When the time comes to report the newest news about local producer/songwriter/documentary subject Bill Baird, he has typically amassed more than a few projects in the interim since the last time we wrote about him, and today's installment is no exception. Baird is teaming up with former fashion designer/current filmmaker Tomer Gendler for a film where they're going to journey to India to "record G-d. To capture with a camera and microphone the magic that we believe exists in this world," and otherwise approach sound and music from a philosophical and religious perspective. more ›

Quiet luminaries. This town has no shortage of them. Unfortunately, there is so much hay it is often quite hard to find these quiet luminaries lingering amongst it all; Bill Baird is definitely one of those. Formerly of the next big thing Sound Team and current big thing Sunset, Baird seems to be be working like a frantic Vishnu, with more arms than we can cranking out countless solo albums, running a recording studio and DIY event space, Baby Blue Studios, and scoring films. Nevertheless, Baird has made room in his Palm Pilot to fill our ears with his immaculately lazy psych pop this evening. Baird’s music seems to effortlessly capture the zeitgeist of the city—a looseness in the limbs with full faith in the wonders of the now. more ›

After finally releasing their debut album Colour Trip this year, Ringo Deathstarr are making it official by trekking to Europe with none other than The Smashing Pumpkins. more ›

East Austin auteur Bill Baird has been a fixture in our city for quite some time, notably within the rotating cast of Sunset and the long-ago pop machinations of Sound Team. Composing and producing recordings under his simple moniker, which range from psychedelic minimalist landscapes to wry folk implosiveness, Baird has been quite busy in the warm confines of Baby Blue Studios day in and day out, with the results to be self-released on a limited edition LP in the coming weeks as Goodbye Vibrations. more ›

Though Baird has long worn his influences clearly, Loveshines moves beyond laundry lists to something quite individual. Sure, one can make a case for indebtedness to bubbly psych of decades past, but the songwriting and composition are very much Sunset's own. more ›

Brace yourselves, because we don't want anyone getting the vapors before we install the fainting couch: In addition to bringing you coverage up to and through this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest, we'll be throwing a big bash on November 4th to usher in the festival weekend. Also, it's free! more ›

The dissolution of Sound Team in 2007 - one of the more promising Austin acts in recent memory - had a silver lining. The two principal forces behind the band (Bill Baird and Matt Oliver) may have parted company, but that means fans get double the amount of music from these immensely talented songwriters. Baird releases albums at a steady clip under the moniker Sunset, while Oliver heads up TV Torso with the help of former Sound Team drummer Jordan Johns and new recruit Jimmy Rhea on bass. more ›

Bill Baird doesn't stay quiet for long. Just when you think he might be taking some kind of break, he resurfaces and you realize he's actually been very hard at work somewhere on new material, be it music or writing. more ›

Listening to Sunset’s Gold Dissolves To Gray, the fourth full-length album from Austin’s Bill Baird, invites to mind that brilliant line from Noah Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming: “I’m nostalgic for conversations I had yesterday.” The best thing this effort has to offer is its terrifically timely and magnetic aesthetic of nostalgia for the new. At its high points, Baird seamlessly cobbles together a fresh sound that is both reminiscent (of 60s glam and 70s psychedelia) and of-the-moment, nodding to albums like Department of Eagles’ In Ear Park, dating all the way back to last year. (But yes, we were missing it already.) more ›

Hearty and full of camp fire-y goodness, {{{Sunset}}} will take the inside stage at Emo's tonight. The band is the brain child of Bill Baird, who has been performing and recording under the name Sunset and other variations (adding and subtracting the {{{}}} thingies) since 2006. more ›

Next we have Bill Baird, the extremely prolific frontman of Sunset who talked with us about his favorite listening experiences of the year. In between releasing two albums, a cassette, and working on a disc of covers, somehow Baird did have the chance to indulge in music that wasn't his, which ranged from an output by a former member of his old Tonewheel Collective to Axl Rose's much-anticipated ProTools exercise Chinese Democracy. more ›

Legendary folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens will be performing two shows in Austin on January 16th. For tickets and more information, visit One World Theatre's Web site. more ›

Back in October of last year, Nas announced at a concert in New York that the titled of his upcoming album (originally slated for release in February '08) was "Nigger." Since that time, the release date has been pushed back, the title has changed, and various members of the black community as well as his label have had plenty to say. more ›

As ever, the Daytrotter.com crew acknowledges all Austin has to offer in the way of incredible music. This week, they're featuring a session by Bill Baird's {{{Sunset}}}, featuring an unreleased tune called "Loveshines, Part II". more ›

We thought Bright Blue Dream was the main course, but it was really just an appetizer – Sunset’s pu-pu platter, the tasty lead-up to the onslaught of almond or orange chickens and tofu surprise. Could we have predicted that just a few months after unleashing Bright Blue Dream into the world that a follow-up was hot on its heels? Sure. Bill Baird, the moody progenitor of Sunset’s tunes, has been known to record and release albums with a reckless abandon that crawls closer to Ryan Adams’ near-endless output every day. Before Bright Blue Dream came Sunset’s Pink Clouds cassette release, and even that followed two discs in 2006 (recorded as Bill Baird’s Sunset, or something similar). And so, to quote Sunset’s label Autobus records, “the song cycle continues,” with eighteen(!) more expertly produced, carefully crafted studio art-pop tracks. more ›

