Both Sides of the Mouth

[Farewell For Now]

2011-01-18T15:58:00.000-06:00

Before I begin, I just have to share that while I close things here on Both Sides, my passion for music remains steadfast and I'll be providing my word and work over at Side One: Track One from here on. One of the main reasons I decided to close Both Sides was our lack of updates - it was unfair to you guys who always wanted more content. My move over to Side One: Track One is my way of providing a way to help fulfill that need. It's a great site spanning many interests and even covers film with updates every weekday, and you'll always be able to count on me showing up every other week.

I've spent four years writing for you as Brad aka Penguin here on Both Sides, and I can honestly say I've loved every bit of it. Altogether, we've gone through three site changes, three Bloggie nominations, a Blog of Note achievement and so much more all before we could even legally imbibe the pleasures of liquor. I thank you for your readership and loyalty here at Both Sides. The love I've had for you all, our readers, throughout the years remains with me because I still can't believe a scrappy youngster like me could have gained such a following here on Both Sides of the Mouth. I hope to see you over at Side One: Track One, but regardless of that, I thank you again sincerely.

BYE BYE

2011-01-18T15:08:00.000-06:00

It seems like so long ago that Brad and I were trying to one up each other with new songs we found or new bands we started listening to... This was before I got a cell phone. We'd literally be on AIM for hours sending each other mp3 files. And then we decided to bring y'all into the picture and make our love for music public.

I know we've let our readers down these past couple of years. I look back and Brad and I used to be so fucking PROLIFIC, it astounds me. I never thought this day would come, but alas it has, and we have to say goodbye.

Brad may still be writing for music over on One Side... Track Side... Track One... B Sides... Side A, B, but right now I don't have much of a music blog to tell y'all about. Maybe I'll get back into it later. I think a lot if it had to do with me going to Hopkins for school. The past couple years I always thought Baltimore couldn't compare to Austin when it came to the independent music scene, but I was actually very wrong. There's a significant dubstep/drum&bass scene here that I'm sorry I didn't showcase on this blog.

Anyway, I had a great time writing and drawing for Both Sides (yes... I used to draw this little girl named Ramona... and yes... I used to write quite often...) and, like Brad, I am so grateful for all the attention and recognition we got while we were still in high school.

LOVE LOVE LOVE,

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-10-13T12:15:00.002-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head on over to to Side One: Track One as I put in my word as a guest writer!

Featured on SOTO:

The Nightgowns
[Official Site]

"[T]he Nightgowns bear a character fitting of the experimental nature of the artist community in the northwestern pocket and carry a sound that’s diverse yet defined. While jovial, jangly summer rock tracks like Buoy grace their discography, it’s tracks like Narwhal Aerobics that really come to define the Nightgowns - or at least their '09 release, Sing Something - for me......"

From The Nightgowns' Sing Something:
PPPPS
Narwhal Aerobics

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

[Quick Pick...]

2010-09-29T18:28:00.000-05:00

AWOLNATION

At Stubb's (Indoor)

AWOLNATION is set to team up with The Bright Light Social Hour tomorrow. Fun? Yes. Good music? Yes. Basically, you won't be able to have more fun on your Thursday in Austin with $3 than what you can expect to go down at Stubb's [site] tomorrow night.

From AWOLNATION's Back From Earth EP:
Sail

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

The Bright Light Social Hour

From The Bright Light Social Hour's Back And Forth Single:
Back And Forth

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-09-17T14:58:00.001-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head on over to to Side One: Track One as I put in my word as a guest writer this summer!

Featured on SOTO:

Jose Vanders
[Official Site]

"So apparently at some point, this particular artist was vouched for and posted on by Perez Hilton. YES, I’m essentially piggybacking Perez Hilton’s find, and piggybacking, Lord knows, is the last thing I want to do regarding Perez. I’m not really sure how I feel about all that, but at the end of the day, that’s just how much I like this songwriter - not even the gossip-mongering mouth of Perez can keep me away....."

From Jose Vanders:
Mother Theresa Can't Dive

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head on over to to Side One: Track One today as I put in my word as a guest writer this summer!

Featured on SOTO:

Revolver
[Official Site]

"When you live in the state of Texas, guns are pretty much a dime a dozen. Aside from the guns I pack through my shirt sleeves though (zing!), the only revolver I could ever be expected to carry around with me is purely auditory. Don’t let it be said that it still doesn’t pack a wallop though. In a very basic setup that isn’t much more than what the trio can handle themselves, Revolver, at their simplest, is a musical countdown of three guys, two guitars, and one cello, and with this, the musical messieurs produce a bevy of jangly, lively arrangements nestled in mellow, harmonized vocals...."

From Revolver's Music For A While:
Balulalow

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

The Loop

2010-08-24T15:05:00.001-05:00

The first time I heard a successful loop, I was standing in The Backyard with a protective body behind me. Damien Rice was onstage performing his last song. He would play a bit, press the pedal, and the bit would play over again and again and again. While the bit played he would play another bit or sing a different bit, hit the pedal, and again the bit would play. He did this again and again until the entire venue in which I was standing was reverberating with the sounds of this loop, this steady stream of song, that seemed to echo every emotion, every thought, every passing feeling of mine. I leaned backwards into that protective body and cried with the overall beauty of the moment.

Since then I have discovered many other successful loops. Although undoubtedly more impressive live, these loops are still enjoyable in their recorded form.

mp3 Mimicking Birds- The Loop
So aptly named. I actually saw them perform this song live at Ram's Head in Baltimore when they were opening for Modest Mouse. It was the first time I heard the band and this song took my breath away.

mp3 CocoRosie- Noah's Ark
I originally posted on this sisterly duo four years ago. Pretty much every CocoRosie song involves heavy looping, but this is my favorite example.

mp3 The Faint- Agenda Suicide
The Faint uses looping in every song as well, but the construction of the beat is especially nicely presented in this song.

mp3 Hot Chip- Playboy
There are so many looped elements in this song, including the despondently sung chorus, it makes the perfect example of successful looping.

mp3 Ratatat- Lex
Coming to Austin, Monday, September 27, Ratatat is one of my favorite bands of all time and Lex is one of my favorite Ratatat songs of all time.

mp3 Tupac Shakur- Fucked Up (Hurricane Mix feat. Thom Yorke)
Such a great mash-up. Looped beat, looped riff, looped Radiohead lead singer backing up the best rapper of all time.

Check out my other, personal blog, You Army. Latest post also entitled "The Loop."

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-07-07T14:25:00.001-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head on over to to Side One: Track One today as I put in my word as a guest writer this summer!

Featured on SOTO:

Magic Man
[Official Site]

"I know we barely know each other, but I love you guys - fellow music nerds. I'd hit you up with a hug, but the internet doesn't really accommodate that happening. Instead, the best sort of lovin' I can ever give a reader as a blogger is a great band...with lots of free downloads..."

From Magic Man's Real Life Color:
Polygons

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

[Surely, It's An Airplane! Mix]

2010-07-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

Surely, It's An Airplane! Mix
And Don't Call Me Shirley

A mix! What is it? Well it's a collection of songs you can groove to, but that's not important. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie Airplane!, and because that movie gives me a fair share of the funnies (and it's been a while since one of my randomly themed mixes), I thought I'd throw this together. Strap on your seatbelt, make sure your tray table is in its upright position and take off with this mix - oh, and avoid the fish.

Surely, It's An Airplane! Mix (artist name leads to site):
Albert Hammond, Jr. - In Transit
Angus & Julia Stone - Paper Aeroplane
The Courteeners - Cross My Heart & Hope to Fly
Fanfarlo - I'm A Pilot
The Grates - Sukkafish
Mouthful of Bees - Airplane
My Teenage Stride - To Live And Die in the Airport Lounge
Spoon - It's Gonna Take An Airplane [Destroyer Cover]
The Wave Pictures - The Airplanes of Brescia
We Are Scientists - Over and Out

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Otherwheres - I'll be busy and/or workin' the whole time, but I hope you all get to enjoy this Independence Day weekend!

[PlayRadioPlay!]

2010-07-01T09:58:00.000-05:00

"My parachute didn't open, and when my back-up failed, the pixie dust prevailed and I woke up next to you. All I wanted was to hold you."

These days, the man behind PlayRadioPlay is better known through his new guise, Analog Rebellion. The fact that this band goes by a different name these days ought to reveal how long I've left this one on my backburner. It's been back there so long, it turned into something new. Analog Rebellion, however, represents a different sound from Daniel Hunter's earlier musical days as PlayRadioPlay. The one I really want to put up on the table is PlayRadioPlay, so give me this moment to unburn toast and talk about an earlier incarnation. Hunter started PlayRadioPlay in his high school days, and may in fact now encapsulate Hunter's youth - it's young and naive compared to Hunter's current project, Analog Rebellion. PlayRadioPlay has a wistful youth that reminds you of the innocence once held for love and life. It's sweet and lighthearted music that makes for an easy listen.

From PlayRadioPlay's Texas:
Decipher Reflections from Reality
Texas
My Attendance is Bad, But My Intentions Are Good

Be his friend!

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Beach Fossils]

2010-06-29T09:58:00.001-05:00

"It's not so worth getting all bent out of shape about."

Days are warmer. Breezes feel cooler. If you can't already feel the sand between your toes, the beach is calling your name. It's summer, and a lot of people have been soundtracking their days to hazy, lo-fi sounds. Filling my summer prescription is Beach Fossils. Coming from the musical Mecca that is Brooklyn, Beach Fossils started as the solo, pet project of Dustin Payseur. Releasing tracks steadily for months before a self-titled debut release this past May, these days Beach Fossils is a full-grown quartet pumping out sun-kissed songs of summer. The quartet carry a fleeting, blissed out sound - happiness tinged with the slightest bit of melancholy. With hazy vocals penetrating a curtain of jangly guitars and steady percussion, Beach Fossils is instantly nostalgic and this group is set to apply a lomo filter to the memories you're set to capture in polaroid or celluloid this summer...

From Beach Fossils' self-titled:
Youth

Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - I had to post out of schedule, because I couldn't find my favorite sketching pencil and decided to throw a toddler tantrum about it...

[The View]

2010-06-23T09:58:00.002-05:00

"Should I practice what I preach, man? Should I just do what I'm told? Because the clock keeps ticking, let's hope we don't grow old."

The only thing that I thought could come out from a placed called Dundee is crocodiles, but apparently that's the wrong Dundee. No, these teenage Dundonian upstarts root themselves in Scotland and were plucked from their patch into the hazy world of British rock during their youth. Now, the hooligans continue to grow in their new patch and have already got two albums under their belt with a third slated for release sometime next year. The quartet carries a scruffy, strident sound that's gritty and quick. Shock Horror, in particular, just packs a wallop that hits me hard right in my tum-tum. From where I'm standing, the View looks good.

From The View's Which Bitch?:
Shock Horror

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - I've got plans to switch over into the Mac camp, and I've been nesting by getting it some goodies. My latest purchase? An overlay that changes up the color of the apple logo at this etsy shop. I'm on the fast track to being broke...

Otherwheres - Nathaniel over at IGIF's got Crystal Castles' vid for Celestica...

Otherwheres - Get a taste of LA sound as Aquarium Drunkard posts up L'Aventure, a set of tracks provided by various LA artists covering tracks from Television's Adventure...

[The Hoosiers]

2010-06-21T09:58:00.004-05:00

"If we catch a criminal, when we catch a criminal, there's nothing we can do but play cops and robbers."

They might not be a small town high school basketball team from Indiana, but this London-based trio is still set on being champs. Despite reading like a serious set of lawyers, Sparkes, Skarendahl and Sharland make up an English-Swedish trio that probably doesn't spend a lot of their time on the serious side, and while this has some bloggers think a bit lesser of them for that, I point those guys back to my Rock Snob mix and remind them that sometimes it's about fun and having something you can act stupid and just have fun to. With their last full-length release being all the way back in 2007, the Hoosiers are set to share their quirky sense of pop again in August with the release of The Illusion of Safety.

From The Hoosiers' The Trick to Life:
Cops and Robbers

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - I dealt with one nasty piece of malware over the weekend and thought about celebrating it with a mix, but I didn't think something titled "Malware Mix" would elicit many downloads...

Otherwheres -Knowing me, I'll take the track with the intent of telling you all about it asap and do just that...a few months from now. Get Magic Kids' "Sumer" early, sans my laziness, over at You Ain't No Picasso...

Otherwheres - Texas heat got Lawrence over at Covert Curiosity to end up skipping out on Neon Indian, but no worries, he found something just as good in local act S U R V I V E...

[The Tunics]

2010-06-17T09:58:00.003-05:00

"The force is the thought that love holds you forever cause love has no hope in keeping you together."

Right from the get go, you ought to notice that these guys have got that British feel to them. Everything sounds familiar enough, and you're quick to bang it off as something that sounds like practically everything else from that country - so what's still got your attention? The London trio known as the Tunics have a lyric-driven sound engineered and built on the familiarity of a lot of British music and have rightfully drawn comparisons to everyone that runs that gamut. With a precise demeanor and careful layering, however, the Tunics have managed a sound of their own, and I like it. Tune in to the Tunics!

From The Tunics' Somewhere in Somebody's Heart:
A Winter's Tale

Get more information on the Tunics at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - On a side note, with what's become a very British week, I noticed this week of posts has also turned out to be very youthful too. In yet another find that's turned out a group with an average age of 19, I can't help but wonder if England laces their water with musical talent...

Otherwheres - I have no idea how long my link to him was expired [link fixed hazaa], but Dodge has some fancy new goodness going on for him over at My Old Kentucky Blog....

Otherwheres - Jay from A Certain Romance would love to give you a taste of that latest Tokyo Police Club album...

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-06-16T13:58:00.000-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head on over to to Side One: Track One today as I put in my word as a guest writer this summer!

Featured on SOTO:

The Enemy
[Official Site]

"When it comes to searching the back catalogs of any good rocker's collection, a prevalent theme is good ole' British Rock. Once the staple to a quintessential music collection, Britrock, considering the big musical sheet note, took the backburner to many of the subgenres that can be found today. In these recent years, however, the genre is finding a refreshing resurgence..."

From The Enemy's We Live And Die In These Towns:
This Song

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

[Lo-Fi Culture Scene]

2010-06-15T09:58:00.003-05:00

"As I try to recognize the reasons behind your deceitful disguise, my mind runs wild as I try to think all the feasible theories. "

And I bet you thought Bicycle Voice was young. I'll admit that whenever I refer to anyone on here as a "youngster" or "kid", I'm well aware that they're they're older than me. Rarely do I ever come across a group of actual youngsters. The only times these guys have had a 2 in their age is when they were 2 and 12. In a time when we have someone like Justin Bieber roaming around (I thought he was a girl up till a few days ago), these guys are more than refreshing. For their age, these kids - and boy do I mean it - really know what they're doing to the point where I'm almost a little sickened by how accomplished these guys are - did you play a major festival back in high school? At their age, other people are pulling skill on Guitar Hero. Instead you've got a group that spent their schoolnight alongside talent literally twice their age at festivals and award shows. Lo-Fi Culture Scene is a 5-piece set of secondary schoolers out of London, and though, they may still be a bit rough around the edges, I think it's rather clear that these guys have a good thing going for them in music. Incredibly mature in both their instrumental skill and songwriting, Lo-Fi Culture Scene truly illustrate for me that children are our future...

