The Overenders Fan Club

Chappo

2012-02-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

Here's my final post for Male Singer Week(TM). This is a duo from Brooklyn that has already been anointed hip by the cult leadership so it's our job to swoon. Kidding, it's a good song. I don't know much else about them other than this.

Come Home

We've had Female Singer Week, then Male Singer Week. What could be next?

Craft Spells (part 2)

2012-02-10T08:41:00.000-06:00

After I posted that last song I listened to a couple more songs from Craft Spells. This one was worth posting as you can really hear the Ian Curtis sound on it. I like it. "After the Moment" was catchy but not something that would make me search the band out to see. This song may sway me to check the guy out.

The Fog-Rose-High

Craft Spells

2012-02-10T08:22:00.000-06:00

Here's a dance-pop tune for a Friday. You'll be bobbing your head and tapping your feet to this. This is a guy from Stockton, CA. Pitchfork compared his voice to Ian Curtis. I think this song is what he would sound like had he stuck around to play with later New Order.

After the Moment

Fort Lean

2012-02-09T14:35:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon this band from Brooklyn while perusing the music blogs looking for other SXSW bands. I like this song. Has an Alberta Cross feel to it. They haven't put an album out yet, just an EP. However, they played CMJ and got a write-up in the New York Times so I guess a full album should be expected someday.

Sunsick

The Lumineers

2012-02-09T08:50:00.000-06:00

Here's a band from Denver poised to become the next Avett Brothers, if NPR's World Cafe is right. We'd be hearing their songs on KGSR if it hadn't gone to shit and started playing Maroon 5, RHCP, and that ripoff band I refuse to name. (/rant).

Anyway, their debut album comes out in March so SXSW is sort of their coming-out party. From the sound of this catchy tune, they won't be unknown for long.

Ho Hey

little hurricane

2012-02-08T10:08:00.000-06:00

I posted stuff on these guys when they played ACL. They were relative unknowns then but their star is rising. They are re-releasing their bluesy-rock album "Heartbreaker" on May 1st, probably with a big PR push and radio airplay. They've got the sound (and the looks) to make it big.

Haunted Heart

Pickwick

2012-02-08T08:48:00.000-06:00

With the success of Fitz and the Tantrums and the hype over Alabama Shakes, could the next new sound out of Seattle be neo-soul? Pickwick is willing to give it a try. Previously an Americana-folk group, they've changed their sound to soul. This is a good song so maybe they're on to something.

Hacienda Motel

P.S. Neither of the bands I mentioned are out of Seattle. Fitz is from L.A. and Alabama Shakes are from...Alabama.

Music for kids

2012-02-07T15:26:00.000-06:00

This is funny.

Buxton

2012-02-07T10:58:00.000-06:00

Might as well get the folk trend out of the way. This is a band out of Houston that has been signed to New West Records. Their new album just came out. I'm sure they'll be featured at the New West party. This is a nice catchy tune.

Boy of Nine

Hey Marseilles

2012-02-07T10:46:00.000-06:00

We're five weeks from the beginning of SXSW so my postings are going to increase as more bands cross my radar. This is another Seattle band following in the folk footsteps of other Seattle bands. First it was grunge, then folk. What's next for the Seattle sound? I'll speculate tomorrow.

Elegy

Father John Misty

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-06:00

This has been posted on all the other music blogs so probably not new to you but here you go anyway. Those wondering what J Tillman would do after Fleet Foxes didn't have to wait long. This is his new moniker. I guess he didn't like just being J Tillman. He'll be playing the Aquarium Drunkard day party.

Hollywood Forever Cemetary

Conner Youngblood

2012-02-06T09:01:00.000-06:00

Since last week was female singers I'll do male singers this week. First up is a 21-year old Senior at Yale. He's from Dallas. I guess he kills time making music. This song reminds me of "Odelay" and "Sea Change" era Beck.

A Summer Song

Purity Ring

2012-02-03T08:34:00.000-06:00

We saw these guys at FFF fest during the day. They have a nice sound live. Hard to believe they only have 3 songs recorded, yet those 3 songs have taken the indie world by storm. Originally from Edmonton, this duo now lives in Montreal and Halifax. The buzz will be deafening this SXSW.

Lofticries

Polica

2012-02-02T08:33:00.000-06:00

This is my favorite song of the week. It's from a new band out of Minneapolis. It includes Ryan Olson who started Gayngs. Expect big things.

Wandering Star

New Look

2012-02-01T09:13:00.000-06:00

Imagine it's summertime. You're relaxing on the rooftop of the Standard Hotel in downtown LA. You just stepped out of the pool. The waiter brings you a fresh cocktail. It's 72 degrees at dusk. This song is playing in the background.

