HTG Podcast #16: Job hunting, illiberalism, and the Wachowski sisters

In this episode of the Head The Gong Podcast, I babble about job hunting, the ascent of illiberalism in progressive circles, the Wachowski brothers — er, I mean, sisters –, and the latest from the Las Cruces indie/singer-songwriter scene.

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Las Cruces rocks

It’s been a full year since I ventured out to Art Obscura and got my first taste of the local indie rock scene here in Las Cruces. I blogged about that show here, and since then I’ve quietly supported the scene by buying CDs, promoting new tunes on social media, and even creating my own music every now and again. Unfortunately, my work/grad-school schedule has conspired with my personal demons to keep me from experiencing very many live shows over the course of this past year.

Tonight is no exception, as there will be another big show at Art Obscura that I can’t make, this time celebrating the release of Back of a Car‘s excellent new record, Unconditional Loathe. Check it out right here:

Another local artist I will be sorry to miss tonight is the wonderful KT Neely. KT has been busy this past year putting out great music, including the lovely, heart-wrenching tune, Coyote.

Kt Neely | Coyote from The LNG Company on Vimeo.

One of my local favorites, Alabama Deathwalk, will not be performing tonight, but they continue to put out great, soulful songs, like their latest, 2-Weeks.

Simeon Beardsley, another soulful, acoustic guitar-strumming maestro, who may or may not be playing tonight with KT Neely, has also put out tons of great music over this past year, including this gem (On your way).

Last, but not least, is a brand new (to me) musical discovery who goes by Mosaic Mountains (Not on tonight’s bill, but I’ll keep my eye out for a future show). Cut from the same cloth as KT Neely, Mosaic Mountains is a young woman named Courtney who has produced some gorgeous, stripped-down, soul-bare, acoustic tunes that are pretty freaking awesome, including Protocol Soul and Melancholy My Good Friend.

Great music is indeed alive and well in Las Cruces. If only I could catch a show!

Next time…

show

Simeon Beardsley

I’m getting increasingly stoked about the music scene here in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The latest artist I’ve “discovered” via the magic of the internet is Simeon Beardsley. He’s got that mellow, acoustic, soulful vibe that I’m a sucker for, and which is on full display in the video below:

LNG Sessions | Simeon Beardsley | This, I Promise from The LNG Company on Vimeo.

I dug this song so much that I was compelled to click my way over to his Bandcamp site, on which I found (and promptly purchased) his brand-spanking-new album called June, which is also super-cool. Check it out.

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