Category Archives: SXSW

Codeine Velvet Club – “Hollywood” [MP3]

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Codeine Velvet Club – “Hollywood”

The Fratellis’ Jon Lawler (AKA Jon Fratelli) and singer/songwriter Lou Hickey have a new project called Codeine Velvet Club.  It’s an interesting collaboration with a throwback sound that features an orchestral score written by Mick Cooke of Belle & Sebastian, backing vocals by the Gospel Truth Choir and an array of renowned classical musicians, including legendary trumpeter Derek Watkins. Their self-titled U.S. debut will release April 6th on Dangerbird Records. The album will be available for digital purchase on March 16th. A host of SXSW shows are planned as well followed by a West Coast tour supporting Metric. Check it out.

3/17  The Parish (SXSW)                          Austin, TX
3/18  Austin Convention Center (SXSW)   Austin, TX
3/19  Rusty Spurs (SXSW)                        Austin, TX
3/20  Cedar Street (SXSW)                       Austin, TX

SXSW Preview: Warpaint

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Warpaint – “Elephants”

I’ve really been enjoying this recent (mostly) girl band discovery from Los Angeles, Warpaint. And by the looks of their SXSW schedule, so is everyone else.  Seeing that they are on the showcase line up for the biggest tastemakers on the Internet – including WOXY, Aquarium Drunkard, My Old Kentucky Blog, Pitchfork and Gorilla vs Bear – I’d say the future looks bright for this group who’s debut LP will be released later this year.

Mar 17 2010 2:00P
SXSW: AUSTINIST/WOXY DAY PARTY @ THE MOHAWK Austin, Texas
Mar 17 2010 3:30P
SXSW: PURE VOLUME PARTY @ PURE VOLUME HOUSE Austin, Texas
Mar 17 2010 11:45P
SXSW: ROUGH TRADE SHOWCASE @ EMO’S JR. Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2010 1:00P
SXSW: URBAN OUTFITTERS BACKLOT PERFORMANCES Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2010 3:00P
SXSW: MOKB / GORILLA VS. BEAR’S BIG BLOG PARTY @ THE SPACE Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2010 4:30P
SXSW: AQUARIUM DRUNKARD PARTY @ LAMBERT’S Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2010 12:00P
SXSW: WINDISH / PITCHFORK PARTY @ EMO’S JR. Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2010 3:15P
SXSW: LITTLE RADIO DAY PARTY @ RED EYED FLY Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2010 5:00P
SXSW: DICKIES SOUNDS SHOWCASE @ LUSTRE PEARL Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2010 2:30P
SXSW: 40 WATT DAY PARTY @ THE SIDE BAR Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2010 5:00P
SXSW: DO512 DAY PARTY @ THE COMPOUND Austin, Texas

SXSW Preview: The Pack A.D. – “Crazy” [MP3]

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The Pack A.D. – “Crazy”

If these girls are going crazy, then sign me up.  The stripped down Vancouver duo, calling themselves The Pack A.D., packs a real rock and roll punch with their ferocious brand of bluesy garage rock. Their new album, “We Kill Computers”, comes out April 27.  They’ll be hitting SF en route to Austin.  So catch them March 10 at Thee Parkside or at one of the SXSW showcases. All aboard the crazy train.

SXSW Schedule
Mar 18, 2010: AFM Canada/ACTRA RACS Party @ Canada House – on at 12:30pm
Mar 18, 2010: Mint/Six Shooter Hootenanny @ Headhunters – on at 3:55pm
Mar 18, 2010: The Best Damn Day of Duo’s ever @ Pie Guys Pizza – on at 6pm
Mar 19, 2010: Showcase show @ Jaime’s Spanish Villa w/ Grand Analog – on at 12am

SXSW Preview: Lawrence Arabia

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Lawrence Arabia – “Apple Pie Bed”

Lawrence Arabia is the alter ego of New Zealander James Milne – a former member of bands like The Ruby Suns, The Brunettes and The Reduction Agents as well as a touring member of Okkervil River. James is stepping into the limelight with his debut album, Chant Darling, and is currently touring Europe in support of Beach House. He’s expected to unleash his pop magic to the US masses starting in Austin next month at SXSW. One to watch for sure.

SXSW Preview: Butterfly Explosion – “Chemistry”

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Butterfly Explosion – “Chemistry”

Do you like shoegaze? Or perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic for the 90s? Look no further than Dublin-based, Butterfly Explosion, who’s debut album “Lost Trails” is out now digitally.  The group is venturing to our shores next month for a handful of performances, including an appearance at SXSW. Look for them at the Bands from Ireland showcase at B.D Rileys on March 19.

This Frontier Needs Heros – “Firefly” [Free MP3]

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This Frontier Needs Heros – “Firefly”

When this Brooklyn-based brother and sister folk duo contacted me about their debut album saying they toured the UK with one of my favorite bands, She Keeps Bees, I couldn’t help but take note.  Indeed there are similarities with their stripped down sound and stories of love, loss and longing, but This Frontier is a more folky variety. Check out the track ‘Firefly’.  And if you’re heading to Austin this year for SXSW, look for them on the schedule.