Various songs from Lo-Fi Culture Scene (all songs are right click - save as):
Fast Forward

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Be sure to head on over to Side One: Track One tomorrow as I mosey on over and write a bit for them this summer...

Otherwheres - It took me ages to finally add these guys to our Neighbors list, but be sure to head on over to Austin Town Hall for just a whole lot of goodness...

Otherwheres - I sort of forgot to post yesterday, but no worries. I plan on going back in time and putting something up there...

[Allo, Darlin']

2010-06-11T09:58:00.004-05:00

"Emily, why you stealing my boyfriend?"

Bumbling about on their own separate ways on London's streets until one fateful day, Allo, Darlin' came to be when four people found each other and the music they make, and now, I found them. Your turn. Like all things found, it can either be trash or treasure, and Allo, Darlin' most certainly is the latter. Rounding out to be one heck of a foursome, Allo, Darlin' is a hodgepodge of all the things to love in pop and have drawn equivalents to include company like Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura. With vocals led by darling Elizabeth Morris, Allo, Darlin' turn out tunes that are tenaciously pop - jangly, gleeful sets of grin-inducing dance starters. Allo, Darlin' are set to release their debut album in the UK this Tuesday.

Various songs from Allo, Darlin':
Emily
Dreaming

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - You can expect me to join the swarthing masses stricken with World Cup fevaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

Otherwheres - Matt over at You Ain't No Picasso shares the Shins' cover of "Goodbye Girl"...

Otherwheres - For the locals out there, Lawrence at Covert Curiosity gives us a preview of Do512's Girls Who Rock night at the Independent...

[Bicycle Voice]

2010-06-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

"I can't even tell you how you look at me in the summertime; it's just too good to explain."

After you've taken a gander at her photo, I can tell you right now that your preposterously low, perhaps even humorous guess at her age is actually probably pretty close to actuality. For one, I'm pretty sure this singer-songwriter can only legally drink alcohol with a parental chaperon. Talented youngsters like the personage behind one (wo)man band Bicycle Voice, Meg Webb, always put me to shame. Next to her, I feel like a lazy, unaccomplished bum. Assuredly, Webb is no unaccomplished bum. Putting her youth to use, Webb crafts charming pop tracks that are sure to soundtrack your summer days.

Various songs from Bicycle Voice:
Ellis the Trellis

Be her friend!

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Otherwheres - Matt over at You Ain't No Picasso has the Lolla line-up...

Otherwheres - Local bloggers Ultra8201 will be celebrating their birthday big. Head on over to catch the details of their celebration on Thursday...

Otherwheres - And just because, I'm gonna go ahead and link to blog neighbors A Certain Romance. Head on over for good stuff...

[6 Day Riot]

2010-06-07T09:58:00.001-05:00

"Take a look around, you'll see the flags raised again."

Monday got you down? No worries! Picking you up from the pit of a Monday is 6 Day Riot. With a member for every day of riot but one, this London quintet has seen their fair share of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days from dashed Olympic dreams to a previous band kafuffle that left one of them all alone on the eve of a tour. And all of that's just one member! As the voice of 6 Day Riot, Tamara Schlesinger proves she's made of stronger stuff. In fact, if her voice is to be believed, that stuff she's made of is sunshine and sugar. With her lush, tender voice, Schlesinger proves what's in a name; it would only be more immaculate if she were named Schlesinger-Songwriter. Add all of this to the fact that the rest of 6 Day Riot helps to produce their quirky folk-pop by taking up a list of instruments that simply ends with "whatever else we have hanging around," (yes, this includes a ukulele!) and you've got yourself some high-flying, doldrum-fighting tunes that help to slap a bit of a smile on your face. With a single out already, look for their next full-length to be released later this year!

From 6 Day Riot Have A Plan:
Go! Canada
Every Third Sunday

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Well guys, in an effort to better the post rate here at Both Sides, I'm looking at forming a proper posting schedule and perhaps even recruiting some new writers...

[Monarchy]

2010-06-04T09:58:00.001-05:00

"The heart it is a beast."

Now, who is Monarchy? Good question. I may have to get back to you on that. Scribbled at the top of my little fact sheet for Monarchy are the words "duo" and "UK." That's about all I know, really. Even after ~~a quick Google search~~ extensive research, that's all I really know. If there's one thing journalism taught me though, it's how to squeeze the most information out of a tiny little snippet. So in regards to this group greater than one but less than the number equivable to a trio, it can be said most frankly that they call the shores of the United Kingdom, a country in the Atlantic, home. Alright, alright - in all seriousness, all I can leave you with are facts - duo, UK. Oh, right and they're awesome. Take something you can dance to and dip it in chrome. There you have Monarchy - synthy, dancey goodness.

Various songs from Monarchy (all songs are right click - save as):
The Phoenix Alive
Black, The Colour of My Heart

Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Have a good weekend!

[The Wandering Blogger]

2010-06-02T13:58:00.001-05:00

Both Sides on Side One: Track One

Be sure to head over to my first post as a guest writer this summer at Side One: Track One!

Featured on SOTO:
Lawrence Arabia

"This one man coterie runs up as the musical personality of Christchurch native James Milne, a man that's dabbled his freelance work into the Brunettes, Feist, and Okkervil River. Regardless of this resume, Lawrence Arabia represents none of these bands. No in all his musical wanderings, he's only taken and honed in on his skills as a songwriter and artist..."

[Full Post]

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No Otherwheres On Here, Guys

[If You've Only Got...]

2010-05-12T09:58:00.001-05:00

3 Minutes, 32 Seconds

"You make up these excuses and hope no one will see that the biggest liar in the room is you."

"If You've Only Got" is a feature here on Both Sides showcasing one song, one artist. Whether you have all day to listen to it or just enough time to play it once, an If You've Only Got song is gonna be well worth that time. It could be something from way back or something entirely new to you, but ultimately it's just something I really feel like sharing...

Sometimes there's nothing better than some Swede, Swede love. For today's IYOG, I present Lacrosse. This Stockholm sextet's got me so enamored and captivated, I may have just fallen for them at a level befitting of the syndrome that carries their city name. To my surprise, Lacrosse, for the most part, has had a quiet presence on many musical radars, and to that, I can't help but wonder why. Lacrosse carry that undeniable tinge of Swedishness. Their rock is sensible, clean, and modern. I may have just described this Swedish band in terms that happen to befit an IKEA, but as a former employee of the giant blue box, I speak with no ill terms. With this IYOG, you're bound to spend much more than the 3 minutes and 59 seconds the song gives you. Even if you listen to it once, I expect that "excuses, excuses" chorus to haunt you throughout your day.

If You've Only Got Series 8 (all songs are right click -save as):
Excuses, Excuses

Get more information on Lacrosse at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - As a Tetris fan, I may have found my summer plan. Tetris on a 3D circular platform = endless Tetris. Thank God I found this after finals. Try your hand at Torus...

Otherwheres - Aren't you glad we didn't force you to follow our Twitter account earlier this week? We thought having Conan O'Brien follow us would be better, but we still want you to follow us! Don't forget all about our Twitter account to know all about our updates and general randomness...

Otherwheres - It's some kind of awesome indeed. Drop on over to catch a listen of Janelle Monae's collaboration with Of Montreal, "Make the Bus." ....

[Retrospective: BLSH @ Emo's]

2010-05-10T15:58:00.002-05:00

The Bright Light Social Hour @ Emo's
I trust you all recognize that the drunkard is Thomas Alva Edison, Master of the Lightbulb

In a statistic that scares me, up until this rambunctious quartet saved me, I hadn't been to a concert since the bowery days of South By. On the eve of Mother's Day, the Bright Light Social Hour provided a set that could only be brought about by four crazy sons of b*tches. Because Emo's, it seems, prefers hugs over kisses, I stepped into the venue with Os on my hands rather than Xs just as the crowd slowly creeped in on the final few inches of space that lay before the stage. The lights dimmed to a hellish red glow and the furry, poncho-wearing Spanish beast that is Jack's moustache tickled the mic as a gruff voice was released from the speakers - "Hooow you all feelin' tonight?" And with that, it began.

If that night was typical of all their shows, how they left ACL Fest without more press is a wonder to me. BLSH bring about so much rocking, they've actually managed to break the barriers of man-love and collected for themselves an impressive amount of man-groupies - raucous, drunkard grown men that dance and scream in a way that rivals the typical lady groupies that they probably prefer. Actually, that's probably not true, BLSH wants any and all kinds of your lovin' - your dirty, dirty lovin'.

For a band with nothing really out, Bright Light carried a notable turnout for their last show before heading into the studio to work on their first full-length, and it's no wonder they got pressured into doing so. How they've gone around without at least one album under their belt is a mystery. BLSH live is spasmodic, crazy, but most importantly, engaging. Not a single person there was caught just standing there. In fact, the closest thing to standing that was going on was probably a downright seizure. Perhaps it was a bigger party than usual as it was their last hurrah before they have to buckle down and do some work, but BLSH definitely made an evening out of my Saturday and can expect me at their first show back once their album's released.

Curtis Roush of the Bright Light Social Hour

Jack O'Brien (and his moustache) of the Bright Light Social Hour

After years of yoga, he's finally able to do himself...

A.J. Vincent of the Bright Light Social Hour
Why yes, my friends, that is indeed a keytar...

From Bright Light Social Hour (all songs are right click - save as):
Back and Forth

Learn more about them at their site!
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - I'm back! I've been released from my educational chains and hope to bring about some good, good tunage to your ears once again! Love, Brad.

The Lighthouse and the Whaler

2010-04-04T22:29:00.000-05:00

According to their website, thelighthouseandthewhaler.com, the band, The Lighthouse and the Whaler, had a storybook beginning. For some reason, the three future band members were in a field for a photoshoot. I don't know why the photoshoot was in a field or why the three were even in a photoshoot, for that matter. I've Google-imaged them all and none of them are particularly good-looking. Anyway, so these average-looking guys are in a field, waiting around to get their photograph taken, and they all just happen to have musical instruments on them. They commence playing said musical instruments. The three realize that it is good and decide to be a band.

Now I really do not believe any of that. It sounds like a bad play. The one kernel of truth in the story, however, is that the music they did or did not produce on that fateful day was good. The Lighthouse and the Whaler combine folk and rock in a way synonymous to combining Great Northern with Sufjan Stevens. Mandolins and violins are played, along with reverberated, quivering vocal harmonies that are, in one word, awesome. Always in the background is the almost Americana rhythm of the acoustic guitar. Bells and piano are often thrown in for good measure. Instrumentally, vocally, just musically, this is a good, good band.

My favorite song is "Under Mountain, Under Ground." The vocals, in the verses, the chorus, everything, are so soulful and heartfelt, they seem almost spiritual.

mp3 Under Mountain, Under Ground
mp3 Soon You'll Be Found
mp3 White Days

[PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix - Part 2]

2010-03-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

The People To Get Excited About If You're Going To SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix
Part 2 of 2

You're probably wondering what the hell all those letters mean. Kicking off South By Southwest coverage this year is a massive mix for a massive fest. There's been quite a bit of material I could have covered before the fest officially goes down, and the operative phrase there is "could have." Undoubtedly, it's a gargantuan amount, and the time I've had lately has been miniscule...and I've been lazy (I haven't even made my schedule yet!). When situations like this arise, a blogger's best friend, mix, comes into play, and so I present this. Returning from last year is the People To Get Excited About If You're Going To SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix - the product of me quickly skimming through that list of artists and jotting down names that had me getting all giddy. SXSW Music officially began when the clock struck midnight earlier this morning! For those of you going, I tip my hat and remind you to prepare for a crazy, crazy, crazy time...

The PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix Pt. 2 (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Midlake - Young Bride
Neiliyo - U + I
The Octopus Project - Truck
Oh No! Oh My! - The Party Punch
Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines
Peelander-Z - Ninja High School
Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!
Princeton - The Indifference Curve
The Ruby Suns - Papatuanuku
Shearwater - Rooks
Slow Club - When I Go
The Soft Pack - Nightlife
Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio
Suckers - Easy Chairs
The View - Shock Horror
The Wave Pictures - I Love You Like A Madman
We Are Scientists - Cash Cow
White Denim - ShakeShakeShake
YACHT - See A Penny (Pick It Up)

Learn more about South By Southwest at the official festival site.

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix - Part 1]

2010-03-17T08:58:00.000-05:00

The People To Get Excited About If You're Going To SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix
Part 1 of 2

You're probably wondering what the hell all those letters mean. Kicking off South By Southwest coverage this year is a massive mix for a massive fest. There's been quite a bit of material I could have covered before the fest officially goes down, and the operative phrase there is "could have." Undoubtedly, it's a gargantuan amount, and the time I've had lately has been miniscule...and I've been lazy (I haven't even made my schedule yet!). When situations like this arise, a blogger's best friend, mix, comes into play, and so I present this. Returning from last year is the People To Get Excited About If You're Going To SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix - the product of me quickly skimming through that list of artists and jotting down names that had me getting all giddy. SXSW Music officially began when the clock struck midnight earlier this morning! For those of you going, I tip my hat and remind you to prepare for a crazy, crazy, crazy time...

The PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix Pt. 1 (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Allo Darlin' - Emily
Alphabeat - Public Image
Ben Kweller - Fight
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Gunpowder
Born Ruffians - Little Garcon
The Bright Light Social Hour - Back and Forth
Casiokids - Fot I Hose
Choir of Young Believers - Action/Reaction
Dan Black - U + Me =
Efterklang - Modern Drift
Fanfarlo - Luna
First Aid Kit - Heavy Storm
Frightened Rabbit - Keep Yourself Warm
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. - D.A.N.C.E. [Justice Cover]
Heypenny - Dooley
Jenny Owen Youngs - Fuck Was I
Lawrence Arabia - Apple Pie Bed
Les Savy Fav - Patty Lee
The Lovely Feathers - Frantic
Magic Wands - Black Magic

Learn more about South By Southwest at the official festival site.

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[3.14 : A Pi Day Mix]

2010-03-14T21:58:00.003-05:00

3.14
Pi Day Mix

Apparently the United States is the only one that formats its dates as Month.Day.Year, so for most of you out there, this is going to be pretty irrelevant. Considering the international date line, this was always going to be pretty irrelevant to all of you out there in the future. Regardless! Today is 3.14, and for the nerds in the United States, that number only means one thing - Pi. Happy Pi Day, nerds!

3.14 Pi Day Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Anathallo - ~~By Number~~
Bishop Allen - ~~The Magpie~~
Foals - ~~Mathletics~~
Lawrence Arabia - ~~Apple Pie Bed~~
Los Campesinos! - ~~Don't Tell Me To Do The Math~~
Midlake - ~~Kingfish Pies~~
Noah And The Whale - ~~Death By Numbers~~
The Whitest Boy Alive - ~~Figures~~

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Otherwheres - It's South By week here in Austin, expect my People To Get Excited About... mix soon, and of course one helluva recap once everything's all wrapped up! In the meantime, I'm gonna try to take everything in and relay as much as I can to you by fest's end!

