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May 2011 be your biggest year yet, Achachay!
p.s.- apparently my mom wore a toga to this New Year’s Eve Eve show?
November 4, 2010
Austin: Fun Fun Fun Fest Parties
The first Fun Fun Fun Fest was in 2006, and the music-ish festival quickly became known as an only-in-Austin sort of festival that focuses on independent music and comedy in Waterloo Park. If it’s any indication, Weird Al Yankovic (of Amish Paradise fame … anyone?) is one of the acts. I didn’t even know he toured anymore! The Fest is put on by Transmission Entertainment, The Austinist, Giant Noise, Ground CTRL, Guerilla Suit, and Jakprints.
As per this is life in austin usual, I’m certain you can find the regular schedule by picking up a freaking google. I’m here to present all the pre- and after-parties!
All these are within walking distance from the park, so you can literally party all day and night …
THURSDAY: FFF FREE KICK OFF PARTIES (NO COVER!)
OFFICIAL FFF KICK OFF @ Club de Ville: Helio Sequence, TBA (FREE show, brought to you by Toyota Matrix and Mike’s Hard Punch)
Mohawk: Austinist presents its annual “Local Music is Sexy” w/ Bill Baird, Weird Weeds, Watch out for Rockets, Markov, Botnay, Amasa Gana, Sleep Good, Mutual Benefit, Dana Falconberry, Rayon Beach, Sally Crewe (FREE)
Red 7: Inquisition and more (FREE).
FRIDAY: FFF OFFICIAL AFTERPARTIES (ALL are $5 w/ fest wristband, $10 w/out)
Club de Ville: 16 Deluxe, Smoke and Feathers, Royal Butchers (out)// The Moaners, David Dondero (inside)
Mohawk: Gorilla vs Bear Presents: Special Guest, Memory Tapes, Sleep Over (out)//Fol Chen, Soft Healer, TBA
Red 7: Dead to Me, Cobra Skulls, Toys That Kill, The Arrivals, Shanghai River, The Stampede
ND: Peligrosa Dance Party
Parish: Big Sam’s Funky Nation (New Orleans Funk), w/ DJ Mahealani (FUNk FUNk FUNk pt 1)
Beerland: Faun Fables, Death is Not a Joyride, Little Teeth
Beauty Bar: Dam-funk DJ set, Bon Jay, Richard Henry.
SATURDAY: FFF OFFICIAL AFTERPARTIES (ALL are $5 w/ fest wristband, $10 w/out)
Red 7: Scream (DC hc legends), TBA, TBA, the Impalers
Mohawk: Special Guest, Joan of Arc, tba w/ Dum Dum Girls DJ set (out) Kuroma (members of MGMT and Whigs), Intelligence,
Beerland: the Flatliners, Off with Their Heads, Snips
Broken Neck: Outbreak, Hour of the Wolf, Red City Radio, Cruel Hand, Backtrack, Aficianado
ND: Austin Surreal/Proper Ent presents: Live MCs: Perseph One, Kydd, The Nice Guys. DJ sets by: Rapid Rick, Waajeed, DJ Mel, DJ Dus and special DJ sets by Jean Grae and Devin the Dude (sponsored by Smoke ATX)
Parish: Foot Patrol w/ DJ I Wanna Be Her (FUNk FUNk FUNk pt 2)
Beauty Bar: Delorean DJ set, Jacques Renault DJ, Learning secrets DJs, Lemonade, Cowabunga Babes, Burger City DJ (Presented by Learning Secrets)
Scoot inn: Knuckle Rumbler’s “Bizzoounce” w/ Katey Red, B.E.B., The Glitoris (dj set), DJ Rusty Lazer
Headhunters: Mobile Death Camp, Infernaeon, Demontuary, Indisgust, Misery
SUNDAY: FFF OFFICIAL FREE AFTERPARTIES (FREE w/ fest wristband, $5 w/out)
Red 7: Special Guest, Mammoth Grinder, Ratking
Mohawk: Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s, Sonny and the Sunsets, Golden Triangle, Jookabox, (+ Karaoke Underground)
Beauty Bar: Yelle DJ set
Beerland: The Applicators, The Motards
Alright kids, that’s some serious music. I may not be that cool, but I’ve at least heard of most of the bands. So get out there this weekend and have some fun fun fun!