This duo should be from LA but alas they hail from Hamilton, Canada. I'm sure this song is enjoyable in winter fishing huts on Lake Ontario, too.

Nap On the Bow

Blouse

2012-01-31T09:14:00.000-06:00

Another feminine retro-pop ditty. This is a trio from Portland that has been getting lots of buzz. Very familiar sound but I can't place the similar bands. My synapses aren't firing this morning. Help? The Motels?

Into Black

Grimes

2012-01-30T09:07:00.000-06:00

This week is theme week. The theme is female singers in electro-pop bands. In the vein of Phantogram, Class Actress and Cults, these seem to be multiplying. First up is Grimes. She was at SXSW last year and built up quite a buzz. I think she's on regular rotation on XMU now. This year is expected to be her breakout year. This song is pretty good. I like the vocals contrasted with the Kraftwerk-style background sound.

Genesis

La Femme

2012-01-27T08:28:00.000-06:00

A little Friday fun. This is a new band from Paris that is heading over for SXSW. The singer reminds me of Yelle. This song has me cruising in an Aston Martin in Monte Carlo with Sean Connery in the 60s.

Sur La Planche

Brown Bird

2012-01-26T09:03:00.000-06:00

Here's a band from Providence, R.I. (and Seattle?) that plays country/folk/rock/blues. Different from Deer Tick, though. It looks like it's one main guy with a rotating cast of backups. Right now it's a duo but who knows what will show up at SXSW. This is a good song.

Bilgewater

Honeyhoney

2012-01-25T09:14:00.000-06:00

Another Coachella band, this is a duo from L.A. that sings folk/Americana. They have one song (Ohio) that sounds almost exactly like Civil Wars. I guess the L.A. music machine that brought us my favorite band has decided to try and cash in on the Civil Wars success by promoting a band with a similar sound. I won't share "Ohio" but here's a song that's a little more poppy and not too bad.

Turn That Finger Around

Gardens & Villa

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here's my first predicted breakout band. They're from Santa Barbara but have been adopted by Portland and are starting to get some buzz. I've listened to 3 of their songs and love them all. Signed to Secretly Canadian (home of Here We Go Magic), they're also playing Coachella. I bet they'll be at all the big showcases and day parties but hopefully we can catch them at some point.

Black Hills

Dragonette

2012-01-23T08:24:00.000-06:00

We'll stick with Coachella bands coming to SXSW and might as well stick with Canada, too. This is an electro-pop band originally from Canada but now in London. They scored a huge hit in Europe singing to this song by Martin Solweig. I'm not sure what else they've done but it could be a fun show.

Hello

The Sheepdogs

2012-01-20T10:14:00.000-06:00

From Saskatoon, Canada. These guys won the contest to be the first unsigned band on the cover of Rolling Stone. They're playing Coachella so they should get some attention at SXSW. Total throwback sound (more cowbell!) but this sure is a fun song.

I Don't Know

Zola Jesus

2012-01-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Here is one of the big buzz bands that will be getting lots of attention this year. Reminds me a little of Bats for Lashes. I like it.

Vessel

Letting up Despite Great Faults

2012-01-18T09:04:00.000-06:00

This band is from L.A. and I think they were at SXSW last year. They're coming back again. This song sounds like Raveonettes to me. I listened to another song that reminded me of Postal Service/Death Cab. Kind of derivative but good.

Teenage Tide

Imperial Teen

2012-01-17T08:42:00.000-06:00

I don't think this band has been to Austin since SXSW 2007. I saw them at the Merge Showcase at Antone's and loved them. Lots of enthusiasm and very entertaining. They have a new album out but I like this old song so much I figured I'd share it instead.

Yoo Hoo

Great Lake Swimmers

2012-01-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

I'm going to lazily start the SXSW previews as I'm not ready to dive into discovery mode yet. I'll post bands that have been around before or that I already know. First up is a Canadian band that played SXSW last year and has been around awhile. I previewed them but we didn't get to see them so maybe we can catch them this year.

Pulling on a Line

Top 10 of 2011

2012-01-05T09:51:00.001-06:00

Might as well get this in writing to see if my picks stand the test of time. These are the albums I found myself listening to the most this year. As usual, some of these may have come out in 2010 but I discovered them in 2011. In no order:

Ryan Adams-Ashes and Fire
Other Lives-Tamer Animals
Decemberists-The King Is Dead
Bon Iver-Bon Iver
Jessica Lea Mayfield-Tell Me
Wye Oak-Civilian
Lower Dens-Twin-Hand Movement
Wilco-The Whole Love
Elbow-Build a Rocket Boys!
My Morning Jacket-Circuital

Honorable mention to Antlers, Belle Brigade, Lykke Li, The Head and the Heart, Mother Falcon, and Suzanna Choffel. I also liked the new Fleet Foxes but I don't think it was better than their debut. My personal opinion, obviously.

