Grammy Nominations announced

http://content.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx

I'm really impressed that they nominated M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" for Record of the Year. I also have to admit to loving Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" in spite of myself.

Best Female Pop Vocal Peformance, Katy Perry?? You've got to be kidding me... Ah, well, predictably the Committee made some interesting choices.

Kudos on nominations to Zappa Plays Zappa in Best Rock Instrumental Performance category; and these Austinites(!) Grupo Fantasma for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album; Pinetop Perkins for Best Traditional Blues Album; Marcia Ball for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

New tracks from J. Tillman

Check out these (free, legal) tracks from J. Tillman , also the drummer for Fleet Foxes (who are awesome in their own right).

His album, Vacilando Territory Blues, is out digitally now but hits stores in January. If you like singer/songwriter jewels in the vein of Ryan Adams or Nick Drake, my guess is you'll like him.

J. Tillman
"Steel on Steel" (mp3)
from "Vacilando Territory Blues"
(Western Vinyl)

"James Blues" (mp3)
from "Vacilando Territory Blues"

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Email Austin city officials to support Save Austin Music PSA

Please click here to email City Council: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm
And here to email City Manager Marc Ott: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/connect/email_marcott.htm

And say some version of the following, asking for their support of the Save Austin Music PSA plan:
Dear Mayor Wynn, City Council, and City Manager Ott;

I am a concerned Austinite and voter who (loves music/plays music/am employed in the local music industry) and I am affected by both the financial crisis facing our local music industry and the compounding impact of the national economic crisis.

My efforts to support my music career have been undermined by issues addressed by the Live Music Task Force, but they have now been made worse by recent economic crisis facing our national and local economy. While I support the LMTF recommendations, our community faces an immediate crisis while we await your action to help our industry.

I am writing you urging you to support Save Austin Music's plan to mobilize Austinites into our local music venues and small businesses by funding their Public Service Announcement campaign and Music Listing Website immediately. I know our City budget is taxed beyond reasonable limits, but this plan will actually contribute back to our economy and the City budget within weeks of being funded. It will create immediate economic flow within our city by generating more local spending and increased sales tax revenue. And it will help ease the increasing financial difficulties that musicians have been enduring here for years.

Save Austin Music's PSA urges every Austinite to "see one Austin band this month", which would put tens of thousands of people in Austin venues and millions of dollars into our economy each month. It would also serve as both interim plan and test project for the marketing plan recommended by the LMTF. Most importantly, it is an immediate solution for not just the music industry, but for Austin's economy.

Promoting Austin's music to Austinites in this manner will encourage many to spend their reduced recreational budgets here instead of traveling or shopping online. Austinites will be encouraged to take a one-night local vacation regularly by enjoying our music instead of traveling and spending elsewhere. Best of all, the SAM plan could actually return revenue to the City budget through ad sales on the listing website.

For the last year, I have been a part of Save Austin Music, and I now believe that this plan will actually allow our music to "Save Austin". This $15,000 expenditure each month will net millions in our local economy and prove that our City government really believes that Austin is "The Live Music Capital of the World" by tapping the financial potential our industry offers.

Thank you for your time and for helping us to Save Austin Music. Yours Truly,

Paste's Band of the Week

Facebook Repost:
Paste Band of the Week: HoneyHoney
Today at 10:29am
Hey gang,

We're back in the office after a tasty vacay and working hard to bring you more amazing news!

This week the prize for "Band of the Week" goes to... HoneyHoney! Alternately rustic-retro and cool-contemporary, HoneyHoney’s First Rodeo displays the common pop thread between alt.country, spaghetti western soundtracks and swampy blues. If you're a fan of She & Him, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, Jessie Baylin, you'll love these guys.

Also, on www.pastemagazine.com, we've posted a wonderful list of holiday gift ideas for the music lover in your life...or just for yourself. Add some of your own ideas in the comment section. (Seriously, I don't know what to get anyone and I need ideas, preferably something under $50 and not a neck tie that plays "Jingle Bells.")

Anyways, I hope you all had a splendid holiday and thanks for being fans. Talk to you soon!

Your Paste-y friend,
Justin

Source: www.pastemagazine.com

Check out their video for "Little Toy Gun" on YouTube!