New Releases on
RARadio:
"Darkness" by
Leonard Cohen; "Sweetbread"
by Simian
Mobile Disco and "Keep You"
from Actress
off the Chronicle movie
soundtrack;"Goodbye to Love" from
October Dawn; Trouble in Mind 2011
label sampler;
Black Box Revelation Live on
Minnesota Public Radio;
Apteka "Striking Violet";
Mikal Cronin's "Apathy" and "Get
Along"; Dana deChaby's
progressive rock
Some smart person once said that the value of film and music
reviewers is not the weight of their opinions, but the markers they leave for
the rest of
us to consider them by. Otherwise put, "If he likes it then it must suck!" That
type of thing.
On this year's SXSW page, RARWRITER.com will bring you our
picks for the most interesting music acts available for review at the festival
this year.
Just for context, we have designated
ratings for each act, with
= Somewhat Interesting
and
= Truly Special, with some variations in
between.
These are, of course, subjective measurements to be taken about as seriously as
yesterday's mail, some of which always turns out to be worth keeping.
- RAR
Best Coast
There is so
much to like about Best Coast,
not the least of which is their songcraft. They are at SXSW
2012 and this video below is the Cali duo performing "Why I
Cry" for the first time at Main Stage 2 as part of 35 Denton
Music Festival in Denton, TX. Great energy here, but
then we're "best coast" people.
Nikki Lane
Friday, March 16
10:00PM -10:40PM Club 606
Presented by: IAMSOUND/School Night
Nikki Lane, the Nashville rebel singer-songwriter has got that
certain separating something that issues forth from her blend of energy
and character-laden vocal qualities. She knows how to build a chorus and
a hook without getting all goofy with it, but instead pushing down on
the accelerator just a little harder. Cool act, one of the best at the
IAMSOUND Showcase at Club 606 Friday night.
_____________________
Crap Kids Like at SXSW 2012
Howler
Okay, "crap" may be a little much. Take out the gratuitous
curse words and one might almost mistake this for something
retro and cool. Leave the curse words in, you got something
sort of high school and cliché.
But you be the judge, grandpa has to go lie down...
More from SXSW 2012
2:54 - Is this Anything?
Here we have "2:54"
playing "Live in Paris" at Point Ephémère. The "is this
anything" references the name of the band, which is
apparently comes from a personally scarring moment in the sisters'
musical upbringing; the point at which their Melvin's record
developed a skip, no doubt breaking the mood, and now
they've been moody ever since. They have been mentioned as
an act to watch at SXSW 2012, but only by fans of Sleater-Kinney
and Bikini Kill. Watch this video and you will know why.
SXSW 2012 Breakthrough
Acts
Sharon Van Etten
Remember that little
girl who crawled out of that well in The Ring? She
grew out of that phase, moved to the city, and became a
sensitive folk-rocker named Sharon Van Etten...
Okay, that's not even half true. Truth is, RARWRITER.com
may have missed this one as we have been picking most
interesting acts from SXSW 2012. We didn't immediately
respond to her presentation, and her spooky intensity, but she seems to be going over
big based on a Tuesday night performance at Stubbs. Check
out this video of her below from just a few months back. She
is pretty good. In fact, she gives us shivers!
Alabama Shakes
Sometimes it seems like Janis Joplin gave birth to a million
children, all of whom sing more or less like her. The vast
majority are just, well...copies of the real deal. And then
there is Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes,
who is certainly a Joplinesque force, but not really a
cover. Judge for yourself from the video below. She is at
SXSW 2012 and a lot of people think she and her band are
going to blow up, as frightening an image as that may
be.
Chevrolet Sound Garage
Showcase: Friday, March 16
Chevrolet Sound Garage
Great Friday night lineup if you got a thing for loud
guitars and punk attitude. The video below of Brooklyn's
The Vandelles, while not a great
audio exhibit, gives you a sense for what lies ahead. And ending the
night - The Cult!
Art Rock
at 512 Rooftop
Friday, March 16
512 Rooftop
Presented by: Arts & Crafts
Art Rock is on tap at 512
Rooftop Friday night. It is Canadian, from Toronto, except for the
opener, Antoine Reverb, a psychedelic rock group from - Guadalajara. Not
sure how they got on this bill, but they may fit in to the general
experimental vibe. You can get a sense for what this means by viewing
the video below. It is an impressive brew of art direction and
cinematography supported by a likeable track from
Zeus, not that you learn much about the
band from watching this. Here is the evening lineup:
Antoine Reverb - 8:00PM - 8:40PM Bishop Morocco - 9:00PM - 9:40PM Zeus - 10:00PM -10:40PM The Darcys - 11:00PM -11:40PM
Eight and a Half -12:00AM -12:40AM
Dan
Mangan - 1:00AM - 1:50AM
Salim Nourallah
Showcase: Friday, March 16
11:00PM -11:40PM Cedar Street Courtyard
Salim Nourallah
doesn't seem very Texas, though he is. He has a Beatles fixation, but
his stuff is light and likeable and he is among a really interesting
lineup Friday night at Cedar Street Courtyard, including
Thomas Dolby, The Scoundrels, and
Rhett Miller.
Jack White's
Brides
Friday, March 16
9:15PM - 9:45PM The Stage On Sixth Patio
Presented by: Third Man Records
Third Man Records is the label founded and operated by
Nashville transplant thrash-rocker Jack White.
The label explains itself this way - Third Man Records was originally
founded by Jack White in Detroit, MI in 2001. In March of 2009 a
physical location was established in Nashville, TN. Third Man Records in
its current state contains a record store, record label offices, photo
studio, dark room and live venue with analog recording booth. Almost all
of our records are recorded, printed and pressed in Nashville, TN and
produced by Jack White. In this fashion TMR strives to bring a
spontaneous and tangible aesthetic back into the record business.
The Stage on Sixth Patio is
presenting a Friday evening's worth of Jack White produced music in the
forms of Natural Child, Purling Hiss, Lanie
Lane, The Black Belles, and Pujol.
Even those of us who enjoy Jack White would admit that he has unusual
musical tastes; unusual tastes in general, actually. Or maybe he is just
an unusual human being. Contemplations such as those are enhanced by
this lineup Friday night at The Stage On Sixth Patio. Below are
The Black Belles, who may have been
inspired by Scooby Doo and the Witch's Ghost, which featured The Hex
Girls. That group of witches - a bunch of studio pros, including
the former Go-Gos Jane Wiedlin - would have been far too slick for Jack
White's musical ethos, which tends toward the ragged, but their general
look may have inspired the direction - also Jack White's - of the video
below.)
Karen Elson
Showcase: Friday, March 16
10:00PM -10:30PM The Stage on Sixth
Karen Elson has really given herself
to the Jack White thing, including contributing a marriage, two
children, and a divorce. Elson, who is British and has a twin sister
(filmmaker Kate Elson), was on the cover of Italian Vogue at age 18 and
had an enormously successful modeling career while developing her
musical chops. She was a member of the New York City cabaret troupe The
Citizen Band, and sang backup vocals for Robert Plant, then dueted with
Cat Power. Her mesmerizing take on Donovan's classic "Season of the
Witch" was featured on the HBO vampire saga True Blood. Karen
Elson met Jack White when she appeared in The White Stripes music video
for "Blue Orchid".
Jack White
Showcase: Friday, March 16
11:45PM -10:30AM The Stage on Sixth
Jack White
is most certainly among the true characters in all of rock history, and
certainly among the most "pure" of our present minstrel set. It has
never been clear to me if he is actually much beyond an average
competent player, but it hardly matters because he is clearly a way
beyond average competent showman. He may not be transformative as a
musician, but as a performer he is transportative. Somehow I know
you understand what I mean by that.
Rock
Activism:
Swan Dive
Friday, March 16
500 Comal St
Age Policy: 21+
The Swan Dive has a
fascinating lineup, just right for the rowdy lets-occupy-something
crowd. One could do a lot worse than occupying the Swan Dive Friday
night. Check out this lineup and the great Tom
Morello video below.
Magic Wands presented by Bright
Antenna Showcase - 7:30PM - 8:10PM - Magic Wands are a two-piece
“wall of white guitars” band out of Nashville Beware of Darkness presented by
Bright Antenna Showcase - 8:30PM - 9:10PM - Beware of Darkness is a
bold, new power-trio of old souls, pissed at life in a modern age. Los
Angeles CA Flagship presented by Bright Antenna
Showcase - 9:30PM -10:10PM - Over the past several years The American
South has been teeming with innovative music and Charlotte North
Carolina’s songbird, Drake Margolnick is poised to be the next to carve
his name in the bark. English Teeth featuring
Otis Gibbs and Elijah Ford presented by
Jail Guitar Doors Showcase - 10:30PM -11:10PM - "English Teeth are a
raucous British Invasion style rock band with plenty of energy and a
fantastic live show. Austin TX Wayne Kramer presented by Jail
Guitar Doors Showcase - 11:30PM -12:10AM -
Wayne Kramer has lived a life of music and activism. He was the teenaged
founder of Detroit's incendiary MC5. Los Angeles CA Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
presented by Jail Guitar Doors. Former Rage
Against the Machine guitarist has become an important voice in
issue-oriented music of the 21st Century.
