Before heading to this year’s music portion of the 2009 SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, TX, many adjectives had been thrown my way to describe the events I was about to experience: crazy, insane, hectic, ridiculous. I was seemingly unprepared: no badge, no prior acquaintance with SXSW, and no previous trips to Austin, but after years of festivals and concerts under my belt, I believed I could handle what was to come. Soon enough, I discovered that SXSW was a breed unto its own.
A sort of musical heaven with substantial access granted by a simple RSVP or early arrival, Austin’s 22nd SXSW never fell silent during my five-day adventure, with music pouring out of every club, restaurant, and bar, and off each downtown street corner. Music saturated the fabric of my SXSW stint: instrumental carry-ons overstocked the Los Angeles to Austin flight; hotel rooms served as rehearsal spaces; shuttles from hotels to the Austin Convention Center transported a mix of musicians, merchandise, and media professionals from 8:30 AM to 3AM; and taxi trips became networking and scouting opportunities. SXSW melded and amplified the most extreme aspects of Vans Warped Tour and the CMJ Music Marathon. Outdoor stages and tents, 80-degree heat, sun and sweat-soaked concert-goers, and street vendors reminiscent of Warped Tour met CMJ’s Indie sound, plethora of artists and venues, thousands of music business professionals, abundance of panels, chaotic and crammed show scheduling, and strategic city navigation. Day parties, night parties, official day showcases, official night showcases, and shows that had nothing to do with SXSW except coincidence kept the 25,000 attendees blissfully entertained by nearly 2,000 bands.
In the short week, I tallied up my “band count” at 41, and hours of sleep at 18. Because several of the bands I heard had caught my ear before SXSW, I expected to be impressed. Yet several new finds deserve special recognition in my “Top Six SXSW Picks”:
1. Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights
Smooth soul and gritty blues come together into a sultry sound that sets a standard for Southern rock. Tyler’s spirited vocals, rollicking riffs, and boisterous attitude channel the best of their Dallas and rock ‘n roll roots. A mind-blowing live act, the group also entertains with their fiery full-length Hot Trottin’ which is available in stores and for download on iTunes. Highlights include “She’s from the Other Side” and “Slow Train.”
www.myspace.com/jonathantylermusic
2. Out From Animals
Out from Chester, UK, this quartet establishes themselves as leaders of the SXSW pack with a musical species evolved from a merry mish mash of electronica, techno, ska, disco, metal, and rock. The band is currently touring their home territory and developing their full-length album, but fans that are chomping at the bit can purchase OFA’s wild EP The National Curriculum at http://www.outfromanimals.co.uk and get schooled in genre-fusion with “No Place Like Home” and “Up All Night.”
www.myspace.com/outfromanimals
3. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Dapperly dressed with a dynamic stage presence, Austin’s guitarist/vocalist Black Joe Lewis and his trusty band The Honeybears revive the classic R& B “shouter” style, big brass sound, and funky mess-around licks, but replace the blues mood with humorous patter. The octet’s Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! is now out for jamming enjoyment with seriously great tracks with not-so-serious vibes. “Boogie” and “Bitch, I Love You” are just two of the fun and funny favorites worth sampling.
www.myspace.com/blackjoelewis
4. The Boxing Lesson
Spacey rock trio from Austin turns and spins heads with a cosmic concoction of breathy vocals, echoing guitar tones, swelling synthesizers, and buzzing bass drones. Get in the ring with their newest record Wild Streaks and Windy Days on iTunes and CDBaby.com, and prepare for knockout tracks like “Back From the Dead,” and “Dark Side of the Moog,” a nod to psychedelic pioneers Pink Floyd and synth-mastermind Robert Moog.
www.myspace.com/theboxinglesson
5. Dawes
Uplifting acoustic guitars culminate with feel-good vocal harmonies, gospel keys, and shuffling beats that relax and warm the soul. The folk-rockers bring brightness to their craft with notably singable melodies and delicate nuances that create a soothing aura on their aptly titled North Hills, a tribute to their home town in California. Lift your spirits with “When My Time Comes” and “Bedside Manner.”
www.myspace.com/dawestheband
6. Izzy the Eskimo
Londoners turned Angelenos hypnotize with atmospheric grunge produced by a ghostly blend of brooding bass, eerie vocals, and haunting guitar feedback. Despite the mysterious air that surrounds the group’s background and underscores their sound, their metal-meets-mesmerism has not gone under the radar. Stay tuned for an official release and chill out to the enigmatic “And the Stars” and trippy “Sleep All Day.”
www.myspace.com/izzytheeskimo
Masters of SXSW 2009
Although much of my SXSW music “scouting” had bordered on haphazard, I found myself standing stage front for particular artists promptly at set time. These performers were not only alumni of SXSW but also alumni of my previous press, and therefore, could not be missed.
