Tangled Snark

NEW WEBSITE for TANGLED SNARK : CLICK HERE

2010-09-18T21:09:00.001-05:00

Tangled Snark has move to Wordpress! Click here to subscribe to my new blog!

Tia Carrera & Red Leaves play Art Gallery this Saturday!

2010-08-23T20:51:00.005-05:00

Closing Reception Party! This will be the last night to view the current collection of artwork by Jeffrey Swanson up at Gallery Black Lagoon.

Music by Tia Carrera & Red Leaves will start at 8:30pm.

Come early to meet the artist…Free to attend, 7pm-11pm.

Complimentary appetizers, and a Cash Bar serving up cheap wine & beer all night long!

Very cool local show coming up - August 21st

2010-08-13T17:05:00.003-05:00

3rd Austin Music Swap! To be held on Saturday October 2nd

2010-08-13T15:24:00.004-05:00

Wanted to let you all know that I have decided to hold the 3rd Austin Music Swap, presented by Tangled Snark, on Saturday October 2nd at Gallery Black Lagoon (the old "Movie Store" building), 4301 Guadalupe St. Austin TX 72751. www.galleryblacklagoon.com

Here's more info:
Anything and Everything Music related for sale or trade at The Austin Music Swap!
Free to attend, 2pm-7pm.

Local collectors and businesses will gather for one afternoon to sell and trade their rare and collectible RECORDS, INSTRUMENTS, MUSIC GEAR, SHOW POSTERS, CDs and other music related items.

Want to sell or trade your stuff? Reserve your table by September 20th (space is limited). Email tangledsnark@yahoo.com for more information!
$35 per 6ft table (1 chair included for all participants)

Reserve your table by September 20th!
thanks!

Jewelry by Artists Exhibition - August 7th

2010-07-24T22:41:00.002-05:00

Here is a great event I have pulled together for this summer at the new Gallery Black Lagoon!
9 Local Jewelry Artists, free flavored popcorn, cupcakes, pizza, cash bar & more. Free to attend, 2pm-7pm.

Tangled Snark Parties during SXSW week...

2010-03-09T11:35:00.008-06:00

Come on out to one of my parties during SXSW - no badge or wristband needed! Free and All Ages, at The Parlor Hyde Park. 43rd St & Guadalupe.

Red Leaves SXSW Shows

2010-03-08T18:36:00.003-06:00

Ok, so my band is doing it this year...we are playing a bunch of shows during SXSW week in Austin. Come check us out.

The Austin Music Swap - March 6th

2010-02-14T17:48:00.004-06:00

Anything and Everything Music related for sale or trade at The Austin Music Swap! Free to attend! 12pm-6pm

Records, Show Posters, Music Gear, Instruments, Collectibles & more. Live Music + DJs. Over 30 Individuals & Businesses involved, including Ten Thousand Villages (selling percussion & music instruments), Million Dollar Sound & more!!!

Ok, I'm gonna say it: my Tangled Snark Line-ups for Free Week are pretty RAD!

2009-12-21T16:20:00.005-06:00

TANGLED SNARK'S FREE WEEK SHOWS AT EMO'S!!

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Jan 1 2010

9:00P

Free: Smoke & Feathers, Cartright, The Astronaut Suit, Paleo @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 1 2010

9:00P

Free: Ugly Beats, Amplified Heat, Shapes Have Fangs, The Hi-Tones @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 2 2010

9:00P

Free: Ghost Knife, The Ape-Shits, Manikin, Serious Tracers, The Vitamins @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 3 2010

9:00P

Free: Booher & the Turkeyz, Frank Smith, Prayer For Animals, Crooks, Western Ghost House @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 4 2010

9:00P

Free: The Carrots, JC & Co., Cowabunga Babes, Bear Claw, Literature @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 5 2010

9:00P

Free: Mutating Meltdown, Diagonals, Low Red Center, Elvis, Coma in Algiers @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 5 2010

9:00P

Free: Pataphysics, No Mas Bodas, The Gospel Truth, Horse + Donkey @ Emo’s

Austin

Jan 7 2010

9:00P

Free: Mothfight!, YellowFever, Red Leaves, Haunting Oboe Music, The Eastern Sea @ Emo’s

Austin

Just some really GREAT local shows coming up in Austin!

