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December 31, 2007

emo's free week starts today, partyends night on saturday! - john

Jan5th_poster_450.jpg

   CONGRATULATIONS! You just won tickets to come to Emo’s Lounge this Saturday night to check out a Emo’s free-week showcase made with your (well, ours) exact taste in mind!

   La Snacks will be fresh out of the studio to open things up... possibly in sweatpants.  Quiet, Lovely will be bringing past and present Waco residents out from the woodwork to sing along to anthems of love lost. Q,L will try to convince you that they have a new band name- the Bronze Age, I like Quiet, Lovely, Starship a little better.  Their new name does eliminate the ever present ‘comma in a band name dilemma.’  I have been into Q,L since 2001 and will continue to follow the Bronze Age faithfully into 2008 .  It is one of my many resolutions.  Next up is the most exciting band in Austin with the most kinetic Victorian  energy this side of Wham City- Mothfight! The lush songscapes are frequently interrupted by brash and yet controlled yelps and nonsensical scats that are as meticulous as Kubrick.  Lastly is Car Stereo (Wars) who still takes the time to create a completely different set mishmashing the top 100 jamz from Hot 93.3 with the obscure late night topless 39 KVRX 91.7 hooks and verses into one ironic dance party.     

   Freeweek leaves you no reason to not go out to Emos, Emos Outside and/or Emo’s Lounge everynight (starting tonight!) and throw down for a few Lonestars and enjoy the crème of the crop in Austin music.  Cover is on the house! Check out the full free week lineup HERE.   

MP3: La Snacks- Are We in Danger

MP3: La Snacks- Emo Kind of Love
MP3: Quiet, Lovely- Saturday Night (live on the TPS Report/ KVRX)

MP3: Mothfight– Hopscotch

MP3: Car Stereo (Wars)- Who Likes Nick McKenna

MP3: Car Stereo (Wars)- Gator McKlusky’s Gold

Posted by partyends at 04:37 PM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

NYE goxxip- john

         
                                 (don't play with any fun or cool firecrackers)
   Those making the ever so wise choice of heading to the Mohawk tonight to stand under warm heaters and sip cold champagne for New Years Eve are going to notice something interesting about the entertainment.  
   Austin’s best guitar player that no one knows about yet= Austin Jenkins- will be playing in three of the acts! He is sure to turn heads tonight as he ads twangy flair to Pink Nasty’s opening set, somber aural ambiance to Brazos’ set and lastly saving all the raw energy up for White Denim’s serrated throttle rock.  
   Austin is the former front man of the now disbanded PartyEnds favorite Valhalla and a recent Austin Texas fulltime transplant so keep an eye out for his stellar musicianship and his rich accompaniment to some of your existing favorite bands. After the three bands tonight Black Joe Lewis will be begging him to join in with “the honeybears.”

   Down the street at Beauty Bar Dj Orion and Prince Klassen will be ripping their Seratos new ones and the Laughing and Yo Majesty will play a joint song together.  Where have you heard of this concept before?  Why Draft Sessions of course.  If you caught them playing behind some Austin rappers back then, you know that they can lay down some damn bawdy instrumentals.  If you missed it back then- you have got to see one of Austin’s most talented bands back up the filthiest three African American lesbian rappers I know of.   It is all happening tonight.    

   Congrats to Ana from Austin for winning the Killers cd and the screen printed tie.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  Keep on the lookout for more cool giveaways- coming up next is some very coveted concert tickets.  Stand by.   

Happy New Years Eve!
MP3: Pink Nasty - Burn
MP3: Yo Majesty- It's a Warning

Posted by partyends at 08:50 AM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

December 28, 2007

stiff treasure fingers-john

       

    Still don’t know what a solstice is?  Me neither.
   Still don’t; fully understand how in PS I Love You the dead boyfriend from the 300 managed to send 12 letters to Hillary Swank? Me neither.    
    Still don’t know what Treasure Fingers is?  I think I can help.  

