Tonight I embark downtown to get the headliner treatment from one of my favorite groups ever, M83. I finally saw them live for the first time at FunFunFun Fest this year, along with the biggest crowd of that weekend. It will be awesome to hear a full, proper concert set from the group, and with an awesome up-and-coming opener like I Break Horses (who released one of my favorite albums of 2011), the entire evening is sure to be one to remember. And did I mention I love Stubb’s?

With a lineup as good as this year’s there was bound to be some conflicts, and I suppose it could be worse. Yesterday Free Press Summerfest announced the official schedule for their two-day outing in downtown Houston, and my tickets have been bought! You should grab yours soon before they’re gone. But after that, you have decisions to make.

There’s some good overlap and the park is small enough to walk easily, similar to Fun Fun Fun Fest, which I appreciate. However, if you wanna catch full sets, you’re gonna have to make sacrifices. Will you watch Snoop Dogg or the Flaming Lips? Major Lazer or Erykah Badu? Diplo, Morris Day, or Phantogram? Best Coast or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah? Maybe you wanna skip all the big Saturday evening stuff and catch Jeff the Brotherhood? And then there’s Sunday, which includes time overlaps with Willie Nelson, The Descendants, Primus, The Avett Brothers, Big Freedia, Danny Brown, Shabazz Palaces, and Austin’s own Ume. Another great festival proves to the masses: it’s hard work having so much fun. Whatever you decide come the first weekend in June, make sure you stay hydrated. Houston is a hot, muggy mess.

One of my favorite albums of 2010 was the self-titled debut from Fang Island, a grandiose epic-sounding math-rock trio from Rhode Island. They return on July 24th with their sophomore effort Major (that’s the album art above). Take a listen to the first leaked track “Asunder” over at Consequence of Sound and take a peak at the tracklist below.

01. Kindergarten
02. Sisterly
03. Seek it Out
04. Make Me
05. Never Understand
06. Asunder
07. Dooney Rock
08. Regalia
09. Chompers
10. Chime Out
11. Victorinian

Compare it to the original, still awesome after all these years.

Today I embark to Arlington for a couple of days to catch the American Idiot musical and watch my mighty Rangers, who just clinched another series handily, this time against the Baltimore Orioles. In case you missed it, Josh Hamilton made history a few games ago, knocking out four home runs, a double, and 8 RBIs. I look forward to seeing him destroy the red hot Angels, as former Ranger CJ Wilson makes his first trip back to Texas to combat our star rookie pitcher Yu Darvish. It’s gonna be a wonderful evening.

Watch Hamilton’s amazing night here.

Take a listen to the first single from the upcoming full-length from Texas rock veterans The Toadies. The album, PLAY.ROCK.MUSIC will be released on July 31st. Frenchie Smith, best known for his work with the Meat Puppets and Built to Spill, produced it, and it’s sure to be a fine soundtrack to the sweltering Texas heat we experience around here, like most Toadies albums are.

On Monday, Ben Folds and his reunited Five (who are actually a trio in total) dropped an un-mixed sneak peek into their first album in 13 years. “Do It Anyway” is a quirky sendup to taking risks and reaching new highs, delivered in Folds’ trademark casual piano pop style. Some things never change, and for this fan, that’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.

As I’ve mentioned previously, Passion Pit are set to release their sophomore album Gossamer on July 24th, and today the group has gifted the first leaked track, “Take a Walk.” Similar to the infectious debut Manners, the track is catchy, falsetto-laden electro pop. So basically, if you like Passion Pit, you’ll probably like this new one. If not, then move along, nothing to see here.