Daft Punk Aint Playing at My House but LCD Soundsystem is in Town!

By April on Jun 8     Filed In Austin, Texas, Live Music     1 Comment

OHGEEZ, I can hardly contain myself!! Why? Because the musical geniuses behind LCD Soundsystem are about to throw down dance-party style tonight at Stubb’s in Austin TX and I can’t wait to commence to booty shakin’!!

Months ago I was at the Black Sheep Lodge to see All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem tribute band) and loved what I heard and found it oddly familiar, though I didn’t think that I heard LCDSS before. I went home to boast about how cool it was and how much I wanted more LCD in my life, only to be told that we’ve had their music for years on our computer and that we’d been enjoying them, I just didn’t realize who they were. (Music-lover faux pas fo sho.)

Since that night at the Black Sheep Lodge, I have been listening to LCDSS and bands like them (I’m already totally head over heels for The Rapture, but am now in love with Holy Ghost-opener tonight and Juan MacLean who will be making an EXCITING guest appearance at the Learning Secrets after party tonight. (Beauty Bar!!)  Where are YOU gonna be tonight?


LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Daft Punk Is Playing At My House

rUmPeLsTiLtSkIn | MySpace Video

Minus the Bear Addict!

By Danny on May 5     Filed In Activities, Austin, Texas, Live Music, Uncategorized     3 Comments

Everyone that knows me, knows I am probably one of Minus the Bear’s biggest fans. I have all the albums, one vinyl LP, poster in my house, and their albums on shuffle non-stop when cruising in my Honda Element.

Click HERE, for some background about the band.  Good story ahead, ALL ABOARD.

So when I heard that they were releasing a new album [Omni], I was STOKED! (code for excited)  I have only seen them live once (unfortunately) 2 years ago and it is one of my top 4 concerts ever.  They are amazing live.  <== SERIOUSLY click that.  I remember dancing, singing, crying (<=dramatic effect), and leaving wanting more.

At one point in the concert a guy next to me passed out and fell on the ground. So, like the good guy that I am, I start to help him up with his friends.  BUT as I started to get him to his feet, Minus the Bear busted out my FAVORITE song. (Pachuca Sunrise) So I let go and pushed my way to the front of the stage, leaving the random guy to fall back to his friends arms out cold.  Might have been a little rude, but THEY PLAYED MY FAVORITE SONG.  What’s a guy to do? Can you blame me? I was as excited as a this kid on Christmas Morning!  (see video below)

Awesome.  Not only are they releasing an album, they will be performing in Austin 12 days after the release.  SWEET! So, of course, I bought tickets and pre-ordered my album (which came in today) and I can’t stop listening to it.

So if you are at La Zona Rosa on the 16th of May for the concert, say hi, high five me, but don’t pass out….Cuz I’ll drop you like a bad habit.  Photos to come after the show.

SXSW Whirlwind Revisted: MUSIC Baby!

By April on Mar 24     Filed In Austin, Texas, SXSW     1 Comment

Greetings!

Are you a music lover? If so, I sure hope you spent some time in Austin TX over the last week because over 1700 bands were playing gigs around town! I am still dragging from all of the fun I had. I really tried to pace myself starting with the SXSWi (interactive) parties all the way to Wednesday night when my SXSW 2010 officially began. This was the beginning of the music portion and every year it has the power to amaze me.

I heard a lot of bands, but only paid attention to 16 of them. Strange number right? Well, I am one girl and you have to carefully pick and choose which band(s) you are going to see because it requires a lot of ground cover to get to all of those shows. (See picture of Wendy with one of our ground-covering chariots.)

Here are a few of the highlights:

1. Metric-(Levis Fader Fort) Chick-led band that was surprisingly raw and good. If you were lucky enough to have been at the Muse show, you might have seen Metric play there too!

2. Woodhands-(PureVolume House) 2 guys (1 guy was a keytar/keyboard/synth/singer for the band) while the other guy plays the drums and sings. These guys were fantastic and it wasn’t just the Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka mixed with Lemon Black w/Sweet Leaf Tea! Anyone who can rock the keytar is a winner in my book!

Gotta love a keytar!

3. Ozomatli- (Auditorium Shores/Gibson Showroom) These guys are amazing! I can’t imagine having that level of energy night after night while on-tour but Ozomatli is made up of some super cool, fun and passionate performers. I’ve talked about it before, but Twitter IS cool. Why? Because I met Jiro (one of the percussionist for the band) via Twitter and scored back stage for their show! Wendy and I watched the whole show from the very front of the stage which took the show from cool, to super-duper-RAD! These guys even dig Sweet Leaf Tea!

Ozomatli funking it up at Auditorium Shores, SXSW 2010.

4. Stone Temple Pilots-(Austin Music Hall) OHMYGOD! A HUGE TX-sized THANKS goes to Jeff (Gigi and Luke’s buddy) for letting us enjoy the show. I was blown away by how great they were and happy to see Scott Weiland looking not just healthy, but unbelievably spry and energetic. Ok, ok, he was downright sexy! I didn’t see them back in the day and am glad that I didn’t because I really think that the guys are at their peak! What a show!

