 “You didn’t really know where that kind of thing was coming from,” recounts Paul McCartney in his documentary homage to Buddy Holly. “‘That’ll Be the Day’ for instance, you didn’t know if they were black, white, it didn’t really matter…you just got intrigued by this strange new music.”
In the mid-fifties, Buddy Holly and the Crickets were undoubtedly both the strangest and most sensational phenomenon to come out of Lubbock, Texas. Holly has been credited with fusing lead and rhythm guitar with his distinctive rhythmic-melodic style of playing (as can be heard on “Peggy Sue”), and by all accounts was as ... Continue Reading
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 Ode to Orbison...
For anyone who has taken a road trip across the US, West Texas conjures up visions of endless miles of burnt nothingness followed only by miles of more nothingness. From the window of your car, you can follow the telephone posts with your eyes until they disappear into tiny flecks on the horizon. But it was this very landscape that Roy Orbison credited as the muse for some of the most beautiful music to come out of Texas. With a voice called operatic by many (spanning at least 3 octaves, though some claim 4), Orbison’s music thrilled and ... Continue Reading
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 Don't ever sing a Janis Joplin song.
It's good advice. Never, ever, ever sing Janis Joplin. Why? Because we can't, that's why. Not to dash your big dreams of musical stardom, but it's just fact. Yeah, sometimes the truth hurts.We can't sing like Joplin. Only Joplin could sing like Joplin.The tragedy of Janis Joplin is possibly that she never came to love herself as much as the rest of us did. Never feeling emotional fulfillment in the myriad of family and personal relationships she struggled to maintain (for her, it was never enough; the emotional needs were bottomless), she found her ... Continue Reading
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 WHO: The Dutchess and The Duke - Jesse Lortz and Kimberly MorrisonWHAT: A mini-interview with Jesse Lortz as he quickly takes us through the band's 2010 SXSW experience, middle school romance and the moments in life that help make the musicSTAND OUT: Tracks to listen for on their new work (Sunrise/Sunset) are "Hands" and "Living This Life."
RAPT: Last month you performed some shows during SXSW….so how was it? What would you tell people to expect if they've experienced the SXSW Music fest side of things?
Jesse : Don't expect it to be like real shows. The thing seems like it's mostly ... Continue Reading
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 The SXSW Music Conference will be underway in another week and if you find yourself on the Austin streets, you're going to be so overwhelmed with the amount of people and the even greater amount of live music cascading out of venues everywhere you look....you won't know what hit you!So let us help guide you through the mayhem - follow us down the rabbit hole - and take a look at the RAPT schedule as writer Favian Rodriguez pilots this trip.....And hey....if there's a showcase not on here that you want to alert others to, post the show information in ... Continue Reading
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 WHO: Alvarez Kings (Simon Thompson, Paul Thompson, Will Pashley, Rich Walker)WHAT: Buckets of humility. You could say that's their mantra and if you knew them, it would definitely be apparent. However this phenomenal group of guys hailing from South Yorkshire are so full of a kick-ass sweet talent that everyone must know who they are...their music commands your attention that way. STAND OUT: "The Sequel" is a favorite track of ours, along with "Honest Dilemma." We're predicting their upcoming SXSW showcase will bring about outstanding performances from this 4 man group that you won't be able to tear yourself away ... Continue Reading
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 WHO: Ellen and the Escapades (Ellen Smith, Chris Quick, Jeff Schneider, James Warrender, Andy Calder)WHAT: The group, which resides in West Yorkshire, is known for their heart-felt and beautifully haunting music and lyrics. Free of bravado and letting the music speak for itself, the band has attracted a strong following and a lot of well earned praise.STAND OUT: Songs such as "Without You" (a single released in '09) and the near smoky quality of the vocals in every track help bring this band into a higher caliber and we're eagerly awaiting the new material.
Photo by James Rhodes
RAPT: You're getting ready ... Continue Reading
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 Day 2 and 3
We survived! It was a blast! Thank you Matador, Woxy, and The Austinist for a great wild adventure into the furthest ends of music. Last night, Saturday the 6th, wrapped up the Casual Victim Pile showcase and everyone had plenty of opportunity to get in his or her good kicks. Beerland filled to capacity these last two nights and left a long line of people eagerly waiting to catch a break and get inside to listen to the magic.
