By now, you've already heard about how thousands of acts hit Austin, TX each March for South by Southwest . This is just a known thing. And while most of the head turners are established acts performing rare, once-in-a-lifetime concerts within intimate venues (y'know, like Bruce or Jack ), it's really about the young, budding artists showcasing "what they've got." We saw those, too. We saw plenty. That's why each CoS writer who hit the streets of Austin last week came back with two new favorite acts. These were ones that stuck [...]
Welcome to our report on South By Southwest from Austin, TX, where sleep is nominal and foot pain is exponential. We're giving you the run on bands we really enjoyed every day this week, so check out our blurbs and pictures below for coverage of Friday at SXSW, including a review of Jack White's much talked about performance. Parties/Showcases We Listen For You Acoustic Showcase - 10:30 a.m. @ Diverse Arts lot (Bro Stephens, Conveyer, Arms, Henry Clay People, Dent May, Miracles of Modern Science, and [...]
SXSW is pretty intimidating to those that want to trek across the musical Disney Land that is this crazy festival. To an audience member it's like a Cheese Cake Factory menu and your decision could end up being a serious mistake. Plus add long lines to shows you probably won't get into (The Roots, Fiona Apple, Grimes, Miike Snow, The Shins, etc) and the walking (OH THE WALKING!) from venue to venue can be daunting. Well we here at Kata Rokkar are going to make it easier for you to check out bands you might like. If you don't like [...]
If any of my close friends or family heard me singing "The Kingdom is near / Christmas is here", I'd earn more than a few raised eyebrows. Christmas music doesn't ring from my speakers very often … and never as devotional folkpop. And never ever on repeat. What can I say? Jonas H. Petersens is impressive, and he'd have my support whether singing about Jesus or Captain Crunch. All he has to do is deliver each song with the same sincerity as "So Mournful the Elegy, So Comforting the Hymn" or with the same joyfulness as [...]
Here it is, the cheery classic carols and a handful of christmas originals from your favorite indie and folky bands. I hope it's enjoyed by those that like christmas songs because it was a bit of a struggle to put all this good cheer and songs of joy and peace in one playlist without gagging. Just kidding...kind of. If you want the darker side check out yesterday's anti-christmas playlist . There's some secret bonus songs on the ZIP file not listed below too. A Very [...]
Yesterday, we posted a piece about the new video for Bon Iver's "Hinnom, TX," in which we predicted that his 2011 self titled sophomore album would end up toward the top of year-end lists. But ... Continue reading "Seryn's This Is Where We Are Makes Paste Magazine's Top 50" >
Words // Adam Sharp The other day I got to open the windows in our place knowing that they wouldn't need to be shut again anytime soon (except for those especially cold nights) for the first time in a few months. It's among my favorite feelings each spring and fall, a sort of liberation from the stale, dank air we've had to sit in for the last few months. As with all occasions, some music is absolutely meant to be played when the outside air is welcomed back in again. [...]
Words by Jim There's a couple places in the United States that have a fabled music scene that hipster mothers tell stories of to their hipster toddlers to help them fall asleep at night. Brooklyn comes to mind. That's easy. Portland? Yes, sure, absolutely. Austin is a must. Denton, Texas...excuse me. What? Seriously. Denton We're almost-in-Oklahoma, but this is definitely Texas", Texas. Rated the best music scene in 2008 by Paste Magazine (whatever that means), Denton has an eclectic collection of music and is producing some seriously good bands. The five-piece Seryn [...]
![This Week in the Big D [Dallas Concerts - July 11-17, 2011]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3573621_lg.jpg)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011: - The Civil Wars, Rayland Baxter at Texas Theater * - The Civil Wars at Good Records , Free* Thursday, July 14, 2011: - Freezepop at Trees , $10-$12 Friday, July 15, 2011: - Seryn at Allgood Cafe * - C.J. Ramone at Trees , $15-$19 Sunday, July 17, 2011: - Iceage at Rubber Gloves in Denton * - Kid Cudi, Chip [...]
