After what has been a very busy stretch, something around 8 – 10 weeks, I’ve finally found time to return to the Escapism mix series. As usual, it’s heavy on the rhythm and heavy on the vibes, with an emphasis on favorites this time. This set is very similar to what I do during my Escapism Plan weekly residency at Tantra Coffeehouse in San Marcos, Texas. If you find yourself in the area some Friday evening, stop by, and definitely check this mix out… plus share it with your friends.
-chief
For a man as talented as Henry + the Invisibles, it’s surprising that he does not showcase his ability to do cover material more. In an effort to bolster his set and raise the levels of engagement for what is already a top-notch live performance, however, Henry has decided to do just that, and expand his set list to a few funk and r&b standards. He recently released a video of himself recording/performing the James Brown staple Get Offa That Thing, and if he’s able to come even remotely close to the energy he captured in a live setting, we’re all in for a treat. Check it out for yourself, let him know what you think via comments, and be sure to like and share the video.
-chief
It’s common knowledge that I’m a fan of poolboi blu‘s sincere series of mixes. His taste in music is always refreshing, and his song selection is cutting edge… often way ahead of the normal curve. With sincere (volume 006), we find poolboi blu making moves in the higher BPM range, but with much more reserved confidence than high-energy performances in the rhymes and singing. The mix is longer than normal, but with the sounds you’re getting, that’s a good thing. It’s good to know that the sincere series will hopefully continue into 2019 and beyond. Definitely give this one some listens, some shares, and maybe even a few bucks so that poolboi blu can enjoy the holiday season properly.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged (volume 006), chief, poolboi blu, sincere, the doomsday device
Over the weekend, news of the passing of Austin hip-hop fixture King Art rocked the community. King Art was known for being one of the most down to earth, supportive and genuinely nicest members of the community. The outpouring of love and condolences was massive, a true testament to how many lives King Art touched. Feedback Alliance dropped a mix of King Art acapellas over new production a couple of years ago, and in light of King Art‘s passing, it seemed appropriate to share this one again. King Art was in the process of putting together an event to give local DJs shine, and he was curating a project full of collaborations with himself and other local artists that he was planning to release.
On a personal note, he’d reached out to me about a recent gig of mine, but was unable to make it due to the timing. I had no idea that’d be the last time I talked to him… life is precious, and fleeting. Be sure that the people who love and support you know that you feel the same, and rest in peace to a vital member of the Austin hip-hop community.
-chief
Posted in General Information, Spotlight
Tagged chief, feedback alliance, king art, the doomsday device
Austin-based post-punk outfit Pleasure Venom continues to blaze a trail towards big things with the release of their recent self-titled project. Their sound has always been immediate, in-your-face and powerful, and Pleasure Venom captures every bit of that energy and then some. The music is mixed powerfully, lead singer Audrey Campbell‘s performances are on the money, and the cover art by Dawn Okoro is powerful in its simplicity and stark nature, as if to add an air of respect and honor to the music that cannot be ignored and must be acknowledged. If this project doesn’t shake some cages and put them on the map then I don’t know what will, as they’ve been making all the right moves as of recently. Definitely check this one out, share it around and support the band via a purchase if you can, because every little bit of exposure and compensation made helps.
-chief
It’s no secret that LNS Crew is a forced to be reckoned with. From day one, every member was bringing skill to the table, but over the last four years or so, every member’s maturation and journey through life has resulted in significant personal and musical growth. As the member that has kept his roots firm in Austin, Tank Washington seems to personally attempting to put the city on his back and further the steps towards putting Austin on the map as a hotbed of consistent creativity. 183 has the production and performance chops to stand up to anything making noise in the pop realm right now, with Tank proving he can rock most any style beat with confidence and captivating storytelling. The only thing keeping Care Free from being my summer jam is the fact that this album is coming out on Thanksgiving eve. You can find this one on all of the streaming services and download sites, so if you aren’t listening to and supporting this one, that’s on you.
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged 183, austin, chief, hip hop, LNS, lns crew, tank washington, the doomsday device
The way that some experience the world is so unique that those confined to the standard experience may never fully comprehend the difference. It seems that Austin-based producer more eaze, for example, is one of those kind of people that hears music outside of the realm of instruments. Be it the sounds of nature, the sounds of machinery, the sounds of humans inhabiting space, or in the case of #1 Fan, the sound of multiple portable fans arranged into a composition, more eaze is able to arrange his experience into recordings that can open up our minds to new ways of perceiving our surroundings. This particular recording, due to its avant-garde nature, ended up being shelved for six years before more eaze finally decided to give it a run in the public sphere. If you’re in to ASMR or the experimental, this one is oddly soothing, even when the machinery gets dissonant at times.
-chief
Curbside Jones on the details of his latest project, Another Sip :
‘(This is) an audio representation of my trip to Japan during August 2018. Another Sip is accompanied by a 100 page photo book (physical and digital). Each track and picture embody the feelings I felt while traveling through Japan. I packaged it this way to give those who want to purchase this project a full experience. I shot and edited each picture and designed the book.’
-chief
Posted in Audio-Visuals, General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged another sip, austin, book, chief, curbside jones, hip hop, japan, osaka, photography, the doomsday device
Music, especially punk rock, has always had a way of commenting on what’s going on with real life, specifically the realms of the absurd and the politically corrupt. Both of those boxes were recently checked during the election of President Trump, so it was only natural that a band like TrumpCard would rise to fulfill the role of commentators. After a solid run of live performances, the band took to the studio to record Use Your Collussion, permanently solidifying their stance of calling out the President‘s contradictions, backsliding and overall immature nature. The music is forceful and immediate, and the lyrics put aside the notion of jabs in favor of throwing comical (yet thought-provoking) haymakers. This music will offend some, especially while all of us are in the thick of this, but over time, I believe this album will become a signal point in the war to win back rationality.
-chief
Austin-based outfit MAMIS has been leaving a mark on the scene over the last couple of years with their live shows that showcase their mixture of surf, psychadelic, world and garage rock sounds. Their latest Bandcamp release, a demo of their ballad Tus Ojos, is a haunting song about empathy for a sad girl whose eyes shine in the moonlight. This is one that definitely sticks with you, with the lyrics and the infinitely catchy guitar run echoing in your brain long after the song is done. You know the drill, people… share it around, and encourage others to do the same!
-chief
Posted in General Information, ShuffleCast, Spotlight, Underground Me Now
Tagged austin, bandcamp, chief, mamis, the doomsday device, tus ojos demo
Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice 