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Night Drive plays one of the Parish's first shows back, plus more Austin music picks for late February

Music Notes

Photo by Daniel Cavazos

Well, Austin, now that you’ve hacked and chainsawed enough fallen tree limbs for a lifetime, let’s get you back on the live music train. Below you’ll find a handful of quality shows that are in the remainder of February.

Night Drive at the Parish – Thursday, February 16
After being shut down due to damage sustained from a fire, the Parish is back in business. Head there this Thursday, February 16, to celebrate their re-opening and to dance the night away with a trio of synth-leaning acts – Night Drive, Urban Heat, and Holy Wire. Tickets for the show are $15.

Good Looks at Sagebrush – Friday, February 17
The oft-buzzed about Good Looks haven’t played Austin since ACL Fest, so don’t miss out on the chance to see them at Sagebrush this Friday, February 17. The indie rockers will be joined by Indoor Creature. By the way, you should buy tickets in advance, as the price jumps from $12 to $18 the day of the show.

Slomo Drags at Hotel Vegas – Tuesday, February 21
Jackson Albracht, the frontman for power pop act Slomo Drags, is having himself a birthday party at Hotel Vegas on Tuesday, February 21. His band will headline a great lineup that also includes Billy Glitter, the Magic Rockers of Texas, and Burgess Meredith. Tickets for the show are $10.

Redbud at the Ballroom – Friday, February 24
Redbud have a noteworthy new EP out – it’s called Long Night, and the release party for it is happening at the Ballroom on Friday, February 24. Sleep Well, About You, and Font will all serve as support for the breezy indie pop band. Tickets are $12.

Austin Music Awards at the Mohawk – Sunday, February 26
The 41st Annual Austin Music Awards are set to take place at the Mohawk on Sunday, February 26. Be there to not only cheer on the winners of the Austin Chronicle Music Poll, but to see performances by Jackie Venson, Como Las Movies (with Sabrina Ellis), the Keeled Scales Family Band (featuring members of Good Looks, The Deer, and Sun June), and more. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit the SIMS Foundation.

Photo by Sydney Mike-Mayer

TC Superstar kicks off Tiny Texas Tour, plus more Austin show picks for late January

Music Notes

If you missed out on the many great local shows that happened in the first part of January, the good news is there are still plenty of noteworthy gigs on the schedule for the back half of the month. Here’s what should be on your radar.

Night Cap at Continental Club – January 19-21
The Continental Club is set to host three nights of Night Cap this week. Advance tickets to see the alt-rock band on Friday and Saturday are sold out, but you can still guarantee your way in for the performance on Thursday. Otherwise, a small number of tickets will be available at the door each night. Tickets are $15. Support is as follows:

January 19 – Barfield, The Tyrant of Texas Funk
January 20 – Vision Arcade, Caroline Hale
January 21 – Shooks, Hollywood Jones

TC Superstar at Empire – January 19
Synth pop act TC Superstar have lined up a “Tiny Texas Tour” and the kickoff play for it will be at Empire this Thursday, January 19. Joining the collaborative performance group will be Marxus Bell and Flora & Fawn. Tickets for the show are $12.

A Giant Dog at Chess Club – January 20-21
Punk rock vets A Giant Dog will be performing at Chess Club on back-to-back nights this week. Blue Jean Queen and Geranium Drive round out the bill on Friday, January 20, and Nevil, TV's Daniel, and HOT///CAKES will serve as support on Saturday, January 21. Tickets for each night are $30.66.

Pleasure Venom at Hotel Vegas – January 27
Pleasure Venom’s debut album, Rebirth/Return, has been out for a month or so, but the release show for it is just now coming around – head to Hotel Vegas on Friday, January 27 to get in on the fun. Otis the Destroyer and BONDBREAKR will open for the fierce punk rockers. Tickets are $10.

Trouble In The Streets at Empire – January 27
Versatile rockers Trouble in the Streets will be playing at Empire on Friday, January 27, to celebrate the release of the first single from their impending album, Satisfy Saturn. Support for the evening includes Viben and The Submersibles and Casual T. Tickets are $10.

