Covert Curiosity

Christopher Denny

2013-05-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

Christopher Denny has been called a weirdo, a sweetheart, a mad man, and a musical genius. Denny's music draws heavily from both gospel and country influences, and his voice is enriched with the ghost of Roy Orbison. He's based in Little Rock, and is a recent signing to Partisan Records.

A few weeks ago Do512 hosted a recording session with Christopher Denny, who showed up with an all-star band that included Austin musicians Lauren Gurgiolo of Okkervil River, Danny Malone, Graham Wilkinson, and a drummer whose name escapes me. It was one hell of a night.

Hard Proof

2013-05-20T12:03:00.000-05:00

Our friends Hard Proof Afrobeat just released two new songs on a fresh new 45. It will only cost you $5 to buy a copy of your very own, and if you do, your grand kids will thank you some day. Imagine little Timmy Jr. Jr. stumbling across this dusty record 50 years from now and having his mind blown and body shook up by these funky ass rhythms. They'll be all like, damn, grandpa was a cool mofo.

Via Kept Records:

"Sub-Saharan sounds are fused with jazz and deep funk to produce two intense, dance-demanding rhythmic cuts on this fresh 45. The a-side is clear genre busting fusion of flavors: it's an afro beat-down with brass bounce; it's an instrumental funk cut with jazz jump and cadenced kicks. It's big like a dragon, it's bad like a dragon, it is Dragon, and it's going set fire to dance floors with global intent. On the flipside cut, Tere, the burn is brought to a simmer, with the organ leading the track and bringing things to a swell as the horns hover on the surface of another straight-up burning instrumental."

Locally produced and internationally-inspired, Hard Proof is an Austin-based collective that brings intense Afrobeats to the state of Texas. Hard Proof tightly fuses sounds from sub-Saharan Africa with adventurous jazz and deep funk to stimulate your brain and move your feet. Members of Hard Proof also perform with bands such as Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Ocote Soul Sounds, Echocentrics, The Calm Blue Sea and Cougar.

Video: Shakey Graves - "Unlucky Skin"

2013-05-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Our pal Shakey Graves released his first official music video yesterday. The video was made as part of the Fool's Road project, a traveling music video collaboration that drove around the country to film videos with seven different bands in their home towns, which were planned and shot within only 8 days of having met.

Shakey's is kind of disturbing, in a Whiskey Shivers kind of way. Except he goes all four-armed Predator and kills everyone, not just chicks, in a variety of ways. The video was directed, produced and edited by J.L. Southern.

More on Fool's Road:

"This project started out as an answer to a question: How does one merge all that you’re fond of with all that you do well––to the benefit of others? The answer for me was Fool’s Road: A traveling music video collaboration between one artist-filmmaker and seven musicians across the United States. 80 Days. 7 Musicians. 1 Filmmaker. 10,000 Miles. With the last half of this year, I’ll pack my very square car with a few essentials, a whole lot of gear and head north. For 80 days, I’ll be living on the road, driving 10,000 miles throughout the country to meet these talented musicians wherever they may be. Each will have eight days with me to plan and shoot a music video as reasonably and brilliantly as possible."

2013-05-12T23:20:00.004-05:00

Emily Bell

2013-05-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

Emily Bell is into southern blues, soul, 60′s rock 'n roll, and setting stages on fire. The Austin-based artist is celebrating the release of her debut album, In Technicolor, with an album release party on Friday, May 24 at The North Door. The album was produced by roots rocker John Evans and Grammy-winning engineer Steve Christensen.

"Emily wrote for years in Raphael Saadiq's studio in Burbank, Calif., before I found her," Evans says. "It was obvious she was no newcomer to pen and paper; the songs we were writing together had teeth."

Texas Americana great Hayes Carll says: "Emily Bell will knock you down, then lick your wounds, burn up the stage and leave you begging for more."

Nakia, a fellow Austin-based artist and semifinalist on "The Voice," raves: "After seeing Emily Bell live I felt that she must be possessed by a raw electric demon singing with the voice of a heartbroken, fallen angel. I was immediately addicted and ready for my next fix."