Otherwheres - Speaking of relaying info, be sure to follow up with us on Twitter during these South By days...

Cymbals Eat Guitars

2010-03-01T14:42:00.000-06:00

Cymbals Eat Guitars may be my new favorite band. Whereas Brad's musical inclinations were birthed from Spoon, mine sprouted from the likes of Built To Spill, Sunday's Best, and Hey Mercedes. Cymbals Eat Guitars brings me back to my musical roots.

Emo is not the trashy pop/punk that you hear on the radio today. Emo started in the late eighties with bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Jets to Brazil. It transformed the independent rock world and quickly turned into a lifestyle. Picked guitar melodies and average-white-guy vocals created a sound that was ear candy to those so inclined.

With vocals half-screamed and half-muttered, Cymbals Eat Guitars is bringing the movement back. Their sound is genuine, solid, and reminiscent of the great, broken-up bands of the yesteryears. Catch them at the Urban Outfitters Day Party at SXSW with me.

mp3 Ballad of Big Nothing

mp3 And The Hazy Sea

mp3 Some Trees

[Cymbals Eat Guitars's Official Site][Cymbals Eat Guitars's Myspace]

LookBook

2010-02-26T16:38:00.000-06:00

I'm sure wherever she is right now, Karen O is finding it lonely at the top. She's like Eminem, except she's not the sole white rapper worth his weight in the industry. Ever since Gwen Stefani went solo, Karen O's been the only frontwoman of a rockband worth mentioning. Until now... maybe.

The future success of Lookbook will not depend on whether Maggie Morrison can sing any better. She's got that shit on lock. Our friends who don't really see us the same way at Pitchfork called Morrison "the missing link between Cyndi Lauper and Karen O." I would have to agree. She can croon, she can wail, she can bring you to your knees with her vocal prowess.

Her buddy on the other hand is a different story. LookBook's sounds is of the "electronica/dance" genre, and nothing Grant Cutler cooks up is electronic or dance-y enough. He can carry a solid beat for Morrison to sing over, but that's about it. The melodies are lacking.

Listen to LookBook. The duo's net worth is still valuable, if you overlook (haha, no pun intended) the background noise to the sweet voice.

m4a Over And Over
m4a The Only Ones
m4a Wild At Heart

Video for "Over and Over"

Faintly reminiscent of that one scene from Inglorious Bastards.

Upcoming Shows

Feb 26 8 PM Public Space One Iowa City, Iowa

Feb 27 8 PM The Cedar w/ No Bird Sing Minneapolis, Minnesota

[LookBook's Myspace]

Soyea... SXSW IS COMING! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! The other side of the mouth wants to travel by himself which leaves me with no concert companion. First reader in the Austin area to e-mail me a picture and a phone number will get to spend a glorious four days with yours truly! I'm only kidding... kind of.

Tomorrow

2010-02-22T11:28:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow, February 23, three musical juggernauts will be releasing third, fourth, and fourth albums, respectively. Of course, I am talking about Joanna Newsom, Electric President, and Shout Out Louds. Here I provide samples and synopses from each.

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

After the overwhelming success of her sophomore album, Ys, expectations were high for the follow-up. Luckily, Newsom does not disappoint. The track "Good Intentions Paving Company" has already gotten a fair amount of play via Drag City's website, so I bring to you instead, "'81," a short (in Newsom standards) and tragically beautiful tune that in no manner skimps out on the musicality and lyrical qualities that Joanna Newsom has become an indie household name by.

mp3 '81

Electric President - The Violent Blue

Electric President's first, self-titled album remains my favorite. The Violent Blue is a lot less electronic-y than its predecessors, which makes it a lot less like-able to me. The duo has taken the role of a typical indie rock band, which they prove to play well, but nonetheless leaves me with an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia.

mp3 Elegant Disasters

Shout Out Louds - Work

Shout Out Louds have most definitely matured since their first release five years ago. Cleaner and more stream-lined than their previous sound, Work lacks the embellishment and, dare I say it, the spunk the band previously had.

mp3 Fall Hard

[The Answering Machine]

2010-02-19T09:58:00.004-06:00

The Answering Machine

"I saw you there at the Friday show. You looked so strange in your brand new clothes; you spoke with an accent I don't know. I guess it's true - we all have to grow up soon."

Am I late on the wagon on this one? When I heard this English quartet took up reigns at the last Monolith Festival, I suddenly remembered I had this foursome simmering on my backburner. It seems, coming back to them now, they had already set a pan fire and were set to burn my musical blog house down. Rightfully so, The Answering Machine is fiery group of youngsters from Manchester with a sound inclined to make you drop everything you're doing and just rock the friggers out. It's always a pretty good sign when I spend a bit of time trying to pick the songs I want to share with you guys. Needless to say, The Answering Machine make for a great listen. A riff raff of guitars and pacing drumbeat assure that you're never just standing or sitting around with the likes of them playing in the background. Get up and gear up for your weekend with the Answering Machine...

From Another City, Another Sorry album (all songs are right click - save as):
Another City, Another Sorry

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Have a great weekend!

[If You've Only Got...]

2010-02-17T09:58:00.003-06:00

2 Minutes, 59 Seconds

"If I made it through Christmas without smoking til your parents went to bed, if you made it through too without sticking your nailseses in my neck..."

"If You've Only Got" is a feature here on Both Sides showcasing one song, one artist. Whether you have all day to listen to it or just enough time to put it in play once, an If You've Only Got song is gonna be well worth that time. It could be something from way back or something entirely new to you, but ultimately it's just something I really feel like sharing...

Vintage readers of Both Sides will recognize that The Wave Pictures are no strangers here. It's been nearly two years since I've last mentioned them on Both Sides, and the trio from Wymeswold, England are finally set to make their official debut here in the United States with the Stateside release of a double CD comprised of their two most recent albums, Instant Coffee Baby and If You Leave It Alone. The Wave Pictures have been kicking around for the better part of 12 years now, and despite that rather contemporary debut, there's quite a vintage sound to their makings. Putting their overall sound aside, their recordings are just pleasantly fuzzy, a vacuous sound pulling you in with vocals that sound like they're coming in from the receiving end of a Dixie Cup telephone. David Tattersall's vocal handiwork is a defining factor of the trio. There's a string of melancholy to their songs, even if the song isn't. There's just a rundown impression to it all that's in no doubt attributed to the feeling that all this is being sung by some poor sap. Nonetheless, you take these guys up as the underdog. As if one CD wasn't good enough, the Wave Pictures' double album is set for release here on this side of the Atlantic on April 27th, and the trio are set to take to tour in the spring with a stop-over here in Austin just in time for South By...

If You've Only Got Series 7 (all songs are right click - save as):
I Love You Like A Madman

Loads of information (and downloads!) over at the Wave Pictures site.
Be their friend!

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Well look at that, still no Otherwheres down here...

[Nouvelle Vague @ Mohawk's]

2010-02-15T09:58:00.000-06:00

Nouvelle Vague @ Mohawk's
"All the things you do to me and all the things you said. I just can't get enough; I just can't get enough."

When it comes to Nouvelle Vague, the idea is pretty basic - take some classic rock tracks, strip them down to the simplest chords, and dip them in the stylings of bossa nova. At the core of their description, Nouvelle Vague essentially crafts covers, but to call their tracks covers or to call this band a cover band would just be so...wrong. Nouvelle Vague holds aloft tracks everyone knows and loves and provides such a refreshing point of view and naive approach of play that, at the end of it all, the track you knew so well is all of a sudden revitalized into something you almost wouldn't recognize. Nouvelle Vague is and provides, as their name suggests, something new.

This past weekend I had the pleasure to see them at Mohawk's, and despite the cold weather, the outdoor portion of the venue was packed from floor to balcony. Coming out of Colin and Libaux's collective that night were two singers from the Nouvelle Vague roster. Not having remembered their names though, I'm just going to refer to them under the two Frenchiest names I can think of - Antoinette and Josephine. Quite appropriate really, Nouvelle Vague is just so quintessentially French. The chanteuses took to their mics, and that was it. It was Valentine's weekend, and the chubby cherub known as Cupid must have been carrying a lot of arrows with him that night, because there wasn't a single person there that didn't fall in love that night. Streaming through the speakers were songs we love sung in a style that made us love them more. Antoinette, in her feathery white jacket, along with Josephine, almost inversely dressed in all black, had us all wrapped around their fingers. Their voices, soft and alluring, carried in the cold air and slithered through the crowd. We would catch a collective sway during downtrodden tracks, and when paces picked up, we clapped and partied hardy. For all the love we gave them, they certainly gave love back and gave us a show fit for something that carried us from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

Nouvelle Vague are currently on the latter end of their tour, but are still set to entertain more cities. If they run through your town, definitely make sure to drop by.

Nouvelle Vague @ Mohawk's

Various songs from Nouvelle Vague (all songs are right click - save as):
Killing Moon
Master & Servant

Catch the dates on the rest of their and learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres On Here Fellas

[Musicupid]

2010-02-14T18:58:00.000-06:00

[Musicupid]
A Singles Awareness Day Mix

On this day of chocolates, of roses, of hearts, and other things in plural, there are those among us that are rather...singular. Whether our status of "single" be fresh or stale, it can be accounted for that Cupid missed a few, and with the blindness of that cherub in hand, it becomes a delightful thought to some of us that St. Valentine was beheaded for "meddling." So here, on this Anna Howard Shaw Day, you can revel as singles and ~~celibate~~ celebrate.

Musicupid (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Acid House Kings - You Can Keep Your Love [Loveninjas Cover]
Archie Bronson Outfit - Dart for my Sweetheart
Belle & Sebastian - I Don't Love Anyone
The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
The Features - Wooden Heart
Jens Lekman - I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You
Kaiser Chiefs - Everyday I Love You Less and Less
The Pigeon Detectives - Love You For A Day (Hate You For A Week)
Razorlight - Who Needs Love?
Salty Pirates - Shark Attack
Sneaky Sound System - I Just Don't Want To Be Loved
We Are Scientists - It's A Hit

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No Otherwheres On Here

[We Have A Heart On For You]

2010-02-14T18:45:00.000-06:00

[Heart Day Mix]
A Mix for Valentine's Day

As I sit here penning this, waiters and waitresses at Italian restaurants are readying their tables and florists are picking bushes clean of every single rose that dare bud from it this season. Be weary dear readers, VD strikes everyone on this day, and it is my dearest wish that you catch it and hold on to it forever and ever and ever. Ah, love! Happy Valentine's Day!

Heart Day Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Arctic Monkeys - Love Machine [Girls Aloud Cover]
Born Ruffians - Little Garçon
The Boy Least Likely To - Rock Upon A Porch With You
The Brunettes - Loopy Loopy Love
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Is This Love?
The Features - The Idea of Growing Old With You
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
Passion Pit - Let Your Love Grow Tall
Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
The Rumble Strips - Girls and Boys in Love
Slow Club - Me and You
Sondre Lerche - She's Fantastic

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No Otherwheres Here

[Spoon: On Transference]

2010-01-19T10:58:00.005-06:00

[Spoon]
"Look out! All I know is all I know. Yes, all I know is all I know."

For anyone that's been reading this blog a while, it should come as no surprise that I'm quite fond of the Austin quartet that is Spoon - a band that, I feel, needs no introduction. At that, let's just jump right into Transference. Now when it comes to Spoon's discography, one of the things I've come to love is the lasting quality of each album. Call it bias, but I honestly think it's impossible to wear out any of their albums. Every listen evokes the same things you experienced when you first listened to the song. And on the occasion it does get old, it doesn't just get old; it goes classic. With nothing coming out from their end last year, I knew to expect something in 2010, and lo and behold it was delivered in Transference - out today. With previews in songs like Written in Reverse and Got Nuffin, I wasn't expecting to be surprised at Transference's release as much as I was with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, yet after giving a thorough listen to their latest, I found myself still receiving the unexpected.

When I reviewed Ga Ga, I noted that Spoon reinvented themselves in a way that simply took everything they were and presented it in a new manner. Looking back, it's without a doubt I can still say Ga Ga was a departure for a lot of people. In Transference, I get the impression that they're a lot more comfortable with the demeanor that Ga Ga carried. What does that mean? Transference has the confidence they had back with releasing something like Ga Ga applied to what is essentially their classic sound - a perfect merging of the new with their old. It took the direction that Ga Ga was going, and simply sprang a U-Turn to run through everywhere that it's been already to pick it all up before it keeps going. Where they're going is unknown, but I'm gonna call it and say my mind will be blown come the next release. Needless to say, this latest album has a sense of all its predecessors, and this album since takes everything they were before Ga Ga and just makes it cockier, more confident. It's an improvement on what didn't need to be improved. A great thing made even better. Transference can be picked up from shelves today and should not be missed.

Pick up more tracks and purchase albums at their record label's site.
Learn more about the band at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - The gang at Side One: Track One returned recently with a podcast to kick things off.

Otherwheres - Matt over at You Ain't No Picasso interviews Local Natives...

Otherwheres - The guys at I Guess I'm Floating has the latest compilation coming from the Music Alliance Pact...

[I'm With Coco]

2010-01-14T23:35:00.000-06:00

[I'm With Coco Mix]
In Our Support Of Team Conan

Just taking a second out of our break to go ahead and lend my support to the late night man with a bushfire on his head.

I'm With Coco Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Andrew Bird - Dr. Stringz
Bikini - Tonight
The Chalets - Nightrocker
The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours
Eagles of Death Metal - Wannabe In LA
Lenka - The Show
The Soft Pack - Nightlife
Talkdemonic - Ending the Orange Glow
White Denim - Mess Your Hair Up

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No Otherwheres Here
Both Sides resumes posting as scheduled January 18.

[Retrospective: DJ Car Stereo (Wars), Neiliyo @ Emo's]

2009-12-14T10:58:00.002-06:00

And to think with my last retrospective being pictureless! Unfortunately, not only does this Retrospective have to be pictureless (well mostly), this post is gonna have to be a bit less wordy too. As this season tends to do, I've been hit with something that's thrown my body off it's homeostasis. Whatever it was I was fighting Thursday morning with OTC meds, came back with a full vengeance later that night while I was out at Emo's and still has me fighting. So while I trip on Dayquil and Nyquil to sounds of whatever happens to be bobbing my record player's needle, I want you to trip and bob to sounds of DJ Car Stereo (Wars) and Neiliyo - doctor's orders.

DJ Car Stereo (Wars)

From DJ Car Stereo (Wars)' The Bandit (all songs are right click - save as):
Charlie B. Barkin
Gator McKlusky's Gold

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

Neiliyo

Various songs from Neiliyo:
U+I
Bigger Freaks

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

--------------------------------------------------------------

No Otherwheres Here

[If You've Only Got...]

2009-12-10T10:58:00.003-06:00

4 Minutes, 3 Seconds

"I'm goin' back and forth, been goin' back and forth, then goin' back and forth. I want you to feel everything that I feel!"