Holy Wave at Feels So Good – January 28
Holy Wave will be bringing their dreamy, psych rock sounds to Feels So Good on Saturday, January 28. Marry Cherry and Bernardo Mountainair will open the show. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 the day of. Complimentary drinks included.

Jackie Venson kicks off residency at Antone's, plus more Austin music picks for the start of January

Music Notes

New year, new you, new shows. Here are some local gigs you should try to get out for in the first part of January, from the return of the annual Free Week to month-long residencies you should definitely have on your radar.

FREE WEEK – January 2-7
Red River Cultural District’s annual FREE WEEK is currently underway. If you’re looking to participate, here are six shows that should be on your radar. For more information on participating venues, check out our previous coverage, or visit redriverculturaldistrict.org.

  • Thursday, January 5: The wild and heavy Tear Dungan will play the Mohawk with Big Bill, Megafauna, Bad Markings, Exotic Fruits, and Exercise.
  • Friday, January 6: Post punk act Urban Heat is headlining a bill at Elysium which will includesRosegarden Funeral Party and Curse Mackey. Soul rocker Chief Cleopatra is playing Stubb’s along with Blue Tongue and Midnight Snack.
  • Saturday, January 7: Indie stalwarts The Bright Light Social Hour will play at Empire with Shelly Knicks, Billy Glitter, Prixo, Foxtales, and The Selfless Lovers. Post punkers Sailor Poon are set to play at Chess Club with Being Dead, Orvy, and Transy Warhol. Psych pop band Annabelle Chairlegs will perform at Hotel Vegas with Queen Serene, Heavy Meddo, and Chuck (Emily NG).

Jackie Venson at Antone’s – January 7, 14, 21, 28
Guitar virtuoso Jackie Venson is set to kick off a residency at Antone’s this Saturday, January 7. Openers for each Saturday show are as follows: Kydd Jones for January 7, We Don’t Ride Llamas for January 14, The Tiarras for January 21, and Aaron Stephens for January 28. Each gig is $20. (And in case you missed it, Venson recently went viral.)

Ley Line & Buffalo Hunt at Antone’s – January 12
If you love great vocal work, then be sure to swing by Antone’s on Thursday, January 12 for a loaded double bill featuring the folk-leaning Ley Line and the versatile Buffalo Hunt. Tickets are $20.

Why Bonnie & Sun June at Antone’s – January 15
Two great up-and-coming indie acts are set to play Antone’s on Sunday, January 15. Yes, it’s a school night, but Why Bonnie and Sun June are certainly worth the effort. Redbud will open the show. Tickets are $18.

Photo by Olivia Wolf

11 must-see artists from Austin and beyond at ACL Fest 2022

Music Notes

It’s game time for two weekends of good times by way of Austin City Limits Music Festival. Since you certainly already have a must-see list comprised of the bigger artists on the lineup, here’s some choice acts — local and otherwise — worth getting down to Zilker Park a bit earlier to see.

Local picks

Spoon
If you call Austin home, you don’t really need to be told to see one of the city’s best bands of all-time. However, just in case you were thinking about skipping them, be sure to note that their 2022 release, Lucifer on the Sofa, plays great in a live setting. You can see them both weekends of the fest on Saturday at 4pm on the Honda stage.

Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos
Adrian Quesada (of Black Pumas) recently put out a solo album, Boleros Psicodélicos, and you’ll be able to check out all of its Latin America-inspired psych ballads during weekend one of ACL. Catch his set on Saturday, October 8, at 2:15 pm on the Honda stage.

Darkbird
Vet rockers Darkbird were supposed to play ACL in 2021, but a weather delay nixed their set. Expect the band, which is fronted by the always-spirted Kelly Barnes, to take full advantage of the do-over. Their only appearance at the fest will be Sunday, October 9 at 1:15 pm on the BMI stage.

Eric Tessmer
After a couple decades of dutiful shredding around Austin, guitar great Eric Tessmer has finally found his way onto an ACL lineup. His sure-to-be explosive turn at the fest is a weekend one only experience – see it on Sunday, October 9, at 5 pm on the BMI stage.

