Houston Gets New Record Label: Are We Finally Legit?
I remember talking to Peekaboo Theory early last year when they were considering packing up ship and relocating to Austin. They were frustrated with the lack of musical infrastructure in Houston.
Punch Brothers, Antifogmatic
What do you get when you combine five musically gifted musicians who play the fiddle, upright bass, mandolin, guitar, and banjo? If you're thinking a bluegrass band, you're wrong...
Distant Lights, Simulacrum
There are times when music can just be a side note, something you turn on because you'd rather deal with any type of distraction than the loneliness of oppressive silence and wonder why your life still sucks, even though that could just be me self-projecting...
Various Artists, KTRU Live Vol. 2
When KTRU Local Show co-host Ian Wells handed me a copy of KTRU Live Vol. 2, the second in the "KTRU Live" series (two discs wrapped in a cool, halfway-DIY cardboard sleeve with sweet, quirky art by DJ/artist Lindsey Simard), back at this year's Summerfest...
Barefoot for Native, Barefoot for Native EP
Native at SXSW and then was fortunate to see them again as they came through Houston and did a show at Dean’s. These two women play their guitars with such beauty and intensity while being completely in synchronicity and harmony with each other.
The Lotus Effect, Rabbits & Royalty EP
Normally, I get pretty annoyed when a songwriter just comes out and tells you what a song's about; to my mind, that takes some of the joy out of the music, removing the personal interpretation completely from the equation. I mean, sure, if you think a song's about X...
Sea Wolf, White Water, White Bloom
Alex Brown Church – maybe more commonly known as Sea Wolf – and friends are back and just as good as ever with the release of “White Water, White Bloom,” last year. This album follows a very successful debut EP, “Go to the River before it Runs Too Low” and full-length “Leaves in the River,” both released in 2007, and follows in similar style and sound as previous releases...
Tambersauro, From the Last Day I Saw You
More than anything else, From the Last Day I Saw You is a manifesto. And really, it feels fitting that as they make their final(?) bow and step off into the wings, Tambersauro should unleash something just like this, tossing aside the oblique lyrics and instrumentals...
The Album Leaf, A Chorus of Storytellers
Jimmy LaValle's fifth solo album, A Chorus of Storytellers, is a calm trip into his soul. This CD will soothe you, but not in a reassuring, uplifting kind of way. LaValle started in the '90s, and since then has appeared on The OC soundtrack...
Jack Conte, Sleep in Color
Jack Conte's Sleep in Color EP surprised me, with its rich, multi-faceted effects. Such a short endeavor could've easily gone unnoticed, but this one packs a lot into five songs. Each one involves a multitude of instruments, with a melody backed by various other parts...
Kelli Scarr, Piece
I screwed up Kelli Scarr's CD, and honestly, now I'm kind of glad I did. Not the actual CD, mind you, but the copy of Piece that I'm currently listening to -- apparently I managed to mix up the track order pretty severely when I burned the disc so I could listen to it in the car...
