SXSW 2012 Preview: Locals Only

It's ironic that a festival that takes place here in Austin sees Austin bands so under-represented both at official SXSW showcases and in online coverage. I myself, have featured bands from all over the globe in the month leading up to SXSW but this will be the only post in which I highlight local talent. I could hypothesize about why this is so but for me, it's because I live in Austin and I can see Austin bands throughout the year. However, lots of you reading this right now don't live in Austin and you should see some of our bands while you're in town. Hell, you should listen to these bands if you're not going to be in Austin at any point in the near or distant future. If you're in Austin tonight, I HIGHLY recommend you head over to Hotel Vegas for this fantastic showcase of local talent:

The party above the break features Austin bands who are not official SXSW registrants and there's nothing wrong with that. As I mentioned, there really aren't very many Austin artists who are granted official status at SXSW but here are a few who are playing official showcases, in no particular order:


Ume - Captive video via YouTube

I've been writing about Ume for several years now. They write really fantastic, tight rock tunes and how can I not mention that their lead singer is a beautiful blonde who shreds on guitar? They releases a new record a couple of months ago so if you haven't seen them play lately then you haven't seen them play. Here's where you can catch them during SXSW 2012:

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

• 10 pm Campfire Trails @ Bat Bar | 218 E. 6th

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

• 5 pm Sea Now! + Popantipop Party @ Brew Exchange | 706 W. 6th
• 6:50 pm Purveyors of Rock Audioperv Party @ Peckerheads | 402 E. 6th
• 1:00 am Modern Outsider Official Showcase @ Trinity Hall | 401 E. 6th

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

• 5 pm Brooklyn Vegan Party @ Hotel Vegas/Volstead Lounge | 1500 E. 6th

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

• 4:25 pm Berklee College of Music Showcase @ Friends | 208 E. 6th
• 6:15 pm Exploding in Sound Party @ Grackle | 1700 E. 6th

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

• 2:45 pm Thrillcall Party @ Whole Foods Rooftop | 601 N. Lamar Blvd.
• 5:40 pm Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Show @ Casa Chapala | 101 San Jacinto Blvd.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18

• TBD Thrasher Magazine's Death Match @ Scoot Inn |1308 E. 4th

Love Inks - Rock On video via YouTube

I'm new to being a fan of Love Inks but I am definitely a fan and I think they are hitting the scene at the perfect moment. Their sound is disaffected, minimalist, female-fronted synth-pop. Not too light nor too dark and I fully approve. If that doesn't sell you on this Austin band then we can't be friends. Find them here:

TUESDAY MARCH 13

• 8:00pm KVRX Official Showcase @ Trinity Hall | 401 E. 6th St.
• 10:00pm All Tamara's Parties @ Cheer-Up Charlies | 1104 E. 6th St.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 14

• 3:00pm East Side Tone Sessions Episode Two @ East Side Tone | 301 Chicon St., suite F

THURSDAY MARCH 15

• 5:00pm Lucy the Poodle, $2 Shows and Connect the Dots present Emerald City Limits @ Spiderhouse | 2908 Fruth St.
• TBA Brooklyn Vegan and M for Montreal present Hotel Vegan @ Hotel Vegas | 1500 E. 6th St.
• 9:00pm StyleX/Charming Charlie Official Showcase @ Victorian Room at the Driskill | 604 Brazos St.

SATURDAY MARCH 17

• 6:00pm @ Waterloo Records | 600 N. Lamar
• TBA Reverb Party @ Dirty Dog Bar | 505 East 6th St.

You might remember Nakia from NBC's The Voice. That show introduced him to the world outside of Austin but those of who have lived here are already familiar with this soulful blues-crooner. You only have a couple of chances to see him perform but one of those chances is in Austin's best sounding room:

TUESDAY MARCH 13

• 1:00am City of Austin Free Showcase @ The Parish | 214 E. 6th St.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 14

• TBA The Guitartown/Conqueroo Kickoff Party @ The Dogwood | 715 W. 6th St.

THURSDAY MARCH 15

• 6:30am KGSR Live Broadcast @ Great Room at the W Hotel | 200 Lavaca St.

I feel like Oh No Oh My are one of Austin's most over-looked bands. They write indie-pop gems that are radio-ready yet they aren't on the radio. I feel like I have written about them every SXSW since I started this blog. Hopefully this is the year that sees them take-off. Watch them here:

THURSDAY MARCH 15

• 12:00am Official Nicodemus Agency Showcase @ The Whiskey Room | 503 E 6th St

SATURDAY MARCH 17

• 8:00pm The Show @ Continental Club | 1315 S. Congress Ave

Pure X - Surface video via YouTube

Pure X used to use the moniker Pure Ecstasy, which implies a much happier sound than you will hear at one of their shows. They are a band who have been grinding out shows for a few years with little to no attention until last year. They put out one of the best local LPs in 2011 and if you don't see them in Austin, chances are you'll see them in your town at some point soon. This is where they'll be this week:

WEDNESDAY MARCH 14

• 11:15pm Official Dummy XO Showcase @ Barbarella | 615 Red River St.

SATURDAY MARCH 17

• 1:00pm Mess With Texas @ 1100 Warehouse | 1100 E. 5th St.
• 5:15pm The Fader + Converse Fort | 1101 E. 5th St.

I've only highlighted five of the numerous Austin bands you could and should see while you're here in town. If you're in an Austin band and you're reading this and you're sad that I didn't include you; don't be sad, there's always next year. Also, people have short attention spans if I wrote about all of the great Austin bands they only would have read about the first five or so anyway.