Also, the party has a slew of groups from the electronic music scene in Austin. Bands on the Insect Records and Pau Wau labels are sprinkled throughout the schedule. If you’re a fan of the Exploded Drawing Series which has been showcasing Austin’s latest electronic musicians, you’ll find much to love at this party. I would recommend checking out the Switched On stage on Saturday for a great lineup of electronic music. Check out the lineup for that stage below and visit the Lucy The Poodle Productions site for the full lineup here.

Lucy the Poodle Presents: The Switched On Stage at the Spiderhouse Garden Sat. 5/19
3pm – Club de Veste de Jean
4 – Befriend the Bears
5 – Lean Hounds
6 – Slash Future
7 – Missions
8 – Silent Diane
9 – Sleep Over
10 – Butcher Bear
11 – Veronica Ortuño DJ set

A couple bands I’m psyched to check out are Lean Hounds and Slash Future. I’ve just happened upon their music recently and am interested to see how they translate their sound to a live show. Check out a couple tracks from these groups below for a sample of their sound.

Lean Hounds

Lean Hounds rose out of the ashes of Haunting Oboe Music, an experimental group that gained local fanfare. This time around the remaining members have created a swirly and lush electronic sound complete with ethereal vocals. I’m really digging the laidback feel of Jaylee.

Slash Future

Slash Future are a trio of musicians leveraging the power of Ableton Live to create intricately layered songs with strong percussion. Thus far, the trio have released some demos that are a mix of post-rock and electronic. They’re currently working on a full-length. I’m hoping to hear more of what’s to slotted for the LP on Saturday. Check out their latest single “Meditation” below or head over to their Bandcamp page.

The Rockaway Beach party is taking place at Spiderhouse 2908 Fruth Street 78705. Cost per day is a meager $7 and a slip n slide and swimming pool will be available if you’re in the splish or splash mood. The bands kick off at around 3pm each day and run til about 2am. Hope to see y’all there!

On Friday, local punk band The Midgetmen will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary (or “Anniversorry”) at the Mohawk with a HUGE bill of local bands. We’ve worked with them before on this very site, and they are wonderful people, so we wanted to do something to help celebrate the occasion. Thus, since it’s their tenth anniversary, we thought we would ask them for some top 10 lists. So below, the Midgetmen present several of their top 10s based on their vast career experience, and we hope you all enjoy them and that we see you at the Mohawk on Friday! Happy Anniversary, guys!

Top 10 favorite Midgetmen songs to play live
1. King Kong
2. The Dream
3. Shitbox
4. Beer’s Gone
5. Gone Away
6. Goodbye
7. Mr. Salesboat
8. Land Mansion
9. Race to the Bottom
10. Strap It On

Top 10 Beverages to drink at practice
1-8. Beer (watery domestic)
9. Beer (IPA of some sort)
10. Water

Top 10 influences on the band
1. All mediocre rock bands
2. Titus Andronicus
3. Hold Steady
4. Built To Spill
5. Dinosaur Jr
6. Neil Young
7. Joe Strummer
8. The E Street Band
9. Richard Lloyd
10. Wrens

Top 10 things we’d be doing if we weren’t in The Midgetmen
1. Working more
2. Sleeping more
3. Seeing family and friends more
4. Drinking less
5. Lifting heavy amps up and down stairs less
6. Sitting in bars for 6 hrs before we play less
7. Spending 100s of hours learning weird al songs less
8. Normal hobbies — in which case we would spontaneously combust and cease to exist
9. Regretting never being in a mediocre band for 10 years
10. Being in an even more mediocre band with Marc

Top 10 favorite venues to play (in/out of Austin)
1. Kirby’s Beer Store – Wichita, KS
2. Mohawk – Austin, TX
3. Red 7 – Austin, TX
4. Hole In The Wall – Austin, TX
5. Parish – Austin, TX
6. Emo’s – Austin, TX
7. Lovejoy’s – Austin, TX
8. Stubb’s – Austin, TX
9. The entire city of Abilene, TX
10. The 49′r – Omaha, NE

This is most applicable to OVRLD in terms of the music scene here. For those of us who frequent Red River and the Eastside, there is just not a lot of country music in our lives. And yet, the Austin music scene was built on people like Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, Lucinda Williams, and so many other strong country artists. Hell, there’s a whole subgenre of country called Texas Country and Austin is a mecca for it. I’m not saying you have to like that music, but it’s part of the rich mosaic that makes up this wonderful place we call home, and we should respect and appreciate that.

