just listen

Father John Misty - Real Love Baby

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I was only a freshman in high school when Best Coast released their debut LP, “Crazy For You.” Thanks to the exposure from my older sister, I quickly fell in love with the band as well as its front woman, Bethany Cosentino.  For a 14-year old John, the music was groundbreaking; the music was catchy, relatable, and essentially embodied the angst I felt as a young teen (which I later expressed through the musings of pop-punk, but we won’t get into that).

Though I’m no longer a teen, I was recently able to fulfill my long awaited dream of seeing Best Coast in concert at Stubb’s, Austin’s famous outdoor venue. They’re currently co-headlining a tour with close affiliates Wavves and Cherry Glazerr. Being a fan of all three bands, I had high expectations and they were quickly met from the start. Cherry Glazerr opened with a fan favorite, “Had Ten Dollaz,” which immediately injected the crowd with energy. The band’s energetic garage-rock sound kept the crowd engaged for an opening act. I was even fortunate to meet and talk to Clem, the lead singer, for a couple minutes after their set. We took a picture together and I asked her details about the band’s new record coming out this year. She wasn’t able to tell me many details, but she told me (very low-key) that it should be out in May, so mark those calendars Glazerr fans.

The next band to play was Best Coast, and my fanboy meter started to go off the charts. The band slowly took the stage one-by-one, leading up to the entrance of my love, Bethany. The crowd went wild as she took the stage and told us, “It’s great to be back in Austin.” The set was a perfect mix of old hits like “Boyfriend,” “When the Sun Goes Down,” and “When I’m with You” and new singles including “Feeling Ok” and “Heaven Sent.” Let me tell you: for a band with a pop sound, the crowd was wild. I think everyone got to hear what they loved from the band for years, songs that are catchy, fun, and easy to sing-along to. Bethany owned the stage in every aspect; from her presence, outfit, and voice, she was basically the indie Beyoncé. As their set was finishing, she mentioned how grateful she was to be on tour with Wavves once again, and casually dropped the fact that the Wavves lead singer, Nathan, and her were officially dating after years of being under the surface about it.

By the end of Best Coast’s set, I was DRAINED and had to fall back in the crowd for Wavves. They played several debut live performances from their latest projects, “V” and “No Life for Me.” My energy may have been low, but the crowd welcomed the new songs with almost nonstop crowdsurfing and moshing. The highlight of the show was when the band brought out inflatable aliens for the crowd to bounce around, and closing the set with their number one song, “King of the Beach.”

Meeting Bethany and/or Nathan that night would’ve been a dream come true, but unfortunately they’re both a bit shy about meeting fans. Nevertheless, this show was pretty much everything I hoped for. I got to meet Bethany’s close friend and lead guitarist, Bob, and even got a station ID from Cherry Glazerr! I recommend seeing any one of these bands live, because they’re great people and equally as great musicians.

AQUARIUS PLAYLIST 

The first of Reilly’s Zodiac series! 

In remembering David Bowie’s legacy, the word “inspirational” resonates throughout the many recent tributes to the late artist.  And rightly so: Bowie introduced his fans to the characters within themselves, told a walled-in city they could be heroes, and gave people a reason to look upwards in the midst a historically uncertain and troubled time.

Bowie’s music and performances inspire, but there is a quality in him that carries throughout his works, and is perhaps not as immortalized as his music or his performances.

I’m not particularly talented, certainly not in the way he was. I’ll never touch the hearts of so many. I’ll never have the courage to go on stage with an unstoppable vision and devil-may-care-if-the-critics-like-it attitude. Still, there is one small thing I hope I can share with this Rock n’ Roll legend.  

Bowie will leave his mark on music forever–that goes without question. But that one facet of the star that left such an impression on me is his own capacity to be inspired. In 1973, Bowie called himself “a collector,”and I think I understand why he asserted this label when so many focused on him solely as a performer.  With Aladdin Sane, he reached into Kabuki theatre and mime, with Diamond Dogs he sought out dutch artist and comic writer, Guy Peellaert after being entranced by Rock Dreams, and he immortalized one fleeting, yet powerful reunion between two lovers divided by the Berlin Wall with Heroes. Bowie championed fellow artists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Iggy Pop among so many others, and found a thrill in sublimating himself to a backing roll to another’s vision. Bowie had an incredible gift for being inspired. And regarding Bowie’s care and remembrance he payed to those who inspired him–I’m making an assumption here–but, I’m sure it meant the world to them.  

In his final video, Lazarus, I saw two characters. A raw, unembellished musician and time “waiting in the wings.” He seemed eager to put something on paper with a rush of inspiration coming over his sick body. My only wish for him as he left this world is that what he was so anxiously–frantically–trying to get on paper is there and part of his legacy.  I hope he left this world inspired, because that was the very heart of his life.

I tend to hear that I assign too much value to things. I certainly geek out–especially with music. I’m easily distracted, I could be more efficient, apparently I should really decide on a major. Then again, maybe simply cherishing something is a quality people appreciate, but often goes unmentioned.

I think it’s a quality we share on our small radio staff. After all, everything we do with Topper Radio is through a team of producers, hosts, and promoters.  Though I don’t say it often enough, it means a lot to me when a staff member programs my show, teaches me to use equipment, introduces me to an artist, or drops any and all responsibilities to drive out to Alamo Drafthouse to celebrate the life of the artist that means so much to us. It’s weird that I’m being so sentimental; especially with my first blog post. Still, I want to say I cherish the time I’ve had so far working with such an inspired staff; “you’re wonderful.”

