This is what dreams are made of.

It's the most The Secret-like moment I've ever had in my life!

A) I discover kickass Austin band The Happen-Ins on the radio,

B) I blog about them,

C) I make a fool out of myself in front of one of them,

D) We take pictures together at Pixel Pop!

Couldn't have asked for a better manifestation of the universe, there.

Except for a picture with this cutie pie.

Candace Carlisle, you are such a freakin' hottie. Thank you again for putting on an amazing bash last Friday!

We're lucky to have the caliber of party planners we do here in Austin, Texas, non?

Psst - speaking of parties. You coming to the Bleet-Up tonight?  I hear it's the place to be!

Valet parking for all arrivals, so just pull up, hop out, and let the good folks at Four Seasons take care of you. 

Did I tell you Kohana Coffee is going to be there, sampling their Cold Brew?  Basically, you're going to flip out.  It's oh-so delicious, and this is coming from a bonafide coffee connoisseur (re: addict).

can't wait to see you guys!

Secret's Out: Hollywood Gossip releases Dear as Diamonds this Saturday.

People!

What are you doing on Saturday night? Hanging out with me!

If you live in Austin, that is. That's because I'm going to Hollywood Gossip's CD release party at Ghost Room, and I don't have to ask you twice if you'll be there.

Hollywood Gossip is about to release their new album Dear as Diamonds, and were kind enough to let me sample it. Here's a review I wrote up for Launch787, and I'm re-posting it below. You can enjoy the whole album here, and be sure to check out Republic of Austin's astute review.

As for me? Y'all, I threw a private dance party for one in my car when I got this CD in the mail. Here's my review!

review: dear as diamonds

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Morrissey woke up one day super-happy, kidnapped The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy in an energetic fit of delight, and flew the both of them down to Austin to throw a house party with Voxtrot?

Of course you do. That’s why we have Austin’s four-piece Hollywood Gossip to thank, for their upcoming Dear as Diamonds album (drops June 19) is all of those things.

I listened to Dear as Diamonds on a sunny weekend, head-bopping along in my car, and pulled out some favorites. While you can sample the album in its entirety here and join the band for its no-doubt packed CD release show at Ghost Room on Saturday, June 19, here are three singular bits of Hollywood Gossip goodness that I personally recommend:

#4, “I Can Be Right:” A sexy, syncopated, Strokes-like tune that contains the album’s namesake. “The lights shown from the stage / and when they caught your face / you seemed as dear as diamonds.” Swoon. Swoon times 1,000.

#9, “Worst Day:” A hand-clap-happy flashback about a good kid who fesses up to…something, while his partner-in-crime lies and gets off scot free. Who hasn’t been there? When I listen to this song, I don’t know whether to dance or punch someone in the face. Probably stick with dancing.

#12: “All That I Want:” Ladies, are you married? If not, you’ll want this to be your future wedding song. TRUST. Cory Ryan trades her big bad bass for a sweet ukelele, and the result is gentle gorgeoussity. No, gorgeoussity is not a word. I don’t care and neither will you when you hear this song. When frontman Tyler Womack croons, “Ooh you’re all that I want, you’re all that I need,” your hipster heart will shed away its hard, hard irony and melt into a pool of shimmering love tears. Tears of joy, that is.

see you saturday at the show!

Mark your calendars! June 10: Ultra8201's birthday.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I have been TERRIBLE about doing regular music posts lately. Probably because Austin Eavesdropper now has a "music editor" who does the work for me!

But this one's personal. (Hope that doesn't sound too Mafia.) As such, I'm posting ahead of schedule so you will make a note on your phone, your hand, anywhere, about this show NOW:

Richard Gonzales, the founder of kick-ass local music blog Ultra8201, is ringing in his birthday next week. L.A.X. is headlining, and their brand spankin' new music video for "Fakin' It" is posted below.

If you're an Austinite, you gotta LOVE the lyric "you came to 7th street to brawl? Uh-uh!"


God, how cute are those girls? And don't you dig the fun production?

I really do think L.A.X is one of those bands that's going to be a little bit famous, like the national kind of famous, one of these days.

Also...dudes. Have you ever met Richard in person? He is hands-down one of the most humble, down-to-earth people I have ever met, despite being ridiculously talented.  If you know Richard in real life then you know what I'm talking about.

Ultra8201 and The (late) Famousish were the first two music blogs I started reading when I moved back to Austin in 2007, and eventually Richard and I got to be good buddies. The show photos on his blog are like a magazine, and the site itself is shockingly organized.  Plus, he and Joel (co-Ultra8201 blogger) make it a point to eat dinner at Golden Corral right before any big-time music show ... for the sake of "keeping it real."

"You have to keep things in balance," he explained to me, once. "We go to the one north of Rundberg."

So awesome.

Anyway, you can see why I can't help but tackle him this man a hug every time I see him!  Speaking of which, here is a kind of hilarious photo from a few months ago of Richard and I, mid-hug. Except it looks like Richard is trying to kidnap me.