Live music preview: Quiet Company CD release party at the new ND tonight

Do you like power pop with great lyrics, rousing choruses and intensity? We do too, which is why you should head to the remodeled ND at 501 Studios to see Quiet Company, Saints of Valory and Whitman at for QC's album release party tonight. Aside from visiting the new ND, the lineup features three up and coming Austin bands. Quiet Company has exploded in popularity this year and last after their EP, "Songs for Staying In" got heavy radio play on Austin radio last year culminating in a landmark deal with Grooveshark a few months ago.

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Live music preview: Band Together for Hope Friday - Elmore Reed | Moonlighters

This Friday, Discover Hope, an Austin-based non-profit that promotes entrepreneurship for impoverished women through microcredit, education and training in developing nations is holding their 4th Annual Band Together for Hope concert at Ruta Maya. The Little Elmore Reed Blues Band (LERBB), The Moonlighters and rumored special guests will perform. 

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Live music preview: Classical piano stylist Reuel to perform at straw poll event

Sunday, classical piano stylist, Reuel Meditz is slated to perform at a straw poll event organized by the Travis County Republican Party in Lago Vista. The 23-year old Reuel plays an improvisational style that allows the performer to compose pieces while playing. The event will feature a candidate forum for the newly created 23rd Congressional District in addition to Reuel's unique piano music. The musician uses his improvisational skills to write film scores when his is not performing. 

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Live music review: Manu Chao's frenetic pace at Stubb's ACL Fest after show

One of the first official Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) after shows to sell-out was Manu Chao La Ventura, the French performer with Spanish parents who sings in multiple languages (primarily Spanish). Chao is known for his high-energy shows often pushing the tempo to a frenetic pace leading fans to crowd surf, mosh, pogo and get crazy.

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Live music review: ACL Fest Day 2 - Stevie Wonder | Fitz and the Tantrums | Chancellor Warhol

If there was any doubt Stevie Wonder was headliner material at Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) this year, the performer quickly put those to rest by making a dramatic entrance Saturday night at Zilker Park. The 61-year old, blind, pop musical genius made his entrance holding a keytar while he walked on stage, a funky intro emanating out of Wonder's intstrument

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Live music review: ACL Fest Day 1: Beardyman | Gary Clark Jr | North Missississippi All-Stars

With the third and final day of Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) upon us, we rose early to reflect on the past two days of live music and review what transpired in the first 24 hours of Austin's 10 year-old festival. A number of timely events occurred this weekend benefiting festival goers and the city of Austin.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Live music review: ACL Fest Day 1: Beardyman | Gary Clark Jr | N. Miss All-Stars - Austin Concerts | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/concerts-in-austin/live-music-review-acl-fest-day-1-beardyman-gary-clark-jr-n-miss-all-stars-review#ixzz1YJsR7A8T

Live music review: jazz fusion supergroup Return to Forever IV at ACL Live

If you have marginally followed avant-garde jazz, then the names Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Jean-Luc Ponty and Frank Gambale otherwise known as Return to Forever (RTO) IV are familiar names. The jazz fusion supergroup visited ACL Live at the Moody Theater Wednesday evening with an extra member (Ponty) than previous incarnations.

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Live music review: Guitar legend, Carlos Santana at ACL Live Monday

The folks at ACL Live have done a fine job of booking world-class acts in the new venue. First, Steve Miller recorded a taping. Then blues guitar god, Buddy Guy and Monday, music legend, Carlos Santana graced the stage for the first of two shows this week. Santana brought his all-star band which included his wife and former Lenny Kravitz drummer, Cindy Blackman.

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Live music review: WFF 2 | Octopus Project | White Denim | Fresh Millionz

Nostalgia hit us rather hard last weekend as we watch a spate of great Austin bands shuffle through Emo's outdoor stage at Wild Frontier Fest 2 (WFF 2) including The Octopus Project, White Denim, Fresh Millions, The Calm Blue Sea and tons more. The reason for the yester-year longing, is the grand opening of Emo's East and the iminent demise of the quirky and venerable Emo's outdoor stage at the original location downtown

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Live music preview: ACL Festival | Beardyman | Fitz and the Tantrums | Social Distortion

With Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival around the corner, we took a look at our custom lineup and selected a few lesser known acts to preview. Beardyman is a champion beatboxer who pioneered sampling techniques that are often imitated. Fitz and the Tantrums are a Los Angeles based neo-soul act who recently stopped in Austin on tour and filmed an impressive segment at the Do512.com Lounge. Social Distortion is more well-known and enjoying a resurgence of sorts as Mike Ness and the Southern Cal punk act make an appearance at Austin's premiere music festival. 


       

Beardyman

Darren Foreman is the artist behind the moniker, Beardyman. Since the mid-nineties the artist from the UK has been beatboxing and winning awards for his talent. His innovative approach means he can put together concert-lenth sets to entertain audiences. Folks who have seen him perform often comment on how remarkable his skill is. Beardyman can make any sound with his mouth and then transform that sound using his Korg Synth, an electronic loop and a mic. 

"A talent several thousand leagues beyond his peers… Beardyman is without equal, watching in person is an unmatched experience.” STV 


The Observer called him a "human sound-sample library". We are excited to check out this beatboxer/comedian/musician on Friday the 16th when ACL Festival opens.


 Fitz and The Tantrums

Fitz and the Tantrums are a neo-soul act from Los Angeles who came through Austin back in April and recorded a short set with Austin Music Weekly at the Do512 Lounge (click the link for a great video). We were lucky enough to be there to see the high energy set the band performed. Impressive is an understatement. More like, WHERE have these guys been hiding? They are exceptionally talented. What makes Fitz and the Tantrums work is the old-time style mixed with an LA sophistication, The music is tweeked just right, not too much camp and a little tough street style thrown in. Whatever you call it, neo-soul, new soul, JB inspired, it works. 


Social Distortion

Seminal punk rockers, Social Distortion are returning to Austin after playing a successful date last November at Stubb's BBQ. Social D represents the foundation of Southern California's long-thriving punk music scene. Fueled by surfers, punks and fans who share an infatuation with British punks like the Sex Pistols, punk music became a staple in the region.

Mike Ness, the founder and leader of Social D grew up in Fullerton, California, an inland community of largely have nots peering over the freeway at the wealthy coastal communities. The band formed while he was in high school in the late 70s. 30 years later, the band still tours and plays to appreciative crowds. 

Mike Ness on his music:

 "The most common thing I hear is, 'Man, your music got me through some hard times,'" Ness says. "And I just say, 'Me too.'" -Mike Ness

Austin City Limits begins Friday September 16-18 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. 3-day passes are sold-out but single day tickets (Sunday only) remain available here. Attending the festival? Check out these helpful (and humorous) tips on how to get the most out of your festival experience. 

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