@dq Hey Drew thanks for joining! So glad you dig the site and I appreciate the comment.
I think it could mean that there is another ace still to be drawn in the next hand? Meaning that he’s got the Royal Flush currently, and he’s ready to draw the next ace?
Just speculating based on a little bit of research of my own.
Almost two months in Austin now, minus a little stint in Florida for the holidays. It’s a fresh New Year and there is a lot on my mind.
It’s currently Free Week in Austin, which is a mini festival where many of the venues host local bands for free. I’ll be out and around town all weekend seeing as many local bands as possible. The goal for Extra Chill right now is to meet as many local music scene people as possible and begin to grow a network here. Now that the holidays are over, I’m going to get more involved.
Soon, I will start covering Austin bands. There are a ton of bands in Austin, and from what I’ve seen, not all of them are good. So rather than jump into it and start writing about everything I see, I’ve just been observing and finding out whose music that I like. My whole thing has always been done via word of mouth connections, and that takes time.
So far, I’ve seen Fifi Knifefight, who has a badass frontwoman attitude, commanding the room and taking no prisoners. Also seen Killer Kaya, who were pretty good, playing prog-psych rock, and just finished up a monthlong Sunday night residency at Hotel Vegas. I’ve spoken with a punk rock band called Flags, connected via mutual friends, and will be doing an interview with them soon.
Otherwise, I’m eager to learn more, and my next update will have more local music scene stuff.
Here are a few spots I’ve hit in Austin lately:
Texas Chili Parlor – This is a super chill place right near the state capitol, which is probably the least chill area I’ve found in all of Austin so far. There are Texas State Troopers all over the place and they have the worst vibes ever. However, the chili parlor is a dive bar haven right in the middle of this with cheap beer and decent food.
The Creek and the Cave (Banana Phone) – Every Sunday night, there is a free comedy show in this theater on East 7th Street, and it is one of the most irreverent events I’ve ever gone to. People sign up for a minute of standup, and when they finish, the audience heckles them for five minutes straight. The comics are almost universally bad, there are very few rules, and it’s a ton of fun. That said, if you’re easily offended, probably skip this one.
Swan Dive – Saw Glass Mansions and Naome here on a Sunday night in mid December. Two SC to ATX transplants who I’ve hung out with a decent amount since arriving. I liked the venue, it has a big open area, plenty of seats with a view of the stage, and the drinks were not too expensive.
Moody Center – Goose played two nights here for New Years and I was able to hit both shows. This is one of the biggest venues in town and it’s brand new (opened in April 2022). Aside from the $13 beers I was impressed by this place. I joked with somebody in the bathroom at setbreak that it was the nicest bathroom I’ve ever seen at a jam band concert. It even smelled good in that bathroom. Goose was good, too.
Barton Springs Saloon – I stopped in here both before and after the Wilco concert at the Moody Theater in December. I was able to find free parking nearby and walk to the venue from there. Since the beer was so cheap I stopped back in after the show for a night cap before hitting the (original) P. Terry’s next door.
P. Terry’s Burger Stand is a fast food chain that started in Austin in 2005. They are everywhere here and it has become a go-to for me, with affordable burgers and fries that are also delicious. P. Terry’s freaking rules.
A note on running a publication
It is hard to talk about what I’m doing in Austin without talking about behind the scenes stuff. The online publishing industry is imploding on itself right now, and it seems like the powers that be don’t really want small voices to be heard anymore. I know this is felt across the board and has long been a problem on social media in the music industry. How can Extra Chill exist if we aren’t able to share our content with our audience? What happens to our budget in that scenario? (spoiler: it doesn’t exist).
So, maybe all creative people are in the same boat. Navigating a changing world and figuring everything out as we go. The only thing I know is that grassroots movements and independent businesses are more important than ever. What can we do but continue to create, and strive to build something sustainable together?
Here are some of my favorite music releases, concerts, and experiences as a music writer in 2024.
MUSIC RELEASES
Abby Webster – Livin’ by the Water
I found this album randomly this fall, and I can’t stop listening to it. Abby Webster is a songwriter from Montana who writes mountain country/folk music that is deeply intertwined with nature, soaked in beer and self-reflection. Take Livin’ by the Water with you on a kayak ride down the river, or bring it to the backyard bonfire with friends, and just let it play. You’ll see what I mean. It’s facking good songwriting.
After I wrote a review of this album, I discovered that Abby’s guitarist, Bo Stephensen, went to CofC at the same time as me. This band I’d never met or seen live before really liked what I had to say about their album, and decided to look me up and reach out. So this whole writing thing isn’t a total waste of time y’all. Sometimes you get to make new friends.
MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
Yeah, I’m another music writer who picked Manning Fireworks as one of my favorite albums of the year. If you’ve read any other music blog you’ve already heard enough about this record. Yes, it’s very good indie rock music that deeply connects with the modern cultural zeitgeist. If you want to hear more of my thoughts about this record, check out my album review from September.
