Santogold producer and collaborator, breakbeat innovator, and international DJ FreQ Nasty established himself as one of the UK dance music scene’s pioneers early on by producing many of breakbeat’s defining moments. Not content with rehashing his genre-defining debut album FreQ’s Geeks and Mutilations (1999), he dropped his “Bring Me The Head Of Freq Nasty’ album in 2003 for SKINT records, creating the template for the ‘ragga breaks’ movement and simultaneously kicking off the breakbeat garage scene with signature tracks ‘Goose’ and ‘Amped’ effortlessly traversing genres, earning plaudits from breakbeat and garage DJ’s, as well as house and techno jocks internationally.
www.myspace.com/deadmeadow This Washington D.C. based power-trio has found a modern lotus position at the capstone of guitar-driven psychedelic blues and drone. A guaranteed climax of the festival, headliners Dead Meadow bring a kaleidoscope of slow and heavy Zeppelin/Hendrix roots, sixties folk and garage, and surfing Telecaster licks that weave a tapestry of mind-altering rock 'n' roll influences. With a few other outfits nipping at each others heels, many are saying Dead Meadow retains the most vision and durability as quite possibly the best Psychedelic Rock band on the independent circuit.
Suzanna Choffel
A native of Austin TX, Suzanna Choffel combines her poetic lyrics and sweet smoky voice with funky urban rhythms to create a fresh and unique sound. She uses her guitar to create staccato rhythms underneath her dazzling soulful vocal melodies, all backed by a pulsing band with unique instrumentation. Her music has been described as “indie pop with urban beats”, and "jazz-infused soul pop" with comparisons ranging from Feist to Nelly Furtado to Norah Jones to Erykah Badu. Since the 2006 release of her debut album, Shudders & Rings, she has been finding her name atop many a music reporter's list as "one worth watching". Her song "Hey Mister" was licensed by the City of Austin for inclusion in the Austin Music Vol. 7 compilation CD (March 2008 release). In April 2008, Suzanna Choffel won the $10,000 Grand Prize in the nationwide Famecast Pop competition. Also in April 2008, she won 1st Prize in Music Videos at Ourstage.com. In June 2008, Suzanna was selected by The State Of Texas to represent contemporary Texas music in Texas On Tour, a large countrywide traveling show promoting Texas tourism. In November 2008 she was the cover story in the Austin Chronicle, "Austin's Next Fun Fearless Female Rock Star", and in March 2009 Suzanna won the "Best Indie Band" prize at the Austin Music Awards-SXSW. In April 2009 she won 2nd Place in the "AAA" category of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. Suzanna Choffel's red-hot band creates a fresh and original instrumental backing. The lineup consists of drummer Eldridge Goins (Johnnie Johnson, Carolyn Wonderland, Big Al DuPree, The Heathens), bassist Johnny Vogelsang (Bob Schneider, Soulhat), vibes/accordion/synth player Laura Scarborough (Lila's Medicine, Ohn), and saxophone/clarinet player Brad Houser (New Bohemians, Boombox, Critters Buggin'). The result is a smokin' hot rhythm section that can riff, improv and meander like a jazz band, yet has the stability of her strong pop-soul songs to ground them, resulting in a sensational new sound.
The Fort Knox Five have had a huge impact on the international funk and breaks scene over the past couple of years. With the release of five critically acclaimed singles on their own independent label, Fort Knox Recordings, the FK5 have been thrust into the spotlight and caught the attention of music lovers around the world.
www.myspace.com/thevandelles Brandishing their trademark rocknroll noir, New York’s The Vandelles should be secure in their bragging rights to the utterly cool corner of the neo-psych movement they occupy. Drenched in ‘50s spy movie soundtrack, surf rock, & classic girl group influences, this Brooklyn outfit is riding their wave to the top of the national scene with little to stop them. Dark & gnashing, The 'Delles maxi-beats dare you to lose all composure and roll the way rock was meant to move you. Sure to be the closest you’ll get to the surf shore in central Texas this weekend: hang with these lethally cool kids. You’re in.
