From 'A Very Homie Holiday' to books about Central Texas: Gifts for the Austin music lover
“A Very Homie Holiday,” the new collection from Resound Presents, Austin’s premiere indie music production agency, is a sparkling roundup of festive faves and jingling originals played by Austin club regulars. With lilting accordion, soulful crooning and the occasional distorted guitar or plaintive violin, the 14-track album bustles with goodwill and cheer. It also doubles as an introduction to the scene, for newbies and folks who are Austin music curious but not sure where to jump in.
Austin music fans can add local spirit to their holiday playlists when the compilation hits streaming services on Dec. 1.
And if you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for the music lover or new Austinite on your list, consider snapping up the limited edition vinyl ($25). Only 500 copies were pressed on gold speckled vinyl, and you can skip the gift wrap as it's packaged in a premium sleeve embossed with gold foil. All proceeds from the album will benefit Free Lunch ATX, an organization started by local musicians that provides homemade meals and other support to neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.
From 2020: Austin musicians create Free Lunch to feed homeless people
A holiday postcard from underground Austin
Resound Presents creative director Ian Orth — who covers “Last Christmas” with his band Orthy on the compilation — has been dreaming of this indie Christmas for over a decade. Last year, Gab Soong, who was working as a creative events director at Resound, took the project on as “her baby,” he says. Beginning in September, she worked alongside Jane Palacios, another staffer, to solicit contributions and compile the collection.
They reached out to artists that Resound works with regularly and pored through a list of bands who responded to the “Who’s The Opener?” submission form on their website. Most of the artists they contacted jumped at the opportunity to participate.
While there are a few familiar names — R&B heavy Mélat covers Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas,” and rising indie pop crew TC Superstar reimagines the meaning of the season in the original track “Baby Santa” — the roster is largely a snapshot of underground Austin.
“I think it's important to kind of show off some of the younger talent that is making up the Austin music scene and I think that often gets overlooked,” Orth says.
“It's our friends and our people that we go out to see at (Hotel) Vegas or Empire or Mohawk. That's what makes it so special,” says Marissa Macias, another Resound staffer who worked on the project.
More: The 12 days of Christmas music: How to sing along to your favorite carols in Austin
From a bluegrass Christmas to a rap 'Burrito Sabanero’
While the Resound crew imagined the project as a compilation of holiday faves, they were impressed by how many artists wanted to write their own songs.
Palacios is proud of the album’s diversity. “We tried to show off how many different genres are being played (in Austin),” she says.
On one of her favorite tracks, CHROMA, from Dallas, does a fuzzed out rap take on the classic Mexican Christmas song, “Mi Burrito Sabanero.” The album also features Texas String Project’s down home original “My Bluegrass Christmas Tree” and a haunted cover of “My Favorite Things,” from Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band.
As each song came in, Orth became more impressed by the overall quality of the work. Given the enthusiastic response to the project, he expects the current release will be volume one of an ongoing series.
The album is a gift to the community, but also to the artists themselves. Some of these bands are not yet able to release their own product and will be “compiled with their peers’ bands on a physical pressing,” Macias says.
“The one thing that was really special was the amount of people that were like, ‘We've always wanted to do a holiday song or holiday album. This is perfect. Now it's not just my thing. It's like our community thing,'” Palacios says.
Grab the album on vinyl ($25) or as a digital download ($7) at resoundpresents.bandcamp.com. A limited number of copies will be available at Austin record stores and at the Resound Holiday Formal at the Mohawk on Dec. 14.
MORE AUSTIN ALBUMS FOR THE MUSIC LOVER ON YOUR LIST
Black Pumas 'Chronicles of a Diamond'
“More Than a Love Song,” the first single from the follow up to the Pumas’ self-titled debut, is up for a Grammy Award for best rock performance. Expect more acclaim for the Pumas next year when the full collection of instant classics is eligible for awards. The limited edition black and silver vinyl is sold out, but you can still get the album on clear vinyl ($26) or CD ($12) at blackpumas.bandcamp.com. Also, drop by the band's merch store for tees, hats, crewnecks, fanny packs and more. ($35 and up. blackpumas.com)
More: Why Black Pumas' new album 'Chronicles of a Diamond' is an obvious Grammy contender
Explosions in the Sky 'End'
CDs of the band’s latest release — not their final album, they have clarified — are sold out, but you can buy the album on black vinyl ($25), pink vinyl ($30) or cassette ($10). There’s also a two LP vinyl anniversary version of “The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place” ($35), and a bundle that also includes a T-shirt and an anniversary edition of “Those Who Tell the Truth” ($80). (explosionsinthesky.bandcamp.com)
Shakey Graves 'Movie of the Week'
Visit shakeygraves.com/movieoftheweek to use the “movie generator” to create a custom version of Alejandro Rose-Garcia’s latest project, or pick up the “Director’s Cut” on black ($26) or limited edition blue ($30) vinyl. He also has shirts, sweatshirts and onesies (aww) for $20 and up.
