New songs from Austin artist gfire - and her birthday party show tonight

If you haven't heard of her yet, gfire is an incredibly hard-to-define Austin singer-songwriter with an unusual Kate Bush-inspired sound. Her music has been featured on over 200 radio and television stations around the world and two of her songs (less is more (rm 61 mix)) and (i wouldn't stop) have recently been added to NPR's Undercurrents.

I was lucky enough to get a rare preview of "fade to blue", one of the songs from her upcoming albums choosing her own colours!!. It's a mix of blues with minimal electronic beats and features Danny Barnes on banjo, Warren Hood on fiddle and Danny Ray Young (in his last studio appearance ever) on washboard. Great sound.

"pink" is a trippy sitar-guitar (Denny Gilbert from Lizzi and the Lovers) melded with ethereal vocals (gfire), tabla (Jason McKenzie from Atash) and viola (Andrew Noble from Death is not a Joyride). This one is a favorite of mine. gfire has a free download of "pink" via her website along with a presale option on her new CD.

Tonight, July 24, she is hosting her 3rd annual “hot pink birthday party” at Austin Java, 12th and Lamar from 8-11 p.m. The show is completely free, open to all ages and partygoers are encouraged to either wear a pink outfit or bring a pink birthday item. A grand prize will be awarded to the person with the best pink costume. Guests will enjoy a diverse serving of all original sounds and are invited to show off their own hot pink colors.

The “hot pink birthday party” is a fundraiser for the production of gfire’s new CD “choosing my own colours!!” gfire will be pre-selling copies of the new CD and showcasing new songs from the album, giving fans a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More Review

Mumford & Sons' "Little Lion Man" was one of those rare songs that stopped me in the moment, made me turn the radio up, shush my boyfriend, and immediately google the lyrics to find out... "What the hell is this?!" (like, as in, "I have to have it"). I loved the song so much I went ahead and bought the full album, trusting that it would live up to "Little Lion Man," and it has. I obviously wasn't the only one who felt this way - they've been touring worldwide and, according to their website, their debut album ultimately shot up to #1 on itunes.

Most of the album evokes the exact same feelings as the aforementioned song- It is purely gorgeous. But it's not just gorgeous - the lyrics are beautiful and touching, the instrumentation is unique and perfectly produced letting the vocals share the stage equally, and the harmonies will give you chills (I'm willing to bet on that). All that banjo rocks, too. Not all of the songs are as memorable as "Little Lion Man" but, as a whole, the entire album is fun, emotive, and totally listenable. It has ample feeling and intensity without being weepy.

The bio on their website describes their style as "a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon." I hesitate to compare them in any way to Kings of Leon but the truth and purity behind the music could definitely be compared to CSNY. This one will definitely be on frequent rotation on my ipod.

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Austin Live Music Picks for the Week - on hiatus for SXSW

TraceInvader is taking a break on live music picks in preparation for SXSW. The Interactive Festival begins this week, followed by Film and Music. I'll be blogging about my experiences and reviewing shows as the weeks roll on...

See you soon!

Austin Live Music Picks for March 1-7

Monday, March 1st:
Antone's: Chris Ware Benefit w/ David Grissom, Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Charlie Sexton, Redd Volkaert, Jon Dee Graham, The Band of Heathens
Continental Club: The Trishes (10pm)
Lucky Lounge: Cover Girl
Ming's Cafe: Brad Houser, Eldridge Goins, Scott Bucklin
Mohawk: Outside: Vetiver, The Clientele; Inside Later: Historians, Kincaid
The Parish: Autumn, BettySoo, Cadillac Sky

Tuesday, March 2nd:
Continental Club: Toni Price (6:30pm); Gallery: Ephraim Owens Experience (10pm)
Mi Casa Cantina: Nacional Records Listening Party
Mohawk: White Dress, Sunset, Scout Niblett
Momo's: KUT and Bemba Entertainment Present World Music Night w/ Daniel Llanes, Os Alquimistas, Huerta Culture
The Parlor: Navasota String Band