SOULEYE "SOULEYE with DJ Knowa Knowone"
Souleye, a Colorado based conscious-wordsmith MC, believes that music is a true healing art. His choice to perform freestyle and completely improvisational lyrics allows the present audience to participate and be involved in the creation and collective energy of the music. Souleye also brings in a new fresh fusion of written songs. Much like life, each performance is genuine and can never be replicated. Unafraid to challenge paradigms, Souleye has been bridging gaps and crossing paths between Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Electronic, Blue Grass and Funk.
Knowa Knowone is a musician, artist and community instigator. His influences are based in ancient culture and mysticism fusing with technology, graffiti, and urban life.
As a Producer, DJ, Turntablist/Controllerist he brings HipHop, Breakbeats, Dubstep, and Reggae all together into a style completely individual. Every song and performance is unique, with influences from all over the world, ethnic and tribal layered beats with bass heavy dance floor appeal. Knowa frequently features MCs and live musicians, such as Souleye, SyDeFx, Seasunz and Taylor Maiden Space.
His recent releases include the full length album "KnowSleep" co-produced with Sleepyhead, out now on Street Ritual Recordings (SF), and "Free Energy" on Muti Music (SF). He is currently working on collaborations with Mimosa, Souleye, Lynx and Janover, Audiovoid, Beats Antique, Sasha Rose, emerging SoCal Hiphop stars 3rd Borough, and more. Listen to his music at myspace.com/djknowone, and get the downloads at StreetRitual.com, Addictech.com, iTunes, Beatport or anywhere quality MP3s are available.
www.myspace.com/thewarlocks The reigning kings of super-heavy psych, these reverb artists pound their commanding melodies home and continue to win acolytes around the world to their peerless psych musicianship and dark vision. Their mature and overpowering sound, honed through years atop the Northern California scene, is as beautiful as it is unsettling. Their live show is truly something that must be experienced to be appreciated in its full, terrifying majesty.
Resident Anti-Hero
The band Resident Anti-Hero is committed to an ongoing development of a contemporary mythology that is both politically aware, and soundly folkloric. Through the use of music, extended metaphor, and storytelling, the duo offers an in-depth narrative encompassing issues of world politics, environmental awareness, social justice, survivalism, and sustainable living. The fictional world of Resident Anti-Hero and the Anti-Hero Underground is intended to be an ongoing mythological journey, exemplifying and critiquing the world it was created within.
Evan Whitis, the man on guitar and vocals, started bending the strings at age 15. Born in North Texas, he moved to Austin in 1989. He’s been playing over the years with bands of many styles: Kyx (hard rock), Uncle Dickey’s Shameless Quickies (variety), Foster Cathead (space cowboy music) Undiskovered (Motown, classic rock, R&B, Latin, country), to name a few. His preference has always been the standard power-trio rock and roll with a little blues thrown in.
Mike Casey, the man on the drums, has been playin’ the skins since before he was born. He has played in several bands in the Austin area, including Mary Welch y Los Curanderos (Latin), No Strings Attached, Shaker Dog (alternative rock), Texas God (Austin rock) and Undiskovered. Mike hooked up with Evan in ‘89 and has always been Deacon Willie’s man behind the beat.
John DuFour is on bass and vocals, keepin’ the groove in the pocket. He’s been playing in the Austin area for 15 years with bands like Necessary Noise (rock), Shaker, Jimmy and the Jump Katz (soul, R&B variety) and Groovetones (R&B funk), to name a few. John started playing with Deacon Willie back in 1997.
TAWk
he ingenious soul of TAWk remains hidden behind the veils of alchemy. The experience and innovative style of TAWk has been a part of a cultural movement for over a decade, where sound has been redefined for simply the love of it. TAWk's unique sound is eclectic, innovative, euphoric in style, its intonation is incomparable to the mainstream.
Using the scriptures of life, there can only exist the passion for music. TAWk can assess an artist’s energy, talent and change the ordinary into extraordinary. As a visionary, it utilizes its personal life experiences and achievements to enhance the musical landscape of a melange of artists including such artists as Nile, Drum and Bass impresario's Goldie, Groove Rider, and Adam F; Trip Hop artist Martina Topley-Bird; Alternative Pop group Travis.