Filling the hills of Austin with the sound of music like a group of the most "gifted" Von Trapp children, the Bright Light Social Hour have been frolicking (in a manner similar to what's pictured above) around Central Texas since 2005. On the table for this If You've Only Got... feature is their decidedly danceable piece of tunage, "Back and Forth." Consisting of a highly suggestive repetition regarding something going in and out and stair-stepping elements that climb up and move back down - back and forth, back and forth - this is one song that's sure to keep you moving. Overall, Bright Light Social Hour just makes you wish they wouldn't shut their Von Trapps.

If You've Only Got Series 6 (all songs are right click - save as):
The Bright Light Social Hour - Back And Forth

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Head on over to You Ain't No Picasso for Matt's ongoing Mixmas series...

Otherwheres - John's slowly starting to count down his top albums of 2009 over at Side One: Track One...

Otherwheres - And just cause I feel like sending them some love, be sure to check out The Blue Walrus...

[White Lies]

2009-12-09T10:58:00.004-06:00

White Lies
"I picture my own grave 'cause fear's got a hold on me. Yes, this fear's got a hold on me."

For me, South By of 09's dying audibles were sung by White Lies as their sound resonated from some far off stage of some venue on Red River Street. They, essentially, officially closed the fest for me, and as December rolls on by, I find that the London trio, heavy on my playlists lately, is set to close the year for me now too. As I readied up this post, I worked on the frame above noting how much I really disliked the lack of creativity in their promotional shot. Glancing at it again though, I see that it actually works as a perfect illustration of their sound. There you have White Lies - three darkly-dressed figures in a well-lit tunnel of white. A bit of dark shadow in a bright, white tunnel is, rightfully, what you have with White Lies. With vocals provided by the deepened, hollowed voice of Harry McVeigh, White Lies gets that characteristically dark impression, but the overall sound, the overall feeling you get from listening to these guys isn't some frightful, dark conviction. No, instead there's an unexplained source of lightness to their music that has you feeling more up than down.

Various songs from White Lies (all songs are right click - save as):
Death
Lose My Life

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Lawrence over at Covert Curiosity gives us a glance into Matador's Casual Victim Pile - a compilation of Austin artists (and two from Denton)...

Otherwheres - Be sure and head over to You Ain't No Picasso and give a hello to Matt, who's now six days into his Mixmas series...

Otherwheres - Party Ends' John previews the DJ Car Stereo (Wars) and Neiliyo event at Emo's going down on Thursday night. Let us know if you're planning on heading over to sport your favorite holiday sweater...

[Retrospective: Fanfarlo @ The Independent]

2009-12-04T10:58:00.002-06:00

Fanfarlo @ The Independent

"But inside (inside) you'll always feel the same even when you wake up."

I was a bad blogger the night I saw Fanfarlo and completely forgot to bring a camera with me. Consequently, this will be one of my more "pictureless" retrospectives, but I'll try to inject more descriptors, depictions and details than usual to inject some pictorials into your mind eyes. Walking in from the cold and into a dimly lit room, a blue haze lay over like a fog in the studio-like cave of a room that is the Independent. A lack of heating and the stark, mist of blue made it seem just as chilly and outdoorsy as any outside venue, and in this frosty, blue environment - this cave of the Winter Miser - we were welcomed by a poem read by...Santa Claus. Well he looked like Santa Clause during the off-season, but nonetheless it was Kris Kringle - he was a of a certain proportion and had the big, white beard; he even had a bag, granted it was sort of a grocery bag. The more I looked at him, the more I thought they seriously picked a hobo up off the street to read that poem, but you know what? It's December, and the fat man ushered in the arrival of Fanfarlo, a gift I would never mind gettting. As far as I'm concerned, the man was Santa Claus.

Our early Christmas present took to stage in the dark, only half of the band walking quietly to their positions. After a quiet intro, the trio on stage grew into the touring sextet that is Fanfarlo, and with this full power they were quick to jump into favorites. With only one full-length to their name, it's no surprise they dipped immediately into Reservoir. Translating from an album to a live performance, Fanfarlo is as you expect them to be, and at times I found it hard to remember that the band was right there performing right in front of me. Their sound is just so right, so perfected. With Simon Balthazar behind the mic, he crooned his way through a fun, lively set, the other members adjuncting the rest of the odd sounds we love so much in their music - mandolin, trumpet, clarinet, handclaps, stomps. To see all this live after hearing it bustle out of headphones or speakers is a sight that slapped a smile on my face. I caught myself smiling quite a few times that night - smiling when the band would, smiling when I noticed the crowd was ear to ear, smiling at just being there, feeling their music run through me, warming me up. By this time, they're well out of Texas, but we're just the beginning. Fanfarlo's set to head to a lot more places in a tour that's generous with locations - be sure to check them out and warm your night up!

Simon Balthazar of Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo @ The Independent

Leon Beckenham of Fanfarlo

Various songs from Fanfarlo (all songs are right click - save as):
Luna

Check out the rest of their tour dates at the Fanfarlo site.
Be their friend!

----------------------------------------------------------------

No Otherwheres Here

The xx

2009-12-02T10:37:00.001-06:00

The xx was first turned on to me by the older sister of an old friend of mine. Don't older sisters usually always have the coolness factor set in?

I take a long while to get warmed up to a band. For some reason, solo artists always find a way into my musical soul a lot quicker. The xx was no different. They were recommended and ignored. They came to Austin and they left. It was only when they were reviewed on all my favorite Austin sites that I finally decided to give them a listen.

And I'm so glad I did.

From London, England, this original foursome attended the same school as juggernauts, Hot Chip. I say original foursome, because keyboardist Baria Qureshi has been naughty, not showing up to shows, claiming exhaustion, and has left the band.

The sound is dark and eery. Perfect for a nighttime drive or stroll. Along with its eeriness, however, comes an undeniable groove that gives the music an almost hip hop dimension. Perfect for this blogger.

Lesson learned: listen to older sisters.

mp3 Crystalised
mp3 Basic Space

[Efterklang]

2009-12-01T10:58:00.003-06:00

"But the modern drift is all I have."

Rightfully ushering in the month of December here on Both Sides is the snow flurry sound of Efterklang, and rightfully ushering in the sound of Efterklang is a preview of their upcoming release, Magic Chairs, due out in February. ~~If I remember my Danish~~ If I Googled correctly, Efterklang comes from the Danish word for remembrance or reverberation, and it couldn't be any more appropriate. For such an ambient sound, there's a powerful effect that lasts and mulls you over and over. Listening to this Copenhagen-based group ends up being both a current and retrospective experience that culminates into an almost meditative experience that leaves you in a space that's just spacey and dreamy.

From Efterklang's Magic Chairs (all songs are right click - save as):
~~Modern Drift~~

From Efterklang's Parades:
~~Mirador~~

Learn more about Efterklang at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

Owl City and Why You Should Give Them A Chance

2009-11-28T15:08:00.001-06:00

[Frame credit: Angela Pak]

I used to be a Music Tool. I would say such things as, "I've heard them before they were famous!" "I got a free ticket there, so hah!" I was quite a prick, if I do say so myself.

But then, on Facebook of all places, I saw two of my best friends saying, "Listen to Owl City." Owl City came on the radio. My little sister sings the lyrics for "Fireflies"

while she's walking.

So I decided to find out more about them.

They've actually been around since 2007. And they are actually one person. Owl City, or Adam Young, began playing music in his parents' basement on nights he couldn't sleep. I know what that's like. Soon enough, with a little help from his friends, Owl City was birthed.

I normally shy away from electronica, but Owl City is annoyingly addicting. I understand why my 10 year sister would like it, but I like it just as much, and I'm 20. He uses "big words" like "albatross!" How could I not like him, being a "big word" fanatic?

Well here's the music:

mp3 Fireflies(duh)

mp3 Hello Seattle

[A Dark, Dark Friday]

2009-11-27T00:00:00.002-06:00

Black Friday Mix
A Dark, Dark Friday

According to Macy's, the holiday shopping season has officially begun, and on this, the blackest of Fridays, I have the pleasure of working in retail once again. There'll be tears. There'll be blood. There'll be savings. And there'll be a myriad of shoppers willing to give us retailers the first two all in the name of that third. Whether or not you be the type to brave the crowds and eye-gouge your way to thrifty glory, I send you off with this Black Friday mix and pray you survive this dark, dark Friday.

A Dark, Dark Friday Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Au Revoir Simone - Dark Halls
Bishop Allen - Little Black Ache
Division Day - Bad Black Moon
Franz Ferdinand - Shopping For Blood
Jens Lekman - Black Cab
Lily Allen - Nan, You're A Window Shopper
Magic Wands - Black Magic
Okkervil River - Black
Sally Crewe & the Sudden Moves - Black Cars
Spoon - Black Like Me
Tunng - Tale From Black

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Otherwheres - Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend! And for my sake, stick to shopping your Black Friday on Amazon...

[BreakThru Radio - Anatomy of a Blogger]

2009-11-25T10:58:00.004-06:00

BreakThru Radio
Anatomy of a Blogger

During our little hiatus - I've decided to call our unofficial, unannounced period of stagnance a few weeks ago a "hiatus" - we were woken up from our slumber by a few podcasters, BreakThru Radio. In our irrevocable laziness, we actually managed to bring ourselves to productivity again, if not for just a little bit. With Alina in Baltimore and myself in Austin, we reconnected via conference call to put together a program for BreakThru Radio's Anatomy of a Blogger series. Anatomy of a Blogger picks up a blog of the week and essentially dissects our blogger brains to come up with a program that rather much characterizes that blog in a nutshell. It was a bit of work to put Both Sides into an hour, but I think BreakThru managed to do it. Be sure to check out the rest of BreakThru Radio's programming for things like Anatomy of a Blogger and other great series.

BreakThru Radio Podcast
Anatomy of a Blogger Series - Both Sides of the Mouth

Various songs from our program (artist name leads to site and all files are right click - save as):
Asobi Seksu - Strawberries
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms vs Bad Arms
Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
Oh No! Oh My! - The Party Punch
Rainer Maria - Artificial Light
Salty Pirates - Shark Attack
Shout Out Louds - My Friend And The Ink On His Fingers
Sleater-Kinney - Combat Rock

Check out the current blog of the week or listen to other shows over at the BreakThru Radio site.

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No Otherwheres Here

[Fanfarlo]

2009-11-23T10:58:00.001-06:00

"It caused a drought. It caused a flood. It came to change us all for good."

I didn't think I'd have to write about this particular British band, because at this point, I simply thought they had entered everyone's musical library by now. But when I got an email from their promo that starts with the words, "Let me introduce you to..." only to end up being followed up the name Fanfarlo, I realized, well maybe there is a pocket of you out there that still don't know about this quintet - for shame! Fanfarlo is a British-based fivesome headed up by Swedish musician Simon Balthazar. As if mixing two of my favorite foreign bits - Swedish sensibility and a British beat - wasn't enough, how can you not expect good things to come from a band fronted by a guy named Balthazar? Even with good things already expected, Fanfarlo delivers something even greater. There's a quirkiness in their music that's unexpected. An air of disenchantment that's peculiar. Rather than being blatant and ostentatious about it, characteristics of their music are inlaid and organic. When it comes to Fanfarlo, you really get a sense that their music is a character with it's own personality. Ambience - it's all about the creation of ambience. Of course, you'd almost expect that from a band where one of the members is rightfully assigned, amongst other more expected instruments, the position of "noise."

Various songs from Fanfarlo (all songs are right click - save as):
Ghosts
Finish Line

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

[The Paper Scissors]

2009-11-20T17:58:00.000-06:00

"We don't walk! We don't sit! We don't stand! We fly!"

This trio hails from Australia, a world of it's own for me ever since I stopped writing to my penpal in Melbourne. Since then, the word coming from that overgrown South Pacific island has been close to mum, but every now and again I'll stumble onto something from Australia that has me wonder why the hell I don't hear about bands from that countrinent more often. The Paper Scissors bring about a brand of rock that has me singing, loudly and badly, along, and when you give a listen to "We Don't Walk," I'm sure you'll get a rather good impression of my honky yodeling. As it stands, The Paper Scissors lean towards the poppier end of the rock fence, which is precisely the direction I like to tip my bands toward. So ready your fist for a game, because quite simply - Paper. Scissors. Rock.

Various songs from The Paper Scissors (all songs are right click - save as):
Howl
We Don't Walk

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Have a great weekend!

[If You've Only Got...]

2009-11-20T14:58:00.004-06:00

2 Minutes, 26 Seconds

"Who's gonna get their car broken into? You and you and you!"

"If You've Only Got" is a feature here on Both Sides showcasing one song, one artist. Whether you have all day to listen to it or just enough time to put it in play once, an If You've Only Got song is gonna be well worth that time. It could be something from way back or something entirely new to you, but ultimately it's just something I really feel like sharing...

Coming in just in time to make a party out of your weekend are none other than Austinite duo CUSTODIAN. What else can you expect from a label that's known to party? Rounding out the roster at Artifact Workshop Records - home to names you might have read on here recently like DJ Car Stereo (Wars) and Neiliyo - with another addition are Adreon Henry and Jay Bradley of CUSTODIAN. See that? All caps, so you know they're serious. With backgrounds that sprout from performance art, Henry and Bradley bring forth a sound that's definitively creative and unique. With these artistic roots at their backing as they press forth into a realm of dance, CUSTODIAN is one group that's sure to throw hearty arty parties. If you're in my area of Austin, Texas and the immediate beyond, definitely be sure to drop by for their CD release party at Bird's on Sixth tomorrow for what's sure to be dance-tastic!

If You've Only Got Series 5 (all songs are right click - save as):
CUSTODIAN - Pop-a-lock

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

Darwin Deeez & Bishop Allen @ Mohawk

2009-11-19T11:02:00.000-06:00

Darwin Deeez dancing!

Bishop Allen, not dancing.

I have not been to a concert in Austin since I headed to Baltimore for my higher education. So when I heard Bishop Allen, one of my favorite bands in high school, was playing Mohawk, one of my favorite venues, on Friday night, I went and got a ticket.

My friend and I arrived two hours before the opening band was to open. With our free time we explored Mohawk in its entirety and even found where the band members were getting drunk in their own private room. We are still under 21 (ugh, STILL) so had nothing to drink in our hands. We were bored.

Darwin Deeez soon made us very not bored. They began their set with a choreographed dance. These dances continued throughout their set. Here are two of their dances:

Musically, the band was strange. The lead singer and guitarist only had four strings on his Squier. Overall the sound was cheap, if not entertaining. The lyrics were cute and fun, mostly involving science-y aspects like DNA and such. Although Darwin Deeez provided a great deal of fun, I would not go out of my way to see them again.

And then Bishop Allen was on. I thought they would play all their songs I knew and loved from high school. I guess they've been busy since I graduated high school, because I did not recognize any of their new songs. A whole pack of semi-formally dressed white people seemed to know every lyric, however, and danced obnoxiously throughout their set. My friend was forced to dance by a rather large woman, leaving her shaken and angry. Despite the annoying crowd, I did manage to have my ear drums blown out at the edge of the stage. I locked eyes with the drummer and realized it was the drummer from We Are Scientists. The rhythm was much better than before.

