To help you bulge out your summer off on the right-hand distinction ( sorry ) , we ask a dozen local act to provide us with strain pickaxe sport Austin talent . The solution ? An eclectic , genre - spanning12 - track playlistof with child musicians backed by other great musicians . So hit ‘ play ’ and settle in for 40 min of killer whale tunes from creative person directly outta Austin . Find a few you love and it probably wo n’t be hard to catch them live .
WHISKEY SHIVERS
A local band of boy with extolment from internal press , Whiskey Shivers crank up out legitimate washboard - and - banjo bluegrass infused with rough - and - spill company vibes . ( heed now ! )
Whiskey Shivers ’ pick:“Hatchet ” by Otis the DestroyerIt seems incorrect to be listening to a record interpretation of “ Hatchet , ” as the ( emphatically NSFW ) song is best experient , well while jumping and bumping around in a sea of beer - hook strangers . When listening to this at home , parts of the call will likely still have you reflexively dodging notional elbows to the face , but between those present moment are intermezzo that are slightly more controlled . " It ’s as if Nirvana and The Black Keys had a babe birthed in The Bubble [ Recording Studio ] , ” says Whiskey Shivers banjoist James Bookert . “ The half-baked guitars and creepy drums really set it off . ”
Whether you ’re catching Otis live or listen in your living room , be sure to jump up and down and spill your beverage on whoever chance to be next to you . It ’s that kind of music .
Courtesy of WHISKEY SHIVERS
BIG BILL
The quartet released two new cart track of ego - described “ billwave ” music this February , and their frenetic live show – what Pop Press International dubbedthe best they saw at SXSW– is one you may often catch at Austin events with names like Punk Rock Prom . ( Listen now ! )
Big Bill ’s pick:“Peter Venkman " by Basketball ShortsWe could adjudicate and describe the band Basketball Shorts and this specific track , but Big Bill – who put out a 12 - track split with the band in 2014 – does a pretty excellent job cave in down the strain ’s material meaning and why it need a spot on your summer playlist :
“ It ’s a song about being so drunk you imagine you ’re hanging out with Bill Murray . It have the line ‘ I ’m on a booze vacation / with the guy fromLost in Translation , ’ plus surf guitar accents that sound like star at a break of the day through an aquarium in Pauly Shore ’s condominium . In the hand of lesser stripe , this song would be a gimmicky handbill . But Basketball short pants have level ! This song is the ideal soundtrack for driving around in Austin with the A / C on , the window down , and a bittersweet longing for a nighttime that ( possibly ) never even happened . ”
Courtesy of Big Bill
BUHU
After hitting the cyberspace a couple years ago with their inventive4 - Track Cinemat– filmed and recorded obscure emplacement including trees and tattoo parlors – the three - opus outfit released their fun , dance - y debut album , Relationshapes , this January and is playingFloat Festin July . ( Listen now ! )
BUHU ’s pick:“Spectrolite ” by BayonneBayonne is the moniker under which Roger Sellers produces his more electronically geared music , like “ Spectrolite ” – a track off ofPrimitives , released in March . you’re able to trance Bayonne at ACL ( weekend one ) this declension , and in the meantime , start up your summertime off with this pickax . “ There ’s no better song to play soundtrack to later - night summer thrust , ” promises BUHU guitar player / vocalist Jeremy Rogers . “ This song sound and feel like the entire movieCoraline . ” As for what sound , exactly , you may wait from Bayonne , Rogers sums it up compactly : “ Miracle Fortress meets Bibio meets Lindsey Buckingham . Genius . ”
THE DEER
This “ avant folk ” outfit , aUtopiafestfavorite , names Norah Jones and Sufjan Stevens as influence , and their album , Tempest & Rapture , just drop this May . ( mind now ! )
The Deer ’s pick:“Understood ” by Abram ShookYou might recognize Abram Shook fromShearwater– an Austin act with Okkervil River roots – but his eponymic endeavor is just as pleasurable – or more . in particular good vibraharp burst in this , well … lackadaisical … track off of 2015’sLandscape Dream , the pick from The Deer . “ Abram Shook sound like Prince and David Byrne had a love child , ” the band read , “ vibrational and expressive , yet survive down smooth . ”
And as a bonus , The Deer ’s Grace Park sing background vocals on this running . We call that a two - for - one great deal .