Check out the fiery music video for "Back to the Way I Was"

http://emilybell.com

http://www.facebook.com/EmilyBellMusic

Max Frost

2013-05-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

Max Frost is blowing up. His name's been on everyone's lips the past few weeks thanks to his new single “White Lies,” which was named one of Paste Magazine’s “Top 25 Songs of 2013 So Far” and reached #1 on the Hype Machine. A second single “Nice & Slow” is following in its footsteps with an unbeatable mix of soul, R&B and electro-pop. Check out his track "Sunday Driving" featuring Kydd too. He's got a range and style that sounds a lot like Jamie Lidell. You can catch him at the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival. And at Blues On The Green before that.

http://maxfrost.net/

Goat - World Music

2013-04-14T22:56:00.000-05:00

According to legend, Goat comes from Korpilombolo, Sweden. Most of the band's biographical details are purposefully mysterious, all the way down to the group's masked performances. What's not in question is the brilliance of their debut album "World Music," a wonderful mix of psychedelic afrobeat that found its way into many "Best of 2012" lists. Goat will make a stop at Austin Psych Fest on their brief American tour. Don't miss it.

Austin Psych Fest 2013 - Carson Creek Ranch

2013-04-05T03:49:00.000-05:00

Anton Newcombe and Dead TV made a mixtape for Austin Psych Fest 2013. Get in.

Tracklist:

1. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Everything Fades To White

2. Dead Tv Station Break

3. Dead Skeletons – Dead Is God

4. Goat – Run To Your Mama

5. Indian Jewelry – Heart Of A Dog

6. Silver Apples – Program

7. Suuns – 2020

8. The Moving Sidewalks – Scoun Da Be

9. The Laurels – Sway Me Down Gently

10. The Black Angels – My Boat Is Sinking

11. Roky Erickson – I Am

12. Tamaryn – Heavenly Bodies

13. Young Magic – Sparkly

14. Bass Drum Of Death – Velvet Itch

15. The Raveonettes – Young And Cold

16. The Cult Of Dom Keller – Heavy & Dead

17. The Black Ryder – Sweet Come Down

18. Lumerians – Untitled 1

19. Night Beats – Little War In The Midwest

20. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Berlin

21. Ride Into The Sun – Hunt Like Wolves

22. Hearts In Space – Gone By Yourself

23. Os Mutantes – Bat Mucumba

24. OM – Addis

25. The Besnard Lakes – The Lonely Moan

26. No Joy – Smiley Face

27. Holy Wave – Brahman

28. Wall Of Death – ThunderSky

29. Elephant Stone – A Silent Moment

30. Kaleidoscope – The Sky Children

31. Spectrum – Walking & Falling

32. Outro (Dead Tv Sailing)

http://www.austinpsychfest.com/

From the official Austin Psych Fest 2013 Poster Series:

Patty Griffin - American Kid

2013-04-03T02:08:00.001-05:00

New West Records will release Patty Griffin s new album, American Kid, on May 7th. It is her first album of mainly new material since 2007, and features contributions by her significant other/Band of Joy bandmate Robert Plant. It's an instant classic. Standout songs include "Go Wherever You Wanna Go", "Ohio", "Wild Old Dog", and "Gonna Miss You When You re Gone."

http://www.pattygriffin.com/

Video: Star & Micey at SXSW

2013-03-28T14:53:00.001-05:00

We welcomed Memphis, Tennessee's Star & Micey to Austin for our Strange Brew II party during SXSW. After doing a backflip off of the stage at The Volstead (not recommended), the band broke into a stripped down rendition of their song "Cold Hard Truth." Shot on one camera, no cuts, edits or mixing - just pure, live music and impromptu energy.

Star & Micey is Geoff Smith, Joshua Cosby, Nick Redmond and Jeremy Stanfill. Their self-titled debut album features a revolving door of fantastic musicians including Luther Dickinson (The Black Crowes, North Mississippi Allstars), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and Rick Steff (Cat Power, Lucero), just to name a few.

http://www.facebook.com/starandmicey

STRANGE BREW 2 at HOTEL VEGAS

2013-03-07T14:01:00.000-06:00

Covert Curiosity, Ender Productions, and Crowdtilt Present:

STRANGE BREW 2

Monday, March 11th

Hotel Vegas + The Volstead

Doors at 2pm

21+

FREE ENTRY WITH RSVP: http://is.gd/thekickoff

Hotel Vegas Stage:

1:15 AM: French Horn Rebellion (Brooklyn, NY)

12:00 AM: Fat Tony (Houston, TX)

10:45 PM: Hard Proof (Austin, TX)

9:30 PM: T Bird and the Breaks (Austin, TX)

8:30 PM: Lord Buffalo (Austin, TX)

7:00 PM: All My Friends (Austin, TX)

5:45 PM: Allah-Las (Los Angeles, CA)

4:30 PM: Smoke and Feathers (Austin, TX)

