Year in Music 2010

With barely a moment to spare in 2010, here's my year in music, a review of highlights from my favorite shows, including ACL Festival and SXSW. It features Old 97's, Quiet Company, Phoenix, Joseph Arthur, Evan Dando, Ben Kweller, Spoon, Hold Steady, Pixies, The National, Salim Nourallah, Johnny Goudie, Household Names, Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard and many more. Of course, you can see more from all these shows on the individual posts on this site, but if you just have about 20 minutes to spare, this should give you a good idea of the great year I had. I'm really glad I do these year-end compilations because I love going back to review them. Great friends, great times, great memories. Maybe you were at some of these shows?!




Hope to see you at a show in 2011!

 

Old 97's and Quiet Company at KGSR Anniversary Party

As if I wrote a letter to Santa, and he booked the gig himself, the KGSR 20th Anniversary Party featured not just one, but two, of my favorite bands - Old 97's and Quiet Company. The lineup also included Austin's big breakout act of the year Alpha Rev and the legendary Joe Ely, making it one of the strongest anniversary shows that station has pulled together in years. Add to that free barbecue from Salt Lick and lots of good friends, and you just couldn't ask for a better Christmas. If you didn't make it, check the station's Web site, as they live streamed the event and may be posting excerpts. But here are some images and video that I took at the show.

We ran a little promo with Gowalla with great success - 33 check ins with photos, and everyone getting a free download from both the 97's and Quiet Co. Look for more Gowalla promos from these bands soon.

I hope everyone is having a rockin' holiday!



























Old 97's - Let the Whiskey Take the Reins


Old 97's - Won't Be Home


Quiet Company - How Do You Do It

Fun Fun Fun Fest, Waterloo Park, Nov. 7, 2010

I wrapped up Fun Fun Fun by catching the last two acts on Sunday, The Hold Steady - great band that I had not seen live before, and The Descendents, the reunion of the legendary punk band. The Hold Steady didn't disappoint, with a high energy show. And The Descendents closed things out to a rowdy audience. I did sneak a peek at Mastodon on the Black stage just before I left, too.

It was a great weekend of music, friends, great weather and good times. Can't wait 'til next year!

Fun Fun Fun Fest, Waterloo Park, Nov. 6, 2010

The beautiful weekend continues with a packed house on Saturday for a slew of indie bands, culminating with major acts Dirty Projectors and MGMT. But if indie, synth pop isn't your thing, you could walk about 50 feet and catch Gwar, the Richmond, VA-based costume, metal band. And if you're a little more retro, there was 90's punk crew Bad Religion. It was quite a spectacle. Great day and a great time.

Looking forward to today's big finish with Hold Steady and the Descendents reunion!

OK, so I didn't get that close to the stage for Gwar. Costumed bands scare me a little.

Dirty Projectors

The Antlers

Weird Al and Apples in Stereo at Fun Fun Fun Fest

Just a few weeks after ACL Festival and it's perfect weather in Central Texas, so why not throw another music fest? That's exactly what happens at Fun Fun Fun Fest. In Waterloo Park, it's a bit smaller than ACL, but in no way lacking in talent and diversity of acts. Adding a opening night, Friday showcased some great acts. I caught Apples in Stereo, a band I had been hearing about for longer than a decade. Dallas musician John Dufilho is now on board with them as drummer, so it was the perfect excuse to get out to see them. Wow, they're a great pop band, with amazing songs and perfect vocals. I will be downloading their new record asap.

Then it was Weird Al Yankovic, another act I'd never seen before, but had of course heard of for probably about 2 decades. It was a fun show, lots of costume changes and multimedia. It really picked up toward the end with Eat It, Amish Paradise and Craigslist. There were some recent medleys which included Gaga and Bieber. All in all, a very entertaining evening.

I'm headed out there today, to catch some acts that are new to me, then the Gypsy Picnic Food Trailer Fest, then back to FFF for MGMT. See you out there.