Random Play

• Perhaps the only thing cooler than fronting one of Austin’s best new bands is spending one’s summer as a production assistant for the upcoming Survivor series shot in Southeast China. “They called us the Dream Team,” recounts Peel frontman Josh Permenter. “Our main job was to test out the stunts to make sure they were safe.” Permenter passed on the next season so that Peel can record an EP in October and tour this winter.

• The final lineup for the second annual Fun Fun Fun Fest has been secured. Among the new additions are Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues, Battles, Mates of State, Cave Singers, Battalion of Saints, and locals Okkervil River, Brothers & Sisters, Iron Age, and Brownout. Two-day passes for the event, Nov. 3-4 in Waterloo Park, are currently on sale through TicketWeb outlets for $54.

• Democracy rules in indie rock lately. Golden Bear, Athens’ Blue Flashing Light, Nelo, Quiet Company, and Abilene’s Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys are the finalists in the Sound and the Jury competition, throwing down Wednesday, Sept. 12, at Antone’s for a spot on the Dell stage at the ACL Festival. Then there’s Spin magazine and Music Nation’s Hot Pursuit, in which unsigned bands compete for a joint record deal with Epic and Music Nation’s Original Signal Recordings, a slot at Spin‘s South by Southwest day party at Stubb’s, and at least six minutes of fame. Acts have until Sept. 24 to submit artist profiles, including videos, MP3s, and photos. Two groups will be selected each week for eight weeks, with subsequent rounds being judged by Jane’s Addiction‘s Perry Farrell, Cursive’s Tim Kasher, and Spin Editor Doug Brod. www.spin.com/thecompetition.

• Carter Albrecht, a pivotal figure of the Dallas/Fort Worth music scene, a member of Sorta, recently named Best Overall Act in the Dallas Observer‘s annual poll and a regular with Charlie Sexton and Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, died Labor Day. Following an altercation with his girlfriend, Albrecht attempted to force entry into the house of a neighbor, who shot the 34-year-old singer/keyboardist through the door, according to The Dallas Morning News. No charges have been filed in the shooting, and funeral arrangements are still pending.

This article appears in September 7 • 2007.

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