Taylor Wallace

Death Palmz: “IL2H2LU”

I’ve heard your week’s woes, I know it’s been one, so Aunt Tay is here to deliver a little Friday elixir to shift you into weekend mode as you get ready to burn rubber in the parking garage.

Austin’s Death Palmz is another project from Exotic Frutica, and if you’re familiar with the punk band, know you’re in for three things: volume, energy, and moshing. French subverts some of that energy into Death Palmz, a dark, synth wave project specifically reminiscent of two of the genre’s stalwarts: Nine Inch Nails and Suicide. Oh yeah, you’re really excited now.

“I Love 2 Hate 2 Love You” is the precise antidote to a week of the rat race by diverting that festered frustration into a dopamine deluge of energy. Will it make you feel like you’re in one of those movies that simultaneously takes place in a dirty, smoky 80s goth clubs and be 100 years in the future? Yes, so buckle in.

“IL2H2LU” is on the Death Palmz EP, out today on Mr. Pink Records. You can see Death Palmz at their very first live show tonight at Chess Club with Holy Wire, Gleaming, and Past Model.

Scott Collins: “Aphophenia”

Austin singer-songwriter Scott Collins has been ever-evolving in both songwriting and sound and now he’s started leaning in more to letting himself define his sound, branching out and seeing what feels right.

His 9th EP And All This Happened serves on the title’s promise: it’s all happening. But the early 00’s indie sound is still driving the bus. Recorded once again with Frenchie Smith at the Bubble, Collins brought the whole band into the studio this time, allowing Scott to focus on being Scott. And the song “Apophenia” is a brilliant summation of his effort: finding connections in things that seem or end up being totally unrelated.

“Apophenia” is on And All This Happened, out March 7th. You can see Scott Collins this Saturday at Guero’s on South Congress and Friday, February 14^th @ the Aloft hotel off 183 and Lakeline Blvd.

Small Engine Fire: “Good Old Day”

Who said that energy and introspection can’t co-exist? It wasn’t me. And it certainly wasn’t Small Engine Fire. The new Austin band is made up of members of Lola Tried and Quiet Company, and together they create something a little nostalgic, like taking a ride out to Wilco with your Grandaddy. Small Engine Fire throws your ear for a fun loop by having traditional rock instrumentation and sound guided by an almost theremin-like synth melody. It’s like purple neon arrows guiding you around a Midwestern City.

Small Engine Fire follows their breadcrumb trail of singles with Better By Now, an EP that really showcases the band’s controlled pairing of thoughtfully paced introspective lyrics with an energy that keeps the train on track.

“Good Old Days” is from the debut Better By Now EP, out now. You can celebrate the EP release tomorrow night at the Hole in the Wall with Hex Girlfriend and TV’s Goodtimes.

Her Mana: “Oh This Moment” (ft. Sarita and Gene Evaro Jr.)

We love a side project, don’t we? Especially when ace collaborations are involved. For a couple of years, Ley Line’s Emilie Basez and Kate Robberson have been creating music as a Her Mana, honing an even earthier and more ethereal sound with the same incredible complex guitar noodling, harmonies, and wide range of world instruments that lead us right back to, well, the ley line.

“Oh This Moment” is the latest from the duo, beautifully blending terrestrial and the modern age into something almost impossible to describe, so let’s hear its magic instead.

You’ve got several chances to catch Her Mana this month: at their Thursday night residency at the Pershing all month long and a special performance at the Blanton Museum of Art this Saturday.

Gus Baldwin & the Sketch: “(She’s Gone) Arigato”

After many years of winning the hearts and ears of Austin music lovers both as a solo artist and as a member of the psych outfit Acid Carousel, Gus Baldwin’s name has been in the mouths of bookers and promoters for years, and more recently, he formed Gus Baldwin & the Sketch. And while it still has the tight, catchy hooks of Acid Carousel, the Sketch hangs out in the garage: it’s fuzzy, bold, and full of adrenaline.

Their debut album The Sketch came out last Friday, and while you’ve been hearing their garage rock song “Luxury Television” on the KUTX airwaves, today’s Song of the Day leans a bit more on the power pop side, hitting more like a harder Hot Hot Heat tune than Ty Segall.

“She’s Gone (Arigato)” is just pure fun and adrenaline. It’s punchy, danceable, and it might take you back to the iPod commercials of the mid 00’s. Truly the only bad thing about the song is that it ends. And as highly anticipated as this album has been, the wait was worth it; the sketches were turned in because they were ready; not because it was 11:30.

