Friday, March 8, 2013

SXSW 2013 Preview: Series Highlights Summary

How do you feel? Do you feel sufficiently prepared for SXSW Music 2013? I know it's a lot of information coming at you from a million directions. It feels like you're forgetting something, or you missed some detail that's going to fuck you and you're right. You did forget something and there will be a day-fucking missed detail in your future but you'll get over it. You'll move on and you'll find something else to do, see or say and if you don't then I have no use for you.

I'm sure by this point you're up to your ass in free advice and I'm sorry if I added to the white noise. I hope these previews will help you do some highlighting as you attempt some tentative scheduling. If you don't want to go through each of the ones I've posted so far, I've compiled a list of all of the artists I highlighted in this series. If you missed one, simply click the artist's name to jump to that particular post.

You'll also find that I sorted the artists by region. I didn't choose them based on where they were from but I like to see who is from where because it helps ME to prioritize. I'm not saying you should adopt this strategy but I rank the bands who traveled the furthest higher on my list. They are the ones I am less likely to see again in the near future so they are a higher priority for me. So, if you want to roll like that too the hard work is done for you.

I've included a video from Hiatus Kaiyote because they are the band I'm planning the rest of my schedule around. Is that an emphatic endorsement or what?


Hiatus Kaiyote - Jekyll video via YouTube

Outside U.S. but not England

England


New York


U.S.A. but not New York


Austin
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Posted by Unknown at 3:50 PM
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SXSW 2013 Preview: Immanu El



Swedish band, Immanu El, are making BIG, BIG Post-Rock. This is the kind of music that I like to think of as Glacier-Rock. Glacier-Rock seems to be plodding along slowly, almost meandering and then you realize it's been subtly building into this mind-melting masterpiece of sound and you're happy you took that journey. If you enjoy The Calm Blue Sea, Explosions in the Sky or Sigur Ros then we should totally see Immanu El at SXSW. Sure I'll let you buy me a beer, don't be shy.


Immanu El - On Wide Shoulders video via YouTube

I fear if you see Immanu El at some noisy day-party with bad sound and a bunch of people talking it will be tough to appreciate their majesty. It is for that reason that I encourage you to see them at one of their official showcases. I know Saturday is a tough night to plan for since there will be so much going on but of all of the listings below I'm most drawn to the show at the Blackheart.

As usual, you're on your own as far as figuring out how accurate the below listings are. Some of these things may not be free or open to the public and all of that so, pay attention.

  • Wednesday, March 13th - City Hall - 3pm
  • Friday, March 15th - Dirty Dog - 8pm *OFFICIAL*
  • Friday, March 15th - Threadgill's - 3pm $10
  • Saturday, March 16th - Blackheart - 11pm *OFFICIAL*

***Previously Featured Artist: Deaf Club***

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SXSW 2013 Preview: Deaf Club



What do you get if you add The XX to The Joy Formidable? If you answered, Deaf Club I'd need you to show your indie-rock-math for full credit but I'd probably agree with you. It's the uber-cool moodiness of a song from The XX sped up to a more normal BPM, with the big-90's sound of The Joy Formidable.

So far this Camden, England-based band has only released a couple of singles and an EP but I'd expect a full-length LP within the next couple of months. I look forward to hearing a full-set from Deaf Club at SXSW to see how their sound stands up to the litmus test of the live performance.


Deaf Club - Moving Still video via YouTube
If you've been following this series all the way through, first of all, thank but secondly I like to note that the listings can change at a moments notice. However, if you see Deaf Club listed on your sheet of potential personal appearances, you might want to take a highlighter to that shit.


  • Thursday, March 14th - Flat Top Burger Shop - 6pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Avenue on Congress Rooftop - 12am *OFFICIAL*

***Previously Featured Artist: Cheers Elephant***

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SXSW 2013 Preview: Cheers Elephant



If Philadelphia-based band Cheers Elephant were Canadian, they would most certainly be on Arts & Crafts Records. Maybe that doesn't mean anything to you but to me that means they make radio-pop but not the sort that actually gets played on the radio anymore. Think of a band like Stars or Broken Social Scene, their music is so perfect for Adult-Contemporary radio but they don't get the airplay. It seems to me that Cheers Elephant is a band that wants to capture the spirit of a band like The Cars while maintaining their indie-rock-cred on the streets of Illadelphia.