I haven't even listened to the new Real Estate or M83 yet but they're on everybody else's top 10 list so I'll be getting them shortly.

Choir of Young Believers

2011-11-15T12:58:00.000-06:00

SXSW has already put out two lists of bands coming in 2012 but it still seems so far away that I can't get going on the previews. I'll start researching later but one band immediately got me excited so I had to share. They came to SXSW in 2010 but there were always conflicts and I never saw them. They were supposed to come last year but for some reason they never made it. They better make it this time. I won't be having conflicts, either. They're from Copenhagen and don't make it over here very often so catch them while you can.

Hollow Talk

Other Lives (pt. 2)

2011-11-07T09:53:00.000-06:00

So by now you know Radiohead is coming to Austin. This is the opening band. I posted a song earlier that you should go hear. Here's another song that I have had on repeat all morning. Incredible album. As if there weren't enough reasons to be excited about that show.

Folk Songs

Keep Shelly in Athens

2011-11-03T14:33:00.001-05:00

Mini-FFF fest preview here. If we end up going Saturday it may be worth it to get there by 12:45 to see this band. I think they are actually from Greece (unlike Architecture in Helsinki who are from Australia, I think). Very cool sound. Gorilla vs. Bear is hyping them up. This will be their first ever live appearance in the U.S.

Here are three songs to check out:

Lazy Noon

DIY

Our Own Dream

Sunday summary

2011-09-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

My Sunday ACL lineup

My Sunday picks, designed for minimal walking/wheelchair pushing:

Yellow Ostrich: Indie pop.

little hurricane: blues/rock duo.

Graffiti 6: Soul/pop.

The Head and the Heart: KGSR friendly folk/pop harmonies.

Suzanna Choffel: local chanteuse makes it big

Nick 13: Americana/country

Broken Social Scene: indie pop/rock supergroup.

Elbow: UK rock/pop awesomeness. Highly recommended.

Fleet Foxes: folk

Empire of the Sun: MGMT/Phoenix dance band. Looks like it could be a cool show.

Arcade Fire: In my top 10 of best live shows ever, maybe top 5, and I've seen a lot of live shows. Don't miss a single minute.

Saturday summary

2011-09-15T09:43:00.001-05:00

Had a little blip the other day so didn't get this out. I'll do two in a row.

My Saturday ACL lineup:

Here are Saturday's picks:

Telekinesis: Indie pop

The Antlers: mellow. Highly recommended.

Belle Brigade: Fleetwood Mac style 70s harmonies. Another highly recommended show.

Phosphorescent: Gram Parson's style Americana

Black Dub: Daniel Lanois' latest project. Funk/dubstep

Abigail Washburn: country/pop w/banjo.

The Moondoggies: Fleet Foxes style folk w/a country rock bent.

Fitz and the Tantrums: it's that or Skrillex.

Cut Copy: awesome live act. Highly recommended.

Chromeo: 80s style funk/synth. Really fun.

Stevie Wonder: For once in your life, you have to see him.

Losers

2011-09-13T13:28:00.000-05:00

I said I wanted this song to be experienced live but I just saw this video. Belle Brigade plays Saturday. Watch this. You're welcome:

Friday summary

2011-09-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

I was told it's too hard to scroll through to find the bands so I'll finish up this project with a daily summary. Today is Friday. You can see my custom schedule here.

Here are my picks for Friday. Click to read more about them and listen to a song.

Cults: Good start to the day. Retro/dreamy indie pop.

An Horse: Indie pop from Australia. Reminds me of Teagan and Sara.

Ha Ha Tonka: Americana. KGSR friendly.

Secret Sisters: More Americana. If that's not your thing go check out Wild Beasts, who are mellow a la the National.

Francisca Valenzuela: Chilean pop.

The Cave Singers: Folk/Americana. Cross between Fleet Foxes and Head and the Heart.

Kurt Vile: mellow rock/singer-songwriter.

Charles Bradley: old school soul. Think James Brown/Al Green.

I didn't preview Gary Clark, Jr. or Santigold but you should know them. See Gary Clark, Jr. now before he goes big-time.

Mavis Staples: KGSR friendly.

Kanye West: not KGSR friendly. The anti-Coldplay.