Unpredictable, esoteric, this avatar of music bridges cultures, gender and genre under the universal symbol of Tawk. It's more than a sound, it's a movement, peace... http://www.myspace.com/iiitawk http://iiitawk.com
Shapes Have Fangs
www.myspace.com/shapeshavefangs Garage torchbearers Shapes Have Fangs were backing '60s psych legend Sky Saxon until his recent and untimely passing, but they show no intention of slowing their proselytizing for short, fuzzed-out pop anthems in the tradition of The Kinks. A vintage r&b-based sound with overtones of Link Wray, these kids are ideal keepers of the flame.
Oscure has been one of the integral pioneers of the Los Angeles Underground Dance music scene, djing, producing and remixing music. His turntable skills and track selections, Destroy dancefloors leaving fans hungry for more. Make sure to catch his set to understand why the call “L.A.’s Breakbeat Titan”. Visit www.oscure.com for more info.
The Sideshow Tragedy
“This is a record about movement, both literal and otherwise. It’s traveling with a rock band, leaving where you are, wishing you were somewhere else, being homesick, or just changing your mind…”–The Sideshow Tragedy
www.myspace.com/ochalarocha An indisputable feast for the cosmic cowboy, Georgia’s Ocha La Rocha is a tastemaking machine. Exciting West Coast psych country with several shots of soulful southern rock, no one worth their shitkickers will be in want of anything more, ROCHA is sufficed enough. If you can figure out how they can weave such vibrant, lush timbres into a sparse-sounding rockscape, congratulations. Look for plenty of r&b soaked swinging as well to further champion the southern swagger. Truly the wizards of massive southwestern psychedelic magic.
WeebleWobbleWhompMobile, created by Kelly Hertz of SDC Productions, was inspired by his experiences at Burning Man. It is a pedicab with a sound system and DJ set-up, making an instant portable dance party. Seen at Flipside 2009 and various events in Houston.
Cartright
www.myspace.com/cartrightmusic Cartright songs sound like what a sailor on shore leave during the War of 1812 would hum as he stumbled home from the barrelhouse saloon. Part band, part traveling circus, their act is raw and beautifully evocative of distant lands and times, and reminiscent of that blissful night in your youth when you sat with your friends around a campfire and circulated a guitar, a bottle of port, and a strain of herb that would never grow so perfectly again.
Smoke and Feathers
www.myspace.com/smokeandfeathers If you fancy turning into a thick layer of fog & rolling through the Art-side on your trip this weekend, then Smoke & Feathers of the ATX is your ticket to ride. Ultra vaporous, relaxed & rich with the obscurity found in ‘70s Pink Floyd, S & F taps into the essential ingredient in good psych – it’s haunting. This is the bending of rock 'n' roll to a taffy-pulling crawl. Let these scene newcomers waft you to the other side, this is the closest you’ll come to hovering over Apache Pass this weekend. Fly bird fly.
THAT Damned Band
THAT Damned Band sounds like a circus train wreck into a hobo camp where some eastern europeans and jews are learning Irish drinking songs from Tom Waits. THAT Damned Band is an accordion driven group of multi-talented songsters, which pay musical tribute to Eastern European, Yiddish vaudeville era music and styles. THAT Damned Band features a unique arrangement that includes Accordion, Clarinet, Jug, flute, saw, Resonator Guitar, Washtub bass, Tuba, Drums, and washboard. An emotionally charged musical set is spiced up with gags and puppets by Lowrent the clown, and occasionally by REAL LIVING HUMAN ODDITIES.
Fifth Nation
"The seductive soundtrack of souls combined. A flight to the heavens and back down to earth again. It writhes with the pulse of the universe. Fueled by love and determined to witness a brighter future, Fifth Nation is a sonic catalyst for environmental consciousness."
www.myspace.com/theastronautsuit THE ASTRONAUT SUIT’s honey-soaked brand of psychedelia is nothing short of a soul-stirrer. Their direct assignment to serve as a vessel & issue the innervisionary result, materializes into a native throb. True to the spirit of the modern psych scene, The Suit's primitive rhythms take you on a sojourn & transfixes the collective around you. It’s this very facet that will endear this assemblage as one of the very best examples of contemporary psychedelic rocknroll & you would be remiss to pass this set up. Grab your friends & jump in. The nexus of Apache Pass will transcendwith The Astronaut Suit.