All of that long-windedness is meant to introduce The Lonesome Heroes – one of the only pure country bands that has managed to infiltrate the Red River scene. At its core, the Lonesome Heroes consists of Landry McMeans (who is also an accomplished visual artist in her own right) and Rich Russell (who, judging by the band’s press photos, seems to have an aversion to cameras). Though the duo cite the Flaming Lips, Lou Barlow and Galaxie 500 among their influences, they have found a voice on their recently re-mastered 2012 release Daydream Western that is much more in line aesthetically with Neko Case, Gillian Welch, or a countrified Wooden Birds. As the album title indicates, they evoke the dusty expanses of West Texas in their music through soaring lap steel guitar lines and lyrics the “road.”

Though no single on this latest record is as good as “Drunken Pirate Ship” off of their 2008 record, Crooked Highway, Daydream Western is a much more mature, consistent effort. From the opening track, “Something Reckless,” they offer up memorable song after memorable song, often led by either Russell or McMeans. The Russell-led tracks (“Something Reckless,” “Seeing is Believing,” “Ocean”) feel a bit darker both lyrically and musically than the McMeans-led ones (“Highway 287,” “Am Radio”), but at all times, the two offer up catchy melodies that help make the record accessible even to those who may not be country connoisseurs. I think their frequent use of onomatopoeic or nonsense syllables (like on “Something Reckless” or “Aspens”) helps to that end. I mean, who hears a good “bah-bah-bah” chorus and doesn’t sing along?

While much of it is comprised of an indie-rock interpretation of country music, Daydream Western ends on one of the most straightforward country songs you’ll hear – “Don’t Play to Lose.” Over the course of their album, The Lonesome Heroes show that they’re following their own advice. And in the process, they remind us that there is a whole lot of Texas out there for us to love.

- Carter

I knew very little about Shearwater before moving to Austin. Apparently, this is their eighth studio disc after over a decade together, and is essentially the vehicle for the quiet brilliance of Jonathan Meiburg. To me, Meiburg’s vocals recall the work of a group like Hidden Cameras or Wild Beasts – distinctive and emotive, and perhaps a bit theatrical. You can tell you’re listening to Shearwater as soon as he opens his mouth. And yet it’s more than just that. Shearwater focus on space and sonic textures. Their sound is mellow and mid-tempo, but also epic and endless. A track like “Pushing the River” meanders from a frantic acoustic riff into a whirlwind of distortion and interlocking rhythms. It never rocks out wholeheartedly, but it engages the listener in mind and body, and is thus a microcosm of the album as a whole.

Shearwater - 'Pushing The River'

Frankly, I think that Shearwater are at their best on Animal Joy when at their lightest. Opening track “Animal Joy” and “You as You Were” are both buoyed by bouncing rhythms and gorgeous melodies that just satisfy the soul. Lead single “Breaking the Yearlings” gets darker and ups the intensity level. It’s a great song, but I think lacks the openness of the best of Shearwater’s work. Though the strength of the first four tracks is alluring, the rest of the album has fantastic moments as well: the drum timbre on “Insolence,” the hushed chorus on “Open Your Houses,” the arpeggiated flourishes on closer “Star of the Age.” (Shout out to producer Danny Reisch for his fantastic work on bringing out all these elements!) It’s an album that rewards multiple listens, and at its best is moving both emotionally and physically. If you haven’t yet given them a chance, it’s well worth it. Tonight, they’re playing in Chicago and remain on tour until at least the end of July, but you can buy Animal Joy just about anywhere.

- Carter

Without mincing words, Arab Spring is one of my favorite records of the year – in or out of Austin. This is a fantastic guitar-based, power/punk/pop album, full of hooks and energy. When I first wrote about Literature last year, I compared them to the Buzzcocks and 70′s groups that combined melody with power and their album realizes that completely. Lead single “Grifted,” for example, has a propulsive rhythm section that never lets up, even as guitars build and swirl in a gorgeous outro that caps off a beautiful song. “Push Up Bra” borrows the jerky rhythms and horn sections from ska, without leaving its pop-punk roots. Closing track “I Am Right Here” gets at the hopeless romantic in me with the chorus, “Tell me what you think every night / This is how you spend the rest of your life.” More than once in the last few weeks, I’ve been driving around town singing along to this at the top of my lungs. It’s completely irresistible.