   Treasure Fingers is a brilliantly named DJ/Producer from Hotlanta (maybe he knows Ludacris!) who will be rolling thru Austin on Saturday the 29th to play his Austin debut with our resident wall of sound Car Stereo (Wars.) Part Chromeo part Cut Copy, this dude will liquefy the American Apparel right off the Beauty Bar crowd. TF knows that dude who sings the classic “one more time” on the Daft Punk track, he is down with Ocelot and he probably is the closest thing we will be able to get to Dem Franchize Boyz this weekend.  You need this MP3…
MP3: Treasure Fingers- Cross the Dancefloor

Posted by partyends at 08:02 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

December 27, 2007

another bonde bites the dust- john

 
                (photo: partyends from Bonde Do Role in Austin August 2006) 

   One more tragedy to squeeze in before 2007 comes to a close- Bonde Do Role have broken up for the time being.  Mega frontwoman and dirtiest mouth on Mad Decent- MC Marina Vello has officially departed from the brazilian group who made me fall in love with balie funk, leaving MC Pedro and DJ Gorky on the prowl for another member.  This will be extremly hard, impossible even.   

MP3: Bonde Do Role-  Solta O Frango

Posted by partyends at 04:46 PM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

final countdown- john

   What a year!  Kanye outsold 50, Judd Aptow snatched the box office and our hearts, Astronautalis interviewed Andrew W.K, and Evil Knevil died.  That was about it.

   Now it is time to partake in the obligatory celebration, which falls on a Monday night this year. Start stocking up on booze and firecrackers now because there are all sorts of distractions to help you forget about the year that robbed us of a ton of Colbert Reports and Daily Shows due to a writers strike. Update: both shows return Jan. 7th!   

           
   The Mohawk brings us the crème of the crop in Austin acts that can appeal to even the most discriminating of taste.  If you don’t like the Onion’s band of the year White Denim, maybe the Hendrix styling of Black Joe Lewis or the alt-folk of Pink Nasty will tickle your fancy.  Hell, even if you hate local music all together I know you love champagne and snow machines.  The Mohawk has the best deck in town to take in the first moments of 2008 and to go all out before you join Weight Watchers and swear that this is the year that you quit your job and pursue writing the great American novel.
           

   Beauty Bar wins the award for having the cleverest theme for their New Years Eve party- ‘Bling in the New Year.’ Attendees are encouraged to hit up their local shitty convenience store and clean out the faux diamond bling from around the register and show up stunnin’ and set the dance floor afire with Prince Klassen fresh out of a recent Texas Monthly feature on being a badass Austin DJ, the multi instrumentalists the Laughing, and Yo Majesty.  These three women bring the live show like non-other and I assure you that seeing them on NYE will be a show to remember. 

             

   The owners of Spiderhouse and I love Video made another place of indie business that is sure to soon be an Austin institution called the United States Art Authority.  The name doesn’t quite roll off the tongue but this NYE has more DJ talent than TBS had airings of Christmas Story.  Headlining the bunch of hooligans are familiar bill sharers Car Stereo (Wars) and the Carrots.  Expect some new silly outfits from the Carrots and some dancing from the CS(w) crowd.

  What am I leaving out?  Anything besides Grupo Fantasma?

   You need both of these MP3s on your new ipod touch or whatever.  Please download them as a favor to me. 
 

MP3: Europe- the Final Countdown

MP3: Europe- Final Remix (by Antimc and Themjeans)

Posted by partyends at 11:25 AM | | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

December 22, 2007

oi to the world- john

                   

                    (photo of best White Elephant gift ever from Recovering Lazyholic) 

  So, i guess we are on a update break for the time being.  Have a good/safe holiday!  Eat lots of food!  Drank lots of drank.  Tell your grandmother "hello" for luther and I and we will talk to you again early next week.

Posted by partyends at 09:46 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

December 21, 2007

happy birthday to me - john

                 
   Happy happy birthday to me.  25 years ago today I was brought home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking and since then I have been watching movies, eating pizza and getting frustrated at people (friends, family, Hawaiians you name it.) So, “cheers” to me for going this long.  Buy me a drink please.     

A few quick blurbs:
   The Silent Years, from Detroit, are giving away their debut album to the good childrenz of the internet. Click here to download the full-length album (available till December 26th)  Also, be on the look out for a new full length called “the Globe” in 2008.