2009-11-19T19:22:00.003-06:00

Pick this show on DO512.com

Pick this show on DO512.com

Pick this show on DO512.com

Pick this show on DO512.com

JUST SO MANY GREAT SHOWS COMING UP! DON'T FORGET TO PICK THESE SHOWS ON DO512.COM

Tangled Snark Records first Release! Red Leaves 3rd EP

2009-11-11T22:02:00.002-06:00

I am excited to announce the release of Red Leaves 3rd EP "Trouble in the City of Water"-- and Tangled Snark's 1st Release!
Yep, putting out music now...next release coming soon from the solo act Bestview.
Keep an eye and ear out for that one.
In the mean time, you don't want to miss this free and all ages EP release party, Saturday November 21st at The Parlor on North Loop!

Tangled Snark TICKET GIVEAWAY for SKINNY PUPPY show December 2nd!

2009-10-11T02:49:00.004-05:00

DAG Presents has given me 2 pairs of tickets to GIVEAWAY on my website!

If you want to win a pair of tickets to Skinny Puppy at Emo's December 2nd, 2009, here's what you need to do:

Email your full name to: tangledsnark@yahoo.com -- make sure the subject of your email reads "Tangled Snark tickets to Skinny Puppy!"

Winners will be announced by November 25th!
good luck*

Industrial Fans, be prepared... Skinny Puppy comes to Austin!

2009-10-11T02:39:00.001-05:00

Vote for this show on DO512.com

Buy SKINNY PUPPY Tickets Here- from GetTix.net

MUSIC FESTIVAL/ AFTER-PARTIES OVERLOAD!

2009-09-12T16:45:00.005-05:00

It is almost here- that CRAZY time of the year in Austin when the city gets flooded with out-of-towners and the college kid population is too noticeable. Time to ditch your car and ride bikes! Parking a car will become the biggest pain, because the city is all around overpopulated.
ACL, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and all the "official" and "non-official" after parties that come along with these outside music events, will all be vying for your attention and attendance.

Word of advice: if you want to see some good music and enjoy yourself, make a list of bands you really want to see, then cut that list in half! There is no real way to have a good time hopping from one club to the next (unless you are V.I.P., work at a popular club downtown, or have some special hookup -- if that is the case, you are set). Don't forget to set aside a nice chunk of money to spend as well. It's no fun being broke in a crowded club or field of sweaty people. It is much nicer to be fed and at least a little buzzed -- but DON'T forget to drink lots of WATER as well!

I won't be attending ACL (unless someone wants to throw me one of those V.I.P. passes? anyone? I got one a few years ago and am now ruined...I have vowed to never attend another music festival unless I get one of those badges...)

BUT--HERE ARE SOME AFTER-PARTY SHOWS I RECOMMEND:
Thursday 10/1: **Haunting Oboe Music, Red Leaves, Low Red Land (SF) & The Fever Dreams @ Beerland ($5 cover, 21 & up)

Friday 10/2: **The Raveonettes w/ Here We Go Magic @ The Parish **Deer Tick w/ The Henry Clay People & Alberta Cross @ Emo's

Saturday 10/3: **Grizzly Bear w/ Beach House @ Emo's

North Loop Block Party, September 19th

2009-09-10T20:56:00.002-05:00

East North Loop Blvd (between Chesterfield & Ave G) is throwing it's 11th annual block party next week, Saturday September 19th! There will be Live Music outside of The Parlor, and events all sales all day at several businesses on the strip. Shop locally (and mostly vintage on this street)!

Other shops include: Room Service, Hog Wild, Forbidden Fruit, Sound on Sound Records and more.

Back to School Shows!

2009-08-16T17:22:00.003-05:00

It's that time of the year again- "Fall" - not sure if you can call September "Fall" in Texas since the temperature can basically be just as hot as July and August, but whatever!

