Sound On Sound Day Two – Pouya, Big Boi, Beach House

With little to no rain, the sun trying to break through the clouds, and festival attendees pouring through the gates, day two proved another successful day in the forest. There were three artist particularly on my radar for Saturday, including Pouya, Big Boi, and Beach House.

Starting at the Forest Stage for the second day in a row, I was shocked to find somewhat of a bleak crowd formed around the stage. From behind the speakers and light fixtures, and tall lanky white boy emerged onto the stage with the beat following. Pouya performed songs “Growing Pains” and “Energy 2,” which embody a lot of what kids these days are calling “hype.” Towards the end of his performance he told the crowd, “don’t sing, just mosh,” so with body parts flying around in the front, and people bumpin’ in the back, the show came to an end.

unspecified-17.jpg
Photo: Charles Hackleman

The next performer on my radar was Big Boi, a rapper best known for being a member of the hip hop duo Outkast, alongside Andre 3000. We’ve all shaken it like a polaroid picture once or twice, but Saturday night I was ready to get down and boogie. Unfortunately, Big Boi conquered the stage later than scheduled, but the wait was well worth it. He performed songs from his duo Outkast including, “B.O.B,” “The Way You Move,” and my personal favorite, “Mrs. Jackson.”

In addition to Big Boi’s notable work with Outkast, he played songs from his collaborative work with Phantogram, titled Big Grams. Although Phantogram was at the festival on day one, Big Boi performed their songs “Lights On” and “Fell In The Sun” solo. During the infectiously catchy song “Drum Machine” the crowd was bouncing, twerking, and shaking what their mama’s gave em’. The energy from the crowd out of control, and it was awesome.

unspecified-19
Photo: Jackie Young

Lastly and slightly later than scheduled, Beach House took the stage. Despite the anxious fans waiting, there’s nothing better than the moment you close your eyes and hear a sea of voices chattering go silent before cheering on an artist to take the stage. The base crept in, and with a steady beat, and the strings of guitars chiming in, Beach House took the stage opening with “Wild.” Beach House embodies a very melodic and soothing sound in many of their songs, creating a wonderful concert experience during songs like “Myth” and “10 Mile Radio.” With lots of swaying and subtle movements around the crowd, the show had a kind of feeling you’d experience while listening to a lullaby. It was breath taking.

Sound On Sound Day One – Clipping, Denzel Curry, Run the Jewels

Sound on Sound Fest’s first day of music was packed with talent and high energy performances. Making my way through the mystical Sherwood Forest, I saw performances by Clipping, Denzel Curry, and Run the Jewels. Can you tell I was ready for some rap?

Starting at the Forest Stage, titled due to it’s placement around tall beautiful trees, Clipping, an experimental hip hop artist was about to take the stage. With sounds of electronic music and quick thoughtful raps, the beats and energy from this guy we’re very pronounced. During his songs “Wake Up” and “Wriggle,” the crowd was groovin’ to the beat, despite how scattered the sounds may have seemed. Some songs we’re so top loaded with different melodies, it was almost hard to keep up dancing, but all in all it was a wild performance.

unspecified-6
Photo: Reagan Hacklmen
unspecified-8
Photo: Reagan Hacklmen

 

As I continued my ventures in the forest, I found myself lost trying to find The Keep stage, where rapper Denzel Curry was gearing up to take the stage. Once I floated around the festival, lost in thought, music, tents, and a sea of magical people, I finally found it. Like many rap shows, the energy from the crowd was rowdy, and Curry was there to light up the night. Before performing his hit “Ultimate,” he asked the kids in the crowd to get on stage, and for the ladies to step out from the middle of the crowd, so a wall of death could be formed. In other words, it was time to mosh, and mosh they did.

unspecified-5
Photo: Chad Wadsworth

To finish my night off with one last rap performance, I saw Run the Jewels. With it being their first show in a month, they we’re ready to party. Unfortunately, the sound went out on the first song, but that didn’t stop Killer Mike and El-P from bouncing around the stage in front of the crowd. Once realizing what happened, they requested the volume be turned up “louder than legal” so the party could continue. With songs like “Blockbuster Night Part 1,” “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck),” and “Lie, Cheat, Steal,” the crowd was headbanging and throwing their bodies around to the heavy beats. If you’ve never experienced a Run the Jewels show and you have the chance, I highly recommend you go jam with these guys. They’ll make you dance your socks off.

Sound On Sound Fest Day One – Setting the Stage

On November 4th, the first day of a new festival, Sound on Sound Fest, kicked off it’s inaugural year in the magical Sherwood Forest. Day one had an excellent line up, highlighting some of my favorite acts including, Clipping, Denzel Curry, Empress Of, Run the Jewels, and Phantogram. However, the fans we’re the real stars of the fest.