However, I missed the Bishop Allen of the yesteryears. This Bishop Allen was unrecognizable. There was a new chick who looked like an Urban Outfitters model reject. There were five people onstage. They played music I'd never heard.

Oh well. I need to be educated.

[Darwin Deez's (es...s...z..) Myspace]

mp3 Dimmer

mp3 Oklahoma

[Gil Mantera's Party Dream]

2009-11-18T22:45:00.000-06:00

"I don't know why I love you."

After typing that Gil Mantera line from Elmo's Wish up there, I realize, "I don't know why I love you" pretty much sums up my relationship with Gil Mantera's Party Dream. After exposing themselves, both musically and what may as well have been graphically, to me during South By two years ago, I'm a fan (of the former, not so much the latter). Basing themselves in, out of all places, Youngstown, Ohio, Gil Mantera's Party Dream is a sibling duo that you simply wouldn't guess comes from Youngstown, Ohio. A mental ward's imagination, perhaps. But not Youngstown, Ohio. With a slant to synthesize, Gil Mantera's Party Dream caters to the party rock-inclined, and luckily for them, Gil Mantera has a simple inclination to just party. Nevermind the rock, that's the word that comes after party in party-rock, and party is what you will do. Gil Mantera and his brother, Ultimate Donny, are set to party various venues away and are set to make a party dream out of Emo's right here in Austin tomorrow night. For those of you in Austin, Texas and the immediate beyond, I say head on over and make something out of your Thursday night.

Various songs from Gil Mantera's Party Dream (all songs are right click - save as):
Elmo's Wish
Dreamlovers

Catch up on the dates on the rest of their tour on their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Down Here For Now

[Welles Look at That]

2009-11-02T10:58:00.000-06:00

Welles Look at That
A Mix for the 71st Anniversary of the War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast

So the few of you out there nerdy enough to actually know the original broadcast date of Orson Welles' presentation of War of the Worlds realize I'm a few days late on this, and to the four of you out there, I say, "Oh well." Before podcasts, when TVs were still a thing of the Devil's, people sat around and listened to radios for entertainment. On whichever frequency you managed to hop onto, you could get pretty much whatever you deemed entertaining - think audiobook versions of everything from Mad Men to 30 Rock. Airing on CBS' airwaves were radio dramas put up by New York drama company The Mercury Theatre on the Air, and on October 30, 1938, Orson Welles directed a broadcast that can only be described as the best unintentional prank in history. Rather than simply reading the prose of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, Orson Welles thought the people would get a better kick out of the narrative being presented as a series of breaking news broadcasts, and with most of the listeners tuning in after the introduction, all people heard were the news broadcasts of people dying and aliens attacking. Needless to say, quite a panic ensued.

And you thought Weather Balloon Boy was bad...

Welles Look at That Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Bishop Allen - True or False
The Chalets - Feel the Machine
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Details of the War
Hot Chip - The Warning
Salty Pirates - The Alien Invasion
Say Hi - Let's Talk About Spaceships
Shonen Knife - Flying Saucer Attack

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No Otherwheres On Here Guys

[13 Tracks: An Incredibly Unlucky Mix]

2009-10-31T17:58:00.001-05:00

13 Tracks: An Incredibly Unlucky Mix
"Once a year on a spooky night, it's Halloween, and what a fright!"

In what's surely every dentist's worst nightmare (and eventually best conceived dream), the 31st of every October, here in the United States at least, is laced with the tradition of disguising oneself and begging for sugary, sugary treats. Not wanting to be the lame house on the street that gives away apples and raisins, I've put together this mix consisting of a very unlucky amount of musical sweetness. Stuff these in your pillowcases and wake up tomorrow with a hyperglycemic-induced stomachache courtesy of Both Sides...

Alright, well admittedly, there's a few more than 13 tracks this year, but 17 is just as unlucky!

13 Tracks: An Incredibly Unlucky Mix (artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as):
Archie Bronson Outfit - Dead Funny
Arctic Monkeys - Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...
Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
The Boy Least Likely To - Monsters
Cansei De Ser Sexy - Pretend We're Dead
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan Said Dance!
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Dawn of the Dead
Franz Ferdinand - Evil and a Heathen
Islands - Creeper
Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare
Pete & The Pirates - Blood Gets Thin
The Starlight Mints - Eyes of the Night
We Are Scientists - The Trickster

And your Halloween bonus...

Noah and the Whale - Devil Town [Daniel Johnston Cover]
The North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc. - >Do They Know It's Halloween?
Pete Townshend - Put A Spell On You [Screaming Jay Hawkins Cover]
Tracy Jordan - Werewolf Bar Mitzvah

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Check your candy for razor blades and have a happy halloween!

[Chairlift On Tour]

2009-09-14T09:58:00.002-05:00

"Stop, drop and roll. Gotta stop and put out the fire."

When I picked Chairlift up for a "If You've Only Got..." post early in the summer, it was to commend them for being such a perfect pick-me-up on such a rainy day. It seems between Chairlift and I, rain is always in the equation - nearly 1o" of it in this case. In what was so supposed to be a retrospective piece, I'm only left complaining about the randomness of Texas weather. Rest assured though, had I trekked through flooded road and slippery causeways, I would have had one hell of a night with the likes of Chairlift. Starting things off in Texas, leaves plenty of dates left on the US leg of their tour with October being reserved for even more engagements in Europe. I may have missed them here, but that definitely shouldn't stop you from checking them out when they stop round your whereabouts.

Chairlift Tour Dates

From Chairlift's Does You Inspire You (all songs are right click - save as):
Planet Health

Learn more at Chairlift's site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres On Here Guys

[Retrospective: Los Campesinos!]

2009-08-18T11:58:00.003-05:00

"I'm a realist. I'm insatiable."

To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid to go to this show. After their engagement at the Parish earlier in the year, I was more than certain that anything of theirs after that couldn't live up to such a great show. Everything was pretty much set up for something lesser than what I saw in February - it was the departure tour for one of the members, playing tracks off their new, mystery album meant we, as an audience, wouldn't be able to sing and dance along quite as well and the sound at Emo's has been scientifically proven to be horrible. As always, I need a good smack in the head. I should know better. The simple fact is, you put a good band on a stage, and they'll know how to put on a show. Los Campesinos!, my friends, is a good band.

Despite readying the release of a new album, Los Campesinos! was playing to an audience expecting their classics - the songs we knew, the songs we can absolutely go crazy to - and they knew this. The setlist for that night was carefully picked to flatter us, to make sure everyone rightfully loses their shit at some point in the show. The breakdown was as follows - by the start of the first track, 80% had lost their shit, and every minute of song from that point on increased it by another 7% with a margin of error of about plus/minus 2%. It didn't take much to start the frenzy that invariably ensues at every Los Campesinos! show.

As always, Los Campesinos! come highly recommended if not for the fact that, of the few bands cocky enough to use an exclamation point in their name, Los Campesinos! are the only ones understating it. Ideally, they should be Los Campesinos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If these guys come within 100 miles of you, I suggest you hightail it to the venue they happen to be destroying that night.

Los Campesinos! @ Emo's

Various Songs From Los Campesinos! (all songs are right click - save as):
Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks
The International Tweexcore Underground
Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #1

Check out whether or not their tour comes near you at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres For This Post Guys

I Miss Lisa Hannigan & Damien Rice

2009-07-16T12:23:00.000-05:00

*sob*

The other day I was browsing through YouTube just like all of you were when I came upon a music video of Lisa Hannigan's. My thought process: Lisa Hannigan? Oh my god! Lisa Hannigan! I used to be in love with you!

I wasn't really in love with her. I was in love with her and Damien.

The combination of voice from Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan was really fucking spot on. Epic. EPIC. They have two of the best voices in the folk genre, but they were even better together. "Volcano" is the perfect example of this. Epic. EPIC. Maybe it's the sadness of both their voices. Maybe it's because Damien Rice is a musical genius and made songs that would perfectly exemplify their prowess. I can't really name it. But they just sound so good together... I wanted them to get married... They were perfect... Fuck Sonny and Cher...

... and then on March 25, 2007, Damien wrote on his website that "his professional relationship with Lisa Hannigan has run its course." WTF. Like really. WTF. I was heartbroken. And I knew Damien would live on and Lisa would fall to the backdrop forever...

... but I was obviously wrong. YouTube told me. I was watching the video for "Lille." I wanted to love it. I wanted to love her again. The music wasn't bad. Her voice was still the same. But the video began and she was just so clean and she was wearing make-up and I just kept on thinking back to the little Lisa Hannigan with the messy braids and layered necklaces and bracelets and... *sigh*

I miss Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice.

Video killed the radio star. The video for "Volcano."

Miss Miss Miss
mp3 Volcano

A for Effort
mp3 Lille

[Spoon's Got Nuffin]

2009-07-14T16:48:00.000-05:00

"Got nothin' to lose but darkness and shadows. Got nothin' to lose but bitterness and patterns."

Actually, Spoon's got a plenty, and their latest, Got Nuffin, was recently released to remind us of that. Coming in as the first recorded release from the quartet since Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Got Nuffin showcases the continued progression of goodness that Spoon offers. Following a discography like theirs is nothing but an escalation of quality and craft, and serving only as a teaser of an EP, Got Nuffin's got me closely waiting on the edge for their next release, something that we're told is right on the heels of this EP.

Being a short piece of work, I can't really post anything from it with good conscience, but hopefully these tracks will be enough to keep you occupied until you get it for yourself.

Various Songs From Spoon (all songs are right click - save as):
Target [Live]
The Way We Get By [Live]
It's Gonna Take An Airplane [Dan Bejar Cover]

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Apparently hosting rare tracks is disagreeable with some people, and I had to repost this with something else.

[Retrospective: Spoon]

2009-07-11T10:58:00.001-05:00

"Betcha got it all planned right. Betcha never worry, never even feel a fright."

When it comes to Austinites, there are very few bands that can garner a collective swoon of appreciation the way Spoon does. It might not even be too farfetch'd[*] for me to say that for a good amount of people here, Spoon is a band first before a utensil. The fact is we love Spoon, and for some time now, they've awarded this appreciation of ours with a regular showing every July - this year was no different. Just like the Texans at the Battle of the Alamo[**], Spoon set off to hold a three night stand in the Lone Star State. Lord knows what's compelling them to hold three straight nights of goodness, but no one here's complaining. Even though you can't have too much of a good thing, I restrained myself to their first showing.

With the temperature that day being well over a hundred degrees, Spoon took to stage amidst a heat exhausted crowd, but you could never tell with the way we greeted their arrival. An untamable cheer rushed the dust and smoke clear out of the dirty air as Jim Eno camped at his drums while Britt Daniel, leviathan that he is, stepped forward to meet his towering mic stand. Without a word, they began their set, and so the night started. Not counting their one stint in Milwaukee two weeks earlier, it had been quite some time since the boys wooed a crowd with their song. With an experience that ranges well over a decade though, they hardly need some practice. By this point in time, Spoon are invariably rock stars, demi-gods in the niche of practice they chose to rock in. No need for the large stage crew, the fiery pyrotechnics, all the quartet needed to prove their stardom was the crowd and the one punk that brought a laser pointer "for effect." The first song played from the set fought for it's right to be heard over the crowd, until eventually, we remembered why we were there - to listen to some damn good music. In addition to the new discography inclusions from Got Nuffin' and their yet to be recorded album, Spoon played a hearty set that spanned their entire career, dipping into Soft Effects and even Series of Sneaks. Spoon never disappoints and with these three dates coming in as some of their last for '09, I would hardly hold any reservation that stops me from checking them out if they were to show up in my city in the future...

* I think that's just a pokemon...

** Davy Crockett and all them boys were actually there much longer than three nights.

Spoon @ Stubb's

Various Songs From Spoon (all songs are right click - save as):
June's Foreign Spell
Me and the Bean
Jonathon Fisk
The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
The Underdog

Learn more at their site!
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - It's my birthday, and I'll post late if I want to - annual birthday mix comes tomorrow!

[Retrospective: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears]

2009-07-11T09:58:00.002-05:00

"Bitch, I love you!"

If there was anything that propelled me to watch Spoon on Thursday rather than the other two nights, it was the appearance of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. Catering to my need to jive and gravy train, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears is a very rambunctious octet. With a full-time brass crew to back up the wails of a Wurlitzer and the bluesy vocals of Lewis shouting Lord knows what at times, it's hard not to get down. Pulling the crowd in almost immediately, Lewis and crew set us up and knocked us down with their deep, soulful sound. And the showmanship! Nothing stopped the sound for them that night - broken strings, out of tune guitar, even their bassist kept it coming despite a bad back and rocked it from a wheelchair. The brass would trumpet from the back while guitars picked their glory; the keys couldn't be any fuzzier if they tried while Lewis, behind a dark set of eyes, bellowed his soul. The stage was anything but stagnant, and neither was the crowd. In a finale that more than entertained us, Lewis set aside his guitar and opted to hold a pair of snakes instead. Doing the voodoo that he doo(es), Lewis interrupted song to approach his handicapped brother. "Do you want to walk!?," he would scream. "I say do you want to walk!?" Scaring the devil right out of him, his backbroken bassist rose miraculously rose out of his wheelchair to shimmy and shake with the rocking power of Jesus playing his puppet strings. Ladies and gentlemen, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears know how to work a crowd...

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Stubb's

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Stubb's
The man knows his voodoo...

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Stubb's
Why yes, that's how you rock a keytar.

Various Songs From Black Joe Lewis (all songs are right click - save as):
Sugarfoot
Gunpowder

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

[Retrospective: Ben Kweller]

2009-06-30T10:58:00.002-05:00

"I'm like my grandma - short, but I stand tall, playin' every card that's dealt to me."

At the time, it seemed almost blasphemous for this Texan to catch his first Ben Kweller experience outside of the Lone Star state - California, to be exact. Nothing was wrong with that show. In fact, it was brilliant. But Kweller is a Texan boy through and through, it just seems more to catch him where he's home. Proving that right is the set he delivered Saturday night. Coming on to stage as if he'd been battling the heat all day, Kweller greeted the crowd warmly in a loose, sleeveless shirt and already sweatied hair. The considerable country twang of his last album had placed some cowboy hats in the audience, and the stetsons, alongside their more urban coutnerparts, cheered him back. Couple all this with the fact that this practically open air venue is little more than wood beams and a hot, tin roof, the only thing that kept me from thinking I was watching all this from the speck of a Texas town Kweller came from was the lack of straw strewn about on the floor. No - I had the cigarette buts on the floor and the smell of weed in the air to remind me I was in Austin.

Regardless, Austin's still in Texas, and I'll say it again - Texas is where Kweller plays best. Playing to a set list that would appeal to any fan, Kweller played a perfect mix that touched base throughout his entire discography and serenaded us with songs from Sha Sha all the way to his latest, Changing Horses. Obviously, even all that wasn't enough, and an encore called Kweller back to humbly return to his guitar and lay down more tracks. In a grand finale, Kweller called back his band as well as the openers, The Murdocks and Jones Street Station, to a riled up rendition of "Fight." Kweller's set to play a few more dates - make sure you don't miss them!

Ben Kweller @ Emo's

Various Songs From Ben Kweller (all songs are right click - save as):
Fight
Family Tree
I Need You Back

Be sure to learn more about the rest of his tour at his site.
Be his friend!

