Saturday, 6.2.12

Stage 1 (starts @ 11:30 am): G Wizz, Sideshow Tramps, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Morris Day & the Time, Z-Ro, Major Lazer, Snoop Dogg, Afrojack

Budweiser Stage (starts @ 12 pm): The Wheel Workers, Best Coast, Starfucker, Phantogram, Two Door Cinema Club, Erykah Badu, Flaming Lips

Stage 3 (starts @ 12 pm): Ceeplus Bad Knives, Fat Tony, Turquoise Jeep, Diplo, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, R3hab/Bobby Burns

29-95 Stage (starts @ 12 pm): Ashes of Babylon, thelastplaceyoulook, Brains for Dinner, Bombon, Los Skarnales, Venomous Maximus, Valient Thorr, Fatal Flying Guilloteens

Chipotle Stage (starts 12:30 pm): Zlam Dunk, The Big Sleep, Quiet Corral, Chelsea Wolfe, Sister Crayon, Maps & Atlases, Jeff the Brotherhood, DJ Bizz

Stage 6 (starts @ 12 pm): The Journey Agents, East Cameron Folkcore, Espantapajaros, Zorch, Love Horse, Tyagaraja, Sundress, Bad Veins

Stage 7 (starts @ 12 pm): Kirby Brown, The Eastern Sea, Pale, Eyes Burn Electric, Glasnost, Bang Bangz, Riff Tiffs, Caddywhompus

Super Happy Fun Land Stage (starts 12 pm): Papaya, Clockpole, The Annoysters, Escatones, Lazer Cun*zz, Gorealah Soul, Poopy Lungstuffing, Black Leather Jesus, Future Blondes, Rusted Shut, David Liebe Hart

Sunday, 6.3.12

Stage 1 (starts @ 11:30 am): DJ Fredster, Grandfather Child, Robert Ellis, Young the Giant, Willie Nelson, Avett Brothers, Pretty Lights

Budweiser Stage (starts @ 12 pm): DJ Sun & Resolution, Wild Moccasins, Fitz & the Tantrums, Portugal. The Man, Descendents, Primus

Stage 3 (starts @ 12 pm): Suraj K, Bart Black, MC Buda Love, LIMB, Big Freedia, Wallpaper, Danny Brown, Shabazz Palaces

29-95 Stage (starts @ 12 pm): Harts of Oak, Papermoons, Second Lovers, Ponderosa, Last Year’s Men, Vanaprasta, Infanthee, David Garza

Chipotle Stage (starts @ 12:30 pm): Suite 709, Quiet Company, Featherface, The Manichean, A Sea Es, Orgone, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Electric Touch

Stage 6 (starts @ 12pm): Jon Black, the Freakouts, New Bruises, Square & Compass, Ancient Wisdom, Touche Amore, Ume, Girl In a Coma

Stage 7 (starts @ 12pm): Black Coffee, Red Bull TBA, the Electric Primadonnas, the Small Sounds, New York City Queens, the Sour Notes, the Watermarks, The Tontons

Super Happy Fun Land Stage (starts @ 12pm): Immigrant Punk, the Anarchitex, Black Magic Marker, Muzak John, Demonic Hen, the Grass Skirts, Jody Seabody & the Whirls, Darwin’s Finches, Giant Battle Monster

Information on passes to the two-day event, which runs June 2-3, 2012, may be found here.

Check back daily for Houston Calling‘s coverage of Summer Fest, which will include previews of many of the artists performing this year.

Get your tickets now.

More information from APS:

This June, Aurora has an exciting opportunity to relocate to a new space that will not only be our homebase for indoor screenings, but also give us room for more education programs, as well as accommodate administrative offices, video library, and program space under one roof – for the first time in the history of the organization.

Our goal is to have the new home ready for the upcoming Extremely Shorts Film Festival, but we need chairs, equipment and supplies in order to make this possible. That is where you come in- we need you to pledge your support!

As a non-profit organization, we rely on the support of our community and membership to help us achieve our mission and programs. So, we have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help us fundraise for this exciting goal. Local artists have contributed by creating exciting benefits to help entice you into supporting our cause, including artist-made gifts and invitations to exclusive events. Check out the benefits here.

But we only have 30 days to reach our goal, so check out our Kickstarter page to view our video, make a contribution and learn more about this pivotal change for the organization.

Read the CultureMap article with more details and images of Aurora Picture Show’s new location.

In 2004, Houston’s Southern Backtones released a self-titled EP that marked a radical shift in the band’s sound. Originally a rockabilly project–with a fairly rabid fanbase–the Backtones instead channeled glam-era Bowie and late-80s college rock, alienating some fans but gaining many more in the process. In the years since the last release, other than the occasional single, the band has been mostly quiet, honing new songs, chasing storms, and finishing up 2011′s Honky Tonk Blood film. Given the band’s previous dramatic change, it should come as no surprise that La Vie En Noir brings another departure in styles and sound.

Singer/guitarist Hank Schyma’s deep and sexy vocals are in full effect on the new album, but it’s the music that again is the major difference. Full of spaghetti western influences–with the requisite hints of glam–La Vie En Noir is a dark, mind-altered trip through windy country roads and out of the way, Tarentino-esque dive bars. Southern Backtones’ music seems a perfect soundtrack for these types of experiences, and songs like “Bandera” (moody, country-tinged) and “Dive Disco Misfits” (glam rock) best demonstrate the extreme range of the band’s influences.