A few weeks ago I had a pleasantly surprised to find an amazing band playing at Redwood when just grabbing a drink with a friend. As I saw them assembling their gear, I became more and more curious of the mystery band. A whole stage full of instruments that could belong to 10 bluegrass band players, Seryn finally took the stage. Their dynamics were amazing, building a complete soundcape with every instrument and vocal part intertwining intricately. I was so in awe of them live that I was completely fixated and harassed them the next day for a copy of [...]
Seryn are a rare kind of band. Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
For all you Folk lovers out there, you're welcome... I am about to make your day. With an earnest passion found in so few artists around, Seryn blends diverse sounds to create a joyous piece of art. Yes, that is as interesting a sentence as you can possible expect from me, but don't discount my statement as Pitchfork-esque musical snobbery. In this song I hear subtle percussion, beautiful
![Seryn – This Is Where We Are [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3483540_lg.jpg)
A fan named Callie had emailed us about Seryn way back in January. Told us that we would definitely like them based on our the other music we like. Turns out Callie was right. Thanks Callie. It also turns out that I have the memory of jellyfish as I promptly forgot about them. Thanks to my kids, Teddy, Rosie and Hank, for turning my brain into mush. So who is Seryn? Glad you asked. They are a 5 piece folkie-Americana outfit out of Denton, TX. Yes, that is the hometown of Midlake . Much like [...]
You may bury my body down by the highway side, so my old evil spirit can catch a Greyhound bus and ride. Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
We are very pleased to announce our very own Seryn giveaway! Seryn is a five-piece band from Denton, TX that recently released their debut album, This Is Where We Are, in January 2011. They perform a serenade of delicate verses with powerhouse choruses. The cohesion of organic harmonizations overlapped by a folk-y flare of strings and banjo truly bring about a sense of serenity. With the maturity of Seryn's sound, it is perplexing to know of their recent existence. Not only is the band's album, This Is Where We Are, one of our favorites [...]
The Second Annual Homegrown Music and Art Festival, taking place this Saturday in Main Street Garden downtown has released their set times. Please find them after the jump. __Shiner Stage___ 12:00 - Grant Jones & the Pistol Grip Lassos http://www.myspace.com/grantjo nes 1:30 - Seryn http://www.myspace.com/serynso und 3:00 - Gallery Cat http://www.myspace.com/gallery catmusic 4:30 - Analog Rebellion http://www.myspace.com/playrad ioplay 6:00 - This Will Destroy You http://www.myspace.com/thiswil ldestroyyou [...]
![This Week in the Big D [Dallas Concerts - May 9-15, 2011]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3425900_lg.jpg)
What is going on this week in the D? Monday, May 9, 2011: - Rusko, Doorly, A1EX G plus Left/Right at Granada Theater, $30 - ( Tickets ) Tuesday, May 10, 2011: - This Will Destroy You at Good Records, Free* Wednesday, May 11, 2011: - Fleet Foxes, The Cave Singers at Palladium Ballroom, $28 - ( Tickets )* Thursday, May 12, 2011: - Seryn at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, [...]
I've held off on posting about this band because it seemed like everyone else had before the album was released all the way back in March. Even though there is hardly a whisper about the band now in the blogosphere, this album is still making weekly appearances in my world. One of the problems with music blogging is that even though 12 Hype Machine bloggers (including everyone's favorite I am Fuel, You Are Friends) this bands still feels under-talked about. Of course banjos and chamber folk-pop bands aren't for everyone, which is fine, but seriously folks need to hear this [...]
Another album that I've enjoyed this year is This Is Where We Are , the debut record from Denton, Texas quintet Seryn. All in all, an outing of slow burning builds, lifting harmonies, and an organic stroke best discovered in the first person with the orientation video below. http://www.serynsound.com/ http://twitter.com/#!/serynsou nds http://www.velvetbluemusic.com
The countdown continues here with songs 15 - 6. Hope you are enjoying this list as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I am amazed at the plethora of music worth listening to that has come out in the past few months. The rest of the list will come this weekend. 15. Iron & Wine - Walking Far From Home This is definitely the most listened to song of the year so far, partly because I got it back in December. I think I wore it out, or it might be higher [...]
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