The staggering sound system inside The Parish provided this over the top neo-psychedelic group a worthy stage for their face-melting, ultra creative, melding of sounds. Portugal. The Man toys with a myriad of genres interestingly making them work in a momentous machine of characteristic trippy guitar effects and playful percussion.

They are the diamond in the rough that can pull of sounds of glam rock one minute then flirt with turbid metal riffs the next and return flawlessly to show pleasing reggae influenced tunes. Think of their experimental style as a modern, indie incarnate of Pink Floyd, but sung with a controlled falsetto that would give Freddie Mercury a run for his money.

Saturday’s Parish show was littered with hits such as the epic “And I” just three songs in, which had the sold out crowd crooning and swaying along as lights washed over the their turned up faces in patterns complimentary of the musical mind bend delivered by Portugal. The Man. Much of the night’s stone solid set included favorites from their recent release The Satanic Satanist including a rendition of “People Say” that once again had a hypnotized crowd singing along in a boisterous refrain paralleling the character of the song’s picking guitar intro.

True to the talent bursting at their creative seams Portugal threw in a few songs off the freshest album they have released on their own label dubbed Approaching AIRBalloons–American Ghetto dropped March 2, mere days before they took the Parish stage. You are welcome, Austin. They ended their set with an encore of “1989” that in true  Portugal. The Man fashion brought down the rafters with whas and whirs still ringing as the house lights came up.

Inspired by the main street in Austin’s live music district, Red River Noise will appeal to the most discriminating music lovers. Many great artists whom you’ve gotten familiar with here on Double Stereo will be playing our big day party on March 17th to help us start things off right. Check out the line up.

Hydra Melody 3:00

Dr Manhattan 4:00

Zlam Dunk 5:00

Bright Light Social Hour 6:00

Aficionado 7:00

Make sure to mark your calendars for March 17. The Red River Noise Day Party will start at 3:00pm. The Parlor North Loop is located at 100 B East North Loop, Austin, Texas 78751. This is an all ages show and attendees are encouraged to get there early. It’s going to be insane!

In anticipation of the new She & Him album that drops March 23rd on Merge records, they have just released a new music video for the first single on Pitchfork TV. Titled “In The Sun”, the video is the group’s best yet. Zooey Deschanel proves she has sweet dancing skills and M. Ward is his usual cool self.  The video appears to be an indie High School Musical video with hula hoops, lockers, libraries and all. Check it out here on our blog.

For those of you in Austin or planning to make the trip down here to SXSW, you have a couple of opportunities  catch She & Him live. If you won’t be here for the festivities, fear not. She and Him will be touring and making the festival circuit at this year’s Bonnaroo and Sasquatch Music Festivals.

This year during the week of South By Southwest (SXSW), Double Stereo and some of our good friends are throwing one of the best day parties known to man. Everything takes place on March 19th at Dirty Dog Bar in Austin, Texas. Not to toot our own here, but the line up is pretty awesome to say the least. We have something for everyone.  Join us for drinks and live music! Check out the line up.

Twin Atlantic: (Glasgow, Scotland)
4:20 – 4:50

Jaguar Love: (Portland, Oregon)
3:40 – 4:10

Fitz & the Tantrums: (Los Angeles)
3:00 – 3:25

Gordon Voidwell: (BROOKLYN, New York)
2:20 – 2:45

Jonneine Zapata: (Los Angeles)
1:40 – 2:05

One Pin Short: (Las Vegas, NV)
1:00 – 1:25

Everything March 19th happening at the Dirty Dog Bar on historic 6th street from 1pm to 5pm. The party is open to the public – HOWEVER- RSVP’s will party with free booze and Red Bull.  It is limited to the first 200 rsvps.

RSVP for the party here: RSVP@DoubleStereo.com

Finally, for those of you on Facebook, be sure to RSVP for our party on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/doublestereo

Austin’s newest transplant, Look Mexico, recently released a new music video for their single “You Stay. I Go. No Following.” off their upcoming new album To Bed To Battle due out March 23rd.  The video features the guys on a “hunting” trip in Florida, their former home before uprooting to Austin. The video was directed by the band’s own Joshua Mikel and Bobby Marinelli.

Look Mexico “You Stay. I Go. No Following.” from Look Mexico HD on Vimeo.

