OUT THIS WEEK
Sue Foley, “The Ice Queen” (Stony Plain). A native of eastern Canada who moved to Austin in her 20s and released several albums on Antone’s Records in the 1990s, Foley moved away for many years but recently has been back in town on a regular basis. “The Ice Queen” is her first new record in six years, and it’s full of Austin talent: B3 organ ace Mike Flanigin produced a cast that includes Charlie Sexton, Jimmie Vaughan, George Rains, J.J. Johnson and Chris Layton, with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons also turning up on the track “Fool’s Gold.” It’s a magnificent collection of deep blues that spotlights Foley’s spirited singing and guitar playing. Release shows March 1 at Antone’s (with special guest Jimmie Vaughan) and March 2 at Cactus Cafe (an acoustic show); in-store March 4 at Waterloo Records. Here’s a recent promo video for the album:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCLemr22VSo&w=492&h=307]
Ralph White & Steve Marsh, “Two Distinguished Gentlemen.” Here’s a pretty good clues as to what this album sounds like: White plays fiddle, fretless banjo, fretless guitar, kalimbas and accordion, while Marsh is credited for electric 2×4, electronics, treatments, theremin and foot stomps. That’s par for the course with these two longtime outsider folk/punk/avant-garde musicians whose resumes include Terminal Mind (Marsh) and Bad Livers (White). Release show March 2 at Beerland. Here’s the track “Ledge”:
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/378345041" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]Soap Boxers, “Fabricated Hollywood.” The debut album from this local indie-rock band heads more toward the pop end of the spectrum, judging from the lead single “Sleepwalker.” Release show March 3 at One-2-One Bar. Here’s “Sleepwalker,” featuring guest vocalist Jaimee Harris:
Sarah Sharp, “Wake” EP. Known for her work with the Jitterbug Vipers, singer Sharp also plays her own shows around town. “Wake,” her first release under her own name in a decade, is the first or four EPs she plans to put out over the next year. Playing March 6 at Elephant Room. Here’s the track “You Don’t Dare”:
COMING SOON
- MARCH 8: Progger, “Dystopia,” release show March 8 at One-2-One Bar.
- MARCH 9: Uncle Walt’s Band, “Anthology: Those Boys From Carolina, They Sure Could Sing” (Omnivore).
- MARCH 9: Patterson Barrett, “Give ’Em What They Want,” release show April 10 at Saxon Pub.
- MARCH 16: Caroline Says, “No Fool Like an Old Fool” (Western Vinyl).
- MARCH 23: Sword, “Used Future” (Razor & Tie), release show March 21 at Mohawk.
- MARCH 23: Erika Wennerstrom, “Sweet Unknown” (Partisan).
- MARCH 23: Johnny Chops & the Razors, self-titled.
- MARCH 30: Holy Wave, “Adult Fear” (Reverb Appreciation Society).
- APRIL 12: Sideshow Tragedy, “The View From Nowhere” (Hand Drawn).
- APRIL 13: Wood & Wire, “North of Despair” (Blue Corn).
- APRIL 13: Josh T. Pearson, “The Straight Hits!” (Mute).
- APRIL 14: Andy Macintyre, “Melomania” EP, release show April 14 at Antone’s.
- APRIL 20: Ty Richards, “Welcome to Flat Earth.”
- APRIL 20: Arkansas Dave, self-titled (Big Indie).
- APRIL 27: Mobley, “Fresh Lies, Vol. 1.”
- MAY 4: Shakey Graves, “Can’t Wake Up” (Dualtone).
- MAY 4: Jeff Plankenhorn, title TBA.
- MAY 18: Kelly Willis, “Back Being Blue” (Thirty Tigers).
- MAY 25: Patricia Vonne, “Top of the Mountain,” release show May 26 at Continental Club.