Austin Sound Check

2008 was a good year for Austin Sound Check. My first with b5 Media, as it turns out. This blog has grown exponentially over the past 9 months and I’m looking forward to even bigger and better things in 2009.
Below are some highlights from 2008. Enjoy the recap and have a safe and wonderful New Years.
SXSW 2008 – Day One // Day Two // Day Three
My recaps from each of the three days I spent at SXSW this year. Including a Cisco Adler spotting (lowlight!)
Santogold Lip-Syncs at SXSW
… and totally admitted it to the crowd. WTF?
Development Forces The Backyard to …read more

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File this one under news that is sure to please the ladies. Actor Ryan Gosling (The Notebook, Lars and the Real Girl) will be performing with his band Dead Man’s Bones at SXSW 2009.
The band is on the schedule for a showcase presented by their label, Werewolf Heart Records. No time or venue is available for the show as of yet.
View the live video for Dead Man’s Bones’ song In The Room Where You Sleep below. Ryan Gosling is the lead singer and pianist and is joined by Zach Shields on drums.
I’m reserving the right to fully critique Dead Man’s …read more

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Austinites The Story Of were featured on MTV2’s Austin Music Week, which just wrapped up on December 27th. Featuring interviews and live performances with the band, clips were captured back in August 2008 at the recording studio where the band also recording their latest album Until The Autumn.
Watch video of The Story Of performing Veteran’s Day below. You can also download their song After Just A While, featured on Austin Soundcheck’s compilation Feedback Vol. 1.

MTV Shows

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The fine folks over at Bygone Bureau asked me to put together a list of the top five albums released by Austinites in 2008. This was truly difficult list to compile, as there were so many worthy albums to choose from.
Click here to read the full post on Bygone Bureau, complete with explanations of each pick. Are any of your favorite local albums listed?
Austin Soundcheck Top Five Austin Albums of 2008

Robotique Majestique – Ghostland Observatory
Dan Dyer – Dan Dyer
Gods of the Earth – The Sword
The Black & White Years – The Black & White Years
The Calm Blue Sea  – The …read more

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Now that all your family has left town, it’s time to prep for the real holiday, New Years Eve. There will be plenty of music that night, followed by Free Week courtesy of Transmission Entertainment.
Free Week is just as the name describes: a week of free shows on Red River. Some of the very best in local talent will be taking the stage and I’ve got the best of the best lined up for you below.
Tuesday 12/30
The Scabs @ Antone’s
Wednesday 12/31
The Black & White Years and Bob Schneider @ Antone’s
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ Stubb’s
The Boxing Lesson and …read more

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SXSW is giving everybody a holiday treat this year, announcing fourteen more bands that are confirmed for the 2009 music festival. (Two listed below, Sage Francis and B.o.B were announced last month.)
I’m personally glad to see Ra Ra Riot, Primal Scream, Sage Francis, Arc Angels, Raul Malo and Ben Harper on the list. Who do you like? Which bands do you want to see on the SXSW Music Festival lineup?
Ra Ra Riot (Syracuse, NY)
Gabriella Cilmi (AUSTRALIA)
Ximena Sariñara (Mexico City, MEXICO)
Primal Scream (Glasgow SCOTLAND/UK)
Friendly Fires (St Albans, ENGLAND/UK)
B.o.B (Atlanta, GA)
Sage Francis (Providence, RI)
Buraka Som Sistema (Lisbon, PORTUGAL)
Arc Angels (Austin, TX)
Courteeners (Manchester, …read more

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This week the holidays are finally upon us, and the music has slowed down considerably. Though I recommend after Christmas shows to get over that horrible sweater your aunt gave you this year.
I’ll be at the Bavu Blakes / Gary Clark Jr. show on Saturday and I recommend you all follow suit. I saw Bavu Blakes & The Extra Plairs at ACL (along with a guest appearance from Gary Clark Jr.) and I’ve been chomping at the bit to see them again ever since.
Friday 12/26
Chili Cold Blood @ Continental Club
Classic Austin-style southern rock with some tasty blues thrown in.
Betaplayer @ …read more

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Back in November, Spoon was live in-studio at KUT here in Austin. They recorded a live cut of their song Don’t Make Me A Target from the critically acclaimed album GaGaGaGaGa. Click here to visit KUT’s Music Matters blog and listen to Don’t Make Me A Target. Be sure to download the free MP3 while you’re there.
Image: Newscom

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Driver F has recorded a special holiday message to their fans. Watch the video below, then visit Driver F’s website to download a holiday sampler featuring some of their finest pop punk songs from Chase The White Whale.

Download Driver F’s Holiday Sampler

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Trail of Dead and The Calm Blue Sea have both announced upcoming short run tours in early 2009. Both bands are excellent Austin music emissaries, so if either of them are coming to your area be sure to report back and let us know what you think.
Check out the full itineraries below.

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead
2/19 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
2/24 Atlanta, GA – The EARL
2/26 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
2/27 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
2/28 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
3/1 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
3/7 Minneapolis, MN – …read more

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