by Brooks Burris by Brianna Caleri When Aaron Winston was asked to play at The Mohawk in 2017, he scrambled to get a group together. Within a week, Russel Taine Jr. went from a solo project to a band. Three years after that, the dreamy alt-rock band is leaning more into its country identity with four Austin-centric singles about summer in the city. The two released so far, “Sister Sister” and “Blue Jean Baby” offer Austinites some much-needed reassurance via serious nostalgia. Winston started writing songs as a teenager, eventually adopting the pen name his grandfather used in correspondence to the United States from Moscow during the Cold War. His decision was a little intellectual, and a lot because he liked how it sounded; two key elements of the band’s future efforts. Now it inspires a conversation starter in the perpetual fan question, “Who is Russel Taine Jr.?” And while it may just be a happy coincidence, naming the band for a semi-fictional member anchors the group to their southern rock forebears (remember Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Marshall Tucker Band?). Winston clarifies the titular “sister” isn’t any woman in particular, but represents “any number of relationships” over time. This one is about nostalgia; a feeling best reserved for weak memories about strong feelings. It’s about sharing the tiny moments that build our identities, and the vagueness that makes them relatable and reassuring. The story told is a bid for reconnection. Emotional intimacy in the simplicity of summer is something many of us are missing right now while keeping our distance. “Blue Jean Baby,” released on July 1, provides a foil to “Sister Sister,” with a shoutable anthemic chorus any band would be tempted to use for a show closer. Despite a more energetic presence, it’s overall lighter fare. The leading lady of this crowd-pleaser skews more toward the femme fatale. Like her, the electric guitars are grittier, but a riff runs through the song to nail down the kind of mellow reverie that ties together the Russel Taine Jr. catalog. This one in particular is packed with southern tropes: blue jeans, a tight sundress, standing on docks, and even dueling guitars. Against the muddy bass is jangly rhythm guitar that brings flashes of Tom Petty’s California to Texas. Of the two tracks, “Blue Jean Baby” offers a simpler message, about dancing all night. It’s the one to sway along with while grilling for two and looking forward to the return of cookouts for twenty. Following the reassuring “Sister Sister,” it seems to seems to say we don’t always have to take ourselves so seriously. Summer hits are the ultimate form escapism, but in this case, the escape is in our own backyards. It’s not so bad to be stuck here, after all. by David McCready by Diego Donamaria by S. Pulse These SXSW artists won’t get to attend the cancelled festival, but happened to record the perfect quarantine song. What songs would you add to our list? Josiah Johnson Declan J Donovan Neal Francis The Talbott Brothers Early James JP Saxe White Denim Jackie Venson Wiley from Atlanta Electric Fields Reb Fountain Flawes Michigander Devarrow Girl Skin by Brooks Burris Though many official SXSW showcases were canceled due to the threat of covid-19, the city of Austin couldn’t extinguish the intimate Campfire Gathering happening in Dripping Springs next week- March 16th and 17th. The summer camp for adult music lovers will be held on the luxurious grounds of Camp Lucy and will include onsite fishing, target practice, nature hikes, and yoga sessions with accommodations include an air-conditioned yurts, creek-side cabins and high-end motor-coaches or luxury suites. by Susie Pulse We had such a great list of artists we wanted everyone to see during SXSW 2020 this month. Sadly, the world health crisis forced SX to be canceled for the first time ever in it’s 34 year history. We are proud that many musicians call Austin home- we hope you will still go check them out! White Denim: If you had to pick a genre to describe this multi-talented band it would be “good music”. Shifting easily between rock, soul and blues, this Austin group gives a great live show and has developed a strong following across the country. Curtis McMurtry: Yes, he’s one of those McMurtry’s. Being the grandson of the cherished Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry and son of Choctaw Bingo musician Larry McMurtry makes Curtis McMurtry dang near Texas royalty. His lyrics capture the spirit of the West and his music has a decidedly Texas feel. Whitney Rose: This alt-country dynamo is a current resident of Austin but is from Prince Edward Island, Canada. The Mavericks’ Raul Malo produced her sophomore album. The Bright Light Social Hour: The energy these guys produce at their live shows could be considered an alternative energy source. Their unique version of psychedelic rock fills venues around the country, but their favorite place to play is here at home. Deanna Wheeler: Wheeler is a California transplant turned Austin native. She has a fiery and powerful voice that pushes country rock to a soul-stirring level. Jackie Venson: Electric guitar aficionado and Berklee College of Music pianist, Venson is a musician’s musician. Her brand of soul and blues is often compared to Gary Clark, Jr. and is generating attention across the globe (and she plays with him too). Ume: This Austin based band melds together punk and pop and delivers it with an exhilarating live show. Bourgeois Mystics: A collective of multinational Austin-based musicians that has been described as, “genre-defying dance party waiting to explode”. PNTHN: Comprised of a 10-man collective