Literature - 'Grifted'

The real Arab Spring that began last year was about getting rid of the old order and harnessing the energy of the young. On Arab Spring, Literature don’t exactly throw off the chains of the past – one could argue that they’re actively embracing their history – but that youthful vigor is present in spades over the course of the album’s ten songs and 25 minutes. You can pick up the album for free at their bandcamp page, but you should throw a couple of bucks their way. Music this sweet doesn’t come around all the time – even in a musically rich place like Austin.

- Carter

This week, I wanted to share with y’all another potent release that made its way to my inbox recently. This time it’s an EP from The Hereticks, an unsigned fourpiece originally formed out of West Campus. The EP, Causes, marks The Hereticks’ debut recording and it’s definitely promising. Frantic rhythms and intricate guitar work stand out and entice you to cut loose, while soaring vocals and guitar effects build their sound to epic levels.

Upon first listen to this EP, I was initially turned off by the slow intro and immediate falsetto‘d vocals on the first track of the album. Yet, after about a minute into the first song, (also the title track) The Hereticks picked up the pace with some intriguing syncopated rhythms and riffs and reeled me back in. Although The Hereticks’ sound is definitely varied from track to track, the overall pop and jangle rock tone is reminiscent of Vampire Weekend to me. However, the four piece definitely interweave some prog rock epicness into the EP. Listen to the conclusion of the 3^rd track, “I’ve Got No Clue” for an example.

Throughout Causes, the group makes great use of guitar effects which allow them to really vary up the typical guitar sound. You’ll hear reverb, delay, harmonics and more. Despite this, my favorite track on the EP was somewhat clean as far as the effects go. Titled “It Takes Time,” the second track on Causes had me hitting repeat. With this song, the group brings us a danceable jangle rock tune with intriguing verses and a great breakdown. Take a listen to it below.

Check out the full release at The Hereticks’ Bandcamp page here or check them out tonight at the Hole in the Wall. They’ll be playing with Patch, Dog Gone Dead and Wiccit. I’m going to be keeping look out for new releases from The Hereticks  and am looking forward to seeing where they take their sound next.

- Dan

Balcones marks the second release from Austin’s post-punk, math rock, indie-dance power house Zlam Dunk. This seven-track EP does more than just take off where 2010’s Noble Ancestry LP left off; it sees this group both refining and expanding their sound in ways that I can only describe as epic. For the uninitiated, Zlam Dunk can best be described as dance music for hardcore kids. The combination of driving beats, frenetic picking, and potent lyrics create a sound that recalls the mathy, but danceable compositions of Q and Not U and Fang Island, with the edge and lyrical drive of bands like Fugazi and Texas’s own At The Drive-In.

With their second release, Zlam Dunk really seems to have matured as a band. The lyrics on Balcones feel much more refined than those on their debut. Even songs like “British Teeth,” with its boy-meets-girl theme, possess a certain poetry and sincerity that I feel goes a step beyond what’s on display on Noble Ancestry. As with many post-debut EPs, there seems to be something transitional about this release. For example, the synth that was so prevalent on their debut takes a back seat to the rest of the band on Balcones. But while the overall tone of the album is less playful and more anthemic, there is still a certain danceable quality to this release that begs listeners to get up and move. Both Balcones and Noble Ancestry are available for purchase on Zlam Dunk’s bandcamp page and as an introduction to this side of Austin’s punk scene I can’t think of a better place to start.

Zlam Dunk are playing tonight at the Beauty Ballroom with Boyfrndz, Goldspine and Searcher. Go check them out to hear Balcones and Noble Ancestry tunes come alive.

- Brian

To preview the event, we wanted to pump y’all up about a few local starlets we’ve already covered here on the blog that are playing the fest and an additional local band that is sure to bring Emo’s down tomorrow afternoon.

Sleep ∞ Over

Sleep ∞ Over and their atmospheric tunes have been all over the music blogs for quite some time and recently they made some waves at South By. Sleep ∞ Over will be playing tonight at 11:00pm at Beauty Ballroom. Check out Carter’s review of the single Romantic Stream here to learn more about Sleep ∞ Over and Carter’s take on the rise of Chillwave.

Pure X

The trio, Pure X, will be bringing their minimalist tunes to the Psych fest too – playing at the Beauty Ballroom at 11:00pm tomorrow. Although Pure X is not characteristically Texas psych, the muddied reverb sound of the group should fit in well during the latenight lineup at Beauty Ballroom.

