KGSR Discovery

KGSR Discovery Series November 14th Lineup!

Mikela Floyd — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:27:00 GMT

KGSR Discovery keeps you up to date with the best new and undiscovered music, and now we're ready to take things to the next level. Enter the KGSR Discovery Series, where we'll bring you some of the best up-and-coming music that Austin has to offer. Starting October 17th at Threadgill's South! The music is free and the big event kicks off at 7PM, plus, you can enjoy $3 12oz cans of Fireman's 4! Check out the inaugural lineup below!

The Rocketboys

The Rocketboys is an indie rock band from Austin, Texas. Previously known as Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys, they have gained popularity since their formation, playing such festivals as Austin City Limits Music Festival, Next Big Nashville, CMJ, and South by Southwest. In 2009 the band recorded its first full-length album, 20,000 Ghosts. In early 2010, The Rocketboys began to see success on the licensing front, having songs on TV shows such as ABC's Private Practice and MTV's, The Real World Washington, D.C., and The Buried Life.

The Preservation

Officially formed in November of 2009, The Preservation have proven to be an ambitious and accomplished group in the short time since. In February of 2011, they recorded at Public Hi-Fi in Austin, a studio built by Spoon drummer/producer Jim Eno. The album was co-produced and engineered by Brad Bell, a recent Grammy winner for his work on Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. They have an album being released 10/28.

KGSR Discovery Series November 7th Lineup!

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:40:00 GMT

girling

girling is a long time coming. Its stories and sound have been incubating for years in the brain of acclaimed producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Sharp, whose engineering credits include the Toadies, Sheryl Crow, Spoon, and Blue October. The songs finally clawed their way to daylight with the help of Sharp’s friends and kindred musical spirits: former Kissinger drummer Rusty Zagst and Jason DeCuir and Joe Gassman. As a result, girling fuses the tight chops, strategic composition, and wry sensibility of long-time bandmates with all the verve of a magnum opus.

Max Frost

Max Frost is a native Austinite, guitar player, singer/songwriter. Learned at the Austin School of Music, he began his career as a member of the award-winning teen groups Joyride and Blues Mafia, and has since toured and written songs with fiddle prodigy Ruby Jane Smith. He's done many collaborations with Austin-born MC Randell Jones, aka "Kydd Jones," who won an Austin Hip Hop Award for Best Lyricist Of The Year in 2009.

KGSR Discovery Series October 31st Lineup!

Mikela Floyd — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:09:00 GMT

O Conqueror

Quickly rising in the Austin scene, O Conqueror is a musical collective from Austin TX set to release their highly anticipated debut LP King Me November 16th. Established in 2011 by Dustin Doering (Guitar/Vox), Jonathan Baugh (Percussion/Keys/Vox), Justin Green (Lead Guitar/Multi Instrumentalist/Vox), and Tito Sopena (Bass Guitar), O Conqueror can best be described as tender, introspective, and packed with emotion. Their songs are dynamic, with long crescendos, great rhythms, unique instrumentation, and echoing vocals. A 3am driving alone with a broken heart kind of band.

Tori Vasquez

Tori Vasquez is an amazingly gifted singer-songwriter from West Texas. She was born in Shallowater, Texas and raised in a family of musicians and songwriters. At the age of 21 she has already found her voice and is writing songs that are inspiring a younger generation to discover the power and beauty of storytelling in music. Her voice fills any room she performs in, capturing the full attention of any music fan. Her debut EP, Let It Go, features songs like “Where Ya Headed Honey”, “Painting A Picture”, “Let It Go”, and “The Blue” that take you on a soulful, melancholy journey of a young heart experiencing bumps and bruises, while discovering the precious moments in life and relationships. Her distinct signature voice makes you want to sing along on the first listen.

KGSR Discovery Series October 24th Lineup!

Mikela Floyd — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:39:00 GMT

Speak

A synth pop band from Austin, Texas, Speak formed in 2008. The band consists of Troupe Gammage (keyboard and lead vocals), Nick Hurt (guitar and vocals), Joey Delahoussaye (bass and vocals), and Jake Stewart (drums). They released their debut single "Carrie" in 2011, and their debut album I Believe In Everything in late 2011, following their 2010 Austin Music Award for Best New Band. In 2011, they won the award for Best Indie Group. The band makes their stop at Threadgill's hot on the heels of their tour with indie Canadian big shots, Tegan and Sara. These home town performances are getting rarer and rarer, especially one that’s early and FREE!

Courrier

This alternative-Rock band from Austin, Texas, creates rich, inspiring soundscapes with their ascending harmonies and radiant guitars. After their national television debut on The Vampire Diaries, Courrier's emotional anthem "Between" raced up the iTunes alternative chart, peaking at #52. Their new single, "Love is a Fire," from their forthcoming sophomore record produced by Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam), releases to radio this summer and is sure to ignite the attention of listeners worldwide. The title of Courrier’s first studio release, Like the Cold of Snow in the Time of Harvest, is a fitting description of the boys from Austin, Texas. Like a new wind in an often dry and monotonous music ”business,” Courrier’s music is refreshing indeed.

