Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email HERE.

PLAYLIST FOR 10.25.26:

(NEW) Being Dead – Man Or Myth
Gus Baldwin – Runnin’ After Me
(NEW) The Infinites – Nowheresville
Mean Jolene – Private Plane
BRUCE – Strange Isolation
Holy Wave – I’m DADA
Hovvdy – Try Try Try
The Black Angels – Young Men Dead
Late Wife – Body
(NEW) Emily Wolfe – Kill Me With A Kiss
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Follow Through
(NEW) Porcelain – DSD

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Saturday, November 21 – Head to Hole In The Wall for Mean Jolene’s release show for their new album, Play Nice. TV’s Daniel and Cast Of 1000s are on the bill as well. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, December 4 – Join us in celebrating The Black Angels’ 20th anniversary of their debut album, Passover, and for the Mohawk’s 20th birthday! Daiistar, Thor Harris, and DJ Tropicana Joe will also perform. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Enjoy.

Ibex Clone – Gravity

Ibex Clone have announced a new album, Gravity, and it’s going to be here really soon – it’s due out on November 13. Hit play on this single if you’re in need of some jangly post-punk.

Alphabet – Into The Blur

This new one from Alphabet is a hooky, shoegaze-leaning winner. No word yet on an album, but with six singles across the last year and change, I have to think it’s coming soon.

W.H. Lung – Where Will You Go?

W.H. Lung have announced that they’re going on an indefinite hiatus, which is a bummer, but at least they dropped one last gem before heading out.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email HERE.

PLAYLIST FOR 10.18.26:

(NEW) Gus Baldwin – Runnin’ After Me
Mean Jolene – Private Plane
Late Wife – Body
The Black Angels – Black Grease
Porcelain – Apocalypse
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Follow Through
Dossey – OK
(NEW) BRUCE – Strange Isolation
Bayonne – Multiphase
(NEW) Amakiya – Sky Falls
Font – Punish Task
Small Coffin – Natural Process

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Saturday, November 21 – Head to Hole In The Wall for Mean Jolene’s release show for their new album, Play Nice. TV’s Daniel and Cast Of 1000s are on the bill as well. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, December 4 – Join us in celebrating The Black Angels’ 20th anniversary of their debut album, Passover, and for the Mohawk’s 20th birthday! Daiistar, Thor Harris, and DJ Tropicana Joe will also perform. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Enjoy.

Automatic – Shadowplay (Joy Division Cover)

On a day in which I’m actually wearing an Automatic t-shirt, they go and drop this brooding Joy Division cover. Coincidence? Absolutely.

Aesop Rock & Blockhead – Coyote Summer (Featuring Hanni El Khatib)

Another single from Aesop Rock & Blockhead’s impending album, Trouble Mountain (due out November 13) has arrived, and of course it’s a gem. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the LP.

Catherine Elicson – I’m On Fire

Catherine Elicson (of Empath) has readied a solo album – it’s titled River Of Fat and it’ll be out November 6. This noisy-but-dreamy number from it is about as entrancing as it gets.

Deux Visages – Pixelate

Here’s another sub-three-minute alt-rock standout from Deux Visages, who will be putting out their debut album, Call It Goodbye, on November 6.

FFO: Chillin – Fresh Start / Forward Perpetual Motion / All I Know

High Horse is the title of the debut album from FFO: Chillin, and it’s due out on November 6. Fresh Start is the newest single here, but I’m dropping the ones from earlier this year because 1) I missed them and 2) they’re all a blast.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 10.11.26:

(NEW) Font – Punish Task
Caleb De Casper – People Don’t Fall
(NEW) Small Coffin – Natural Process
(NEW) Late Wife – Body
The Infinites – Austin
Stalefish – Superstar
Tele Novella – All Wylde Things
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Follow Through
(NEW) Dossey – OK
Ive Mine – 500 Days
(NEW) Fine! I Guess. – When Will I Sleep Again?
LLUVII – Junii

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Saturday, November 21 – Head to Hole In The Wall for Mean Jolene’s release show for their new album, Play Nice. TV’s Daniel and Cast Of 1000s are on the bill as well. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, December 4 – Join us in celebrating The Black Angels’ 20th anniversary of their debut album, Passover, and for the Mohawk’s 20th birthday! Daiistar, Thor Harris, and DJ Tropicana Joe will also perform. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Enjoy.

