Merey Kimbrough of Mother Merey and the Black Dirt has a vocal style so unabashed it would make Bessie Smith proud. Combine that with the group's foot stomping energy and this band delivers a solid bluesy folk sound like no other. Last week they were the perfectly placed opener for The Builders and the Butchers at The Buzz Mill's Jamboree. Amid the hatchet tossing, jerky making and flapjack eating, there was Mother Merey and the Black Dirt, bringing down the rain with their glorious down home raucous. On May 29th they'll be releasing their album, Down to the River, at Antone's alongside Holiday Mountain, Whiskey Shivers and Old Gray Mule. -- Written by Charise Sowells
Emily Wolfe's album, Mechanical Hands, is anything but cold and unfeeling as it radiates with Wolfe's celestial voice. The upbeat melodies behind sweetly haunting lyrics bring to mind the music of Pretty Girls Make Graves, giving me high hopes for this indie pop/neo-folk musician. This new album is especially impressive after listening to her delicate debut record, Director's Notes, which is great but her growth as an artist in Mechanical Hands is undeniable. --Written by Katy Glass
The Boxing Lesson has not released a full length album in almost five years, but I promise you the wait has been more than worth it. The trio’s newest offering, Big Hits!, opens up with a psychedelic nine minute journey into a world of ethereal noises, spacey guitar, dark vocals and a slow, steady drum beat that holds it all together. As much as the epic opening track is reminiscent of Pink Floyd and David Gilmore’s echoing guitar work, don’t be fooled. The Boxing Lesson proves to be a diverse band that knows how to blend punk rock, classic rock n' roll and psychedelia into a fluid and well-calculated album. Check out their opening track, “Endless Possibilities”. -- Written by Jodi Lang
Browngrass- you’ve seen it, but have you heard it? It’s the sound of one of our April Monthly Poll winners Sour Bridges. They used the term after having a difficult time describing their music. “We have tried categorizing our music into folk/rock, blue-wop, mountain gossip or aggressive grass but nothing really stuck until Dalton (the drummer) jokingly coined the phrase 'Browngrass'. It’s similar to Bluegrass but a little dirtier."
Cravings of those Austin summer nights with friends in a backyard drinking whiskey until the sun rises are exactly what I yearn for when listening to Sour Bridges and that’s the browngrass way of life. “With bluegrass elements and a rock n’ roll rhythm section, it typifies our values in life and living: humble, backyard, dirt stomping in 4/4 time. We have a way of spilling notes into a bathtub and making some really great music for consumption.”
Their sophomore album, Catfish Charlie, is being released at the end of this month with cover art featuring their friend Charlie riding a catfish. This 15 track record is comprised of love songs, train songs, drinking songs and thinking songs that will make you move. Get your dancing shoes ready for their CD release show on May 31st, 2013 at The Scoot Inn. Doors open at 8. --Written by Courtney Pierce
The Roosevelts are two beautifully bearded men whose songs enrapture listeners in a cloud of feeling and sometimes an uncontrollable need to dance. Although considered a pop/rock band, their often narrative lyrics lead listeners down paths riddled with tragic epiphanies giving them a much more serious kind of philosophical air. To record their debut album, Cold Sheets, The Roosevelts chose a power team with producer Dwight Baker (Bob Schneider), drummer JJ Johnson (John Mayer) and bassist Dave Monsey (Fiona Apple) guaranteeing this album to be sublime lyrically, vocally and instrumentally. Watch the "Cold Sheets" video here. -- Written by Katy Glass
Leah Nobel's premiere official music video was released March 20, 2013 featuring the title song, "Ride the Butterfly" off her new Indie Pop album. Translating the hesitation and clutter of the lyrics into rustic scenes of childlike adventures, this video features a structure made entirely of recycled materials. Between the corners of toys and CDs, there is the ever-present use of light to represent Leah’s hopeful outlook. Like the rest of the album, “Ride the Butterfly” showcases Leah's honest, humble lyrics that are sung beautifully through Leah's angelic voice. – Written by Katy Glass
Bryan Ray is the heart and soul of Lonely Child as producer, songwriter and musician. Lonely Child surpasses any one genre as it branches out to many composing an R&B, neo-soul, electro, pop orgy for your ears. He seamlessly pieces together these genres in his most recent single "I Can See Forever", opening listeners up to his powerful vocals as he sings his passionate lyrics. Lonely Child is currently working on another new single, "Dead Life", to be released this May. - Written by Katy Glass
In just over three minutes, Salesman’s new single, "Horn", manages to shake your equilibrium. The song begins with Devin James Fry’s plaintive warning: “There is a horn blowing here in my heart.” Accompanied by a downright creepy bass line and drums that are as sparse and hollow as the rattling of bones, "Horn" achieves an almost mythic quality. Halfway through, the bass slinks to the background and the snare cuts through a wash of blissed-out guitar. We’re on a journey here, and when the song finally ends with a spacey sing-along, we can only faintly remember where we began.
As with previous Salesman releases, the real star is Devin James Fry’s haunting delivery. Percussion once again plays a prominent role, but the addition of Grant Himmler on the bass is the real revelation. He gives the song a perfect counterpoint to the stunning vocals and fills in the spaces left by the fluttering percussion. Don’t miss out on this single. You can get it by naming your own price here. To see Devin in all his glory, come to The Owl on 5/11/13 for the record release of Songs From Lincoln by Molybden also featuring David Longoria from the Black and Dustin Eastes. -- Written by Josh Denslow
Some Say Leland has been in "hibernation" for nearly two years, but now they're back and ready to release some musical wonders. This experimental folk band is working on two songs for a tribute album dedicated to the recently deceased Jason Molina. The album will also feature other local bands such as Linen Closet and James Petralli of White Denim and is scheduled to be released 5/16/13. But that's not all they are working on... After getting a sneak peek into their next album which is reminiscent of Damien Rice, I am very excited about it and you should be too! See you tonight. -- Written by Katy Glass
Timeless and transcendent, Leopold and His Fiction is like a delicious simmering musical stew with heavy flavors of Rock and Roll, Blues, a dash of Folk and shreddings of guitar. Their music is sure to satisfy your tastebuds while you dance around the kitchen. Oddly enough, the man behind that Freddie Mercury-esque mustache is not named Leopold, but Daniel James.
Although inspired by a fictional character created by Daniel during his time in San Francisco, there is nothing fictional about how talented his band is. Together since 2005 and currently residing in Austin, Leopold and His Fiction is now on tour but will be returning for a local show in June inside Stubb's. Check out their live performance style here. -- Written by Courtney Pierce
