Category → Previews
Post Holiday Festivus for the Rest of Us
Seems like we’re all starting to pick back up from the holiday humbug. Now time to prepare for the awe-inspiring music coming our way in 2013! With quite a few spring and summer music festivals just around the corner there are a plethora of events to more than satisfy us while we patiently await the festivities. You can preview all of these great artists on our Spotify playlist below or just head straight to the source!
You don’t want to mess with these ladies!
Austin, TX Upcoming Shows
Calexico & Bahamas: January 23rd at Emo’s East - BUY TIX
Texas Roller Derby Lonestar Girls: January 27th at Palmer Events Center – BUY TIX
Badfish, A Tribute to Sublime: January 27th at Emo’s East – BUY TIX
Ra Ra Riot & Pacific Air: February 20th at The Belmont – BUY TIX
Reckless Kelly
San Antonio, TX Upcoming Shows
Oz Noy featuring Roscoe Beck: January 17th at Sam’s Burger Joint – BUY TIX
An Evening with Terry Allen: January 25th at Sam’s Burger Joint – BUY TIX
Reckless Kelly & Mickey and the Motorcars: Jan. 25th at The Texas Music Theater – BUY TIX
Silverstein: February 10th at The White Rabbit – BUY TIX
Houston, prepare for the kraziness of the Kottonmouth Kings!
Houston, TX Upcoming Shows
Instereo & Zomboy: January 19th at Stereo Live – BUY TIX
Sabaton: February 4th at Scout Bar – BUY TIX
Kottonmouth Kings: April 13th at Scout Bar – BUY TIX
The Heartless Bastards
Dallas, TX Upcoming Shows
Heartless Bastards: January 19th at Trees – BUY TIX
People on Vacation & Erik Chandler: January 25th at Curtain Club – BUY TIX
Guy Clark: March 15th at Poor David’s Pub – BUY TIX
He’s My Brother She’s My Sister
San Diego, CA Upcoming Shows
He’s my Brother, She’s my Sister: January 17th at Casbah – BUY TIX
Wovenhand: January 23rd at Soda Bar – BUY TIX
Tristan Prettyman: February 1st and 2nd at Belly Up – BUY TIX
Get ready to ROCK with Thousand Foot Krutch Rochester!
Rochester, NY Upcoming Shows
Inneriot and Friends: January 19th at Montage Music Hall – BUY TIX
Thousand Foot Krutch & Love and Death: February 27th at Water Street Music Hall – BUY TIX
Johnny Winter
Portland, ME Upcoming Shows
Johnny Winter: January 19th at Port City Music Hall – BUY TIX
They Might be Giants: February 27th at Port City Music Hall – BUY TIX
Robert Earl Keen
Harrisburg, PA Upcoming Shows
Robert Earl Keen: January 22nd at The Abbey Bar – BUY TIX
Corey Smith
Burlington, VT Upcoming Shows
Corey Smith & Joe Robinson: January 27th at Higher Ground – BUY TIX
Elephant Revival: February 28th at Higher Ground – BUY TIX
Have you seen a show recently that you can’t stop talking about? Share it with us on Facebook and Twitter!
Or not enough music for you hungry fans? Check out these other upcoming shows!
Created by Front Gate Tickets marketing intern: Mary Hale
Hip Hop Artist Spotlights & Upcoming Shows
It’s an exciting time for the Hip Hop world. There are handfuls of new rappers gaining popularity from their recent projects and tours. We’ve featured a few of these guys below, along with a list of other rappers, new and old, that have shows within the next month.
(Don’t forget to head over to our Hip Hop Youtube Playlist below where you’ll find some of these artists’ best songs and music videos.)
Artist Spotlights
Kendrick Lamar
Latest Album: Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City
Must-Listen Songs: “Money Trees,” “Swimming Pools,” “The Art of Peer Pressure,” & “Growing Apart” from his debut album (O)verly (D)edicated
Kendrick Lamar is the man of the Hip Hop hour. His newly released album Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City (standing for Me, an Angel on Angel Dust) has been compared to Nas’ classic Illmatic and other notable albums for a reason. In his album, he tells a story in a unique sequence of dialogues, voicemails, and songs of a young Kendrick dealing with the pressures of growing up in Compton including drugs, poverty, and girls. While other rappers often ignore the problem of alcoholism, mistreatment of women, and unhealthy family lifestyles, Kendrick embraces it and makes it a public issue in a beautifully-sounding 16 tracks.
Kendrick Lamar: Dec. 29th @ Warehouse Live – Houston, TX –> BUY TIX
Action Bronson
Latest Mixtape: Blue Chips
Must-Listen Songs: “Steve Wynn,” “Double Breasted,” & “A Simple Man”
Flushing, Queens chef-turned-rapper Action Bronson is having a big year. Between releasing one of the most stellar rap projects of 2012 with producer Party Supplies, Blue Chips, and making numerous features on songs with everyone from Odd Future to RiFF RaFF, plus consistently tearing down stages across North America and overseas in Europe, he planted himself firmly on the rap map. Through his steady grind he landed his first record deal with Vice Records. It’s been a quick ascent, but it looks as though Action is already set to jump to the next plateau of hip-hop stardom, especially now that he’s got label-backing and is being managed by Paul Rosenberg, who also handles business for another prolific white rapper you may have heard of, Eminem… READ MORE
Action Bronson & Cypress Hill: Nov. 19th @ Scout Bar – Houston, TX –> BUY TIX
Dom Kennedy
Latest Mixtape: The Yellow Album
Must-Listen Songs: “My Type of Party,” “P + H,” “So Elastic,” & “Fat Raps Remix”
Dom Kennedy, originally from LA, is a rapper that has stuck to his roots of the underground hip hop community. His latest mixtape, The Yellow Album, is a laid back anthem to partying and living his newly semi-famous life. He also talks about his life before rapping and what he aspires to be. The tape includes impressive features such as Sir Michael Rocks from The Cool Kids, Kendrick Lamar, Freddie Gibbs, Rick Ross, and Too Short. It’s evident that he is well respected by many in the industry and that him and his OpM crew are far from disappearing.
Dom Kennedy: Dec. 8th @ Trees – Dallas, TX –> BUY TIX
Additional Upcoming Shows:
Cypress Hill & Action Bronson – 11/19
Scout Bar — Houston, TX
BUY TICKETS
Devin The Dude – 11/21
Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
BUY TICKETS
Matisyahu - 11/21
Backstage Live – San Antonio, TX
BUY TICKETS
Asher Roth, Chuck Inglish, & Kids These Days – 11/28
Water Street Music Hall – Rochester, NY
BUY TICKETS
Talib Kweli – 12/1
The Mohawk – Austin, TX
BUY TICKETS
Death Grips – 12/05
Casbah – San Diego, CA
BUY TICKETS
Odd Future – 12/07
Emo’s East — Austin, TX
BUY TICKETS
Flying Lotus, Kanye West, Iggy Azalea, & more - 12/08
UR1 Festival – Miami, FL
BUY TICKETS
Upcoming Rochester Shows
Hey Rochester! You guys have shows on shows on SHOWS in the next couple of months. There’s a wide variety ranging from reggae to rap to rock, and more. Check out these must-see artists on our Upcoming Rochester Shows Spotify Playlist that we made just for you.
Like what you hear? Look for the dates of these shows below and buy your tickets before it’s too late.
Umphrey’s McGee – 10/18
Water Street Music Hall – Rochester, NY
BUY TICKETS
SnowMont Music Fest + you
Brrr…. it’s chilly! Well, not here in Austin, Texas but DEFINITELY in Killington, Vermont where the 1st annual SnowMont Music Festival is going down in just a little over a month (March 30 – April 1)!
Imagine it: fresh powder on a clear sunny day, endless hills to ski at your leisure, a lineup of kickass bands and artists to provide the soundtrack to your chilly endeavors. And you can have this, and more at SnowMont this year!
Just to give you a teaser of the greatness, check out this lineup:
Snoop Dogg
DJ Shadow
The Flaming Lips
Big Boi
Chromeo
Diplo
Lotus
Z-Trip
Kid Sister… and loads more!
Don’t miss out on this snowy music-laden winter wonderland experience… Killington, VT… March 30th to April 1st. BE THERE.
Jack Ingram & Hayes Carll play for the kids
Texas country mainstay Jack Ingram and rising star Hayes Carll, an emerging south Texas singer/songwriter, are putting their sultry Texas twangs to good use this February. They will both perform at Grounded in Music‘s annual Gala Fundraiser and Silent Auction on 
Wednesday, February 15th at the Gibson Guitar Showroom.
Grounded in Music is a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring under-privileged children to turn to music as a career, hobby or alternative to life on the streets. All proceeds from the gala event will go towards purchasing musical instruments for under-privileged youth, provide education in musicianship, teach music theory, develop educational scholarships and more.
There are a limited number of pre-party package tickets, which include food and drinks, so nab those tickets while they’re still available! More information about Grounded in Music can be found at www.groundedinmusic.org.