Semi Precious Weapons from Brooklyn, NY played a trey of shows at this year’s SXSW Music and Media Conference. Landing a spot at the West Rocks Party at the Beauty Bar on March 19 with Juliette (Lewis), SPW brought more heat to the outdoor tent with their volatile “vampness,” complete with Justin Tranter mounting the speaker system to pose seductively for photographers. Well aware of the press and music business rep’s, and a businessman himself, Tranter vowed, “I don’t care if you’re all press, I still want your filthy money!” and sold the crowd SPW merchandise ranging from over-sized gun and tooth necklaces to yellow totes that read, “I can’t pay my rent, but I’m f***ing gorgeous!”
That same evening at 1:30 AM, the glamour gods exerted themselves once again at Rusty Spurs for a showcase intro’d by celeb gossip king Perez Hilton. In the wee hours of the following morning, lines formed around the block for the A-list event at Maggie Mae’s where Rachael Ray generously hosted the ultimate SXSW party. The masses mingled with artists, and enjoyed Rachael Ray’s signature recipes (Mini- hamburgers and jalapeno mac ‘n cheese were tasty highlights.) and the rowdy line-up, including Ray’s husband’s (John Cusimano) band The Cringe, The New York Dolls, The Hold Steady, The Thermals, Ra Ra Riot, and Semi Precious Weapons, who Ray enthusiastically introduced. Embracing Justin Tranter and grinning with delight, Ray exclaimed, “They call themselves Semi Precious Weapons, but I think they’re VERY precious!” As she hopped off the stage, Ray squealed, “I still want those boots, bitch!” and Tranter proudly prompted her to repeat her statement, this time into the mic.
Tranter made a valiant effort to include all who attended, and asserted, “Come closer! I promise I look better up close!” The glam rockers took advantage of the stage’s structure as Cole Whittle (bass/vocals) and Stevy Pyne (guitar/vocals) catapulted themselves on and off the of the railings and Dan Crean’s drum kit. During the SPW anthem “Rock ‘n Roll Never Looked So Beautiful,” the fashion-forward vocalist dismounted the stage to gather party-goers and managed to squeeze them into the already packed room. The exuberant and accomplished quartet consistently hits high-marks with high-fashion and high-kicks, and SXSW proved to be another striking showcase. Semi Precious Weapons are currently back East prowling the stage with Shiny Toy Guns on April 26 at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA, and on May 16 at Red and Black, Washington D.C. Join the mayhem at www.mysapce.com/semipreciousweapons.
Philly-based Liam and Me trekked thirty-hours west to charm fans for two evenings. Despite an exhausting road trip, LAM lacked signs of van-lag and blasted through a 1 A.M spot at Threadgill’s, a quintessential Texas-themed restaurant/club, on March 18 for the APA Showcase. Matt O’Dowd (vocals/keys) surveyed the breezy space, “We are used to the dark smoky night clubs, but we’re going to do it cabaret style!”, as the band filled the air with a solid set and witty inter-song remarks: “Pretender” “is about being a pathological liar about everything,” and “I Thought You Knew” is “a song about internet pornography.” With each song, LAM’s masterfully clean presentation and virtuosity of its members (Matt O’Dowd-vocals/keys, Dan Larkin-guitar/back vocals, McKenzie-bass, Jon Briks-drums, and Sean Gavigan-on-tour keys/back vocals) revealed creative as well as comic genius. O’Dowd personalized the show, attending to each audience member, shaking hands with the gents, and doling out hugs to the ladies.