Good Looks
Indie rock act Good Looks are responsible for Bummer Year, one of the better albums to come out of Austin in 2022, so of course you should have them on your ACL radar. Catch this weekend two-only band on Saturday, October 15, at 1pm on the Tito’s stage.

Urban Heat
Get your new wave/post punk fix via Urban Heat during weekend two of ACL. The buzzy act, who recently put out an EP titled Wellness, will perform on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the BMI stage.


Non-local picks

Muna
LA’s own Muna, who are signed to Phoebe Bridgers' Saddest Factory imprint, head into ACL on a wave of acclaim for their 2022 self-titled album. The pop act has just a weekend one set on Sunday, October 9, at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage.

Dehd
Dehd’s Blue Skies is loaded with some of the catchiest indie rock tracks you’ll find on any album in 2022, and that’s reason enough to catch them at ACL. The Chicagoans play both weekends – look for them each Sunday at 1:15 pm on the T-Mobile stage.

Magdalena Bay
Synthpop act Magdalena Bay recently dropped a deluxe edition of their hit 2021 album, Mercurial World, and now they’ll put it on display at ACL. Catch the LA-based act both weekends of the fest on Sunday at 4 pm on the Tito’s stage.

Wet Leg
Wet Leg had quite a bit of buzz heading into this year’s SXSW and the fervor surrounding the British indie rockers has only increased with the release of their self-titled debut album, which includes the infectious single “Chaise Longue.” The band is a weekend two-only play, and their set is Friday, October 14 at 2:30 pm on the Honda stage.

Faye Webster
The dreamy, gentle sounds of singer/songwriter Faye Webster will be a treat in the middle of the afternoon at Zilker Park. Be sure to catch the Atlanta-based artist during her weekend two-only appearance on Sunday, October 16 at 3 pm on the Barton Springs stage. By the way, don’t be surprised if Webster and her bandmates engage in some sweet yo-yo action.

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9 grilled, chilled, and oddity-filled events on Father's Day weekend

Father's Day Weekend Events

With all its events and activities, Austin is always a good place to spend some time with dad. But this Father's Day is even more packed with opportunities to celebrate fathers and father figures with the gift of an unforgettable experience. Connect with family and loved ones June 16-18 in local-approved style.

Keep things traditional by breaking bread with your old man at brunch day parties and with special dinner menus. For the dads who prefer a bit of spontaneity, live concerts and curiosity collections on display offer up alternative ways to create memories during this family-focused holiday.

Check out these nine cool things to do with your dad this Father’s Day Weekend, and come back for more ideas as we hear about them.

Friday, June 16

Oblivion Access Festival
This local Austin indie music festival is the perfect experience gift for all the dads who rock. The four-day event will occur at various venues across the city, including Mohawk, Valhalla, and Empire Control Room & Garage. More than 60 bands and musicians pepper the setlist, with Faust, Duster, TR/ST, Tim Hecker, and Godflesh as some of the headliners. Get a full schedule of events and tickets at oblivionaccessfestival.com.

Saturday, June 17

Lake Austin Spa Resort's Father’s Day packages
Give Pops the gift of indulgent relaxation with the help of Lake Austin Spa Resort’s newest father-focused packages. Gift cards are available for Dad to use on his own, or couples celebrating together can try the “My Guy and I” package, which includes a massage for two, lunch from the spa’s Aster Cafe, a pool cabana rental, and more. Guests can also take advantage of a 60-minute facial experience featuring a range of products from the luxe Swiss skincare line, Valmont. Visit lakeaustin.com for booking details.

Oddities & Curiosities Expo
Tap into you and your Dad’s shared inner quirkiness when you explore all things strange and unusual on display at the Palmer Events Center. The expo will showcase oddities from 150 vendors offering wares including taxidermy, Halloween-inspired artwork, skulls, antiques, and more. Guests can also enjoy photo ops, tarot readings, concessions, and sideshow performances. Get more details at odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com.

