Song of the Day KUT & KUTX Studios

Yesterday was the summer solstice, not that you’d be able to tell with how grey and rainy it was. So to complement this week’s inclement weather, we’re getting a little foggy this Friday. And that’s on behalf of Fogwood.







Down to three members from the original four we heard on Fogwood’s eponymous 2022 debut, this Austin outfit lets their multi-instrumental imagination run loose with players alternating between guitar, keys, synth, mellotron, cello, and theremin. In doing so, Fogwood almost obscures who’s playing what and when, which is ultimately an ideal for their meditative, transformative, and free associative electronic instrumental arrangements.







Well, just in time for the summer solstice, Fogwood and the celestial elements aligned with the release of their sophomore full-length Inner Chambers yesterday. True to its title, Inner Chambers is a cavern-deep sonic experience that expands more than you may expect, albeit with no tight squeezes spoiling transitions between the seven intriguing tunes. They’re all great. They’re all weird. And they’ll all fill you with a feeling of awe. But we’ll give a special shoutout to Inner Chambers‘ centerpiece “The Mystic Valley” for its percussion-less, Philip Glass-esque arpeggios and atmospheric pads that almost sound like a cut track from the Koyaanisqatsi soundtrack.

In the casual hookup community, even lovers with the highest body counts (especially those outside cis-hetero norms) might agree; it’s not size, shape, presence, or lack of specific anatomical features that make the biggest impression after the act. No, the quality of your “bits” may actually come second to a sense of enthusiasm when turning what could’ve been a vapid interaction into an unforgettable encounter. You know…”the motion of the ocean” and all that.







Sorry. We’re not trying to give anyone the ick. We just needed a little foreplay before introducing you to Subpar Snatch. First off, “Supbar Snatch” ain’t a bait-and-switch…like if a middle aged man named Richard were to go by “Mid Dick”; check their labian logo lest you misinterpret the band’s handle. Secondly, this Austin ménage à trois of mania and talent has managed to standout in the turbulent world of punk and garage shows which, whether in liminal concrete spaces or on sticky dive bar stages, are usually messy encounters full of technical missteps, sloppy techniques, hair getting caught in things, and performances so short they often climax before the crowd’s hardly half-cocked.







Haven’t slid into Subpar Snatch live in concert yet? Let ’em satisfy you this Pride Month with a gig next Wednesday at Still Austin Whiskey Co. for Gay Heat: Benefit for Equality Texas and a single and music video release show 11:30PM tomorrow night at Chess Club, with openers Sunspite at 10 and Bat Lips at 10:45, plus closers Hell Fury a quarter past midnight. And that new single, “Juicy Booty” is one of the trio’s most aggressive and accessible to date. With a pristine mix that preserves that in-garage gusto, a start-and-stop instrumental riff that’ll make you pull something in the pit, a half time bridge breakdown that edges towards a big finish, and individual intensities that layer together perfectly, “Juicy Booty” is a succulent, stimulating testament to what makes this three-piece anything but subpar…and why denying naughty song titles is plain asinine.

Happy Juneteenth! While it’s now a national holiday, it’s always been a celebration here in Texas, where historically Black hubs like Houston were notified of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War’s end later than the rest of the states.







And it’s Houston that gave us our July 2021 Artist of the Month Daniel Fears. We’ve already gushed about Daniel a ton, chiefly around his Frank Ocean-esque vocals, sophisticated sense of liquid R&B sonics, and seamless transitions between trombone and piano. These days Daniel’s a household name all on his own, but that couldn’t’ve happened without all his time spent as brass-for-hire in the neo-classical circuit.







That neo-classical element recently had a real full circle moment with the release of Close To Home a couple weeks back. Recorded live at KMFA’s Draylon Mason Music Studio, this six-song session presents Fears’ passionate compositions in an unforgettable, all-acoustic and unplugged orchestral way, one that simultaneously emphasizes Daniel’s individual talents as well as the importance of thorough, thoughtful arrangements. Well, just in time for Juneteenth, there’s a screening of If They Took Us Back (the score for which Daniel contributed to) alongside a special solo concert appearance 7PM tonight at The Paramount Stateside.