Features/Reviews
Punch Brothers, Antifogmatic
What do you get when you combine five musically gifted musicians who play the fiddle, upright bass, mandolin, guitar, and banjo? If you’re thinking a bluegrass band, you’re wrong…
Distant Lights, Simulacrum
There are times when music can just be a side note, something you turn on because you’d rather deal with any type of distraction than the loneliness of oppressive silence …
Sunaglare, Sunaglare
There is that saying of what once was old is now new again, and it’s proven true by the newest musical export from Sweden, Sunaglare. This band draws its …
Various Artists, KTRU Live Vol. 2
When KTRU Local Show co-host Ian Wells handed me a copy of KTRU Live Vol. 2, the second in the “KTRU Live” series (two discs wrapped in a cool, halfway-DIY …
A dream Asleep vs. Skeleton Dick
First be warned that I write this review with extreme prejudice. A dream Asleep and Skeleton Dick are two of my top favorite bands…
Barefoot for Native, Barefoot for Native EP
I first saw Yvette Barwood and Devora F, the two ladies of Barefoot for Native, at SXSW, and then was fortunate to see them again as they came through Houston …
Elba, An Avalanche
Seattle indie-rock trio Elba’s An Avalanche is a promising CD of eleven songs full of quick, bright-sounding guitars that carry on in a poppy way, along with the occasional more …
The Lotus Effect, Rabbits & Royalty EP
Normally, I get pretty annoyed when a songwriter just comes out and tells you what a song’s about; to my mind, that takes some of the joy out of the …
Sea Wolf, White Water, White Bloom
Alex Brown Church – maybe more commonly known as Sea Wolf – and friends are back and just as good as ever with the release of “White Water, White Bloom,” …
Tambersauro, From the Last Day I Saw You
More than anything else, From the Last Day I Saw You is a manifesto. And really, it feels fitting that as they make their final(?) bow and step off …
The Album Leaf, A Chorus of Storytellers
Jimmy LaValle’s fifth solo album, A Chorus of Storytellers, is a calm trip into his soul. This CD will soothe you, but not in a reassuring, uplifting kind of way. …
Jack Conte, Sleep in Color
Jack Conte’s Sleep in Color EP surprised me, with its rich, multi-faceted effects. Such a short endeavor could’ve easily gone unnoticed, but this one packs a lot into five songs. …
Kelli Scarr, Piece
I screwed up Kelli Scarr’s CD, and honestly, now I’m kind of glad I did. Not the actual CD, mind you, but the copy of Piece that I’m currently …
Literature, Tour EP
Literature’s Tour EP is four tracks’ worth of indie-rock: somewhat sloppy vocals that go in and out of tune and well-crafted guitar parts with meaningful lyrics. The band is …
The Seldon Plan, Lost and Found and Lost
Lost and Found and Lost is a twelve-track indie album, released last year to relieve those diehard fans of Baltimore, MD’s The Seldon Plan, who’d been patiently awaiting a follow …
Paper The Operator, Goodbye God
Jon Sebastian’s band Paper The Operator gives insight into the mind of a man with an indie-rock agenda and a fun-loving heart. There is some slight vibrato in his …
Tiny Vipers, Life on Earth
On Tiny Vipers’ striking second album, Life on Earth, Jesy Fortino expands on her distinctive sound. Her songs are more songlike than on the previous album, although the core …
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
This may well be as good as Twilight is ever going to get, and as it turns out that’s not too shabby. So Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is really …
The Gary, Logan
Right from the start of Logan (and the band’s previous EP, Chub, too), I caught myself betting the collective record collections of The Gary’s Dave Norwood, Paul Warner, and Trey …
The Wild Moccasins, Skin Collision Past
I’ve been looking at this all wrong. My initial instinct, based on the band’s youth and cheery energy as much as on their knack for similarly cheery, shiny-sweet pop …
Posts
Houston Gets New Record Label: Are We Finally Legit?
I remember talking to Peekaboo Theory early last year when they were considering packing up ship and relocating to Austin. They were frustrated with the lack of musical infrastructure in …
Tonight: KTRU Open Forum/Q&A at Rice
I know it might seem to the whole “Save KTRU!” thing has taken over this little blog as of late; apologies for anybody that annoys, but the whole …
The Other Night: The Concert for KTRU
It was a strange night. On the one hand, it felt like a full-on party, a wild, wide-grinning celebration of all things KTRU, but on the other, it felt …
CD Release Mania
It seems as if the stars have aligned, hell spawns have been vanquished and every band in Houston has decided that tonight would be a great night to have a …
Concert for KTRU, This Saturday!
