with cheese, please

Thumbs Up: the new White Mice album, EXcreaMANTRaINTRaVEINaNUS!!!!
The visual aspect of this band is the spicing on the cake to a delirious mash of noise, riffage, noise, and pulverizing muscle. I loved these MICE so much at SXSW ‘07 I pre-ordered this record way ahead of time. I’m glad I did. EXcreaMANTRaINTRaVEINaNUS!!!!! is an aural blast of fun and wickedness! Whoop.

Abel Garcia of New Disaster

Thumbs Up: I’m still siding with these folks at Get Your War On. Hilarious, true stuff - about the brutality of our current regime.

Chad of The Last Vegas

Thumbs Up: The Last Vegas!

These Chicagoans know how to rock. I experienced it all first hand tonight at Emo’s. Hell yes. The world could use more bands like this. Check them out on Guitar Hero 2 and buy their High Class Trash.

Sal of Fat Ass

True Story: I once had a Fat Ass shirt that some fella literally bought off my back during a WEEN hoot night at Stubb’s. Fat Ass were a great punk band from Fort Wayne, IN - whom I loved quite dearly. At any rate, for $30 and a round of drinks for my 3 friends - it was all worth it. I was able to replace the shirt shortly after.

Thumbs Up: Hall & Oates
I’m not going to go into the logistics of how a huge Locust and Pig Destroyer fan has a soft spot for an effiminate pop rock duo from the 80s…just trust me. I love these guys’ songs. Geez. Such great melody and harmonizing. Just pure pop genius. “I Can’t Go For That” is my current ring tone and I frequently have dreams of being a blue-eyed soul singer myself. I saw them 10 years ago in Fort Wayne and they kicked serious ass. As god awful as these fellas album covers were, they are a freakin’ awesome band! Don’t believe me? Check out this badass video for “Maneater.

and…for Pete’s sake, get you some Pig Destroyer. If it weren’t for the Locust, these fellas would be band of the year. Yikes!!

Dakota Smith of the fantabulous Peel

Thumbs Up: Flying Dog’s new Double Dog Double Pale Ale

This beer is so good I’m thinking about changing my name to “Flying Dog’s Double Dog Double Pale Ale”

con Queso at ACL Fest, preparing for the sun

Thumbs Up: The Magnificent Seven, one of those movie ‘classics’ you always hear about. This is the movie that was somewhat satirized in one of my other favorites, the Three Amigos. Well, I watched it tonight and it was fantastic. Thumbs up, Yul Brenner!

Bryan Nelson of Gorch Fock and The Little Bicycles

Thumbs Up: Mohawk - This is the new sweet spot in Austin’s live music scene. Great service, excellent shows and a relaxed atmosphere make this club a welcome addition to the “live music capital of the world.”

Neil of Prom Nite

Thumbs Up: Emo’s neglected stepchild, Emo’s Lounge. Boasting a third stage for this legendary venue, the Lounge has a great sound system, great sight lines to the stage, and sweet ass private bathrooms. Thursday night (9/20) catch the energetic wag of Prom Nite, the primitive beauty of Mr. Lewis & the Funeral Five and the sweat between the legs rock of Jungle Rockers at the Lounge. I’ll be there, for a bit. If you aren’t lucky enough to be in Austin tomorrow - check out these bands via the links I’ve provided. Austin is thriving, yo!

Jason Reece

Thumbs Up: Cline Zinfandel

Two 3-day ACL passes, courtesy KUT and the fascinating John Aielli

Thumbs Up: LCD Soundsystem’s set at ACL Fest.
Absolutely full of energy and charm, James Murphy and his band were the best thing I saw this last weekend. Just crazily entertaining and exhilarating, LCD Soundsystem are currently on tour with the Arcade Fire - who were also brilliant at the fest. Arcade Fire were so good, in fact, I’d venture to say they actually deserve every heap of praise thrown their way…simply an amazing live band. (Their two records are also admittedly fantastic)

Extra Thumbs Up: the magnificient Andrew Bird
I have been listening to this amazing musician since ’98s immaculate Thrills, and seen him bunches of times - including an incredible set at ACL this weekend. Perhaps this isn’t the best intro to such an inexplicable master of music - but this link to Andrew Bird as Doctor Stringz on youtube is priceless. Check it below.

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