The Star Apple Kingdom

SXSW

2011-03-09T21:33:00.002-06:00

We are back in action at last

New Star Apple Kingdom studio is nearly finished - 30 minutes southwest of Austin nestled in the woods

Bathroom is outdoors... we're pioneers

There is running water

we play SXSW this year.... here's the press blurb

Future Clouds and Radar, Austin's purveyors of ... "smart, carefully crafted art rock compellingly embellished with psychedelic tinges and pop swirls" (Pitchfork)

will perform a short set at Michael Hall's annual "Swollen Circus" kick-off event at ND 501 Studios- 8:30 Tuesday March 15

Official showcase at Easy Tiger- 9PM Friday March 18th

come see/hear us!

We are here

2010-02-09T13:57:00.001-06:00

Hey Everybody We've been out of touch for a while. I've gotten a few emails on this so let me update you. We took some time off after Hollie had her baby. In the Fall I had to say goodbye to the old Star Apple Kingdom house and put it on the market. Elbow grease. Now I am working on a new place in the country where we'll be creating more Future Clouds and Radar. Live shows starting in April. All for now.

Robert

CD Release Party: Saxon Pub - Nov 6th

2008-10-03T17:25:00.002-05:00

Come celebrate Future Clouds' new world of Peoria at the Saxon Pub (on S Lamar in Austin). Get a free copy of the CD with your ticket purchase. November 6, 2008

New Album: PEORIA

2008-10-03T17:15:00.003-05:00

As you may have heard, November 4th 2008 is the official release of Future Clouds & Radar's new album, Peoria. Pick up a copy on your way home from the voting booth, and prepare yourself for the next big trip...

FtrCldsndRdr on Fcbk

2008-06-04T14:11:00.004-05:00

We've entered the world of Facebook. Come be our friend.

Industrial Revolution hits the Star Apple Kingdom

2008-05-19T15:11:00.004-05:00

It has come to our attention that there are music fans floating around out there who are dying to purchase some Future Clouds and Radar merchandise, but aren't quite tech savvy enough to buy the loot online (or don't like to be tracked by Big Brother). At live shows we've always kept to the ruthlessly primitive "cash only" policy. Fear not, Credit Card Holders... we've recently invested in one of those card swipey thingys in order to better serve the Future Clouds Cadets of the world. Come out to the Parish next week with cards in hand. We'll be there at the ready.

-Aaron

Future Clouds and Parish

2008-05-09T16:53:00.007-05:00

Future Clouds and Radar
Friday, May 30th
@ The Parish

FC&R at Willie Nelson's B-Day Bash

2008-04-30T17:42:00.004-05:00

Hey Guys,

Sorry for the (literally) last minute notice, but tonight on 107.1 KGSR you can hear Future Clouds and Radar perform at Willie Nelson's 75th Birthday Bash along with Paula Nelson, Patty Griffin, Bob Schneider, Alejandro Escovedo, Ray Benson, Ruthie Foster, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Fastball, Jimmy LaFave, The South Austin Jug Band, Ian McLagan, The Resentments, The Band Of Heathens, Charlie Sexton, Bobby Whitlock & Coco Carmel, Carolyn Wonderland, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis and many more of Willie's friends

It all starts at 8pm

Hollie Speaks

2008-04-18T14:31:00.002-05:00

The latest in our Let Me Get Your Coat, "Casual Friday" series.

Hollie:

Pig Ball (New Record?)

2008-04-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

Future Clouds & Radar - Hurricane Judy (Live)

2008-04-02T15:06:00.001-05:00

My favorite part is Hunter S. Thompson on the keys (your guess is as good as mine).

back from the void

2008-04-02T13:36:00.003-05:00

Alright Future Clouds Cadets,

It recently dawned on me that I've neglected to keep you guys informed about what's been going on with the band. Since the last post, not only has FC&R has played a handful of great Austin shows, but they had a fairly killer week during SXSW:

-a packed Friday night showcase at Momo's
-day parties at the Beauty Bar and Longbranch Inn
-great press from the Austin Chronicle

They've got some more gigs and SAK web content coming up. I'll do my part to keep you on the up and up.