Tori Vasquez
Showcase: Friday, March 16
11:00PM -11:40PM Stephen F's Bar
Tori Vasquez is a Texas girl with a
relaxed and smooth singing style to go with similar characteristics
displayed in her songwriting. She has a lot of what it takes to break
out of the pack and become something notable. She is pleasant to listen
to, which you can enjoy Friday night at Stephen F's, which is presenting
a wildly eclectic night of alt-country, punk and singer-songwriters.
Sofia Talvik
12:00PM -12:40PM Stephen F's Bar
It is hard to do anything other than like Sofia
Talvik, partly because you don't expect a Swedish girl to
sound quite so American, almost southern country, and you don't expect
the clever turns of phrase in her songs. And, finally, you for some
reason don't anticipate how catchy her stuff is. She and Tori Vasquez
make a really interesting couple hours at Stephen F's Bar, with the
final act of the night being Robbie Robertson
protégé Peter Bradley Adams.
Country
Special: The White Horse
Friday, March 16
500 Comal St
Age Policy: 21+
Fans of real country will
enjoy the lineup at the White Horse tonight.
Rosie and the Ramblers Showcase - 9:00PM - 9:40PM From
lonesome ballads invoking the Old West to modern rock and country, this
band produces the perfect mix of heartbreakers and dance tunes. Rosie
and the Ramblers will have you crying in your beer one minute and
whirlin...Austin TX
Jim
Stringer Showcase - 10:00PM -10:40PM - Austin TX
Brennen Leigh Showcase - 11:00PM -11:40PM - If what passes
for country music these days gives you a headache, Brennen Leigh has the
remedy.” So wrote the Austin Chronicle in a review of the talented
singer-songwriter’s latest album The Box. - Austin TX
Roger Wallace Showcase - 12:00AM -12:40AM - Austin TX
Mike
and the Moonpies Showcase - 1:00 AM - 1:50 AM
Arkells
Showcase: Friday, March 16
11:00PM -11:40PM Trinity Hall
Canadian Music Week sponsors the set
of showcases at Trinity Hall Friday night. Of the bunch,
Arkells, who
splashed with a popular iTunes track, is typical of what is on tap:
youthful, uptempo Pop, for the most part.
Woody Guthrie Centennial
Tribute
St David's Bethell Hall -
Thursday, March 15
Presented by: The GRAMMY Museum's Woody Guthrie Centennial Tribute
301 E 8th St
The Austin community -
permanent and transitory - turns out for a series of short-set tributes
to somebody named Woody Guthrie, who would have been one hundred years
old by the time he got through listening to all these scheduled tributor
types. It's quite a list that even includes old Woody's son Arlo, who
must be pushing one hundred himself. Those highlighted are the ones that
jump out at us as most intriguing.
8:00PM Garland Jeffreys
8:15PM Ruthie Foster
8:30PM David Garza
8:45PM
Ray Wylie Hubbard
9:00PM Carrie Rodriguez
9:15PM Ray Benson
9:30PM Lila Downs
9:45PM Michael Fracasso
10:00PM The Mastersons
10:15PM Colin Gilmore
10:30PM Shannon McNally
10:45PM Joel Rafael
11:00PM The Hobart Brothers &
Lil' Sis
11:15PM Max Gomez
11:30PM Jimmy LaFave
11:45PM
Arlo Guthrie
12:30AM Kat Edmonson
Jordan Cook
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM Trinity Hall
Jordan Cook
has some big-time guitar skills, and he has the seasoned voice of a true
rock'n blues wailer. Unfortunately, his tunes all pretty much stink, but
he is so good that he uplifts them with the sheer force of his energy
and talent as a player. Cook did an entire month at the Viper Room in
L.A., which is a residency most rockers would die for. This dude really
is great and it would be nice to hear him paired with a master
songwriter to see what the ceiling on this baby really is. Check him
out.
Independent Label Group
Showcase
Soho Lounge - Thursday, March
15
217 E 6th St
Age Policy: 21+
You kinda have to like the lineup at Soho Lounge on Thursday night,
if you are a trending "youthy" as a hipster.
1:00PM TAIWAN! Sounds Delicious
8:00PM
Stepdad
9:00PM
Secret Music
10:00PM
Magic Wands
11:00PM
Geographer
12:00AM
The Chain Gang of 1974
1:00AM
Miniature Tigers
Texas Legends Showcase
Saxon Pub - Thursday, March
15
1320 S Lamar Blvd
Age Policy: 21+
Texas Legendsis showcasing its roster of old farts over at Saxon Pub on
Thursday night. These happen to be old farts worth taking in.
