Austin Sound

The Tiny Tin Hearts may have provided our most thorough Sound Off ever, which is fitting for the 8 piece ensemble’s impressively cohesive compositions. Shades of the Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Neutral Milk Hotel, and even locals like the Noise Revival Orchestra and the Dark Water Hymnal dance flirtatiously throughout the Tiny Tin Hearts’ music, which swells in chamber folk-pop grandiosity, but remains calmly subdued behind Seth Osborne’s subtly winding narratives and quiet, contemplative croon, that at times touches near Ben Folds. The group already caught our attention with their amazing live show, and will be releasing their debut album, Last Flight of the Martyr Aviator, at the end of next month. Last month, the octet won the Austin Chronicle’s Sound Wars to garner a spot on their Hot Sauce Festival lineup this Sunday, August 30, in Waterloo Park, but you can also catch them earlier in the week at Emo’s as they join a solid local lineup of Chief Rival, Peoplefood and Salesman on Thursday, 27.

On a quiet (or not so quiet) Monday night at Momo’s, I overflowed. I walked away overflowing with the overwhelming feeling of being touched by a musical performance bigger than the stage it poured from. Momo’s has a way of doing this. Some of my favorite bands I discovered within its dimly lit walls, cementing themselves stealthily within the monthly rotation of resident bands and musicians. But then again, nothing less could be expected from a location that gave birth to the South Austin Jug Band.

Moral of the story: on Monday night, Tiny Tin Hearts gave me faith once again that there is still exciting, stimulating music being made within the city limits. These eight people, who were until very recently strangers, leave me speechless every time. First time I heard them I was freaking out, texting everyone I knew who had the slightest connection in Austin music, about the little known band who had just blown my mind.