Ley Line is a band that has very little recorded music compared to most of the artists I like to talk about.. It seems like in Austin very talented groups form all the time, release an album and a couple singles, and then disappear, save a reunion show every 5 years or so. The Trishas did this, and it made me sad because they were amazing and I never got to see them live. Check out the Trishas.
Back to Ley Line - I got to see Ley Line at the Camp Shhh Times stage at Old Settler's Music Festival in 2020. Its a stage that has shows from 1AM to 3AM on every night of the festival, and this particular time it was 2AM and very very cold in April. My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE part of Camp Shhh Times is that if you talk during the music hippies (volunteer staff) will get upset and ask you to leave. Since you're not permitted to talk, anyone who is too drunk to make any sense is immediately ushered out. That's a perk in most situations.
I wish all music venues were like this. Kent Finlay (former owner/operator of Cheatham Street Warehouse, who I will mention in future rambles) used to say before his legendary singer song-writer night "If you'd like to have a conversation, there are 80 other bars in San Marcos. Go getcha a drink there." Amen. I want to make a shirt that says "You can hear each other better outside" on the back and point to it when music talkers are around.
Anyway, Camp Shhh Times is awesome. The 4 members of the band came in with stringed instruments, and some drum-type thing that I didn't understand, and absolutely killed it. Their music isn't always in English, they have a couple-few languages they throw around, but it really doesn't matter - good tunes is good tunes. Check em' out:
Respiracao - I can't type the letters that actually make up the title, it isn't english.
Agua do Mar // Casa de Trocas - Most of their songs build at the beginning, and I absolutely love the build to this one.
Texas Rain - This is a Tiny Desk submission - it is very fun to watch.
Oxum - This video is just beautiful and screams Austin from 2008.
Ley Line is on my playlist for calm, chill thinking music. They have a lot more stuff out now, and will be at the Kerrville Folk Festival in June - which means they're still together!
-Stein
I personally enjoyed them the most in Austin when the other venue patrons wouldn't shut up during their set and talked louder whenever the band got louder.