Song of the Day

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January 17, 2023

The Stacks: “St. Michael”

By: Jack Anderson

For the better half of last year, our staff made damn sure you knew the name Jake Ames. As co-founder of our May 2022 Artist of the Month Good Looks, Ames helped introduce us to “Vision Boards”, a KUTX airwave darling that’s seemingly become a generation-defining indie rock anthem. You may also remember that Ames was struck by a car on the verge of an expansive Good Looks tour..but don’t worry; he’s fine now and ready for you to feast on his latest collaborative labor of love…via The Stacks.

The Stacks got their start back in 2015, and have kept Ames’ insatiable, auteurist hunger and guitar-engulfed earworms front and center ever since. Pre-pandemic, the three-piece strictly existed in the live performance realm, only sharing their first studio single “Chicon” on April Fool’s Day 2021. “Chicon” proved far from a holiday farce and instead shook things up in the right direction for The Stacks, whose madman amp accumulation finally hits wax this weekend.

The Stacks’ debut 8-track, Lay Me Down To Rest, coincides with a record release show 9PM this Friday at Hotel Vegas alongside openers Rusty Dusty, Redbud, and Sammy G. So check out just how well this un-toppleable trio…stacks up in person and anoint yourself with one of Lay Me Down To Rest‘s most serene blessings. “St. Michael” was actually The Stacks’ sophomore studio offering (initially issued in May 2021), but its hallowed vocal harmonies, empyrean rhythms, and blissful six-string licks slap so hard, even an erratic archangel could be cajoled back to a state of calm.


Episodes

April 29, 2025

M. Ross Perkins: “Spiritual Kick”

Dayton, Ohio’s M. Ross Perkins has an affinity for blending 60’s British Invasion music with the sounds of American pop standards with just enough of a contemporary veneer to let you know the sound is an homage to the time, not a hint to its release date. His third album What’s the Matter, M Ross? […]

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April 28, 2025

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Last year, Monophonics bandleader Kelly Finnigan released his second solo album A Lover Was Born, a stellar study in psychedelic soul extending cleanly from the classic Monophonics sound. A song that didn’t make it onto the album was “Keep Me In Mind,” a smooth soul bop featuring Chicago soul legend Renaldo Domino. While most of […]

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April 25, 2025

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April 24, 2025

The Bug Club: “Better Than Good” [Live In Studio 1A]

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April 23, 2025

Roaring Sun: “View So Blue”

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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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