Cold Specks Performs Tonight at the Mohawk, Inside Stage
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I Predict A Graceful Expulsion is the entrancing debut album by Canadian-born songwriter Al Spx, who goes by the moniker Cold Specks. The name was taken from a line in James Joyce’s Ulysees, an utterance of “cold specks of fire, evil, lights shining in the darkness.”
Then there’s the album’s name, which seems most fitting for the somewhat hushed yet tremendous beauty of the music, where you’ll find delicate build-ups followed by a dramatic expelling. It is, indeed, graceful within its dark recesses. And Spx’s own description of her style is about as extraordinarily varied as her influences. She calls it ‘doom soul’ – elusive, shades of gospel permeating throughout, understated but still managing to be quite spiritual. And she’s just as inspired by gospel sounds of the deep South as she is by the likes of Bill Callahan, Tom Waits and blues and soul singer James Carr.
This is an artist to keep an eye on. Make plans to see Cold Specks perform tonight at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, on the inside stage. Austin-based artist Emily Wolfe starts out the evening. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. Both performances follow an early show by The Sea and Cake and Matthew Friedberger (Fiery Furnaces), on the outside stage. Doors for that show open at 6:30 p.m.
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