Sunday, June 18

Meanwhile Brewing Co. presents a Father’s Day Party with Thinkery
Meanwhile Brewing Co. welcomes fathers and their kiddos to the brewery morning of family-friendly fun for all ages. Thinkery will host two STEAM-inspired children’s projects while parents enjoy their own age-appropriate activities in the taproom. Food trucks on locations will serve lunch and brunch menu offerings to fuel the creative process. Admission to this event is free and open to the public with reservation. RSVP on meanwhilebeer.com.

Mozart Coffee Roasters presents a Father's Day Cherry Pie Eating Contest
Encourage your father’s sweet tooth with a side of friendly competition at Mozart's Coffee Roasters. Participants will have eight minutes to eat as much cherry pie as possible, with the winner being the person who eats the most. Prizes include Mozart's coffee, swag, gift cards, and a sunset boat ride on Lake Austin for the 1st place winner. Admission is free and open to the public. Get more information on how to enter the contest on Eventbrite.

EncoreATX presents a Father's Day Brunch + Day Party
Party with your parents at this lively XO Nightclub Austin event. Highlights of this midday bash include a full bar, a brunch menu featuring chicken and waffles, greens, mac and cheese, yams, and DJ sets. In addition to brunch, the venue makes a slight departure from its usual hip-hop soundtrack, promising "RnB vibes." Large parties are welcome, so the whole family can get in on the fun. Get tickets and more menu information on Eventbrite.

Father’s Day at Perry’s
Elevated Texas steakhouse Perry’s invites fathers and their families to a culinary experience of dad-approved fare. Dine with Dad early for brunch and enjoy a variety of specialty, off-the-menu cocktails. Evening menu items include a three-course pork chop supper, a 22-ounce, bone-in prime rib steak, and other decadent dishes suitable for a king. Reserve a table and get additional menu information on perryssteakhouse.com.

William Chris Vineyards presents its Annual Hog & Goat Roast
Venture out to the acclaimed William Chris Vineyards and give your dad a day off from manning the grill. Guests to the annual roast can feast on slow-cooked hog and goat prepared by the winery’s on-site culinary team, while taking in views of the vineyard and the Texas Hill Country. Wine specials will also be available throughout the event. Purchase tickets to the roast at shop.williamchriswines.com.

Sway presents a Father’s Day Grill Out
Swanky Austin Thai eatery Sway brings "an interactive grill station" to its patio for a family-style culinary experience with Father’s Day flair. Special dishes include smoked meat options, the restaurant’s first-ever burger, and a Thai coffee ice cream sandwich. If a day at Sway sounds great without the grilled options, the regular menu will still be available. Make your reservations on swaythai.com.

Cheers cast reunites in Austin, plus more highlights from the ATX TV Festival

30 years after turning the lights off on the bar, the cast of Cheers reunited in Austin this month. While there were a few cast members missing, including Texan Woody Harrelson, three of the main men of the classic '80s series were on hand for the ATX TV Festival. But that's not all that happened at the fest.

Cheers Reunion

Photo by Jack Plunkett.

Members of the Cheers cast reunite at ATX TV Festival.

The four day celebration of television kicked things off on Thursday, June 1, with an Outlander panel. It just so happened to be World Outlander Day and Catriona Balfe was in attendance. She joined a discussion about what it's like to work both in front of the camera and behind. She even gave the electrified audience a tease of some things that are to come in Season 7 of the groundbreaking series, premiering June 16 on Starz.

Later that afternoon, audiences got a sneak peek of an episode of Manifest, which returned for its final season on Netflix the following day. Following the screening, cast members of Manifest, Justified, and a handful of other projects featured at the fest walked the opening night red carpet.

Highlights from Friday, June 2, included presentations of Primo, Minx, Accused, and Cruel Summer, and a Shark Tank discussion that included Austinite Kendra Scott.

But the biggest highlight of the night was the Cheers reunion: Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger, and George Wendt walked onto the stage at ACL Live amidst raucous applause. The trio, along with co-creator James Burrows, enjoyed a drink earlier in the day at Dumont's Down Low while shooting a segment for The Today Show.

Sadly, there were no female cast members present for the event and though we were hoping for a surprise appearance from Woody Harrelson, one never came. The evening was a success regardless. The gentlemen are just as entertaining as ever, making the sold out audience clap, laugh, and cheer for more.