Cheers Elephant - Doin' It Right video via YouTube

I highly doubt Cheers Elephant will only be performing twice while in Austin for SXSW but this is a good start. Keep an eye out for their name while your sifting through all of the show.

  • Wednesday, March 13th - Lucille on Rainey - 9:20pm
  • Friday, March 15th - Wardenclyffe Gallery (1101 Springdale) - 3pm

***Previously Featured Artist: Caveman***

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SXSW 2013 Preview: Caveman



If this is your first time reading this blog then you don't know how much I love Brooklyn-band, Caveman. If you're a regular or even semi-regular reader then you already know that this is one of my favorite contemporary indie-bands. When they play Austin, I do anything and everything I can to get people to attend their shows. When they release music, I post it. I guess what I'm trying to say is LISTEN TO CAVEMAN!!! LOVE THEM LIKE YOUR CHILDREN! If you're a fan of Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire or Local Natives then for the love of all that is holy catch a set from Caveman.


Caveman - Vampirer/Old Friend video via YouTube

I found a few listing for Caveman performances during SXSW.
  • Wednesday, March 13th - IFC Crossroads House - 10pm *OFFICIAL*
  • Thursday, March 14th - Bar 96 - 9:30pm *OFFICIAL*
  • Friday, March 15th - Red Eyed Fly
  • Saturday, March 16th - Hype Hotel - 9pm

For those of us who live in Austin year-round, Caveman will be back in Austin on April 1st at the Parish. Get tickets now before you forget.

***Previously Featured Artist: XXYYXX***

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SXSW 2013 Preview: XXYYXX



I know that some of you are going to be dismayed at the music of XXYYXX and I respect that it's not for everyone. However, I am completely under this barely-legal-teen DJ's spell. His slow, woozy, DEEP, bass grooves riff on late 90's R&B music after plodding through some laborious intros. If there is such a thing as Special K electronic music, this is it. The vocals are, generally, barely recognizable samples of songs that sound familiar. Is that Beyonce? Sade? TLC? The answer to those questions and more, is yes. Are those samples cleared? Most likely not. XXYYXX is a bedroom artist, so who knows how the songs will translate live but I am making a point to catch one of his sets to find out. I'm also, curious as to how the kids dance to this.


XXYYXX - About You video via YouTube

XXYYXX is performing three times in the span of one day during his visit to SXSW, an obvious benefit to the life of a laptop DJ.

  • Friday, March 8 - AMOA Arthouse - 12am
  • Friday, March 15th - Red 7 - 2pm
  • Friday, March 15th - 219 West- 6pm
  • Friday, March 15th - Maggie Mae's - 1am
  • Saturday, March 16th - Mohawk - 12am

***Previously Featured Artist: Foxes***

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Posted by Unknown at 8:44 AM
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Thursday, March 7, 2013

SXSW 2013 Preview: Locals Only

There's this thing, for those of us who live in Austin, that we won't go out of our way to see local bands during SXSW. They know it. We know it. It's nothing personal and we love our local bands BUT we hung out with them during Free Week and we'll catch them before and after SXSW. We'll tip them when they're working at the coffee shop down the street, when we're all just being normal people who live in our neighborhoods. But during the festival, we're probably going to try to see some bands from out of town. Obviously, I don't speak for every person, blogger, band member, whatever BUT I know that I'm not the only person who feels this way either.

If you DON'T live here in Austin and you're just experiencing our city during SXSW let me assure you that it's not always like this here. We're normally a much cleaner, calmer environment at least our areas that aren't Dirty Sixth St. Our coolest places to eat always have lines but not lines like THIS. Our traffic always licks taint but it doesn't lick taint this nasty. Generally, our parking lots are for parking cars not constructing gigantic vending machines for money-hungry pop-rappers to perform atop. However, I should also add, Austin ain't so great and moving here is a REALLY bad idea. Have you been to Detroit? I hear it's getting really good. Maybe you'd like to move there instead? Or Pittsburgh, maybe? The Burgh? Check it out, you might like it. Thanks for visiting!

