Taylor Wallace

Next of Kin: “Mean Streak”

There’s a slight, but unlikely chance you haven’t been turned-on yet to the Austin country trio Next of Kin, but you’re certainly familiar with the work of its members: Lili Hickman, Madison Baker, and Caelin. As impressive as these three are in their own right, together they are transcendent. It’s not just the gut-stirring, deeply relatable songwriting or the great hooks, it’s the harmonies and synchronicity. Oh my God is it the harmonies and synchronicity. They truly have the same magic that brought together the Highwomen and Dolly, Linda, and Emmylou. Next of Kin is that for their generation.

“Mean Streak” is the trio’s 2^nd single. All three members trade-off on ruminations about really wanting to be mad about something or someone, but doggone it, you just can’t. So you’re just mad at yourself instead.

“Mean Streak” is out today.

Parker Woodland: “The Reckoning (Last Sunset Remix)”

We’re halfway through Love Austin Music Month, so let’s check-in. How have you shown your love for Austin music so far? If you’re feeling behind, fear not, here are two opportunities to get your live music fix pronto.

Austin power trio Parker Woodland have never shied away from expressing their discontent with the world, sometimes incorporating church chorus-inspired harmonies to drive home that things like faith and disappointment aren’t mutually exclusive.

But their latest single is a far darker feat than the trio’s archives. The well of patience is gone as are the days of politely appealing through simple humanity. The die is cast, and the reckoning demands answers and change.

you see Parker Woodland twice this week: tonight at their Hotel Vegas residency show at 6PM with trio Brian, and this Saturday night at the 11^th Annual Sonic Guild Ball at the Long Center.

Sweet Limb: “Good For You”

Hip-hop, like any genre, can serve many purposes: not only can it grip your soul with stories of regular people trying to make a living in their country that’s been institutionally designed to work against them, but it can also grip your soul in a soft way, with a mantra: a meditation on a promise. And it’ll make you feel real good.

Austin quartet Sweet Limb brings hip-hop back to its core: talented creatives who realize they’re at their best when creating together. Blending inspirations from your favorite poetic 90s hip-hop groups to Stevie Wonder, “Good For You” is almost like a prayer. A steamy, sensual proclamation to just be good to your beloved. The piano melody really falls in line with the rest of the rhythm section, driving the backbeat while Chris Robinson’s smooth vocals lay out for you the acts of service that come with his love. Trust me, you’ll be directing the music video shot-for-shot in your head during this beauty.

Orca Dork: “Sleepy Pilot”

Time to dust off the ol’ Audiosurf game from your college days and get ready for your newest beat-driven meditation. Brother’s Franklin and Graham Pittman are Orca Dork, an Austin-based experimental instrumental duo who have spent the last ten years working on their debut, hip-hop inspired album Experiments With Found Objects. And yes, it can take a decade to properly pull-off an all-samples album: just ask the Avalanches.

“Sleepy Pilot” has a gorgeous, shimmery flow to its foundation, dotted with slightly distorted vocal clips from early film and television. Like the title implies, the song glides you across the astral plane at a moving-yet-meditative pace, so you can just sit back, engage the autopilot, and let it happen.

“Sleepy Pilot” is from Orca Dork’s debut album Experiments With Found Objects, out now.

DAYEATER: “Between the Otherside” [PREMIERE]

Who says psych-rock can’t come with badass near rock-opera harmonies? Austin’s DAYEATER certainly doesn’t. And throw in some power pop? Honey we are off to the stratosphere courtesy of an 80s He-Man cartoon-style music video.

Jesse Lee fronts the trio, pulling off riffs that give two handed-players a run for their money. Lee’s power on the axe and mic is matched by rhythm section Chris Brockett and Tom Jackson. It’s a tour de force that ebbs between full adrenaline and hellish harmonies.

Hello, Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Aerosmith can take a break. We’ve got a new theme song for the Rock n Roller Coaster.

You can celebrate the release this Thursday night at Vinyl Beauty Bar on E. Cesar Chavez.

