peel | Sounds Like Austin

Ringo Deathstarr

1-10-08: Tonight was one of the best nights of the week for us electro junkies. Crash Gallery rocked it outside, but The Laughing and L.A.X turned up the blips and breaks; however, each of their shows were quite different. The Laughing was dressed to impress with their hoodies and indie jackets. The blasted it out with a combination of guitar-synth-sax(?) action. L.A.X, on the other hand, had some of the sickest beats of all time, though one thing kept bothering me. The female singer was a bit flat all night, and I was just thinking the male vocalist hand a voice modulator pumping out robot sounds, why not one for her too? That would have been on the money. In the lounge I saw Horse + Donkey, who were indietastic, and Ringo Deathstarr, which is a local favorite (and one of the greatest band names ever). Both pretty much rocked it. Inside were Rubble and Bridges and Blinking Lights. Though I wasn’t to big on Rubble, Bridges and Blinking Lights were quite good (but it took forever to confirm their pages, photos people…). A good night all around, and a good ending to a good week.

Bridges and Blinking Lights

Rubble

Free Week at Emo’s (Day 8)

Gorch Fock / When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

1-9-08: The week is technicly over, this being the eighth day, but the free entry at Emo’s continues. When I showed up Lick Lick was onstage outside and Good Times Crisis Band, who’s singer wins my prize for indie rock outfit of the day, was kicking it inside. I enjoyed the latter probably more than any other show all night; however, they appeared to not even know all their songs, which was pretty hillarious. Tia Carrera then went on outside, though they were not quite as exciting as the other Tia Carrere. P.D. Wilder was on in the lounge pumping out serious ambience, a nice alternative. Then things got weird… I noticed two drum kits on the stage at the same time. It was Snake Trap and Megazilla playing together. Then I went outside to what appeared to be a band battle of some sort between Gorch Fock and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth. Finally I saw Manikin inside and Peel in the lounge before calling it a night… It was late, and I’ve been here all week, only one more night though, so make sure to show up.

Good Times Crisis Band

Snake Trap / Megazilla

Free Week at Emo’s (Day 7)

At All Cost

1-8-08: Burn out is definitely setting in, if you are like me and not a massive metal head. If you are a massive metal head, tonight was your night. With At All Cost headlining you get a powerful, yet distinctive sound and a crowd that was totally flipping out. Rory and the Artificial Heart had a large band and commanded attention. Finally, Radioland Murders looked familier; it seemed like two of the three guys on stage had been on the night before as Consider the Source (I preferred the latter).
Inside, you guessed it, more metal. Pack of Wolves was pounding and screaming their way through another insane crowd looking to mosh into excess. The Roller was pretty much a similar scene. However, in the lounge there was a different scene. Kissinger headlined with a rocking feel, but I wasn’t really into it if you ask me (sorry guys). The Midgetmen had a really good sound, and I wanted to like them, but while they had some killer guitar riffs, they just weren’t selling me with their stage presence. The standout of the evening, to me, was Nathan Singleton and his Sideshow Tragedy. Though I didn’t love them, they provided a steel and lap guitar on a night that was more about screaming (sorry people, it’s just not my genre).

Rory and the Artificial Heart

Nathan Singleton and his Sideshow Tragedy

Free Week at Emo’s (Day 6)

Scorpion Child

1-7-08: Last night was 70’s night inside at Emo’s. Scorpion Child rocked out tunes that could have come straight out of dazed and confused. Then only thing that made me uncomfortable were outfits the massive mustaches (we still all know these are only ironically cool, right?). Big Black Smoke was in the same vain but to a lesser degree. However, if it is 70’s night they we need someone punk to counter the southern rock; this came from Consider the Source. Their intensity surpassed all the other bands, and at the end of their set they smashed their shit.
Over in the Lounges I got a peek at Hollywood Gossip, The Easies, and Many Birthdays. I have to say Many Birthdays was the only standout that I saw (even though The Easies is one of the coolest band names around), but I’m partial to that electro sound. Still I would check out their music if you don’t get to see them ever, cause they got lots of tracks worth a spin.