Futurebirds

2011-09-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

It looks like MONA cancelled their 2:30 Sunday slot. In their place is Suzanna Choffel. Good for her! Maybe we should lend our support. The other options are Airborne Toxic Event and The Walkmen.

Another band I skipped the first time around the schedule: Futurebirds. Psychedelic Folk-rock from Athens, GA. They are playing opposite Cults at 11:45 on Friday so probably won't see them this time. This song reminds me a little of the Billy Bragg and Wilco collaboration.

Johnny Utah

Telekinesis

2011-09-09T09:19:00.000-05:00

I've finished up the schedule by timeslot so I'll try to go back and see if I missed anyone we should try to check out. Telekinesis is playing at 11:45 on Saturday, before the Antlers. The band is basically a solo project by Michael Benjamin Lerner. He's in Seattle and signed to Merge Records, home of Spoon and Arcade Fire. Straight-up indie-pop, this song reminds me of Generationals or Cloud Control. If we can get up and going early it may be worth it to see these guys.

Car Crash

Graffiti6

2011-09-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

They found a replacement for the Vaccines at 12:30 on Sunday: Graffiti6. A duo from the UK, they have a couple hits there and were recently signed to Capitol Records in the U.S. I listened to one of the popular songs, "Annie You Save Me", and thought it was kinda saccharine pop. But then I read this review from KCRW and decided to listen to another song, "Stare into the Sun". I like this one. Based on the KCRW review it may be worth checking them out.

Stare into the Sun

Empire of the Sun

2011-09-07T09:28:00.000-05:00

I'm going to skip ahead to 7:30pm on Sunday. We've got Hayes Carll and Randy Newman for all the traditionalists. I already waxed poetic about Randy Newman. The thing is, I plan to get up close for Arcade Fire so I won't get to see anyone's set to the end. Given that, the band facing the Arcade Fire stage is Empire of the Sun. An Australian duo, their debut album has been a huge success. I hear lots of MGMT with a little Phoenix, Cut Copy, and Temper Trap mixed in. I like it. Check out their video below to see their stage show. Quite outrageous. Should be a good opener for Arcade Fire.

We Are the People

We Are Augustines

2011-09-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

We are now up to Sunday at 6:30. The choices are Fleet Foxes, Manu Chao, Gomez, and We Are Augustines. I may post something from the other bands but figured I'd start with the new band. They are playing the BMI stage which is typically for local Austin acts or small unknown bands. It's not typically for the buzz bands. The buzz bands usually get the early slots. So this is unusual.

We Are Augustines just came out with their first album. They are compared to Bruce Springsteen with a little Arcade Fire. I hear some Hold Steady. Very earnest and cathartic, the album was recorded after some major tragedies in the lead singer's life. Like "Funeral", it's getting great reviews and helped the band land a prime-time slot on Sunday at ACL before Arcade Fire. I'm not a big Hold Steady fan so this music isn't right up my alley but I figure if this is going to be the future headliner it may be worth seeing them on a small stage.

Chapel Song

little hurricane

2011-09-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

Since the Vaccines cancelled their tour we now have an opening at 12:30 on Sunday. The alternative is a duo that plays blues-rock with a male guitarist and female drummer. Not the White Stripes. It's a band called little hurricane. Not a bad sound. Listen to the attached song or watch the video of another song.

Crocodile Tears

Elbow

2011-09-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

There's no decision to make at 5:30 on Sunday: I'm seeing Elbow. Hugely popular in England thanks to their 2008 Mercury Prize winning album "The Seldom Seen Kid", it's a treat to have them playing in the U.S. They site their influences as old Genesis, Talk Talk, and Radiohead. I definitely hear the vintage Peter Gabriel influence, especially in their latest album. It has some 6-8 minute songs that are pretty mellow so not sure how they'll be live. I have heard they're a great live band, though. We'll see.

The attached song is an older one.

The video below is their hit. It's a great song: lyrics and music. It's from Glastonbury in 2008. I read a quote from NME.com that there were "grown men weeping buckets during this." A wonderful communal bonding experience. One day like this a year'd see me right.

Grounds for Divorce

Ryan Bingham

2011-08-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

The other 4:30 act is a staple on KGSR with "Weary Kind" and "Hallelujah". Most of what I knew of his was slow ballads. I'll share something different. This was the first song he played at Stubb's and it got the crowd hootin' and hollerin'. He can redneck with the best of them. This song reminds me of "Guitar Town" era Steve Earle, right down to the anti-establishment lyrics.