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Otherwheres - Get a taste of White Denim's latest over at Covert Curiosity...

Otherwheres - Stop by Picasso for Matt's continuing recaps of the past Bonnaroo...

Otherwheres - Michael Jackson's eased on down, eased on down the road all the way to the party in the sky. If it's any consolation, we've still got prisoners and this guy...

[Red Stripe Tour Featuring Terry Lynn and John Hugo]

2009-06-29T08:58:00.001-05:00

Red Stripe Tour

The Red Stripe Tour featuring Terry Lynn and John Hugo has been blazing across these United States and is set to wrap things up at it's final stop in New York City tomorrow night. Commissioned by the Jamaican lager in the short, ugly bottle that's helped white people dance for years, Jamaica-based Lynn's teamed up with DJ Hugo to present "It Was Written," an EP set to celebrate the worldwide influence, importance and appeal of the rhythms and pulse of Jamaican music. If you're in NYC, be sure to catch the final wrap-up of this tour for good times, good music, and of course, free Red Stripe [RSVP]. It's music and beer! Hurray music! Hurray beer!

From Terry Lynn & John Hugo's It Was Written (all songs are right click - save as):
Steppin' Up
Feast Your Eyes

Grab the rest of the EP at the Fader site.

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No Otherwheres Here Fellas

[Rock Snobbery |:| A List]

2009-06-19T10:58:00.000-05:00

[Rock Snobbery |:| A List]

Referencing it because I can, Urban Dictionary defines a rock snob as "an especially irritating breed of tool." Yes - in life's tool box, rock snobs are right there next to the guy who thinks he's the Fonz. Even if they have a characteristically, well, snobby attitude, rock snobs are a proud subset the music community can't exist without. Rock Snobbery is a badge one should be eager to both wear and hide - like the STD badge for Girl Scouts. While being ahead of the curve and the eliteness that come with being a rock snob are admittedly desirable, it's a slippery slope and quick fall down to you simply just being a douche. To help you carefully extract out the bad rock snob qualities from the good ones, I offer this checklist - hash too many of these, and you, sir or madam, are holding your nose too high.

- You hate music everyone else likes (and, consequently, love the music everyone else seems to hate).

- As much as you wish them the best, you have an unvoiced desire for your beloved "secret" band to never be discovered.

- You brag about never listening to the radio.

- You secretly judge people at as they browse through the record store.

- You've committed to memory each and every single vinyl record you own that way you can tell people all about it.

- You secretly judge people as they talk about a band.

- Rather than admitting to not knowing about a particular artist, you go straight to saying how you simply don't like, for the vaguest of reasons, the aforementioned unknown.

- Once you've agreed that a certain artist is great, you flowchart your way to either loving or hating that person based on the album they like best.

- You always arrive at a concert wondering how the hell everyone else heard about the band you're about to watch.

- You go out of your way to prove you heard about a band before someone else did.

- You start to question just how much you reaaally like a band once their gigs have upgraded to better and/or higher-capacity venues.

- You automatically scrap anything that's considered "mainstream" from your listening sessions.

- You cringe a little every time a song you like is used for a commercial and/or immediately stop listening to that song, or even band, entirely.

Rock Snobbery Mix (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):
Bishop Allen - Vain
The Brunettes - The Record Store
CSS - Music Is My Hot Sex
Captain of Industry - Greater Than Greater Than
The Chalets - C'est Supercool
Frightened Rabbit - Be Less Rude
Great Northern - Telling Lies
The Pigeon Detectives - I'm A Liar
Team Genius - I'm Just An Idiot
The Wave Pictures - Leave The Scene Behind
We Are Scientists - This Scene Is Dead

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Nope, Still No Otherwheres To Be Found Down Here

[If You've Only Got]

2009-06-17T10:58:00.001-05:00

4 Minutes, 1 Second
"I got some frozen strawberries so I could ice your bruising knees. But frozen things, they all unfreeze, and now I taste like all those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruising knees."

So as I write this, I bumble about in sporatical, sunshineless weather in the country's so-called "Sunshine State." It's a bit hard to get down when you have something so cutesy as Chairlift's "Bruises" playing in the background. With sweet, saccharine vocals singing to the motto of "try, try and try again", an amazingly simple beat is transformed into a light, fizzy crafting of pop that bubbles you to a state of undiluted euphoria. Apparently, this song made rounds as one of iPod's commercial buddies. Yet amazingly, despite the vast amounts of telly I watch, I never caught on to it. No, rather I first caught this audio when I watched some YouTubage about a baby squirrel that wasn't able to follow Mama Squirrel up the heartless, high walls on UCLA's campus. After a bit of try, try and try again (and the assistance of a gloriously high pile of various students' belongings), baby squirrel was able to scramp up and over to a reunion with Mama worthy of appearance on Oprah. How fitting that as I finish penning this, the sun comes back. Have a gloriously cheery hump day.

If You've Only Got Series 5 (all songs are right click - save as):
Chairlift - Bruises

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend.

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Otherwheres - BreakThru Radio's been nice enough to feature us as their blog of the week!

Otherwheres - And if you're curious to watch that YouTubage I mentioned...

[Concert-Goers: That Misplaced Girl]

2009-06-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

[That Misplaced Girl]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

This crowd member doesn't usually frequent these things, but she couldn't help but come tonight - that one song the band plays that got featured on Gossip Girl is so darn catchy. Dressing in her best, most flowy dress and tallest shoes, that misplaced girl is ready to enjoy a great concert. So far though, the night's not going so well for her. She just can't understand why there aren't any seats, and as if standing in some heels wasn't bad enough, everyone's standing so close to each other that they keep touching her. Give it some time, and eventually the people around her are going to wish they weren't so close to her. The second that one song she came for starts playing, her head will begin to spin and spin around. Depending on how long her hair is, she can clear quite a bit of area. If you're brave enough to stay where you are, get ready to eat locks of conditioned hair.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Cassettes Won't Listen - Cut Your Hair [Pavement Cover]
Tunng - It's Because We've Got Hair
White Denim - Mess Your Hair Up

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Incessant Woo-er]

2009-06-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

[The Incessant Woo-er]

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Curfew Breaker]

2009-06-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

[The Curfew Breaker]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

The curfew breaker is soooooooo lucky. She got to stay up late tonight after spending hours begging her mom (perhaps the wandering cougar) to watch this show. She's gonna go to school tomorrow and brag to all her friends about what a great time she had and about how much cooler she is than they are. Though I commend the curfew breaker for having a musical inclination towards anything that isn't the Jonas Brothers, I can't help but wonder why the little pre-teen isn't at home sleeping. At least she's safe while she's out at night, the curfew breaker more than likely brought some friends along with her, and they absolutely loooove talking (the whole time).

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Abernethy - Unforgettably Young
Deerhoof - Kidz Are So Small
MGMT - Kids

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Wandering Cougar]

2009-06-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

[The Wandering Cougar]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

With her margarita in hand, the wandering cougar is on the prowl to instantly make your environment just a teensy bit more awkward. Being of a more respectable age than you, this lady is always more than eager to tell you, or simply the empty air around her, the facts of life amidst her drunken stupor. How she got there is anyone's guess. Most of the time she thinks she's at a karaoke bar, and she'll always tell you how great the guy doing karaoke is. Oh wandering cougar, how you managed to lose your pack of bar-hopping housewives is beyond me.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Mi and L'au - Older
The Starlight Mints - Margarita

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Delusional Best Friend of the Band]

2009-06-15T17:00:00.005-05:00

[The Delusional Best Friend of the Band]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

The delusional best friend, for me, is the saddest sight to witness on this list. Why I'd be sad for him though, is hard for him to see. After all, he's best friends with the band, and he let's everyone know this throughout the entire concert whether it's by showing off the shirt he made or letting you know how many times he's seen this particular group. His favorite tactic is to yell out, with great repetition, any or all of the band members' first names. That's all he needs to yell, you know, seeing as he's best friends with that person. Thanks for telling me all those band factoids by the way, I had no idea the drummer just had an appendectomy.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Bishop Allen - Making Friends
Voxtrot - Your Biggest Fan
Wolfkin - These Are All Illusions

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Unnecessarily Tall Person]

2009-06-15T14:00:00.005-05:00

[The Unnecessarily Tall Person]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

Reaching any height taller than you, the unnecessarily tall person, from your perspective, needs to be chopped from the knees. True - it's not exactly their fault that they're so vertically inclined, but the fact that this person always seems to occupy the space in front of you makes you think less than pleasant thoughts about the giant behemoth. Why shouldn't you complain? You paid to see a show, not someone's back. Alas though, there's pretty much nothing you can do other than move once this majestic Sequoia takes root in front of you.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Sufjan Stevens - The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders...

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Shirtless And/Or Sweaty Guy]

2009-06-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

[The Shirtless And/Or Sweaty Guy]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

The shirtless (and if you're really lucky, sweaty) guy usually comes out of nowhere. There you are enjoying the set until all of a sudden - BAM! - you glimpse bare flesh shining in sweaty glory. Compromising the health standards of that establishment almost immediately after the collar of his shirt extrudes his head, shirtless guy is usually also drunken dancer. For some reason, shirtless guy sees the need to unknowingly touch everyone there with his half-naked body. With an invisible dance train at his back, shirtless guy congas his way through the whole crowd before disappearing somewhere. Whether or not he'll return is a mystery, and frankly, that thought scares the shit out of you.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
The Grates - Wash Me
Tim Fite - More Clothes
Toothfairy - Don't Sweat It

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Concert-Goers: The Drunken Dancer]

2009-06-15T10:00:00.002-05:00

[The Drunken Dancer]

Concert-Goers is a series aiming to outline all the people you're bound to bump into at a concert. Admittedly, I've fallen into some of these categories. Chances are you've been guilty of being one of these people too. As much as we typically hate these people, it's just not a concert without at least one of them present.

The drunken dancer, by far, has the best moves in the entire venue. Well, at least he has the best moves in his head, but more often than not, he actually does have some pretty bitchin' moves. He's also completely unaware of everything but the music. In all this uninhibited goodness, drunken dancer will bumble about pulling moves that make him look like a giant baby learning to walk. After a few successful steps, he usually just starts jumping up and down and won't bother stopping until he's on the verge of vomiting. If you're lucky, he'll stop at that point. If you're not, well I don't think what's to happen is really that unclear - if you really want to know, you can ask Alina. With the capacity to transform the rest of the sober crowd into a giant dance party, drunken dancer is my favorite concertgoer.

Artist name leads to site and all songs are right click - save as:
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Satan Said Dance
Dappled Cities - Granddance
The Pink Mountaintops - Can You Do That Dance?

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[Retrospective: Lissy Trullie & Anya Marina]

2009-06-01T10:58:00.001-05:00

"I'm never gonna find you handsome like the other girls do."

The lights dimmed as the blonde, petite songstress that is Anya Marina started the night without a call to stop the commotion. Standing on stage all alone if not for her guitar, Anya started a noticeable transition changing the untranslatable haze of sound at Emo's into the sound of her voice and guitar. Anya Marina seemed somewhat zoned out that night...in a good way. Perhaps she was was perplexed at the nakedness of our streets during a time that's not SXSW, or maybe she lost her mind at the dessert bar at Whole Foods' HQ. Whatever the reason, Anya Marina was rightfully in a place of her own. Nestled in the cushiony sound of her musical world, Anya Marina performed a relaxed, chilled, laid-back set that spanned her young discography and a cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like." In a finale that perfectly clinched her set, Anya called forth Fernando - a stout, hispanic trumpeteer she had stolen from Jason Mraz during his last tour. The wailings of Fernando's trumpet coupled with the shuffling beat of "All the Same To Me."

Lissy Trullie commanded the stage next, and her presence was not unnoticeable. With a knack for melody, Trullie immediately found a beat that the crowd found amiable. The crowd, moving in close, lazy-footed in step to the music. There was a constant spray of guitar based on an intermittent, heavy pounding of drums creating a sound as hazy as my vision. Have I mentioned that I lost my glasses yet? I was blind as a bat that night, and my vision, based on hearing, put me in a fritz. Bringing about a bobblehead crowd, heads nodded in approval of the guitar-laden tracks. The beat was drunken with a fervor that rivaled those bumbling to the beat in the crowd from sole drunkeness. Not one to be upped by the cover done the set prior, Trullie's crew set to fashioning Hot Chip's "Ready For the Floor" to their own styling. Together, both Trullie and Marina made for great openings worthy of their own billing.

Anya Marina @ Emo's

Lissy Trullie @ Emo's

Various Songs From Anya Marina (all songs are right click - save as):
Move You
All The Same To Me

Learn more at her site.
Be her friend!

Various Songs From Lissy Trullie:
Boy Boy
Ready For The Floor [Hot Chip Cover]

Be her friend!

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No Otherwheres On This One Guys

[If You've Only Got...]

2009-05-06T10:58:00.005-05:00

4 Minutes, 4 Seconds

"I spend late nights trying to pick up love off the floor where the other brothers leave it be, though it's stuck hard down, it's like chewing gum."

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Otherwheres - Dodge over at MOKB packs a ridiculous amount of entertainment in his Peelander-Z interview...

Otherwheres - Chris at Gorilla VS Bear intros Burial and Four Tet's collaborative pieces...

Otherwheres - Even though I don't think its the one with Doug and Skeeter, IGIF shares The Beets - bangin on a trashcan, strumming on a streetlight...

[Dream Bitches]

2009-05-04T10:58:00.003-05:00

"But what can I spend these words I write on?"

Actually composed of four dream bitches and one fantasy bastard, this New York-based quintet started off as a duo by Yoko Kikuchi and Anna Zakaluk in 2003. Both fresh out of art school, their creativity was in a whirl and ready to be applied to something., and they aimed it at music. Despite a bit of nostalgia to Dream Bitches, these girls are the nightmare of 1950s Pleasantville housewives - they don't hide their intelligence...or feistiness. Picking up three more members, Dream Bitches craft smart, cute folk-pop. Here, simple beats form the foundation for layers of delayed, doo-woppy harmonies.

Various songs from Dream Bitches (all songs are right click - save as):
Mother's Day
Bronxy Marie
Me & The Major [Belle & Sebastian Cover]

Learn more at their site.

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Otherwheres - Lawrence over at Covert Curiosity points out to goodness times three - hear more about this from me soon...contest?

Otherwheres - Party Ends! does not think Brewster's a Leprechaun but he still may not like St. Louisians...

Otherwheres - Sandra makes a case for the Moscow Olympics at Off the Record...

[Sam Isaac]

2009-05-01T10:58:00.004-05:00

"I went out to try and make a history of being brave"

Sitting across from me in a diner as a night of South By is set to begin is a looming figure with a flaming red mop of hair on his head - a ginger giant. Once you've read him as that, it's hard to know him as otherwise - sorry, Sam! If you have to know him by any other name though, he's Sam Isaac. Sam's a working model of just how much of a cottage industry music can be. With the support and contribution of friends doing everything from touring to artwork, this young Londoner progressed from a tour consisting of livings rooms to some of Britain's biggest fests. With his makeshift crew at his side, Sam produces a set of pop with an interesting contrast between deep, breathy vocals and light, twinkly settings. As contradictory as it seems, there's an honesty to his character and a warmth to his voice that give heart to the lyrics of his love pop creations. Sam's currently on tour in the UK, so if you're somewhere on that island, be sure to check him out.