Free Week in Austin
Hey showgoers, party people and live music gurus… Free Week is about to begin! Free Week is a fabulous Austin tradition that runs the first week of January each year. A big handful of participating venues put on rad nightly shows featuring local Austin mainstays. It’s like a mini music festival, but FREE.
Austin Free Week is the perfect opportunity to scope some local bands and talent that you’ve been meaning to check out. Some highlights of the upcoming Free Week are: The Rocketboys, Bad Sports, Whiskey Shivers, Mike Wiebe, Mike and the Moonpies, Guns of Navarone, Frank Smith, Daniel Francis Doyle, Grand Champeen, The Nouns, Golden Boys, Octopus Project, Markov, Brownout and more!
After you stuff your face with holiday fixin’s, leave Grandma at home to snooze and come out to the Free Week party!
Spotify Playlist: Upcoming Shows 11/10
AND here we go… our next installment of the Shows This Week Preview 11/14 Spotify Playlist is up and rockin’. Some of these tracks you may have heard of and already love, and some may be new tasty finds. Take a listen, explore a little… pass it on for more ears to consume!
We’re featuring artists that are performing in the coming week or two (that Front Gate Tickets is ticketing). For more information on when and where these artists are playing simply click the artist name. To listen to the playlist on Spotify, click any of the numerous links in this blog post and it will shoot you right over to the Spotify playlist. It’s a gem, this playlist.
LISTEN > SHARE > REPEAT.
White Ghost Shivers – “Too Damn Old”
Deer Tick – “Let’s All Go to the Bar”
Boris – “Party Boy”
Holy Ghost! – “Some Children”
Black Lips – “Modern Art”
Heartless Bastards – “Sway”
The Jayhawks – “Waiting for the Sun”
Little Scream – “Cannons”
Rebirth Brass Band – “The Dilemma”
The Octopus Project – “Truck”
The Joy Formidable – “Whirring”
The Knux – “I See Stars”
Yip Deceiver – “Obnoxia”
Plaid – “Unbank”
MUST-SEES: Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011
As I drove by Auditorium Shores on this beautiful day, I cursed out my former self for forsaking long-term coolness for the short-term. I thought to myself, if only I went to band camp 11 years ago, I would be opening up FFFFest with a solid 15 minute set, cut short by technical difficulties in front of indifferent crowd hardly acknowledging my sounds and quietly pow-wowing in front of the stage awaiting Lykke Li’s set.
Alas, I didn’t go to band camp. And I’m not playing Fun Fun Fun Fest. But there are a ton of FABULOUS artists who are! Check my must-sees for this weekend’s festivities:
Friday’s headliner should get pretty weird (that’s a good thing). While the electro-pop ensemble straight outta Cambridge haven’t released a full-length since 2009, they have remained relevant with several synth-happy remixes. Be forewarned, although it might be considered a cold night in the eyes of the typical Austinite, leave the coat at home because grooving will be had by all.
What I like:
To Kingdom Come
Undercover Martyn (Passion Pit Remix)
Like Hansel, M83 is so hot right now (insert clever Zoolander quote). Even though they might have sold-out in the eyes of hipsters everywhere with their recent commercial, I’d have to say they took the high road at least in this instance (Victoria’s Secret is not a corporation, right?). Nevertheless, the French band will undoubtedly hold their own Saturday, with their 80s style beats and trance-inducing synthesizers.
What I like:
Run Into Flowers
Year One, One UFO
Merrill Garbus is a boss. How do I know? Well last year at SXSW she put on a show at the French Legation Museum that left me wanting more. Hearing her voice on a track is one thing; in person, she’ll move your very soul. Something so fierce has never sounded so mesmerizing. Know this: the erratic and rhythmic sounds of tUnE-yArDs are here to stay. Don’t be the last one to jump on this bandwagon.
What I like:
Powa
Doorstep
While my appetite for rap music wasn’t what it once was, there’s something about Odd Future that takes me back to genre where getting by didn’t not involve a good hook or beat. Even though I usually stray from something this grotesque, their ludicrous lyrics accented by subtle beats prompt me to climb down the rabbit hole. Maybe I finally understand why those busybodies in horror flicks seek out danger. It’s electrifying! I only hope it’s not deadly.
What I Like:
Orange Juice
Yonkers
- By Richard R., the intern
Live Music Comin’ Up – San Antonio
At Front Gate Tickets we’re all about seeing bands, going to shows and experience live music right smack dab in front of you. If you’ve been hankering to see a new band, we may have the answer… we’ve put together a few live music picks (playing in San Antonio soon!) that we think would be stellar concerts to attend. So don’t be shy, get your dancing pants on and hit up some shows!
