Happy Day After Independence Day, Austin! With a Wednesday that felt like a Saturday in the rear view mirror, you may be shocked to discover the real weekend is upon us. This time for our Austinot Weekend Concert Picks, we recommend melancholy indie rock, a celebrated folk duo, and electro-pop straight from an ’80s dance floor. Enjoy the weekend and–as always–listen local!
Friday, July 6
Sun June’s moody, melancholy indie rock is as thoughtful as it is soothing (Credit: Bryan C. Parker)
Sun June
@ End of an Ear (4304 Clawson St.) – 6 p.m. – Event page
Moody indie rock with a strong ear for pop hooks and subtle groove, Sun June is a band that demands repeated listens. Songs like “Young” use upbeat rhythms and Laura Colwell’s breathy, dreamy vocals to reflect on tiny memories, while “Discotheque’s” subtle drum brush sweeps, and guitar licks plucked from twinkling starlight, create a serene vibe of comforting melancholy. Small in scope but monstrous in emotional weight.
Dawn and Hawkes Album Release
Dawn and Hawkes (Credit: Jackie Lovato)
@ Cactus Cafe (2247 Guadalupe St.) – 8 p.m. – Tickets
Anytime the sensational husband/wife folk duo of Dawn and Hawkes releases something new, it’s cause for celebration. Friday at Cactus Cafe, the pair cheers the release of their new record, “The Other Side.” At the center of every Dawn and Hawkes tune is an intimate emotional connection achieved by sharing life together. Balance that with top notch songwriting, sensitive musicianship, and lyrics wrapped in a cozy blanket of heartfelt sincerity, and you have a show worth standing in line for.
➡️ Keep reading: Dawn and Hawkes Capture Intimacy Through Music
Saturday, July 7
TC Superstar (Credit: Thea Robinson)
TC Superstar w/The Millbrook Estates, SMiiLE, Cosmic Chaos
@ The Electric Church (5018 E. Cesar Chavez St.) – 9 p.m. – Event page
Entrancing electro-pop peppered with catchy lyrics, punchy percussion, and synth lines snatched from an ’80s Euro-wave act, TC Superstar embodies the spirit of Austin weird. Primarily the work of Austin-based singer/songwriter Connor McCampbell, TC Superstar’s smokey baritone hovers over synth vamps and blip/bloop keys like Talking Heads meets the soundtrack to a great NES game.
Come for the darkly delicious “Toyota Corolla;” stay for the dance choreography; and fall in love with one of Austin’s hidden gems. Also playing: local new wavers The Millbrook Estates, eclectic indie pop band SMiiLE (personal favorite), and surf rocking Cosmic Chaos.
@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:
Where are you going for live, local music this weekend in Austin?
***
We always have unique content on the Austinot, and we love to give things away. You know, like CDs, event tickets and other cool stuff. We only send out our Best of the Austinot newsletter two times/month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of the Austinot here!