Dollar a Day

Broken Social Scene

2011-08-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

ACL books average acts from 2:30-4:30 on Sunday and then puts two good acts at 4:30. So we have another decision to make. Fortunately we saw both of them just recently: Ryan Bingham at Stubb's on May 21st and Broken Social Scene at LZR on February 18th. Both were great shows. I'll play something from both since I can't decide.

Broken Social Scene is a Canadian "collective" from Toronto, but its core is 2 guys. Feist used to be with them but she's gone on to bigger things. Their songs vary from peppy to mellow but their show is mostly upbeat. Can't go wrong seeing them. This is my favorite song of theirs.

Texico Bitches

Nick 13

2011-08-29T09:31:00.000-05:00

Playing next to AWOLNATION on the Austin Ventures stage at 3:45 on Sunday is Nick 13. He's a solo musician that plays old country/Americana in the tradition of Buck Owens or Roy Orbison. This is my bet for worst bleed-over from another stage. His music is going to be inaudible with the bass beats from next door. Still may be a good alternative to the hip-hop of Chiddy Bang.

Carry My Body Down

AWOLNATION

2011-08-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

There are two bands in the 3:30-4:40 slot on Sunday that may be worth checking out. Two very different bands. Both are solo projects. I'll start with AWOLNATION since it's Friday and this is most definitely a Friday kind of song. Even if we don't go see them I have a feeling we'll be able to hear them everywhere. LOUD bass. Electronica/rock. He was at SXSW and also played LZR back in April to a packed house. This will be a rave scene. Check the video from LZR below, too.

Sail

The Walkmen

2011-08-25T08:51:00.001-05:00

2:30 to 4:30 on Sunday is a dead zone for me. Nothing really sticks out at this point. At 2:30 you've got MONA (U2 wannabes), Airborne Toxic Event (generic rock) and The Walkmen. I'll flip a coin...

The Walkmen have been around awhile and I think they even played ACL a few years ago. Originally from D.C., they met at St. Albans Prep School (Al Gore, Neil Bush, John D. Rockefeller V, etc. You get the picture) but now are in NYC. Their sound is similar to other Northeast bands (Strokes, Real Estate, Interpol, White Rabbits). I listened to "You & Me", one of their recent albums, and liked this song the best.

Canadian Girl

The Head and the Heart

2011-08-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

You shouldn't vote until you've heard all the options. I said there were 3 bands in this 1:30 scheduling dilemma. The third is Seattle's The Head and the Heart. We saw them at SXSW and they were great. They're riding a wave of popularity that includes an ACL taping while they're here.

Lost in my Mind

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

2011-08-23T08:42:00.000-05:00

Sunday at 1:30 is another scheduling dilemma. There's not really anything I want to see between 2:30 and 4:30 yet there are 3 bands I want to see at 1:30. The Greencards are originally from Australia but got popular while living in Austin a couple years ago. They moved on to Nashville to make it big and are back playing ACL. Good bluegrass sound. They play at 1:20 on the Austin Ventures stage.

The 2nd band I'd like to see is Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. Two guys from Detroit who play endearing pop. We saw them at SXSW and they were great. Quite a show to see. They dress up in NASCAR outfits and have a great time on stage. The music is good, too. This song is straight-up Paul McCartney pop.

Simple Girl

The Vaccines

2011-08-22T09:47:00.000-05:00

We have a new sponsor at ACL. The Zilker stage (originally the Heineken stage) is now the Google+ stage. My suggestion for basecamp on Sunday is between the Google+ stage and the Bud Light stage.

Assuming we get there by 12:30 on Sunday, my vote is The Vaccines. I'm not a big fan of their style but they could be good live. They just formed last year but exploded in the U.K. and are now touring the U.S. They were at SXSW, too. They're compared to the Ramones and the Jesus and Mary Chain but I hear some Strokes influence, too. At least in this song.

Post Break-Up Sex

Yellow Ostrich

2011-08-19T09:07:00.001-05:00

On to Sunday. I'm not sure about this band. They're playing in the "hip indie band" slot of early Sunday morning so ACL must like them. 11:45 may be too early for me. They were the buzz at SXSW. Barsuk just re-released their first album so expect more buzz.

When I first heard them I thought they sounded too much like other experimental indie bands out there like Dirty Projectors or Animal Collective. Now that I've listened again I think there's more to it. They've got a romantic quirkiness like the Modern Lovers, and good pop sensibilities, too.

Whale

My Morning Jacket

2011-08-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

Now we arrive at the dilemma of the festival: MMJ or Stevie Wonder?