8:00PM
Folk Uke
9:00PM
Johnny Nicholas & Hell Bent
10:00PM
Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel
11:00PM
Van Wilks
12:00AM
Al Staehely
1:00AM
Guns of Navarone
Garland Jeffreys
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
10:00PM -10:40PM Palm Door
Age Policy: 21+ 401 Sabine Street
Holy shit, Garland
Jeffreys! Pardon my vulgarism, but Jeffreys is a special
case, a guy who has been giving himself to interesting themes and cool
sounds for seemingly ever, releasing his first Atlantic Records LP in
1973. There is something very Lou Reed about Jeffreys, owing to shared
Syracuse University backgrounds and time coming up through the same New
York clubs, as well as the affinity each shares for the sucker punch,
usually packed with observation about some vulgar aspect of contemporary
urban life. Reed wins the overall exchange for getting there first and
setting the standard for street poetics, but Jeffreys is the more
musical, and he hasn't lost a bit of bite with age. This should be an
interesting appearance at the Palm Door Thursday night.
Barsuk Showcase
Red Eyed Fly
Thursday, March 15
715 Red River St
Age Policy: 18+
Barsuk Records is the Seattle label that has been churning
out Indie records since 1994, and presents some of the biggest bands of
the kind, including Death Cab for Cutie, Riley
Kilo and They Might Be Giants.
Theirs is one of the great rosters in modern recording history, so it
stands to reason that their Thursday night showcase at
Red Eyed Fly would be pretty cool. And it
is:
Say
Hi - Seattle band currently has their 7th record, "Um, Uh
Oh," out on Barsuk records. Yellow Ostrich - Brooklyn band
Ramona Falls - Portland band Laura Gibson - Portland songwriter &
multi-instrumentalist
Nada
Surf (acoustic) - Brooklyn band broke in 1992; rare chance to
catch now-classic Indie Rockers doing acoustic versions Cymbals Eat Guitars - Staten Island
band, broke big in 2009.
Exitmusic
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM Mohawk
Age Policy: 21+ 912 Red River
Quick! Somebody wake up David Lynch and tell him
his ride is here. Or at least his Exitmusic.
The trippy Brooklynites will be performing in a room of red draperies,
at least spiritually, at the Mohawk on Thursday night. It might be
interesting to see what they conjure up.
Nick Waterhouse with Drummer
Ty Segall
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM ND
Nick Waterhouse
out of L.A. has the cherry 11 p.m. slot for the
Windish Agency's Thursday night showcase of R&B. Waterhouse is
sufficiently retro, nothing really special except that in this video
below drummer Ty Segall takes the
stage to sit on a tune called "Time's All Gone", and somehow the entire
band suddenly gets better. Just watch for the drummer, and if you like
old school blues you could do worse than the ND on Thursday night.
Twin Atlantic
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM Latitude 30
Age Policy: 21+ 512 San Jacinto St
The Scots of Twin
Atlantic have a bit of star power to go with their nicely
crafted rock.
Nightmare and the Cat
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM The Loft
Nightmare and the Cat
are a couple brothers out of L.A. who seem to
understand how this rock thing is done. They are cool, glib, clever, and
oh-so-trendy in sound and stage style. Besides having strong tunes,
these dudes have know how at a really young age. Watch these guys
perform. In songwriting trickery they
sort of put me to mind of Squeeze, of yesteryear, as they
synthesize a range of recognizable influences into something that is all theirs. In stage style they
are a lot more like INXS in their day.
Taken by Cars
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
9:00PM -9:40PM The Loft
Taken by Cars
is an interesting entry from Philippines. They are
big in Manila, for those of you who like "big in..." references. Front
person Sarah Marco has a Natalie
Merchant vibe about her, which somehow separates Taken by Cars'
techno-pop from that of a million other bands who sound about this same
way. They strike one as a band that could score a hit or two somewhere
in this world, and they are part of a really strong Thursday night bill
at The Loft.
Oddest Video at SXSW 2012
Javiera Mena's Furry Quest
Okay, so you go through this whole video saying to
yourself, "So Javiera Mena is a
furry..." Which sort of pushes you to watch the whole thing, right? Oh
te cuesta nada-te cuesta nada indeed! But I guess I didn't see coming
what...oh, just watch. Javiera Mena won't be the best thing at this
year's SXSW music festival, but in some ways she will be most memorable
for this weird video.