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
The Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef got me hooked on hip-hop in a way that I hadn’t been since Lil Wayne released No Ceilings. The first time I heard “Not Like Us” my reaction was holy shit. Then when he did the show in Los Angeles and performed it five times in a row, including with Dr. Dre followed by an entire cast of different hip-hop factions, was even more epic. “Not Like Us” deserves all the praise it’s gotten, in my opinion. His album was good too, but this was probably the peak music industry moment of the year for me.
Mk.Gee – Two Star and the Dream Police
Back in August I had a phone call with Luke Mitchell of the High Divers for an interview that never came out, because Hurricane Helene canceled their anniversary show at Lo-Fi. During that call he told me to check out “Are You Looking Up” by Mk.Gee, from the Two Star and the Dream Police album. The way that Mk.Gee plays the guitar is super unique, his tone is way off in the distance. People are going to copy this sound and he’s gonna be the next Mac DeMarco where every band tries to sound like Mk.Gee for the next five years. You heard it here first.
Jerry Garcia Band – GarciaLive Volume 21 (02/13/76)
This JGB show is one of the chillest I have ever heard. While recorded in 1976, it was released in June and it’s been the soundtrack to my afternoons and late nights ever since. Especially “The Harder They Come”. The buildup to Jerry’s solo near the end is supremely chill, yet also energizing and inspiring. It exemplifies everything I love about Jerry.
Brave Baby – 3x blood
Brave Baby was one of the bands that first hooked me on the Charleston music scene back in 2016. Their new album features everything I’ve always loved about them, silky smooth and groovy rock music, but with a more mature and calculated approach. It makes sense, considering it’s been 9 years since their previous album, Electric Friends was released.
They also recorded several music videos at Lo-Fi with Persona La Ave back in the Spring. Chris Gardner and I had the chance to be there while they filmed the “Little Buzz On” video, and hear some of these songs before they were released. That was a cool experience.
Live Music
Phish Mondegreen
Traveling to Delaware for Phish’s Mondegreen festival this summer was definitely my live music highlight of the year. I took an Amtrak to meet one of my best pals from high school and we camped in a tent for five days, four of which featured Phish concerts. It was an inspirational experience I won’t soon forget.
SXSW
I had such a powerful experience at SXSW back in March that I decided to move to Austin. Spent seven days wandering around the city taking in the sights and sounds, and inspired me to broaden my horizons and take a shot at doing something more with this brand. So, here I am in Austin, getting ready for my first New Years Eve celebration in town.
Rage & Wu-Tang Tribute at Music Farm
This was an Extra Chill Presents show that I had the pleasure of organizing at the Music Farm with all local artists. Not only did we sell over 400 tickets, but we also secured a bonus payout for each artist through Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” fund with Live Nation (yeah, they actually do something good!). John and Kevin from Little Stranger also showed up and hopped on stage for the encore. Overall this was the most successful, legit Extra Chill event of all time (so far).
Wilco in Austin
Wilco’s Winterlude is something that I’ve wanted to attend ever since I first became a Wilco fan. They normally play multiple nights at the Chicago theater, but this time they took it on the road and did three nights with no repeats in Austin. It was a really cathartic experience and I’m very grateful that I got to be there.
Zack Mexico at Charleston Pour House Deck Stage
This January show was Zack Mexico’s long-awaited Charleston Pour House debut. Frontman John Saturley ended up crawling around on the floor in front of the stage, and I think he even went under the stage a little. Brett Nash joined them too. Next time they need to play on the main stage.
MEMORIES
High Water Fest Shenanigans
High Water 2024 was kind of a mess, and I got to flex my music journalist muscles when I reviewed it. I spent a lot of time on this article and it was very well-received and I am proud of it. I also liked having my Noah Kahan review get passed around and thus becoming the most controversial man in the media tent. It was also awesome to see my longtime friends and collaborators, Babe Club, on the stage.
Interviews I Liked
Not only did I interview a lot of up-and-coming artists, but I also spoke with some bigger names, including:
@badjonphoto invited me to Big Animal while Erode the Dream were recording. I ended up playing sleigh bells on their single “Becoming Ghosts”. That was my first credit on a recording and it was a cool thing to be a part of. I can now proudly say that I own a vinyl record that I performed on.
Launching the Extra Chill Community
I built this website in February 2024 and I really enjoy writing on it. Feels more casual and less pressured than the professionalism of the main blog. I can say whatever I want in the forum and it feels acceptable. Some other people seem to like it too, so thanks to y’all for joining!
Hell yah dude! I love how Erode the Dream is a band that sings in both English and Spanish. If anybody is looking for a cool bilingual rock band, this is definitely a band you should check out. They play grunge rock music and they do a lot of cool stuff. Their singer Maurico Masãre is from Colombia and is quite talented.
Shout out to @badjonphoto for being a relentless supporter of the Charleston Music Scene! And thank you for the record, I’m proud to have contributed to this project
Here’s the latest video for “Becoming Ghosts” which is the song i played sleigh bells (or jingle bells?) on, and premiered on the front page of Extra Chill