Friday’s line up included:
Woven Bones The Young Wild America Flesh Lights Elvis The No No No Hopes
If you arrived anytime before 11pm you probably ... Continue Reading
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 One of the Casualties – Day 1
Congratulations! You’ve just won a trip to a delinquent and estranged ensemble of young musicians - star - crossed singers, holy speakers, screamers, sound seekers stuck in the reverb effect, and their star struck peoples; it’s all right man, we’re only another casualty.
Matador Records just released the 19-band compilation featuring 17 Austin bands and 2 Denton bands. Casual Victim Pile includes the likes of the Dikes of Holland, The Distant Seconds, Kingdom of Suicide Lovers, Flesh Lights, Harlem, The Golden Boys, Woven Bones, and the No No No Hopes, among many other loud and ... Continue Reading
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 WHO: GoodingWHAT: Front man Gooding is built for music....as are those he surrounds himself with (bassist Billy Driver and drummer Jesse Rich). He's been entrenching himself in every aspect of music (writing, recording, producing, as well as performing) for years and you almost have to wonder how anyone can keep up. Right before embarking on a cross country rampage of sound, we got a few words from him on his music and the long road ahead.STAND OUT: "Make The Devil Cry," is a fantastic track on his latest release, The Return. Gooding has set sail for touring so over the ... Continue Reading
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 2009 – Yesteryear, Today, and Forever: Straddling the Swine and the MusicAnother year trying to find good tunes. With it came a long and swashing ear full of waxed up, washed out, oldies but goodies, newbie’s with unoriginal material, and a few, very few diamonds in the rough. Not too shabby considering.
Thriller, 1983
This year witnessed the passing of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson –one of the most significant entertainers in the history of music, with a solid discography, and perhaps bigger than the Beatles, he was quoted in recent years saying, “Music has been my outlet, my gift ... Continue Reading
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 WHAT: Neon IndianWHO: Alan Palomo is busy. He's been in a perpetual state of 'go' for some time now and with no signs of stopping any time soon. We talked to him over the phone while he ventured up to Seattle for even more of his diligent days of late. If you're looking for him now, try Scotland. He won't be back in the states till mid-December and you're not going to want to miss him then.STAND OUT: "6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)" is an example of what Psychic Chasms (his latest album) gives you. Along with "Deadbeat ... Continue Reading
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 WHO: The Infamous StringdustersWHAT: A six man group from Nashville, Tennessee....Andy Hall, Jesse Cobb, Travis Book, Andy Falco and Jeremy Garrett. Having literally just come off an ever long and winding road of shows and touring, we were able to catch a few words from the band on music, life, and future plans...STAND OUT: It's their brand of music. And that is to say, they don't like brands...just the sound of a good tune. As they work to complete their latest album, set for release in 2010, you can expect to find a rich and textured range of melody and ... Continue Reading
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 WHAT: King WashingtonWHO: Tyson Kelly, George Krikes, Dylan Cronin. This Los Angeles based band are well liked for their amiable attitudes towards life and music, not to mention the fact that they're rockin' talented and nobody leaves a King Washington show saying they didn't have a good time.STAND OUT: Their sound hearkens back to a time when rock was a genre for the poets and their upcoming album is sure to bring existing fans and newcomers into the fold...RAPT: You've been described by some (including yourselves) simply as: the guys who like to sing. How long have you been making mu... Continue Reading
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 WHO: Like Trains & TaxisWHAT: Chris Harris, Owen Susman & Mike Del Priore are known as much for the artistry of their music as they are for the personal style they infuse it with. We caught up with them just before they launched on a month's worth of touring and perfecting the live show which has always won them rave reviews by new & loyal listeners alike.STAND OUT: Tracks like, "Charlie," & "DayWrecker," are great examples of the extent to which this band has the ability to take the best aspects of what used to make great music great & ... Continue Reading
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Music