Imaginary Cities
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
12:00AM -12:40AM Maggie Mae's Gibson Room
Age Policy: 21+ 512 Trinity St
Imaginary Cities
is an intriguing act on a number of levels. One is that they are
crafters who work imaginatively in a variety of styles, with dynamics
ranging from minimal to wall of sound, and that appeals to the composerish
types among us. Equally intriguing is the voice of front person
Marti Sarbit, which is not exactly
the winds' sweetest current - in fact, it seems like low pressure areas
constantly cause a nasal trough effect - and yet it provides character
to the sounds of Imaginary Cities, which while interesting, may not
otherwise rise above the maelstrom. You like all this windy bullshit?
Imaginary Cities is the interesting anchor to a strong Thursday night
lineup of Canada Acts. I think they are like Canada Geese, not
"Canadian". This is the Manitoba Music
Showcase.
The Features
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
10:00PM -10:40PM Maggie Mae's Rooftop
The Features
are the Nashville bastard children of Jack White,
apparently, though they are similar in age. They clearly fell from the
same womb, which was apparently positioned over a rail of frenetically
nervous energy that is laudable for its frenetic nervousness. They were
the first signing to Kings of Leon's label, Serpents & Snakes, which
describes The Features as falling "somewhere in the middle between
mainstream and hipster". That, of course, is ridiculous because hipsters
don't have this much energy. Pretty good 10 o'clock show on the Rooftop
at Maggie Mae's, an institution that is having a pretty good night on
every floor.
Deadbeat Darlings
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
9:10PM - 9:45PM Hotel
Vegas Patio
Age Policy: 21+ 1500 E 6th St
The trans-Atlantic
Deadbeat Darlings are the top thing on tap at the Hotel Vegas
Patio Thursday night, and their up-tempo Pop will be one of the better
highlights of the festival. They are followed by another New York City
favorite, Black Taxi, with which
they have some things in common. Black Taxi is highly musical and
stylish, rather like Deadbeat Darlings.
Green Room Music Source
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
Lamberts
401 W 2nd
Green Room Music Source is presenting a Showcase at Lamberts on
Thursday night that is strong beginning to end, while being just
middle-of-the-road enough to make for a sane and satisfying night.
Here is the list:
The Grownup Noise - Pop - 7:30PM
- 8:00PM - Boston Indie-Pop/Americana Goldenboy - Rock - 8:15PM - 8:50PM
California band The Honeydogs - Rock 9:05PM - 9:40PM
- Minneapolis long timers The Melismatics - Rock - 10:00PM
-10:40PM Minneapolis band with a new album produced by Jon Auer of The
Posies and Big Star, along with Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack,
Golden Smog, The Replacements) and mixed by John Fields (Jimmy Eat
World). The Figgs - Rock - 11:00PM -11:40PM
- Celebrating 25 years - New York, Graham Parker's backing band. Tommy Stinson - Rock - 12:00AM
-12:40AM - New Yorker and bassist of the legendary Replacements, now
with Guns N’ Roses and Soul Assylum.
Rock the Cause - Minnesota Remembers Vic Chesnutt
Venue:
Friends
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
Oklahoma Music Showcase
Age Policy: 21+
208 E 6th St
What is with the Oklahoma City and Tulsa folks? That
state, and particularly those places,
produce the most strangely inspired musical types - think Flaming Lips
to Kristin Chenoweth
- and there is all kinds of that odd energy at play Thursday night at the
Oklahoma Music Showcase at Friends. It just sounds so
much less cool than it
is.
8:00PM
Fiawna Forté
9:00PM
Green Corn Revival
10:00PM
Jacob Abello
11:00PM
Junebug Spade
12:00AM
J.D. McPherson
1:00AM
OK SWEETHEART
Riverboat Gamblers
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
10:45PM -11:40PM Haven
Not much going on at Haven on Thursday night, until
The Riverboat Gamblers take the stage at 10:45 p.m. for a slightly
longer set. Everybody is playing a few minutes longer, with only four
acts on the billl. The Riverboat Gamblers are a well established,
high-voltage punk-rock act, and good at doing what they do, but somehow
the whole bill seems like a slow build to midnight show:
Tenacious D.
The Black Angels
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:00PM -11:40PM Empire Auto & Club 606
Austin's own The Black Angels are in the prime
spot Thursday night at the Empire Auto & Club 606 for a really cool
night of music, at least for our money. This is the
Roxy's-AustinRox Showcase, featuring:
Filligar - Chicago rock Nico Vega - Los Angeles rock
Imagine Dragons - Interscope/KidInAKorner
Records rock Das Racist - Brooklyn
Hip-Hop/Rap
The NACO Showcase
presents a handful of Latin acts, from up-tempo pop confections to
serious guitar work from the classically prepared. If you are thinking
about camping someplace, this is not a terrible choice. High-end
musicianship and good vibes.
