Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark

It's like we just can't help ourselves
'Cause we don't know how to back down
We were called out to the streets
We were called in to the towns

And how the heavens, they opened up
Like arms of dazzling gold
With our rain washed histories
Well they do not need to be told

Show me now, show me the arms aloft
Every eye trained on a different star
This magic
This drunken semaphore
And I

(Many hours later than a usual post, it's bedtime already and thus I was called out in the dark to write up a song. Heh) It's been four years since we've heard from this lovely band out of Northern Ireland - and that last outing was a "Greatest Hits" compilation. I'm forever hopeful that Gary and the gang are going to keep on creating (and touring) together but for now, this cleverly written and belated entry to TMIS.

RIYL: The Boxer Rebellion, The Killers, Editors, The Fray

Upcoming Shows

The Bright Light Social Hour - Infinite Cities

Standing without places
Rotation into phases
Neon constellations
Echoing the nameless
Cities without limit
Carpeted and endless
Quilted emigrations
Moonrise in our faces

Stay until we call it home
Stay until we call it home

Distant western gazes
Swollen hearts in vases
Fugitive embraces
Packed away in cases
Comfort is a siren
Radiant and instant
Scattered by the movement
Moonrise in our faces

Another Austin band I definitely should have known about sooner, I only started earnestly listening to BLSH recently, after missing them perform at SXSW again, and then reading up on them for TMIS! I'm sure they're practically heroes in the local music scene, having won several awards at SXSW starting in 2011, and creating a viral song/video supporting Texan pro-choice Senator, Wendy Davis (who should have become governor but I digress), and last year doing the theme song for Amazon show Sneaky Pete. Their sound is kind of hard to pin down, a little psychedelic, and progressive-to-slightly-punk, yet still sounding folksy at times. (I bet Keith is super familiar with them and cringing at my description but my ears + my experience = my words, heh.)

RIYL: The Dear Hunter, Emarosa, Run River North, Minus the Bear

Upcoming Shows

Knox Hamilton - Pretty Way to Fight

You got a pretty way to fight
But I think I like it alright
Even on our worst night
We were bright in the right light
We know, we know

It was love at first sight
We were bright in the right light
It was love at first sight
We were bright in the right light

We know, we know
We know, we know

Knox Hamilton finally came out with their first complete album! The Heights is filled with tracks that deliver on the promises that "Work It Out" and "Washed Up Together" made. Looking forward to seeing them at the (relatively) new Austin venue, 3Ten next month. 

RIYL: Hippo Campus, COIN, WALLA, Bleachers

Upcoming Shows

Middle Kids - Edge of Town

Hey, guy, have you got something on your mind?
Tick, tock, can I take it for a while
Hey, guy, have you got something on your mind?
Tick, tock, could I take it for a while
Hey guys I got something on my mind
Tick, tock, could you take it for a while
Hey guys I got something on my mind
Tick, tock, can I take it for a while
Hey guys I got something on my mind
Tick, tock, could you take it for a while
Hey guys I got something on my mind
Tick, tock

I think I first heard Australian three piece Middle Kids a little while back on the recommendation of a Sydney-based co-worker and thought, that's not bad... and then completely forgot about them. They recently came back to me via Spotify's Discover Weekly, probably because I've been listening to a lot of Australian stuff in the last couple years. Their new, self-titled EP is remarkably good. It's well made pop-rock with a solid, smart and whimsical edge in the vein of Eisley or First Aid Kit. I expect more good things to come and hope to see them live sometime.

(I missed them at SXSW because I was in Syndey. OH THE IRONY. Heh, it's not the first time I've missed a great band where I live for being in Australia. Isnt' that right Gang of Youths?)

RIYL: Eisley, Courtney Barnett, First Aid Kit, Camp Cope

Upcoming Shows

Broken Social Scene - Halfway Home

Come right
Into the sunlight
Cause I see the cold eyes
I feel they still grow
Like it was so what
As if it's so much
All through my fallen face, end to end

There must be something in the air up in the great white north. Everyone's getting the band back together! It's been about seven years since we've heard anything new from Canadian indie super-collective Broken Social Scene and I'm liking what I'm hearing quite a lot. 

Bonus! Here's a video of them performing "Halfway Home" on Colbert. 

RIYL: The New Pornographers, Wolf Parade, The Sea and Cake, Pinback

Upcoming Shows