda arose a new band that would not be contained by the 2020 lockdown. Featuring members of Unknown Relatives and Think No Think, ruthless protopunk annihilators Narrow Haunts has been performing and terrorizing the locals for two years now, taking on opening slots for bands including Trail of Dead, Sparta and others, and now they’re ready to unleash a 3-song EP in the near future.

For now, join the Narrow Haunts hoodlums for a show tomorrow night, Thursday April 13, at Mohawk on the inside stage. The line-up includes Austin bands Intensive Care Unit and Sugar Purr. Doors at 8 p.m. They’re ruthless. You’ve been warned.