Los Headaches -
8:00PM - 8:40PM - from Paseos de Taxqueña MEXICO Il Abanico - 9:00PM - 9:40PM - Avant/Experimental
Flamingo from Bogota COLOMBIA Bam Bam - 10:00PM -10:40PM -
Internet favorites from Monterrey MEXICO Juan Cirerol - 11:00PM -11:40PM -
from Mexicali MEXICO Zechs Marquise - 12:00AM -12:40AM -
from El Paso TX
Torreblanca - 1:00AM -1:40AM - Latin
Rock
Venue: Frank
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
407
Colorado Street
Thursday night at Frank is the Misra Showcase. Is that "misra" as in "mis(e)ra"ble?
Misery is in the experience of the beholder, one would guess, and people
who like to experience glib acoustics in the modern folk tradition may
want to check this lineup out: It is a hard group to imagine partying
hardily to, though possible partying "heartily" is an option here.
8:00PM
Water Liars
9:00PM
The Black Swans
10:00PM
Palomar
11:00PM
Southeast Engine
12:00AM R.
Ring - Kelley Deal & Mike Montgomery
1:00AM
Seryn
Venue:
Continental Club
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
Yep Roc Music Group
is an umbrella organization out of North Carolina that provides
recording outlets for "Grammy winners (Dave
Alvin), indie favs (the Apples In
Stereo), punk rock royalty (Billy
Bragg), and the Cocteau Twins
(on their Bella Union label).
They are showcasing a half dozen songwriter acts.
It is a weird mix of conflicted, introspective types at various stages
of musical development. The L.A. people - Eleni Mandell and John Doe -
are veteran types and typical of a dark-Folk strain that has been living
just beneath the radar in their home territory for seemingly ever. It
ain't uplifting. We might show up for the Jim White showcase, at 11 p.m.
White is a legit artist on a number of levels, who shares a
hard-to-quite define edge with the aforementioned Mandell and Doe, like
there might be a razor blade up his sleeve. Consider the Jim White video
below.
Django Haskins
Cheyenne Marie Mize
Jukebox the Ghost
Eleni Mandell
John Doe
Jonathan Wilson Jim White Showcase -
11:00PM -11:40PM
Venue: Elephant Room
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
315 Congress Ave - Age Policy: 21+
Anything in the lineup below would be comfortable to settle into. Great
showcase night of international styles, high quality and refreshing.
Gabriel Santiago Quintet
Showcase - 8:00PM - 8:55PM - The Gabriel Santiago Quintet has
been performing extensively in the United States and in Brazil,
supporting the album “Gabriel Santiago”, released in 2008 (Brazil) and
2009 (USA). Rio de Janeiro BRAZIL
Zona Tango Showcase
- 9:15PM -10:10PM - “ZONA TANGO is a galvanizing force blending
electronic, jazz and traditional styles. Lead by Argentinian pioneer
Pedro Menendez, this Buenos Aires band went beyond the limits of tango.
Buenos Aires ARGENTINA
Robert Glasper Experiment Showcase -
10:30PM -11:25PM - “Real music is crash protected,” state the liner
notes of Black Radio, a future landmark album by the Robert Glasper. New
York NY
Roge Showcase
- 11:45PM -12:40AM - Roge represents the new generation of artists of
the Brazilian Popular Music and his sound is the face of Brazil. He
moves from bossa nova to samba and reggae. Rio De Janeiro BRAZIL
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
12:00AM -12:40AM Dirty Dog Bar
Fans of Heavy Metal will find plenty to like
Thursday night at the Dirty Dog Bar, where FIM/Metal
Hammer is showcasing Motionless in
White, The Innerbeing, Shining, The Defiled, Skindred, and
these knuckleheads at the right, the Norwegian rockers
Audrey Horne. Is that not a Spinal
Tap-worthy band shot? Audrey Horne's ruthless, almost classic sense of
cliché - was not "Audrey Horne" the character Sherilyn Fenn portrayed in David
Lynch's "Twin Peaks"?
(Answer: Yes) - is, for some reason, as entertaining as their mug
shot. Rock'n night at Dirty Dog Bar if head banging is your thing.