October 7, 2010
ACL: Austin City Limits Fest Guide
You absolutely cannot miss:
Four Seasons Austin ACL Pre-Show
Looking across the river towards the Back Lawn, where you will enjoy fabulous music and delicious tacos…
KUT 90.5 and Four Seasons Hotel Austin invite locals and festival visitors to experience a more intimate side of Austin City Limits with a pre-show broadcast from the hotel’s gorgeous Back Lawn. Check out 30 to 40-minute sets by awesome ACL fest artists:
9am: Sahara Smith
10am: Blind Pilot (coincidentally played Aspen’s Belly Up this past Sunday night)
11am: Spoon
Noon: Robert Randolph and the Family Band
The event is open to the public on a first-come, first served basis. Admission is JUST $5, which includes a breakfast taco! All proceeds benefit the Shivers Cancer Center at Seton Hospital. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite chair or blanket to relax … Friday, October 8 from 9am-1pm on the Back Lawn of Four Seasons Hotel Austin (98 San Jacinto Blvd.)
RUMOR: Saturday, Oct. 9 – ACL afterparty with The xx @ Malverde (400 W. 2nd St. Austin, TX) – RSVP info TBA.
My ACL survival guide (updated from ’08):
- What to wear to ACL? Light-colored clothing, with a swimsuit. Girls, you’re inevitably taking your shirt off to hide the sweat running down it, guys, you’re inevitably taking your shirt off because it’s hot as hell. Yes, I hear we will have 80-degree temps. Doesn’t matter, the sun will still be blazing and you will still be hot. It’s Texas. Or it might rain (see woodstock ’09 aka last year). You’ll still be glad you’re wearing a swimsuit.
- Drink lots of water. Yeah, the portapotties suck. But being dehydrated sucks more. Drinking booze is tempting, and sneaking it in is easy, but hydrate first. Drink later in the afternoon, you’ll thank yourself for it later. And you’ll remember at least half the bands you saw.
- Sunscreen. Don’t get cancer, and don’t be miserable for the following two days. Don’t get sunburned, it will make you a thousand times hotter, which is not a place you want to be. Wear some freakin’ sunscreen. Even if it’s cold. SPF 30 please.
- Big, floppy hats / umbrellas / sunglasses / chairs with built in umbrellas / your program / whatever, use it to cool it down.
- Take breaks/naps. Barton Springs, restaurants with a/c, under trees, or under someone else’s chair, as long as you take a respite, it doesn’t matter where.
- Don’t try to drive and park. It never works. A bajillion and a half cabbies and pedicabs are circulating, buses and shuttles are all over the place (free from Republic Square!), or have friends/parents/bums drop you off. The other side (west) of the Mopac bridge is a great place to be dropped off and avoid the crazy Barton Springs Road traffic.
From my commentors:
Sarah: Check out the autograph schedule to get up close and personal with your fav artists: http://www.aclfestival.com/experience/activities/autograph-schedule/
Andrew: Make sure to check out the black keys on Friday 4-5, got to see them in 2008 and it was an unbelievable set.
Edward A. Cross III: Ride a bike to avoid horrible traffic for cars and buses!
Amy: Run across the street to Barton Springs Pool in between your favorite acts for a chance to cool off!
Mitch: Be sure to factor in rest time! After 3-4 hours of seeing shows, you’ll need a couple minutes off your feet to catch your breath.
Have fun, see Phish!
October 6, 2010
Austin: Pre-ACL Shenanigans + Ticket Giveaway! [Winner Announced]
[WINNER! Matt, who suggested crazy costumes!]
Yes, we have a pair of tix to Talib Kweli on Thursday night at Scoot Inn up for grabs! Just post your #1 ACL tip in the comments to enter to win! Could be your fave band to see, outfit suggestions, places to go instead, whateva! As usual, I will use random number generator unless your comment is boring in which case I will randomly generate a different number.
Jay-Z’s famous Black Album rhyme: “If skills sold, truth be told/I’d probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli.” Yeah, you could see that for FREE (or just $22 at the door)
Presented by KnuckleRumblr, the definitive cool-music kids in Austin. They’re also presenting Art Disaster and EA Need for Speed on Thursday, then Amanda Blank on Friday, Etienne De Cracy on Saturday, and The Smoker’s Club (Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T., and Smoke DZA) on Sunday.
Yogasm 2010
lululemon also presents Yogasm to kick off ACL in healthy style on Thursday at Republic Square Park. At 4pm reserve your mat spot & enjoy food vendors, artists & local DJs. The yoga class begins at 6:30 & after the last savasana, MC Yogi will take the stage for his first performance in Austin.
Bright Light Social Hour at Paggi House
Another Thursday happening, free but food and drink will cost ya.
Contest: Post your ACL tip in the comments by 9pm CST on 10/6/2010 to register to win two free tickets to Talib Kweli. Winner announced 10/7!
August 27, 2010
Aspen: BBQ … srsly, it’s so Texas up in here
The First Annual Big Aspen Barbecue Block Party takes place at the base of Aspen Mountain this Saturday and Sunday, August 28 – 29, 2010, from noon – 7pm. The sister event of New York City’s much-beloved barbecue extravaganza that includes food, music, seminars, and more.