Twisted Teens – Stalks

If you’re not eating up all the goods that Twisted Teens have delivered this year, then you really need to get on it. The band’s third album of 2026, The Holy Cross Tigers, will be out on November 6.

Baby Wave – The Scene Is Changing

Here’s a new one from Baby Wave, who just announced that they’ve signed to Saddle Creek. There’s a nice Feeble Little Horse lean to this track, which is pretty fitting considering it was produced by Sebastian Kinsler (of Feeble Little Horse).

Untitled (Halo) – Sex

It’s difficult to put Untitled (Halo) in any one particular bucket sound-wise, but I’m continuing to enjoy the ride from one single to the next. Their self-titled debut album will be out on November 6.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 10.04.26:

Tear Dungeon – Freak Flag
(NEW) Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Follow Through
(NEW) Fifi Knifefight – Hungry
Late Wife – Bicycle
Stalefish – Big Fan
Lavender Scare – Au Revoir
Witches Exist – Pyre
(NEW) Tele Novella – All Wylde Things
(NEW) The Infinites – Austin
Day Friend – Weatherman
(NEW) BS – Is It Enough?
Amakiya – Magical Mystical Maybe
(NEW) LLUVII – Junii
(NEW) Caleb De Casper – People Don’t Fall

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Coming soon!

And just like that, another Fantastic Fest (my 16th, to be exact) is in the books! It really is my favorite festival, as I not only get to see double digit genre films, but I also get to spend it hanging out with my good buddy (and SOTO contributor) Noah Sanders. This year I managed to see 24 movies, and here you’ll find my Top 5 out of that group. Noah’s recap is in this post as well. Enjoy.

PHREAKER
The Plot: A blind kid becomes obsessed with phreaking, which is essentially hacking via a phone.

Review: My runaway favorite at this year’s Fantastic Fest. This is a real edge-of-your-seat kind of affair that not only had me fully tied up in the story of Jake Bellman (Cole Asher Phillips) – a talented kid desperate to find his place in the world – but I was also entirely enamored by the whole phreaking game. I can’t wait to see it again.

ADULT SUPERVISION
The Plot: Three men volunteer to chaperone a group of pre-teens on a multi-night class trip. Bullying then flashes its ugly face amongst both the kids and adults.

Review: This is a dark, dark film that made me laugh and cringe and – maybe, possibly – fear kids. Seriously, I really rode a wave of emotions and thoughts here, and this movie has the only scene at this year’s fest that made me audibly gasp.

THE SPIRAL
The Plot: A woman reveals to her daughter that long ago she inadvertently cursed their family via … well, bad bargains.

Review: Welcome to the cinematic embodiment of “the monkey’s paw curls.” I was really impressed by the pacing in this film – it really earns its messed up finale – but what pushes it to a whole other level is that the mother (Jasmine Trinca) makes choices that I think most people (including me) would make. On another note, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi is wildly good as the mysterious woman with tricksy offers.

THE CYCLE
The Plot: An FBI agent is brought into a murder investigation after it’s discovered that one of the victims is her estranged father. Things are, however, not what they seem.

Review: I wasn’t a huge fan of Longlegs, but The Cycle, which trots along a similar path, really worked for me. Deborah Ann Woll puts in a nice performance as a woman overwhelmed by the sheer weirdness of what’s she’s facing, and I also dug the film’s commitment to the bit after its big reveal.

NO REST FOR THE WICKED
The Plot: A fisherman falls in love with a whaler on the Faroe Islands. After tragedy strikes, unexplainable things begin to happen.

Review: I don’t often take on dramas at Fantastic Fest – it’s honestly just difficult to jump into something a little slower and more involved, as it often means I’ll drift off to sleep – but I’m really happy that I gave this a shot. What a moving story with lovely performances from everyone involved.

So, Noah and I both managed to catch a few of the bigger movies at the fest – Resident Evil, Wild Horse Nine, and Primetime – and his portion of this recap touches on them with almost the same exact words that I would have used, thus positing that we may have merged into one mega-dork. Anyhow, give it all a look at the bottom of his write-up.

—–

NOAH’S RECAP:

I left Fantastic Fest 2026 with a few things this year:

1) A new, doctor-mandated diet for my dangerously high cholesterol.
2) A new understanding that five straight days of chicken tendies, weed mints, and alcohol doth not a healthy Noah make.
3) A belief that this, my 5th Fantastic Fest, might’ve been the best I’ve attended.