Bill Baird’s most ambitious work since the demise of his former project Sound Team, Bright Blue Dream seems at first like it's Baird’s way of putting that book back on the shelf for good – but that’s only half of the story. more ›

The ol’ Compound next to Scoot Inn on the east side is throwing a party, and you’re invited! How about that! Also invited: three awesome bands for your listening pleasure. There’s a cover of just three measly bucks, and it’s B.Y.O.B. If you’re looking to kick-start your weekend with good tunes, look no further, but make sure to save some of your hearing for Saturday night’s Black Lips/White Denim show, for sure. more ›

Austin's Balmorhea released River's Arms last week, and kicked off their tour here in town. Their tour to support the record will follow the east coast, and land them back here in time for some SXSW gigs. Sample some of the instrumental band's lulling, hypnotic tunes c/o Western Vinyl, and check back here for a full-length review very soon. more ›

While every performance the Church of the Friendly Ghost puts on is assuredly special, this Wednesday evening they will host three diverse acts at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre sure to satisfy your every experimental, avant-garde whim. more ›

Photo by Annie Gunn on flickr {{{Sunset}}} and Gulf of MexicoTuesday, December 11Beerland (711-1/2 Red River)[info] Bill Baird is starting from the ground up. After his previous band Sound Team imploded under the weight of diminished returns for their major label debut, Monster Movie, Baird has assembled a new band, and is recording anew at his Big Orange studio in East Austin. While the name of Baird’s projects are subject to change, from just Bill... more ›

COLOUR REVOLT What’s the Deal: There’s a small college town in Mississippi where Colour Revolt is waiting like a swollen, porous sponge for someone to wring them out over the parched mouths of indie rock fans and critics alike. Right now, there is only the self-titled 6-song EP re-released in October of ‘06, but they’re currently in the final stages of recording their debut full-length. The EP, which caught ears at Spin and Stereogum... more ›

California's Cold War Kids have been the object of both adulation and derision since their inception in 2004. The band's songs traffic in third-person tales of downhearted and desperate characters, and their music frames the stories rather than overpowering them. After playing SXSW in March, Cold War Kids return to town for both a spot on the ACL Festival bill this Saturday and an aftershow at Stubb's on Sunday evening. Austinist traded emails with... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note My apologies for my absenteeism, kids! It's been awhile since I've set my babblings online at the Austinist. I've either been taking nights of from The Laurie Show on KUT or sitting in for Jeff McCord on Left of the Dial, which is on earlier than my show. It'll feel great to... more ›

The Austin/San Francisco-based thoughtful, ambient rock group Monahans (previously Milton Mapes) is, according to The Parish calendar, having its CD release show there Thursday night. However, the album was released over a month ago, so make of it what you will. Either way, their soothing sounds of longing are sure to put you in a trancelike state, not unlike the effect of mixing old R.E.M. and hallucinogenics on a long, solemn sea voyage. Monahans’... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Rain drops keep falling on my head, but it makes no difference to me. Yours truly, the hostess of the Friday night frenzy The Laurie Show on KUT 90.5, would prefer the wet weather any day over the record frying temperatures that the rest of the country seems to be experiencing. Just... more ›

If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of Icelandic bands beyond the normal Björk, Sigur Rós, and Múm, then you needn’t look further than Emo’s Lounge Friday night. Benni Hemm Hemm come bearing orchestral pop tunes from their chilly island nation with titles like “Snjorljossnjor.” This soft-spoken band comprised of between 8 and 17 revolving-door musicians features conventional rock elements as well as a full horn section. Austin natives Loxsly may not be able... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Friday the 13th is good for you, kids. Don't let folks tell you differently! Hope your Friday is going fabulously for you, peeps! I'm preparing quite a feast for the ears for tonight's Laurie Show on KUT 90.5. Special thanks are in order for Kevin Adickes of Moth!Fight! and Nic Saldana of... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Greetings from Froggy McGee, writing to you while recovering in sick bay. I'm happy to report that the Bay Area tour I went on with the brilliant and talented crew of the Broken Clock Cabaret, featuring the rowdy and ravenous No Salvation Army Band, was an absolute success! Unfortunately, the crazy schedule and... more ›

Friday, July 6artB Scene - Too Darn Hot! at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5-$10) booksAlan Porter presents Before They Were Beatles, with Beatles cover band Daytripper at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedyJohn O’Connell with Jesse Pangelinian at Cap City Comedy Club comedyPunchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) comedyLovey and Lovey at ColdTowne Theater (8pm) comedyWeekly Improv Cage Match! at ColdTowne Theater (11:30) film"Bonnie & Clyde" and "White Heat" at The... more ›

Monday, July 2film"Clash By Night" and "The Asphalt Jungle" at The Paramount Theatre filmLast day of "Labyrinth" at Dobie Theatre film/awesomeRobosaurus Live with "Transformers" at Alamo South Lamar foodCentral Market Cooking Class: Empanada Workshop at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($65, 6:30-9:30pm)musicCanada, Our Solar System, Ryan Anderson at Emo’s musicBurning Brides, Strange Boys, Black Earth, Blackmarket at Emo’s musicBurning Brides at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm)... more ›