New York Rivals
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:30PM -12:00AM Easy Tiger Patio
The New York Rivals
are the best thing happening at Easy Tiger Patio BMI showcase. These
guys have quickly established a buzz in the NYC area for their homegrown
sound reminiscent of The Strokes. Only together for a few months (since
September 2011), they have already opened for The Lemonheads,
Electric 6, Urge Overkill, and Shonen Knife, holding their own quite
nicely, thank you. Josh Moran on
vocals and guitar, Erik Rudic on
lead guitar, Nash Breen on some
thunderous drums and Gianni Scalise
taking the bass, released a debut self-titled album in October, paired
with a chaotic DIY music video for their single “I’m Not Ready Yet,” and
most recently recording a live EP with punk icon
J Robbins, Muzzle the Kids, which is set for a late spring
release. BMI chose New York Rivals
as their East Coast Pick for the 2012 South By Southwest Festival in
Austin. Having signed on with The Agency Group,
and with a headlining tour that will take them across the U.S.
throughout this entire year.
If
catching the rocket on the way up is your thing, the New York Rivals
show would be an excellent way to spend your Thursday night. The band is
cool, the vibe is has a winning feel to it.
Shiny Toy Guns
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
11:45PM -12:25AM Chevrolet Sound Garage
Shiny Toy Guns
has been around for awhile, since 2005, but five years before that
alternative/electronic sound composers Chad
Petree and Jeremy Dawson
(Oklahoma natives) that has been featured on big time video game
releases Grand Theft Auto III in 2000 and Cloud2ground. For Shiny Toy
Guns, the duo added vocalist Carah Faye Charnow,
guitarist Daniel Johannson, and
drummer Mikey Martin.
Their debut album, We Are Pilots
was originally released in January 2005, garnering them one Grammy Award
nomination in the category of Best Electronic/Dance Album. The band's
second studio album, Season of Poison, was released in 2008. In
March 2011, the band released a new single "The Sun", available to
download for free. These guys have an '80s sound that now comes across
as classic rock, electronic rock having come of age some time ago, and
perfect for teen soundtracks. Shiny Toy Guns is likely a sure bet show
from a set of savvy pros.
The Stone Foxes
Showcase: Thursday, March 15
10:15PM -10:55PM Club 606
These young San Francisco Bay Area dudes
- brothers Shannon and Spence Koehler, Aaron Mort and Elliott Peltzman -
must have grown up with some Hippie parents, because they are tapped
into a vibe that hasn't really existed since the middle-late 1960s. They
are cool in that way that the first wave of flannel rockers were cool.
"Entertainers" were going low profile, with all the mak show
sequestered and all the self-confidence set to Gain. Somehow, in the
hands of The Stone Foxes, this is really appealing and it will likely be
a satisfying Thursday show.
Lily & the Parlour
Tricks
Showcase: Tues., March March 15, 11:10PM -11:45PM
18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn
The NYC girls can sing harmonically,
somewhat reminiscent of Rare Silk, of yesteryear, and the songwriting is
sharp, if not exactly radio hit worthy. Besides vocal chops, the trio of
femme fatales has big-time visual appeal, which gives them lift beyond
their apparent radio potential.
Guards
Showcase: Tues., March March 15, 12:05AM -12:40AM
18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn
Guards
are Richie James Follin, Loren Ted Humphrey,
Kaylie Church and
John Fredericks. Another NYC outfit,
this one with a commercial-friendly sound that is musical and universal
in the scope of its subject matter, which is to say effectively
non-specific. This works in today's songwriting competitions and
positioning for airplay.
Robert Francis
Showcase: Tues., March March 15, 1:00AM - 1:50AM
18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn
L.A. singer-songwriter Francis has a lot
going for him, from a folksy style to a photogenic face. He lives in
that acoustic realm characterized by James Blunt, Jack Johnson, and a
hundred other coffee shop singers from the past decade, making him a
comfortable listen, possibly worth staying up for on Night One of the SXSW 2012 music showcases.
Dent May
Showcase: Thursday, March 15, 12:00AM -12:40AM
512 Rooftop
Part David Byrne, part Weazer all wrapped
up in a single personality, Jackson, Mississippi native
Dent May is a subversive blend of
hazy sincerity and outright put-on. He should be worth the time around
midnight, after you have had a few so that the silliness can waft over
you, possibly transplanting you to the little town, population 300, that
gave rise to such a character.
Cloud Nothings
Showcase: Thursday, March 15, 1:00AM -2:00AM
512 Rooftop
This is a truly inspired paring,
following the Midnight show with the very entertaining
Dent May. The
Cloud Nothings are a quartet of sillies from Cleveland, Ohio
who make a jangle-pop sound that has worked since at least 1964.