I saw 21 films this year and out of those 21, I’d say there was only 5 films I actively wouldn’t recommend. Sure, my level of recommendation for the other 16 films varies wildly, but for the most part I walked away from Fantastic Fest having seen 16 films that ranged from good to, I’ll say it, incredible.

Here are my Top 5:

PHREAKER
The Plot: The rise and fall of prolific phreaker, Jake Bellman.

Review: I had no idea what phreakin’ was prior to watching Adam Yorke’s absolute ripper of a film. As it turns out, phreakin’ is old school phone-based hacking, and Jake Bellman (Cole Phillips in a breakout role), a blind kid with no friends and too much free time, is a prodigy. Using multi-split screens and all the tropes of a good heist flick, Yorke turns a film about talking on the phone into a riveting, crackerjack of a film about what lengths we’ll go to when looking for connection.

3 WEEKS AFTER
The Plot: Three weeks after a traumatic incident, a group of high schoolers and two burnt out teachers, head into the country for a class trip. Things go very badly.

Review: “Bullying only leads to bad things” is like a full genre at Fantastic Fest, and 3 Weeks After is a beautiful representation of this type of film. It’s a dark, slow burn that promises nothing good from the very start and delivers in spades. Each moment of the film is another twist of the rope as the power dynamics of youth toxically intertwine with the inaction of the only adults in the room to, if not horrific, brutal results.

SICK
The Plot: A brother and a sister tend to their ailing grandmother in a remote house in the woods.

Review: There’s two layers of creepiness that wind their way through Sick, an emotional one and a horrific one. And it’s to first time director, Agata Trzebuchowska’s great credit that she’s able to play the particular discomforts of both varieties against each other to keep this film rolling right along. When the film does finally reveal itself – and does it ever – it’s cathartic and uncomfortable in the same breath.

NO WAY DOWN
The Plot: A bunch of people get stuck in a crumbling, high-rise apartment complex with a serial killer.

Review: A cast of interesting characters, an original take on the actual killer, and a smart use of a dangerous location? Yeah, I’m in. This is what I come to Fantastic Fest for, new takes on the old genre tropes, and No Way Down fits the bill perfectly. It’s not going to change horror cinema, but I walked out with a big dumb grin on my face, regardless.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
The Plot: Birthday party + home invasion + secrets on top of secrets = bad news bears.

Review: So, what if your home got invaded by greased up, French toughs but instead of looking for your jewelry or whatever, they were after … you? It’s a clever twist on the concept, and director Leá Mysius uses it to pull the family at the middle of the film apart right as they need to be their most together. It’s a film of subtle reveals and less so subtle consequences. It’s not a fast paced flick, but I was fully engaged from start to finish.

Thoughts on the BIG Films:

RESIDENT EVIL
The Plot: A medical courier has to deliver a package to a zombie infested town.

Review: Zach Cregger continues to hit home runs. Does it follow the plot of the Resident Evil video games to a tee? No. Does it matter? Not at all. This is an 90-minute, sicko speed-run that feels closer to capturing the experience of playing a video game than anything that’s come before. Austin Abrams is electric, Cregger is firing on a whole new set of cylinders, and there were a couple of visual images I just can’t get out of my head. I thought it lost a little sauce in the second, more CGI-oriented half, but I enjoyed the hell out of every minute.

WILD HORSE NINE
The Plot: Two CIA agents take a vacation on Rapa Nui while plotting to overthrow a 1970s Chilean president.

Review: I don’t say this lightly: this is the best John Malkovich has ever been. If this wasn’t a brilliantly written, beautifully directed film that toes a lovely line between comedy and sadness (in true Martin McDonagh fashion), and features a Sam Rockwell performance for the ages but still featured Malkovich plumbing the depths of his anger, his vulnerability, and his humor, I’d still pay money to see it again. Expect this one to get a lot of noms come Oscar time.

PRIMETIME
The Plot: A nightmarish interpretation of the chaos spiral that was Chris Hansen’s To Catch a Predator.

