OUT THIS WEEK
“Low Down Violet Crown: Austin Rocks the Blues.” The fourth annual compilation produced by musicians’ advocate organization All ATX, this 17-song disc features local bands putting their own modern spin on classic rock songs. After volumes that focused on British Invasion and psychedelic eras, this one centers loosely on the blues. The interpretation is broad enough to include hardcore examples such as Lead Belly’s “Black Betty” (fuzzed-up and funkified by Bob Schneider and Doyle Bramhall) to country-folkie Steve Young’s Southern anthem “Seven Bridges Road” (with Water & Rust’s vocal harmony stamp) to two Tom Petty tunes (Schneider and Danny Malone on “Breakdown” and indie trio Moving Panoramas’ “American Girl” rave-up). The cast of locals taking part cuts a wide swath across the local scene, from long-running Latin adventurists Grupo Fantasma to fast-rising young guitarist Jackie Venson to Americana mainstay James McMurtry. Sold-out concert featuring many of the album’s artists Sept. 29 at ACL Live. Proceeds from both the concert and album benefit Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, the SIMS Foundation, the Austin Music Foundation and Black Fret.
Survive, “RR7349” (Relapse). It’s no surprise that this local electronica duo’s release show Sept. 30 at Barracuda is sold out, given the advance buzz their album got when the Netflix hit show “Stranger Things” chose one of Survive’s songs as its theme music. Read our full story about the band and the album on mystatesman.com. Here’s the extended version of that breakthrough number:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpHNlx0pPIU
Dale Watson, “Under the Influence” (Red River). The king of Austin honky-tonk is nothing if not prolific: This is his third album in 16 months, though the last two have been easier to make than last year’s “Call Me Insane,” a set of new songs on Red House Records. Following up this summer’s live album documenting his popular Sunday bingo shows in Austin and San Antonio, Watson pays tribute to his heroes here, tackling hits from the catalogs of Waylon Jennings, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and more. There’s nothing revealed here that wasn’t already ironclad about Watson or his music, but longtime fans of the classic Continental Club crooner and his twang-heavy Lone Stars band will feel right at home amid these dozen tracks. Sunday laying Oct. 3 at the Continental Club. Here’s a recent live version of the Waylon classic “Lucille”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDC11YadfFM
Billy Crockett, “Rabbit Hole” (Blue Rock). In Nashville in the 1990s, Crockett was known primarily for Christian music. Since moving to Wimberley, he’s focused more on the secular singer-songwriter fare documented on these 11 tracks, which follow his 2009 album “Wishing Sky.” Top-notch Austin bassist Roscoe Beck anchors a band that also includes Jimmy Buffett percussionist Eric Darken and Dallas electric guitarist Daran DeShazo. Playing Nov. 5 at Cactus Cafe.
Lissa Hattersley & TripTrio, “Twenty” EP. The longtime Greezy Wheels member, backed by jazz fixtures Mike Barnes (guitar), Brad Taylor (bass) and James Fenner (percussion), sings three original tunes plus a couple of covers, most notably guitar great Robben Ford’s bluesy “Moonchild Blues.” Release show Sept. 29 at the Townsend.
COMING SOON
OCT. 7: Sophia Johnson, “One Year,” release show Oct. 7 at Continental Club.
OCT. 7: Eric Johnson, “EJ” (Provogue), in-store Oct. 3 at Waterloo Records, playing Nov. 19 at Paramount Theatre.
OCT. 7: Terri Hendrix, “The Slaughterhouse Sessions” (Wilory). Playing Oct. 14 at Cactus Cafe.
OCT. 7: Jamestown Revival, “The Education of a Wandering Man” (Republic), playing Nov. 4 at Emo’s.
OCT. 7: Thor & Friends, self-titled (LM Duplication).
OCT. 14: Tinnarose, “My Pleasure Has Returned” (Nine Mile), release show Oct. 14 at Barracuda.
OCT. 14: Paul Cauthen, “My Gospel” (Lightning Rod), release show Oct. 14 at Stubb’s indoor.
OCT. 14: Walker Lukens, “Never Understood” EP, in-store Oct. 14 at Waterloo Records, release show Oct. 14 at 3Ten.
OCT. 15: Jon Dee Graham, “Knoxville Skyline” EP, release show Oct. 14 at Continental Club.
OCT. 21: “Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll” (Eight 30), in-store Oct. 26 at Waterloo Records with James McMurtry, Gordy Quist (from Band of Heathens), Jamie Lin Wilson, Noel McKay & Brennen Leigh.
OCT. 21: Kevin Fowler, “Coming to a Honky Tonk Near You.”
OCT. 28: Bonnie Whitmore, “(Expletive) With Sad Girls,” pre-release show Sept. 29 at Continental Club.
OCT. 28: Croy & the Boys, “Hey Come Back,” release show Oct. 29 at Hotel Vegas.
OCT. 28: Brownout, “Brown Sabbath, Vol. 2,” release show Oct. 29 at Scoot Inn.
OCT. 28: Alejandro Escovedo, “Burn Something Beautiful” (Fantasy), playing Oct. 1 at the Continental Club.
NOV. 18: KP & the Boom Boom, “The Brave.”
NOVEMBER: Jonathan Terrell, “Color Me Lucky” EP.