   We have that sweet Killers + Tie contest going on right now until the 28th- if you haven’t entered yet- do so by writing an email to PartyEnds@Gmail.com with “the killers” in the subject line.  

   There is TONS of stuff going on New Years Eve in Austin.  it is all expensive but includes champagne.  Hell, the Mohawk NYE bash even includes a copious amount of snow machines.
More on all the happenings later….
 
   If you have freinds in Screwston who are ready to come out of mourning for Pimp C- you should tell them to go to the Boondocks tonight to check out Austin's audio ocd master Car Stereo (Wars).  Promises of project Pat and Private (Private Pat?) are abound.  Pick up the CS(W) album here, it is the perfect stocking stuffer for your uncle who loves Slim Thug as much as he loves Journey. 
          

   Have a safe weekend and enjoy these birthday mp3s!  

MP3: the Good Life- Your Birthday Present

Posted by partyends at 04:46 PM | | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

December 19, 2007

cof drops - luther

   Sometimes you come across a band that is so different, you might think you like it, even a whole lot, but your just not sure for a good long while. That was my initial reaction to the French (Spanish) duo Cof Cof with their amalgamation of all sorts of musical elements that I like along with sheer and unadulterated Frenchy-ness.

   Cof Cof's songs are pretty minimalist without being just vocal tracks; stacked blips and lo-fi 8-bit instruments bounce around catchy lines, most of which's content I have no idea (being in French), but they are catchy just the same. There are bits of Yelle here, bits of Bonde do Role there, without any rap or outright danceability and with a distinct aesthetic and silly nature as fitting for reverence and snobbery as it is for unadulterated Nintendo tinged revelry.

   Their lead single, My HDD is Broken has a clear sense of humor, with it's vague analogies and forthright, tongue in cheek theme, but is still as viable as any lyricism from the Teenagers or CSS. Check these tracks out as well as a couple of other down-loadable songs over at their myspace.

MP3: Cof Cof - My HDD is Broken

MP3: Cof Cof - Aurelia

Posted by partyends at 05:22 PM | | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

December 18, 2007

10 top releases of 2007- john

   Ho, ho, ho!  Merry holidays!  It is that time once again.  Time for cruddy weather, good food, and end of year lists.  i know i will think of all sorts of albums that I forgot right as I click publish on this but, oh well.  I count EP’s as albums…. Not sure if that is acceptable to you fine reader…. But I’m afraid how this list is constructed.  Is it clear how good Austin music is? God bless the internet and god bless subjectivity. 


Top Releases of 2007

1) Okkervil River - the Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)

 

2) Kanye West – Graduation  ( Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)

 

3) Belaire- Exploding, Impacting (Indierect)

 

4) Dan Deacon- Spiderman of the Rings (Carpark)

 

5) Explosions in the Sky- All the Sudden I Miss Everyone (Temporary Residence)

 

6) the Laughing - Tiger Cry (Self Released)

 

7) LCD Soundsytem- Sound of Silver (DFA)

 

8) Jens Lekman- Night Falls Over Kortedala (Service/Secretly Canadian)

 

9) Battles- Mirrored (Warp)

 

10) Built by Snow- Noise (Self Released)

Posted by partyends at 11:47 AM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

December 15, 2007

top 11 bestest top songs of 2007 - john


(Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman)
 
   It’s getting to the point where you can make a top ten celebrities who have passed away this year but I will stick with the more standard top songs of the year. Some of my favorites still came out in 2006 (Young Folks, Yeah Yeah, all of the Hold Steady) so it was a bit tricky especially with my conscious decision to not include Soulja Boy. It holds a special place on a separate list of most amazingly bizarre songs/dance moves ever.  

Ok, ahem:


1- MP3: Okkervil River- Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe
2- Dan Deacon- Wham City
3- MP3: Kanye West- Stronger
4- Kanye West- the Good Life
5- R. Kelly- I’m a Flirt
6- LCD Soundsystem- Get Innocuous
7- DJ Mehdi- I am Somebody
8- MP3: Lil’ Mama- Lip Gloss
9- MP3: the Bird and Bee- Again and Again
10-Cool Kids- Mikey Rocks
11-Charlotte Gainsburg- 5:55

   Pitchfork has their list up today too, so it most likely looks like i was inspired by them.. damn.  it's not true, ask any of my co-workers who heard me debating Okkervil vs Dan Deacon all day Thursday.

