Song of the Day

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April 14, 2022

Taylor Rae: “Never Gonna Do”

By: Jack Anderson

The vast majority of musical artists are plagued by their influences; either there’s a huge disparity between their sound and that of their role models, or its a cookie-cutter copy of their sound. But when you end up with something new that still has subtle hints of those inspirations…that’s what separates the milquetoast many from the truly talented. Take a listen to Taylor Rae, whose inspirations include Steely Dan, Bonnie Raitt, Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King, Jewel, and Sheryl Crow. Despite that hodge podge, Rae’s style comes across more like a blend of Grace Potter and Norah Jones. Since moving from Santa Cruz to Austin in 2018, this singer-guitarist has charmed listeners and show-goers alike with her sophisticated take on jazz, blues, folk, and rock. Last year she proved her wisdom beyond her years with her debut LP Mad Twenties, and this Sunday at 7PM she’ll tote some of those twelve tracks onstage at The Ballroom, along with Sneaky Peaches and the Fuzz. So while we navigate our own Mad Twenties of a pandemic decade, keep Taylor Rae’s most charged songs in tow, especially her dynamic, harmony-heavy folk-rock fulmination, “Never Gonna Do”.

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April 23, 2025

Roaring Sun: “View So Blue”

Austin’s Larry Llodra has fronted a couple of Austin groups including noise rock band UVH. Llodra’s new project Roaring Sun is a hard turn from the hard, fuzzy songs of UVH, opting for a bristly, folk rock sound. The debut album Turn and Wave is melancholic and tender, raw and unflinching. The project was born […]

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April 22, 2025

David Ramirez: “I Got People” [Live In Studio 1A]

After over fifteen years of making and releasing music, Austin’s David Ramirez considered hanging up his music career, but he rescinded that notion following the outcry from his fans and a prolonged tenure of soul searching. After all, when raw emotion and critical self-reflection are consistent tenants of your music, sometimes that process can feel […]

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April 21, 2025

Taylor Rae: “Cologne”

Austin singer-songwriter Taylor Rae released her debut album Mad Twenties in 2021, a release that led to a 30-week stint on the Americana radio charts and opportunities to hit the road opening for bands like the Head and the Heart and Band of Heathens. After a stretch of playing an average of 200 gigs a […]

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April 18, 2025

Kirk Smith: “Julian” [New Moon Remix]

Earlier this year, Austin’s Kirk Smith released “Julian,” a song about a perpetual miscreant making every bad decision and burning every bridge he crosses. While that version sported a bossa nova shuffle perfect for a dark lounge, he’s now paired with local producer Lars Goransson to remix “Julian” for a new crowd. The remix takes […]

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April 16, 2025

DUCKWRTH: “Toxic Romantic”

L.A.’s DUCKWRTH has an adept knack for genre-bending around hip-hop, indie, and electronic music, massaging whatever effect he wants to achieve into his mold. His hip, danceable midtempo grooves have landed him the opening spot on two Billie Eilish tours, his music has been in shows like Insecure and Bel Air, and his song “Start […]

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April 15, 2025

Brian D’Addario: “Till the Morning”

Brian D’Addario and his brother Michael came onto our radar back in 2016 as the duo the Lemon Twigs and their debut album Do Hollywood, a throwback splash of 60’s and 70’s rock and pop akin to the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Now after five Lemon Twigs albums, Brian D’Addario has released his debut […]

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April 11, 2025

Jeremiah Jackson: “I Believe In You” [PREMIERE]

 Austin’s Jeremiah Jackson has been shaking-up the traditional sounds of the Austin music scene for the last several years with his self-signed “Glam Daddy Blues.” Donned in one of his signature capes of many lengths and many textiles typically matched with street clothes underneath, before the band strikes a chord, you already know you’re in […]

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April 10, 2025

Night Beats: “Behind the Green Door”

Danny Lee Blackwell has been performing under the moniker Night Beats since 2009, but there’s an argument that he could just as well be called “The Distiller.” Night Beats has a reputation for concocting. Blackwell can make a country song sound like a trip through the desert with Hunter S. Thompson. He can turn a […]

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