September 2025 – 7th Level Music

Levitation Austin 2025: Day Two recap

“This is gonna be a sweat-fest.”

Those were the first words I heard about Day Two of 2025’s Levitation Austin musical festival as I walked toward the entrance of the Palmer Event Center. Some guy said this to his pal as they steeled themselves for the day to come. The guy was right, as the bright sun was brutal at times — especially at the outdoor stage.

I started indoors, both to avoid the peak sun and to see Hooveriii put on a solid set of psych-rock that bordered on grunge rock a couple times (which was fine by me).

Hooveriii (pronounced “Hoover Three”, not “hoovery.”)

Many of us ventured out into the sun to see Dutch disco funkers Yīn-Yīn play for the first time anywhere in the United States. They had the afternoon crowd jumping and were having a great time despite not being used to such heat.

Yīn-Yīn getting their sweaty groove on, and on all of us.

I had time for a chicken shawarma wrap (possibly the best food bargain at the festival) and some ice cream before heading back to the outdoor stage to see Model / Actriz put on a blistering set of queercore post-punk with lead singer Cole Haden prowling through the crowd while his bandmates played tight, snappy beats and riffs. Guitarist Jack Wetmore knows not only how to play, but the right moments not to play — a skill overlooked by many.

Model / Actriz bringing more heat than the afternoon sun.

I took some more time to hydrate and get a full meal (It’s a marathon, not a sprint.) before heading back indoors to join the large crowd for The Brian Jonestown Massacre, who played to a happy crowd — many of whom (at least around me) hadn’t seen them before now. It was a good set, with only minor issue when, believe it or not, Anton Newcombe decided his microphone had too much reverb.

The Raveonettes were a welcome return to Levitation. I hadn’t seen them since 2013 when Levitation was still the Austin Psych Fest (which has returned in its own form). They still sound great and played classics and newer stuff.

The biggest show of the night, and for the entire festival for me, belonged to TV on the Radio. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see them, so their appearance at Levitation made the decision to fly here a no-brainer. They slayed it and had everyone jumping and moving. Their energy was infectious and immediate, and a great way to close the night.

TVOTR didn’t close my night, however. I was so wired after their set that I walked over a mile to Elysium to see Past Self and Urban Heat. I knew we were in for a treat when Past Self’s bassist started the show by playing his guitar with a bow. What followed was a mix of desert rock (They’re from Las Vegas, Nevada.), New Romanticism, and dark wave.

Past Self. Are they ghosts, musicians, past incarnations of you?

Urban Heat are local heroes who play aggressive shoegaze mixed with post-punk anger. It’s good stuff, and they seem destined for big things. They reminded me a bit of early TVOTR, which was fitting because I bumped into TVOTR’s guitarist / multi-instrumentalist Jaleel Bunton at their show and got to thank him for the great set.

Up next, psychedelia, indie rock, and a couple sets that might cause you to seek a chiropractor afterwards.

Keep your mind open.

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Runo Plum takes you “Halfway Up the Lawn” with her newest single.

In November, runo plum will release her debut LP on Winspear (Wishy, Slow Pulp, Teethe). Entitled patching, the album was produced with her new Winspear labelmate Lutalo, and was announced in late August with the single “sickness,” which arrived with a Rolling Stone featureand saw praise from outlets like Stereogum, Line of Best Fit and BrooklynVegan.

Today, runo is sharing another preview of her new album, a track called “Halfway Up The Lawn,” with a video shot by David Milan Kelly.

Unbridled sincerity isn’t anything new for runo plum, who’s been writing and quietly sharing bedroom dispatches of her intricate folk for a half-decade. During the pandemic years, she steadily caught the ears of a widening circle of listeners and soon began independently releasing a series of singles and EPs, all while cutting her teeth on the live side supporting Searows, Angel Olsen and Hovvdy.

In the midst of this wave of success came an unexpected heartbreak. It wasn’t until runo had written a mass of songs in a five-month burst of intense creativity following that chasm that she realized that not one, but two, records were forming. “I was writing like I never had before and everything felt more meaningful than ever,” she says.