That’s not to say that Schyma and company are confused about the band’s direction. Far from it. The Backtones’ frontman has had these songs in his head for years, and with line-up shifts, the movie, and life in general, these things take time to make. Lyrically, Schyma mixes late-night drama, heartbreak (such as on the impressive “She Crossed The Line”), and road trips into a palatable mix of songs that, while most definitely varied, manages to work as a cohesive unit.

“Call Off Your Dogs,” a live staple and long-time fan favorite from early album Los Tormentos De Amor, and “Dirty” (from the band’s last album), both get unnecessary remix treatments on La Vie En Noir. While it’s easy to understand why Schyma might feel the need to update his old rockabilly tune to the newer sound, the song was fine as-is. “Dirty”–without a doubt a great song–almost seems a bit too clean here. However, these are minor missteps on an otherwise impressive album, and regardless, listeners new to the Backtones won’t know the difference.

Purchase and download La Vie En Noir via Amazon or iTunes. More information may be found at www.zenhillecords.com.

Southern Backtones plays in Houston this Saturday (5.12.12) at 3:30pm at the 2nd Annual Haute Wheels Houston Houston food truck festival, held at HCC Southwest West Loop Campus.

ALKARI celebrates the release of its debut album, Blackout Falls, this Saturday (5.12.12) at Fitzgerald’s. The band has invited 11 bands to play this free show, which starts at 8pm. Come out and see ALKARI, The Manichean, Electric Attitude, The Wheel Workers, 3Wheeler, Super Robot Party, Featherface, Mike Booher (of Zykos), New York City Queens, and The Dead Revolt. ALKARI takes the stage at 11:30pm.

More information may be found on Facebook and on the band’s Kickstarter page.

Here’s some videos of the band to get you in the mood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrwtxW1h76I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dbNJOgDCWI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lh18OXKz_M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI_HcA5zK0I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JGwHAjzGM

Here’s an interview I did with the band for Space City Rock from August 2009.

Visit The Duke Spirit online at www.thedukespirit.com.

This week, Free Press Houston announced additions to the lineup for Free Press Summer Fest 2012, which runs June 2-3, 2012, in Houston’s Eleanor Tinsley Park near downtown.

Touring Acts added:

Pretty Lights – Pretty Lights, the brainchild of Colorado native Derek Vincent Smith, is electronic sound at its finest. Smith’s music includes a fanciful mix of digital sampling that spans a number of notable genres including hip-hop, funk, and soul. Add a spectacular light show to the mix and you have yourself one heck of a dance party.

Erykah Badu and the Cannabinoids – Erykah Badu needs no introduction. The Dallas, Texas native is a Grammy award winning singer-songwriter is best known for her stunning croon and commanding performances. Often referred to as the Queen of Neo-soul, Badu writes gorgeous, soulful songs that tackle strong social and personal themes. Badu’s music strikes the perfect balance between chillness and passion.

Fitz and the Tantrums – Fitz and The Tantrums hail from Los Angeles, California and fuse the upbeat frenzy of indie pop with the rich, relaxed M.O. of soul music. Their debut studio album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces (August 2010) reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and Rolling Stone named them a “band to watch” in April 2011.

Phantogram – Phantogram is an American Indie pop duo from Saratoga Springs, New York, The twosome frequently describe their sound as “street beat, psych pop”. They cite Sonic Youth, J Dilla, The Flaming Lips, David Bowie, Prince, and The Beatles as musical influences. Their song “When I’m Small” was featured in the opening episode of the MTV’s adaption of the British teen drama series Skins.

David Garza – David Garza is an indie rock musician from the DFW area in Texas. His trademark voice and beautiful lyrics quickly made Garza a musical staple in the Texas music community. He has played with a number of notable musicians including Fiona Apple, Nickel Creek, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, and Grant Lee Phillips.

R3hab – Fadil El Ghoul, aka R3hab, is a Dutch DJ, remixer and house music producer. He creates house music that is infectious and perfect for a night of dancing. R3hab’s singles and remixes are played by such prominent producers as David Guetta, Afrojack, and Tiësto.

Sister Crayon * Vanaprasta *Sundress * Last Year’s Men * The Big Sleep * Sundress * Chelsea Wolfe * Bobby Burns

Local Additions:

New York City Queens * Bang Bangz * Black Coffee * Bart Black * DJ Bizz * Pale * Manichean East Cameron Folkcore * DJ G. Wizz * Bombon * Los Skarnales * DJ FREDster * DJ SUN & Resolution * The Wheel Workers * Immigrant Punk * The Grass Skirts Rusted Shut * Future Blonds * Black Leather Jesus * Giant Battle Monster * Escatones Papaya * Clockpole * Lazer Cun*zz * Jody Seabody and the Whirls * Poopy Lungstuffing The Annoysters * David Leibe Hart * GoREALah Soul * Demonic Hen * Black Magic Marker The Anarchitex * Darwin’s Finches * Muzak John

These welcome additions to the FPSF 2012 lineup help us round out an already impressive bill that includes Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, The Avett Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Young the Giant, Primus, Descendents, Robert Ellis, Fat Tony, and so much more. And who knows, maybe there will be a few surprise appearances throughout the weekend.

Tickets available at www.freepresssummerfest.com.

Beastie Boys member MCA (Adam Yauch) has died at age 47. As many of you likely do, I have a close friend who is a gigantic Beastie Boys fan. Ross, this one’s for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJ5e70Q8mw

More local coverage–including more video links–may be found on 29-95.com and Rocks Off.

The Treaty Oak Collective has released the vinyl version of the Co-Pilot/Alaskan split, which features Co-Pilot‘s massive “The Bering Sea” and Alaskan’s throaty “Euthanize”.

You can buy one of 500 copies in black or clear with black haze vinyl here for $9 (plus S&H).