of rappers, DJs and producers, PNTHN (pronounced “pantheon”) hails from San Marcos-just a few miles down the road. One cannot help but make comparisons to that other rap collective from San Marcos, Brockhampton (and there are some similarities). But PNTHN has their own sound- one that adds a little more rap to the sauce. Tone Royal: Austin resident Tone Royal, is a hip-hop artist and winner of the 2019 ATX Hip-Hop Award for Album of the Year. Often writing lyrics during his Uber driver shifts, Tone Royal (real name Ray Villareal) delivers a smooth sounding frat rap flow with a subtle Eminem-ish vibe. Austin, your driver has arrived! Check out the SXSW site for the complete artist list. Even though SXSW has been canceled for the first time ever, we wanted to share our recommendations for artists you might have seen in hopes that you will still watch, listen, and love their music. You can also see our ‘101 artists to watch’ list at the bottom of the post. While SXSW is known for bringing recognition to emerging artists, it also attracts a-list performers. Many of these hugely popular artists will be performing in unusually intimate venues or on the free outdoor stage at Lady Bird Lake. Either way, SXSW is a great way to see these successful bands. (Double check all times and locations on the SXSW app as they may change.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdH45WXuHx8 Milky Chance: This duo of high school friends from Germany are proven hitmakers (“Stolen Dance” and “Flashed Junk Mind”). Meshing an acoustic guitar-driven sound with electric beats, Milky Chance creates a sound that crosses genres, includes infectious hooks, and enjoys wide appeal. (March 19: SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, 8:40-9:40 pm) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRtvqT_wMeY Soul Asylum: Grammy winning 90’s alt-rock band Soul Asylum is known for their monster hit “Runaway Train”. Still creating music, they have a new single out called “Got It Pretty Good” – – and it is pretty good! (March 20: Performing on the intimate stage at Lambert’s 1:00-1:55 am) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jAQR6266Gw Max Frost: Austin born and raised musician Max Frost may now reside in LA, but he’ll always call Austin home. Check out his high energy pop-dance beats (try “White Lies” and “Adderall”) and we dare you not to dance along. (March 19: SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake 5:35-6:15 pm) Walshy Fire: Widely known as a member of Major Lazer, Walshy Fire will be showcasing his solo DJ music at SXSW. The son of a Jamaican Cricket star, Walshy Fire often invokes the sounds of his Caribbean heritage in his music — mixes that will surely have the crowd rocking to his island vibes. (Date and venue TBA) Glass Animals: Feeling “gooey”? Well, you will after Glass Animals coats you with their dance-heavy electric tunes drenched in “peanut butter vibes”. Experience this four-man UK group in person at their SXSW show at Stubbs. (March 18: Stubbs, 12:30-1:30 am) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeJm9PAWp6A Carla Morrison: One of the most popular indie singers in Latin America, she has won two Grammy awards as well as multiple Latin Grammys. She also has cultivated an enormous fanbase that adore her clear, clean pitch-perfect vocals. (March 21: SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, 8:10-9:40 pm) JP Saxe: This Canadian singer-songwriter’s popularity has exploded largely as a result of his newest song “If The World Was Ending” (which features Julia Michael). His goosebump-inducing lyrics are packed with soul touching emotion and feel a lot like a reassuring hug. (March 19: SXSW Outdoor Stage at Lady Bird Lake, 7:35 – 8:15 pm) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wFwPh-KbEY Beabadoobee: At only 19 years of age, UK’s Beabadoobee has become an indie-pop sensation. Her light and airy song “Coffee” was a massive overnight success that continued to gain momentum when it was heavily sampled by Canadian musician Powfu and featured on his track “Death Bed”. (March 17: Latitude 30, 11:00:-11:40 pm and March 18, Cedar Street, 1:00-1:50 am) Vistas: Popular in the UK, this trio of Scotland based musicians is now making major waves in the US with their upbeat indie-pop music. (March 18: Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room, 11:00 – 11:40 pm and March 19: Swan Dive, 10:00-10:40 pm) See the entire lineup and schedule at SXSW. $SNOT 99 Neighbors Ailbhe Reddy Algiers Alma Baby Rose Balming Tiger Beabadoobee Black Lips Bourgeois Mystics Brian Fallon Bridget Kelly Caroline Rose Cassper Nyovest Christina La Rocca Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express Curtis McMurtry CVLTE Dead Horses Dead Poets Society Deanna Wheeler Declan J. Donovon Delta Spirit Demi Grace Devarrow Devon Gilfillian Drinking Boys and Girls Choir Early James Edan Archer Electric Fields Fenne Lily Ferreck Dawn Flawes Free Radicals Frisco Ghetto Kumba Gina Sicilia Girl Skin Grace Pettis GRLWood Hamilton Leithauser Haviah Mighty Harleighblu Herizen Honey Harper Jackie Venson Jadu Heart Jeff Lofton Jenny Lewis Jinmi Abduls Josiah Johnson JP Saxe Katie Pruitt Kyle Craft La Dona Laundry Day Laura Cantrell Lesly Rehhagg M. Ward Margo Price Max Frost Michigander Milky Chance Mir Fontane Modern Love Child Naked Giants Nasty Cherry Native Sun Naya Ali Neal Francis Neon Dreams Nicklas Sahl Noya Rao Parisalexa PNTHN Reb Fountain Renni Rucci Ringo Deathstarr Ryal McMullen Sarah Klang Savannah Sgro Shelley King Sir Woman Soccer Mommy Soul Asylum Spooky Mansion Sport Team Thao & The Get Down Stay Down The Brother Brothers The HamilTones The Talbot Brothers The Teeta There Tone Royal Tre Burt Ume Vistas Walshy Fire Whitney Rose Wiley from Atlanta Wire