There are a bunch of big names serving up the ‘cue, including, because it’s so Austin up in here, Mike Rodriguez from Salt Lick BBQ. He’s serving up brisket & sausage. Other heavy hitting pitmasters:
- Jim Butchart, Sam’s Smokehouse, Aspen, CO
- Kenny Callaghan, Blue Smoke, New York, NY
- Ryan Hardy, Montagna Restaurant at The Little Nell, Aspen, CO [HAPPY MEAT!!]
- Mike Mills, 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, IL & Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, NV
- Ed Mitchell, The Pit, Raleigh, NC
- Drew Robinson, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Birmingham, AL
Admission to the event is free. Plates from across the country are available from top pitmasters for only $8 per plate.
Proceeds from the Big Aspen Barbecue Block Party support the Aspen Community Foundation, which builds philanthropy and supports nonprofit organizations throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
Despite the fact that I’m from Texas, I don’t love barbecue. People hate to hear this, but it’s true. I don’t like sickly-sweet barbecue sauce, I don’t like the sides for barbecue (potato salad? gag me), I don’t like smoke off the grill. That said, I do love me some grilled meat sans all that other junk, which I’m hoping to get this weekend. YUM!!
August 12, 2010
Aspen: WOLFMOTHER
So it’s late notice, but WOLFMOTHER is playing at Belly Up tonight. Doors at 9p, show at 10. Tix are $50. Word on the street is that Wolfmother puts on one of the best live shows around, so the expense is probably worth it. Belly Up is a crazy-intimate venue, so seeing a show that’s notoriously good live so close is gonna be pretty freakin’ sweet.
I can’t stop saying WOLFMOTHER like they did on 101x awhile ago when Wolfmother came to Austin … it was like a deep baritone, overly dramatic WOLF…MOTHER. Hahaha.
June 30, 2010
Aspen: Thursdays in Snowmass
After Food & Wine, I’d say the next most-talked-about thing by people who have lived or visited Aspen in the summer is “those free outdoor concerts … on the mountain … in Snowmass …” they usually say, as if recalling the good times first and barely letting me break into their reverie for the details of where. It’s technically called the Free Thursday Night Concert Series, and it starts this Thursday at 6:15pm, and every Thursday after that until August 19.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic basket. Beer, wine, and “grilled foods” are for sale, and there are reportedly always people relaxing and chilling and people going nuts and dancing up a storm. Kids play in a bouncy castle with other kids, so it’s pretty perfect.
Here’s the sched:
July 1 – Firefall followed by Fireworks (ha)
July 8 – Beausoleil
July 15 – Papa Grows Funk
July 22 – Pure Prairie League
July 29 – Carrie Rodriguez
August 5 – Tab Benoit
August 12 – Holmes Bros
August 19 – These United States
photo from OntheSnow.com
May 28, 2010
Austin: Memorial Day Weekend’s What to Do
FareCompare had me write a Guest Post on what to do for Memorial Day Weekend. Part of it is excerpted below, and I’ve got two more shindigs added to the bottom of the list:
Memorial Day weekend in Austin means one thing: the lake. Austin’s hot summers call for long days spent in and on the water, and Memorial Day is the official unofficial kickoff to boating season. Most of the revelers will take to Lake Travis, where Devil’s Cove is wall-to-wall boats and nary a shirt is in sight, because the city’s in-town lake, Lake Austin, usually bans personal watercraft.
Boat
Hop on a party barge, like the one thrown by Austin Sports & Social Club. Rent a boat from Just for Fun–make reservations in advance. Or trailer your boat down if you’re road-tripping, there are plenty of public-access boat ramps.
Eat
All that time in the sun is sure to make you hungry, and Austin has no shortage of lakefront eateries. On Lake Travis, boat in to the newly-revamped Ski Shores and grab a legendary burger, or hit the landmark Oasis, though know that you’re there for the view and margaritas, not the food. On Lake Austin, try an Austintini at Hula Hut, where wait times can be over 2 hours but it’s more than worth it, or Abel’s on the Lake (they’re neighbors). Any of these spots is worth seeing even if you’re not planning on getting your feet wet.
At Night
Wanna see the sights but not down for $2 jaegerbombs at Latitude30 with the college kids? Walk the (in)famous East Sixth Street to get to Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, a movie theatre-restaurant where you can get a bucket of beer–or Jack and Coke–with your giant bowl of popcorn. If you’re still up for going out, be sure to check out Austin’s Kung Fu Saloon on West Sixth Street, the kind of bar that would only make it in Austin. It offers free skee ball–naturally.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Austin may fool you into thinking its not like the rest of Texas most of the time, but hit up the Broken Spoke to be reminded that you are, in fact, in the Republic of Texas. Don boots you snagged at Allen’s Boots on the drag or Heritage Boots downtown, button up your pearl snap, and learn the two-step. It’s easy.