Here’s the current Topper Radio schedule! 

Make sure to check out what we’ve got to offer weekly on topperradio.com 

I had the great pleasure of seeing Basement headline the Mohawk in August last year. Basement is a UK-based five-piece melodic-hardcore band that has molded its sound by mixing 90′s grunge and emo to make heavy alternative music. Their first two full-length releases, “I Wish I Could Stay Here” and the infamous “Colourmeinkindness” are widely regarded in the scene, with emotional anthems such as “Covet”, “Pine”, “Yoke” and so much more. Actually, just do yourself a favor and jam both of those albums in full. You won’t regret it. Basement surprised many fans when they announced an indefinite hiatus after touring off of Colourmeinkindness. In 2014 they announced their return with announcement of a new three-song EP, “Further Sky”. The EP foreshadowed a new album and a new sound stemming from more 90′s grunge influence than any of their previous releases. Now here we are, Basement’s comeback album, “Promise Everything” is here and will be released on January 29, 2016 on Run For Cover Records. The opening track, “Brother’s Keeper” is a slapper for sure. It’s evident that this song will be a crowd pleaser when played live, with soaring crescendos and ripping guitars both distorted and clean in the middle where singer, Andrew Fischer swoons with his most improved vocal performance yet. The follow-up song “Hanging Around” is full of the sound that Colourmeinkindness offered, with a little more maturity. The guitars offer creative early 2000′s alternative-esque progressions but could still be more ambitious. The bass on the album is very meaty and gets a lot of attention throughout various breaks in songs. When the pinch harmonics start for “Aquasun”, the fourth track and one of the album’s three singles, you can feel the massive sound coming ahead. With a catchy chorus of “dive into me”, the chosen vocal harmonies, and guitar work definitely bring out the 90′s influence in the song. The track following, “Submission” is the least attractive song on the album. It feels like a filler track and it comes off as the laziest. However, the vocal delivery, carried me through the song. “Oversized” follows, which had been my personal favorite of the three singles released. The song rocks and its mostly clean and the least passionate song of the album. I wish they chose a more mature way to structure the chorus though. “Blinded Bye” is a indie rocker track and showcases a newer sound for the band. The lyrics are mediocre, but the music is catchy enough to be on rock radio and not be terrible. “For You the Moon” is a cool track because it feels like kind of like an old Incubus song. The lyrics are very heartfelt in this one and the guitars are seriously on point. They tastefully use odd effects pedals and incorporate very well within the song. “Promise Nothing” was the world’s first taste of the new album. I personally, thought it was okay, nothing terrible by any means…but it shouldn’t have been the first taste of this album. “Aquasun” should’ve been the first single because it compacts all of the band’s progression and retention in sound in one place. In short, “Promise Everything” is a great album but falls short in surpassing the grit and depth of “Colourmeinkindness”. Album Rating: 7/10

Recommended tracks: “For You the Moon”, “Aquasun” Stream the album in full: http://pdora.co/PromiseEverything Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Basementuk

-Josh Gibbs// The SoCo Collective airs Sundays at 10pm

I wouldn’t call myself a music critic by any means, but I figured I’d share some of my favorite releases from 2015!

1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly I’ve come to the conclusion that it is a sin to not put king kendrick at the top of any 2015 list. This album was expected to push the boundaries of hip hop to new heights, but it accomplished so much more. It inspired artwork, poetry, even college courses; it made music critics think more critically about music. Most importantly, its ideas arrived at such a relevant time for America. In the midst of high racial tension in the U.S., Kendrick delivers the thought-provoking messages that the country needed to hear. Not to mention “How Much A Dolla Cost” is Barack Obama’s favorite song of the year, which is enough of a reason in itself to put TPAB on top.

2. Tame Impala - Currents A Kevin Parker breakup album, and it’s gorgeous. He replaces guitars with synthesizers and really let’s the bass shine in this record, which i can dig. Currents, with respect to its name, flows really well as a whole, and the entire album is lyrically driven by Parker’s inner thoughts, as if he’s just letting his thoughts flow throughout each song. This record is full of jams and beautiful ballads that makes this album so listenable to lovers of almost any genre.

3. Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear My most listened to album of the year - probably because i’m a sucker for love songs - as well as the most lyrically obscure album of the year. We cant’t really tell what’s real or fictional in his songs, but this album captures love in no way any record has before. It’s real, sincere, sardonic, pretentious, and everything in between.

4. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell This is Sufjan’s best album. If you know his work, you know that means a lot. If you love your mom, listen and cry to this album.

5. Turnover - Peripheral Vision This is where my personal preference really shows (you wouldn’t find this on many “top” lists), but in my opinion it may have been the best indie rock record of the year. Catchy hooks, original sound, and great lyrics. This was the album to my summer.

6. Alex G - Beach Music Not to be confused with that chick who did a famous cover of “cups.” This dude is a genius in composition, and no one sounds anything like him.

7. Future - DS2 Every single song is a banger. “I just fucked your bitch in some Gucci flip flops” may be the best opening line to am album, ever.

8. Travi$ Scott - Rodeo I anticipated this album forever, and it didn’t disappoint. Top of the line production, awesome features, and i love that Travis is really doing his own thing.

9. Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color THIS SHIT SOULFUL AF.

10. Toro y Moi - Samantha Basically a random collection of songs proving that Chaz Bundick is the GOAT. Best electronic record of the year imo, shows limitless versatility and the features are tight (Washed Out, Kool AD to name a few)

HONORABLE MENTION (great albums that I’m really just too lazy to rank)