Austin Sound

To look at Phosphorescent Blues as a mere expansion of the themes that made Brazos’ debut EP, A City Just As Tall, so successful might be the best critical approach, but it would hardly do justice to the completeness and solidarity that characterize the success of the new release as a true album. Suffice it to say then, if you liked A City Just As Tall, fear not - you’ll love Phosphorescent Blues. But give the album a chance to work new and different angles, like soft piano interludes and expanded attention to textures, and you’ll find the interplay of themes and textures, both lyrically and musically, are a stunning accomplishment unto their own.

We’ve been waiting for the videos from the recent tapings for KLRU’s new web project, ACL Stage Left, to finally emerge. Last month they filmed local standouts David Garza, Leatherbag, and Brazos on the big Austin City Limits stage, and though the shoot was intended “only for the web,” they gave it the full ACL production. It was absolutely fantastic to see some of our local young guns (though Garza is of course pretty well established!) get to hold their own in the ACL studios, and the sound for the shows was amazing. But now the fine public tv folks have finally gotten the shows through post production and made some videos available, which premiered today on the Austinist. More videos are coming to the new klru.tv site soon, but you can also check out shows from KLRU like Texas Monthly Talks online. Jump below to watch Leatherbag lay out “On Down the Line” and Brazos unload “Mary Jo.”

Under the glimmering warm florescent glow of Austin Sound 2.0, we’d like to resurrect one of our favorite lost features: Weekend Preview.

Just as before, each week we’ll take a little time to clue you in on the happenings around town. For each day (Friday - Sunday), we’ll give you our top pick of the night, and then sometimes a couple of alternatives (if the evening is just brimming with activities). So sit tight, we’ve got this under control.

Over the past year, we’ve watched Martin Crane’s Brazos just get better and better, which is saying a lot considering they started out impressive already with last summer’s A City Just As Tall EP. Until they finish their expected full length though, we recommend taking in the band live, and with their newly established residency at Progress Coffee on East 5th St., you have ample opportunity over the next month. Still not convinced? Brazos also have some fantastic new songs on their Myspace page that you really need to hear now. The residency kicks off on Friday, July 11 and runs through August 1. And cover is only $3.

Is there anything more interesting to consider than what an artist’s potential is? After all, with so much music being made these days the easiest way to break it down is to seek out those who appear to have bright futures. This way, with each effort they release there is at least some hope for improvement and new ideas, and not just the same music with different lyrics. Of course, along with this approach comes the inevitable disappointment in finding out that you latched onto an act that peaked with whatever attracted you to them to begin with. Then there are bands like Brazos, who shine with so much potential on a single release that you can’t decide if future outputs will be disasters or pure brilliance. This is where A City Just As Tall comes into play.

Among the many excellent projects to emerge from the loose collection of artists that made up the Tonewheel Collective the past couple of years, Brazos is among the best. Behind principle songwriter Martin Crane, the group, which includes Nathan Stein and Paul Price of the Early Tapes and new drummer Josh Block of White Denim, produces high energy harmonies that dip across indie folk, more psychedelic breakdowns, and shades of mellow, classic soul. The group will be releasing their first official EP, A City Just As Tall, on Autobus Records in October, the follow up to the gloriously lo-fi romp of Feeding Frenzy. You can catch the group this Saturday, September 1 at our Austin Sound Fest along with 12 more of Austin’s best young bands!