Ley Line: “Agua Do Mar”

The ladies of Ley Line are back, baby, and they’re looking forward to bringing us a string of reunion shows this April. To get us excited, they’ve announced their Live at the Pershing EP (out later this month) and gifted us “Agua Do Mar,” their take on the Brazilian folk song “Memorias do Mar,” an ode to sailors that as Ley Line’s Kate Robberson puts it “represents the constancy of memories amid the turbulence of life.” A perfect tune to represent the quartet coming back together.

A long-standing favorite of Ley Line’s live shows, “Agua Do Mar” starts slow while Emilie Basez’s nimble guitar fingers create intrigue. The song builds layer-by-layer with a direct trend to the building energy that leads to a groovy, folksy romp that I believe even the Brazilian sailors of yore would deem a bop. And stand-up bassist Madeleine Froncek’s solo is the icing on the cake. It’s a true showcase of everything you love about the quartet: harmonies, hip-swaying grooves, and transportation to another part of the world.

Nilsa No One: “Lucid Dream”

Austin-bred songwriter and guitarist Nilsa grew-up in the throws of the local punk and metal scenes, but Nilsa, like the rest of us, contains multitudes, so she’s brought in rhythm section Jesse Maciack and JJ Pereira to become Nilsa No One, blending the rawness from her nurturing with her haunting vocals and emotive contemplations that come naturally.

In “Lucid Dream,” she speaks to her personal struggle between trying to maintain the bigger picture and just living her life and finding the peace and harmony between the two planes, a constant struggle a lot of us relate to. She’s cracked what I like to call our Significant Insignificance. And when Nilsa’s joined by her own harmonies, you feel that moment of revelation right there with her, somewhere deep in a dark, covenly forest.

“Lucid Dream” is on the Cracks In the Pavement EP, out now. Check out their EP release show this Saturday at Hole in the Wall.

Schmiddy: “Nebula” (ft. Andyah)

Austin beatmaker Blake Schmidt has released a string of instrumental mixtapes under the moniker Schmiddy for the last three years, all the while working towards something more comprehensive. Schmiddy’s background in composing for short films in college for grades to composing hip-hop tracks for fun has led him to last Friday: the release of Schmiddy’s debut album Lightning In A Bottle. The album is not only a showcase of Schmiddy’s brand of beatmaking and production, but of his talent for sourcing and matching the right vocal talent for each track and creating something true to his background: cinematic.

“Nebula” features Nairobi-based artist Andyah as vocalist and co-writer. Her vocals are light but rich, working in tandem to the movement of Schmiddy’s groove. Think of a camera slowly panning down a bolt of layered red velvet with an intoxicating fire burning in the background. And it’s that right kind of spicy that makes you want to sensually slow dance, even if just to yourself in the mirror.

Okonski: “October” [PREMIERE]

Okonski is another beautiful project born from the Durand Jones & Indications house with pianist Steve Okonski at the helm with support from fellow Indications Aaron Frazer and Michael Montgomery on drums and bass. Together the trio takes all of the jazz elements of Durand Jones & the Indications and puts them front and center, letting the songs take as little or as much structure as he (or perhaps the keys themselves?) please. After nearly two years, Okonski returns to us like a wanderer returning to their village, wiser, more lived, and with Homer-level volumes of tales.

The new single from Okonski’s upcoming sophomore album Entrance Music evokes Willie’s arrangement of Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.” It’s laid back, beautiful, and effortless. And with a small, solid melody paired with the rhythm section as an anchor, Okonski is free to play and flourish around it, briefly returning to home base before taking off yet again like another chapter of the wanderer’s tale.

Oh Yes, It Will Be Strange

There’s a lot to be said about tonight’s bill at Hotel Vegas, but to put it succinctly, it’s gonna be a night full of weird…

After dropping their first and only single in two years last Halloween, self-described “ghoul-pop, dork wave, unicorn-twee” trio Stretch Panic went for a short hibernation. They return tonight to soak the crowd in their known brand of cartoonishly caped, rainbow-colored songs about demons, monsters and blood. They’re joined tonight by Space Heat whose recipe calls for 3 parts synthwave to one part experimental and garnished with post-punk; freakpop outfit Strange Mother fill out tonight’s line-up. Whether you revel in the weird or are looking to take a step outside your musical comfort zone, this show tonight at Hotel Vegas on East 6^th will satiate your off-beat appetite. Check out songs from tonight’s line-up below!

-Taylor Wallace

Jangle, Jangle, Y’all

Bring on the Tuesday Night Shoegaze and indie buzz. Sounds good, right? Well you can get warm, fuzzy heaps of it tomorrow night at Cheer Up Charlie’s. An all-Austin bill brings in the jangle and gaze with Slideshow, a 3-piece who’s soft, full, fuzzy sound weave ethereal vocals with hints of nimble guitar hooks. Joining them are the Freakout, who are best described as Beat Happening with a feedback pedal. Young June round out the bill, brining more of the great, chilled out indie attitude. The bedroom, jangle-pop show happens tomorrow night at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Red River. Check out songs from all three bands in their Bandcamp hyperlinks or below!

-Taylor Wallace

Rounding Out Free Week 2020

Here we are, the last 2 nights of Free Week. No time to waste! You wanna know who to go see, this weekend so let’s get to it.

Starting with tonight, Cheer Up Charlie’s on Red River sports an all-punk line-up featuring Big Bill, Borzoi, and Blood. Away from downtown over at Dozen Street on 12^th and Chicon, Erica Michelle, Sex Pump, and Cosms share the bill with JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers. And way away from downtown, the Far Out Lounge and Stage hosts a full-on indie night with Batty Jr., Lolita Lynne, Half Dream, and more on South Congress near Slaughter Lane.

Moving on to Sunday, the final day of Free Week 2020, Mohawk Indoor has up-and-comers Sadie & the Ladies joined by Lord Friday the 13^th and others, while 2019 KUTX Artist of the Month the Infinites play with Chronophage, 2069, and Samson next door at Cheer Up Charlie’s. And over on East 6^th, Hotel Vegas rounds out Free Week with an indie bill full of heavyweights with Half Dream, frosty palms, Hong Kong Wigs, and Semihelix. AAAAAAND there we go, the tail end of Free Week 2020. Enjoy your weekend of free musical discovery, and remember, if you aren’t digging what’s going on on stage, go next door to another free show.

-Taylor Wallace

Free Week on A Friday Night

Photo by: Gabriel C. Pérez

Free Week Day 2, and it’s Friday night; let’s dive right into some show recommendations. Down in the Red River Cultural District, you can enjoy a proper rock show with Otis the Destroyer, Go Fever, Lola Tried at Cheer Up Charlie’s, and others, while Empire Control Room hosts another night jam-packed with hip-hop artists tonight featuring The TEETA, Deezie Brown, J Soulja, and Cece Hustle just to name a few. Both stages at Mohawk embrace a bona fide Tolkien Tribute night with Being Dead, Magic Rockers of Texas, Thor & Friends, and, of course, Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band. Stepping away from Red River and East of 35, Hotel Vegas brings the Riot Grrl energy with Mean Jolene, Nevil, Leather Girls, and Pinky Ring and Wet Dip. Get a taste of all of these artists and everyone else playing Free Week in our Spotify playlist below.

-Taylor Wallace

New Year’s The Other Style

Happy New Year’s Eve and happy last day of the decade!!! If you’re looking to make last-minute plans to ring in the new year in the thralls of live music, I’ve got you covered. Here are the Austin Music Minute’s New Years’ Eve Show recommendations!

Sacramento’s !!! headline the show at Empire Garage on Red River with Austin acts TC Superstar and Zettajoule opening the wall-to-wall dance party. Ghostland Observatory and Golden Dawn Archestra do up the Moody Theatre in an explosive way only they could pull off, lots of musicians channel their favorite musicians of the 1950’s with a night dedicated to the year 1959 at Hotel Vegas on East 6th, also East of 35 Horror Glam Diva Caleb DeCasper is putting on a jazz lounge act along with Groove Think, Urban Heat Island Effect and others at Dozen Street on 12th and Chicon, and just North of downtown at the good ol’ Hole in the Wall you can find Ladyfang, Megafauna, Darkbird, and Flora and Fauna.

-Taylor Wallace

New Year’s Eve KUTX Style

It’s the day before New Year’s Eve, and if you’re sure you want to go out, and you know you want to ring in the 2020’s KUTX-style, but haven’t quite figured out where this Austin Music Minute is here to help. Here’s a rundown of ALL the NYE shows being presented KUTX 98.9.