The following night, Liam and Me played The Thirsty Nickel which overflowed with devotees and curious club cruisers. Although the Threadgill’s crowd had seemed a tad shy about singing along, perhaps intimidated by O’Dowd’s challenge, “It’s easy to sing along, so if you don’t figure it out by the end of the chorus, I don’t think there’s much we can do for you...,” this was not the case for LAM’s second 2009 Austin appearance. “Don’t Say a Word” prompted widespread accompaniment which featured guest vocalists from the audience, and “Fast as You Can” inspired all-out dancing. “We’re going to slow it down so let’s hold hands,” introduced the romantic “Pretty Black Dress,” and front-row fanatics poured their hearts and souls into every phrase. As promised, Liam and Me “rock[ed] [the audience] and [they] liked it!” Awash in accolades, O’Dowd serenaded spectators and returned to the stage for the final full-band bow. Liam and Me’s single “Say It Out Loud” awaits purchase on iTunes, and LAM plan to grace SONAR in Baltimore, MD on April 24, Hangar 84 in Vineland, NJ on May 2, and The Florida Music Festival on May 16, at the Social in Orlando. Keep tabs on these gentlemen at www.myspace.com/liamandme, and check back often for album release news and tour additions.
Los Angeles’ dreamy and dark rock three-piece, Gliss performed at a bevy of SXSW parties, including The Boxing Lesson Party at Guero’s Taco Bar and Art Rock City at the Austin Art Garage, amid a number of independent showcases. A few miles off the Downtown strip, across the Congress Avenue Bridge, Guero’s Taco Bar loomed more like a small mini-festival than a club setting, decorated by Christmas lights, picnic tables and benches, T-shirt and jewelry kiosks, and a flat, wooden plank stage at the base of a low hill. Always a crowd-pleaser with their instrumental rotations and musical chairs, Gliss presented a number of glistening tracks from their full-length record released on April 7, Devotion Implosion, available on iTunes and stores nationwide. “Anybody Inside,” “Lovers in the Bathroom,” “The Patrol,” and “29 Acts of Love” give audiences 29 more reasons to glow about Gliss. Evident Gliss followers stood out in Guero’s backyard, demanding the sultry “Blue Sky” from 2006’s Love the Virgins.
On the final day at SXSW, Art Rock City, sponsored by Austin’s very own addictively delicious Sweet Leaf Iced Tea, showcased Gliss’s unique choice in venues that tend to unite music, art, and Austin’s picturesque urban backdrop. Behind a cluster of unexpected shops on a dirt-paved lot about a mile from downtown, the Austin Art Garage housed the work of photographers, painters, and craftsmen, while Gliss, The Boxing Lesson, Crash Gallery, Magnetic School, Pop Unknown and Out From Animals provided a multifaceted soundtrack for the multimedia space. Gliss have embarked on an extensive tour that will crisscross the nation over the next two months and return to Los Angeles on June 5 at The Roxy Theater in Hollywood. A concise list of upcoming Gliss gigs is catalogued at www.myspace.com/gliss.
Nico Vega, LA’s lady-led trio, may fool onlookers at first glance. Petite-framed and pretty-faced vocalist Aja Volkman transforms into a heavy metal goddess as soon as music springs from the speakers, releasing herself with raw throaty vocals, growling shouts, uncontrollable hair flinging, and vigorous body thrashing, enabled by hard-hitting drummer Mikey Pena and untamed Rich Koehler on guitar.
Playing both day parties and nocturnal showcases at the Cedar Door and Rusty Spurs (alongside friends Semi Precious Weapons), Nico Vega attracted a mix of headbangers and hipsters with their aggressive rock ‘n roll edge and simultaneously melodic undertones, searching vocals, and perceptive lyrics, “Oh I feel it in my soul...when we cage the rebel.../We dear are all wooden dolls.” The Rusty Spurs shook with Nico Vega’s powerful prowess (despite being a tri-part band sans bassist), and the audience responded with rave reviews for the roaring “Million Years,” “Beast,” and bittersweet “Wooden Dolls” from their 2009 self-titled debut. Such set highlights that touch on Volkman’s varying vocal intensity and vintage rock vigor create a dazzling live show. Pre-summer tour dates scheduled with Gavin Rosedale take Nico Vega throughout the US before returning home to The El Rey Theater in Los Angeles on June 6. For a complete schedule, visit www.myspace.com/nicovega.
A LOT of something for everyone--glam, pop, rock, psychedelic, and metal-- Semi Precious Weapons, Liam and Me, Gliss, and Nico Vega, four bands of rising and recognized talents, are ones to watch. Since my introduction to these musicians, I have witnessed the evolution of their notoriety, showmanship, and artistry. The revolution of their future creative works is highly anticipated!