“(She’s Gone) Arigato” is on The Sketch, out now. You can see Gus Baldwin & The Sketch before they take the album on the road on Thursday February 20^th at 29^th St. Ballroom with Grocery Bag, Blank Hellscape, and Guiding Light.

Glassreel: “Myself Included” [PREMIERE]

Winnepeg’s Glassreel is a masterclass on the hard-to-nail trifecta of layers, technique, and breathing space. Nothing is simple, but everything is effortless. Following their 2022 debut Lustre, the group returns with “Myself Instead,” a song that shows the further fine-tuning, cohesion, and boldness the quartet has been building on.

While the Belle & Sebastian and Mazzy Star inspirations remain, “Myself Included,” indicates an upcoming album where those nods will be in mere glimpses because, honey, Glassreel is now staring into the looking glass; it’s all them. And it’s very exciting.

“Myself Included” is out today.

Lola Tried: “Degrader”

If Mama tried to steer you right, Lola Tried is here to steer you wrong. So very, very wrong. Known for masterfully blending the emo hooks of teenage Millennial yore with garage and power-pop sensibilities, the group has always been like the adult charcuterie board to pop-punk’s Lunchable.

After nearly a decade under those influences, Lola Tried comes back with “Degrader,” a raw departure from slick hooks and curled-lip lyrics. In fact, the curl has widened into something purely guttural, and the corner of Lauren Burton’s mouth is leaking venom-laced blood. And trust me, she’s not looking for a handkerchief.

This evolution of Lola Tried is as dark in tone as it is clear in direction. They’ve shimmied right over the awkward stage partly due to founding members Burton and Ray Garza bringing Gianni Sarimento and Austin Norman into the fold to fully actualize this new sound. The subject matter of “Degrader” is dark and regrettably relatable. It’s brave and powerful; two things that have always been part of the Lola Tried DNA.

“Degrader” is from Lola Tried’s upcoming EP, out later this year. You can celebrate the song’s release tonight at Chess Club with Stella and the Very Messed and Housewarming.

Valley Flower: “Run Buddy”

Rolling into Austin like a quiet, yet alluring fog from the Midwest and Appalachia is Valley Flower, a groovy bluegrass quintet that brilliantly weaves in those regional influences to offer something a little different to the stalwart, homegrown scene here in Austin. And 2024 was very fertile for Valley Flower. They opened for several national bluegrass/folks acts, held a residency at Sagebrush, played festivals, and had songs featured on some of Spotify and BMI’s most coveted playlists.

“Run Buddy” finds the string band putting a little alt-country veneer on their bluegrass soul, and it suits them well. The self-produced EP shows the band is a true ensemble: every layer is distinct and each instrument has a voice.

“Run Buddy” is from their self-titled EP, out tomorrow. You can see Valley Flower at their EP release show this Friday at Sam’s Town Point.

Yahtzee Brown: “Take It Back”

I know you’re already fantasizing about your first road trip of 2025, so here’s a new add for that tried and true playlist.

Austin’s Yahtzee Brown takes a myriad of inspirations to create his own brand and generation of country-psych, or what I prefer to call Cosmic Country. And while the songs of Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons bring us back, Yahtzee Browns moves the narrative forward in time, writing songs that speak to a generation who thought “born post-9/11” defined them…until the pandemic happened to rock their formative years. Freshman year of college on ZOOM from what should now be your old bedroom? No gracias.

“Take It Back,” gives us a peek into Yahtzee Brown’s inner monologue, perseverating on a relationship that’s run its course. And isn’t that something we all inevitably do when we have nothing but ourselves and the road?

“Take It Back” is from the album You Got This, out now.

Skateland: “Postcards” (Recorded Live in Studio 1A)

As Love Austin Music Months enters the home stretch, let’s visit a recent Studio 1A from an old friend. Skateland played our Free Week Show in 2023, and the next month he was our Artist of the Month ahead of his debut EP New Wave Revivial. In the almost two years since, he’s played SXSW each year, made an impression on the LA music scene, enjoyed attention from national publications, and opened for Foster the People last October for ACL Nights. And all the while, he’s been a PhD candidate here at UT. I know, right?

Skateland returned to Studio 1A earlier this month to perform songs from his sophomore EP Joyce Howell, How Are You? And I’ll say this: he’s really mastered how to bring the bedroom sound to a full crowd. He brings his behavioral psychology expertise to “Postcards,” a reflection on screen-focused bad habits as experienced and empathized by the general human condition.