That said, if the high chance of thunderstorms has you considering couch lock for this evening, transport the Draylon Mason Music Studio to your living room stereo with the Close To Home cut of “Home”. Because everyone has the right to feel at home, no matter who they are.

We’re right at Pride Month’s midpoint, so just as a refresher: no matter how you identify, be proud of yourself! At the same time, it’s worth acknowledging our place in a progressive city, a quarter century into the 21st, because not every Queer person’s been blessed with those privileges; more often than not, it’s a real struggle for acceptance that ends with the ostracized eventually splitting town.







Like, look at singer-songwriter-pianist Luke Smith. After spending time in Seattle with outfits like St. Yuma and Westmoreland, Smith has cemented himself within our city limits, where he (with the help of his backing trio) dropped his debut LP The World Is Such a Beautiful Place a month back. Not the biggest transition in terms of migrating between musical hubs, but growing up Queer in rural Oklahoma was obviously a much different story.







And as a matter of fact, that was the basis for Smith’s own fictional retelling of events, “Jimmy”. Wrapping up the The World…‘s first act, “Jimmy” maintains the LP’s mellow keyboard core and sense of cautious optimism against oppressive realities, in this case delivered from the perspective of an estranged sibling. It’s a poignant addition to an already-powerful album and a beautifully bleak interpretation of how much pain can come from a loss of belonging.







So remember, make others feel welcome around you. Otherwise you might end up making them leave. And there’s no need to put extra pain on anyone else’s plate in this perfectly flawed planet.

In the world of singers, acting cutesy doesn’t necessarily negate sophistication. Like, we’ve seen a lot of success in going north of mere infantile novelty and co-opting that puppy love naivety in a way that’s accessible to all age groups. And while we can point to a major movement of such with jazz-pop hits from the ’40s through ’60s, it’s especially true post-Ariana Grande’s impact on our modern musical environment.







Just ask Alexi 8bit. This Austin multi-instrumentalist-producer just wrapped up last month with her sophomore EP Softy. Between Alexi’s pink dress, ribbons in hair, and oversized teddy bear on the album artwork and track titles like “Dreaming From My Childhood Bed”…yeah…there’s some extremely girly energy engulfing Softy on first glance. But past that surface level aesthetic, when you actually sit down and listen to this thing, it’s clear that no one other than a grown ass person could accomplish something so mature. I mean you can’t score an ongoing residency at Fairmont Austin’s Room 725 lounge without having ample class, right?







And you don’t have to identify any which way to be moved by Softy‘s five-song selection either. So before you celebrate Pride Month with Alexi and the full 8bit band on Sunday, June 30th at Cheer Up Charlie’s, kick back with the cool keys, expertly-executed vocals, bear-hug-big harmonies, and comforting lyrical company of the Norah Jones-esque “You Don’t Have to Be Alone Anymore”.







I’m not crying; you’re crying.

Depending on who you ask – a coworker, a friend, or a family member – they’ll all have slightly different takes on your “character” based on previous interactions and observations. But what about those parts of our identities that never reach the surface? Those personality traits that stay buried deep within us?







Well, we won’t pretend to be experts on your psyche. But we will point to some folks who are fascinated with those covert personas. And that’s Molecular Steve. Don’t be fooled by the name; it’s not a solo act. Instead, what started off as a father-son endeavor has expanded into the Austin nine-piece it is today, full of close knit bonds compounded by a shared creative drive. And while this atomic family affair’s still in a fledgling phase, you wouldn’t be able to tell just from the caliber of their existing material.







Following up last month’s introduction “Heavens to Betsy”, today Molecular Steve takes another small step towards their eponymous fourteen-track full-length, set for release July 19th. All about unearthing those beasts within, Molecular Steve‘s second lead single (and music video) “Wolfman” is a sonic silver bullet that pierces through bluesy layers of cosmic Americana and indie psychedelia.







Howl yeah, Steve. Put us down for a spot in the microscopic pack.