Stephen DeMent Photography
DREW DAVIS
This soulful Isaac M. Singer - songwriter resign her EP , Lessons , this May , and you ’re probable to catch her and her band at intimate Austin locus like The Gallery , One-2 - One Bar , and more . ( mind now ! )
Drew Davis ’s pick:“What ’s On Your Mind ” by GreyhoundsThis cut , what Drew Davis distinguish as a “ aphrodisiacal - ass jam ” could basically be described as babe - making music that your grandparents would also totally dig . “ I love this whole album and judder my butt to this song in fussy on the reg , ” Davis says . “ Greyhounds or some version of them encounter at The Gallery every Wednesday night , and from time to time I care to go drink tequila sodas and shout out requests and never enclose myself like a creepy , obsessive first-rate fan . ”
Your summertime to - do list : grade this album , do some serious right hand - swiping and perhaps take your escort and join Davis at the Gallery . When it come to setting the mood , Greyhounds have got your cover .
Courtesy of Michael Schaffer
EARLY INTERNET
A raw - ish endeavor from Dean Stafford of launch Austin bandPompeii , other Internet specializes in ” quiet tonic jewel . ” require an EP later on this year . ( heed now ! )
Early cyberspace ’s pick:“The Fool " by The Eastern Sea“While this birdcall may not go traditionally summertime - ish , I can see its pensive nature being conducive to listening while imbibition / float a river or chilling on a porch swing , ” Dean Stafford ( aka Early Internet ) says . And that ’s an apt description . you may almost hear the breeze in “ The Fool , ” and the tune ’s mellow nature belies the more serious , contemplative lyrics . “ Its deadening - burn dispatch hard , ” Stafford says , “ and I love the lyric in the chorus : ‘ Do n’t say you did n’t see it / if you hear the truth , but do n’t believe it / if you miss your mind and ca n’t retrieve it . ’
This may not be the kind of song you ’re ram down shots to on a summer Saturday , but it ’s a beautiful vocal , and vocalist Matt Hines ’ voice is one that ’s sure to stick with you .
Courtesy of Drew Davis
HOLIDAY MOUNTAIN
If Lisa Frank made electronic music , the ensue unrecorded show would credibly be standardized to that of Holiday Mountain , an insanely energetic duad producing serious beats you ca n’t help oneself but shake off your ass to . ( Listen now ! )
Holiday Mountain ’s pick:“Attack Attack Attack ” by The Ghost WolvesIs it possible to discombobulate your cervix out ? When heed to this tight - paced track by duo The Ghost Wolves , well … likely . The cut would play perfectly at a tiny , mob thug locale , at a sweaty house party , or , if we ’re honest , while smash some of your ex ’s material , and it ’s one that Holiday Mountain ’s frontwoman Laura Patino – a wild , uninhibited performer herself – recommends . " It ’s supa sick because it ’s just so raw and punk , ” state Patino . “ I like that Carley vocalize like a badass cartoon character . "
If you involve a jolt of rowdy , you ’ve found it .
Eric Morales
OBSOLETE MACHINES
The trio ’s experimental sound – a combination of haunting vocals , electronic element , drums , and heavy keys – captivates , and it ’s one they ’ve been showing off live , accompanied by arresting visuals , at shows around Austin all spring . ( Listen now ! )
Obsolete Machines ’ pick:“Pocahaunted ” by Technicolor HeartsTechnicolor Hearts produces what they call “ dream pop noir , ” and the pair – the Best Avant Garde / Experimental Band via the annualAustin Chronicle ’s Austin Music Awards– actually describes themselves as an art project , which fits right in with the description Obsolete Machines provided . “ Joseph Salazar and Naomi Cherie are very beautiful , avant garde and talented multimedia artists , ” the stripe says . “ They are playful and open - minded , childlike and imaginative . ” And what better time to let your vision run wild than summertime ?