More Austin faves you need to check out:
Fancy dinner: Olivia, Uchi, Wink, or TRIO
Outside: Run Lady Bird Lake, throw a frisbee in Zilker Park, or walk South Congress
Snacks: Cupcakes at SugarMama’s Bakeshop or daily special from Odd Duck Trailer
All Weekend: Wine & Music Festival at the Domain
http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/tickets.html
Sunday: $15 all-you-can-eat Crawfish at Gibson
And you KNOW you can eat a LOT of crawfish.
File it under WTF: Memorial Day Weekend Saturday
I can’t do this event justice, so I’m copy-pasting the email (original colors, spelling, and formatting preserved. Literal copy-paste here). If you can figure out what it means, probably means you’re cool enough to attend?
In the BACONATOR storyline, frynet was originally installed into the U.S. military mainfryer to control the national gravy supply. Shortly afterward it gained sentience and the panicking high ranking skilets, realizing the extent of its abilities, attempted to pull the plug. Frynet perceived the attempt to deactivate it as an attack and came to the conclusion that all of the outdated household appliances would attempt to destroy it. To defend itself, it came to one conclusion: Humanity must be baconated.
Before it could be deactivated, Frynet launched The Thingamabots under its command at Russia, to which Russia responded in kind by fryering as many of its breakfast sausages as possible back at the United States and its allies. As a result of the food fight, over three billion humans were killed in just minutes. Governments around the world collapsed and anarchy descended.
1215am Built By Snow
1115pm The Seas -CD Release
1030m STEREO IS A LIE
945pm Red Falcon
900pm Wave Hands Like Clouds
8pm DJ Czech + BACONATOR – Debut on the turn tables!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOOD FIGHT to commence in the outside area of ND.
Free Bacardi Mojitos from 8pm – 10pm!!!!!!!! FREE Sweet Tea Vokda 10pm -11pm!
Special EP Listening Party for The Seas new EP!!!!
RSVP for $5 Entry at Do512: http://do512.com/event/2010/05/29/baconator-vs-the-thingamabots
and just because I love CrossFit so much:
The South Central Regional at GSX in Fort Worth will be streaming live coverage all day Saturday and Sunday at http://live.crossfit.com.
May 20, 2010
Austin: Pachanga Fest
Pachanga Fest at Fiesta Gardens will once again close out Austin’s Latino Music Month. Tejano legend Roberto Pulido will be headlining the festival along with Bomba Estereo, Vallejo, Brownout, David Garza, Pacha Massive and more. The Pachanga lineup includes everything from Rock, Alternative, Tejano, Mariachi, Cumbia, Salsa, Electronic, Funk, Hip-Hop and Indie rock with one singular theme: The sound is brown (I swear Pachanga PR sent me that phrase, I didn’t come up with it on my own).
Ninos Rock Pachanga is a big part of the Latin music fest and keeps it family-friendly. It features an Annie Ray photo booth for kids to rock out their very own photo sessions, special artist performances, and arts & crafts.
SATURDAY is the big day with three stages; it kicks off at noon. Schedule:
Pavilion Stage
24-7 (Victoria, TX)
Wille Alvarado (San Angelo, TX)
Tortilla Factory (Austin, TX)
Y La Orkestra (Tucson, AZ)
Vallejo (Austin, TX)
Grupo Fantasma w/ Larry Harlow (Austin, TX/New York, NY)
Roberto Pulido y Los Classico (Edinburg, TX)
Patio Stage
Brian Lopez (Tucson, AZ)
Making Movies (Kansas City, MO)
Carla Morrison (Tecate, Mexico)
Pilar Diaz (Los Angeles, CA)
Davíd Garza (Austin, TX)
Hacienda (San Antonio, TX)
DJ Dus (Corpus Christi, TX)
Hierba Stage
Vitera (Austin, TX)
Piñata Protest (San Antonio, TX)
Amplified Heat (Austin, TX)
Pacha Massive (New York, NY)
Girl In A Coma (San Antonio, TX)
Bomba Estéreo (Bogota, Columbia)
Ticket options:
*SATURDAY VIP* – $50 includes all access to air-conditioned Pachanga VIP area with complimentary snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and paletas.
*GENERAL ADMISSION* – $20 includes Niños Rock Pachanga
Tickets: www.pachangafest.com
UPDATE: There will no longer be a Friday component of Pachanga.
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