On patching, the work of metamorphosis plays as large of a role as the studied process of mending and repair. Across its twelve tracks, runo paints her melodic arcs with a sharp sense of dynamics, crafting songs that capture both the hazy highs and the dark blue lows of all the natural cycles that make the world turn. At the heart of her writing lies a sort of ephemeral magic, one born from her ability to alchemize a deeply formative chapter of life into a vivid scrapbook of songs, capturing the contours of her experiences in shimmering detail.

“Halfway Up The Lawn” recounts the messy and deeply human desperation phase of a breakup, unraveling all of the yearning and mental hang-ups over persistent, near-hypnotic instrumentation. “I don’t wanna watch you turn green, but I will” she sings, toying with acceptance, but not entirely giving up the fight.

“This song is about when you get broken up with and you aren’t on speaking terms with that person anymore. It makes you feel so insane, you want to scream, you’re checking socials, waiting for a text, desperately waiting for literally any sign of life. I imagine myself pathetically sitting outside of their house waiting for them to get home, but–nothing. The line “I don’t wanna watch you turn green, but I will” is ultimately about accepting that they have moved on. We ended up using my demo guitar solo for this one, which is so funny because it’s sort of a mess but it ended up fitting perfectly with the chaos in the theme.”

In support of the record runo will be embarking on a UK/EU tour that includes appearances at Pitchfork London and Paris. Full details of those dates can be found below.

11/1 – Amsterdam, NL @ London Calling Festival
11/2 – Berlin, DE @ Neue Zukuft
11/3 – Hamburg, DE @ Aalhaus
11/5 – Ghent, BE @ Big Next (Trefpunt)
11/6 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rotondes
11/7 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Paris
11/8 – London, UK @ Pitchfork London
11/10 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
11/11 – London, UK @ Moth Club
11/12 – Brighton, UK @ Dust
11/14 – Sheffield, UK @ Hallamshire Hotel
11/15 – Leeds, UK @ Live at Leeds

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Tom at Terrorbird Media.]

Levitation Austin 2025: Day One recap

I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the first full day of Levitation 2025 than a slow-motion sword fight between a Rat Queen and a rat skull-headed incarnation of Death over a book containing countless souls.

That’s how Day One of the festival started in its new home — the Palmer Event Center. The new space is impressive. The interior stage is in a massive cave-like room with 360-degrees of projections to keep you tripping all day if you’d like. Oliver Ackermann of A Place to Bury Strangers described it to me as “amazing,” and I think he and his bandmates (still a bit bleary-eyed from their recent South American tour) are eager to blast the place on Day Three.

First to blast it, and setting a high bar for the rest of the bands to come for the rest of the festival, were a band consisting of a vampire, a druid, a plague doctor, and a warrior queen.

Castle Rat came out to an exuberant crowd as the voice of a distant wizard told us they had been given the task of protecting The Bestiary — a book of souls they must protect at all costs from evil forces. As a friend put it, “Listening to them is like opening your Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook for the first time.” They proceeded to flatten the place, ending their too short forty-minute time slot with the aforementioned sword fight.

The line for Castle Rat’s merch was at least twenty minutes long for hours after their set. I later met their drummer, The Druid, and told him my friend’s description of their music. He laughed and said, “Yes! That’s exactly what we’re going for.”

The exterior stage is in a smaller space, and set up facing south with the unintended result of having many of the bands (depending on their set time) staring into the afternoon sun. One such band was Skloss, who’d just returned from a tour in Scotland and had become unaccustomed to such bright sunlight. Guitarist Sandy Carson had trouble seeing his foot pedal board a couple times, resulting in what drummer / singer Karen Skloss called “the Skloss experimental set” by the end. Regardless of the pedal trouble, they still put on a loud, psychedelic show that blasted as hard as the sun.

I had to get some hydration and calories by this point, so I missed the opening of Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol‘s set, but got there in time for a lot of solid rockers such as “Heel,” “1-800-EAT-SHIT,” and “I’m the Fucking Man.” They sounded great, even better when I saw them at Levitation last year at Stubb’s BBQ on a much bigger stage.