3:15 PM: PHOX (Madison, WI)

2:00 PM: Hello Wheels (Austin, TX)

The Volstead Stage:

1:15 AM: Al Lover (San Francisco, CA)

12:00 AM: Delicate Steve (Fredon, NJ)

10:45 PM: Taddy Porter (Stillwater, OK)

9:30 PM: Not In The Face (Austin, TX)

8:15 PM: BattleMe (Portland, OR)

7:00 PM: Star & Micey (Memphis, TN)

5:45 PM: Roger Sellers (Austin, TX)

4:00 PM: Brushy One String (Kingston, Jamaica)

3:15 PM: The Gents (Austin, TX)

2:00 PM: My Goodness (Seattle, WA)

Complimentary Refreshments Courtesy of El Jimador Tequila
Free pizza early courtesy of East Side Pies

Free pizza late courtesy of Mercury Pizza

____________________________________________________

Use Crowdtilt this SXSW to pool together money for the pricey rooms, meals, and bar tabs you've been sharing. Start a campaign now and get your friends to pay you back, so you won't have to twist any arms. Use this promo code to try free: SXSW2013.
____________________________________________________

Listen on Spotify:

Lord Buffalo / Good Music Club

2013-03-04T01:05:00.000-06:00

Lord Buffalo gets down.

thegoodmusicclub.com/lord-buffalo/

Video: Holy Wave

2013-02-23T03:49:00.000-06:00

"Golden Truth" is from Holy Wave's album Evil Hits,

out now on Reverberation Appreciation Society.

Shot by Oswald James. Liquids by PanchoVision.

http://www.facebook.com/hlywave

Albuquerque Freakout by HOLY WAVE

Video: Surly Gates

2013-02-17T12:21:00.000-06:00

Surly Gates are from Austin, Texas.

http://www.facebook.com/SurlyGates

Fuzz's Fourth Dream (Al Lover Remix)

2013-01-13T03:17:00.002-06:00

Fuzz is Ty Segall & Charlie Moonheart.

Al Lover remixed a track from their 7'' on Trouble In Mind:

The Junk King

2012-12-11T17:40:00.002-06:00

Vince Hannemann, A.K.A. the Junk King, has spent much of his life constructing the Cathedral of Junk in Austin, TX. In 2010, the City of Austin requested a building permit and Vince was forced to tear down nearly half of his creation. Despite this traumatic event and with the help of many supporters, Vince was still able to keep the Cathedral alive and continue its legacy.

Music:

"Horse Steppin'" by Sun Araw (notnotfun.com/sunaraw/main.html)
"Eileen" by Lee Rosevere (members.shaw.ca/happypuppyrecords/index.html)
"Track 3" by Sun Araw (notnotfun.com/sunaraw/main.html)

Video: Edward Sharpe in the Do317 Lounge

2012-12-06T09:30:00.000-06:00

Here is a video of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

performing "Fiya Wata" live in the Do317 Lounge

Do317 is What to do in Indianapolis

http://do317.com/

Video: Roxy Roca - "Try My Love"

2012-11-26T10:28:00.001-06:00

The Austin-based, nine-piece soul band Roxy Roca has a sexy new video for their song "Try My Love." The video, featuring appearances from Elise Avellan (best known for her roles in Grindhouse and Machete) and B-Boy Recon & The Fresh Collection Break Dancers, was shot at The Blackheart on a steamy night in September by local video production company MISHNOON.

http://www.facebook.com/roxyroca/

AUSTIN PSYCH FEST 2013

2012-11-15T11:55:00.003-06:00

The Reverberation Appreciation Society just announced the first lineup confirmations for Austin Psych Fest 2013. The 6th annual festival will be held April 26-28, 2013.

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB • THE BLACK ANGELS • DEERHUNTER • TINARIWEN • CLINIC • WARPAINT • BLACK MOUNTAIN • BORIS • SPECTRUM • MAN OR ASTROMAN? • THE KING KHAN & BBQ SHOW • THE GROWLERS • ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE • QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT • THE SOFT MOON • WHITE FENCE • DIIV • DEAD SKELETONS • THE WARLOCKS • VIETNAM • GOAT • BLACK BANANAS • THE BLACK RYDER • LUMERIANS • ELEPHANT STONE • THE LAURELS • GARY WAR • WOODSMAN • THE CULT OF DOM KELLER • GOLDEN ANIMALS • HOLYDRUG COUPLE • VINYL WILLIAMS • TTOTALS • DREAMTIME

Many more will be announced in January.