Review: Lance Oppenheim is a favorite director of mine. And where he’s worked only in documentary up to this point (and seriously some of the best documentaries, well, ever) he brings his dreamy, sinister style to Primetime. Combined with a cast of actors all bringing their A-game (Robert Pattinson is incredible as Chris Hansen, but no one should overlook Skyler Gisondo as Decoy Dan or Merritt Weaver as the producer) Primetime becomes a darkly funny, incredibly fucked-up film about what we do when we’re trying to become, and stay relevant.

Enjoy.

Fontaines D.C. – Tongue

The new Fontaines D.C. album, Dopamine Chamber, will be here pretty soon – it’s due out October 16. So far there’s only been two singles (including this one), but it seems as though the LP is going to feature a rather varied sound, which I’m all the way up for.

Mei Semones – Howl

Here’s a lovely new one from my favorite jazz-infused indie popper, Mei Semones, who has signed to Verve/Interscope and announced a new album titled Howl, which will be here on January 15. By the way, she’s also going to be hitting the road with a stop in Austin at the Mohawk on April 17.

Mogwai – Underground (Featuring Iggy Pop)

Mogwai and Iggy Pop is a totally oddball combo to me, but nonetheless, I think this driving rocker really works. The former will be putting out a career-spanning compilation called Happy Tears on January 8.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 09.27.26:

Grocery Bag – Deadvolt
(NEW) Late Wife – Bicycle
(NEW) Lavender Scare – Au Revoir
Gummy Fang – Lovesick Thing
BS – F1
(NEW) Witches Exist – Pyre
(NEW) Amakiya – Magical Mystical Maybe
Almost Heaven – Baby Teeth
(NEW) Leo Napoleon – Make It To July
(NEW) Born Twins – Lost In The City
Divine Waters – Rained Out
Semiwestern – Pose

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Friday, 10/2 – Head to Hotel Vegas for BS’s EP release party with Born Twins, Gummy Fang, and Leo Napoleon. This is a FREE show.

Enjoy.

Protomartyr – Exalted Eagles

Just a reminder, the new Protomartyr album, Hotel Usona, arrives tomorrow, September 25. While you wait for it to drop, check out this excellent single and – if you’re in Austin – consider grabbing tickets to see them at the Far Out Lounge on October 31.

Deux Visages – Automatic

Deux Visages have announced their debut album – it’s titled Call It Goodbye and it’ll be here on November 6. I really like this little alt-rock ear worm.

Bellringer – Afterlife

New Orleans has delivered some great stuff as of late with Twisted Teens and – now – Bellringer. This inspired rocker is off their impending album, Is This The Afterlife, which is due out tomorrow, September 25.

Pushbike – Pure Hate

Pushbike are set to put out an EP titled Little Bastard on October 9. I’m into the power pop/emo mix on this single.

Flowers For The Dead – Killstar

Here’s a rather infectious new alt-rocker from Flowers For The Dead.

RIP Magic – Stadium Drive

After putting a slew of singles this year, RIP Magic have finally announced their debut album – 1,2,3 will arrive on October 30. This track really bumps along nicely.

Snooper – Mouth Closed

Snooper are about to hit the road with Mannequin Pussy and Wednesday on the awesomely titled Bitch Cabal Tour, and they’ve released this ripper of a track to celebrate the occasion. By the way, for those in Austin, that show will land at Radio/East on November 14.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 09.20.26:

Ivy Mine – 500 Days
(NEW) Divine Waters – Rained Out
Nite Walk – Made Up In My Mind
Commercial Breaks – Real As You
Flyer Club – Wide Open Borders
Andrew Cashen And His Disciples Of Creation – Trouble Maker
Club Coma – Those Days Are Over
(NEW) The Well – Other Girls
Cutting Up Men – This Is Nothing
Wild Heaven – One To Go
BS – 4 Generations
(NEW) Alexalone – Nomoney

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Friday, 9/25 – Get to the Mohawk to see Club Coma, GUZZLR, Andrew Cashen And His Disciples Of Creation, and Alexi 8bit. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, 10/2 – Head to Hotel Vegas for BS’s EP release party with Born Twins, Gummy Fang, and Leo Napoleon. This is a FREE show.

Enjoy.

Aesop Rock & Blockhead – Trouble Trouble

Aesop Rock has really been on an roll as of late – he put out two albums in 2025, an EP with Homeboy Sandman earlier this year, and now he’s reunited with Blockhead for a full length titled Trouble Mountain (due out November 13). Do yourself a favor and turn the volume way up on this stellar single.