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Whatever the Fuck

I had a little time to wander for a bit, checking out the various vendors there, and then got to see most of the set from Austin’s own The Sword — who played to a packed house indoors. Their set got a bit funky by the end, which I thought was great.

The Sword cutting through time and space.

I took a much-needed disco nap back at the hotel after their set, and it was almost too good of a break. I woke up groggy and debated not going downtown to see the late night show for which I’d purchased a ticket a while ago. I decided to go outside, get some fresh air, and make the decision. It turned out to be a good one.

I didn’t get to Elysium in time to see Austin drag star Louisanna Purchase perform, but did get there for the last half of Auragraph‘s drum and bass set that had the place bumping. Much like the Boy Harsher show the previous night, the goth and queer crowd was out in force here — which is always great to see.

Pixel Grip was playing down a man with synth player Jonathon Freund not being able to make the show, but pre-programmed loops and chords keyed up by drummer Tyler Ommen worked just fine and singer Rita Lukea commanded the stage and the jam-packed crowd. They had the floors shaking multiple times. It was a wild end to a wild day.

Up next for Day Two…post-punk, disco, and a DJ set from my favorite band.

Keep your mind open.

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Sell Everything offer “Girls, Girls, Girls” for you.

Hailing from Dublin, SELL EVERYTHING is a five-piece collective fusing jazz guitar, off-kilter rhythms, and sharp lyrical wit into a sound entirely their own. Their genre-blurring approach — spanning indie rock, grunge, jazz, and hip hop — yields songs that feel equally at home in dimly lit clubs and on festival main stages. Frontman Tom Kelly’s wry, observational lyrics thread through lush arrangements with a balance of intimacy and detachment, creating an emotional pull that’s both immediate and enduring. With a DIY ethos and a reputation for unpredictable, compelling live shows, SELL EVERYTHING are rapidly emerging as one of Ireland’s most exciting and forward-thinking acts.

Today, the band are sharing their latest single, a track called “Girls, Girls, Girls,” which is out today on their label home Future Gods.

The band’s early singles have drawn praise from Stereogum, FLOOD, and Line of Best Fit, earning comparisons to artists like King Krule, Bar Italia and Mk.gee. While those comparisons might imply a downbeat vibe, “Girls, Girls, Girls” injects that vibe with a looseness and a sense of fun.

A jazz-leaning indie track built on warm guitar work inspired by Wes Montgomery and a rhythmic sway that nods to Anotr and early Underworld, the track is lyrically playful yet emotionally sharp, drifting between fleeting encounters, restless desire, and self-deprecating humor. It’s the band’s most immediate and infectious release yet, with a groove that lingers long after the track ends.

The band say of the song:

“‘Girls Girls Girls’ is written with irony at its core. On the surface, it feels upbeat and soulful — almost celebratory — but the heart of the song is about that nagging feeling of missing out, when really it’s just in your head. The video reflects that through the pirate character: he’s dressed as an outsider, but it’s his own perception that keeps him apart. The verses carry a bright, major feel, while the chorus shifts into something more melancholic and reflective — a push and pull between joy and self-doubt. In the end, it’s less about wanting what you think you lack, and more about realizing that you’ve put yourself on the outside.”

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Tom at Terrorbird Media.]

Levitation Austin 2025: Day Zero recap

I’m going to call the September 25, 2025 Thursday night late shows of Levitation Austin 2025 as “Day Zero” since the official festival doesn’t start until September 26th. “Day -1” would’ve been September 24th when you could’ve seen Mdou Moctar, Beach Fossils, Strange Lot, Water Damage and other good bands.

The main festival has a new home — the Palmer Event Center pretty much in the middle of the city, and only has the “pub crawl” events (shows at various venues downtown) at night. As usual, there’s always at least one good band playing the Thursday night before Levitation to entice you into coming to town early. This year, “Day Zero” had several: Warmduscher and Starjunk 95 among them, and I opted for two other shows out of six you could attend.

