Urban Outfitters

From Austin 06/22/09

Right On

Right On permalink

Metallic banners are not just for celebrating birthdays, but also for celebrating breaking up, starting over and giving someone an ultimatum. Hooray!

From Austin 05/21/09

Make Something Not That Cool Everyday

Make Something Not That Cool Everyday permalink

In response to “Make Something Cool Every Day,” graphic designer Will Bryant decided to ”Make Something Not That Cool Everyday.” We applaud him for telling it like it is. 

From Austin 04/22/09

Todd P Goes To Austin

Todd P Goes To Austin permalink

Todd P is a Brooklyn promoter known for putting on amazing shows in shitty, out of the way venues. The documentary Todd P Goes to Austin: A story about doing it yourself follows Todd P to SXSW where his shows were some of the most off-the-radar and out-of-control.

From Austin 03/23/09

Hotel St. Cecilia

Hotel St. Cecilia permalink

While having drinks at Hotel San Jose, I discovered a postcard for its sister property, the Hotel St. Cecilia, and immediately fell in love. Named for the patron saint of music and poetry, Hotel St. Cecilia embodies the bohemian, glamorous spirit of Austin with a distinct late-’70s vibe, like “Hunter S. Thompson for Sheriff” posters in the suites, turntables in every room, and a library full of vintage vinyl, poetry and film. It’s easy to imagine Janis Joplin or Christine McVie holing up in a place like this, with a bottle of whiskey and a new man. 

From Austin 03/23/09

Bun B

Bun B permalink

It would have felt wrong to leave Austin without seeing at least one Southern legend take the stage, and fortunately, Bun B was on hand to make it possible. At his Saturday-night show at Austin Music Hall, the club was packed and everyone knew every word to every song, proving that there were as many locals as tourists in the crowd. 

From Austin 03/23/09

It Was True permalink

The secret that wasn’t a secret this week was that Kanye West was going to show up at the Good Music showcase, the final performance at the four-day Levi’s/Fader Fort. Sure enough, he did, and put on a hype show that left several thousand people incredibly happy. The highlights were when West and protégé Kid Cudi played the Crookers’ remix of Cudi’s “Day N Nite” and just basically freaked out on stage, and when Common and Texas-born Erykah Badu showed up for a couple of songs. Getting up to the front would have taken a trio of bodyguards or a stun gun, but thankfully, the FADER has posted several good videos from the night.

From Austin 03/23/09

Explosions in the Sky and Erykah Badu

Explosions in the Sky and Erykah Badu permalink

As the festivities come to a close, we’re tallying up all the different bands and acts that we’ve seen this week. Throw in the fact that we’ve seen them all for free, and it’s really unbelievable. One of the most chilled-out shows this week was Saturday night at Auditorium Shores, with Explosions in the Sky, Erykah Badu and Beach House. Though Badu played only a few songs, local atmospheric heroes xplosions in the Sky made the crowd of thousands feel like they never wanted to stand in line on Sixth Street again and ended their performance with fireworks. 

From Austin 03/23/09

Lemonade permalink

When a band is called Lemonade and their MySpace is bananasandecstasy, you might expect this. Or you might not. 

From Austin 03/22/09

Nomo permalink

Nomo’s band members hail from the colder climates of Michigan and Chicago, so they were probably sweating like crazy in Austin’s mid-afternoon heat, but they’re so cool you’d never know.

From Austin 03/22/09

Face Paint

Face Paint permalink

Boots and shorts, neon, colored sunglasses, jumpers: of all the trends out in full force in Austin this week, one of the most fun was face paint, being rocked by ladies and gents alike. We sincerely hope that this one takes off and that people start wearing it to the office. 

From Austin 03/21/09

The Band Room

The Band Room permalink

Candles and French Onion dip. A recipe for romance, for sure.

From Austin 03/21/09

Chairlift

Chairlift permalink

Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek and their manager made these nifty school-photo-like flyers to promote their shows in Austin this week. Check out them performing at UO here. Sorry I occasionally cut off their heads. 

From Austin 03/21/09

image

Rachael Ray permalink

What is weirder than the fact that Rachael Ray hosts a party in Austin? Try the fact that the New York Dolls, Ra Ra Riot and the Hold Steady are playing. And that we’re going. Come on, who can turn down Yum-O drinks? (Photo by Tyler Grisham via Pitchfork.)

From Austin 03/21/09

Iced Turbo

Iced Turbo permalink

In Austin, it’s always ced-coffee weather, and the official beverage might be the Iced Turbo from Jo’s. What’s in an Iced Turbo you ask? Coffee, espresso, hazelnut, chocolate and cream, and it tastes like a cup of melted ice cream. How many calories are in an Iced Turbo? Why would you ever ask that? Through Sunday, stop by Jo’s on South Congress for South by San Jose, their very own free outdoor festival full of music, food, drinks and, lordy-lordy, awesome vintage shopping.

From Austin 03/21/09

Cledus

Cledus permalink

Cledus belongs to Austin store manager Natalie Shepard, and put in a strong showing at all the backlot performances. Everyone, bands included, was happy he was there.

