Austinist Show Preview: Nina Nastasia and Tre Orsi

New York songstress Nina Nastasia stops by the Mohawk tonight at the near-beginning of what will become a sprawling world-wide tour, meeting up with Denton's well-liked Tre Orsi and the local Silver Pines in the process. Nastasia has garnered herself quite the underground momentum, moving from humble roots as an untethered musician wandering her way through the dimly-lit club scene, to an artist with international demand and the respect of idolized names such as producer Steve Albini and Dirty Three drummer Jim White. Her debut album, Dogs, is impossible to find and is futilely sought in a way not unfamiliar to Belle & Sebastian's debut cut, Tigermilk. But she's not just a machine for hype---she plays some pretty fine music, too, using her acoustic guitar and a knack for captivating storytelling to cut through the muck of singer-songwriter-dom to create a niche all her own. And that niche has her and her band being called everything from "remarkable" to "enrapturing" to "inspired" by critics.

And by now we should all be familiar with Denton's Tre Orsi, who have made Austin a regular stop on their way to national recognition. Featuring current and former collaborators of Shearwater, South San Gabriel, John Vanderslice, and Okkervil River, they put together seamless and delightful pop music with a distinctly Texan edge. And of course, we cannot forget: getting the shindig digging is central Texas's own Silver Pines, who will spin some mystic trance our way.

Nina Nastasia [MySpace] [Label]
Tre Orsi [MySpace] [Official]
Silver Pines [MySpace]