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Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

This is the definition of an all-around badass. Anastasia Hera picks up where frustration or despair would’ve left off. Her philosophy? “Life as art.”

Feeling passionately about rap since her childhood, Hera focused on developing this love of her favorite music into a signature style that doesn’t adhere to just one genre. Facing single motherhood and a variety of challenges along the way, Hera’s resilience helped her power through to become the rap artist, producer, teacher, actress, and successful entrepreneur she is today. In addition to founding the non-profit CAKE (Creativity Abundance Knowledge Elevation) in 2015, which provides support for women and girls in music, Hera launched her company HERA Tropical Rum in 2021.

Don’t miss Anastasia Hera at the next Skylab, a music industry social presented by Spaceflight Records tomorrow evening, Thursday Oct. 12, at Scholz Garten on San Jacinto Blvd. It’s an early free show, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and it’s open to everyone, not just the music industry folks!

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Don’t fret, pet. This evening, treat yourself to some electrifying glam daddy blues. Austin-based songwriter and face-melter Jeremiah Jackson describes his style as a combination of Bowie, Butthole Surfers and Queens of the Stone Age, all rolled into one sequin-clad glam rocker. Catch the vibe at Jackson’s show tonight, Tuesday Oct. 10, at Meanwhile Brewing, 3901 Promontory Point Dr. It’s a free show starting at 7:30 p.m. Glitter and sparkle, baby, and check out the EP Awake, featuring the title track heard on today’s AMM.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

It’s a golden twilight, when the stars and a sliver of the moon are visible, even though the sun hasn’t completely set yet. It’s a wisp of a breeze…or was that a ghost? It can be the early morning light just as easily as it could be a star-studded night sky. And, much to the delight of your AMM host, one fan describes AMM featured track “Stop Waiting” by Cigarettes After Sex as “another great night driving song.” It is. Mesmerizing with a longing that could never be quenched, it’s made all the more ethereally seductive by the vocals of Greg Gonzalez.

Cigarettes After Sex is known for their subterranean dream-pop mystique, a dreamlike ambient presence with a dark edge to it, from their EP I (2012) to their 2017 self-titled debut album, and their 2019 release Cry. But don’t skip over the two-track dark pop caress of Crush (2018). And following the KUTX-featured single “Pistol” comes another two-track treasure, Bubblegum, from which “Stop Waiting” comes. Put this one on the playlist for your next road trip.

Cigarettes After Sex performs tonight, Monday Oct. 9, at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, as part of ACL Fest Nights. Doors at 7 p.m.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Buckle up. Presenting more selections from your friendly neighborhood AMM:

• At ACL Fest this afternoon at Zilker Park, remember to catch Die Spitz, Shooks, Angel White, Calder Allen and Ben Kweller. Tonight, Tanya Tucker and Foo Fighters blow it up. Tomorrow, AMM must-sees include Grace Sorensen, The Walkmen, Jane Leo, Yves Tumor, The Breeders, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cigarettes After Sex and Odesza.
• Head over to Sagebrush today to get yer kernels popped at Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta. Doors at 1 p.m., with music on both stages inside the cool darkness, starring your AMM’s favorite heartbreakers and internationally renown hoodlums, Hickoids. The line-up includes Lost Knobs, The Ghost Wolves, The Beaumonts, The Living Pins, Pussy Gilette and many more.
• Happening tonight at Swan Dive, Half Dream celebrates the release of their album, Will I Still Bloom?, with Batty Jr. and The Episodes. Doors 8 p.m.
• Also tonight, Hard Proof and friends gather for a big Felabration!! at Far Out Lounge and Stage, celebrating the music of Fela Kuti with Superfónicos and members of Golden Dawn Arkestra, Grupo Fantasma, Black Pumas and Trouble In the Streets. Doors at 8 p.m.