From Austin 03/20/09

Titus Andronicus permalink

We don’t know anything about Glen Rock, NJ. Judging from Titus Andronicus, it must rock. It’s a rare and special experience when you get to see a band freak out like this, especially when it is in your own backyard—er, back-lot.

From Austin 03/20/09

Tinted Windows

Tinted Windows permalink

A smashed pumpkin, a Hanson brother, Bun E., and someone from Fountains of Wayne: Tinted Windows has the weirdest lineup ever. Period. They’re playing today at 6:45 at the FADER Fort. There are about 20 other bands we want to see playing that time-slot elsewhere, but if curiosity wins out, this is where we’ll be, screaming “Taylor, we love you!”

From Austin 03/20/09

Little Boots

Little Boots permalink

I was lucky enough to catch a set from U.K.’s new electro-disco queen Little Boots last night at the IAMSOUND/‘Sup Magazine party. She was one of the main artists I wanted to catch, and was a dancing, singing machine, playing the tambourine and talking about eating bbq. If you’re wondering why I don’t have a picture of her from the show, it’s because 700 DUDES (most of them tall) rushed the stage as soon as it was announced she was up next. Could this be because Little Boots is hot? Hmm, I wonder…

From Austin 03/20/09

The Vivian Girls permalink

The Vivian Girls packed the house—er, lot—at the showcase today. Man, are they cute!

From Austin 03/20/09

The FADER Fort

The FADER Fort permalink

This bracelet will be my constant accessory for the next two days: I had to wait for an hour to get it, but the FADER Fort is worth it—the hundreds of other people standing in line obviously thought so as well (Lady Sov and Rye Rye got to skip). Every where you go in Austin this week, people are talking about the special, surprise guest who is supposed to show up on Saturday night. I do not want to be blamed for blowing the cover, but let’s just say it rhymes with Swanye Test.

From Austin 03/19/09

The Wooden Birds permalink

A local Austin band fronted by Andrew Kenny of American Analog Set. 

From Austin 03/19/09

We Have Band permalink

This awesome trio of Brits landed just two hours before they played this show—their first of 10 over the next four days. You’ve got to give them props for fighting jetlag, and doing it barefoot.

From Austin 03/18/09

Hey Cupcake!

Hey Cupcake! permalink

Hey Cupcake! is a classic shiny Airstream selling frosted delights to the crowds on South Congress. It seems like every place in Austin has live music this week, and Hey Cupcake! is no exception, hosting a long-haired dude playing acoustic Violent Femmes covers. Lesson learned: Live music does not always mean good music.

From Austin 03/18/09

We made it!

We made it! permalink

One of the many reasons Austin is awesome: Allen’s Boots, on South Congress, might be the only cowboy boot store in the world staffed by hipsters. I’ll be doing most of the blogging while we’re down here, and as a former Midwesterner, I feel right at home—though I did resist buying a cowboy hat yesterday for fear that it might make me look like a cheeseball East Coast poseur. Our showcases start today at our store at 2406 Guadalupe St., so check back for updates. Yee-haw.—Kate

From Austin 03/12/09

UOxAU

UOxAU permalink

It’s that time of year again, where music lovers the world over descend on Austin to scope new bands, get drunk, eat tacos and just generally mess with Texas. Here, read our band interviews and hear some of their tracks; plan your trip with our ultimate guide to Austin; learn how the pros do it; follow us on Twitter; keep up with our liveblogging from the Lone Star State; and even enter to win a spot at our 2010 Austin showcase. Whew! Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to start packing. 

From Austin 02/23/09

Urban Outfitters Austin Showcases

Urban Outfitters Austin Backlot Performances permalink

It’s that time of year again: We start thinking about heading south, listening to lots of bands, and spending four days with bbq sauce and a smile on our faces. Check out our killer 2009 lineup, and watch this spot for updates. 

From Austin 01/22/09

Hamburger Bed

Hamburger Bed permalink

Anyone who watched the wrongness that was the “taco bed” on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia will appreciate this: a less racially-offensive, but no less awesome, hamburger bed. (Via Apartment Therapy.)

From Austin 12/16/08

Monofonus Press

Monofonus Press permalink

A one-year subscription to record label and publisher Monofonus Press gets you three multimedia packages, each of which contains one digital element (like music or a video), a book or zine, and something handprinted, like art or a T-shirt. It beats the hell out of 52 issues of US Weekly.

From Austin 11/06/08

Fun Fun Fun Fest

Fun Fun Fun Fest permalink

The third installment of the Fun Fun Fun Fest kicks off this weekend, smack dab in the middle of downtown. With four stages, the lineup includes The National, Bishop Allen, The Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Dan Deacon, Clipse and even some Leftover Crack. Since the third time is reportedly a charm, this fest has the potential to be fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun.

From Austin 10/24/08

A Small Collection

A Small Collection permalink

Alyson Fox’s line for A Small Collection is delightful, and her fall/winter video lookbook doubly so.