I first went to Stubb’s BBQ for what would be the only show I would attend there the whole weekend (which felt odd): Kumo 99, Martin Rev, and Boy Harsher.

Kumo 99 kicking off Levitation with a good start.

I’d only heard one song from Kumo 99 before coming to Austin, so I didn’t know what to expect apart from some electro music. What I got was electro plus synthwave plus Japanese vocal punk rock. I was impressed, and so were a lot of others judging by the size of the line at their merch booth after their set.

Martin Rev will hit you with a key-tar and then put you in the Sharpshooter.

Up next was the legendary Martin Rev — one half of synth / punk pioneers Suicide. He came out in ripped-up leather pants, a sleeveless shirt, and goggles suitable for alpine skiing or for Brett “Hitman” Hart cutting a professional wrestling promo. What followed was a weird, loud no wave noise set that left most of the audience (who didn’t realize who he was) baffled. Rev was hammerfisting his keyboard through most of the set, bludgeoning us with distorted din. He sampled Bon Jovi, ZZ Top, and The Trammps at various points while singing / talking with so much reverb in his microphone that one guy in front of me just yelled, “What are you saying?” during a brief break in the noise. Rev even did a bizarre cover of Sam the Sham & the Pharohs‘ “Wooly Bully” at one point. A woman next to me said, “I hope I can be that cool at (age) seventy-seven. I’m ready for bed by eight and he’s out here doing his thing.” That “thing” being not giving a damn what people think and giving them more of an experience than a performance.

Boy Harsher winning over the crowd at the first note.

The crowd (with a big goth and queer contingent. Hell yeah!) for Boy Harsher was huge by the time they took the stage. They played much the same set as when I saw them at Levitation France months earlier — packing in pulsing synthwave with great electro dance beats. I found out from the woman next to me that they’d played a DJ set from the back of a truck the previous day and had done a record signing at End of an Ear in Austin. That’s way cool.

Speaking of way cool things, I walked a half-block after Boy Harsher’s set to Elysium where I caught Johnny Jewel‘s great set of his film score and other music – which included a set from Drive, a salute to David Lynch, and even a different version of Chromatics‘ “Lady.” He played various clips from Lynch films, Twin Peaks, giallo films, and other oddities throughout it.

Up next, and closing out Day Zero, was one of Jewel’s many side projects — Desire. They played a long set of lovely synthwave and electro-dance tracks, mostly about wanting, finding, and / or losing love. The crowd loved them, and the trio work well together. They even played two New Order covers (“Bizarre Love Triangle” and “Blue Monday” – with Jewel on lead vocals for the second) and Taylor Dane‘s “Tell It to My Heart” — which was a natural fit for lead singer Megan Louise.

It was a late night, but worth it. There’s a lot of good synthwave at Levitation this year, and Day One will end with more…but first there will be a lot of metal.

Keep your mind open.

All right, all right! I’ll get on it…And you spelled my name wrong again, David!

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Review: No Joy – Bugland

Jasamine White-Gluz got out of the city to make Bugland, the newest No Joy album, experimenting and collaborating with Fire-Toolz (AKA Angel Marcloid) for an record that is difficult to categorize, but why should we even bother to try? Why not just sit back and enjoy it?

Starting with electronic bloops, bleeps, and beats, “Garbage Dream House” gets things off to a weird, wonderful start – mixing buzzing guitar chords with synths and processed drums while White-Gluz’s voice bounces off the back wall at some points and nuzzles your ear the next. The title track crunches and munches like an early Garbage track and White-Gluz’s reverb-soaked vocals practically lift you off the floor.

“Bits” has more 90s electro-rock vibes to it, practically begging you to blast it on your headphones as you hit the mid-mark of your treadmill workout. “Save the Lobsters” is based on a true story of White-Gluz smashing open lobster traps washed up on beaches so she could get the creatures back into the ocean. Her vocals are often drenched in distortion or echo effects, seemingly putting you under the water with the freed animals.

“My Crud Princess” not only has a great title, but also a sparkling energy bursting through the slightly sludgy (cruddy?) drum beats. “Bather in the Bloodcells” reminds me of My Bloody Valentine if they turned down the volume a bit and covered Elastica.

