Austin Calling

Hidden in an office building parking garage with little to no cell phone reception there’s a dark, divey bar like few others in this town. The place is called Ego’s, and seven nights a week anyone can take the stage and live out their own little live music dreams through that time-honored tradition called karaoke.

It’s true that there are other karaoke bars in town, but there’s a special energy at Ego’s. Whether you’re a regular or first-timer, it’s an overwhelming feeling of belonging and community that’s hard to put your finger on. It’s a notion that whoever you are, wherever you come from, if you’re a great singer or a lousy one, you’re welcome at Ego’s. Recently, we went down to Ego’s to find a little of where that welcoming feeling comes from. 

This story appeared on KUT.org on Friday July13. Here is a link to the story.

The following is a map of store’s participating in Record Store Day this weekend. Record Store Day is an annual celebration of the humble record shop. Over 700 independent record stores all over the country take part in the festivities, offering special releases, performances and other treats. We here in Austin are blessed by a plethora of stores taking part. These stores are big and small, but they all have one thing in common, a dedication to providing a community as much as providing far out music. On this map, you’ll find a list of participating stores. For more information on Record Store Day, you can visit their website: http://www.recordstoreday.com/

View Record Store Day 2012 Austin in a larger map

It’s Tuesday, so you know what that means…Austin Calling Calendar time!

Tuesday Feb. 21 

Hole In The Wall - The Dalles, The Revenants, Power Chief, These Mad Dogs of Glory (9pm)

Austin Calling can’t say enough good things about The Dalles. The group’s debut My Own Private White House was right in my wheelhouse with honest, ramshackle rock ‘n’ roll. The Dalles aren’t the only highlight for a great Tuesday night at the Hole. The night will also see the wet, glorious birth of Power Chief, who are playing their first “official” gig. Truth be told, I haven’t heard their tunes yet, but with the bill already hefty with good acts (Austin punk rock mainstays The Revenants and alt-country rockers These Mad Dogs of Glory), it’s hard to imagine them not being excellent.

Wednesday Feb. 22

Hotel Vegas - The Boxing Lesson, Follow That Bird, Geronimo Son, Residual Kid (9pm)

Yes, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are playing with TV Torso at the Mohawk that same night. Yes, it will probably be a great show, and your friends will “totes” be there. But here at Austin Calling, we like to throw a wrench into the hip works by declaring, “No, I don’t wanna cram like tinned sardines into the Mohawk and have my view blocked by a burly dude with absurd facial hair and a Hamburglar tattoo.” Instead, go to Hotel Vegas where you can be up-close and personal with the dreamy garage psych-rock of The Boxing Lesson, who are kicking off a regional tour.

Thursday Feb. 23

Frank - Knifight, God and the Devil, Mice and Rifles (doors at 9:30pm, $6)

This is one of the stranger lineups for the week. Headlining the show are quirky, electro-rockers Knifight. Also on the bill are the rootsy indie rock of God and the Devil and the alt-country of Mice and Rifles. Eclectic lineup to be sure, good show, probably.

Friday Feb. 24

A Local Night for Local People (Night 1) - Digital Antique, My Education, The Baker Family, Gentlemen Rogues, Les RAV (Swan Dive) GOBI, Oh Look Out, BK & Mr. E, End Wave, Sleep Talk (Frank)

Austin booker and event promotion company Whitesiren Presents are putting on a two-night, two-venue mini festival featuring some great Austin acts. Until Stephen Hawking finally gets off his ass to invent teleportation you can’t be at two places at once. You’ve got a choice to make on Friday though. Do you want moody, sometimes weird indie rock at the Swan Dive, or stick-to-your-teeth catchy electro-pop at Frank? The solution, try to at least catch sets from The Baker Family and the Gentlemen Rogues at Swan Dive before moseying over to Frank for sets from Oh Look Out and BK & Mr. E.