Ringo Deathstarr

Perhaps closer to what you may expect to hear at a Texas Psych Fest, Ringo Deathstarr has seemed to have become a staple at this burgeoning annual. This year’s performance marks 3 out of 5 times at the fest for the group. We loved last year’s album titled, Colour Trip, and are excited to hear new tunes from RD this year. Ringo Deathstarr will be playing right before Sleep ∞ Over tonight at 10:00pm at Beauty Ballroom.

Smoke and Feathers

Smoke and Feathers are psychedelic rockers that lay on their penchant for southern stylings pretty thick. Coming out of the Frenchie Smith Records camp, these guys’ recording sound awesome but I’ve only been able to find 1 EP from them. Howling reverby vocals and grunged-up guitars drive these guys’ tunes. You can check them out on Saturday afternoon (4:00pm) at Emo’s East. Also, check out the song below and their lone EP for some tasty southern psych rock.

You can catch the Psych Fest all weekend at the two new-ish Riverside Dr. venues. For the full lineup and schedule, check out the Austin Psych Fest website. Online ticket ordering is now closed, but you can still pick up day passes at the venues that’ll set you back $45.

-Dan

Banana Moon is big. It’s huge. And you can hear this right from the very start. “Me As in You,” which is one of my favorite songs of the year out of Austin so far, starts off with some staccato keyboard chords and a minimal drumbeat (and a muffled spoken word sample) before exploding at the 15-second mark in a tangled fury of voices and keyboards. It’s an overwhelming and unexpected moment that presages an album filled with huge harmonies and subtle studio flourishes. Danny Reisch – the drummer and producer – again proves himself a studio master over the course of this record, and it makes for an utterly engaging listen.

None of that would matter (well, some of it would matter) if the songs weren’t damn good. The Burgess Meredith press bio describes them as being “rooted in 1960s rock and roll” and it’s disarmingly accurate. It would be easy for me to just say that this is another throwback oldies band, but they merely take their cues from that time period. There’s the rollicking piano-driven “Routes and Rockets,” the Chuck Berry guitar of “The Big Deal,” and the tender ballad “The Other Room.” All of them rely on the 60s pop-rock formula, but are clearly born of this era. The arrangements and dynamic range on the tracks just seem to go further than their stylistic predecessors, and the vocal harmonies from three fantastic singers are pristine.

Banana Moon just sounds like a blast. It’s probably appropriate, then, that Burgess Meredith’s next Austin gig is this Sunday, April 29th at the 60s Beach Party at the Mohawk. I recommend checking them out, and definitely picking up this record. This group of musicians know what they’re doing in the studio and out, and you will not be disappointed.

- Carter

After a few years of playing together, The Zoltars have released their debut LP titled Should I Try Once More? through Sundae Records. The album tells the story of a man falling in love, falling out of love and searching for companionship. This concept provides a deep and emotional layer for the simple lo-fi tunes. On the album, you’ll hear somewhat monotonic vocals, jangling guitar chords and driving percussion. The Zoltars often explore repetition in their songs and constrain the music to a minimal number of chords. These elements contribute to the themes of the songs which are mostly melancholic.

The unyielding drums and vocals are trance-inspiring and are the main elements that bring up a Velvet Underground point of reference for me. Due to the repetition throughout the album, some of the songs flowed together for me. However, two songs stuck out as greatly unique. These are the title track and “Once Upon a Midnight Ride” which is track 9 of 10. “Should I Try Once More” opens with a howling guitar riff that the drums and bass follow throughout the song. In this song, the protagonist of the album asks himself whether he should even try to find love any more – told through evocative lyrics. Check out the song below set to 1 of the 10 music videos that accompany each of the album’s songs.

“Once Upon a Midnight Ride” sounds like a twisted 50s ballad. The reverby guitar riff is reminiscent of the chord walking riffs that were typically backed by doo wop in the 50s. The mix of psychedelic lyrics and 50s balladry stood out to me as unique and intriguing.

Throughout the album, emotive gems of lines are weaved into the lyrics and tell the story of a tortured lover vividly. On “If It Were Up To Me” an especially evocative couple of lines display The Zoltars’ lyrical prowess.

These lyrics paint a vivid picture of the story’s setting and help provide a backdrop to the album’s overall narrative.

I definitely recommend giving this album a listen. The songs are hypnotic and the concept and story are engaging. You can find Should I Try Once More? on Bandcamp, on the Sundae Records site and potentially in record stores near you. The Zoltars had quite a few shows around town during SXSW, but have now started their east coast tour. They’ll be hitting Nashville, Philadelphia NYC and Chicago before they head back home. We’ll keep you updated on any upcoming shows.

- Dan