Austin Music Minute

Graham Wilkinson Plays Thursday Night at Frank

December 26, 2012 7:40 am by: Laurie Gallardo

Austin-based songwriter Graham Wilkinson has been influenced by a number of things in his life, everything from his travels to his exposure to so many different kinds of music that he could never narrow his personal style to one genre. He embraces them all – rock, bluegrass, punk, reggae, country, roots, you name it. Wilkinson, born in East Texas, spent some time in music school in Arkansas before making extended trips to Greece and Micronesia, immersing himself in volunteer work and exploring the lands. However, nothing in this adventurous lifestyle affected Wilkinson as profoundly as the loss of his brother Aaron, who passed away in New York City. It was this life-changing moment that led him back to Austin and propelled him more toward making music. His third full-length record Yearbook (released in 2009) featured guest appearances by » read more

Austin Music Minute

Seth Sherman Plays Wednesday Night at Holy Mountain

Seth Sherman’s 2011 release, When the Moment Is True, still happens to be one of my favorites. Phenomenal. On it, he plays all the instruments and provides the vocals for each song. It should come as no surprise, though, in regards to a musician as talented as he is. I’ve said before, such is the strategy of an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable musical perfectionist who combs over every detail with great care. The album came together from solo tracks he’d written after playing with different bands in Austin and other cities, and with some deeply personal material he’d penned after dealing with depression. The result is a beautiful mix of pop, folk and rock, influenced by ‘60s and ‘70s...
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Austin Music Minute

Paul Banks & The Carousels Play T...

I've got the perfect solution to cure the Monday blahs, featuring the songwriter I refer to as "The Voice": Paul Banks. As you may recall, I never tire of sharing my favorite story about Banks, in which I enthusiastically proclaimed...
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Austin Music Minute

The Eastern Sea Plays Tonight at Lambe...

I've always been drawn to bands with a knack for creating a tremendous presence. But I don't necessarily mean having a big band with several members; I'm thinking more along the lines of a huge soundscape. It tends to be dramatic, and when it's done well, it can be amazing. » read more

Austin Music Minute

Dear Marksman Plays Tonight at The ND

Today, I’ve got a little bit of rock/soul to inject into your indie pop. Last summer, if you recall, I presented a local songwriter showcase at » read more

Austin Music Minute

Kinky Machine Plays Tonight at the Hol...

he spirit of DIY music promotion is alive and well in our city. While some bands admittedly need a fire lit beneath them because of their apprehension toward self-promotion, quite a few artisans go out of their way to deliver their work to the audience, even if it's simply CD sleeves designed by...
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Austin Music Minute

Matt the Electrician Plays Thursday Ni...

Tinkering is exploring. And it's especially cool when, as a musician, you can tinker around with different sounds and figure out what works the best, and what fits where. That might've been the case with Matt the Electrician (a.k.a.,...
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Austin Music Minute

The New Maps Play Tonight at Skinny...

I confess, I didn't know much about Austin trio The New Maps, and not much information was readily available about them. Even band photos were a bit scarce, until recently. There was simply a basic bio I found on their Facebook...
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Austin Music Minute

The Sour Notes and Marmalakes 7-Inch V...

What a delight it is to get two great new tracks on the same piece of vinyl from two of your favorite local bands. What's even better is a mammoth release show with loads of other great local bands to go along with it. Bam. Christmas came again for the Austin Music Minute maven in...
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Austin Music Minute

A Local Night For Local People Tonight...

It's that time of year - already. I, your Austin Music Minute maven Laurie Gallardo, am experiencing a strange mixture of excitement and exhaustion. South By Southwest looms on the horizon, and every Austinite knows,...
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Austin Music Minute

The Boxing Lesson Tour Kick-off Show T...

One of my fondest memories of The Boxing Lesson is when I met up with them at Music Lab a few years ago for an interview. If you've ever laughed so hard that you can't breathe and tears are flowing out of your eyes, then you can...
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Austin Music Minute

The Dalles Residency Continues Tonight...

Maybe it was hearing them for the first time that won me over, or perhaps it was the excitement over their impressive renegade performances in the Capitol building. Ultimately, if The...
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Austin Music Minute

The Dead Left EP Release Tonight at th...

If ever the question crosses your mind, you have the most direct answer without hesitation from The Dead Left: "The Dead Left are ready if you are." They certainly are. Songwriter and frontman Neal Kassanoff is stoked about his band's new EP, A Robot Does It...
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Austin Music Minute

Mike Doughty Reads From Memoir and Per...

Mike Doughty (I kept pronouncing it "DOW-tee" but Matt Reilly tells me it's "DOH-tee") is not the sort of individual who relies on a publicist to mediate the words that describe what he does, what he creates, or his observations on...
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Austin Music Minute

The Dalles EP Release Show Saturday Ni...

A few weeks ago, local filmmaker Reid Connell paid a visit to the Texas Capitol building with Austin quartet The Dalles. Connell was going to film the band playing, sans amps and mics, within in the majestic, high-ceiling...
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Austin Music Minute

Them Duqaines Plays Tonight at The Whi...

Perhaps it's not the best gauge to go by. However, I - your humble Austin Music Minute maven Laurie Gallardo - do tend to rave about local music artists who pay homage to the ol' school sounds. That being said, bands like » read more