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Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

What’s one of the best ways of rallying the local community to a great cause? Music, of course. It’s how we roll. ATX booking outfit Howdy Gals appreciates this uniquely Austin way of taking care of business, so they were more than happy to assemble a fantastic line-up for a special event in support of Safe Place.

SURVIVORS: A Night Benefitting Safe Place will raise funds and awareness for the Austin nonprofit, which provides aid and resources for survivors of abuse. And this is a bill chock full of Austin Music Minute favorites –  Zettajoule, Van Mary, Pleasure Venom, TC Superstar, and Whit. The music kicks off at 9 p.m. tonight at Hotel Vegas, 1501 E. 6th St. Very recommended.

-Artwork courtesy of Howdy Gals for the Safe Place benefit.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

After officially becoming a band in 2017, The Naked Tungs recorded and produced their debut EP, Hear It Calls. Your Austin Music Minute maven was hooked from the get-go.

Last summer the band released their follow-up, the equally addictive Distract Myself (killer opening track “Shut It Off” was featured on today’s AMM). And chances are pretty good you’ll hear these badass tunes at their show tonight at Beerland, 711 1/2 Red River. It’s an excellent line-up that includes a fabulous double-video premiere with garage pop outfit Sure (any band that has a sign in their video that says “MUSIC VIDEOS ARE STUPID” is doing all kinds of winning in my book, thank you very much) and lo-fi punk hoodlums Unpopular; plus, making their grand and chaotic debut this evening, Texas Don and the Toxic City Psychos.

Unleash the fury. Doors at 9:30 p.m. Awesome bands, one and all. Recommended.

-Photo of The Naked Tungs courtesy of the artist.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Somewhere along the music-sphere, your Austin Music Minute host read that expectations for St. Paul-based artist deM atlaS‘ first full-length release were high. Josh Turner, the mind behind the moniker, has been making waves in the Twin Cities’ scene for some time now, so the anticipation for Bad Actress was way up there. Little did his fan base (and reviewers) know it would be an epic upheaval, mixing multiple genres and unnerving the senses with the emotions of a survivor following what he’s described as “…the hell that’s inside of you.”

Released last year, the hip-hop/rock/acoustic/gospel-tinged poetic construction of Bad Actress reflects the tumultuous ebb and flow of manic depression, as well as the healing that follows toxic relationships.

deM atlaS will be in Austin for a show tomorrow (Wednesday) night at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Dr., opening for Minneapolis hip-hop duo Atmosphere, along with fellow Minneapolis hip-hop artists The Lioness and DJ Keezy. An excellent bill all around. Doors open at 7 p.m. Recommended.

-Image courtesy of the artist.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Let’s just say that this is a little something that’s good for your soul. Make no mistake.

The Eastside Blues Syndicate leads the way at the Blue Monday Blues Jam, happening tonight at Dozen Street, 1808 E. 12th St. Starting at 9 p.m., musicians are welcome to sign up to play at this Monday night ritual, while the Syndicate starts out the evening with a set or two to get things warmed up.

Leave your ego at the door and carry in some respect. Recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the Eastside Blues Syndicate.

-Today’s AMM music selection: Muddy Waters, “Got My Mojo Working”

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Your Austin Music Minute maven has made note of this before, but it bears repeating: Audrey Campbell is not to be trifled with.

The Pleasure Venom front woman’s powerful presence on their fantastically frenzied self-titled release pushes all the right buttons in a merciless upheaval. Feast on all those annihilating hooks that match Campbell’s vocals on each blistering round. Not fer nothin’ did Bikini Kill‘s Kathleen Hanna give this band a shoutout. The future is badass female. Deal with it.

The second track on Pleasure Venom’s EP, “Deth” (featured on today’s AMM), is a scorcher and comes with a brand new video. The band premieres it at their show tonight at Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River. The bill features sets by Pollen RX, The Oysters, and Houston band Goodgirl, making their Austin debut.

The music starts at 9:30 p.m. Solid all around. Very recommended.

-Photo of Pleasure Venom’s Audrey Campbell by Victoria Renard.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

You’ve been hearing about it. Tonight’s the night, and – if you haven’t noticed by now – your Austin Music Minute host is smitten with the line-up.

Welcome to THE NEXT, a showcase taking over the room tonight at Antone’s, 305 E. 5th St., presented by the Austin Music Foundation and KUTX 98.9. The event features seven local bands/artists participating in this year’s AMF Artist Development Program, an essential element of providing career development resources to local musicians that include instruction in marketing, promotion, and navigating the industry, as well as mentorship and more.

This evening’s badass line-up includes Aaron Stephens, Alesia Lani (featured on today’s AMM), Kalu & The Electric Joint, Otis Wilkins, KUTX January Artist of the Month Shy Beast, Superfónicos, and Western Youth. The party starts at 8 p.m. You don’t want to miss a single set. Very recommended.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Look, even NPR Music pointed out the following information in a recent review, so it’s not as though your Austin Music Minute is telling tales out of school. But…there have been those critics who have snidely dismissed ’80s-era R&B as lame, watered-down, or bereft of soul – that last one being the most caustic critique of all. However, if you were growing up in the ’80s, surely you’ll see the fallacy of this assumption. To refer to all ’80s R&B as collectively soulless when the roster includes Janet Jackson, Sade, Tina Turner, and – hellooo? – Prince, is to completely miss the mark. Lisa Lisa or TLC may not necessarily be your jam, but the grooves could be just as addictive, just as seductive.

Being the artistic goddess that Meshell Ndegeocello is, you very quickly realize the kind of unique experience she brings to her latest release, Ventriloquism, which features a collection of covers of a few of the aforementioned ‘80s-era gems, in a most refreshing and reinvigorating way. Suffice to say, this is no ordinary cover album. Two very important factors come into play: The brilliant way Ndegeocello covers these songs, and the very track selection itself – Prince, Sade, Turner, Jackson, George Clinton, Lisa Lisa, and featured on today’s AMM, Al B. Sure!.

Dang. Don’t miss out on Meshell Ndegeocello, performing tonight at 3Ten, 310 Willie Nelson Blvd., with special guest opener, Hanna Benn. Doors open at 7 p.m. Very recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Brookly electronic artist Jeremy Malvin is the mind behind Chrome Sparks, and he follows last year’s popular self-titled release with a new EP, Be On Fire. Multiple influences charge the lush synth grooves of this latest work, especially with a lo-fi vibe owing a lot to ‘80s soul (relish the slightly obscure reference that is “In2 Your Love” an all-out tribute to composer George Smallwood), jazz, psych, and elements of contemporary and old school hip-hop.

Catch Chrome Sparks tonight at Empire Control Room, 606 E. 7^th. Ambient synth-pop artist Teen Daze opens the show. Doors at 8 p.m.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.