Using Google Chrome in a processor intensive html experiment the listener tailors a video based on his or her childhood home. The song ultimately takes on a much more personal meaning as the listener is taken through the streets of his or her old hometown as they become “lost in the wilderness” of what was once upon a time familiar. It is remarkable how much the music can pull you in and appeal to you on a personal level when it is presented in such a way. The listener is even prompted to craft a postcard to “the younger you that lived there then.” Arcade Fire uses the postcards in their “wilderness machine” so you could feasibly see yours on tour with the band or it may be sent to a perfect stranger in a card that is laden with seeds and ready for planting.

Not since the dawning of the MTV era has the music industry seen an innovation in music distribution and promotion quite like this. In the digital age Arcade Fire has really got a lot on the ball–once you experience this video for yourself you’ll see why that is arguably the understatement of the year.

This fall they are touring their latest album Acousta while preparing to release a new one. They aim to have their third record of 2010 out before the end of the year. They plan to pepper this fall’s shows with brand new tracks to get the feel for what will have the greatest effect on a live audience.

Singer/Guitarist A.J. Vallejo claims, “Our goal this time around is to work all of the new songs in front of a live audience before we go into the studio so the songs have an organic feel to them. We also have a lot of guest artists that we’ve collaborated with this year, so it will bring some interesting twists to what we’ve usually done in the past. This record is going to be very special and we can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Meanwhile you can listen, share, and download Vallejo exclusively through Double Stereo. Be sure to check back for updates, tour dates, and the latest from Vallejo.

As unique as the city itself this group of music making pioneers are the self proclaimed “sole purveyors of African funk” in the state of Texas. They are bringing their flair to the First Friday Frolic at Club DeVille and are sure to entertain the discerning palates of the Austin Music Office along with the creative and curious crowd. Come crush a cup from Waialua Soda Works, and down a dog from Frank, take in the sounds of the city (including Hard Proof Afrobeat), and sign up with Double Stereo–it all goes down Friday at DeVille, doors at 5:00.

The Austin Music Office, a division of The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, will be celebrating the launch of its new music microsite, powered by Double Stereo.

Local bands are encouraged to create a profile and add their music, bio, and merchandise to the site; tourists (and residents) will be able to check out these Austin artists, buy their music, and of course, make plans accordingly to attend a performance. The site will eventually serve as a comprehensive database for Austin acts, and in due time, should be a priceless resource for information on these musicians.

Doors open at 5 p.m. on the 3rd. We’ll have some food from Frank and beverages from Waialua Soda Works waiting for the early-birds. uLOVEi’s reliable selection of music, and live sets from Hard Proof Afrobeat and Bus Stop Stallions comprise the scheduled entertainment for the evening.

A special thanks to the FTMOA event sponsors and supporters — Austinist, uLOVEi, Giant Noise, KVRX 91.7 FM, Red River Noise and Waialua Soda Works.

From The Mind Of Adi’s First Friday Frolic Calendar (Club de Ville):

• September 3rd: Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau / Double Stereo Night: Hard Proof Afrobeat, Bus Stop Stallions; DJ sets by uLOVEi

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of the blues-rock legend’s death and his songs are still as prolific to aspiring musicians as they were decades ago.  Stevie Ray embodies the spirit of the Austin music scene. He came to Austin in 1971 on a wing and a prayer—poised to make a name for himself in the business. Judging from the Stevie Ray Vaughn Memorial over Town Lake, his blues-rock gold, and the countless covers played by his successors he managed to succeed.

The spirit of Stevie Ray is palpable throughout the live music capital. There are few places you can turn without hearing his music pour from the corner coffee shop or local dive bar–the “pride and joy” of Austin is alive and well. Each fresh faced, voracious, guitar picker that comes to Austin hopes that one day they too can pluck guitar with the same passion and energy that Stevie Ray had. Though there will never be another SRV, his music continues to provide inspiration and his tenacity for making that music continues to serve as Austin’s calling card even to this day. The legend lives on.

Special thanks to Chase Guthrie.