5. Octopus Project-(Whole Foods Market Flagship Store) This was my first time to see this band and I am forever a fan. I don’t mean to sound lame, but I had no idea that the theremin could sound like a choir of angels. Yes, I’m serious! They were set up under a tent, with trippy visuals and complete and utter surround sound. I was lucky enough to get to chill in the VIP area, but would walk into the tent and be blown away by the crispness/clarity of the music along with the Pink Floyd-ness of the visuals. You guys blew my mind. Thank you for that!

For the sake of time and your attention-span, I’ll lump the other bands that rocked my world together in one paragraph. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (thanks to the 2 guys that were in town filming a movie and eating at 24 Diner Thursday &  Mario from Ozomatli night after STP for your wrist bands. It made seeing BRMC and other bands possible!) was dark, sexy, and as close to good ole new wave as you can get without listening to the Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with Love and Rockets, served with a side of Joy Division. I always hear great things about the band, Holy F*ck, so I made sure to check them out at the Do 512 Party on Saturday and was blown away! It was the perfect band to kick off my crazy night of electronica. Following HF, was the Crystal Method who I’ve never seen before Saturday night and will make a point to see them again. I want to see a show made of MULTIPLE hours of those 2 extremely talented guys. Make sure to click on the link so you can hear one of the songs played at La Zona Rosa. These guys absolutely ripped it up throughout their whole set. Want more? YES PLEASE! I left LZR to bike over to The Galaxy Club for The Black Angels but they were at capacity and since they are an Austin band, I jumped back on my bike and headed back to La Zona Rosa for Pretty Lights. Boy am I glad that I did it! If I could have handled one more day of partying, I would have gone to the show they put on Sunday night too. That’s how good they were and if you are wondering whether or not they lived up to their name, well they did! Very, very, pretty lights indeed! Music sounds like Sound Tribe Sector 9 but with just 2 guys making all of the noise. I was sad when the show ended, as I knew that was it. SXSW 2010 was officially over for @SweetLeafApril.

What was the coolest show you saw?

Random Photos of Granny at SXSW 2010

By April on Mar 23     Filed In Austin, Texas, Events, SXSW, Sweet Leaf Tea Sightings     1 Comment

Granny working SXSW Film over at The Ritz w/Eliza.

Who would have known that Granny was at The Alamo too?

A tea travesty over at the Levis Fader Fort SXSW.

Deep Eddy Vodka pairs nicely with Sweet Leaf Tea Citrus Green.

(L-R) Me, Diane and Jason Stein with Granny during the Mess with TX Party.

Ashley Montgomery and Bill Murray at Eastbound & Found Party.

Eastbound & Found presented by Ziegenbock + Dos Lunas Tequila + Sweet Leaf Tea

By Happy on Mar 9     Filed In Activities, Austin, Texas, Events, Food & Beverage, Live Music, SXSW, Social Media, Sweet Contests     31 Comments

Fear not, friends, for this is the one day party you won’t want to miss. In partnership with some of our good friends, we’ve been hard at work putting together a kick-awesome showcase/party, and we’re finally ready to share it with everyone!

Eastbound & Found

Benefitting Drink Pink to Save The Tatas

WHERE:

1001 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702
(corner of E. 6th St. & San Marcos St., walking distance from all the downtown madness, precariously close to some kinda fort)

WHEN:

Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Noon to 9PM

THE LINEUP:

Stage One
12:15-12:50 Ragen Fykes
1:10-1:45 Freelance Whales
2:05-2:40 Ume
3:00-3:35 Warpaint
3:55-4:30 Morning Benders
4:50-5:25 Here We Go Magic
5:45-6:20 Maluca
7:00- 8:00 GZA

Stage Two
12:30-1:05 Burnt Ones
1:25 – 2:00 Diamond Rings
2:20-2:55 Kid Sister
3:15-3:50 Slow Club
4:10-4:45 Danielson
5:05-5:40 Delorean
6:00 – 7:00 White Denim

*Follow us on Twitter and add us on Facebook for updates.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Two bars and food available on-site along with other fun stuff from our friends at Harley Davidson, screen printing by Southside Sanctuary, and photobooth by GreenShoeLace.com.

RSVP:

This event is FREE, open to the public (no badges required!), ALL-ages, and capacity HUGE (no waiting in wrap-around lines or cramming into a tiny room!). Hassle-free fun. However, please RSVP by doing the following:

  1. RSVP on our Facebook event page
  2. Friend us on Facebook for updates
  3. Follow us on Twitter for updates
  4. Tell your friends via Facebook  / Twitter / email

GET HERE:

Ride your bike. Hitch a ride. Use your converse. Carpool. Fly. Our goal is to minimize the impact on the neighborhood and environment in terms of parking, traffic, and sound – thanks for helping out with that. You can park your car in all available public and private spaces near the event, and we also have access to parking at 917 East Sixth Street and pay parking lots at 900 Trinity and 406 East Seventh Street.

If you plan to ride your bike (recommended), there will be plenty of bike racks on site for you to use.

FEELIN’ LUCKY?

For a chance to win VIP passes to Eastbound & Found, click here!




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