Posted by partyends at 06:10 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

December 14, 2007

misprintmas-john

 

 

   In my mind- if we help get the word out about this- we buy ourselves a 'not-get-made fun of pass.'  So, go to this and keep an eye on the Misprint website where the issue will be up for download before too long...

   Come early and jam on it with Stay Gold while you dig thru your hand screen printed Kurt Russell xmas stocking and gear yourself up for the Hot Pentecostals and Red Leaves!

Posted by partyends at 05:57 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

December 13, 2007

good remects -john

 
   God, I'm such a Tim Kasher nerd.  I am working on end of the year stuff and am tempted to include the new Good Life Help Wanted Nights just because that was his big release of the year, even though I didn’t get obsessively into it like all the rest of discography.  Well, even though (*boring spoiler*) it didn’t make the cut. I do want to pass along these CURSIVE remixes that just dropped (read: i just found out about- its been out for about two weeks) online of the track “Bad Sects” by Cursive fan A Crude Mechanical who took the track in a super dancy blippy direction.  Another remix is from our boys Ocelot who I still owe money to for their partyends.com show they played a week ago at Beauty Bar.  These two electro heads are set up to blow up thanks to backing by the mighty iheartcomix and overall talent for finding just the right place in a track to turn up the awesome.  Their remix also makes it super dancy, but keeps the edge and thru build up manages to expand on the anecdote.    

   I know "bad sects" is a good concept for Cursive with lots of layers and meanings blah blah blah.. but for my money it is pretty tough to top the “ugly organ.”

   Check out these remixes and have your mind expanded to a whole new sound for the group.

MP3 : Cursive - Bad Sects - A Crude Mechanical Remix
 

Posted by partyends at 09:30 PM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

bad mutha' dudes - luther

 
     So, maybe it's been a while since you were in that strange month or two of your wistful youth in which you  could totally and completely get on board with the strange in-between aestetic of prog-rock. Maybe it was Gentle Giant, or maybe it was Genesis, but there's a good chance that you were lulled by the mathy precision and nerd-centric technicality of this niche at some point. If so, then you might enjoy the throwback to those halcion day I found in listening to LA's Bad Dudes.
   A band of monicered cohorts on the ever surprising Retard Disco label (along with groups like Bark Bark Bark and 1800 Zombie), Bad Dudes may suffer from the 'bad names happen to good bands' disease, but that doesn't detract from the fact that they still seem to be a pretty damn good band. Keep your eyes on these guys in the near future, because there is a pigeon hole of closet Rush fans who might just be waiting for such a group to sweep them out of the late 70's and into the future. Oh, and they use robot voices prominently, which is always cool. Check out this track:

MP3: Bad Dudes- Celebrate the Moments...

Posted by partyends at 01:29 PM | | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

December 12, 2007

free sawdust and tie-john

     
 
   The last Killers album I kept a tally sheet of how many times I heard/ read the words “Bruce,” “Springsteen” and “Boss” because it seemed to be all any reviewer could muster.   I just went and found that scrap of paper in my desk, which has 8 marks on it.  I must have given up at some point.  Their latest release, Sawdust, is a collection of well produced B sides and rarities with a remix and alternate versions of the singles you know and love as well as a really cool opening track that has (my competition for Okkervil super fan of the year) Lou Reed on it!  

   Remember when the Killers were primarily known as a band with a keyboard in it?  Well, they have matured and the synth is barely featured on this disk. In fact to make sure you know that they have developed- a few of the songs tinker with the concept of alcoholism and of course there are some excellent love-gone-wrong tracks. Just like the boss- damn it, i can't help it!