Chuck Mead
Showcase: Thursday, March 15m 8:00PM - 8:40PM
Antone's
Okay, so I'm an old Lawrence, Kansas-boy
myself, and a cornball country music fan to boot, so I am going to be at
the Chuck Mead show if I am anywhere
near Antone's on Thursday night. Mead is a
pro, an authentic talent, and easy to like. He isn't exactly breaking
new ground with his retro-tonk, but SXSW is an exercise in determining
whether or not any new musical ground is ever broken at all, so there's
plenty of room for industry standards such as those upheld by this dude.
Punch Brothers
Showcase: Thursday, March 15m 11:00PM -11:40PM
Antone's
These Brooklyn hillbillies leave me
speechless with the wonder of their musicality, compositional skill,
virtuosity and style. What more could you want? The video below is
probably a little more cerebral than you'll get at 11 p.m. at Anthone's,
but you get the point. These guys are great!
honeyhoney
Showcase: Thursday, March 15m 12:00AM -12:40AM
Antone's
The L.A. music scene seems rich these
days with rebel acoustic outlaw duos who sing about existential stuff
and seem a little bit like forerunners of doom, and yet are somehow
beautiful. Ditto honeyhoney. This video is about as homespun as one
could get, but stay with it and something extraordinary unveils itself.
These folks have something going on here, or at least whatever they are
doing they are doing it well.
Leafy Green is the
Todd Cote Management agency, which books internationally and
promotes artists primarily from the West Coast. Their roster is typified
by slightly out of the mainstream rock acts, a sampling of which are
showcasing at The Bat Bar on
Thursday, March 15. Check out the
SXSW Schedule for the roster, but RARWRITER.com advises missing this
one.
Love Drug
Showcase: Thursday, March 15, 10:00PM -10:40PM Buffalo
Billiards
Ohio Alt-Rock act
Love Drug seems pretty typical of the
lineup at Buffalo Billiards on Thursday. You won't learn much about the
band from this video below, other than that they have a sound that grows
more ear friendly as it drones on, until it sounds like such a perfectly
natural soundtrack that you can't imagine another better way.
Team Clermont is a Radio Promotion
company, Fire Records in a
long-established independent music label with heavy U.K. and
Scandanavian presence, and Critical Heights
is a record company with a presence in the L.A. "underground". They are
showcasing at the Beale Street Tavern
on Thursday, March 15, and their lineup is pretty spacey, mighty
eclectic, and not really on our list. Still...
Venue: Barbarella
Moog/Switched On/Static
Tongues Showcase
This
collective of techno-electronic promoters is showcasing seven such acts
at Barbarella on Thur.March 15. You
also have an option at the Barcelona,
where the Surefire Agency is
presenting the same type of acts at the same time.
IHEARTCOMIX/BOYSNOIZE Records/Bad Blood
has got a similar thing going over at the
Beauty Bar on Thursday. On Thursday at
Beso Cantina, Tormenta Tropical vs. Mixpak vs. Body High
will showcase international and Latin versions of same.
We won't be any of those places, but watch the
Moog/Switched On/Static Tongues sampler
below. You may be moved to become a DJ, or to at least drag out your old Moog Synthesizer.
Madi Diaz
Showcase: Thursday, March 15, 8:00PM - 8:40PM
Presented by: Thirty Tigers/AC Entertainment
Cedar Street Courtyard
Nashville songstress
Madi Diaz has a recording-perfect
voice and a nice attitude and way with melody to go with. The Thirty
Tigers/AC Entertainment showcase at Cedar
Street Courtyard offers a nice blend of wood-oriented
singer-songwriter types, and then you get Van
Hunt. ►
Van Hunt
Showcase: Thursday, March 15, 8:00PM - 8:40PM
Presented by: Thirty Tigers/AC Entertainment
Cedar Street Courtyard
L.A. rock'n blues belter
Van Hunt seems like the odd tiger in
the Thirty Tigers stable, a real carnivore among a herd of gentle
pussies. After listening to all the sweet vocal harmonies at Cedar
Street Courtyard throughout Thursday night, Van Hunt may scare the
audience when he hits the stage at 1 a.m. Hunt received a 2007 Grammy
Award for “Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals,” honoring
“Family Affair,” a collaboration with John Legend and Joss Stone found
on the 2006 Sly & The Family Stone tribute album, Different Strokes
For Different Folks. He has toured both as headliner, as well as
alongside such diverse acts as Kanye West, The Roots, Coldplay, Mary J.
Blige, and Dave Matthews Band.
We are updating
this page constantly so check back often! We appreciate your support.
ratings for each act, with
Sharon Van Etten
Audrey
Horne