Various songs from Sam Isaac (all songs are right click - save as):
Berlin
Sticker Star And Tape
Come Back Home Tonight

Learn more and check out his current tour dates at his site.
Be his friend!

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Otherwheres - Party Ends! will be throwing a bash at Austin's favorite place of haircuttery, be sure to check out all the details...

Otherwheres - Speaking of local bashes, Ultra8201 along with Do512 will be throwing their shindig tomorrow night at La Zona Rosa...

Otherwheres - Have a great weekend everyone!

[If You've Only Got...]

2009-04-29T12:35:00.000-05:00

2 Minutes, 15 Seconds

"I take the city in the dead of night. I'm burning gas until I feel alright."

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Otherwheres - The guys at Party Ends! don't think you're very funny...

Otherwheres - Good aural at Nothing But Green Lights...

Otherwheres - And just because I'm always asking for more Swedes, Please...

[ACL Fest 2009]

2009-04-28T09:58:00.000-05:00

ACL Fest |:| October 2-4, 2009

Okay kids, take a seat so your eyes can fully molest the list about to be bestowed upon you. Last night, Austin City Limits Fest released its line-up, and if I may say so, it's looking to be a much better festival than last year. With over 100 artists on the list, I can't exactly list them all. Though a few of these were already expected, some of the notables this year that I picked up when I skimmed it this morning include the likes of...

Pearl Jam
Kings of Leon
The Beastie Boys
Thievery Corporation
Ghostland Observatory
Mos Def
Lily Allen
The B-52s
Arctic Monkeys
The Decemberists
Andrew Bird
Girl Talk
White Lies
Grizzly Bear
The Raveonettes
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Check out the list in it's entirety at the ACL site.
So what do you think of it? Who are you looking forward to?

Grab yourself a pass or two at the ACL site.
Be its friend!

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No Otherwheres For This Post Guys

[Netherfriends]

2009-04-27T10:58:00.001-05:00

"Some days I never wanna hop out of my shower. Some days I never want to get out of my bed. Livin' life is just like bein' dead."

Playing in all those dark corners, this trio of Chicagoans emerged from the depths to play as the Netherfriends. With haunting wails scattered amongst the vocals and heavy keys dauntily looming over from the background, Netherfriends play a maniac, mad brand of rock. Fear not though, these guys are here to shed a bit of light from the darkness and tame their demons. What you have left with Netherfriends is a delightfully obscured, deviously dark set of distortion.

Various songs from Netherfriends (all songs are right click - save as):
TAC TAC
Worean Kor
Stop Smoking A$$hole Cigarettes

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Mmm, Ultra8201 showcases Passion Pit's video for "The Reeling"...

Otherwheres - John over at Party Ends! gives his thoughts on the Lolla lineup...

Otherwheres - Connor at IGIF shares an old...but new...but old Sufjan song...

[If You've Only Got...]

2009-04-23T10:58:00.003-05:00

3 Minutes, 39 Seconds

"Mondays is for drinking to the seldom seen kid"

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Otherwheres - Enter to win a limited edition Wavves 7" at You Ain't No Picasso...

Otherwheres - Great Discovery at My Old Kentucky Blog...

Otherwheres - IGIF has the video for Matt & Kim's "Lessons Learned"....

[Jamie Lidell]

2009-04-21T10:58:00.001-05:00

"TNT between you and me. All that dynamite, can't you see?"

Jamie Lidell - such a soulful, soulful white man. I'm sure this gentleman walks the streets with the sun shining at his back and a gospel choir following only a few steps behind. Proclaiming his words like a preacher on one particularly joyous sunday, Lidell's music encapsulates soul and spirit. With a flurry of tambourining and the fuzz of an aged Wurlitzer, Lidell's a sunday servce, in the guise of rock, preaching about love and life. With an upbeat, uplifiting, uproarious demeanor, Lidell is just up, up and up and gets you on your feet, so play that music, white boy.

Various Songs from Jamie Lidell's JIM (all songs are right click - save as):
Another Day
Out of My System

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

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Otherwheres - Win a signed copy of the Beastie Boys' Check Your Head vinyl over at Picasso...

Otherwheres - Lawrence over at Covert Curiosity has your view of of Dan Deacon's set at Emo's last friday...

Otherwheres - The boys over at Party Ends! stuffed some great goodage in a bag, have your chance at winning one of two Green Label Sound prize packs at their site...

[The Sweet Serenades]

2009-04-17T10:58:00.001-05:00

"Tell me baby, where you been so long?"

Damn, these guys are catchy. Introducing themselves as the woodsmen of Sweden, this duo wields more than just axes. With instruments in hand a creative knack for song, these guys carry the propensity to make me alliterate, for the Swedish Sweet Serenades serenade sweetly in Sweden indeed. Utilizing handclaps, tuneful guitarwork, and rounded, hearty drumbeats, these are some dangerously talented axemen - as in axemen that are dangerously talented, although I'm sure they're amazingly skillful with an axe too. What a double threat! There's an aspect to their music that really gets you to realize that these guys really understand what they're doing - experts at their craft. If I were to make a pie chart of their components, slices would be even. Nothing outplays other parts here, and these guys just make a damn good pie. The Sweet Serenades - musicians, woodsmen, bakers.

Various songs from The Sweet Serenades (all songs are right click - save as):
Mona Lee
I Can Never Die
First Taste of Trouble

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Otherwheres - Record Store Day is tomorrow! Get your tookus out of that seat and support some local goodness...

Otherwheres -Jot the digits down, Ultra8201 along with Do512 will be hosting a great trio of artists over at La Zona Rosa on May 2nd....

Otherwheres - Matt over at YANP shares the Boy Least Likely To cover of Grease's "You're The One That I Want" woo woo woo....

[Retrospective: Camera Obscura @ SXSW]

2009-04-03T18:00:00.005-05:00

[Camera Obscura]

Camera Obscura was yet another replay - a band I had seen just the day before, and yet, like the Grates, I had no problems with seeing again. In fact, if anything, I was more glad tos ee them today, as today whey were playing in full compared to the exclusion of one the day before. Ah yes, the full set. Taking position at the mic, the petite, swan-buttoned Tracyanne Campbell hid behind her guitar. Slowly approaching the stand, lifting her head high, Campbell began to utter the words to a piece from My Maudlin Career in that oh-so-distinct Scottish deliverance of hers. Beautifully cushioned by the sounds around her, this air of comfort, a lulling sound blanketed the crowd - it's hard to imagine this sedated crowd was the same rambunctious bunch that moshed to the sounds of Peelander-Z just a few minutes before. We were hushed, calmed and persuaded by the Glaswegian septet. The setlist, to no surprise, mostly reflected their upcoming release, My Maudlin Career - a beautiful collection of songs with the undeniable familiarity that makes it quintessentially Camera Obscura. The group glided through their set, and just as all the best of things seem to go, seemed to have left as quickly as they came despite having a hearty setlist.

Various Songs From Camera Obscura (all songs are right click - save as):
French Navy
Forest and Sands
Let's Get Out Of This Country

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend.

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No Otherwheres Here

[Retrospective: Peelander-Z @ SXSW]

2009-04-03T16:00:00.007-05:00

[Peelander-Z]

I had stuck around under the insistence of Matt from YANP. After seeing pictures from their last Hot Freaks! engagement, it really wouldn't have taken much persuasion for me to stay. My position grasped closely to the edge of the stage, and I came in fully expecting to not know what to expect. Their soundcheck teased us with their antics ranging from the coming and going of various wigged streaks of color to odd calls being made at the mic, but that was but a sliver of what was to come. Peelander-Z took two things to their advantage with their performance - the fact that we were never, at any point, going to really ever understand what they were going to say and that we would spend a great deal of our time in confusion. Essentially, they took what it is to be a Japanese band and molded it in their faavor so that we would end up the foreigners at the the end of it. The clashing of East and west turned our world upside down and proceeded to shake the shit out of it. Unprepared for it all, Peelanders Yellow and Green began the mayhem and were eventually joined by Red, clad in a costume straight out of Power Rangers. Eventually, the tentacled beast was thrown aside, and rightly so. As if they'd need costumes to illustrate the idea that they're monstrous, wild things. It was a show of unbounding energy filled with stage dives, audience immersion and just all-out craziness.

Various Songs From Peelander-Z (all songs are right click - save as):
S.T.E.A.K.
Ninja-High Schooool

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres For This Post

[Retrospective: The Grates @ SXSW]

2009-04-03T14:00:00.006-05:00

[The Grates]

Spending the entire day at the Hot Freaks! event, I started my day with the Grates, a group I had seen the day before at the Aussie BBQ and had no problems whatsoever in seeing again. The show at Hot Freaks was just as amazing, and as it should be, they pulled that off without having to regurge the exact same show. The Grates are truly something to get excited about. When one of the warm-ups on stage is to simply jump up and down, you know you're in for a show that's anything but passive. Considering the show antics, this band is just all about fun, and these guys make extra sure you have it, refusing to let anyone get through the show sitting down. Brushing the sweat off her brow, Patience Hodgson made fun a work-out, and having fun was their career, their job, their work. The group is just as infectious as their music, if not more so, and the vocals delivered by Hodgson refused to let anyone down as she waltzed across stage - jumping, skipping, hopping. All the while she would point playfully at members of the crowd, dedicating songs to everyone and everything. The stage was all smiles, the crowd was all smiles. Nearing the end of their set, she called out to us to make room. Parting like the Red Sea, she took with her a twirler as they started Rock Boys. Twirling the purple ribbon around her, Hodgson was like a central planet with a cascading ring moving around her. Eventually this lonesome planet was joined by an unexpected, and very random member of the crowd clad in rainbow spandex. Taking an orbit, this fellow ribbon twirler danced and played with Hodgson. You never really know what you'll get when you see the Grates, but one thing can always be expected - you will most definitely, most assuredly have a good time...guaranteed.

Various Songs From The Grates (all songs are right click - save as):
Aw Yeah
Milk Eyes
Rock Boys

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

[SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Four]

2009-04-03T12:00:00.003-05:00

One Helluva Recap: Day Four in Photos

March is definitely one month I always look forward to, and I contribute that entirely to SXSWeek - Austin's favorite time to show some love to film, music, and technology. Buried into that schedule are four days dedicated to music, and it is in those four days that I truly live. Given here is my perspective of South By Southwest.

SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Four (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):

[Camera Obscura]

Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country

[Peelander-Z]

Peelander-Z - Ninja-High Schooool

[The Grates]

The Grates - Rock Boys

[Viva Voce]

Viva Voce - Wrecking Ball

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[Retrospective: Slow Club @ SXSW]

2009-04-02T20:00:00.004-05:00

[Slow Club]

Whether the British have a thing for playing in hotel lobbies or not, I found myself at the Sheraton to catch Slow Club. Having been well on their way through their set, a sizable crowd had already gathered around the corner of the hotel bar, and as any bar environment should be, celebration and enjoyment was abound. You might as well have thrown confetti around the whole time. I excitedly joined the fray walking in to the beat of the floor tom, playing to demeanor of a parade march, and an amazingly affluent amount of fun was had with this couple as they worked the crowd with no more than a guitar and a modest drum set. Slow Club is anything but a let down, and a highly recommended watch.

Various Songs From Slow Club (all songs are right click - save as):
Me And You
Summer Shakedown

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres On This One

[Retrospective: Rod Thomas @ SXSW]

2009-04-02T18:00:00.004-05:00

[Rod Thomas]

Ever since I talked about this then-busker from London two years ago, I've been hoping to catch Rod Thomas do his one man wonder sometime during this South By. Little did I know that I would find this opportunity at the Hilton lobby. Oddly enough, the large, grand lobby of this hotel made for a decent stage, and the constant hustle through the room only brought Rod to more people's attention as he literally stopped people in their tracks, beckoning them closer. Echoing in the room, the murmur of conversations slowly faded to Rod's bare acoustics as he, a one man act, worked the pedal loop to construct multi-layered goodness. As he played his tunes, not even the occasional celebrity passing through trumped interest, and the lobby began to crowd as Rod moseyed on through his set. He was in no hurry, and you could tell he took this to his advantage as he carefully doted over his music constructing piece after piece. At the end of his set, a finale garnered the unhooking of his guitar as he went back to his busker roots and played unamplified in the middle of the crowd. A great showing from this great Brit.

Various Songs From Rod Thomas (all songs are right click - save as):
Good Coat

Same Old Lines

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

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No Otherwheres On This One, Guys

[Retrospective: Fanfarlo @ SXSW]

2009-04-02T16:00:00.004-05:00

[Fanfarlo]

Though I typically would try to avoid watching a band I'd seen the South By before, London-based Fanfarlo was a welcome sight to see (at the same venue nonetheless) with their exquisitely poppy tunage. With Simon Balthazar behind the mic, he crooned his way through a fun, lively set that garnered happy-go-lucky sways from the crowd. Behind the dark tint of his sunglasses, Balthazar would take to the mic like a schoolboy doing recitations, his hands placed neatly behind his back, and occasionally, like a boy of mischief, drumsticks would be pulled out from his back and he'd bang away at the set beside him. Fanfarlo's appeal lay in this youth that just garners a fun and feckless mood, and their live sets are a definitive reflection of this as smiles were abound just all over amongst the crowd.

Various Songs From Fanfarlo (all songs are right click - save as):
Fire Escape
Harold T. Wilkins

Learn more at their site .
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres On This One

[Retrospective: Bishop Allen @ SXSW]

2009-04-02T14:00:00.003-05:00

[Bishop Allen]

As I waited for Bishop Allen to take to stage, I bumped into John from Side One: Track One. Explaining his reasoning for being there, he said that Bishop Allen would just make for the perfect start to the day, and I couldn't agree more. The sunlight bathing the quartet in bright light, Bishop Allen plucked their cheery acoustics to tales weaved by Justin Rice. The storyteller nature of the songs really embodies itself in Rice as he motions his hands about and stomps his feet around like any good bard. This Brooklyn-based quartet is always a pleasure to watch, and they always seem to coax the sun out. Bishop Allen is a perfect way to start the day, agreed.

Various Songs From Bishop Allen (all songs are right click - save as):
Dimmer
Shanghaied

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

[SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Three]

2009-04-02T12:00:00.002-05:00

One Helluva Recap: Day Three in Photos

March is definitely one month I always look forward to, and I contribute that entirely to SXSWeek - Austin's favorite time to show some love to film, music, and technology. Buried into that schedule are four days dedicated to music, and it is in those four days that I truly live. Given here is my perspective of South By Southwest.

SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Three (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):

[Bishop Allen]

Bishop Allen - Shanghaied

[The Lovely Sparrows]

The Lovely Sparrows - The War Has Seen The Last of Me

[Oh No! Oh My!]

