Live : LUCIUS secret house show

I have never experienced a secret house show quite like the one I went to this past Sunday.

Here's a short run-down:
1) It was last-minute
2) I found out from Facebook
3) I had no idea what I was getting myself into
4) There were tiki torches that lit the pathway to the house
5) Lights and thought-out decor and little bits but also BYOB (which is the way we like it in ATX)
Thanks to my best friend, I forced myself to go, by myself, and as Tim Riggins says, "No regrets."

Lucius had me sold when I saw them perform "Turn It Around" as the last song of their set at Club Deville at SXSW 2013. To top it off, I watched their NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert and I think it's one of the best Tiny Desk Concerts to date. I've already written about them, but I can't help it- I love Lucius. A lot. Their upcoming full-length album debut is coming in 2 weeks (?) and I cannot wait. 

The harmonizing, the perfect percussion, whammy wham guitar, shaker, etc., I have been listening to their EP non-stop since March. Like their NPR Tiny Desk Concert, this house show was stripped-down Lucius, which is sometimes better than when artists have all of their equipment. "Don't Just Sit There" and their stripped-down rendition of "Genevieve" are stellar. October 15 will be a great day. 

PRO TIP: Always go to a Lucius show. 

April 2013: Music Haul

I decided that I'm just going to make lists of who I've been listening to at the end of each month, here's my "music haul" for April:

Hyperlinks direct you to YT videos or Soundcloud!

From March into April, I'm still listening to:
- Lucius, because they're perfect. I'm in love with the whole EP.
- Justin Timberlake, because you can't ever listen to too much of his newest album or the classics (especially "Cry Me A River", that song has come to have a lot of sentiment in my life as of late)
- S O H N and fyfe, because I just found their EP's on Spotify. Before I was only listening to them via Soundcloud/Hypem. Their sounds are very wavy? Beat-heavy and my music taste has been steering into that direction ever since South by.
- Slow Magic, because as I said above, my music taste is transitioning, or I guess broadening. Slow Magic has heavy vibes that lets your mind wander.
- Guards, because I have the same haircut as the band members. Just kidding, their album In Guards We Trust is the perfect soundtrack to the anxiousness I have waiting for summer (plz come sooner, let's skip Finals).  I have come to love their opening track 'Nightmare', it's striking. My favorite track is 'Not Supposed To'.
- Little Daylight, I beg of you to come out with an album. No rush...but really. Really, I will keep listening to the two tracks forever and ever.

From April, I've been listening to:
- Houses. Why is it so tragic and beautiful? I know their newest album got somewhat mediocre reviews or shall I say mixed reviews? In any case, I actually started to listen to them because it was on the "Recommended Spotify" albums and their cover art is beautiful. Just look at it. 'Carrion' and 'The Beauty Surronds' are among my favorite tracks.
- Kodaline. I found them when I clicked on their La Blog video. I saw such an honest performance while watching so naturally they captured my heart and ears.
- The Lighthouse and the Whaler. Album art is so important. It is the thing that kicks it over the edge and makes me more inclined to listen to an album. I will judge a book by it's cover...in this case, a band by their album art. 'Venice' is one of my favorite tracks. They're fun.
- The Neighbourhood. More specifically, their debut album, I Love You. It's dirty rock, I like it. Favorite track is 'W.D.Y.W.F.M.?' So. many. feels.
- Blue Hawaii. Dark, electric pop. This is my life now. 'Sierra Lift' is my favorite track off the newest album, Untogether.
- Balmorhea. An Austin band, still listening. I'll get back to this.
- Mother Falcon. Specifically their upcoming album, You Knew, due May 7th. Saw them with friends and I was really impressed. Austin, again, I love you and the musicians that come from our city.
- Cayucas. Their upcoming album due April 30th, Bigfoot. This one is good for summer jamz. They're also going on tour. They're blowing up and I wouldn't be surprised if they were to be on the ACL 2013 bill. Remember when they were Oregon Bike Trails? (Sidenote: what's up with no single-day passes ACL!?)
- Now, Now. I'm not very good at describing this band's music, give a listen for yourself.

Revisited:
- Marmalakes. I wrote about them quite a while back. Took a hiatus and then they popped back onto my radar. I love Austin, I love Marmalakes. 'Red Metal Rescue' slays me.
- Phoenix, because their newest album, Bankrupt!, just came out. I'm revisiting all of the glory and enjoyment I had while blaring them in my car circa high school times.
- The Postal Service. I will always love them. Can't wait to see them in the summer on tour. Be still my heart.

Single Tracks:
- New Summer by Young Galaxy
- Over The Love by F+TM
- Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey
- Morning House by Teen Daze
- Wells by Marmalakes
- Oldsmobile by Post Louis
- Oh Sailor by Mr. Little Jeans
- Song for Zula by Phosphorescent

Live + Video// Lucius

I had to write about this darling of a group before I go to bed. It's almost 3AM but it's also SXSW- what else is new? I just found this NPR Music Tiny Desk video of them so I'm watching it and posting it because I have serious music withdrawals already. I saw them at this show and didn't know what to expect. I also want to note that "not having expectations" when going into a show might be one of the top tips I would keep in mind when... well, seeing a show. I couldn't help but fall in love with this group. The shaker-shaking, beat-playing, dance-move-inducing- these are a few of my favorite things. Just watch their NPR Music Tiny Desk video, my favorite song is "Turn It Around". You can't not dance and feel lots of vibes.