-Aaron

Friday, Jan. 18th at The Parish

2008-01-14T12:21:00.000-06:00

Calling all Austinites:

This Friday, The Parish is hosting a Future Clouds and Radar video release party.

Featuring:
The Boxing Lesson
The Breathers
Hollywood Gossip
and a screening of the new FC&R videos

Dr. No

2008-01-14T12:10:00.000-06:00

Future Clouds and Radar - "Dr. No"

Dr. No video premieres on Stereo Gum

2008-01-14T11:43:00.000-06:00

Future Clouds' latest video, "Dr. No," premiered last week on the music blog stereogum.com:

"Hold onto your trip-o-meter and beware nuclear explosions in your sunglasses because Future Clouds & Radar frontman Robert Harrison's building himself a lady friend Weird Science -- only with a hell of a lot more acid flashbacks, saws, sliced fingers, disembodied lips singing backup."

You can check out the video, along with the rest of the review here

Have a Merry Stubbsmas with FC&R

2007-12-18T18:27:00.000-06:00

Future Clouds and Radar are playing an Almost-Christmas-Eve show at Stubbs BBQ.

Saturday, December 22. 10:00 PM
w/ Lalaland
Doors open at 9:00

NPR Music: KUT's "Best Albums of the Year"

2007-12-18T18:15:00.000-06:00

Speaking of Radio....

KUT listed off their top 10 favorites of 2007, and yes, Future Clouds and Radar made the cut. They're right alongside superstars Radiohead and Amy Winehouse. KUT is another radio entity who has shown a tremendous amount of support for FC&R. I'd like to give them a resounding "thank you" for all that they've done for the band.

check it out: NPR.org

-Aaron

Build Havana on KGSR's "Broadcasts" CD

2007-12-18T17:56:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to let you guys know that 107.1 KGSR has just released their 15th anniversary "Broadcasts" compilation CD with a live recording of FC&R's "Build Havana." KGSR has given Future Clouds a huge amount of support over that past year. A big thanks goes out to them.

You can check out the CD here

-Aaron

This is Really a Book

2007-12-04T13:33:00.001-06:00

Future Clouds & Radar - "This is Really a Book"

"Four Stars" -Q

2007-12-03T18:15:00.001-06:00

Wow, yet another one. Don't worry, kids, we'll put down the magazines and start uploading videos pretty soon.

Cheers,
Aaron

Harp Magazine names Future Clouds and Radar "New Artist of the Year"

2007-12-03T17:55:00.000-06:00

We're all pretty stoked about this one. The Dec issue hits stands pretty soon. Pick up a copy, and check it out for yourself. What a way to end the year!

In case some of you missed them, I thought I'd post a couple of the other reviews FC&R has received over the past few months.

Enjoy,
Aaron

-------
"A beautiful, brilliant mess.... magnificent double-disc collection of pop gems- 4 stars"- Paste Magazine

"27 songs strong, Ryan Adams, Sufjan Stevens, and even Peter Frampton should be so lucky. Grade A" Fort Worth Star Telegram

"Future Clouds and Radar remind you why God made double CD packages: to experiment wildly while creating pop that glistens!” – Philadelphia Inquirer

"The transcendent moments make you glad you have ears" Popmatters

"A glorious mess of sunshine... the year's most memorable debut!" wolfnote

Future Clouds and Radar, the eclectic musical collective who list their home address as a "psychedelic compound in the hill country of Texas," have just been named Harp Magazine's debut artist of the year. Harp also named FC&R's 2 disc debut the 4th Best Overall Release of 2007 behind Okervill River, Band of Horses and Iron and Wine. The timing of Harp's announcement could not be better for Future Clouds and Radar who have just launched their new label website, starapplekingdom.com., which offers a unique look into the FC&R''s curious nether-world via regularly updated film, live performances and exclusive interview footage.