The attendees of Sound on Sound are amongst some of the most dedicated festival fans I’ve had the pleasure to fest with. Despite the weather, these people came with open minds, a raincoat, boots, and a tent, to set up camp for the weekend, while others embark on an hour long journey from the city each day.

Prior to the fest, many fans showed concern about the transition from Fun Fun Fun Fest, to this new mysterious festival in the woods. However, I found many attendees blown away with the new venue and set up of the festival.

At a glance, the fest lays on the grounds where an annual renaissance fair is held, so castles turned into stages, and marketplaces turned into eateries. While the map may seem a little spread out and confusing at times, the walk between attractions can be very mystic and mesmerizing with light embellishments hanging from trees, and unused renaissance attractions you can hang out by, like houses, chapels, and fountains. There’s even multiple interactive games to play between your favorite shows! The festival also posses a designated “sober space” where you can kick back before furthering your adventures around the festival.

One of the most respected attributes of the festival was due to the spread out nature of it, which enhanced the quality of each individual stage by allowing enough space between stages, so artists can jam to their full potential without hearing other performers around the fest.

Now, on to day two for another magical day in the forest…see you there!

 

Sound On Sound Fest 2016: Late Knights Schedule Announced

Sound On Sound Fest recently announced their schedule for the Late Knight shows that will go on each night after the festival. These  post-festival shows are great for if you have schedule conflicts during the fest, so you can still see all of your favorite performers. If you want to start planning ahead, check out the venues and schedule below. All shows will be free to anyone with an official Sound On Sound Fest wristband. If you don’t have one yet, snag one here.

14695315_351998335149710_7964925782647401461_nIf you’re anxious for the fest or the Late Knight shows, I highly recommend you check out the Sound on Sound Fest kickoff parties. On November 3rd,  multiple performances will be held at five different venues around Austin, TX, and will also be free to anyone with an official Sound On Sound Fest wristband. I know we’re all stoked to get to the festival, so to ease the wait, hit up the festival pre-game and check out the schedule below!

14955872_356974597985417_1116536926284286188_n-1In addition to the Late Knights and pre-fest celebrations, the creative minds behind the festival have also generously developed an app for a smooth festival experience. The app contains all the set times, a festival map, festival vendor information, and more! The app is available in the App Store as well as Google Play. See you out there!

SOS! Sound On Sound Fest 2016

Festival Season is alive and thriving…The festival that’s currently on my radar is somewhat of the new kid on the block, Sound on Sound Fest! The festival will feature a wide variety of musical guests for fans of all genre types, as well as stand-up comedy, panels, camping, and art. Check out the lineup below to see what notable acts will be visiting Austin the weekend of November 4-6.

14729348_347414442274766_409171699739575412_n

To explain why Sound on Sound is “somewhat of a new kid on the block, is because it’s replacing a festival that used to run on the same weekend in November called Fun Fun Fun Fest. Transmission Events put on Fun Fun Fun Fest for ten years straight. However, with management debacles regarding the Fun Fun Fun festival, management split and manager Graham Williams started a new company, Margin Walker Presents.

Margin Walker Presents is now hosting Sound on Sound Fest November 4-6 in Austin, TX, at the Sherwood Forrest. We’ve fortunately been presented with a new festival and a new venue! Although Fun Fun Fun fest is no longer a thing, I believe the heart and soul of the festival will be carried on, and I can’t wait to find out for myself! Join me at the festivals inaugural year by grabbing passes here. Also, with the official festival schedule recently being released, check out the set times below so you don’t miss your favorite acts!

SoS_3Day_Schedule FINAL.png

See you there!

 

Jo’s Cafe

What’s up with the little blue house on the corner of North and Mary Street?

The brightly colored house sits on a small hill, with a surrounding patio out front. Once inside, it almost feels like walking into someone’s home with a few dining chairs accompanied by small tables, a couch, wall paintings, and a chef whipin’ it up in the kitchen.

Jo’s Café posses a lengthy menu of specialty coffees, teas, and other drinks. If you’re hungry or have the munchies, they also serve up breakfast anytime and lunch after 11am.

With this week consisting of National Taco Day—unfortunately a day I missed celebrating—I took it upon myself to seek out some tacos today!

Not wanting to travel far due to the unexpected and terrifying occurrences of last nights chainsaw carrying clown running the streets of San Marcos, I figured it’d be safe to stay close to home, and walked over to the neighborhood coffee house.