“I Hate That I Forget What You Look Like” is a stunner about grief that, for some us, is all too relatable. The snappy drums and synths grow like a mind almost spiraling into panic, but catching itself just before toppling into madness. The psychedelic closer, “Jelly Meadow Bright” is almost eight minutes of trippy bliss, nearly fading out halfway through it and then returning with a wild saxophone-led acid-jazz / industrial freak-out.

Again, I’m not sure how to describe Bugland…apart from it being one of the best releases of 2025 so far.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Tom at Terrorbird Media!]

Circle Jerks set to release a deluxe reissue of 1983’s “Golden Shower of Hits.”

Circle Jerks ~1983 | Photo By Glen E. Friedman

Golden Shower of Hits is a vicious, snotty and vibrant collection of tracks that highlight Circle Jerks’ insane punk chops, and their penchant for anti-authorianism, nihilism and a good ol ‘time. They’ve teamed up again with renowned archival label Trust Records for its re-release – marking the first time that its original tapes have been touched in 40 years.

The announcement of Golden Shower of Hits’ deluxe reissue comes just in time – today marks frontman / punk icon Keith Morris’ 70th birthday! Fans will have the chance to celebrate alongside the Circle Jerks with their return to the Hollywood Palladium tomorrow night, Friday, September 19, in Los Angeles. The show promises to be an unforgettable night honoring his legacy and the enduring power of punk. Joining them on this special night are Ceremony, Rocket From the Crypt, and Negative Approach — a lineup as ferocious as the occasion demands. Attending fans will also have access to two special exclusives available only at the Palladium show: A limited-edition 7-inch single of “When the Sh*t Hits the Fan”, (limited to 300 copies) and a limited-edition birthday poster, (500 copies) designed and signed collaboratively by Morris and Shepard Fairey (Obey Giant). Tickets and more info are here.

The audio for Golden Shower of Hit’s deluxe reissue was remastered from the original analog tapes by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound in Nashville and restored and digitized by Dan Johnson at Audio Archiving Services. In addition to the vastly improved sound, this version also features a few different variants and updated artwork which has been given a modern touch by Bryan Ray Turcotte from Kill Your Idols Studio and features unseen photos by legendary photographer Glen E. Friedman.

By 1983, Circle Jerks had already established themselves as one of the most crucial hardcore punk bands– not only in their native Los Angeles, but worldwide. Their seminal debut Group Sex (1980) and the massive follow-up Wild in the Streets(1982) had been unleashed on the public along with extensive touring. The remaining original lineup of Keith Morris (Black Flag, later of OFF!), Greg Hetson (Redd Kross, later of Bad Religion), and Roger Rogerson would soon create another landmark hardcore punk release with their follow up, the masterful Golden Shower of Hits.

Golden Shower of Hits was initially released on July 21,1983 via LAX Records, a label owned by producer Jerry Goldstein best known as manager for Sly Stone and The Plugz, as well as the producer for WAR and The Strangeloves. Clocking in under 28 minutes, the album featured eleven new tracks and the infamous title track, a medley that, like the Paul Revere & the Raiders and Jackie Shannon covers found on the previous LP, completely reinvented the originals into a twisted take on AM radio pop favorites. A pair of tracks, “Coup d’État” and a version of “When the Sh*t Hits the Fan” made their way onto the soundtrack for the midnight movie Repo Man, and is forever cemented into that oddball slab of cinematic genius. “‘Golden Shower of Hits’ was recorded after Lucky Lehrer decided he was going to go to law school, so John Ingram filled in after being recruited by Roger Rogerson,” recalls Morris. “We pretty much recorded live on the sound stage. And the really fun part of that scenario was that our engineer had worked with the Grateful Dead– which at the time was odd.”