Saturday Feb. 25

Skinny’s Ballroom - Skinny’s 1st Birthday Bash with So Long Problems, La Snacks, Dead Left, Leatherbag, Wiretree, Names Divine, Bang Bang Theodores, Loblolly Boy, Boonesboro, Scrote, Fledglings (2pm, $7)

Skinny’s Ballroom, the plucky little club between Cesar Chavez and 2nd on San Jacinto is celebrating one year of being on the scene here in Austin. For a measly seven bucks you get a t-shirt and the privilege to hear 11 great Austin bands including Austin Calling faves Wiretree and Leatherbag. 

Sunday Feb. 26

ND - The Good Music Club: The Calm Blue Sea, Guns of Navarone, The Blind Pets, Hello Wheels (6pm)

 The Good Music Club is all about truth in advertising. It’s a group dedicated to fostering and showcasing the great music, and the people that make it, from Austin. The Club films the performances are taped for a web series that you can check out here. Sunday’s show will be The Good Music Club’s second taping, and it’s an eclectic mix of thundering instrumentals from The Calm Blue Sea, easy-swining alt-country from the Guns of Navarone, down-and-dirty rawk from The Blind Pets and the down-home folk of Hello Wheels.

Monday Feb. 27

The Mohawk - Paul Banks & the Carousels, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Lovely Sparrows (doors at 9pm, $6)

Austin singer-songwriter Paul Banks is confounding. He is such a talent that you feel like he’s putting something over on you. The range he exhibits, in his voice and songwriting, is other-wordly. His delivery is seamless. He can tackle twee-pop, country, jazz and rock all in one song. He is not to be missed.

Hello intrepid Austin Calling fans! It’s Tuesday, so that means it’s calendar time!

Tuesday Feb. 14

Frank - Knuckle Rumbler presents Valentine’s Day Dinner with Soul Track Mind

It’s Valentine’s day, so the fine folks at Knuckle Rumbler are putting on a musical evening for you and that special someone at Frank. One-hundred smackers gets you a tasty three course dinner for two, and a very special acoustic performance from Austin neo-soulsters Soul Track Mind. So live a little bit on V-Day, take your lover by the hand and go listen to some danged ol’ music. 

Wednesday Feb. 15

La Zona Rosa - Polyphonic Spree (doors at 8pm, $17)

With over a dozen robed members, the Polyphonic Spree could be confused with a cult. But once you hear their dreamy, sunny pop, you’ll wanna drink the Kool-Aid too. 

Thursday Feb. 16

The Mohawk - Shakey Graves, Jesse Moore (of East Cameron Folkcore), PJ Bond, Chris Stowe & Colby James (doors at 9pm, $5)

Shakey Graves is the alter-ego of Alejandro Rose-Garcia. He’s a stomping, one-man folk machine (and by all accounts, quite a snappy dresser). The tunes on his latest record Roll The Bones have a haunting Nebraska-esque, porch-side intimacy that’s endearing, and just bit spooky. 

Friday Feb. 17

The Mohawk - Wiretree, Whitman, On After Dark (doors at 9pm, $6)

What began as a solo project for singer-songwriter Kevin Peroni blossomed into Wiretree. They are simply one of the most talented power-pop bands in Austin right now, and their 2011 record Make Up was one of the best of the year. The record was a masterful work of mood and texture layered on simple pop songs.

Saturday Feb. 18

The ND - Salesman (doors at 8pm)

Salesman (no direct article there) is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Devin James Fry. He has a skittering guitar style, and a singular falsetto. The whole band sounds a bit like if Radiohead were from the dry and dusty Southwest. Their songs evoke images of long, nighttime drives through lonely deserts. 

Sunday Feb 19

Hotel Vegas - Danny Malone (doors at 6pm)

Danny Malone isn’t merely a coffee shop boy with a guitar. He is a craftsman of tender pop tunes par excellence. The title of his 2009 record, Cuddlebug, really says it all. You just wanna give Malone a big ol’ hug.

Monday Feb 20

Hole in the Wall - Leo Rondeau (show at 10pm, $3)

If you’re hankerin’ for a hootenanny on a Monday, you’ve got a pretty safe bet with Leo Rondeau at the Hole in the Wall.