Yet another outstanding band hailing from Australia, this four piece from the lovely Blue Mountains seem to be on par with buzz makers Tame Impala. Soooo good. Their much anticipated debut album, Bliss Release, hit Australia earlier this year and is slated for the rest of the world in 2011 (though you can get it on iTunes now). This track, “Meditation Song #2”, will be released as their single in November 22. With their 60’s era boy/girl harmonies and psychedelic jams, what’s not to love? And they keep good company too. The band is currently on tour in Europe with the likes of Tame Impala, Local Natives and The Temper Trap. Yeah, it’s that good.
Yeah, I know. This post is like a month overdue. But since Austin I’ve been in work hell, life hell and right-after-I-downloaded-all-my-SXSW-photos-to-my-Mac-the-hard-drive-fried hell. Thank God for Apple Care and Drobo. I’m back on line and slowly getting back on track. So, without further ado, here are my highlights from SXSW. Better late than never, right?
Best Venue: Luster Pearl on Rainey St. hands down. Great vibe, great bands, great people. Kudos Filter Mag!
Best Celebrity Sightings – The Fader Fort VIP area with Adrian Grenier and Billy Idol to name a few.
Biggest Buzz Band:Broken Bells. Though their cool quotient has substantially dropped now that their debut album is being retailed at Starbucks. Ah well, can’t blame them really. Their album was probably one of the biggest leaks on record.
Cutest Couple: Al and Claire, who after The Broken Bells show at Lustre Pearl dropped on bended knee and proposed. (Sniff.) While that album will always be sentimental for that moment, I will personally always think of them when I hear The Temper Trap’s “Love Lost”. We had such a great time at that show and it’s one of the best, sappiest love albums ever. So this one’s for you, you saps. Congrats!
Best Band Working The Street: San Francisco’s very own The Ferocious Few and Phantom Kicks. Both working the street crowd hard and making me proud. The Ferocious Few with their signature street performances and Phantom Kicks pressing demo CDs into any willing hand. Including mine. Good job!
God damn, these guys blew my mind in Austin. One of my favorite live performances and one of my favorite albums from ’09. What a voice, what a drummer. These Aussies are going to be huge. Mark my word. Check out their new video for the track “Sweet Disposition” off the album Conditions. Then sing out loud with me…”A moment, a love, a dream, a laugh, a kiss, a cry, our rights, our wrongs….Won’t stop till it’s over/ Won’t stop till you surrender.”
J’adore Le Temper Trap. Really, I do. And it was as much of a surprise to me as it probably is to you. For one, I typically loathe male falsetto vocals. I don’t know why, I just do. But The Temper Trap is different and the sole exception in this category. Lead singer Dougie Mandagi’s falsetto voice is beyond comparison and in a realm unto it’s own. Their debut LP, Conditions, has ruled my airwaves for many months now. And finally, the Melbourne-based band that has won over Europe and Australia is headed our way. They are scheduled to play San Francisco’s The Fillmore on March 12. I suggest you get tickets and see fame in the making.
the OCMD 