The artifact isn’t for sale, but pretty much everything else is on the block at 918½ W. Britton. That includes firstedition Elvis Presley 45s, rare pressings of Neil Young albums and much more vintage material. The recently opened store is run by Ronnie Jay Wheeler, who is also an Americana artist with two records to […]
Music Features
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Label love
“Record labels are the best way for an unknown artist to have their music distributed for sale,” said Travis Searle, co-owner of both Guestroom Records and its label, Guestroom Records Records. “We didn’t even think about it being a digital age. It doesn’t matter to us. We like listening to music on vinyl, so that’s […]
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In the ear
Alive since 2009, the act is as eclectic as its stated influences: “The Sonics, Dick Dale, Muddy Waters, Tom Petty, Elvis, and the entire ‘Dirty Dancing’ soundtrack.” For the time of your life, you may want to attend to witness its blend of roots-rock rhythm and blues with a Texas redneck attitude. NITF!’s debut album, […]
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Ryan’s hope
Ryan Lindsey hasn’t been himself for almost two years. The local musician and songwriter has kept busy in the interim — jaunts with Starlight Mints and poppunk band Broncho have more than helped him fill the hours — but it’s apparently high time for an accidental and slightly premature comeback. “I’ve been working on my […]
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Hero worship
9 p.m. Friday VZD’s Restaurant & Club, 4200 N. Western VZDS.com, 524-4203 $5 When Brooklyn native Rich Russell decided he wanted to be a country singer after years of drinking up indie bands in hip, New York City neighborhoods, he knew the perfect place to go: Texas. “Austin is a really hip, indie-oriented city, but […]
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Main squeeze
There’s your average merchandise: CDs, T-shirts, stickers, maybe buttons for the punk-inclined. But then there’s the distinctive item that Amber Lee Baker and Renee de la Prade have on sale during their shows: “The Accordion Babes Album & Pin-up Calendar.” “It was Renee’s idea,” Baker said. “A friend of hers saw some hot pictures that […]
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Heavy Years: 2000-2010 — Chris Mills
It’s a straightforward, difficult-to-Google proclamation that belies a wry, self-aware sense of humor and a lack of concern for popular acclaim. “Heavy Years: 2000-2010” is a great introduction to his enthusiastic, acoustic-based, alt-country/rock/pop ballads. His well-developed melodic touch (horns everywhere!) and impressive lyrics show that although Mills knows all the rules, he has more fun […]
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Simple Plan — Get Your Heart On!
No matter what happens, anyone who can put together melodies and evocative (not necessarily deep, just evocative) lyrics will find success if they want it. Enter Simple Plan and their new album, “Get Your Heart On!”, which drops June 21. With a thinly veiled double entendre in the vein of Blink-182’s “Take Off Your Pants […]
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The Antlers — Burst Apart
This set of dreamy slow jamz from a trio of indie-fied white dudes starts with the bluntly titled “I Don’t Want Love” and ends with “Putting the Dog to Sleep”; in between, we’re treated to tunes named “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out” and “Hounds.” Peter Silberman’s got sex on the mind, but it […]
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Barry Manilow — 15 Minutes
1. The recording style and instrumentation of the folk-rock “15 Minutes” sounds straight out of the ‘80s, which, I suppose, so is Manilow. Kinda. 2. Vintage disco with Manilow semi-rapping. He hasn’t had to “Work the Room” in 30 years, so this just feels wrong. “Startin’ in sweet with a rockin’ beat / Show ‘em […]