Stefanko Selecta
Stevhen Koji Iancu is a Japanese/Romanian British Immigrant who puts together a fiery blend of Gypsy music, fusing older Japanese styles of Enka with subtle elements of Cumbia, Ska, Punk, Balkan and Romanian music, and many other styles from around the world. Iancu sings energetic, rhythmically driven songs about life's hardships and beauties in Japanese, Romanian, English, and Italian. He is the founder and primary member of The Dolomites, a constantly evolving band that has performed in many configurations at festivals, colleges and other venues across America, Europe and Japan. Iancu has also performed with numerous groups, including Balkan Beat Box, and was a touring member of Gogol Bordello.
www.myspace.com/theboxinglesson You would be hard pressed to discover anything as curious as utilizing the sounds of deep space for a psychedelic rock song, but that is exactly what you’ll unearth when experiencing The Boxing Lesson live. Soundscaping their tunes to the nth degree, TBL injects its catalog with moog synthesizers directly inspired by the planet's audible transmissions in lieu of a bass to take you on a soaring journey. They are Austin’s space rock explorers bringing the listener a psychedelic prog rock experience few could master so well. Curiouser still, The Lesson further laces select tunes with a very danceable gripping drive that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes for a true, and very welcome, trip through space.
Geronimo
www.myspace.com/geronimoson Raised on the outskirts of a wilderness-choked village whose name translates into English as "Love," where the missionary schoolhouse was, by providence, converted into a neon temple for the native Venus, Geronimo ran away as a teenager, only to emerge from Brazil years later, armed with a guitar, a broken bottle, and primitive yet deadly songs that may be made illegal one day in the US. Since moving to Austin last year, he was voted "Best Singer-Songwriter" at the 2009 South Austin Singer-Songwriter Competition.
Creature Rock
Rhapsodies of unorthodox, imaginative rock, intended to convey a message of self expression and growth of being.
www.myspace.com/thelittlegentlemen Sure, these Austin locals might sound warm and fuzzy, but don't let their pop sensibilities fool you: paint them into a cuddly corner, and like a wounded coyote the Gents' rhythms will lash and their guitars will bite. Coming off the release of their first full-length album, I Quit Nothing, they keep the spirit of Buddy Holly alive while infusing it with a sound and energy all their own.
Acid Tomb
www.myspace.com/acidtomb The revolutionary collection of the 13th Floor Elevators could not be in more capable hands for a right proper tribute then Austin’s own The Alice Rose and Jungle Rocker Michael Molnar in Acid Tomb. Although admired by The Austin Chronicle’s “Off The Record” as the town’s Best Cover Band 2008, Acid Tomb goes above and beyond the cover category to grant even the most hardcore ‘Vators fan an infectious and hypnotic vision of the famed material. Electric jug and all, Acid injects this pioneering classic psych rock with the unmistakable charisma & vibrations that are signatures of The Alice Rose. On the other end of the psych-trum, The Alice Rose debut their current groundbreaking psycho-delica songbook on Saturday, October 10th as Planet Rye Co. Program your phones, check both eras this weekend.
Woven Bones
www.myspace.com/wovenbones The dirtiest guitars in all of Psychedelia, these Telecaster Terrorists make wallowing in the muck sound like so much fun, you can't help but want to join in. Stripping rock down to it's bare skeleton, Woven Bones replaces flesh with fuzz and reanimates the corpse into a ghoulish puppet dance through primal howls and tribal beats on such aptly named slices of psych as Your Sorcery. A fiendish delight.
Lower Heaven
www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomlowerheaven Lower Heaven embraces the darkness of 80s shoegaze while innovating the genre through inspired twists, like heavy use of the idiosyncratic Autoharp. The California trio specializes in sending gorgeously textured waves of cascading sounds sweeping across your cerebral cortex, gently massaging you into a place somewhere between waking life and dream. One listen, and you'll be seduced into a world of shadows, where time slows to a crawl and each moment hovers orb-like in space, inviting contemplation and introspection.
Y
www.myspace.com/yurock Like a psychedelic Jack Black, this born entertainer entrances crowds around the globe through his musical gifts and lyrics that might seem like ironic put-ons coming from anyone else, yet feel strangely sincere through his altogether unique delivery and winning stage persona, which you soon realize is not a persona at all.
