Austinist Show Preview & Giveaway: José González

Jose Gonzalez w/ Cass McCombs
Thursday, November 29
The Parish Room (214 East Sixth Street)
$20 presale, doors at 8, all ages show
[info] | [tickets]

If left to your own Texan devices, it would be easy to assume that world-famous guitarist/heartthrob José González came from somewhere south of the Rio Grande, or perhaps even from Austin's own bustling music scene. But, luckily, you don't have to rely on your own devices. And that means that when you're at The Parish Room tonight and you hear someone say that José is as Swedish as, you know, Swedish meatballs, you won't be surprised.

Whereas fellow Swedes Jens Lekman and Peter Bjorn and John have tackled headfirst the Euro-pop mentality, González cites Latin and Cuban stars, such as revolutionary leftist Silvio Rodriguez, as his primary influences. Rarely using more than an acoustic guitar as accompaniment to his unmistakably layered voice--think Nick Drake--González has combined wisely-chosen cover songs with original material to attract a widespread and diverse audience. And all this while using a background in biochemistry as inspiration.

If you want to hear some of González's live music before the show, tune into kut 90.5 at 2:30, as he'll be in their studio working magic with a guitar. Later at the Parish, he'll work it again in what is sure to be an intimate set, this time with help from opening act (and unique talent himself) Cass McCombs of Baltimore.

To see a video of González, check out what's past the jump, and to roll the dice at winning some tickets, put your info in the pretty boxes below. This contest is now closed.

José González [Official] [MySpace]
Cass McCombs [Official] [MySpace]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Nick Courtright in Arts & Entertainment on November 29, 2007 12:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Barney Noodles

i am going to pout about people giving away free stuff. pout pout pout. get bent, lame asses

Barney Noodles

i am going to pout about people giving away free stuff. pout pout pout. get bent, lame asses

bluejar

i am GLAD to check up on this rant/comment section... thank you coleen... and nick gotz so burned.

nick courtright

Ooh, burn!

coleenmck

ftr: ive won before. a few years ago, i got an awesome package from "the sounds" so i know youre for real. just sucks when we're left holding our breath. im used to getting those "you didnt win" emails that other contests send out.

next: i second the suggestion of having winners review whatever show they won tix to (or at least submit a photo). wouldnt be mandatory of course, but it would promote interaction between (non-staff) austinisters.

next: i understand that the austinist isnt perfect. actually, thats what i love about it. and nothing on the internet is automated except that conversation i had with god the other week. i understand that in order to keep this blog alive, "someone literally has to go in" and submit articles, yes? and when there are updates to articles, "someone literally has to go in" and make those updates, yes? so posting the ending of a contest should be no more difficult, yes?

the only difficulty i see is the part where this microscopic-someone literally goes into... the computer? the tubes? the technological black hole? ;) im pullin yer pigtails, nick. im just surprised to see a writer misuse the word "literally."

bluejar

"we decide out of sheer kindness to give two of them away to contest winners. Keep trying and someday you may win."

i smell a hint of something not so nice.

i wont hold my breath; thanks anyways.

nick courtright

Actually, we do give the tickets away--we have a supply of tickets for "our own purposes" and we decide out of sheer kindness to give two of them away to contest winners. Keep trying and someday you may win.

-Nick

p.s. The reason some contests appear open after the show is because the system is not automated--someone literally has to go in after the contest is over and change the html. We usually try to get this taken care of quickly, but we're not perfect.

bluejar

honestly they do not even give the tickets out... i am pretty sure the lack of explanation means they use them for their own purposes and just say that they do contest... where are the winners why arent they writing about the events they go to?

coleenmck

ditto. i wanna go and im poor. do the math. i noticed that some contests remain open even after the show is over, so... who knows what goes on behind the magic curtain. :o