LISTEN / SHARE “WHEN THE SH*T HITS THE FAN” REMASTERED AUDIO

Upon release, Golden Shower of Hits became just as its moniker inferred– a modern classic that added to Circle Jerks’ already formidable legacy. And more than 42 years later, that legacy’s already long tail stretches further and wider with the release of this meticulously crafted reissue– cementing the LP’s importance in not only punk history, but the cultural zeitgeist as well. “I’d say that this is a cornerstone in the Circle Jerks discography,” says Morris. “When it comes to our setlist, we’re playing at least seven of these songs live. I think that’s a statement in itself. The title track is probably one of the most ridiculous things that we ever recorded.”

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE GOLDEN SHOWER OF HITS

Circle Jerks Live Dates:
Oct 02: Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Oct 03: Tacoma, WA – Temple Theatre
Oct 05: Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
Oct 06: Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Oct 08: Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Oct 10: Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
Oct 11: Boulder, CO – Boulder Theatre
Oct 13: Kansas City, MO – Madrid Theater
Oct 14: Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theater
Oct 15: Little Rock, AR – The Hall
Oct 17: Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Oct 18: San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Bailey at Another Side.]

Paz Lenchantin releases “Novela” from her upcoming solo debut.

Paz Lenchantin debuts her new single and album opener “Novela” today. “The track is a melodramatic story that resolves with excepting that you are the way you are ‘Sos como sos,'” says Paz. “Novela” draws on the emotional architecture of Spanish balladry, using it as the bedrock for her raw, restless compositions. The video was created by longtime friend and filmmaker Maximilla Lukacs – watch below.

After almost three decades as bassist, vocalist, and co-writer for legendary bands like Pixies (2014–2024), A Perfect Circle, Zwan, The Entrance Band, Paz now steps forward with her debut solo album Triste, out October 17 on her own label, Hideous Human Records.

Triste is a 12-track album that blends both Latin folk textures with American rock structures that features Paz on piano, adding her signature string arrangements around the rock band roots she came from. Paz performed all of the instruments before enlisting some of her favorite musicians, including former A Perfect Circle bandmates Josh Freese (drums), Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar) and more, all of whom helped Paz create a dynamic musical world that feels both unearthed and carefully constructed. Each song is shaped with an editor’s precision and guided by a mystic’s intuition, producing music that sounds both timely and timeless.

Listen / Share / Playlist “Novela” | Official Music Video Here

Triste began forming in Petatlán, Mexico, where Paz spent most of 2024 on her own writing songs about faith, doubt, and self-discovery, mirroring her own experiences post Pixies. Mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Tristedelivers a fiercely personal and expansive statement that stamps the first chapter in her solo career.

“I had to make this record on my own—not to prove anything, but just to have faith that music can nurture me back. And it did.” – Paz Lenchantin

Pre-Order / Pre-Save Triste

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Bailey at Another Side!]

Live: Viagra Boys and Die Spitz – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL – September 18, 2025

I’ll admit that I almost didn’t make it to see Viagra Boys and Die Spitz in Chicago. I’d bought the tickets when they went on sale several months ago, figuring the show would sell out after their tremendous show at The Salt Shed the last time they were there. Sure enough, it did sell out, but I was tired and had already dealt with a long week (and it was only Wednesday) by the time September 17th arrived. I debated selling my tickets, but no one offered a decent price for them.

Luckily, I convinced my girlfriend’s daughter to go with me, figuring she’d get a kick out of their show and seeing the all-female Die Spitz rip up a stage. It was the right call, because we had a fun time and she came back with a Die Spitz shirt and a couple new favorite bands.

Austin, Texas’ Die Spitz put on a good, loud, sludgy set of garage punk. It reminded me a lot of Bleach-era Nirvana. They were raw, rough, and having a great time. You couldn’t ignore them, nor should you.

Viagra Boys played a lot of tracks from their new self-titled album, opening the show with “Man Made of Meat” – which most of the crowd was singing / yelling with them. “Slow Learner” was a pleasant surprise, and “Punk Rock Loser” had everyone cheering.

I didn’t eat the pizza, but more on that later.

“Ain’t No Thief” was a big hit, with the crowd tossing so many lighters to lead singer Sebastian Murphy that he forgot the lyrics to the second verse. “Pyramid of Health” has some fun audience participation, as did “You N33d Me.”