Being from Austin, I have a slight obsession with breakfast tacos, so it wasn’t just the fact I missed National Taco Day, I was also just really in the mood for a taco. I’m pretty sure tacos stand for something like, “terribly addictive choice of snack,” but hey, maybe that’s just me.

Even if you’re not in Austin, it is still possible to find a bangin’ breakfast taco. Here at the little blue house, I promise you will. You can get creative and choose all your desired ingredients, so stop in a give it a try if you’ve been having breakfast taco withdrawals like me.

Meet Toyosi

Toyosi Oyelola, the mind and matter behind the blog, “Unmapped Territory,” is the star of today’s story. With me being a newbie in the blog world, I thought I would share with you my biggest inspiration when it comes to posting.

Oyelola and I attended NYOS Charter School in Austin, TX, where we both graduated in 2015. Since our time at the institution and beyond, I’ve watched Oyelola grow into the successful young women she is today. Oyelola is a current student at New York Univeristy and is perusing the life of business and entrepreneurship.

Oyelola’s blog, “Unmapped Territory,” is explained by her as, “a place for me to share everything from the clothes on my body to the thoughts in my head.” This typically entails posts on topics such as New York City, music, photography, college, life, and of course, style! She stated she, “believes in the power of bright lipstick,” but I think her power lies within. She can make coffee cups, boots, and accessories look good on their own, and is confident in her wardrobe and lipstick choices. She’s captivating, and that’s why she is one of my biggest inspirations.

new-header

If you’d like to find out more about Toyosi, check out her website here, or follow her on social media for more great content @toyosioyelola!

What’s all the Buzz about? – Buzzmill Coffee

Starting on East Riverside in Austin, TX, The Buzz Mill gained a name that came to be known as “the lumberjack society” of the city. Their mission for fellow ‘lumberjacks’ was to engage and inspire local neighbors into becoming woodsmen by instilling values, traits, and necessary skills for living off the land.

Last week, the company opened their newest location in San Marcos, TX, expanding their society of lumberjacks to surrounding cities in Texas. If you haven’t heard of them already, Buzzmill is a 24-hour full service bar filled with food, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. The coffee is locally roasted, but if a cup of joe isn’t usually the way you go, you can also indulge in home-made infused liquors inside their “fort,” or outside on their patio accompanied by a giant wooden bear carve out.

With Monday classes being cancelled the week of September 26th, I decided to venture out to the newest coffee shop on the block to see what the San Marcos location was all about. Walking in and being immediately greeted by a few local ‘hipsters,’ or, ‘lumberjacks,’ as they like to call themselves, I sought to try something new. However, before I could even look for the full menu of drinks that the institution had yet to even hang up, the barista winked at me and assured me she’d make me something good–It was a wink I couldn’t deny.

img_9944

Once the steamy beverage hit the counter, the barista prompted me to give it a try. The thick creamy liquid hit my tastebuds, and a taste of a dark roast, honey, and half and half danced over my tastebuds in astonishment. Knowing I would want to order it in the future, the barista shared the name with me as “The Honey Badger.” If the description hasn’t made your mouth water for your own, I highly recommend this as your first drink at the fort. Furthermore, if you’re not looking for a drink, try out one of their bangin’ burgers or a breakfast choice like the cheese, sausage, and jalapeno kolaches. Weather you and your friends are looking for food, fun, or drinks, this is the place to go! I highly recommend you check out the newest spot in the 78666.

Fall Equinox Fashion

Thursday, September 22nd, officially marks the first day of Fall for the calendar year. To celebrate the Fall equinox (when the sun crosses the celestial equator, and day and night are of equal length), we’re going to emphasize the best colors to paint your wardrobe with.

First things first, maroon and gold are the superstars of Fall. Furthermore, they’re Texas State’s official colors, so it’s also the perfect time of the year to show off your school spirit to its best ability. Not only is it perfect for Fall colors, but it’s tailgating season! Due to the nature of the weather and it being football season, maroon, gold, and cream pallets are almost impossible to avoid in all the stores around San Marcos, TX.

Secondly, fall is the time of the ‘mobile closet’ as I like to call it. By this, I mean it’s layering season (scarves, leggings, hats, button downs, etc)!  Living in Texas it’s common to layer your clothing in the cooler months. Typically, it’s freezing in the mornings, and warmer in the afternoons, so it’s common to see people hauling around the jackets and sweaters they were wearing in the morning. No, we’re not intentionally trying to start trends with the sweaters tied around our waists, we’re just trying to regulate our body temperature in the bipolar weather Texas consists of–happy layering!