   Sawdust is out in stores now so pick it up for the holidays for everyone from your little sister to your dad.  Or- save a trip to best buy and WIN IT FROM PARTYENDS!  All you have to do is email PartyEnds@gmail.com with “the Killers” in the subject line.  Of course there is a catch- you ALSO WIN A COOL-ASS TIE  (I never thought I would write that.  But really- the tie is hand silk screened!)  from a company called Cyberoptix  has a line of ties that “tie in” (hahahahahha) to this contest with a “killer” theme.  There is a Lizzie Borden tie, a guillotine tie, a tie with knives on it you get the idea. Impress your coworkers and your family with your firm grasp on fashion and irony on us.  This contest ends Friday December 28th so hop to it.  A winner will be chosen completely at random. Good Luck!
          

Posted by partyends at 08:54 AM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

December 11, 2007

new free okkervil?!-john

              
  Oh snap.  Stop hanging your Christmas lights right this second and scoot on over to the Okkervil River homepage  where you can download for FREE a holiday disk of exclusive live recordings from their last tour of covers and my favorite of favorite Okkervil songs- LISTENING TO OTIS REDDING AT HOME DURING CHRISTMAS.  The only covers on here that I have heard before are April Anne which was released on the Daytrotter Session they did and Solo which Will Sheff has been known to play at solo shows. Har har.    

  My free download is still loading because everyone who skims Pitchfork is waiting to hear this goodness- so even though it is not in my best interest to share this with you, I felt the pseudo journalistic urge to pass it along.  Now stop reading and  go download it!

Posted by partyends at 03:53 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

p.y.g.- john

 
   It’s baroque, it’s heartfelt, it is beautiful. If you are an advertising mega executive and can’t swing the budget for a Coldplay song and want to target a younger more hip “demo” (short for “demographic” in “the biz” duh) you should throw millions of dollars at Wisconsin’s Pale Young Gentlemen.  You can get that ever-so-desirable Mac/indie credibility that is so hot right now.  
Check it out:
MP3: Pale Young Gentlemen - Fraulein

Posted by partyends at 11:04 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

December 10, 2007

an ode to clap! clap! - john

(clap! clap! @ draft sessions- photo by partyends)

   Clap! Clap!  was in peak form for their last show ever at Emo’s on Saturday night.  As each song passed they would comment on how it would be the last time they would ever play it and lo, it was a sad realization.  The audience and I all got a little verklempt as we talked, danced and drank amongst ourselves to the show that was just like buttah. Who will show us how to clap on the beat?  Who will display innovative ways to clap to said beat? Let’s just be thankful for all the special moments that Clap! Clap! left us. And with that, I hope that at one point Austin’s largest band will continue to live on within our hearts and minds. I think sharing my grief will help me ease my burdens.
     
   The set closer “Clap! Clap!” especially hit home. These guys on stage for four years bragged to everyone about how they loved to dance and to clap more than anybody- and now they are parting ways never to unify in clapping synchronization ever again? Everyone in the band is pursuing other interests and projects and the band vows to keep fans in touch via the internetz.  

   A brief list of special Clap! Clap! memories:
* Playing Chris’ 21 first birthday party at an empty space next to ilovevideo that concluded in a full on TABC raid.  
* A whole bunch of different members including a fellow who might have been jesus.
* Playing the KVRX prom in the rain.  
* Driving to San Marcus to see the band and once again becoming extremely grateful for Austin.  
* Headlining the first ever partyends sponsored Draft Sessions out at Independence Brewery.
* When they first started and wore black, green and white and ties like a ska band.
* The endless innovation of clapper Doug Hanshaw’s clapping technique including what my friend Will coined as “the reverse throwup” and “the helicopter clap.”
  PartyEnds.com presented two shows with the group but must have attended almost every single Austin show since 2004, seeing them at house parties, Emos inside/outside and on an high note at Fun Fun Fun Fest among just a few.     

  Let’s just be thankful for all the special moments that Clap! Clap! left us. And with that, I hope that at one point Austin’s largest band will continue to live on within our hearts and minds.  

MP3: Clap! Clap! - Clap! Clap!

MP3: Clap! Clap! - You Love This!

