Austin Sound Check

Burnt Orange Juice is offering a pretty tasty mixtape called Juicy Jams Vol. 1. Chromeo, Cut Copy, Simian Mobile Disco, The Cool Kids, N.E.R.D., M.I.A., Mark Ronson and Santogold are all featured. You can download the mixtape at Burnt Orange Juice.
While you’re there, be sure and check out the blog. Burnt Orange Juice is the music blog for The Daily Texan, the University of Texas’ student run newspaper.

Image: Burnt Orange Juice

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Pachanga Fest is Austin’s newest festival, focusing on regional and local Latino music. Austin is strongly represented in the lineup, including Vallejo, Grupo Fantasma, Maneja Beto, Bocastria and Frenetica. Blackheart Records artist and San Antonio natives Girl in a Coma are also on the bill.
This is the first annual Pachanga Fest and it will be held at Waterloo Park on May 31st. Tickets go on sale tomorrow April 22nd, at all Front Gate ticket outlets and at the Pachanga Fest website.
Visit the Pachanga Fest website for the complete lineup and more info.

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Here is this week’s installment of recommended shows in Austin. The (obvious!) highlight is the Dynamite Boy reunion show at Emo’s on Saturday night. I’ll have a full preview piece for you later this week.
Tuesday 4/22
VHS or Beta @ The Parish
Invincible Czars @ Room 710
Thursday 4/24
Filter @ Stubb’s
Chili Cold Blood @ Continental Club
Scary Mondelos @ Trophy’s
Tri-Opus @ Flamingo Cantina
Friday 4/25
Black Earth @ Emo’s (inside)
Pong @ Continental Club
Saturday 4/26
Til We’re Blue or Destroy @ Mohawk
Dynamite Boy (reunion!) & Cruiserweight @ Emo’s
Grimy Styles & Little Brian @ Flamingo Cantina
Sunday 4/27
Hello Operator @ Beauty Bar
The Used @ Stubb’s

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Cruiserweight is set to release an EP on June 17th in anticipation of their upcoming full length release, Big Bold Letters. The EP will only be available on iTunes and will feature two tracks from the album as well as an exclusive cover of Tom Petty’s American Girl. Also included is a video for Balboa, the first single from Big Bold Letters. Below is video of a recent in-studio acoustic performance of Balboa.
Big Bold Letters will be the first full length release for the Austin-based band since 2005’s Sweet Weaponry.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
4/26 – Emo’s (Austin, TX)
5/8 – Sluggo’s (Pensacola, …read more

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Indie record stores across the country are celebrating Record Store Day tomorrow, April 19th. Special events are planned at record stores all over Austin, including a Panic at the Disco autograph signing at Waterloo Records.
Participating stores:
• Antone’s Records, 2928 Guadalupe
• Backspin Records, 4631 Airport #110A
• Cheapo Discs, 10th & Lamar
• DJ Dojo, 2210 South First St.
• Encore Records & Video, 1745 W. Anderson Ln.
• End of an Ear, 2209 South 1st St.
• Friends of Sound, 1704 South Congress
• Musicmania, 3909D N. IH35 #1
• Sound on Sound, 106 E. North Loop
• Trailer Space, 1401 A. Rosewood Avenue
• Waterloo Records & Video, …read more

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Rolling Stone has released their Best of Rock 2008 list, chronicling the “125+ People, Places & Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe.” Not surprisingly, Austin is represented twice on the list. Stubb’s BBQ (Best Rock Club) and Waterloo Records (Best Record Store) both deservingly made the cut.
Stubb’s consistently serves up the best in touring and local shows. I’ve been to at least a dozen shows there, including Slightly Stoopid (twice), Blue October, Brand New, Manchester Orchestra and Joan Jett on the outside stage. The inside stage has hosted The Cliks, Girl in a Coma, Matson Belle, Full Service and …read more

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Local punk-hoppers Spin Alley are playing tonight (4/17) at Flamingo Cantina along with Rhyme Stack and Meridian Prime with DJ Shoestrings. Spin Alley shows are always a party and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
The show is 18+ and only $5 to get in. Doors at 8:30 and the show starts at 9pm.
Spin Alley features MC Earn and Ratarue on vocals, who duel back and forth between hip-hop and screamo. It’s a unique sound that I haven’t heard anywhere else in Austin or beyond. Check these guys out if you’re out and about tonight. I’ll be there, so come …read more

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Stream The Black Angel’s new album Directions to See A Ghost on Imeem.
RCRD LBL is also offering a free download of Doves, the first single from Directions to See A Ghost.
Download the Ted Leo (as in The Pharmacists) remix of Spoon’s Don’t You Evah.
Wilco announced upcoming tour dates, including a two-night stand at Stubb’s on May 11 & 12.
Pitchfork has a great review (with pics!) of last night’s Okkervil River show with the New Pornographers at 9:30 Club in Washington D.C.
Dilated Peoples announced dates for their Fresh Rhymes Tour, coming to Emo’s on June 9.

Image : American Chronicle

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Aside from being tired of the over-played Foo Fighters, this lineup is pretty exciting. The depth of the lineup is incredible and the variety of genres covered is impressive.
We’ve got modern rock (Foo Fighters, Beck, The Raconteurs), oldies but goodies (John Fogerty, David Byrne), indie blog darlings (Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, The Black Keys), Austin finest (Okkervil River, White Denim, Black Joe Lewis, Nakia & His Southern Cousins) and even hip-hop and R&B (Erykah Badu, Gnarls Barkley, N.E.R.D., Bavu Blakes). Rest assured I’ll be bringing you more in depth looks at some of the lesser known artists once September draws …read more

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There’s a lot of good music in Austin this week. Feist, Ministry, Blind Melon and Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks round out the touring shows. Local talent also has a strong showing as Spin Alley, The Boxing Lesson and Possessed by Paul James take the stage.
My highlight of the week is Austin Reggae Festival at Auditorium Shores. Full Service is playing the annual event again. You can get into Reggae Fest for a mere $10 plus 2 canned goods, benefiting Capitol Area Food Bank.
Tuesday 4/15
Feist @ Stubb’s
Ministry @ La Zona Rosa
Wednesday 4 /16
Ryan Lindsey (Starlight Mints) @ Emo’s Lounge
Thursday 4/17
Spin …read more

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