Joyce Howell, How Are You? is out now.

Kirk Smith: “Julian”

Kirk Smith has been kicking around Austin and our airwaves for some time, and last Friday he released “Julian.” “Julian” opens with a melancholy, bossa nova shuffle, setting the stage for a worried heart. But it’s not love, it’s sadness for someone you watched from afar decades ago. Lamenting the tale of a John Bender or Daniel Desario-type, seemingly addicted to making every wrong decision with the rest of the world only seeing a lost cause, or as Smith deems it, a “Golden Fool.” But the reality is this is a person who has fallen through the cracks and deemed defective before they could drive a car.

The story in the present day brings us up-to-speed with the titular Julian, a barfly regularly being swatted out of establishments and now perpetually on the road, never easy to nail down. It’s a beautiful ballad that pairs well with a chilled glass of Zevondel.

“Julian” is on In Waves, out now.

Futon Blonde: “3 Color Flag”

The imagery of rebirth and change in winter might be the only thing you remember from your Robert Frost lesson in English class, so let’s go back to school and compose a short essay on the significance of featuring this song during this season. Just kidding.

Austin’s Futon Blonde have spent the last decade making fun, indie-pop tunes with tight, catchy hooks, but now, a change is in the air. The quartet is taking a darker turn, leaning more into the post-punk, dark alternative space. And it’s working. But fear not, the hooks are still there. They might just be giving you a little pit shove instead of snuggling up against you.

Here’s a hint of what’s to come.

You can see Futon Blonde at a show Saturday, February 1st with Lonesome Ranch at Drinks Backyard in Southeast Austin.

Yes Sir, No Sir: “Spiritus Heist”

Returning after their debut album in 2021 and a sprinkling of singles in the meantime, Austin’s Yes Sir No Sir are back with This Is Going to Last Forever, recorded at Austin’s Chicken Ranch Studios and polished by Kevin Butler of Austin’s Test Tube Audio. Now, the album doesn’t come out until Friday, but they’ve been kind enough to let us give you a little preview.

This Is Going to Last Forever rides the roller coaster of life’s most important and emotional tenants, but there’s one that takes a step into a fictional space somewhat akin to Beastie Boys “Paul Revere”: its about the band robbing a bank.

Kevin Brinkkoeter’s baritone speak-singing really puts a trademark here, especially given the song’s storytelling nature. The intersection between 80s darkwave, a more modern attitude, and a recurring guitar effect that gives the heist its highway bandit appeal perks your ears and keeps you guessing for the song’s next direction. So hop in baby, we’re going to yell “stick em up and let two fly.”

“Spiritus Heist” is on This Is Going to Last Forever, out Friday.

Cast of Thousands: “Serpo”

It’s cold, man! I hope you’re hunkered down with your comfort food of choice because this song is serving fireside umami. Austin quintet Cast of Thousands released their EP Useful People earlier this month, and weather like today, where you may be bending your ear a little closer to the radio, calls for a little fun puzzle for your ear to follow.

While the band’s influence stems all across the college and garage rock genres, “Serpo,” serves big Pavement and Built to Spill vibes. And that endorsement is golden in my book. Max Venderver’s nimble fingers are effortlessly working overtime on this bright, earworm melody, but the ensemble moves together; every layer is distinct. And while the heart of the song has an undeniable 90s college rock influence (not a complaint), the harmonies and vocals make it fresh and uniquely their own. It could inspire Stephen Malkmus to reach out to the Heavy Heavy, or hey, why not these guys.

“Serpo” is from the Useful People EP, out now.

Geto Gala: “Homerun Derby” (Live In Studio 1A)

As Love Austin Music Month marches on, I’d like to revisit one of my favorite Studio 1A sessions from 2024 and celebrate a new victory. Geto Gala, the rockstar hip-hop duo of Jake Lloyd and Deezie Brown were our November 2024 Artist of the Month, and they headlined our Free Week Show a few weeks ago at Stubb’s Indoors. Hot of the release of Major League at the end of last year, they were part of the 2024 Sonic Guild class and were awarded $10,000 this past Saturday at the 11^th Annual Sonic Guild Ball. Which means big things are coming next.

To celebrate this huge victory for one of our favorite artists at KUTX, and to show you what you’re missing in case you haven’t yet seen Geto Gala live, here’s one from their November Studio 1A Session.

Geto Gala plays a SIMS Foundation benefit show Saturday, February 9th at Antone’s with NOLO and Semihelix.

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.