By Mary Lingwall
Published on May 13, 2009 at 1:41am
A decade ago, Spoon was just another indie Austin band — playing shows for the drink tickets, giving albums to fans for next to nothing and, most importantly, tirelessly working to master its unique sound. Now, Spoon is a nationally known act recognized in entertainment news sources such as Pitchfork and SPIN magazine, feature films and at the tops of Billboard charts. Making a triumphant return to Austin this summer for three dates at Stubb’s (June 9 to 11), Spoon isn’t playing just for drink tickets anymore. Tickets for any of the Stubb’s dates cost around $30. Not to say they’re not worth it (they are), but don’t you wish you had known about Spoon back in ’94?
We can’t go back in time, but we can keep the problem from happening again. This summer, instead of mulling around in the neighborhoods you know best, try venturing downtown or over on the East Side for some cheap live music from bands that are doing original work.
I know the dilemma — choosing to go to a show on a Friday night instead of a party where you know you’re going to have fun can be a pretty tough choice. Too often, bands can be hit or miss, and sometimes they are just plain bad. No one wants to spend two hours listening to bad music, so here’s a little preview of Austin music to catch this summer. Take a peek at of some of the best little bands in Austin while you can, because they just might be the next Spoon.
Rock/pop
The majority of indie music resides in this genre, so the deluge of information can often make it particularly difficult to choose which bands to see. But the recent releases from Literature, Wine and Revolution and The Sour Notes set them apart from the masses. Literature embellishes pop tunes with lo-fi, garage-rock qualities, while The Sour Notes create full-bodied pop with the craftsmanship of folk music and the catchiness of The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” era. Wine and Revolution’s take on the pop sound is a little different. By incorporating aesthetics from rockabilly and post-punk music, the band’s pop offerings have sturdy backbeats and vocal variation that can keep your attention piqued and your feet moving.
Recommended shows:
• June 30 at Emo’s: Sunset with Wild Moccasins and The Sour Notes
• June 5 at Beauty Bar: Wine and Revolution with Yellow Fever, Screaming Females and Follow that Bird!