Posted by partyends at 09:05 AM | | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

December 07, 2007

chrome for the holidays - john

   Tonight at Mohawk there is quite the little bill! 7inch of the year contenders White Denim headline over Pixies mega fans the Corto Maltease  and the sweltering throw back pop songs of the Carrots. The post-modern beat and hook collages of Car Stereo (Wars) will entertain thru out all in honor of Austin women’s clothing store Strut who has curated a perfect show to spin the dreidel to.
 
MP3: Car Stereo (Wars)- Who Likes Nick McKenna

MP3: The Carrots - Kissing and Telling

Posted by partyends at 12:11 PM | | Comments (209) | TrackBacks (0)

December 06, 2007

tonight at beauty bar - john

dec6th_450.jpg

 



   So, Repeal Day is over. Whew. Dewar’s, the Alamo Ritz and Mugshots all pulled together a cohesive little themed night complete with complimentary scotch, silly Justin Timberlake hats and flapper-esq feather boas. It was a blast.  

   Tonight at Beauty Bar we are proud to help present the Fully Formed OCELOT.  Ocelot is two guys on the  iheartcomix label- one lives in Austin and the other in the UK.  We have worked with the Austin half before for our Daft Punk movie screening and have seen him banging out dance jams recently at Fun Fun Fun Fest but never even really considered it a possibility to see the whole electro tamale- until now! This is a big deal folks.  Typically, only the frenchies over at Fluokids and their brethren overseas get treated to sets like this but tonight in Austin you can too! 
 
   Our friends over at Finger on the Pulse in New York have already proclaimed Ocelot the best remixers of 2008 and have posted up about EVERYTHING they have out on the Internet.  Snatch that shit all up HERE.  Get it all in one tasty .zip folder.

   Also playing tonight is the ever-talented  Markus with a K, Denton’s prodigal son. Markus helped Ocelot tear up the Daft Punk mega set, so tonight I am sure you can expect to at least hear the hook from Stronger thrown in their somewhere. Stay Gold warms things up with a mix of rump shaking hip hop, soul and overall freshness that will confirm once you hear it that coming out on a Thursday night was indeed a great idea.

See you there!  

Posted by partyends at 08:41 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

December 05, 2007

cheers to drinks!- john

                 repeal_day_ad.jpg

   Repeal day is here!   On December 5th 1933 it became legal get to get your drink on again in this fine nation of ours.  Of course, without prohibition there never would have been such an awesome Dick Tracey movie- this is what I imagine one of the arguments that will be brought up at tonight’s prohibition themed Dionysium taking place at the Alamo Ritz where the two sides of prohibition will be discussed at great detail and great Dewars drinks will be served for free.  Two per person. Yep.   Grab your tickets now.   

   After the Dionysium, stick around for Austin’s tallest band - White Ghost Shivers, well that one guy is really tall anyway…. These guys and girls are the perfect act to go along with a 1930’s themed night on the town.  The Alamo is THEN hosting a screening of James Cagney’s  the Public Enemy (you might remember it from the Sopranos) Insider’s scoop: there will be complimentary DeWars at this also.

   Then, at Mugshots, the prohibition after party goes down until 2am.  There will be plenty of Dewar’s and another chance to get your free shoeshine from the fine-feathered folks at Birds Barbershop. 

It’s going to be a doozy of night. Austinist knows what is up.
 
   Here are some classic songs about booze that seem good for today.  Willie is a standard- the Spent track is from the Merge Records 15 year anniverasry 3 disk set that i can not recomend enough.   

Posted by partyends at 08:43 PM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

December 04, 2007

breaking news: pimp c is dead- john

 

 

 

   First Evil Knevil and now Pimp C?!  this week is blowing.  My thoughts go out to Bun B and the entire town of screwston.  Read more about it on (sigh) TMZ.

    Think about how much more popular he and UGK became when Pimp C was in jail- now muliply that by a million bottles of sizzurp and you my freind have just looked into the future of your hip hop radio station. That is what it do.    