Here’s a rundown of what shows are available to the music loving masses the weekend of Austin City Limits:

Wednesday, October 6th

The Strokes–Stubb’s Outdoor

Thursday, October 7th

Paul Oakenfold w/ Die Antwoord–Austin Music Hall

Spoon–Mohawk

Pat Green–Stubb’s Outdoor

Neon Indian w/ Prefuse 73–La Zona Rosa

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears–Antone’s

First Aid Kit w/ Ferraby Lionheart–Stubb’s Indoor

Friday, October 8th

Deadmau5 w/ Calvin Harris DJ Set–Austin Music Hall

Monsters of Folk w/ Jimmie Dale Gilmore–Stubb’s Outdoor

Robert Earl Keen w/ Lucero & Ruby Jane–La Zona Rosa

Black Lips w/ Those Darlins & The Ettes–Emo’s Outdoor

Mayer Hawthorne and the County w/ Kings Go Forth–Antone’s

Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses w/ Friends–Momo’s

Givers w/ Cults & TV Torso–Emo’s Indoor

Blind Pilot w/ Cory Chisel–Stubb’s Indoor

Saturday, October 9th

The Black Keys w/ Foals–Stubb’s Outdoor

Sonic Youth–La Zona Rosa

Gayngs w/ Bear in Heaven–Emo’s Outdoor

GIRLS w/ Soft Pack–Antone’s

Beats Antique w/ Lance Herbstrong–Momo’s

Dawes w/ Lissie–Emo’s Indoor

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue–Stubb’s Indoor

The video below is where I got trapped by the Mau5, Bonnaroo 2010. He’s got mad skills with a crowd and a sick light show that you’ll want to see both in the park and in the dark at Austin Music Hall! Check it out.

Double Stereo: First things first how did you guys come up with the name Holy Ghost!?

Nick Millhiser: It comes from the Bar-Kays song. It’s one of my favorite songs and we needed a name quick for the release of “Hold On” and we both just liked [Holy Ghost] and we both still like it.

DS: You guys have had a busy summer. You just toured with LCD Soundsystem can you tell me a little about that experience?

Nick: I don’t know, I’ve lost track of time at this point….we started in May and it went for about three weeks. I can’t think of a better way to jump in to touring live than to go on tour with those guys. They are very, very good friends. We could not have asked for better mentors. We learned a lot by watching how their crew operates and how they do their show…It was the only tour I’ve been on that I didn’t want to end.

DS: How much of home [New York] have you seen in the last few months?

Nick: I’ve been home for a total of ten days since May.

DS: You are touring with Chromeo now…

Nick: Yeah the last show with them will be August 28.

DS: And then what?

Nick: After that we come home, we finish the record, then we go to Australia. I think we are going to take most of October. When I say off, I mean we won’t be touring. We will be doing remixes and studio work.

DS: Do you publish your remixes as you do them?

Nick: We do them as requested. Someone asks us to do a remix and then we consider it. The first factor is whether or not we have time to do it. We haven’t had time in the last six months or so. We have done a couple but mainly for friends. When we get done touring I think we will have time for a couple more.

DS: You recently did a cover swap with Friendly Fires are planning any others?

Nick: There are a couple of things that I’d like to do that Alex and I have talked about. We talked about doing something with Chromeo, not a cover swap but maybe a cover of somebody else’s song that we would do together. We just didn’t have time to get it together before we left. We are still holding on to the hopes that we will have time to do it. We have some ideas of some songs we want to do.

DS: If you could do a cover then what song would it be?

Nick: That was the issue. It was tricky finding a song that worked with us and them. We wanted to find something to employ the talk box. I like this song by Keane. Hopefully we’ll time to do it.

DS: Not by Tuesday? I’m in Austin and coming to Stubb’s no cover with Chromeo by Tuesday?

Nick: No, not by Tuesday…

DS: If you had one song to choose to introduce a new listener to Holy Ghost! what song would you choose?

Nick: I’m still most proud of our first song “Hold On” but now I don’t know if it’s the best representation of what we are about now. I’d probably choose something more indicative of the rest of the record.