Welcome to the Star Apple Kingdom - Take 2

2007-11-14T16:07:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Star Apple Kingdom - Take 2

2007-11-06T18:03:00.000-06:00

Been working on some videos. Coming Soon: Hurricane Judy, This is Really a Book, Dr. No, and maybe a Let Me Get Your Coat Segment.

Welcome to the Star Apple Kingdom

2007-10-17T01:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Star Apple Kingdom

Build Havana

2007-10-16T13:51:00.000-05:00

Future Clouds and Radar - "Build Havana"

Holy Janet Comes On Waves

2007-10-10T18:17:00.000-05:00

Future Clouds & Radar - "Holy Janet Comes On Waves"

Green Mountain Clover (Live)

2007-10-04T18:32:00.000-05:00

Future Clouds and Radar - "Green Mountain Clover" (Live)

An open letter to the "media" from our concierge, Mr. Lloyd Van Talmadge

2007-09-27T18:32:00.000-05:00

The Star Apple Kingdom, label home to Future Clouds and Radar, has asked that all media personel, around the world, read the following letter. Its kind of important

Dear Highly Regarded Media Entity,

Your penchant for brazen, savvy wordplay invigorates me! I am Lloyd Van Talmadge, the Buenos Aries born, Austin Texas based art dealer (better known to the good people of Austin as "Lloyd Who Realizes") and as sole heir to the VanTalmadge bauxite empire have often been accused, with some justification, of being a naer -do-well playboy whose only real accomplishment has been assembling the world's largest collection of historically significant false teeth (Baron Von Richthoffen, Maime Eisenhower). But March 4th of this year my life changed. For on that sultry evening, as the guest of one Dr. Hideous Jackson, I bore witness to a back yard musical happening so emotionally riveting and psychologically excavating, that I finally saw my life for what it was - a pointless charade- a hollow display of self loathing. And I vowed then and there to summon my estimable resources to make certain the entire world could one day hear the band who played before me, Future Clouds and Radar!

Future Clouds and Radar are lead by Robert Harrison- yes the same Robert Harrison who disappeared four years ago along with the rest of the ill-fated Cotton Mather rock n' roll hunting party into a particularly perilous region of the Schwarzwald. Although in the ensuing years reports of his whereabouts have trickled in as infrequently and unreliably as Yeti sightings, it would seem that he did survive something quite calamitous, and then nestled into the Texas Hill Country (many miles south of Austin) with a band of "rag-tag loyalists" with whom he contrived to record a double album "comeback" so stunning that it will surely be remembered as a monument to the age.

What prompts me to make such a ridiculous claim you ask? For starters, this epic journey of loss, betrayal, regeneration and redemption moves from one mini-universe to another with such genre busting ease that one must wonder at times whether its creators are consciously thumbing their noses at artistic convention, or merely following their own organic, adroit and peculiar muse who happens to have a fantastically varied wardrobe. But whether these are the scribblings of madmen or the gilded craft of wily artisans the results are dazzling. Many of us close the records find ourselves absolutely overcome by a desperate paralytic nostalgia for the music while the music is playing. ( the Germans must have a term for that). And at other times still I find the songs make me feel as optimistic and frisky as a grizzly cub cavorting on the first day of Spring.

Have I gotten your attention? Does your intrepid inner gumshoe detect a crack in the case of 21st century melancholy? Then listen to Future Clouds and Radar! Really listen. Don't just skip about and try to find a good reason to remove it from your desk. It belongs in your home, in the living room perched on a red pillow next to the picture of Grandfather. And YOU are uniquely qualified to make a public defense of this work- this poignant exercise in dark beauty.
'
Sincerely

Lloyd "Who Realizes" Van Talmadge