OTIS THE DESTROYER
Otis the Destroyer ’s EP Belushi dropped in March and features the variety of strident rock that ’s comfortably love … well , as mentioned above : while skip and bumping around in a sea of beer - soaked strangers . ( Listen now ! )
Otis the Destroyer ’s pick:“Axe Me If I Care " by Annabelle ChairlegsThis vocal – found , quite fittingly for this context , on an record album calledWatermelon Summer –could be consider a standout strictly due to the undeniably lovely vocal of Lindsey Mackin , who leads the band . As Otis the Destroyer ’s Taylor Wilkins position it , this is “ sikey surf rock vibes with a voice that will tear your affection out , black out the skies , and give you all the tactile property . ” This vocal deserves to be take heed to by the beach . Make it materialize .
RIDERS AGAINST THE STORM
A husband - married woman duo , Riders Against the violent storm – two - time Austin Music Awards ‘ Band of the Year ' honorees – bring microscope stage - conquering and bunch - commanding hip hop to every locus , and have open for acts like Wu - Tang Clan . ( Listen now ! )
rider Against the Storm ’s pick:“Solo ” by Mobley“Mobley is in all likelihood our preferred artist out of Austin right now , ” the group says , basically echoing our own intuitive feeling on the artist . Given his sea wolf voice , undeniable charisma , and ability to transition effortlessly between instruments , when you ’re watch Mobley do at an Austin venue , it ’s just as loose to imagine him bolt down it onstage at the Grammys . ( And when we wink , hell , he ’ll in all probability be there . ) The artist ’s EP , Some Other Country , drop in April , and RAS blame one standout track . “ ' Solo has a attention-getting tonic vibration that ramp up and sticks with you afterwards , ” the couple says .
WILD CHILD
It seems indie - folk favorites Wild Child are always on the move , and this summer you may catch them here in Austin as well as at festivals like Free Press Summer Fest and Lollapalooza . ( take heed now ! )
Wild Child ’s pick:“Every Night ” by Walker Lukens"An uber - talented instrumentalist with even good dance moves , Walker Lukens is unquestionably one of my favorite Austin musicians , ” declare Alexander Beggins of Wild Child , who share history and a hometown ( Houston ) with Lukens and has seen his music progression since their teenage year . “ Every Night ” in particular is a 2015 individual from Lukens that begins with delightfully old - school doo - wops and systematically observe a pleasant retro kick throughout . As an extra Austin - y fillip , the track was grow by Spoon ’s Jim Eno , and there ’s no disputing Beggins ’ assessment of the partnership : “ They meshed together incredibly well . ”
ZEALE
If you enquire someone to name an Austin rapper , 9 clip out of 10 it would likely be Zeale , who ’s gotten love from the likes ofEsquireandThe New York Timesand has toured with AWOLNATION and Imagine Dragons . ( Listen now ! )
ZEALE ’s pick:“Dominator ” by The Feels ft . SlooomBreak out the stroboscope igniter and spend your summer nights enwrap in the audio of this duo ’s dark disco . Slooom utilizes the phrase “ to be half benumbed : // to move or wander slowly or silently ” on their profile , and it ’s an apt description give the almost otherworldly find of their art . Zeale explained his pick succinctly : “ The music pushes the gasbag in the standard Austin medicine scene . I opine Slooom is a standout . ” regard “ Dominator”—on which they ’re merely featured — kind of Slooom - on - go , and afterwards check out what ’s perhaps a more true - to - form call in the form of“Honey”the ( award - winning ! ) music video for which Zeale say “ complement the experience with a provocative and aesthetic approach that is as startling as much as it is compelling . ”
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Holiday Mountain
Sam Sumpteris an Austin - based writer , semi - professional aura drummer and wannabe roadie . ( Seriously – she even plagiarize , bros . ) To see what euphony she ’s obsessing over this summertime , crack out blurry concert recaps on Instagram@Sam_Sumptaandfollow her on Spotify .
Courtesy of OBSOLETE MACHINES
Courtesy of OTIS THE DESTROYER
Courtesy of RIDERS AGAINST THE STORM
Zac Parks
Zeale Rapz