For the first time in its 6-year history, Austin Psych Fest will be held at a completely outdoor venue. Carson Creek Ranch is a scenic, riverside 58 acre ranch on the banks of the Colorado River, just 5 minutes from downtown Austin which will be tranformed into a multistage festival grounds. They have deals with three hotels that are located just minutes from the festival venue. A limited number of tickets at the discounted price of $120 are available now. Go to the 2013 Festival page at austinpsychfest.com for more information all all other current and available info.

Check out the trailer for the AUSTIN PSYCH FEST 2012 concert film:

EYES WIDE CRUNK - Recap

2012-11-08T15:03:00.000-06:00

I'm happy to report that our Halloween party was a smashing success! Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out to share your night with us. I'd also like to thank All My Friends, Phranchyze, Bavu Blakes, D-Madness and DJ Manny for rocking the party.

Thanks also to Eva Strangelove for strutting her stuff, the staff at Hotel Vegas for being such gracious hosts, and my partner Josh Ball at Ender Productions for making everything look and sound great. Thanks to Conrad Heinz for lending a hand too. We had a great time and hope you did too. See you again soon.

The Photo Booth photos were taken by Ed Lehmann.

If you haven't seen the set, check it out at Covert Curiosity on Facebook

EYES WIDE CRUNK

2012-10-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

You are invited to join us on Halloween for our masquerade dance party, Eyes Wide Crunk. It will take place on Wednesday, October 31st at Hotel Vegas.

We've got Phranchyze. We’ve got Bavu Blakes joining forces with D-Madness. We’ve got DJ Manny. We’ve got the LCD Soundsystem tribute band All My Friends. AND performances by the international burlesque star Eva Strangelove.

There will also be some Halloween party favors, refreshing treats from Pabst, a photo booth, black lights, scary movies and more. Grab your best mask and dress to scarily impress! Tickets will be $10 at the door.

For more details check out Do512 and Facebook.

Phranchyze:

Bavu Blakes:

DJ Manny:

Eva Strangelove:

Links:

Click "I Like It!" on Do512

Facebook Event Page

All My Friends:

http://www.facebook.com/All-My-Friends/

https://twitter.com/LCDtributeband

Phranchyze:

http://www.phranchyze.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Phranchyze/

https://twitter.com/Phranchyze

Bavu Blakes:

http://www.bavublogs.com/

http://www.facebook.com/bavublogs

https://twitter.com/BavuBlogs

D-Madness:

http://dmadness.com/

DJ Manny:

http://www.iscratchvinyl.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mannydojo

http://www.twitter.com/mannydojo

Eva Strangelove:

http://www.facebook.com/EvaStrangelove

Hotel Vegas:

http://www.facebook.com/hotelvegas

http://www.hotelvegas.dostuff.info/

The Whigs - "Waiting" | a Do512 Lounge Session

2012-10-25T10:47:00.000-05:00

Athens, Georgia rockers the Whigs stopped by the Do512 Lounge while they were in Austin for ACL Fest. "Waiting" is from their new album, Enjoy the Company, which was produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Hold Steady) in a historic church in rural Woodstock, New York.

http://www.newwestrecords.com/thewhigs

Mikal Cronin - Violitionist Session

2012-10-14T16:29:00.001-05:00

"I want to hear something with meaning. So, that’s what I was trying to do, and to me it has a lot of personal meaning. I don’t know if it translates, but it’s definitely more personal than just ‘fuck it’ garage rock." - violitionist.com

Video: Graveyard - "Goliath"

2012-09-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

Graveyard rules. This is the video for “Goliath,” a track off of their upcoming third studio album, Lights Out – due on November 6, 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. Graveyard’s 2011 release, Hisingen Blues, debuted at #48 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and entered the Swedish album chart at No. 1. The band’s first headlining U.S. tour earlier this year resulted in multiple sold-out shows across the country. A return to American shores in 2013 for a repeat performance is expected.

http://www.facebook.com/graveyardofficial

Video: The Young - "Dance With The Ramblers"

2012-09-24T17:03:00.001-05:00

Here's the second video from ‘Dub Egg’, the latest album from Austin rockers The Young. "Dance With The Ramblers" was directed by Austin auteur John Wesley Coleman, who has previously done videos for The Golden Boys, James Arthur’s Manhunt and the Riverboat Gamblers. The Young will play Austin on October 3rd at Red 7, and November 3rd at Fun Fun Fun Fest.

http://theyoungblog.tumblr.com/