Land Of Talk – 4:44

Here’s a rather cozy, easy-on-the-ears new one from Land Of Talk, who will be putting out an album called Lasts on November 13.

Just Penelope – Copenhagen / After

I only very recently came across Just Penelope, but this slice of indie rock hooked me right away and I’m very ready to dive into their EP, Great Lake, which is out this Friday, September 18. By the way, I’ve also included another previous single of theirs that’s great.

Untitled (Halo) – Easy Rider

There’s a real mishmash of vocal styles in this lowkey rocker from Untitled (Halo), but the whole thing comes together in a pretty great way. The band will be putting out their self-titled debut album on November 6.

Fujiya & Miyagi – Point 33 Recurring

Another single from Fujiya & Miyagi’s long-awaited album, New Shiny Object (due October 30), has arrived and – of course – it’s a dance-worthy little earworm. I really hope they’re planning to tour the US soon.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 09.13.26:

The Well – New Hallelujah For The Damned
Tear Dungeon – Freak Flag
Porcelain – Waltz
Day Friend – Weatherman
Club Coma – Those Days Are Over
Death Palmz – No Compromise
BS – 4 Generations
Alexalone – Everydayishalloween
Font – Texas
(NEW) Flyer Club – Wide Open Borders
(NEW) Nite Walk – Made Up In My Mind
(NEW) Wild Heaven – One To Go

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Friday, 9/25 – Get to the Mohawk to see Club Coma, GUZZLR, Andrew Cashen And His Disciples Of Creation, and Alexi 8bit. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, 10/2 – Head to Hotel Vegas for BS’s EP release party with Born Twins, Gummy Fang, and Leo Napoleon. This is a FREE show.

Enjoy.

Twisted Teens – When We First Met

My new favs Twisted Teens have announced their third album of 2026 – it’s titled The Holy Cross Tigers and it’ll be out on November 6. Check out the rollicking first single here, and then when that’s done, go hang out with the two excellent LPs that the band has already put out this year.

M(h)aol – Scam Manifesto

A big album for me last year was M(h)aol’s Something Soft, so I was very happy to receive a new post-punk gem from them this week. Hopefully there’s more coming soon.

Katrina Ford – Winter Sun

The title of the new album from Katrina Ford (formerly of Celebration) is To The Lighthouse and it’s due out October 30. Hit play on this one if you’re at all into chamber-pop.

The War On Drugs – Who’s That

Well well, look who’s back with their first new piece of music since 2022 – The War On Drugs. You have to think that this means an album announcement is coming soon, right? I wonder if it’ll happen before or after the band brings their current tour to a close, which is actually going to be in Austin at ACL Fest.

Ratboys – Fix My Brain (The Marked Men Cover)

This is a rad (and very infectious) Marked Men cover from Ratboys, who are gearing up to put out a deluxe edition of their 2026 album, Singin’ To An Empty Chair, on September 18.

Soul Glo – February Theory

Here’s a nice punch to the face from Soul Glo. In related news, they’ve finally announced a new album – NA I’M GON GRAB ALLAT will be here on January 15.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 09.06.26:

(NEW) Porcelain – Waltz
(NEW) Font – Texas
(NEW) Death Palmz – No Compromise
Club Coma – You Can’t Take My Spirit
Bayonne – Multiphase
BS – F1
The Living Pins – Roxy Unicorn
(NEW) Tear Dungeon – Freak Flag
Fifi Knifefight – So Cool!
Penner – Counting On A Bad Time
La Snacks – Holy Roman Empire
(NEW) Day Friend – Weatherman
Stalefish – Big Fan
Walkabouts – Deserted

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Friday, 9/25 – Get to the Mohawk to see Club Coma, GUZZLR, Andrew Cashen And His Disciples Of Creation, and Alexi 8bit. Tickets are on sale HERE.

Friday, 10/2 – Head to Hotel Vegas for BS’s EP release party with Born Twins, Gummy Fang, and Leo Napoleon. This is a FREE show.

Enjoy.

Shady Bug – My Night Routine

Shady Bug have readied a new album titled I Wanted To Be There, and it’s due out October 30. This grungy, fuzzed out single is a real winner.

