Sunset

Austin has many slogans, and most of them are lame. “Keep Austin weird!” shouts an endless stream of tie-dyed tshirts wandering around downtown (ed- how, um, weird). “The live music capital of the world!” is another favorite, but often the “Austin sound” conjures distant notes of Stevie Ray Vaughn or other equally dull country rock of the past.

Well, let me tell you. There’s a lot more happening here than any of that. There are a ton of amazing, tiny, artist-led initiatives in Austin. Galleries and record labels and house shows are happening in obscure spots all over the city, and it is truly creating a vibrant DIY community that shines far after the glow of South By Southwest or Austin City Limits festival have faded. Particularly vibrant right now are several tiny labels producing amazing bands. My favorite label right now is Autobus Records. Autobus is run more or less out of a recording studio built from a haphazard former seafood restaurant (complete with creepy mermaid murals on the walls) on Austin’s ever changing eastside. This label laims claim to a host of treasures, but chief among them are my two favorite local bands right now, Sunset and Brazos.

Both bands are setting out on the road this fall: Sunset is playing with a variety of bands and Brazos is playing in support of another local favorite of mine, White Denim.  These boys in particular have gone big time, another link in the chain of strong local bands with wonderful national support.

WHITE DENIM – Shake Shake Shake from ACIDBIRD on Vimeo.

There’s no excuse not to catch these amazing talents that capture the true “sound” of this vibrant little city.