While I’m on the subject of benefit-type shows, I can’t help but mention this one, near & dear to my heart as it is… This coming Saturday, August 28th, …
Benefit for Mareshah Shepard, Tonight at Walter’s
Man. I hadn’t heard about this ’til very, very recently, and I’m still feeling sick about it; I didn’t know Mareshah Shepard, but as somebody who’s dodged …
Theft at Rice University!: Another Appalling Casualty in the War on College Radio
200 people gathered on a Sunday afternoon in Houston, in the middle of August, braving a sweltering, unforgiving onslaught of heat (my iThermometer peaked at 110°), absent any real cloud …
Early Week Rundown: Fat Worm of Error + Sad Gorilla + The Protomen + Miniature Tigers + Yppah + Tontons + More
Early in the week, I realize, but there’re some very cool shows going on in the next couple of days, and I didn’t want to do my usual thing and …
Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Andre Williams (MP3!) + The Lotus Effect (Reviewed!) + Alkari + East Cameron Folkcore + Roller Derby Punk + More
Late, as usual, I know — even still, though, I didn’t want to neglect all the shows going on tonight (Sat., August 21st) and tomorrow (Sun., August 22nd). And …
Save KTRU: Sunday’s Protest at Willy’s Statue + What Else You Can Do
It’s been a rough week. In case you haven’t heard before now — and if you pay any attention to music-related things in this city, it would be hard …
Houston Fringe Festival, Going On Now
sigh. I’d meant to post about the damn thing before it got underway, but, as with these things, that didn’t happen… So, instead, here we are, and the …
Yr. Weekend, Pt. 1: Screeching Weasel + 30footFALL + Kashmere Stage Band + The Watermarks + The Energy + More
A bit late for tonight, but it’s been a crazy-busy day. There’s quite a bit going on this Friday (August 20th, that is), although I’m kind of at a …
Mid-Week MP3age: Paleo/Karnivool (Tonight!) + Wayne Hancock + Hey Rosetta! + TV Buddhas + Jukebox the Ghost + Peter Wolf Crier
After the badness of the past couple of days, which’ve frankly left me more down, frustrated, and angry than I would’ve expected, I need some goodness to balance things out. …
Rice Prepares to Kill Off KTRU, by Selling It to UH (Updated, Slightly)
Oh, how I wish the line above were a joke, but sadly, it’s not. As the Houston Press reported yesterday, Rice University is about to sell the FCC …
Yr. Weekend, Pt. 3: Girls Rock Camp Final Showcase, Tonight! (+ A Few More)
I can pretty much guarantee you won’t know any of the bands playing this show, but I think it’s going to be pretty awesome, even still. In case you …
Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: 500 Megatons of Boogie (CD release) + The Jonx + Gram Rabbit + Pale (video preview) + JBM + More
Still working on catching up on the massive piles of email I found waiting for me back home, but that doesn’t mean everybody else out there is resting, no sir. …
Tonight: The Tontons/Roky Moon & BOLT/Paris Falls/Side Arms + Eyes Behind The Wall Night #1 + More
Hey, all — yep, I’m back in town after my little jaunt abroad (over to London to visit some of the extended fam), and I’m still working on getting caught …
Mark Yr Calendars: Ghoulsfest Coming Up in October
This one came out of left field, I have to admit; I don’t recall ever hearing about organizers a2z Presents before, until I got the email about the …
The Houston Press Music Awards – In Review
Now that the dust has seemingly settled off the month long serenade of the Houston Press Music Awards, which began innocently enough…
Tonight: Reggae Palooza + Main Street Music Fest
So our intrepid captain in arms Mr. Jeremy Hart has grabbed the fam and jettisoned away on a well deserved vacation, but before he left …
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More Stuff to Read
- Grand Re-Opening of Market Square Park features The Houston Sound (The Houston Sound)
- The Houston Sound Fall Concert Series is Here! (The Houston Sound)
- The Post Where I Talk About ktru (NonAlignment Pact)
- Behind the Scenes-My Interview With Nancy Wilson of Heart (INDIEBLOGHEAVEN)
- A dream Asleep: Furry-Friendly, Down With The Skeleton Dick (Rocks Off)
- The Mystery of The "Backwards Music Station" (Rocks Off)
- Cee-Lo – “Fuck You” Video (Stereogum)
- Watch Will Sheff Play Two New Okkervil River Songs (Crawdaddy!)
- Save KTRU (Dryvetyme Onlyne)
- The Pogues Say Farewell (Crawdaddy!)