PISS – Time Loop At Hot Slit

Here’s a super sharp (and noisy) ripper from PISS, who will be putting out an album titled You Made Me / Skin On Linen on October 30.

Perennial – Emma Peel

Perennial just delivered another great single off their impending album, Modernism, which is going to be here real soon – September 18. On a related note, their tracks are particularly great when played at full volume in the car.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 08.30.26:

(NEW) La Snacks – Holy Roman Empire
(NEW) Penner – Counting On A Bad Time
Annabelle Chairlegs – Beef Witted
(NEW) Stalefish – Big Fan
Functional Drawstring – Lights From The Ceiling
(NEW) BS – F1
Club Coma – You Can’t Take My Spirit
Kam Franklin – I Got A Lover
Caleb De Casper – Drive
Living Set – Point Of View
(NEW) Walkabouts – Deserted
(NEW) The Well – Love Cult (XMAS)
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Cash Grab
(NEW) Living Pins – Roxy Unicorn

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Coming soon!

Enjoy.

Protomartyr – Feed The Sewer

Here’s a thunderous new one from Protomartyr. I’m excited to dive into their impending album, Hotel Usona, when it arrives on September 25 and to – hopefully – see them with the Jesus and Mary Chain in Austin at the Far Out Lounge on October 31.

Lex Walton – Hipster Runoff / For Thee I Sing

Sub Pop has added Lex Walton to their roster, and the artist’s debut for the label, Ultimate Love Forever, rolled out right alongside that news. Definitely hit play if you’re into power pop.

Greg Freeman – Cahokia

Another great single from Greg Freeman’s new album, All Set The Bone (due out October 2) has arrived. Also, for those in Austin, he’s playing Antone’s on October 11.

The Spook School – Falling

Well look at that, The Spook School are back in action after an eight-year hiatus. This kinetic tune can be found on their upcoming album, Like A Heartbeat, which will be out on January 29.

San Gabriel – Paradise

San Gabriel was a longtime Austin favorite of mine (and a regular on my show, 101X Homegrown), but they’ve moved on and now my coverage of them will live on SOTO proper. Anyhow, this catchy synth pop number is off their new EP, Adult Onset Goth, which is due out September 18.

My yearly journey into the darkness of Fantastic Fest will mark my fourth year as an attendee. My fourth year joining John Laird and my neckbearded brethren for five straight days of true cinematic overindulgence. I’m talking about 10 hours a day spent in the glorious cave of a movie theater, plying myself with beer and processed meat, as I’m cerebrally pounded by gore and action and skin crawling creep.

Even after four years, there’s still nothing quite like getting the lineup reveal in your inbox. That small, electric tingle that cuts through me as I start scrolling down through the descriptions of Indonesian horror-martial-arts-ghost-prison flicks and Balkan “your grandparents aren’t who you think they are” nail biters. Sure, Fantastic Fest always stocks the pond with some surefire hits, but the joy of the fest is in discovery, of digging deep into the morass and walking away with a new favorite horror film only you and 100 of your new best friends have had the privilege of viewing.

With so much on offer though, and at least in my addled brain, so much on the line, picking the right flicks becomes a daunting challenge of finding the right balance of tone and length and genre and, most importantly, potential. But after spending more than a few hours yesterday with the 2026 Fantastic Fest lineup, it’s a problem with no right answer, only possibility.

As usual, I’ve picked a handful of films from across the Fantastic Fest spectrum that I think will satisfy, if not altogether exceed, my expectations. In no particular order:

Resident Evil, d. Zach Cregger
I don’t know if there’s ever been a film at Fantastic Fest that I’ve been more excited for than Weapons-director Zach Cregger’s take on Resident Evil. And sure, I could just wait to see it in the theaters soon after the fest, but seeing what looks to be a hardcore, zombie gorefest with the screaming masses of Fantastic Fest is an experience you just can’t beat.

Wild Horse Nine, d. Martin McDonough
A spy-comedy featuring Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich, and Steve Buscemi, directed by the guy who did In Bruges. Who’s not going to see this?

Victorian Psycho, d. Zachary Wigon
Maika Monroe is the scream queen of the moment and I like seeing her continue to stretch her wings into new, dark corners of the genre. This film looks surprisingly metal.

Full Phil, d. Quentin Dupieux
It’s not FF without a QD film. I only enjoy about a third of his extensive filmography, but if I am going to partake in one of these oddball gems, it’s best done at Fantastic Fest.