“Store Policy” was another fun surprise, and “Medicine for Horses” was a mellow turn before they launched into “Sports” and an extended version of “Research Chemicals” that had a wild, almost psychedelic outro.

After a short break, the encore included “The Bog Body” from the new album, “ADD” (another nice one to hear), and “Worms” — a fitting end as it’s a song about embracing mortality and impermanence.

The crowd was fired up with anger toward the current political climate and the desire to have fun and forget about it for a while (i.e., at least two people in full shrimp costumes — one of whom, according to people we overheard as we left, was having a green-out).

As we left, we drove by this place that is not even a ten-minute drive from the Salt Shed.

It would’ve been appropriate to eat here after the show, and support Shrimptech Industries, but, alas, they were closed. We went for late night tacos instead and, as I left with our to-go order, I was passed by a woman and her…

If that’s not a perfect ending to a Viagra Boys show, I don’t know what is.

Keep your mind open.

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Paris Music Corp. uses technology to push back against itself on “No Soy A.I.”

Texas-based electronic and ambient composer Paris Music Corp. a.k.a. John Andrew Paris presents ‘No Soy A.I.’, the first taste of his latest electronic odyssey ‘Ecotone’. Slated for release on October 24, this album promises to be a futuristic trip, and “No Soy A.I.” is the perfect, human-first introduction.

In a world increasingly dominated by the cold, calculated logic of artificial intelligence, Paris Music Corp. throws down a human gauntlet with this dark slab of swirling electro, which features the searing Spanish vocals of fellow Texan musician, writer and actor Ray Perez. A potent opening statement, this is a sonic challenge to the algorithmic chill of our times and the only track on this album with vocals.

Originally from Austin and now calling Brownsville, TX his seaside home, John Andrew Paris spent decades creating music and collaborating with artists, including Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, perhaps best known for his hit single ‘Fire’), as well as DJ Rev Kathy Russell, DJ Lucas Ray, Catastrophe Ballet, Le Reve, Life’s Eyes, Beast of Eden, OBOYO and Don Wigwam.

In 2022, Paris Music Corp. released his self-titled album, after taking hiatus for half a decade following the release of his debut album ‘Rewind’ in 2017. Fast forward to autumn 2025 – now Paris is ready to release the next collection of his electronic adventures, having written, recorded, mixed and mastered this full album at Tarantula Studios throughout 2024 and 2025.

“With ‘No Soy A.I.’, I wanted to address the coldness of some of AI’s tendencies, such as people already having AI girlfriends and boyfriends. Ironically, this track ultimately turned out to be a love song of sorts, which is okay by me,” says John Andrew Paris.

“Sonically, this piece has a very futuristic sound to it. The words delivered in Spanish alongside make it even more relevant as something new and a little out there”.

Influenced by the likes of Mick Karn, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Tim Hecker, Casino Versus Japan and Miles Davis, John Andrew Paris has also scored 2 independent films – the documentary ‘Andy Paris: Bubble Gum King’, also released as an album, and the short horror film ‘Spectral Wind’. He has also created a clever electronic rework of ‘Lord of the Dance’ for the Austin Christmas Collection Album.

“After relocating Paris Music Corp. to Brownsville, TX, it became apparent that wildlife and nature in general were at the forefront with living on the border of Mexico next to the sea. The ‘Ecotone’ album made sense to me because you have a transitional zone, where two different ecological communities or ecosystems meet and intermingle, often resulting in high biodiversity,” says John Andrew Paris.

Cinematic and ethereal, Paris Music Corp. music is ambient and spacey electronica. Often with elements of 80’s darkwave and ambient soundscapes, his trademark sound includes heavily processed guitar and bass instruments locked into layered loops and further manipulated using software. Also employing live hand percussion, these dense soundscapes take the listener on a sonic journey to otherworldly places.

As of September 19, ‘No Soy A.I.! is available from digital platforms, including Apple Music ,Spotify and Bandcamp. The ‘Ecotone’ album will be released on October 24.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Shauna at Shameless Promotion PR.]