Thanks to front woman Jenny Gacy, the TWWL give off a sort Yeah Yeah Yeahs vibe but with more of alternative edge a la’ Sonic Youth. We are talking art-rock meets alternative with a little indie on top. This unique sound is what will make Medium Head Boy appealing to a wide range of music snobs and aspiring tastemakers. Present company included.

The EP begins with a fun 8-bit Atari influenced “Space Invaders”. It is here that Gacy displays her angsty art-rock sensibilities while backed by one of the most talented guitar players this side of Red River.  Lyrically speaking it is simple and something the kids will love singing along to. “Heresy” proves that not only that TWWL are not afraid to curse but do deserve all the Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons. “Heresy” also gives listeners the best guitar pedaling and use of feedback on the EP.

Things slow down for the vividly haunting “It’s Cold Here In Japan”. It is a different side of TWWL that came as a pleasant surprise, validating the fact they are no one trick pony. It is tracks like this and the piano driven “Evangeline” that will keep them from being labeled as just “another indie band” or “blogger band”.  “Evangeline” invokes the spirit of your older sister’s favorite Fiona Apple CDs. You’ll love it whether you admit it publicly or not. The biggest disappointment lies only in the fact that Medium Head Boy only has six tracks. At least they are six totally downloadable tracks which will soon go to vinyl later this spring via Indierect.

For those planning to be in Austin in March, be sure and catch the White White Lights live. There will be multiple opportunities for you to do so. Visit them on MySpace for dates and details. To purchase Medium Head Boy or download their single “Spaced Invaders” for free, visit their artist page here on Double Stereo.

Not going to make it to Austin in March? Then check out this great live video shot by ‘Nites blogger and Double Stereo contributor, Ajay Miranda.

Having made the rounds all over Austin, from frat parties to opening for local headliners like Bob Schneider and The Derailers, the EPMB has set a solid foundation to make a name for themselves beyond just Austin. With horns, bluesy guitars, reggae influenced melodies and a guest appearance from Austin hip hop artist, M.C. Overlord, the EMPB has all the right sounds for a successful debut. Check out the two versions of the single “Better Be” and Schneider-esque “Lifetime Away”. Those in Austin will be able to see them at Lambert’s on March 4th for their CD release show.

To check out more from the Eagle Pritchard Murray Band, visit their store front on Double Stereo here:

EMPB Storefront

The music icons are back together again, with as close of an original line up as they could put together. Filling in his for his father, Shaun Sahm has joined Flaco Jimenz and Auggie Meyers to put out their new release due out on March 2nd, Esta Bueno!. That’s an understatement amigos.

Esta Bueno, Spanish for “It’s good”, is an understatement of title if you ask me. Having been a long time fan of Texas Tornados, I honestly feared for what this album would sound like without Fender or Doug Sahm. After reading all the write ups sent to me before I got to listen actually to Esta Bueno!, I started to feel better. I learned the  last recordings of Freddy Fender, the last of his kind, are on Esta Bueno!. The guys are also joined by original Tornado musicians Louie Ortega, Speedy Sparks and Ernie Durawa. After reading all that, I popped the Esta Bueno! album into the laptop and listened from beginning to end. Without spoiling the surprise or giving too much away, I’ll conclude by saying that you should get your own copy here on Double Stereo and listen for yourself. They just don’t make records like this anymore.

For more on Esta Bueno!, check out this great video the folks at Y’all Wire put together.

Check out the new music video from Nico Vega for their single. “Gravity”.

Check out this video: Nico Vega – Gravity

Check out the new music video from Nico Vega for their single. “Gravity”. The video was directed by Marcus Dunstan. “Gravity” is available on the group’s self titled release from 2009.

After months of searching, the members of Pennywise announced that Ignite vocalist Zoli Teglas is now officially the new front man. Teglas, a longtime friend and tour mate, recently played a handful of So Cal shows with Pennywise, including the 2009 Smokeout Festival and a sold out Holiday Benefit concert for Amnesty International at Long Beach Arena.

Teglas will join Pennywise on its upcoming European tour which kicks off this April. That tour will be preceded by a few warm up West Coast dates that start on March 17 in San Diego, CA. Pennywise is currently at work on a new record, its first featuring the new lineup.

After the sudden departure of former singer Jim Lindberg, a member of Pennywise for 19 years, guitarist Fletcher Dragge called Teglas a “natural choice” to take over vocal duties for the band.