Amplified Heat
www.myspace.com/amplifiedheat Amplified Heat is one-part rent party, one-part rocknroll event. They bring it low, they bring it down, & they bring it dirtier than you ever thought you could blush. Delivering psychedelic blues rocknroll heavy with electrified boogie, these 3 blood brothers have been putting Austin locals to shame for years with their raw authenticity. The Austin Chronicle got it right when they said The Heat turns out “skuzzy blues hearkening back to a time when rock and roll was something to fear." Effortlessly summoning power trios of their psych-blues-boogie forebears ZZ Top, Cream, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Ortiz stoke their instruments with feverish fire so hot, it’s a wonder their wall of vintage Fender amps haven’t spontaneously combusted along with your mind. Hide your girlfriends, hide your wives, for as Blue Cheer’s Dickie Peterson says, The Heat is “cookin’!!”
Golden Animals
www.myspace.com/goldenanimals Plenty of working bands conjure up the sights and sounds of the 60s, but few embody the spirit as fully as Golden Animals' Linda and Tommy, two shooting star troubadours in the world of underground psychedelia. Their dramatic reinterpretations of fundamental American folk rock, coupled with their captivating live show, have been entrancing audiences here and across the pond. Truly a magical duo, these spellcasters transfix all in their radius until your molecules dance to their every vibration.
The Chibas
www.myspace.com/thechibas The Chibas have been spreading the garage gospel through their primitive psychedelic swamp rock one house party at a time, and converting unsaved souls to the Church of Lowdown Gutbucket Blues. Their aggressive recruitment tactics include feedback lashings, slide guitar rave-ups, and baptisms of fuzz designed to break your spirit until you have welcomed their forthcoming vinyl TaeKwonBlues into your heart and accepted Rock ‘n’ Roll as your Lord and personal savior.
Damon Moon and the Whispering Drifters
www.myspace.com/dmatwd These Georgian minstrels traffic in whiskey-soaked folk jams and rootsy ballads replete with haunting lap steel and boozy blues harp. As the name implies, their new album Meridian Road evokes the lonely and brutal world of a Cormac MacCarthy novel. Grab a flask of bathtub hooch and howl along with the Moon.
Planet Rye Co
www.myspace.com/planetryeco With Planet Rye Co on stage, nothing is held sacred. A studio project kept under wraps by pop-favorites The Alice Rose since 2001, the members of Planet Rye Co have experimented with every sound they can get their hands on, knitting a covert factory of paranormal psychedelic hits along the way. The band's mood can morph from beautifully strange to uninhibitedly absurd from one song to the next, always seamlessly, and always without warning. Their public debut will feature a cast of characters ready and able to play the first instrument they grab while unveiling plenty of new theatrical surprises.
James Moran
James Moran was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He lived there until Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the hurricane James started traveling the Southern United States playing his music in as many places as possible. He settled in Austin, Texas early in 2008 and has become a semi established musician in Austin and the surrounding cities. He's currently working on putting a band together and can't wait to come out with a full band album.
Framing Strangers is a 4-piece indie rock band with two female vocalists, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, Moog, and the occasional xylophone, handclaps, and violin. Framing Strangers came together after three random fans of Amanda Rosalie (yes, we were all strangers) asked to join her solo project. With the addition of Amy's vocal harmonies and keys, Charles's percussion, and Jon's bass, the music took on a danceable, compelling and altogether unpredictable melodic sound. We have been described as urban rock with jazz-styled phrasing and conversationally narrative lyrics that reflect real life emotions and experiences. Amanda's gift for incorporating catchy melodies and unusual chord progressions, combined with our varied backgrounds in indie rock, alt country, heavy metal, a cappella, and jazz, provides a welcome challenge for the band and, we hope, a unique listening experience for the audience. www.myspace.com/framingstrangers
Artificial Life Preserver
Artificial Life Preserver has been creating ambient electro-acoustic soundscapes since 2006. The ALP live set fetures Jen Mulhern on the cello, Mike hale on the drums, and Aaron Anthony on the sequencer. ALP covers a wide veriety of sonic landscape from ambient downtempo to electro-acoustic breaks. With releases on Psymbolic Sounds and Latchkey Records ALP is sure to bring you a night of experimental crossover electronic music not to be missed. www.artificiallifepreserver.org
What I do is play my favorite music!. What people mostly compliment me on is diversity.... They say my music is unlike anything they have ever heard... it's just so happy. And the hoop girls seem to follow me everywhere i go. =)
