Chuck's Staff Pick The Sword rocked Austin for a long time before they broke on the worldwide scene with the song Freya as a download in Guitar Hero II. Many thought it might have been a flash in the pan, but with solid song writing, and a DIY attitude they grabbed the ear of a little band known as Metallica, who snatched them up to take on tour, putting these hometown heroes in front of tens of thousands of people all over the world. With their third studio release on Kemado records, The Sword has taken a slightly different approach to their sounds, while maintaining their core sound that draws you in with every riff. The New single from the CD Warp Riders is Tres Brujas and my staff pick and the video is wicked too.
Lawless Staff Pick My new staff pick is “Ready To Start”, the first single from the new disc from Canadian indie darlings The Arcade Fire. The Suburbs arrives in American stores on August 3, inspired by frontman Win Butler’s teenaged years in Houston suburb The Woodlands. Butler and company have snuck three other songs onto the internet ahead of the album’s release. Look for, at some point, too, a look at the short film the band made here in Austin in the spring with noted director Spike Jonze. Some of you may have had a chance to get a glimpse of some of The Suburbs’ new material as the band played a well-kept secret show while they were here making the film. We’ll look forward to a full-on Arcade Fire show in Austin perhaps as soon as this fall—at this point, the band’s itinerary, which includes Lollapalooza in August, only carries them into early September.
You wanted more, you got more. Awolnation is my latest Staff Pic. You've heard them before. I played a track called "Burn it Down" for you a few months back. Everyone seemed to like it. So, I found another song of theirs and played it for my 3 O'clock Whatever. Well, you REALLY liked that one too! So, I have made it my staff pic. The song is called "Sail."
Your welcome. In the meantime, check out their website
www.awolnationmusic.com OH! AND BY THE WAY!!! I've convinced the band to come to Austin TX and rock YOUR FACE OFF on Sept. 30th @ Stubb's BBQ. It will be 101X's first ever "101X Staff Pic Party". $3 for 3 bands! "What Bands?", you ask. Well, the aforementioned Awolnation along with Trevins Staff Pic, Austin's own Quiet Company... The last band? Well, we can't tell you that just yet... but soon. Trust me. You'll want to be there. You can ONLY GET TIX THE DAY OF THE SHOW AT THE VENUE!!! So, be sure to get there early... or you'll be standing outside wishing you could be inside.
Joe's Pick The Gaslight Anthem rose out of the fertile punk scene of New Brunswick, NJ, flaunting a unique style that melded the influence of Bruce Springsteen, Wilson Pickett, and various Motown groups with the rough, emotional grit of Hot Water Music and Jawbreaker. The band — comprised of vocalist/guitarist Brian Fallon, bassist Alex Levine, drummer Benny Horowitz, and guitarist Alex Rosamila — began establishing a hometown audience after forming in 2005, and their soulful punk rock attracted wider attention upon the release of their first full-length album, Sink or Swim. Arriving in May 2007 via the local imprint XOXO Records, the album garnered accolades from punk zines and blogs alike.
--ALLMUSIC GUIDE
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM—“THE DIAMOND CHURCH STREET CHOIR:”
Trevin's Pick Check out my new staff pick from Quiet Company from right here in Austin, follow em on Twitter at twitter.com/quietcompanytx, they’re total tweet masters. Here’s a live video of “How do You do It”