The Austin music scene was dealt a huge blow last night when news broke that Phil Aulie, beloved singer, keyboardist, drummer and ukelele player for celebrated groups Superhouse and Federal! State! Local!, had passed away. Phil was 25 years old, and it’s hard to express the pure shock his death incites in fans and friends across the city. Currently Facebook is filled with tributes from Aulie’s colleagues and admirers.

Among the highlights are videos of his early performances with improv trio You, Me and Greg and a solo ukelele rendition of “Paraplegics In Love.” These early comedic/dramatic performance pieces show off Aulie’s bountiful energy and clever ear, but it wasn’t until he switched to music that Austin saw the full extent of his gifts. The other two members of the improv trio – Doug Pena and Greg Spencer – would go on to join Aulie and drummer Ben Tyler Humphreys in Superhouse. In several years, Superhouse morphed from a coordinated-costume, dance-rock spectacle to an advanced and unique musical quartet. The band’s records, Friends Together, Fighting Together, the Fever Medicine EP and 2010′s monolithic achievement TECHyes, introduced a sound that mixed garage rock, performance art, 50′s science fiction, electronica and pure pop.

TECHyes remains my personal favorite project Aulie ever lent his talents to. His backup vocals on “Creature Song” steal the track and his lead on “Haunted House” contains the windmilling drama of classic horror films. He even gets lead on the epic closer, “Megatron Magnifique.” Anyone who knew Phil would tell you he was the only person to deliver the song’s closing refrain “We live in a volcano/we love in a volcano.”

But Aulie was not a person to hold himself to one project. He took up the drums post-Superhouse and eventually showed off those skills in the ramshackle roots rock band Federal! State! Local! The group’s debut EP, I’ll Put It On When I’m Dead, was a distinctly different sound than what had been associated with Aulie up to that time. The clamorous catchiness of “It’s Alright” and “Broken String” bear Aulie’s unmistakable mark, though.

An account has been made for Phil’s family at University Federal Credit Union. It is called “Phil Aulie’s Donation Fund” and anyone can walk into any of the branches and just ask to put money in “Phil’s account.” If you want to deposit electronically then you need the account number: (1000) 900498723 and the routing number: 314977405. Please donate.

Here is some of the best of Phil Aulie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoKrZv4bMmY

TECHyes available at http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8140329

Federal! State! Local! bandcamp: http://federalstatelocal.bandcamp.com/album/ill-put-it-on-when-im-dead

Rest in peace to a great artist and personality of the Austin scene. We can find some comfort in the thought that Phil lived more in his 25 years than many people do in their entire lives. We’ll miss you, buddy.