Fun Fun Fun Fest Recap

We were not at Fun Fun Fun Fest this year (though we were with Stick Figure Andrew when he tried to break in*), but enjoyed following the festivities via instagram and our through our fellow music bloggers who were lucky enough to be there. Here is a great recap of the fun to the third power. FFFFest is a festival that gets to the heart of what I love so much about this city. It is incredibly diverse in music and therefore, attendee. It is a celebration of the weird, strange and great music!

Givers at Stubbs

I can't think of a more perfect way to start of my SXSW 2012! This band is spectacular every single time.

Favorite Albums of 2011

So much great music came into my life this year, including a number of kick ass albums! They are the albums that I have played on repeat in obsessive ways, or forced upon my loved ones, readers and strangers on the street screaming, “Seriously, you HAVE to be listening to this!”

To be clear, this is not a ‘best of’ list. I am in no way qualified to determine what has been better or worse than others. Bon Iver seriously doesn’t do it for me no matter how many times I have played his pre-pubescent voiced album, but apparently he’s fantastic. No, this is a list of my favorite albums. These are albums that in 2011 I fell deeply, madly, hopelessly in love with. Interestingly, the majority of my favorite albums are freshman albums. They are in no particular order. 

Torches: Foster The People

Torches has been a serious addiction this year. I even met one of the boys while listening to their album on my ipod. Foster The People have a captivating sound, danceable melodies, strange and poetic lyrics, and completely weird music videos. Their stories range from the socially controversial “Pumped Up Kicks” to the sentimental, “Waste.” It is a dynamic, rich, fun, upbeat, kick ass album from start to finish. I am anxiously anticipating their sophomore album and what the boys will come up with next. In the meantime, I’m still waiting for them to choreograph their entire next music video (Warrant, please!) with Mark Foster’s shouldery dance moves. I think it would be brilliant!

21: Adele

Seriously, have you listened to it? The girl is unreal! I have openly wept at least twice while listening to her perform songs off of this heart wrenching album. Adele's crossover into Top 40 has been a breath of fresh air to those stations and a testament to how brilliant she is. She took writing about heartache to a whole new beautiful level and I can't stop belting her out while driving in my car, or just about anywhere. 

In Light: Givers

In Light is a whimsical dance party by Givers. I love the quirky, rich, and percussion-heavy instrumentals. The percussion often adds a tribal celebratory feel, especially in songs like “Saw You First” and “Up Up Up”. Taylor and Tiffany belt out soulful harmonies and it is easy to hear their giddy smiles through my speakers. Aptly named, this album is about light and I dare you not to actually start bouncing with delight when you hear "Up Up Up"! In fact, I will take this opportunity to apologize to my downstairs neighbor as every listen (and there have been oh so many!) has usually erupted in crazed, euphoric dancing. 

Pickin Up The Pieces: Fitz And The Tantrums

Pickin Up The Pieces is a modern, retro, pop album that makes me want to dress up in sequence and heels and go dancing somewhere hip and glamourous. The wail of the organ and the jazzy sound of the saxophone blend with Fitz and Noelle‘s harmonies, creating a rich, soulful groove. Fitz and the Tantrums are all kinds of fun and so is this album.

Nothing is Wrong: Dawes

There really is nothing wrong with this Dawes album, and if push came to shove I would have to choose this as my absolute number one favorite album of the year because it is just so damn good. While so many albums on my list I love for the dance parties that usually erupt while listening to them, Nothing Is Wrong strikes at a much different place. Taylor Goldsmith is a poet and a brilliant songwriter. I get something new out of his lyrics with every listen and his melodies are their perfect complements. (the video is grainy, but it's my favorite song off the album and I had to share)

The Head And The Heart: The Head And The Heart

This self-titled album by The Head And The Heart has a beautiful folk sound, rich in harmonies and undertones of melancholy. Many of the songs start simply and build up in emotional and beautifully instrumental ways. This album is music that fills me up to the very core and songs like, “Down In The Valley” make me homesick for a place I’ve never even been to. This is a band I am eager to see grow and mature.

Portraits: Wheeler Brothers

Representing Austin on this list, Wheeler Brothers are definitely a favorite this year. Portraits is a well rounded folk-rock album with Texas rock inspirations. Like so many of the albums I have loved this year, this is their first LP, but with an incredibly mature and cohesive sound. You may not have heard of them yet, but you will. 

What were your favorite albums this year?

Givers at KGSR Anniversary Party

A few months back I compared Givers to a grown up version of Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes). Through the hand of Bill Watterson, Calvin once said, "That's the difference between me and the rest of the world. Happiness isn't good enough for me! I demand euphoria!" I stand by my comparison because Givers is the very definition of euphoria! The crowd was up and dancing within the first chords of their opening son, "Saw You First" and the excitement lasted well after the final notes of "Up Up Up!"

It was a short set, but filled with the enthusiasm and killer music that reminded me why I have fallen so in love with this group. Tiffany is a force to be reckoned with as she seamlessly plays the ukulele, drums and sings out like a rock star. Taylor uses the stage as his own trampoline and makes his musicianship all that more impressive considering he never stops moving. 

Givers

Givers

Givers

Someone told me this wasn't a flattering photo of Tiffany.
I think it shows how badass she is!

 

Givers

Givers

KGSR Anniversary Party!

The Gourds at KGSR Anniversary Show

Givers at KGSR Anniversary Show

Matt Kearney at KGSR Anniversary Party

Dawes at KGSR Anniversary Party

KGSR Anniversary Party Friday!

Two of my favorite bands of the year, Givers and Dawes, are playing THIS Friday night at ACL Live as part of the KGSR Anniversary Party. They will also be joined by The Gourds and Matt Kearney. It looks to be a fantastic show! Givers are guaranteed fun and the last time I saw Dawes my friend shouted at the top of her lungs, "Why can't all concerts be like this one!!" Tickets can only be won through KGSR and various events around town or by listening to their station. Good luck!!




Dawes with Mumford & Sons - When My Time Comes from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

Givers!

If Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes) grew up and started a band, it would be Givers, and he would be the lead guitar and vocalist, Taylor Guarisco. Bouncing around the stage with carefree enthusiasm (and perhaps on a sugar high from chocolate frosted sugar bombs), this feel-good group is as delighted to play as the audience is to throw their arms in the air and dance along with them.

The Quintet enveloped Antones last night with high spirited, sunshine music. They have influences of Vampire Weekend with rich bayou undertones. Tiffany Lamson is a force to be reckoned with as she rocks on ukulele, pounds away on drums, and shakes a mean tambourine, while Nick Stephan casually plays keys only to suddenly break out in beautiful riffs on flute and sax.

Even their darker rock encore that had Lamson channeling the wailings of Janis Joplin sounded great from this group and only served to prove that their talent runs deep and will carry them a long way.

concert haiku:

on trampoline stage

bouncing enthusiasm

playing sunshine sounds