Christmas is over and we’re a few days away from a brand new year. It’s been a wonderful 365 days of live, local music, all culminating in one epic weekend. To finish off the year, we recommend a soul-filled Friday set, a pair of thought-provoking singer/songwriters, and the best NYE party in Austin. Happy New Year, music lovers!
Friday, Dec. 29
Greyhounds w/Tameca Jones, Jai Malano
@ Scoot Inn (1308 E. 4th St.) – 8 p.m. – Tickets
Missed out on Willie Nelson’s New Year’s party at ACL Live? Inject some groove into your weekend with Greyhounds. Steeped in blues, R&B, and old-fashioned rock and roll, this fabulous two-some continues to elevate Austin’s growing soul scene. Greyhounds just won a grant from Black Fret earlier this month.
The group’s sound ranges from the ’60s protest vibe of “Before BP” to the sparse instrumentation and ’70s Motown thump of “What’s On Your Mind.” Fans of Sharon Jones, and Hall and Oates, will find a lot to enjoy during this talent-soaked set. Also playing are fellow soul sisters Jai Malano and Tameca Jones.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Ali Holder w/Christy Hays
@ Radio Coffee & Beer (4204 Manchaca Road) – 9 p.m.
Deftly dancing between soft sincerity and grinding snarl, Ali Holder is an artist of range and poise. On debut EP “Huntress Moon,” Holder peppers her bedrock beautiful vocals with grungy guitar, traditional folk, and an assorted grab bag of auditory ear candy. I adore introspective, slow burn singer/songwriter music, and Ali Holder’s sound does not disappoint. Also playing is local alt country dynamo Christy Hays.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Grupo Fantasma exploded on the Moody Theater stage during its ACL taping (Credit: Scott Newton)
Grupo Fantasma w/CAPYAC
@ Empire Control Room (606 E. 7th St.) – 7 p.m. – Tickets
While I try not to feature the same band more than once a season, never mind multiple times in a month, I have to make a New Year’s Eve exception. Dec. 31 is all about partying hard and celebrating big. As it happens, both activities are specialties of Grupo Fantasma and CAPYAC. The combination of legendary Latin/jazz fusion and soon-to-be-legendary Euro house/funk will fuel your boogie long after the ball has dropped. If I were rambling about town this coming Sunday, this is where I’d be.
@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:
Which local band are you seeing this weekend in Austin?
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