Arguments for Stevie:
1. He's a legend
2. He never tours
3. Great songs (Setlist from Bonnaroo last year)
Arguments against:
1. It's going to be beyond packed
2. Unless you're up close the sound will be bad
3. Radio has overplayed his music and it's not as enjoyable now. Plus, RHCP's versions of "Higher Ground" and "Superstition" have ruined those songs for me.

Arguments for MMJ:
1. I've never seen them live
2. Supposed to be incredible live
3. It's by the basecamp
4. Will not be crowded
5. Jim James
6. Get to hear "Smokin from Shootin" (attached). He played this with Monsters of Folk at ACL last year and I think it was the highlight of the festival for me. Just incredible.

Arguments against:
1. Will miss Stevie Wonder

Smokin from Shootin

Chromeo

2011-08-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday at 6pm is Cut Copy of course. One of the best live dance acts I've ever seen. Just a great time. We'll have to get up close for them.

That brings us to 7pm. TV on the Radio is great. However, I've seen them a lot, including at ACL. Plus, they're playing on the other side of the park from Cut Copy. I've also seen Court Yard Hounds. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Del McCoury is going to be overflowing with old-timers waiting to see Stevie Wonder.

Chromeo is playing on the stage next to Cut Copy (which is also my proposed spot for basecamp). They're a duo from Montreal that plays retro 80s synth/funk. I like it. Totally 80s MTV. Should be a fun follow-up to Cut Copy.

Needy Girl

Wanda Jackson

2011-08-16T09:34:00.000-05:00

After the deluge at 4pm there's not much at 5pm on Saturday. Skrillex is a DJ like Girl Talk that plays electronic stuff. (They hate being called DJs though.) Fitz and the Tantrums are all over the radio. I'll check them out but have a feeling I'll have heard enough after 3 songs. Gillian Welch plays at 5:30 so maybe check her out.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wanda Jackson at 5:45. Known as the "Queen of Rockabilly", she was one of the pioneers of rock-n-roll. After rockabilly faded in the 60s she moved onto country and gospel but thanks to Jack White her career is rejuvenated and she is reviving her old sound. I hope she sticks to the old stuff. Love this song.

I Gotta Know

The Moondoggies

2011-08-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

As if there weren't enough conflicts at 4pm on Saturday, The Moondoggies play the Austin Ventures stage at 4:30. Another Seattle band mining the popularity of the retro sound of Fleet Foxes. They're closer to America and CSNY, though. I like what I hear. May have to catch a little of their set.

It's a Shame

Abigail Washburn

2011-08-12T08:51:00.000-05:00

On the tent stage at 4pm on Saturday is Abigail Washburn. A banjo player originally, she now heads her own band. Bluegrass/folk but her latest album puts her closer to the mainstream. It was produced by Tucker Martine who has also produced Spoon, My Morning Jacket, and the Decemberists, among others. Her album even has appearances from members of some of those bands. If you want to avoid the crowds and see someone that will be playing the big stages someday, check her out.

City of Refuge

Iron and Wine

2011-08-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

On the other big stage at 4:00 on Saturday is Iron and Wine. Now calls Austin home but he never plays here. Mellow like Bon Iver, folky like Fleet Foxes. Huge with the young ladies apparently: songs featured on Garden State, the O.C., Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, and Twilight, to name a few. This will be packed with teens and tweens.

Tree by the River

Alison Krauss and Union Station

2011-08-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

Saturday at 4pm has 3 bands that all should be good so I'm going to post all of them and decide who to see that day. First up is already a legend in the bluegrass/country genre and she's not even that old. From her songs on the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack to her collaboration with Robert Plant last year, she hasn't slowed down. Should be a very good show. With Gillian Welch playing later and then Del McCoury after that, us old-timers can't complain about ACL selling out for the young demographic this year.

The Lucky One

Black Dub

2011-08-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday at 3pm is all mellow stuff. City and Colour is singer-songwriter that gets repetitive in my opinion. Alexander is Alexander Ebert from Edwarde Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. His solo music is essentially the same as the band but without the good singles. It didn't do much for me.

I think I'll check out Black Dub, which is Daniel Lanois' latest side-project. (Produced U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, etc.) This is a bluesy/funky style of music with a female lead singer. Supposed to be really good live. Lanois is a great guitarist so worth checking out at least for that.

I Believe in You

Phosphorescent

2011-08-08T10:02:00.000-05:00

Saturday at 2pm has 3 bands playing the main stages. Young the Giant is generic, radio-friendly rock. All the young party people will be there. J. Roddy Walston and the Business is Southern Rock. All the older party people will be there. I think I'll be with the boring music snobs watching Phosphorescent. Originally from Alabama, he now makes his home in Brooklyn and sings Gram Parsons inspired country folk. He's touring with My Morning Jacket, has made a cover album of Willie Nelson songs, and also covers Townes Van Zandt and Neil Young. He also sounds a little like M. Ward.