DS: You guys released a video with Adult Swim can you tell me a little about how that happened?

Nick: I made a certain mix of that remix because James with LCD Soundsystem asked me to. It came down through LCD Soundsystem’s camp. I didn’t really see it until it was all finished and the video turned out cool.

You can still grab tickets to Tuesday’s show from Front Gate Tickets until tomorrow afternoon.

Florence will be touring her album Lungs this fall. The winner of the Lucky Magazine contest will receive a trip to NYC for her show, accommodations, will have the privilege of meeting the band, and have their design featured in Lucky Magazine along with some other really great Florence and the Machine swag.

Florence has already racked up critical acclaim with her British Critics Choice Award for 2009,

“Some compare her to Kate Bush. You’ll also find touches of Tom Waits and Nick Cave in her dark visions, and if you heard a little of Bjork too, she’d find it a compliment. But mainly, Florence is out on her own: an exhilarating place to be, she points out, but also a little scary.”

Check her out if you haven’t already and be sure to cast your vote for Florence and the Machine in the 2010 Video Music Awards.

The new Austin music and merchandise site goes live on Sept. 3 with a public launch party from 5-8 p.m. at Club DeVille (900 Red River Street). Hard Proof Afrobeat and Bus Stop Stallions provide live music, and guests can also enjoy food from Frank and merchandise by Southside Sanctuary. The party is part of the “First Friday Frolicks” series (formerly “From the Mind of Adi”) presented by Transmission Entertainment.

The new site invites visitors to explore the city’s music scene, which can be overwhelming to a first-time visitor, prior to their arrival. Featured artists include Los Lonely Boys, Asleep at the Wheel, Drew Smith, Grupo Fantasma, The Black and White Years, MC Overlord, White Ghost Shivers and more than 50 others.

“Many visitors have heard about Austin’s music scene, but they don’t know where to begin to experience it,” says Rose Reyes, director of music marketing for the Austin CVB. “Now any band that signs on to sell their music at AustinTexas.org can connect with visitors before they arrive. This allows visitors to find out which bands they’d like to see, learn their music – and maybe even sing along when they get here. On the other side, if a visitor stumbles upon a band they like, now they can find their music on our website. It’s all part of our efforts to make the Austin music experience more comprehensive.”

The Austin CVB selected the local company, DoubleStereo, to produce the microsite. Founded in 2009, DoubleStereo has recently emerged as a leading digital music platform, blog and merchandise fulfillment house for bands and music vendors. DoubleStereo signed on to the project in order to more closely align itself with the Austin music community and encourage participation by local bands.

Sal Silva III, co-founder of DoubleStereo, says, “This is a great partnership for DoubleStereo because it directly showcases the talented Austin bands and their music that our site makes available. By enabling visitors to directly listen, download and discover the Austin music scene via the city’s tourism site, we hope this partnership with ACVB will play as an innovative way for visitors to recognize the rich talent pool and music culture Austin offers.”

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About the Austin Music Office
An accredited member of the Destination Marketing Association International, the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (Austin CVB) is the official marketing and sales organization for the City of Austin. Austin CVB promotes Austin nationally and internationally as a premier convention and leisure destination in order to generate business for hotels, event and music venues, restaurants, transportation providers and attractions, thus enriching our community’s overall quality of life. A division of the Austin CVB, the Austin Music Office promotes the city’s vibrant live music scene by booking bands for visiting conventions, advocating for the local music industry and marketing local artists. For more information, visit www.AustinTexas.org.

Marchant has enjoyed good company on tour, particularly for someone who never considered a life as a musician until just this year. He has found himself sharing the stage with the likes of St. Vincent, Elvis Perkins, Tallest Man on Earth, and now A.A. Bondy. Lucky for Austin he’s found his calling as a singer songwriter because his show is sure to be a treat. Come see the reputable A.A. Bondy lull you with his acoustic genius, but show up early enough for JBM and he’s sure to strike a chord in you with his pointed, story-telling lyricism and equally eloquent guitar.

Tickets to tonight’s show are still available through Front Gate Tickets and C3 Presents.