Death of a Yellow Bird, d. Cody Calahan
I thought Undertone was a terrifying, if not flawed, little flick that did a lot with very little. Death of a Yellow Bird seems to be playing in a similar sandbox (i.e. scary loneliness), and I am here to partake in that sandbox.

Extreme Prejudice, d. Walter Hill
If you have the chance to see Walter Hill’s 1987, Nick Nolte-starring, border action flick Extreme Prejudice on the big screen with a bunch of film dorks, you take it.

The Cycle, d. Jordan Downey
I felt the shivers watching this trailer. Smiling, floating corpses that might be the protagonist’s long lost, now potentially zombified, father can do that.

Beware Boiuna, d. Mike P. Nelson
I mean, this movie looks exactly like the original Anaconda. And that is not a bad thing.

Ghost in the Cell, d. Joko Anwar
It’s because of Fantastic Fest that I’ve spent so much time with Indonesian horror and martial art flicks. So, when Fantastic Fest programs an Indonesian murder-horror-ghost-prison movie by the guy who made weird eyeball film Impetigore, I’m there, no questions asked.

The Spiral, d. Paolo Strippoli
The trailer for this flick is entirely in Italian and doesn’t feature anything particularly horrific, but the sense of dread it punched squarely in my stomach is enough to give it a shot.

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One of the great joys of Fantastic Fest is trying to guess what the Secret Screenings and then complaining when they’re definitely not that. Here’s a stab at what I think / hope they might and the possibility (on a 1 to 5 scale) they might actually happen.

Secret Screening Wishlist:

Whalefall, d. Brian Duffeld
Diving man is swallowed by whale. Diving man must fight free of whale (and his emotions). It looks like a ripper of a film, and it comes out shortly after FF.
4.5 out of 5

Clayface, d. James Watkin
DC’s first stab at horror seems a solid fit for the FF audience, and a declaration of what this film is (gooey horror) and who it’s meant for (gooey horror lovers).
4 out of 5

The Devils, d. Kenneth Anger
The WB is trying to stake claim on the independent landscape with their new Clockwork shingle and their beautiful restoration of this batshit classic is a great start. Only a small percentage of the FF masses are thrilled about restored films, but this is a big one. So, maybe?
3.5 out of 5

Other Mommy, d. Robert Savage
My wife closes her eyes and covers her ears when this trailer comes on in the theater. Meaning it’s a perfect flick to surprise the FF faithful with.
4 out of 5

Klara and the Sun, d. Taika Waiti
This film looks like hot, sappy trash, but Taika and FF have some history. It might be too prestige for FF, but it’s also the genre-edge of prestige. I pray for the latter.
3.5 out of 5

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See you in Austin!

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 08.23.26:

(NEW) Annabelle Chairlegs – Beef Witted
(NEW) Guiding Light – Fear On My Own Time
(NEW) French Film – Lily
Lauren Lakis – Heaven Felt Too High
Alexalone – everydayishalloween
(NEW) Living Set – Point Of View
Nice Strong Arm – Cloud Machine
(NEW) Caleb De Casper – Drive
Club Coma – Those Days Are Over
(NEW) Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – Cash Grab
HAHA Laughing – Oh Well
(NEW) Functional Drawstring – Lights From The Ceiling

*Please note that this podcast will only be available for 30 days.

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Coming soon!

Enjoy.

Sorry – Tom Will Smack Your Ass

Thank you to Sorry for always dropping a clever little ear worm right when I need one. On another note, this video is great.

Fontaines D.C. – Marianne

Fontaines D.C. have a new album on the way – Dopamine Chamber will be out on October 16. I was a little surprised by the synth-y lean here, but it works for them.

Shygirl – Alyse

There’s a real contagious vibe swirling around in this kinetic one-off single from Shygirl.

Here you’ll find the latest on Homegrown, an Austin artist-focused show that airs every Sunday at 9pm CST on 101X. Be sure to also follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you’ve got music or comments you’d like to submit, please send an email here.

PLAYLIST FOR 08.16.26:

HOMEGROWN LIVE PRESENTS:

Friday, August 21 – Head to 29th St. Ballroom for Holy Wave’s album release party with Queen Serene and Language. Tickets are on sale HERE. By the way, the band’s new album, I’m DADA, is out now.