Seriously though, we have some great fucking bands and you shouldn't miss these ones in particular:
  • Dana Falconberry
    • Tuesday, March 12th - Cheer-Up Charlies - 5pm
    • Tuesday, March 12th - Valhalla - 10pm
    • Wednesday, March 13th - The Liberty - 2pm
    • Wednesday, March 13th - J. Blacks - 6pm
    • Friday, March 15th - Mugshots - 3:30pm
    • Friday, March 15th - Side Bar - 4:20pm
    • Saturday, March 16th - Brass House - 12am





    Dana Falconberry - Petoskey Stone video via YouTube

    • _______________________________________________________

  • Letting Up Despite Great Faults
    • Tuesday, March 12th - Cheer-Up Charlies - 10:30pm
    • Friday, March 15th - Side Bar - 3pm
    • Friday, March 15th - Maggie Mae's Gibson Room - 1am


    Letting Up Despite Great Faults - Teenage Tide video via YouTube

    • _______________________________________________________

  • Boy Friend
    • Saturday, March 16th - The Iron Bear - 8pm *FREE*

    • _______________________________________________________

  • The Calm Blue Sea
    • Wednesday, March 13th - Maggie Mae's - 11pm


    The Calm Blue Sea - Literal video via YouTube

    • _______________________________________________________

  • Feathers
    • Monday, March 11th - Elysium - 11pm
    • Wednesday, March 13th - Club Deville - 4:30pm
    • Wednesday, March 13th - Buffalo Billiards - 8pm


    Feathers - Soft video via YouTube

    • _______________________________________________________

  • Orthy
    • Sunday, March 10th - Mohawk - 10:30pm
    • Tuesday, March 12th - The North Door - 9:20pm
    • Friday, March 15th - StubHub Live @ Old School - 8:55pm


    Orthy - Sueños video via YouTube

    • _______________________________________________________

  • Mirror Travel
    • Wednesday, March 13th - Maggie Mae's - 8pm



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Posted by Unknown at 5:03 PM
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SXSW 2013 Preview: Foxes



U.K. artist Foxes is neither a fox nor a plural. It is a singular woman, whom I suppose one could call foxy but whose actual name is Louisa Rose Allen. She is barely 22 years old and already her song Echo is receiving International attention. I was just drinking a lot of cheap, domestic beer when I was 22.

Like so many of my highlight artists, Foxes make synth-pop that seems sugary but has a bitter finish. She doesn't have a lot of material out here in the ether just yet but what is out here is pretty fucking awesome if you ask me.


Foxes - Echo video via YouTube

Foxes have 5-6 appearances planned for SXSW but as usual, these details could change at the drop of hat, so stay on your toes! Also, some of these events are private, invite-only or require an RSVP. Don't look at me, I don't make the rules.
  • Wednesday, March 13th - Red Eyed Fly - 1am
  • Thursday, March 14th - Cedar Door -2:30pm
  • Thursday, March 14th - MTV Woodie Awards-9:30pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Belmont - 4:30pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Austin Music Hall - 7:30pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Hype Hotel - 10:00pm

***Previously Featured Artist: Beach Day***

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Posted by Unknown at 3:40 PM
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SXSW 2013 Preview: Beach Day



Beach Day is pretty much the perfect name for the Florida band to whom it refers. Just like their name evokes, they play sunny, stoned, surf-pop. Think Best Coast meets Real Estate with a dash of Cults and you're in the right ballpark. This band was forged upon a foundation of fun but that doesn't mean their songs are throw aways. Pull back the curtains a bit and you see there is some darkness behind those bright eyes.


Beach Day - Beach Day video via YouTube

Beach Day are playing a few times during the festival but something tells me, those of us living in Austin will have a few more chances to see this trio perform later in the year.

  • Thursday, March 14th - Cheers Rooftop
  • Friday, March 15th - Valhalla - 10pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Opal Divine's

***Previously Featured Artist: Mary Epworth***

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SXSW 2013 Preview: Mary Epworth



Mary Epworth moves from genre to genre with ease. There are elements of Nashville both old and new as well as 60's psychedelic-pop and contemporary indie. You can't just listen to the single and think you've got a good idea of what Mary Epworth is all about. Her debut improves with each listen and you notice things you didn't notice the first couple of times around. This will be her first visit to SXSW and you can expect she'll earn herself a lot of new fans while she is here.


Mary Epworth - Black Doe video via YouTube

The only appearances I could find for Mary Epworth are official showcases. Don't let that scare you though, you can pay cash to get into official showcases and for an artist who won't be back in Austin any time soon, it's worth it.

  • Wednesday, March 13th - Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn - 1am
  • Friday, March 15th - Victorian Room at The Driskill - 7pm
  • Saturday, March 16th - Latitude 30 - 3pm

***Previously Featured Artist: Hiatus Kaiyote***

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Posted by Unknown at 10:25 AM
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