MP3: Outkast feat. UGK- International Players Anthem

MP3: UGK- Murder

Posted by partyends at 03:59 PM | | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

yeah mos def- john



   Take the Beastie Boys funky lumberjack anthem “so whatyou want” and remove MCA and Mike D…. raise Ad Rocks voice about an octave then pair that with a pitch shifted “Hot wax” version of Beck and you have the YMD (formally yah Mos Def.) Their new album Excuse Me, This is Yah Mos Def is hyper and mind-boggling.  These two Ritalin needing nasal MCs are pushing the pop culture and vulgar post modern rap envelope towards a direction that embraces the norms of region pride (“i'm from the city that left the city that left the liberty bell cracked,”) acknowledges those who came before them (rhymes lord of the flies with being “a slick Rick with better eyes”) but achieves tag team party rap on a more Eddie Murphy RAW way than any of their contemporaries.  Where as fellow Philadelphians Plastic Little have a blast with their filthy funny and fast rhymes the YMD could show up at your friend's basement and play before a noise band.  Zero pretension and all punk attitude.   I want to see the YMD at Beerland after Assacre, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and Best Fwends. Plastic Little would have to play somewhere bigger to make sense.. and play with other rappers. 
 
   The YMD are a dynamo of lo-fi ironic rap.  These two first caught my attention with the concept of retiring the old U.G.K. and B.I.G. samples and embracing the good indie underground samples we all know and love. God- they are so good!   Think of the possibilities of using Bikini Kill, Sonic Youth or Cap’n Jazz to flow over?!  It is amazing. 
    
   This full length comes out on My Pal God Records early 2008 so keep an eye out because thus far these cats’ limited edition runs of self released albums have been selling out quicker than Beyonce can sign TV commercial contracts.  Grab the mp3 below.

   The YMD, please come to Texas. We have a beer called Lonestar that you would love. 
 

Posted by partyends at 09:14 AM | | Comments (158) | TrackBacks (0)

December 03, 2007

men with a few hats- john

(photo by Annie Ray)
   Man Fest was a complete success full of Dan from the Listener Project taking away the arm wrestling trophy, a martial arts expert catching a spinning blade in mid air, deep fried snickers, the serenading music of Macho Man Randy Savage, Golden Bear and so much more it almost seems silly to type it all out.  Thanks to Birds Barbershop for EVERYTHING and to every single person who spread the word, helped carry equipment, and who stumbled in after driving by and seeing what looked like free Dewar’s (it sure was.) Tim Allen would have been proud. 

  Annie Ray was on hand (wo)manning the official 'Lumberjack Photo Booth' and captured the testosterone in glorious flannelvision.  A careful balance of ironic mustaches (real and fake) and genuine manly men made for fun and dare I say arty pictures.  See the whole set HERE.

   Recovering Lazyholic was on hand as well documenting the beards and muscles from within the crowd.  Check out her photo recap HERE!  This is Cliff from the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame.  He threw knives and hatchets.  It was awesome.  
              
                                (photo by recovering lazyholic)
   If you are a dude and need your haircut this month- hit up Birds because they are selling "product" ( i learned that word from Bravo) half off all month long. 
 

Posted by partyends at 08:51 AM | | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

December 01, 2007

man fest - luther

 
   Well, unless you've been living under a person sized rock without internet access, or you don't live in Austin, then you've probably heard and are giddy with excitement about today's activities, music, and hair at Bird's Barbershop's Man Fest. Not only will there be everything that's listed on the poster above, including music by local wunderkind Golden Bear, and a lumberjack themed photobooth, repleat with axe and flannel jacket, manned by Annie Ray and her 'just can't seem to take a bad photo' skills, but also a knife throwing demonstration, as well as a martial arts demonstration set to music. Come on!
 
   I almost can't even get into how much tantilizing manliness is going to be milling around the South Lamar location, but of course there are manly drinks available for free, including Dewars Scotch, Steamworks beer, and deliciouse Sweet Leaf Tea. In fact, the whole thing is free.
 
   Here is a brief directory of times for the assorted man-centric activities:
 
2pm - Arm Wrestling Challenge begines and runs until 5pm, Dj begins
5pm - Knife throwing demo by South Austin Karate
5:30pm - Martial Arts demo by South Austin Karate
6pm - Golden Bear plays
 
   All the while you can enjoy the free wieners, alchemahol, and photo booth, as well as get your manly hair did by the best barbers around. Do not miss this.

Posted by partyends at 10:42 AM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)