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Playback

Playback: A Weekend on the Crust

I didn’t cross the highway into Downtown all weekend, missing the opportunity to hear tough-guy bikers rev their fancy custom motorcycles on Sixth Street or ogle at the leather-skinned, Harley-babe eye candy. My loss. All the entertainment I needed went down on the Eastside. Read More | Comment »

12:30PM Mon. Jun. 17, Kevin Curtin

Chaos in Texas Live (Finale): Infest

Infest played 31 songs in 32 minutes last night. I know this because I kept a stopwatch running in my pocket and a pen in my hand, drawing another dash on my forearm each time the reunited California hardcore heroes kicked out another song. Read More | Comment »

1:30PM Mon. Jun. 3, Kevin Curtin

Chaos in Tejas Live (Saturday): Joyce Manor

“Are you going to watch Joyce Manor?” a stranger asked me at a Hotel Vegas picnic table. “They’re my favorite band. I just love sad pop-punk.” Pop-punk, come to think of it, remains the black sheep genre for a music festival where the majority of acts scream over buzzsaw distortion rather than singing sincere declarations in catchy melodies. Read More | Comment »

3:00PM Sun. Jun. 2, Kevin Curtin

Rock & Roll Weekend

Three nights, three shows, three different venues around town. Playback’s busy weekends don’t show any signs of slowing down. Read More | Comment »

12:45PM Mon. May. 20, Kevin Curtin

¡Pachanga Playback!

Riding my bike through East Austin towards Pachanga Fest on Friday, I spotted a teen in her quinceanera dress as soundtracked by Tejano music blaring from cars. The hood south of Cesar Chavez maintains a distinctly Latin feel, and Fiesta Gardens remains one of Austin’s most enchanting destinations. It all came alive Pachanga weekend. Read More | Comment »

2:00PM Mon. May. 13, Kevin Curtin

Break On Through

After penning 1991’s Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors, acid jazz drummer John Densmore returns to the bookshelves with The Doors: Unhinged, a 296-page summation of the band’s longstanding back-and-forths in court. Densmore’s “Spanish Caravan” parks at Waterloo Records tonight for a book signing, 7pm. Read More | Comment »

11:07AM Tue. May. 7, Kevin Curtin

Festival Fest

My nerves, on high from a snail-paced sojourn through Friday rush hour traffic, were calmed upon arrival at the Old Setter’s Music Festival. It was my fourth outing to the folk-ish fest and again I’d forgotten what a tranquil Hill Country scene awaited me. Perched on a grassy hill, I munched a fallen nut and reflected on how easy life can be. Read More | Comment »

1:55PM Mon. Apr. 22, Kevin Curtin

The Good Psych Music Club

The Good Music Club, a web series bringing Austin acts to the world though live videos, partners with Austin Psych Fest tonight at the Scottish Rite. TGMC partner and KUTX deejay Laurie Gallardo chose Kay Leotard, Obscured by Echoes, and the Wolf as a stylistic preview of next week’s fest. Read More | Comment »

3:07PM Fri. Apr. 19, Kevin Curtin

I Call B.S.

While at a house party Saturday night, I found a piece of forgotten birthday cake, so I bit off the top and threw the rest into the yard. An onlooker nodded, “A cake’s only as good as its icing.” What an adage. I immediately thought of Grizzly Bear’s Austin City Limits taping earlier in the week. Read More | Comment »

1:37PM Mon. Apr. 15, Kevin Curtin

Introducing Infest

Mohawks and leather spilled onto the sidewalks of the upscale Warehouse District on Friday night where Agent Orange and One Way System baptized Infest as Austin’s newest music venue. With a relocated stage and entrance, Infest barely resembles the grounds of past tenant, Antone’s, and the crowd they drew offered even more of a distinction. Read More | Comment »

1:00PM Mon. Apr. 8, Kevin Curtin

Bobby Jealousy Moving?