SCOTT H. BIRAM, October 27 – Sam’s Burger Joint | BUY TICKETS
Scott H. Biram is the self-proclaimed “Dirty Man Band” and one listen to his music confirms that label. He haphazardly mashes blues, hillbilly, country and gritty punk together into one not-so-neat (and gloriously wonderful because of it) musical package. Accompanied by some crusty amps, even crustier microphones and a mess of intertwining cables he wields his voice and cavalcade of broken-down instruments with abandon. The result is an amalgamation of Southern preacher, dusty Texas cowboy and raucous break-the-rules punkster.
VOXHAUL BROADCAST, October 29 – White Rabbit | BUY TICKETS
This four piece from Orange County, California works hard. Not satisified with the formulaic ho-hum nature of the indie rock industry these days, they ventured to record and mix their debut EP “Rotten Apples” LIVE. In one day. Ambitious to be sure, but it just illustrates their passion for what they do and the experimental nature of their work. Soaring buildups, loose garage-style jams and a driving intensity all culminate to create Voxhaul Broadcast’s large lush sound. Super rockin’ show to be sure!
RA RA RIOT w/Delicate Steve & Yellow Ostrich, November 4 – Backstage Live | BUY TICKETS
Indie rock leanings, and a decidedly sweet string section lofting chamber pop flourishes with abandon, make up the easygoing sound of Syracuse-born (NYC-based) five piece. Earnest and wistful, Ra Ra Riot isn’t exactly as “riotous” as you’d expect. Their songs are pleasing though (reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens calm charm), sentimental at times but intricate in their instrumentation. Sweet AND smart… that’s Ra Ra Riot.
MELT BANANA, November 20 – Jack’s Bar | BUY TICKETS
Melt Banana is not a band for the faint of heart. They’re brutal, immensely fun and surprisingly powerful. Tiny Yasuko O.’s piercing shriek, ripping guitars and their intensely short songs have garnered them a cult following among punk fans in the U.S. and U.K. They’re frenzied and put on a mind-blowing live show. Do not miss their radness!
Live Music Comin’ Up – DFW
Feeling adventurous? Like seeing live music? We’ve put together a few live music picks (playing soon at a venue near you!) that we think will be totally rad showgoing experiences. All from the diverse and uber fun Dallas/Forth Worth, TX area, here are a few of our pics for live entertainment coming up soon. See some live music… have some fun… go out!
BEARFOOT, October 14 – Poor David’s Pub | BUY TICKETS
Bearfoot started one fateful day at summer camp where they all met while wrangling wily out-of-schoolers. A mere two years later the group won the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Band Champions, joining ranks with the likes of the Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek. Like most successful musical groups these days, they mesh many genre influences into their own distinct sound. A little Appalachian Mountain interlude, a sprinkle of American jazz sass and a sparse, yet rich, cool northern air blow through each of their songs, creating rhythmic, sophisticated bluegrass for modern times.
BIG D and the KIDS TABLE, October 14 – Prophet Bar | BUY TICKETS
All brass and hoopla, Big D and the Kids Table are the medicine for your ska fever! Their upbeat multi-instrumental leanings are a direct product of their punk ska influences, like the Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mustard Plug, Less Than Jake, Anti-Flag and more. They’ve done the Warp Tour and opened for the biggest punk and ska masters of our time since 1995. They will descend upon Prophet Bar with their Boston attitudes and funky stylee… don’t miss them!
THE WAR ON DRUGS w/Purling Hiss, October 17 – Bryan St. Tavern | BUY TICKETS
The War on Drugs, once helmed by Kurt Vile, hail from Philadelphia, PA. They’ve gone through many roster changes, but their aesthetic remains the same: sweeping atmospheric breakdowns, meandering melodies, spacey drowsiness and a spot-on Americana backbone. Conjuring opposites Bob Dylan and My Bloody Valentine in shockingly equal amounts, The War On Drugs are an ideal accompaniment to rainy gray drives and crafty nights in. They exude a sprawling vintage vibe, modern-seeming yet rooted in something so dusty and old. Lo-fi Psych Philly natives Purling Hiss start the night off right.
A.A. Bondy, November 12 – Prophet Bar | BUY TICKETS
A.A. Bondy (Auguste Arthur Bondy) used to front grunge darlings Verbena, but after several years of musical rethinking and some songwriting/recording in an old barn outside his house in upstate New York, A.A. Bondy was born. His signature is less aggressive, and WAY more relaxed these days, most closely labeled as indie folk (but so much more, really). On his new release, “Believers”, you hear the stripped-down and weary sound he encompasses. Sometimes ethereal and wistful, often earthy and bittersweet, A.A. Bondy’s words are a shot straight to the soul.