Danson stuck around for a chat with wife Mary Steenburgen which started out Saturday's programming. Jury Duty packed 800 Congress, as did Mayans BC, while a panel on the WGA strike educated festival goers on the demands of the entertainment union.

Saturday night's main event was a screening and Q&A with the cast and creators of Righteous Gemstones. All main cast members were is attendance. That means Danny McBride, John Goodman, Adam Devine, and Edi Patterson were all there. Like the Cheers reunion, the event took place at ACL Live and was open to non-festival goers who could buy standalone tickets.

The addition of the ACL venue was one of this year's biggest success stories. Addressing the crowd post screening, Devine said that the viewing experience was pretty insane: "You don't get a chance to watch the show with, I'm gonna say, 25,000 people," he joked.

The final day gave fans a look at the upcoming Prime Video docuseries The Ride, which follows a group of bull riders throughout the PBR Team Series — including the Austin Gamblers.

Austin resident Christy Carlson Romano and co-founder of PodCo hosted a podcasting panel with fellow podcasters who previously starred on hit TV shows in the '90s and early 2000s. Stars of The Wizards of Waverly Place and Ned's Declassified took part, as well as the Lawrence brothers: Joey, Matthew, and Andy Lawrence.

Finally, yours truly hosted a panel with The Women of the Good Doctor where we discussed the series' most impactful storylines, what it's like to be a woman in the entertainment business, and what to expect in season 7 of the ABC series.

The ATX Television Festival launched in Austin in 2012. This was the 12th season for the homegrown TV extravaganza.

Alt-rockers Wilco set Austin date on major U.S. tour this fall

Music That Might Change Your Life

Alt-rock band Wilco has added a series of dates across the United States to its 2023 "Cruel Country" tour, including a stop at Waterloo Park's Moody Amphitheater in Austin on Friday, September 29. The band will coming from Dallas the day before.

The tour, which had already revealed 20 dates in Europe in August and September, will start in Wichita, Kansas, on September 25. The U.S. leg will include 22 shows through October 27.

The tour is in support of Wilco's most recent album, 2022’s Cruel Country, a two-disc album that was released to critical acclaim. The record is the band's 12th of their career, dating back to their 1995 debut, A.M. The name Wilco does not refer to Williamson County (sadly for locals), but radio lingo short for "will comply." The alt-country band defined the genre for many, known for gentle jams and poetic lyrics like in "Jesus, etc."

In addition to the tour, Wilco fans can look forward to the release of frontman Jeff Tweedy's new book, World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music, which will be released on November 7. The book is mix of memories, music, and inspiration built around the 50-plus songs that changed Tweedy’s life.

Ticket sales for the Austin show will begin with a presale on Wednesday, June 7 at 10 am, ahead of the general on-sale on Friday, June 9 at 10 am at Ticketmaster.com.

Wilco Tour Dates

  • Mon. Sept. 25 - Wichita, KS @ Wave
  • Tue. Sep. 26 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
  • Thu. Sep. 28 - Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
  • Fri. Sep. 29 - Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater @ Waterloo Park
  • Sun. Oct. 1 - Albuquerque, NM @ Kiva Auditorium
  • Tue. Oct. 3 - Scottsdale, AZ @ Scottsdale Civic Center East Bowl Stage
  • Wed. Oct. 4 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
  • Thu. Oct. 5 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
  • Fri. Oct. 6 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel
  • Sun. Oct. 8 - Monterey, CA @ Rebels & Renegades Festival
  • Wed. Oct. 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
  • Fri. Oct. 13 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theatre
  • Sat. Oct. 14 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
  • Mon. Oct. 16 - Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
  • Tue. Oct. 17 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
  • Wed. Oct. 18 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
  • Fri. Oct. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Eccles Theater
  • Sun. Oct. 22 - Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
  • Mon. Oct. 23 - Omaha, NE @ The Astro Theater
  • Wed. Oct. 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
  • Thu. Oct. 26 - St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
  • Fri. Oct. 27 - Bentonville, AR @ The Momentary
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