I probably owe the White Horse an apology for turning their bar into a Slip ‘n Slide with the Fritos and condom-filled piñata I detonated during Cunto!’s set there on Saturday night. I didn’t foresee the combination of corn chip grease and lube causing both the band and audience to fall over repeatedly. Read More | Comment »

11:57AM Mon. Apr. 1, Kevin Curtin

Prince to Play La Zona Rosa on SXSW Saturday Night

South by Southwest confirms that Prince makes his festival debut Saturday at La Zona Rosa. News broke Sunday that he’ll bring a big band with horns as opposed to the female threepiece he’s toured recently. SXSW promises an official statement tomorrow, with tickets sorted by lottery like Green Day and Depeche Mode. Read More | Comment »

1:10PM Tue. Mar. 12, Kevin Curtin

SXSW Music Showcase: Depeche Mode

Synth pop forefathers Depeche Mode play their first ever South by Southwest showcase a week from today, Friday, March 15. The British electro-pop pioneers perform at Austin’s newest music venue, Brazos Hall, a 900-person warehouse at Fourth and Brazos in the heart of the Sixth Street music district. Read More | Comment »

9:17AM Fri. Mar. 8, Kevin Curtin

Now Appearing at SXSW: Snoop Lion

The hip-hop legend formerly known as Snoop Dogg, has announced a South by Southwest concert at Viceland (401 E. Ceaser Chavez) on Thursday, March 14, as backed by Major Lazer and Mavadoin in conjunction with the world premier of his new film Reincarnated. Read More | Comment »

2:27PM Tue. Mar. 5, Kevin Curtin

50 Cent Rolls Into SXSW

Having already announced appearances by hip-hop kings (Master P), princes (Kendrick Lamar), and crusaders (Killer Mike), South by Southwest now puts forth rap enforcer 50 Cent, slated for a SXSW Interview on Saturday, March 16, at the Austin Convention Center. Read More | Comment »

1:00PM Tue. Mar. 5, Kevin Curtin

Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players to Perform at SXSW

South by Southwest revealed details this afternoon for the lottery system to get into mega showcases for the Sound City Players, Green Day, and Nick Cave. Last March’s headlining SXSW set by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band functioned similarly, with no real problems reported in the aftermath. Read More | Comment »

4:47PM Mon. Mar. 4, Kevin Curtin

Antone’s Is Relocating

Antone’s will be changing locations this spring, confirmed spokesman Frank Hendrix. In late March, the historic venue vacates the building it’s held at Fifth and Lavaca since 1997 and will likely move into the lower level of a downtown hotel. Hendrix says Antone’s is considering offers from two different hotels as well as a property on E. Riverside. Read More | Comment »

12:23PM Mon. Jan. 21, Kevin Curtin

Scoot Inn Changing Hands

Though he declined comment until the deal is finalized, Scoot Inn co-owner Kevin "Kumbala" Crutchfield confirmed that he and James Stockbauer are hoping to sell the Scoot Inn to Paul Eighmey, owner of Sixth Street burger joint and bar Casino El Camino. Read More | Comment »

3:43PM Thu. Aug. 23, 2012, Kevin Curtin

Returning the Favor to Debbie Rombach

Today's Playback is devoted to SXSW's Brent Grulke, who died Monday, but before that story broke, local happenings were stacking, including a two-night benefit for former Hole in the Wall owner Debbie Rombach. Read More | Comment »

10:07AM Thu. Aug. 16, 2012, Kevin Curtin

SXSW Music Fest Creative Director Brent Grulke Dies

South by Southwest Music Festival Creative Director Brent Grulke, 51, died of a heart attack this morning following oral surgery. A pillar of the Austin music community starting at UT's Daily Texan and later the Chronicle, he went from writing about local bands to working for them and finally booking thousands of them and more at SXSW. Read More | Comment »

5:40PM Mon. Aug. 13, 2012, Raoul Hernandez

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