One to Watch: Imaad Wasif

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Imaad Wasif – “Priestess”

Meet my latest obsession, Imaad Wasif.  No stranger to the indie music scene, the Canadian born, Indian singer-songwriter and guitarist has been in numerous bands including lowercase, The New Folk Implosion and alaska!, but is probably best known as the touring guitarist for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He also contributed to the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack.

His latest album The Voidist is his third solo release and explores his obsession with the idea of love and faith. Channeling the groovy, psychedelic 70s sound, Imaad is like a harder rocking, less kooky version of Devendra Banhardt. But like Devendra, he seems to fully embrace the free love, hippie aesthetic of that era.  Just take a look at his new video for “Redeemer”, featuring naked women worshiping the sun – and each other.

Imaad has been confirmed as a showcasing artist for SXSW 2010 and I look forward to seeing one of his legendary impassioned live performances in person.

I Like It Fast, Rough and Dirty

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SXSW is perfect for guys like me – guys with short attention spans who often find themselves drunk, lost, happily muddled, separated from friends, and attracted to alcohol and music like Angelina Jolie is to orphanages.  So it was with little surprise that, while most of the crew actually stuck to Julie’s carefully-planned schedules and were miles away uptown, I was meandering through the sun-drenched and hipster-thronged streets of downtown Austin in search of another free cold beer and some shade.
Now it may have been just dumb luck, but I do believe that I purposefully made my way into the back patio of Red Eyed Fly to stumble upon Titus Andronicus hurriedly plugging in amps and setting up mikes while an indifferent crowd milled about.  So I was hardly prepared when this group of bedraggled guys launched into an all-out-audio-assault.   It was as if a 19-year-old Paul Westerberg (one of my rock n’ roll gods) was wailing over unpolished, bombastic, fast-driving anthems that bordered between a roided-up Springsteen and Andrew W.K. When the set finally finished and I came to my senses, I wanted to high five someone.   But sadly, as the “lost guy of the group” I found myself unable to share my glee with a crew member.  Sigh.
 “The Airing of Grievances”, T.A.’s first album, and I hope a nod to us “Seinfeld” fans, was released this past January and rocks the whole way through.  Don’t expect produced shoegaze or clever instrumentalism here. In fact, don’t expect much production at all.  This is just sloppy (and I don’t mean that as a criticism), brash music that makes you want to step on the gas, roll down the windows, and punch your car roof while singing at the top of your lungs. Just remember to watch out for pedestrians and cops.

[Guest post by Alan]

Sleepy Sun – “Sleepy Son”

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Listen to Sleepy Sun, “Sleepy Son”.  

Listening to another SXSW discovery this week, San Francisco psych rock group Sleepy Sun and their track “Sleepy Son”, I couldn’t help but muse what I would give to have one some mornings.  Every day I’m startled awake by a little 3 year old drill sergeant who comes barreling into the room announcing “It’s morning time, Mommy!  Get up, get up, GET UP! LET’S PLAY!” 

At what age do we lose our enthusiasm for getting up in the morning?  I’ve given this due thought and can honestly say I can’t recall, but I don’t ever remember having the kind of energy and enthusiasm to greet the day like Judah does. I should feel lucky really because he sleeps until 7:00AM (very humane in the kid world).  Yet I am pained every morning by this process and find myself constantly devising strategies to extend my sleep.  

Set breakfast out the night before? 10 minutes.  Let him use me as a race track for his cars?  20 minutes.  Allow him to do something semi-destructive like launch hot wheels with his car shooter into the wall?  30 minutes.  But the mother of all sleep aids?  TV.  Movies are a regular early morning weekend routine.  We’re talking 90 solid minutes of quiet, blissful, uninterrupted sleep.  A few weeks ago, I found my ace in the hole, Mary Poppins.  2 hours and 23 minutes of sleep heaven!

Foreign Born Live SXSW 2009

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Foreign Born started in San Francisco in 2003 after singer Matt Popieluch and guitarist Lewis Pesacov graduated San Francisco State University. After playing a few shows, the pair went down to LA to clean up their rough demos. The results were promising enough for Lewis and Matt to quit their menial jobs and move down to LA where the current line-up of Foreign Born was, yes, born. 

Their first LP, On The Wing Now, was released in 2007 and their latest effort, Person to Person, is due out in June.  I’m in love with the first single from the album, “Vacationing People.”  Judging by the number of recognizable faces in the audience at this show, I’m not the only one.  Chris from The Morning Benders was as equally excited as I was to be there.  And Grizzly Bear guitarist Ed Droste called Foreign Born his “favorite new band” recently.

Listen to “Vacationing People”