KGSR Discovery Concert Series October 17th Lineup!

Mikela Floyd — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 03:51:00 GMT

Suite 709

Suite 709 played their first public shows during SXSW 2010 with no recordings, press, or even band photos; yet, the band quickly received multiple accolades including “Top 10 New Bands of 2010″ from the Austin Chronicle Music Awards, “Top 35 Bands of 2011″ Do512.com, “Best Find at SXSW 2011″ from QRO Magazine, “Hot 100 Unsigned Bands of 2011″ from Music Connection Magazine, and most recently “Top 5 Soul/Blues Bands of 2011″ at the 2011 Austin Chronicle Music Awards alongside notable acts Gary Clark Jr. and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. The group continues to sell out shows in their hometown of Austin, Texas, and has developed a strong national and international following through their innovative use of social media outlets. The band embodies the soul of DIY musicianship in everything from graphic design to marketing to engineering their own recordings. Reviewers repeat, “Words cannot describe a Suite 709 performance experience.” Every show is like a party from beginning to end.

Edison Chair

An energetic four piece rock band from Austin Texas, Edison Chair honors the style of timeless rock such as The Who and The Beatles, while making innovative strides in the wake of popular modern bands such as The Fratellis and Oasis. Formed in 2007, the band quickly attracted attention from multi-platinum producers and major labels such as Interscope Records. With three part harmonies and songs you'll be singing long after the show, Edison Chair has developed a sound that will be hard to forget.

KGSR Discovery: September Picks

Mikela Floyd — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Looking for some new music? Then look no further than KGSR Discovery, where our tireless web staff offer up their picks from the freshest tracks around. This month, check out tracks from Death Cab's Benjamin Gibbard, Niki and the Dove, Austin's David Ramirez, and many more!

KGSR Discovery: August Picks

Mikela Floyd — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:29:00 GMT

Looking for some new music? Then look no further than KGSR Discovery, where our tireless web staff offer up their picks from the freshest tracks around. This month, check out tracks from White Arrows, Divine Fits, The Mynabirds, and many more!

New Music Tuesday - July 24th

Kyle Gregory — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:55:00 GMT

We pick out the week's best new music, so you don't have to.

Passion Pit - Gossamer

Gossamer is a reminder of just how pretty the bleeps and bloops of a synthesizer can be. The very first song tempts you with a soft melody, before transitioning to a pulsating, aggressive sound assault. By the the first chorus, you're hooked, and by the third chorus, you realize that this isn't just a fun song - there's some real depth to those lyrics. Gossamer is spectacularly experiential. Each song has it's own musical nooks and crannies that are a joy to explore. Listen to it over at NPR.

Purity Ring - Shrines

Electronic bands with haunting female vocals have taken over indie rock. From Kimbra, to Sucre, to School of Seven Bells, it's clear that today's music fans are seeking a more delicate vocal touch. If you doubt this phenomenon, look no further than the fact that Shrines (Purity Ring's debut album) was announced a scant three months ago and still generated enough hype to be featured on NPR's First Listen. The album probably won't surprise you if you've been keeping up with the current musical zeitgeist, but it's worth a listen if you like the style.

New Music Tuesday - July 16th

Kyle Gregory — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:37:00 GMT

We pick out the week's best new music, so you don't have to.

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Michael Kiwanuka's leap into the mainstream musical consciousness is unusual. He released his first EP just a year ago, and caught on pretty quickly in his native UK -- touring with Adele and being named the winner of the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll. Word of his talents spread stateside, particularly after several SXSW dates, and with the release of his first album, he's poised to gain some major traction across North America. What's more impressive is that Kiwanuka has managed to build an audience as a soul singer, a genre that isn't exactly burning up the charts. Home Again isn't a straight Motown throwback. Between the big horns and swinging beats, Kiwanuka interjects softer, folksier ballads that remind listeners why so many modern singer-songwriters are described as "soulful." Like Mumford and Sons before him, Kiwanuka could be the next British import to reintroduce Americans to a native genre too-long ignored. You can hear an exclusive interview with Kiwanuka over at our Downtime page.

Jeff the Brotherhood - Hypnotic Knights

If you were asked to name a breakout power-pop duo who makes a lot of noise and sings unabashedly about the joys of youthful exuberance, you'd probably name Canadian rockers Japandroids - but look out, there are some new party animals on the scene. Nashville-based Jeff the Brotherhood is Japandroids southern-style, stripped of all the extra instrumentation and hip affectations of their Northern counterparts. If you like to have a good time, and prefer your gravy on biscuits rather than french fries, then you should check out Hypnotic Knights over at NPR.

New Music Tuesday - July 10th

Kyle Gregory — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:40:00 GMT

We pick out the week's best new music, so you don't have to.

Family of the Year - Loma Vista

Aggressively upbeat with soaring vocals, Los Angeles based Family of the Year sounds like a mixed gender version of Coldplay, with a little bit of fun.'s hipster coyness mixed in. Loma Vista is only the band's second album, but they already display a firm understanding of how to craft a pop song with mainstream and indie appeal. You can check out their album courtesy of Consequences of Sound.