Fall is prime time for shows in Austin. All of the touring acts come through, and most importantly, the College Kids are back! Yay for SOLD OUT shows and packed venues.

Everyone is throwing their own "Back to School Show" during the first couple of weeks of September. So let's get things started Friday September 4th at Emo's with popular locals MothFight! & Ume. This show is sure to be a packed one. So get your tickets now at: www.emosaustin.com or www.ticketweb.com ($6 in ADVANCE/ $8 DOS)

Mutating Meltdown Plays a Hometown Show

2009-08-09T23:22:00.003-05:00

Veronica and Erin of Finally Punk, along with drummer Chad of Zom Zoms, formed the Austin trio Mutating Meltdown. It is rare to see the band playing a hometown show. You can see them perform at Emo's on August 11th. This will be their 1st Austin show on their North American Tour spanning 3 months (July-September).

It's gonna be one of those cool rare tuesday night shows downtown. Doors 9pm, Cover $5

Free Summer Show: Belaire & Red Leaves

2009-07-31T17:12:00.006-05:00

Ok, with the surge of creative and imaginative shows in Austin this summer to boost attendance, here is an exciting Free & All Ages show happening at The Parlor on North Loop this Saturday, August 1st!

Ume: success in the near future

2009-07-20T22:33:00.006-05:00

Ok, so this is sort of related to the topic below of bands overplaying-- I have to now kick myself for making the comment that I don't believe playing as many shows as possible gets bands extra recognition. Here is one Austin band that I have felt has played out too much in the past.

For awhile there Ume seemed to be playing every week in Austin. It was ridiculous! But then again, most of the bills they were on were really good ones, so again what can I say?

Ok, so my point is that this overplaying seems to have lead to some major accomplishments (or maybe there is no correlation at all...). Today the band announced their September 2009 West Coast Tour with Meat Puppets & Dead Confederate. Congratulations to them, and good luck!

http://www.myspace.com/umemusic
photo credit: SXSW 09 By F. Yang Chromewaves.net

Austin bands getting used up...

2009-07-12T18:52:00.004-05:00

I see an increasing trend lately in Austin: local bands getting used up.

And I can't seem to figure out if this is caused by the bands themselves or the clubs and the booking agents. I know that the first thing I do when trying to book a line-up is I go to several bands websites to see who is over playing and who isn't (Of course some bands purposely don't post all of their shows online for this reason).I even go as far as asking bands to try and not book any competing shows within the same week.

But lately, I've seen good bands playing too much. A friday and a saturday in one week in the same town! then a free show the week before and after.

Is there a strategy to this overplaying that I don't see? I am not a believer that playing as many shows as possible gets you more recognition. It might actually work against bands. Every time one of these overplayed bands has a show fans might just say "oh, I'll see them some other time, they always play out".

And then there is the $$$ issue. Maybe these bands don't care about the money, but do they care enough about the clubs? I mean, the clubs are always seen as the bad guys or as money grubbers- but really, they've got rent to pay as well don't they? And Employees to pay?

This is a topic I will have to come back to. Sometimes I think Austin should follow the model of cities like San Francisco- the clubs have strict rules that any band can only play once every 2 weeks. Makes sense to me...

Another great all local show next week...

2009-07-02T21:08:00.004-05:00

You don't want to miss this one.

http://do512.com/event/2009/07/10/shapes-have-fangs-cartright-christian-bland-the-revelators-the-tunnels-emos-inside

A few tips for bands planning a tour this summer...

2009-06-09T18:34:00.004-05:00

It is definitely not an easy thing to do if you are an unsigned band setting up a tour for yourself. Even if you are getting help from friends, or have someone booking some of the shows for you. Here are a few tips to make sure that you won't be showing up to an empty venue where the other bands don't show, and the bartenders have no clue about your band playing...

