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Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

All the heart emojis go here. The word that may best describe Brooklyn-based duo Matt and Kim is euphoric. Two decades together and six albums, one EP and a collection of remixes later, they remain one of the most joyful and joyous musical duos to connect with live audiences. They’ve navigated an independent career of highs and lows with this contagious elation they bring to every show, every interview, something that Matt Johnson once described in a 2019 chat with Paste as a “hell yeah vibe – Kim (Schifino) comes in with more of a f%ck yeah vibe!” And it’s genuine.

The vibe is yours at Matt and Kim’s show tonight, Tuesday Sept. 12, at Mohawk on Red River on the outdoor stage. LA-based musician Vinny Earley‘s jolting garage/power punk project Vaguess (pronounced “Vegas”) starts out the night. Doors at 7 p.m. And also from LA, the electrifying Stuntdriver performs on Mohawk’s indoor stage. Badass line-up.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Home Is Where captures the frustration, the mindlessness, the disassociation of existing – or, attempting to exist – in an increasingly apathetic world on The Whaler, with the exhilaration of punk, hardcore, and a nod to emo. It’s a sonic transmission of one overwhelmed with repulsion, not just bursting but tearing out of the societal fabric’s suffocating expectation with an unhinged scream. Lyricist/vocalist Brandon MacDonald writes from her own experiences of anxiety and dread pervading her life as she navigates a world that doesn’t want her to exist. Or worse – a world that doesn’t give a damn.

This is the show. See Home Is Where tonight, Monday Sept. 11, at the Far Out Lounge and Stage in South Austin. The line-up includes Denton bands Homewrecker and the Bedwetters and Upsetting, and Austin outfit Lola Tried. Doors at 7 p.m.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

East Austin is the place to be this weekend, specifically along E. 12th St. Not only are there a lot of great shows to catch during the Eastside Kings Festival, but creative collective PietchHouse is offering a sneak peak of the Future Front House for Future Front Texas.

The new Future Front HQ, 1900 E. 12th St., houses a community space and exhibition series for local artists, with women and LGBTQ+ creatives at the helm. As a special preview of the new location, everyone’s invited to An Eastside Evening with Magna Carda, featuring a photo exhibit, a conversation with the East Side Riders bike club, and a performance by Magna Carda. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Future Front House. Tickets are available at the PietschHouse website.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Not only is this event an annual tradition, it’s actively keeping alive a vital part of Austin’s musical history and culture that many still are unaware of. The 11th Annual Eastside Kings Festival, presented by the Eastside Kings Foundation, kicks off tonight in grand style with a party at Antone’s, featuring Terry Harmonica Bean and the Boo Boo Davis Band. The live music continues through the weekend, Monday and Tuesday, with blues, jazz and gospel artists performing at Skylark Lounge on Airport Blvd., Justine’s Brasserie on E. 5th, and venues along E. 12th St., an area that was a hotbed of blues and R&B during the post-war era.

Eastside Kings Foundation came into being in 1999 with Eastside Kings, an album recorded by Dialtone Records producer and EKF founder Eddie Stout, featuring several of Austin’s largely unknown African American blues artists. But one LP wasn’t going to cover it. An entire series of Eastside Kings albums followed, and eventually the festival was born.

This year’s festival includes Sean “Mack” McDonald and Stan Mosley (pictured above), Orange Jefferson (featured on today’s AMM), Glenda Dotson with Harry Bodine, the Jones Family Gospel Singers, Pamala Allen & Co., the Gospel Starz, Keith Dunn, and many more, including a few familiar faces in the backup bands – Je’Texas, Dylan Bishop, Hash Brown, and the Moeller Brothers with Nick Connolly.

Check the EKF website for the full schedule with set times and locations. Tickets are available at Antone’s Record Shop.

-Special thanks to Eddie Stout for his assistance with today’s AMM.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

One word that may come to mind when describing Magic Rockers of Texas: Irreverent. And irresistibly so, like someone grinning smugly at your discomfort while asking, “What’s your problem?” With the kind of bangers Magic Rockers puts out, it works like a friggin’ charm. Excellent stuff from the mind of songwriter/vocalist Jim Campo, with the temperature fluctuating between punk, garage rock, and an almost sickening pop sweetness that buckles your knees.

Then a most awesome curve ball is delivered in the form of Life’s A Bowl Of Cherries…And All I Got Was Stems! Wanna commiserate over a couple of Lone Star tall boys? The new album’s stories come from not so much a pity party, but as a kind of…declaration of independence, maybe? As in, “Look, I’m tryin’ here,” or “It’s not you, it’s me.” Check out the video for the album closer, “Words in a Bin,” and feel crushed as it slowly peels your heart into shreds. “Me / I’m a bottom feeder boy / and it’s all I can do to keep moving forward / I write my thoughts down / they’re only words in a bin…” It burns so good.

Why don’t more people know about Magic Rockers of Texas? Why?? Treat yourself to their album release show tomorrow night, Friday Sept. 8, at Hotel Vegas. Doors at 9 p.m. Gummy Fang starts out the night, followed by Gold Leather, then Magic Rockers, and closing out the night is Otis Wilkins.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Don’t be thrown by the words “music industry social.” Though at times it denotes an exclusive (and a bit stuffy) South-By soiree, this time around it’s a party for everybody. Austin-based label Spaceflight Records is kicking off a new residency this week at Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Skylab: A Music Industry Social is a happy hour gathering for those in the industry and the music lovers as well. Everyone from the musicians to the tour managers, bookers to label reps, bands and the fans, all are welcome to get in some great schmoozing and check out some fantastic live music.

The new series starts with Spaceflight artist Otis Wilkins taking over Scholz’ patio stage early tomorrow evening, Thursday Sept. 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Catch a different artist from the Spaceflight roster same time each week, including Nemegata, S.L. Houser, Chris Catalena, Trouble in the Streets, special guest Anastasia Hera, and Croy and the Boys, through Oct. 19.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

A slight change of plans for tonight’s Little Mazarn residency kick off show at Chess Club. Kindly stepping in for songwriter Sarah Lee this evening is Little Mazarn friend and Wizard Rodeo collaborator, Garrett T. Capps, always delivering killer sets with his band NASA Country, whether it’s at East Austin honky-tonk White Horse or owning the room (literally and figuratively) at the Lonesome Rose in San Antonio.

Capps starts out tonight at 9 p.m., followed by the quiet grace and wonder of Little Mazarn at 10 p.m. Rounding out the night is a badass outfit serving up a healthy dose of Chicken Fried Snake from some distant lonesome highway, Rattlesnake Milk, at 11 p.m.

On the other side of this month’s Chess Club residency coin is Precious Gems, featuring Nicole Hale and Little Mazarn’s Lindsey Verrill, taking up the reins next Tuesday, Sept. 12. The bill includes magnificent post punk madness by Ferret Noise and, bringing the light with Until I’m Light, dynamic duo Felt Out.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

It’s a perfect start to the week, whether you’ve had Labor Day off or you’re wrapping up the day after punching the clock. Howdy Gals, the Austin-based inclusive live music booking collective, presents Howdy Gals On A Monday at Hole In the Wall tonight. This week’s showcase features Terrence Kiser’s musical project Soul Sipper; Austin artist, by way of Houston, Will Derden’s project Wednesday Kid; and folk/rock outfit Hanover. The music starts at 8 p.m.