Wednesday, March 3rd:
Antone's: Zapata!, Blues Mafia
Continental Club: Stone River Boys, Jon Dee Graham, Kevin Welch
Elephant Room: Ephraim Owens
Emo's: Outside: O'Brother, Chris Staples, The Features, Manchester Orchestra
Lamberts: Amy Cook
Lucky Lounge: Jeff Lofton Quartet (5:30pm)
One 2 One Bar: The Shorthairs, The Twalls, George Devore
Saxon Pub: Bob Livingston, Walt Wilkins & the Mysteriqueros, Ouachita
Stubb's: Outside: Larry & His Flask, Strung Out, Dropkick Murphys

Thursday, March 4th:
Antone's: Uncle Bruno, Afrofreque, Bruce James Soultet
Club de Ville: Maneja Beto, the Pons, Frantic Clam, Mobley CD Release
The Ghost Room: Jeff Lofton's Electric Thang
Gruene Hall: Walt Wilkins & the Mysteriqueros
Lamberts: Sahara Smith, Eagle Prichard Murray Band
Mohawk: My Milky Way Arms, Ideal Soul Mart
Momo's: The House of Songs Presents John Pointer, Dan Grissom, Graham Weber, Lee Barber, Hush (5-7pm); Tyrone Wells w/ Tony Lucca, Ainjel Emme, Josh Weathers and the True Endeavors, the Coveters
Paramount Theatre: Wynton Marsalis

Friday, March 5th:
Antone's: Reid Wilson & His So-Called Friends, Lucky Tomblin, Junior Brown
Continental Club: The Blues Specialists, Patricia Vonne, Doyle Bramhall
Emo's: Schmillion, Here Holy Spain, Riddlin Kids, Cruiserweight CD Release
Flamingo Cantina: DJ Aquaman, D-Madness, Tribal Nation
One 2 One Bar: Wendy Colonna, Ginger Leigh, James Speer
The Parish: Port O'Brien, the Dig, Portugal. the Man
Saxon Pub: Earl Poole Ball & the Cosmic Americans
Stubb's: Akina Adderley, the Ripe
Threadgill's: Jason Eady, the Gourds

Saturday, March 6th:
Beauty Bar: Bright Light Social Hour, Car Stereo (Wars)
Emo's Inside: Jason Boesel, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, Dawes
End of an Ear: Brazos
La Zona Rosa: Lee Elementary Benefit w/ Mutton Busters, Mundi, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis
Lift Cafe: Paul Green School of Music
Mohawk: the Bubbles, Frank Smith, the O's, Li'l Cap'n Travis
Momo's: Dan Dyer Band w/ Seth Walker
The Parish: Port O'Brien, the Dig, Portugal. the Man
Poodie's Hilltop Bar & Grill: BettySoo, Carolyn Wonderland
Saxon Pub: WC Clark, Malford Milligan, Kalu James
Stubb's: Dark Star Orchestra
United States Art Authority: OxFam Haiti Relief: Inside: DJ Scorpio, the Couch, the Ripe, Planet Rye Co., White White Lights, Woven Bones, the Murdocks, Tia Carrera, Lions; Outside: Mixed Use Media, Michael Kincaid, Prayer for Animals, Till We're Blue or Destroy, Smoke & Feathers, The Lemurs, Ringo Deathstarr
Whip In: Lee Barber, Scrappy Jud Newcomb

Sunday, March 7th:
Continental Club: Nick Curran Benefit w/ Modern Don Juans, Bear & the Essentials, Shaun Young, Horton Bros., the Moonhangers, Mueller Bros., the Keller Bros., Derek O'Brien, Chili Cold Blood (1pm); Gallery: Jon Dee Graham, Jesse Sublett, Walter Tragert, Kathy McCarthy, Andrew Duplantis, Mike Flanigan Trio
The Parish: Graham Colton, Stephen Kellogg, needtobreathe
Waterloo Records in-store: Cory Chisel