Oh No! Oh My! - I Have No Sister

[Josh Pyke]

Josh Pyke -Make You Happy

[The Grates]

The Grates - Aw Yeah

[Blind Pilot]

Blind Pilot - Go On Say It

[Fanfarlo]

Fanfarlo - Fire Escape

[Rod Thomas]

Rod Thomas - Same Old Lines

[Slow Club]

Slow Club - Me and You

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[SXSW Perspective: Guy Stevenson of the Gin Riots]

2009-04-01T15:00:00.005-05:00

SXSW Perspective Guy Stevenson of the Gin Riots

We here at Both Sides had the great opportunity to syndicate the South By perspective of The Gin Riots' frontman, Guy Stevenson. With nothing but literary entertainment ahead, I send it off to Guy.

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The Gin Riots arrived in Austin for Schmooze by Schmooze West with aching heads and a weekload of worry upon our shoulders. We were booked to play five shows over the festival but we weren't sure on the plane over whether our eijit guitarist would be able to make it. Y'see, despite being a bit of a genius when it comes to songwriting, Cillian Riot is none too proficient at simple day-to-day organisation and he managed to put his passport through the wash four days before he was supposed to fly.

Just a little light-headed from the Bloody Mary refills we'd hit to keep us from thinking about this on the plane, the band stumbled out into the Austin sunshine to be greeted by our hostess for the week, miss Lacey Griffin. A native Austinite and a friend of ours from myspace, Lacey had promised to treat us to 'some good ol fashioned Southern hospitality'.

First stop was the 401, a bar she tends for fifty or so drunk, shady and downright legendary characters just outside of downtown. There they stood against bar as we walked in, decked out in stetsons, bandanas and snakeskin boots, like extras from every film about the south we'd ever seen. Once we'd stopped beaming at the surrealness of the scenario, the locals got to work buying us drinks. My god...do they drink in Austin. We were pretty darn proud of our nation's binge-drinking abilities til we met you lot...fucking hell!

We moved on from this mecca of neon signs, sawdusted floor and low lit pool tables to about hundred different pubs, necking shots, leching over your pretty womanfolk and generally making embarrassing arses of ourselves ... The night ended in a fight between Tim Riot and myself that would not have looked out of place on www.bumfights.com (if you never saw this abominable website before it was banned, I strongly recommend you to steer clear - heinous rich kids run around paying homeless people in drink and junk to fight one another ... )

So, the week was built on downright messy foundations ... But everything started looking up for The Gin Riots when Cillian finally got his passport through and took the plane over on Sunday. We played loads of shows - beginning with Momo's on the Monday night and ending with our main Saturday night showcase at The Rio Grande - and saw so many bands I'm finding it hard to remember any actual names ... hmmm ... who stood out? Late of The Peer, who our drummer Jack Riot went to see twice, were apparently unbelievably tight and innovative and put on a dazzling show. Likewise, French electro kids Kap Bambino.

Peelander-Z, a Japanese punk rock band who looked like they'd stepped straight out of a kid's Manga cartoon, played pretty atrocious music but entertained their audience like consumate pros. The formula went like this: yellow lycra-clad singer with clown hair asks the audience a question (WHAT DO EVERYONE LIKE EAT IN U S OF A?, for example), red lycra-clad drummer holds up a sign with a catchword written on it (STEAK), the crowd shouts out what's on the card and the song starts. Simple, you might say, but fuck me was it effective!

The Gin Riots left America exactly ten days after we'd arrived, exhausted, schmoozed out of our skulls, but generally mighty happy indeed with the shows we'd played and the people we'd met. Good people of Austin - we fucking love your town and reckon you should be gurt proud of it. Thankin you kindly ...

Until our next encounter,

Love Love Love to your mamas,

Guy De Riot

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No Otherwheres Here

[Retrospective: Pete And The Pirates @ SXSW]

2009-03-31T18:00:00.002-05:00

[Pete And The Pirates]

Calling forth the crowd to come closer, I think it's safe to say that Pete And The Pirates was being first introduced to a majority of the crowd that day, and it would probably be even safer to say they converted a good deal of them into fans that day. With a friendly, easy set, the British quintet caused a ruckus of rock employing stage antics and the audience participator that is handclapping. The crowd was intent on listening and greeted every fin with hearty applause. Expect to hear more about Pete And The Pirates here on Both Sides in the future.

Various Songs From Pete And The Pirates (all songs are right click - save as):
Eyes Like Tar
Mr. Understanding

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Nope, No Otherwheres On This One

[Retrospective: Efterklang @ SXSW]

2009-03-31T16:00:00.004-05:00

[Efterklang]

The Danish sextet dubbed as Efterklang took to stage at the scenic French Legation Museum. As one of my picks of bands to see at the fest, I had high expectations for Efterklang, and thankfully so, they matched up to those expectations to a tee. With their bells, trumpets, violins, flutes and xylophones, Efterklang is an orchestra that drowns you in their elements. The crowd was enamoured and bespectacled with this Copenhagen-based band as they led beautiful, effervescent pieces. Translated over, Efterklang means "reverberation" or "after noise", and it couldn't be any more appropriate. For such an ambient sound, there's a powerful effect that lasts and mulls you over and over. Watching this group is both a current and retrospective experience that culminates into an almost meditative experience.

Various Songs From Efterklang (all songs are right click - save as):
Mirador
Cutting Ice To Snow

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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Hmmm, Nope No Otherwheres Yet

[Retrospective: New Villager @ SXSW]

2009-03-31T14:00:00.003-05:00

[New Villager]

With a morning that found me once again wandering Paste's Radio Room, the synthing keys of New Villager slowly called people into the tent out back. The dreamlike call sifted through the groggy morning air slowly buzzing people to start their day. It amazes me that such an unpretentious twosome could freely call towards it such a large crowd at such an ungodly time (noon is early here). On stage stood the nonassuming duo - a towering, spectacled man and his average height colleague brought in a good crowd in the first few minutes of their siren's call. With one at the keys singing low, secret-filled whispers, the other stood at the edge of the stage swinging high pitched vocals while his hands motioned the sound flow, a conductor of sorts. Despite the resistance to dance so early in the day, New Villager slowly infused into us the need to move - a sway, at first, slowly working into heavier gestures. Like we'd be able to help it. With such a right sound rich enough to take us down, New Villager encompasses a sound that plucks everything from everywhere to make a groove-heavy, instantly-likeable sound.

Various Songs From New Villager (all songs are right click - save as):
Rich Doors
Ghengis On

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres Here

[SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Two]

2009-03-31T12:00:00.005-05:00

One Helluva Recap: Day Two in Photos

March is definitely one month I always look forward to, and I contribute that entirely to SXSWeek - Austin's favorite time to show some love to film, music, and technology. Buried into that schedule are four days dedicated to music, and it is in those four days that I truly live. Given here is my perspective of South By Southwest.

SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day Two (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):

[New Villager]

New Villager - Rich Doors

[Benjy Ferree]

Benjy Ferree - Why Bother

[Efterklang]

Efterklang - Mirador

[Pete & The Pirates]

Pete & The Pirates - Mr. Understanding

[Camera Obscura]

Camera Obscura - French Navy

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[Retrospective: Andrew Bird @ SXSW]

2009-03-30T16:00:00.005-05:00

[Andrew Bird]

I can't use anything but the divine providence of God to explain how it is I came to watch the likes of Andrew Bird on this day. A few months earlier, I was a bit in late in getting tickets for his show at the Paramount Theater, so having my name drawn out of a raffle to watch an intimate showing at the KLRU studios for a taping of Austin City Limits seemed a little too much like someone trying to make things right. I'm going to try my best to recall this experience, but there are very few words that can describe just what watching Andrew Bird is like. Entering the cavernous space of the studio, a twinkling backdrop of Austin at all sides, the gramophones greeted us with their presence. There was no mystery as to who those gramophones served.

With a quiet, demure entrance, Andrew Bird stood at the mic amidst the sound of hearty applause and cheers, but the second his bow touched the strings of his violin, silence was abound. Being a man of the loop pedal, the shoes on his feet stayed on for only so long before the green-striped demeanor of his socks revealed themselves to better ease his fancy footwork. We watched in amazement as this lonely man on stage crafted his music, and it's a thing of wonder that he knows just where he is in terms of the elements being played and looped, coalescing into the songs we know and love. Working solo, Bird whistled, plucked, played and sang, and we were enthralled. Eventually, others joined walked onto the stage, and Bird played with the backing of a full band that included the likes of Martin Dosh on drums. While it was a treat, everyone was still completely enfatuated with only one man, and all focus was on Mr. Bird even when a monster of a creation, a double-headed gramophone, swung about morphing a chord into a single note. Between songs, he was awkward, yet comfortable, company entertaining us with song anecdotes. A mesmerizing experience, one can really see that Bird is a concentrated performer. At times it seems like he almost struggles with just how much talent flows out of him - stretching, shaking. It would be no surprise to me if he's a savant that sees the world in musical notes. Bird just knows, understands music, and he epitomizes the modern showman.

Various Songs From Andrew Bird (all songs are right click - save as):
Way Out West [Live]
Spanish For Monsters [Live]
Oh, Sister [Bob Dylan Cover]

Learn more at his site.
Be his friend!

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No Otherwheres This Time, Guys

[Retrospective: Anathallo @ SXSW]

2009-03-30T14:00:00.004-05:00

[Anathallo]

I had the pleasure to have the Chicago-based septet Anathallo start off my South By last year, so I couldn't see any more appropriateness in this group starting things off once again for me this year. Stuffing the stage with their instruments, let alone their sheer number, the group set up before taking to a small, tight circle - a meditative concentration, a pow-wow. The thing about Anathallo that I most love is the fact that watching them is truly an experience. Yes, that can be said about a lot of bands, but Anathallo, in particular, refuses to let you watch through the glass, from the outside looking in. From their circle, they slowly opened up to include the crowd. Taking to their instruments, you could really see the vast experience this group had to offer. Harmonicas, xylophones, trumpets, trombones - hell, they even used bricks. If it was capable of making a noise, you can be assured these guys used it or at least are capable of using it in their arsenal of instruments. Instruments in hand, Anathallo streams through the speakers a powerful sound deserving of the experience they deliver. An ambient sound bubbled the tent into it's own private world, and in this stew of sounds, Anathallo stirred things around with gallant beats and prophetic vocals. I'm not one to use hyperbole, but watching this group live is downright religious. They may not be exorcising the demons of dance, but considering the way their sound surrounds you, something inside you gets lifted. And it's in this nirvana that you watch and observe everything. A brilliant start to South By...

Various songs from Anathallo (all songs are right click - save as):
Italo
Dokkoise House (With Face Covered)
Hanasakajijii (Four: A Great Wind, More Ash)

Learn more at their site.
Be their friend!

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day One]

2009-03-30T12:00:00.005-05:00

One Helluva Recap: Day One in Photos

March is definitely one month I always look forward to, and I contribute that entirely to SXSWeek - Austin's favorite time to show some love to film, music, and technology. Buried into that schedule are four days dedicated to music, and it is in those four days that I truly live. Given here is my perspective of South By Southwest.

SXSW One Helluva Recap: Day One (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):

[Anathallo]

Anathallo - Italo

[Andrew Bird]

Andrew Bird - Way Out West [Live]

[Deastro]

Deastro - The Shaded Forests

[The Phenomenal Handclap Band]

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - You'll Disappear

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys

[PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix - Part 2]

2009-03-19T23:28:00.000-05:00

The People to Get Excited About if You're Going to SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even if You Weren't Going Mix

You're probably wondering what the hell all those letters mean. Kicking off my South By Southwest coverage this year is a massive mix for a massive fest. There's been quite a bit of material I could have covered before the fest officially goes down, and the operative phrase there is "could have." Undoubtedly, it's a gargantuan amount, and the time I've had lately has been minuscule...and I've been lazy. When situations like this arise, a blogger's best friend, mix, comes into play, and so I present this. Returning from last year is the People To Get Excited About If You're Going to SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix. The product of me quickly skimming through that list of artists and jotting down names that had me getting all giddy. SXSW Music starts tomorrow kiddos! For those of you going, I tip my hat and remind you to prepare for a crazy, crazy time...

NOTE: Turns out one of my posts got in trouble again, and it was part two of this mix series. On the one hand, I love the idea that those keen copyright Big Brothers (that don't read disclaimers for polite requests of removal first) are keeping a close eye on me, but at the same time...well it's just not amusing. Here's an edited version, and since I don't know what got me in trouble the first time, I just winged it with removing whoever I thought was the burden.

The PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix Pt. 2 (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):
KaiserCartel - Season Song
Great Northern - Bleeding Hearts
Grizzly Bear - On A Neck On A Spit
Haley Bonar - Captain Captain
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - When You Go Out
Kevin Devine - Just Stay
Little Ones - High On A Hill
Matt & Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare
Pete and the Pirates - Mr. Understanding
Project Jenny, Project Jan - 320
Rod Thomas - Same Old Lines
Sally Crewe & The Sudden Moves - Pane of Glass
Sky Larkin - Somersault (Notes!)
Slow Club - Me And You
The Soft Pack - Nightlife
Voxtrot - Rise Up In The Dirt
White Denim - ShakeShakeShake
White Lies - To Lose My Life

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From what I recall, the otherwheres were all about parties.

To save myself some time I'm just going to point you in one direction for day parties...

Showlist Austin

Oh and just as a general update - my coverage of South By will entirely be post-coverage, so you can look for my POV starting Monday.

[PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix - Part 1]

2009-03-17T18:00:00.006-05:00

The People to Get Excited About if You're Going to SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even if You Weren't Going Mix

You're probably wondering what the hell all those letters mean. Kicking off my South By Southwest coverage this year is a massive mix for a massive fest. There's been quite a bit of material I could have covered before the fest officially goes down, and the operative phrase there is "could have." Undoubtedly, it's a gargantuan amount, and the time I've had lately has been minuscule...and I've been lazy. When situations like this arise, a blogger's best friend, mix, comes into play, and so I present this. Returning from last year is the People To Get Excited About If You're Going to SXSW But Would Like Anyway Even If You Weren't Going Mix. The product of me quickly skimming through that list of artists and jotting down names that had me getting all giddy. SXSW Music starts tomorrow kiddos! For those of you going, I tip my hat and remind you to prepare for a crazy, crazy time...

The PTGEAIYGTSBWLAEIYWG Mix Pt. 1 (artist name leads to site & all songs are right click - save as):
Anathallo - Hanasakajijii (Four: A Great Wind, More Ash)
Andrew Bird - Oh, Sister [Bob Dylan Cover]
Annuals - Brother
As Tall As Lions - A Break, A Pause
Au Revoir Simone - Sad Song
Beach House - Master of None
Benjy Ferree - The Dogkillers
The Besties - 79 Lorimer Song
Bishop Allen - Dimmer
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Boogie
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
Casiokids - Togens Hule
Colourmusic -Circles
Cut Off Your Hands - Oh Girl
Dappled Cities - Holy Chord
The Decemberists - Summersong
Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Without Love
Fanfarlo - Harold T. Wilkins
Gil Mantera's Party Dream - Elmo's Wish
The Grates - 19-20-20

Learn more about South By Southwest at the official festival site.

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No Otherwheres For This One Guys