The Mermaid Parade

The Belle Brigade

2011-08-05T08:47:00.000-05:00

Saturday at 1:15 has two good bands opposite each other. I wish Twin Shadow was playing at 2pm. We saw the final song of their set at SXSW and it looked like the crowd enjoyed the show. Oh well. I am not missing The Belle Brigade. They were one of the top shows I saw at SXSW and I'm really looking forward to seeing them again. This is a good song but the song that blew me away was "Losers" which is their show-ender. It's something you need to experience live so I'll make you wait.

Sweet Louise

The Antlers

2011-08-04T10:21:00.000-05:00

Moving on to Saturday. My choice for basecamp is the hill between the AMD and Honda stages. Almost all the bands I want to see are on those two stages. The first one is at 12:30 on the Honda stage: The Antlers. A Brooklyn band, they are a perfect way to start a Saturday festival day. Mellow mood music. And damn good. I just listened to their latest album and really like it. This is the last song on it and I hear it's their closing song. It's supposed to be even better live. We can sleep late on Sunday but need to make this one.

Putting the Dog to Sleep

Kanye West

2011-08-03T09:43:00.000-05:00

I know, you've heard of Kanye West. No need to preview a headliner. Well I'd like to reacquaint you with Kanye the musician. I for one am guilty of letting his antics, out-sized personality, and media reports overshadow my opinion of him in the negative. His grandstanding at SXSW turned me off. So when I heard he was coming to ACL I was underwhelmed. But as part of this project I decided to do some listening to his music.

Wow. Did you realize that he has put out 5 albums and 3 of them have been voted #1 in the annual Pazz and Jop poll? That is unprecedented for any musician. Plus, along with the critical acclaim he is hugely successful commercially. Live? His Coachella show this year has been called one of the greatest sets in the history of the festival. He is in a class by himself.

Enough hype? Well listen to this song. Sample lyrics:

"Lost in translation with a whole fuckin' nation
They say I was the abomination of Obama's nation
Well that's a pretty bad way to start a conversation
At the end of the day goddamn it I'm killin' this shit
I know damn well ya'll feelin' this shit"

Damn straight I'm feelin' it. Pure adrenaline rush. He kills it.

Power

Mavis Staples

2011-08-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

The well-known bands/songwriters are playing Friday before the headliners so I won't bother discussing them. Instead I'll touch on two playing the smaller stages that are worth checking out. Gary Clark, Jr. is well regarded in Austin and still plays often but the Dallas reader should go watch him play. Amazing guitar player. Great blues artist. He plays at 6:30 on the BMI stage.

My pick for Friday base-camp closes out with Mavis Staples. She's a legend in the gospel/R&B world and has sung with practically all the bands in the Rock Hall-of-Fame: The Band, Dylan, Ray Charles, you name it. Her latest album was produced by Jeff Tweedy and takes her sound back to the roots of Americana. She just did a duet with Patty Griffin so maybe we'll get a surprise guest. She covers Randy Newman and Allen Toussaint, too. What more could you want? Should be a good show.

You are Not Alone

Charles Bradley

2011-08-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

After that brief intermission, previews are back. We're up to Friday at 5:30pm. Cold War Kids and Foster the People are playing opposite each other. Since this blog is meant to share music and not for criticism I'll stop there.

Charles Bradley is a feel-good story that NPR is going to love. He grew up on the streets of Brooklyn (probably not Park Slope or Prospect Heights, though!) In the spirit of other soul revival bands like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, he's following in the footsteps of people like James Brown, Otis Redding, and Al Green. Read his Wikipedia page for the background. He and his band play the tent stage at 6pm. His album is already on some of the Top-10 lists for 2011 so you'll be hearing more about him soon.

No Time for Dreaming

The Cave Singers

2011-07-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

Friday at 4:30 has Ray LaMontagne, Big Boi, and The Cave Singers. If you don't know the first two musicians you need more help than this blog can provide. I'll focus on the last band: we saw them play a couple songs when they opened for Fleet Foxes and I liked them. Folk but with energy. They are playing the tent stage. Since we're talking about moving base camp each day I think Friday's base camp should be under the trees next to the tent stage. Lots of good acts there all day.

