PONG

Materializing out of the fog machine with 2001's Killer Lifestyle, one of America's great post-punk spawn, Austin's Ed Hall, added keys, a second guitar, and gave itself a New Millennium makeover: Pong. Fun replaced fury with funky, a lithe, robotic bounce – They Might Be Giants as opposed to Trance Syndicate. Twenty grand later, the video soundtrack to Killer Lifestyle's "Bubble Jungle" has ballooned into Bubble City, early android beefed up with Man or Astro-Man? And like Ed Hall's 1995 swan song, La La Land, this sequel never betters its opener, "Killer Lifestyle."

Sharp scales peel off into the broiling underbelly of bassist Larry Strub and Lyman Hardy's bedrock drums, up from which Shane Shelton's synthesizer burps lava lamp bubbles. Guitarists Gary Chester and Jason Craig zigzag it together with spidery weaves. Behold the first Red River anthem of 2005: "He's a real smooth talker, he drinks Johnny Walker. He says, 'Gimme Johnny Walker and water without the water.' He says, 'This is the killer lifestyle.'" Does he ever. "He say, 'Get into my limo, I really like your demo, it's snowing in July, and now inside it's raining bimbos.' He talk a walkie-talkie, he fly a helicopter. The best seats in the house like he's the Phantom of the Opera, singing, 'This is the killer lifestyle.'" A total bore, you know him well. "He's a fake punk rocker, he gets baked like Betty Crocker. He makes lots and lots of money, but prefers to eat a Whopper. He says, 'This is the killer lifestyle.'" At the end, cascading melodies fall like rain in the biosphere. Brings a tear to your eye.

The calliope intro to "Secret Meat" and space needling riffs don't miss a beat next, herky-jerky skeleton riffs à la Oingo Biongo. Batting third, the other hit is the Seventies cowbell intro and Grand Funk of "Interpol," aka "Interpol boogie," automated vocals et al. The rest of Bubble City never quite measures up to its lead-off trio of songs, but at 37 minutes, it cuts 12 minutes of flab off the debut and is as lean as fluorescent body paint. To its considerable credit, Bubble City's bob and bounce shore up nominal tunes better than any band has a right; Strub/Hardy are indie rock's Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson. More Seventies ("The Owl") and a pastoral instrumental ("After School Special") give way to closer "Finally," a goof about Led Zeppelin's cutting tape (complete with Darkness/Young Heart Attack outro). Just as Houses of the Holy didn't include its namesake, Killer Lifestyle saved its best and brightest for Bubble City. This is the "Killer Lifestyle." - The Austin Chronicle

Moving Matter, the enigmatic Austin, TX-based rock and jam outfit,  have released their 3rd full length album in 2007.  "Live at Grego's" is a 2-disc showcase of the band's raw, live power, unmatched improvisation, and noteworthy songwriting abilities. Since completing their 4-piece lineup early this year with keyboardist Dustin Bozarth, the band has steadily built on 2006's momentum that included raging performances at Camp Bisco V, and Austin's ATX Fest.

Since relocating to the musical mecca of Austin from Ft. Collins, CO in 2003, the band has steadily progressed, continuing to hone its high-energy sound, and frequently garnering praise and comparisons to such acts as Sound Tribe Sector 9, Phish, and Particle. Bassist Chris Holland (deep pocket grooves) and guitarist Josh Pearson (soaring leads) share most of the song-writing duties, while drummer Dan Mcgreevy captains the ship with his rock-steady beats.  Bozarth on keys has rounded out the sound with lush synth textures and screaming hammond organ.

Moving Matter's previous LP, "Infrablue" revealed the crafty songwriting and studio prowess that the band had found in recent years, but it is undoubtedly late at night, under the lights and in the smoky bars where Moving Matter creates its magic.  Swimming the uncharted waters of live improvisation, the band has a knack for creating powerful music that is undeniably in tune with the present moment and teeming with the energy of those who bear witness from the audience.  At their club gigs, its not uncommon to see the band rock into the wee hours, long past last call, as crowds refuse to let the party end and bar managers get sucked into whirling sounds and good vibes of the band.

Moving Matter has shared the stage with such artists as The Disco Biscuits, The Roots, Thievery Corporation, Sound Tribe Sector Nine, Tea Leaf Green, Little Feat, Particle, Tony Furtado, Brothers Past, and Big Head Todd & the Monsters. MM has rocked the stages of The Fox Theatre in Boulder, Antone's and the infamous Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, the Granada Theater in Dallas, and Wakarusa Music Festival in Kansas.

BoomBox (Muscle Shoals, AL)

BoomBox is Producer/Engineer/DJ/Drummer Russ Randolph and Producer/DJ/Vocalist/Guitarist Zion Rock Godchaux. This pair of dynamic artists uses their rich musical history and their vision of music and popular culture to deliver a style of music distinctly different from anything heard or seen in music today. This signature sound and show brings live music to a new, elevated level. BoomBox evolved through the common visualization of two forward-thinking artists from diverse musical backgrounds. Raised by supportive and musically inclined parents, both Godchaux and Randolph had an obsession with music at very young ages. Godchaux, who grew up with deeply embedded rock and roll roots, began playing drums at the age of two, and played guitar and wrote his own songs as a teen. During the 90s, Godchaux was a well-received touring DJ based out of the San Francisco area. Randolph began as a young drummer, but it’s what was happening behind the scenes that attracted him most. As much producers as they are musicians, it is Randolph’s understanding of soundscape and Godchaux’s knack for songwriting that keeps BoomBox resonating at higher levels.