Tennis & Molly Burch by Phillip Johnson It was a mild Saturday night at a packed Stubb’s Waller Amphitheater. The crowd came out for an electric night of dream-pop courtesy of local songstress Molly Burch and headliner, Tennis, who is touring in support of their latest release “Swimmer”, which dropped in 2020. Molly Burch, an Austin native, has built herself quite the following in her home city and is now taking it nationally on tour with Tennis. Her vocal styling reminded me a lot of Joss Stone with so much heart and soul behind the lyrics. She had a very smoky, melancholy to her voice as she navigated through her tales of heartbreak and yearning. Her songs seemed like they were written for a last dance with a love you knew you were going to let go. The crowd was seemingly made up of a lot of friends and family with the amount of cheering that resonated through her effortless performance. One of the highlight’s of her set was her cover of Ariana Grande’s “Needy”, which drove the crowd to a mild dance party. The entire band definitely had a vintage, chic look for them, as evidence by Ford’s floor length, shimmering gown, and Riley’s houndstooth-like blazer and white turtleneck. The energy turned up with tracks like “No Exit” which had a throwback, 80’s synth-pop vibe and “Need Your Love” with excellent contrasts between the beginning rock/jazz verses to the slower soulful chorus. The differences in their ballads versus their more funky tracks definitely showed their range and playful pop sensibility Tennis has a soft spot for Austin. During their last tour, they encountered their fair share of pitfalls, with the largest being Patrick’s father passing away. Feeling defeated and wondering if the rest of the tour was worth it, they knew if they made it to Austin (Emo’s, to be more specific) they would get over that hill. They expressed their gratitude as the Austin crowd truly showed their love in such a difficult time. This was the precursor to the heartfelt track “Origins”. The dream-pop genre has certainly made waves over the years. With artists such as Beach House, the XX, and recently, Billie Eilish as hugely popular young newcomer. Tennis and Molly Burch certainly are making their mark in this group as well and the rest of the country is about to see what all the buzz is about. See our complete show photo gallery on Austin 101. This year’s lineup of artists had a great mix from different genres. That included veteran musicians like Brad Paisley, Bush, Sammy Hagar with newer popular artists like Becky G, Morgan Wallen, Jon Pardi, Chris Yong, Aaron Watson, Lauren Alaina, and Carly Pearce. Check out some of our favorites from the February event, and you can see all our concert photos and reviews on Austin 101. Oprah brings her 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus tour to Dallas’ American Airlines Center this month! She wants to inspire wellness in others so they can live their best life. She’ll have a live interview as part of the packed full day with Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish). She’s planned these US events to be a start to 2020 with renewal and celebrating all we are meant to be. Expect some motivation to be about her WW and some surprise special guests (perhaps Tina Fey?). The event is February 15th (what a perfect, loving Valentine thing to do for ourselves). Doors open at 7:30 am and the event starts at 9am. There are very few tickets available- you can try to find them here. Find more info here.
(photos by Brianna Carleri, Russel Taine Jr. and band, 2019)
“Sister Sister” wastes no time in introducing the mysterious ghostwriter, slipping the band name into the lyrics as a way, Winston says, of reminding new audiences who they’re watching at local venues. In context as the first of four related singles, it has the unintended effect of staking a claim to a new, more purposeful identity. The track explicitly mentions Austin and it’s “hot summer nights,” but, lest the lyrics get too on-the-nose, sprinkles in charmingly confusing images like a demure woman’s “Rorschach grin.” Little intellectual twists maintain the group’s usual air of delicate fantasy over the song’s retro southern skeleton. Lots of delay and effortless arpeggios wash a haze over soulful organ and what might have been a screaming guitar solo is set back into the distance of the mix.
The heavy hitting lineup includes the likes of Austin’s Shakey Graves, Joe Ely, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Grammy award winner Margo Price, and the masked cowboy Orville Peck. Other amazing artists include Paul Cauthen, White Denim, Nikki Lane, Robert Ellis, and more. Check out the full lineup.
One day tickets are still available and can be purchased at campfiregathering. We can’t wait to see y’all there and share stories and music over s’mores.Austin 101 Magazine’s “101 To Watch at SXSW”:
2.29.2020
Stubb’s Waller Amphitheater
Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Tennis is the duo made up of Alaina Ford and husband Patrick Riley. The beginning of their set was made up of dark lights and silhouettes making their way to their spots. Then a bright blue light highlighted Ford’s silhouette at their piano (which was purchased at a garage sale for $45). Thus began their opener, “I’ll Haunt You”, which was indeed a haunting ballad, which featured ethereal verses and a background foundation that complimented the simplicity of Ford’s vocals.
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by S. Pulse
Katy Pruitt
Katy Pruitt
Glorietta