If you want to keep away from downtown, Radio Coffee and Beer off Ben White and Menchaca host an eclectic mix of sounds with the Deer, Middlespoon, and Bayonne’s Roger Sellers. Just outside of town, Carson Creek Ranch hosts a swanky gala with Grupo Fantasma and Superfónicos to raise money for the Nobelity Project’s work in Austin and Latin America. KUTX and Antone’s present A Night on Fire featuring Tameca Jones, Magna Carda, and Sam Houston and Blk Odyssey. And finally, Delta Spirit returns for their first show in four years, commanding the Mohawk stage and joined by PR Newman and Glass Grapes. And there ya have it; all your New Year’s Eve options for ringing in 2020 with KUTX.

-Taylor Wallace

Moving Forests and Sour, Naked Buffalos. Wait, what?

Photo by: Juan Figueroa

There’s always a good reason to go out and catch a show, and many-a-time a single show holds several reasons within itself. Tonight the good energy overload happens at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Red River. The Sour Notes celebrate the release of their new single “Gold,” self-proclaimed Mud-folk outfit Lord Buffalo awaken from hibernation, and the Naked Tungs and Royal Forest round out the bill leading up to the night’s headliner. Moving Panoramas return from the road for their last show of the year. All of the love goes down tonight at 8 at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Red River. Check out live videos from tonight’s line-up below!

-Taylor Wallace

Latin Sounds in Far Out Places

Iffin ya haven’t heard, a new venue popped up in far South Austin this year. What used to be a small, hole-in-the-wall bar that served as the last stop for bikers on the way to San Antonio decades ago is now The Far Out Lounge: a sick, down-to-Earth bar and venue near South Congress and Slaughter Lane. Covert Curiosity Founder Lawrence Boone curates a variety of sounds down in this new South Austin haunt, and tonight the line-up is steeped in Latin sounds. Latin psych-rock band Los Alcos shares the stage with Nemegata, who bring their own blend of cumbia, psych, and desert blues. The night kicks off with a DJ set by Group Fantasma, Brownout, and Money Chicha founder Greg Gonzalez. The fun begins at 8 tonight at The Far Out Lounge in South Austin. Get a taste of what your soul and zapatos de baile are in for below!

-Taylor Wallace

Dressy-est Your Bessy-est

Photo by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon

Hotel Vegas has become Austin’s reliable dive bar for touring cult-music stars (Thee Oh Sees and Mark Sultan AKA BBQ most recently), and their latest bill to bear this distinction happens TONIGHT as the East Side mainstay welcomes Denver’s Dressy Bessy bringing their bessiest-brand of indie rock. Joining them are Austin’s Lola Tried, Sailor Poon solo project Whit, and Poly Action. Let your rock n’ roll feathers fly loud and proud tonight at Hotel Vegas on East 6^th. Get a bit o’ rock ‘n’ roll kick from the rest of tonight’s bill below!

-Taylor Wallace, Weeknight Host

Dinner Time with Creatures, Chaos…and the Ladies

If you’re looking for a little musical dopamine to pick you up from the midweek slump, Cheer Up Charlie’s has a blend of sounds tonight to help get you through. Stopping for their Austin date on tour are Atlanta indie rockers Dinner Time, joined by Austin’s Indoor Creature, Cosmic Chaos, and Sadie and the Ladies serving-up everything from synthpop to garage rock and more. Doors open at 9 for this show tonight at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Red River. Get a little bill sampling below!

-Taylor Wallace, Weeknight Host

Do you Fux With the Tux?

It’s only Tuesday, but it’s time to party like it’s the weekend–and to be fair, maybe Tuesday is your weekend….The dynamic duo of Mayer Hawthorne and producer Jake One return to Austin tonight as the slick dance duo Tuxedo. They bring their disco-funk sounds to Empire Control Room & Garage tonight on Red River at 7th. Doors open at 6 for this night of sweaty-but-formal fun. No pressure, though! Tuxedos not required, but boogies shows encouraged! Shuffle-step-ball-change and Charleston all the over there.