1. Make sure to figure out what locals you will be playing with. Then email them on Myspace. Make the first contact. Ask them about the area. See if they will be making a poster for the show, or even ask them if they would be able to put posters up around town if your band sent them some.
- this really is important. You want to let the local bands that you are doing your part to promote the show- this will help ensure that they will show up to the show as well. And if you start communicating with the bands now, you might be able to get phone numbers from them to call in case of emergency, or if you get lost, need to cancel....
- Also, if the local bands feel like they know you already through emailing, they might be more willing to hook you up with a place to play.

2. YOU NEED TO MAKE A TOUR POSTER! Even if it is just black and white, 11x17. I recommend putting some sort of "press picture" on the poster- this way people will be able to figure out what your band sounds like based on your band image? Add some imagery that is eye catching. Make sure to put your band WEBSITE on it, the club, date and other bands you are playing with.

3. SEND THE TOUR POSTER TO ALL THE CLUBS! This is a must. All you need to send is like 15 posters to each club. This way, the club will be forced to put them up, and if for some reason your show was never marked down as booked, the bartenders and booking agent will know that you plan on coming. Also, it is really really nice to show up to a club and see your posters up on the walls. It's like a little confidence booster.

4. If you can, make sure to save the tour poster as an online JPEG image as well--post the online poster on the Club's Myspace pages, or see if the clubs will post your poster on their website.

(all this extra promotion and effort is usually recognized by the club- it might even help to ensure that your band will get paid more, or that the club will be nicer to you when you show up!)

5. Have a backup plan for everything!
- Don't assume that you will get hooked up with a place to stay after every show. Figure out if there are cheap hotels nearby, or cheap campsites. KOAs are a nice option. They have clean bathrooms with showers, and some of them even have pools and hot tubs! http://koa.com/
(it's always nice to have the option of a hot shower!).

6. If you have some extra time, see if you can figure out the addresses and proper people to send your music to at the local college radio stations. Mail them your cd, a poster for the show, and a letter asking them if they could help promote your show on air.
Or mail a few posters and a cd to local record stores asking if they can put them up at their store.

7. Make sure that your band has MERCH to sell at out of town shows. Sometimes this will be the only money you might make at a gig.

8. Have an emergency fund. You might not make any money at your shows. Your van might break down. You will need to eat something on the road.

9. Invest in a cooler! It will save you a lot of money if you stock up on bottled water, soda, energy drinks and all that. It is much cheaper than stopping at every gas station and buying a $1.00+ bottle of water.

Good luck.

Smoke & Feathers, American Sharks @ Creekside May 29th 2009

2009-06-06T19:06:00.000-05:00

Wow. I'm not sure where these bands appeared from, but my prediction is that they will both become big draws locally anytime now. This was my first time to watch Smoke & Feathers entire set, and I have to say it was pretty epic. Light show, projections and all. The music drew everyone in, and kept us there in a trance. I highly recommend checking out their next Austin show.

Before them was a band that seems to have relocated from Houston to Austin. American Sharks had a raw energy, their friends were loving it and cheering them on. Punk, but in a good way with a sort of underground indie vibe. Definitely a Lone Star Tall Boy band. That seemed to be the crowd's drink of choice.

The Diamond Center from Lubbock opened the show with some psychedelic folk inspired rock. Overall, I must honestly say this was one of the best local shows I have seen so far this year. Wow. I was not expecting that. Check these bands out.

Summer in Austin = Low Attendance at Local Shows?

2009-06-06T18:33:00.001-05:00

Every band I have talked to in Austin this past week has had no other excuse for the recent low attendance at their shows; school is out. Meaning, the college kids are gone. But I'm wondering, is it really the college kids that make up the majority of music goers in Austin?

Somehow I don't buy it. I think it has to do a lot with the fact that many Austin bands are touring the nation during the summer. Therefore, they spend less time on self promoting their local shows, and more time on making merch, sending out press kits, and promoting their out of town shows.

The fact that the students are gone is just a cheap excuse for low attendance at a local show (this could be a valid excuse for an out of town show where a band has no local following). Summer might be a harder time to get your friends to come out and pay for a show, but that just means you have to get more creative and put more hype behind all of your summer live music events.

Everyone loves hearing live music on a hot Austin summer night with a cold beer in hand. We just need to get people off their couches and out downtown.