Remember: Go support the bands, even if you’re abstaining from those of the wrist variety.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Looks as though your Austin Music Minute host got a little carried away again and got some dates mixed up, but didn’t want to waste a perfectly good Bass Drum of Death song (“Everybody’s Gonna Be There” from Say I Won’t). Click on the LISTEN button to hear how it went down…slightly erroneously:

• The AMM selections for ACL Fest 2023 Friday include aforementioned badasses Bass Drum of Death, along with AMM fave Little Simz, plus Maggie Rogers, a tip o’ the hat to The Lumineers, definitely The Mars Volta, and Kendrick Lamar.
• For those not festival-ing, there’s a must-see early show at Hotel Vegas tonight with Eagle Claw and The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, with doors at 6:30 p.m. That’s followed by an insane line-up with Brooklyn band Godcaster, Borzoi and Glasshealer, starting at 10 p.m.
• Also tonight, Mamahawk has a single release show (“Blue Jay”) at Chess Club, paired with a Math Judson album release show (No Needs A New Shirt), and a set by The Get Lows, Doors at 7 p.m.
• A short list for ACL Fest for early Saturday includes four sets, one right after the other – Die Spitz at 11:45 a.m., followed by Shooks, Angel White and Calder Allen. Then head over the BMI stage for Ben Kweller at 3 p.m.
• As you’ll hear, the AMM mentioned the wrong show day for the Austin Corn Lovers Fiesta at Sagebrush. It’s actually tomorrow, not today, but happy to give them a little extra AMM love. Doors for tomorrow’s crazy party, instigated by Hickoids, are at 1 p.m. Both stages in the house will be invaded by the likes of Hamell On Trial, Lost Knobs, Jane Woe, The Ghost Wolves, The Beaumonts, Pussy Gillette, The Living Pins and more. Sick and twisted. As it should be.

Something for everybody. Go support the bands, even if you’re abstaining from those of the wrist variety.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

All right, so this one’s a day early, but it’s good to have a little game plan for something as gargantuan as Austin City Limits Music Festival. Today’s AMM provides a short list of favorites to check out when the fest kicks off tomorrow at Zilker Park.

The afternoon is off to a great start with an early set by Devon Gilfillian, along with The Altons, Thee Sacred Souls and Studio 1A standout Abraham Alexander. Long Beach pop trio Half Alive is.a good lead into Portugal. The Man. But it’s a tough decision for your AMM host because two faves, Bass Drum of Death and the incredible Little Simz, play at the same time. Either way, follow it with Maggie Rogers, The Mars Volta (featured on today’s AMM), then make way for headliner Kendrick Lamar.

The madness begins tomorrow afternoon at Zilker Park, with Asleep At the Wheel greeting you with a set at 1 p.m. Welcome. Remember to hydrate.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

One could compare the stark beauty of any given piece by instrumental ensemble Balmorhea to a vigorous inhale/exhale while standing before a gorgeous, never-ending landscape in the natural world. Breathing in the beauty, you’re overwhelmed by the majestic surroundings while simultaneously astounded by their quiet power. It’s unsettling and wonderful.

Such is the power of Balmorhea, who released their eighth studio album this summer – their second recording on internationally renown label Deutsche Grammophon – titled Pendant World. Balmorhea founders Rob Lowe and Michael Muller continue to expand their ensemble’s atmospheric range by elegantly shifting their ambient exploration into varied rhythms and percussive arrangements. Featuring collaborations with violinist/vocalist (and longtime AMM fave) Aisha Burns, cellist Clarice Jensen, and experimental jazz saxophonist Sam Gendel to name just a few, this beautiful experiment of sound and silence continues to evolve into something greater than ever before.

Experience the magic that is Balmorhea at their performance tomorrow night, Thursday Oct. 5, at the Paramount Theater, with special guest and Pendant World contributing artist Joseph Shabason opening the show. Doors at 7 p.m.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

The forthcoming album Fox Street Blues by Buenos Diaz has a family story behind it, perhaps one that’s familiar to many generations of survivors. As songwriter/vocalist Nick Diaz explains, “These stories are unfortunately the norm and a large part of the American fabric.” But the album is a testament to how Diaz’ family persevered, and how music saved his life.

Fox Street is the Houston neighborhood his mother grew up in, where she lived with her mother – a single mom – and her older brother. Diaz’ grandmother worked most of her life to support her family, a pattern that would repeat itself when Diaz’ own father left his family. Despite the difficult times, the blues fueled a new fire in Diaz’ life. He took up guitar at age 17 and was playing the blues alongside a badass crew of older musicians to learn everything he could about his favorite music. Imagine learning from the best of the best. Albert Collins, Johnny Clyde Copeland, Gatemouth Brown, Billy Gibbons… All of it shaped the artist Diaz is today.

Here some of the new music from Fox Street Blues when Buenos Diaz performs tonight, Tuesday Oct. 3, at the Far Out Lounge and Stage. It’s another great line up featuring Lauren Gurgiolo’s musical project The Dialtones, and a set by Dylan Bishop. Doors at 7 p.m.