Blk Odyssey 'Diamonds and Freaks'
Spend Christmas cozying up with your boo with this peach emoji of an album that pushes the envelope on bedroom burners. $34.98 double vinyl, 11.98 CD. (blkodyssy.com)
Jackie Venson 'Ghost in the Machine' or 'Evolution of Joy'
Venson calls her latest, “Ghost,” a do-over of her 2020 release “Vintage Machine” ($10 digital, $15 CD or $45 double vinyl). Earlier this year, she dropped “Evolution of Joy” a remake of her album “Joy” ($20 CD, $45 double vinyl). (jackievenson.bandcamp.com)
Wild Child 'End of the World'
The folk-rockers’ latest is their first new release in five years. You can snag it on clear green vinyl ($19.98) or CD ($11.98). Don’t sleep on the cute logo socks ($16) and the cartoon cat caps ($20) in their merch store. (hellomerch.com/collections/wild-child)
A Giant Dog 'Bite'
The band’s first release since 2017 is a loosely structured concept album set in the fictional world of “Avalonia,” a dystopian world that resembles our own. The album is available on vinyl ($22.98-$23.98) or CD ($12.98). There’s also an album logo tee ($20). (agiantdog.bandcamp.com)
Urban Heat 'Wellness'
Jonathan Horstmann’s dark synth breakout stormed TikTok and the world last year. Grab a deluxe LP version of the album on vinyl ($30) or CD ($13) on the group’s bandcamp page, urbanheat.bandcamp.com/merch. Over on their website, you can snag a “Like This” hoodie ($43.50) and corduroy cap ($28.50). (urbanheatband.myshopify.com)
Pleasure Venom 'Rebirth/Return'
The debut full-length album from the Austin punks barrels through your consciousness like a freight train powered by machine guns. Grab it on vinyl ($25) or cassette or CD ($12). The band also has several excellent tees for sale ($15-$20). (pleasurevenom.bandcamp.com)
More: Pleasure Venom drops explosive debut "Rebirth/Return"
Die Spitz
The vinyl version of their debut “Evangeline” is sold out, but the breakout punks have an excellent selection of graphic tees, like the “Nice But Brutal” logo shirt featuring sinister fairies ($29.95) and a logo beanie ($23.95). (diespitzstore.com)
BOOKS ABOUT CENTRAL TEXAS MUSIC
‘A Curious Mix of People: The Underground Scene of '90s Austin'
The new book from longtime Austin Chronicle writer Greg Beets and documentarian Richard Whymark takes the reader deep into Austin’s underground music scene in the 1990s, exploring the soundtrack of the city as it transformed from a sleepy college town to a booming metropolis.
Culled from hours of interviews with notable artists like the Butthole Surfer’s King Coffey and Spoon’s Britt Daniel alongside industry figures and underground champs, the book takes the reader on a deep dive into the ramshackle DIY scenes that birthed the ethos of the city’s music community. Notable stops along the way include warm recollections of Johnny Cash’s iconic Emo’s performance, life advice from Miss Laura, the queen of the rowdy gay/transgender punk dive Blue Flamingo, and a hang at the beloved lesbian bar Chances.
Along with colorful tales, the book features posters, fliers and zines from the era. $27.95. (acuriousmixofpeople.com)
More books about Texas music
Here are a few other great reads that will give insight into the history of music in the Lone Star State to you or the music lover on your list.
“All I Ever Wanted (A Rock ‘n’ Roll Memoir)” by Kathy Valentine
“All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music” by Michael Corcoran
“Janis: Her Life and Music” by Holly George Warren
“DJ Screw: A Life in Slow Revolution” by Lance Scott Walker
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Holiday gifts for Austin music lovers: Black Pumas, 1990s scene, more