Dancing on our Graves

Kurt Vile

2011-07-20T08:50:00.000-05:00

The 3:30 slot on Friday has James Blake (downtempo dub) and Smith Westerns (indie pop). I'm not a fan of either of them. But at 3:45 is Kurt Vile. As I said on the SXSW preview, he reminds me a little of Freedy Johnston. His latest album is pretty mellow but really good. I assume the show on the Austin Ventures stage is going to be laid back.

In My Time

Francisca Valenzuela

2011-07-19T08:12:00.000-05:00

Friday at 2:30 has two good bands playing that need no introduction so pick which you like. We saw Old Crow Medicine Show recently and they put on a great show. Bluegrass, punk-folk, mountain music, whatever you want to call it.

Delta Spirit is well-known. The other band playing is an LA group called Fool's Gold. Very jam-band oriented, they kind of remind me of Talking Heads during their Remain in Light years. But not as good. KCRW likes them so maybe I'm wrong.

My choice at 3:00 at the small tent stage is Francisca Valenzuela from Santiago, Chile. Born in San Francisco to Chilean parents, she moved back at age 12. She was at SXSW but we didn't get to see her. Luckily for us, she's back. I'll be there.

Quiero Verte Mas

The Secret Sisters

2011-07-18T09:36:00.000-05:00

The other 1:30 slot on Friday I want to see is The Secret Sisters. They play traditional country with a modern feel. Their debut album was produced by T-Bone Burnett. Not bad to get a legend to produce your FIRST album. I'm leaning towards seeing them.

Tennessee Me

Wild Beasts

2011-07-15T09:50:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure which band I want to see at 1:30 on Friday: Wild Beasts or Secret Sisters. Both are good, mellow, laid-back mid-afternoon shows. I'll start with Wild Beasts from the UK. Despite the name, they're very relaxing. They remind me of The National if Jimmy Somerville was the lead singer. I like the falsetto voice.

Loop the Loop

Ha Ha Tonka

2011-07-14T08:28:00.000-05:00

12:45 at the BMI stage on Friday is a Bloodshot Records band from Missouri. According to Wikipedia: Their music has been described as a mixing of bluegrass and southern rock and a "marrying of influences as diverse as The Replacements, The Band, and Kings of Leon."

That's quite a mix. Definitely worth checking out.

Usual Suspects

An Horse

2011-07-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

Another buzz band from SXSW that gets to play early on Friday. I guess ACL decided to change their typical format of booking the buzz bands for early Sunday and moved them to Friday. Probably a good idea since there's nobody there on Sunday mornings.

This is a duo originally from Brisbane but now they live in Vancouver and other parts in-between. Remind me of Teagan and Sarah. Leana didn't like this song but I'd still like to check them out.

Camp Out

Cults

2011-07-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

The schedule is out so here we go: Friday's first act to see is a buzz band from SXSW. We missed them so hopefully we can get out there at 11:45 on Friday.

Go Outside

Asleep at the Wheel

2011-07-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

Slowly starting up the ACL previews so I might as well start with the ACL tradition. They've opened up every one of them. Good old Texas swing. This song covers a few bases as it was written by Allen Toussaint, who we saw at an ACL taping. Great show. Sweet lyrics, too.

Nothing Takes the Place of You

An Horse

2011-05-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Rachel for this show alert. Playing tonight at Emo's inside so probably a little late for a Tuesday. However, they are also going to be at ACL so here's a preview. They're from Brisbane and were at SXSW. Of all the Australian bands I previewed I missed this one. Nice peppy sound.

Camp Out

Caveman

2011-05-24T12:41:00.000-05:00

This is one of the bands opening for Here We Go Magic tomorrow night. Apparently a Brooklyn supergroup of members from other Indie bands. A quote I read: " this start-up band is becoming New York’s indie rock juggernaut at a rapid pace." May be worth checking them out. By the way, Here We Go Magic has a new EP out that's supposed to be good, too.

December 28th

Randy Newman

2011-05-17T09:13:00.000-05:00

The lineup came out today so the postings begin. I'll start with a songwriting legend. He's famous for "Short People" and "I Love LA" but did you know he also wrote "You can Leave Your Hat on" and "Mama Told me not to Come"? Lots more. A real treat to have him play ACL. Here's a song that Citizen Cope covered when we saw him 3 weeks ago. Great lyrics.

A Wedding in Cherokee County

Ivan & Alyosha

2011-05-11T16:55:00.000-05:00

Sticking with the Seattle folk scene, these guys are playing the Mohawk Saturday night with Dana Falconberry. Should be a mellow evening. Also, inside so it will be late. They're also getting lots of NPR love. BTW: no one is named Ivan or Alyosha.

Glorify

Other Lives

2011-05-10T13:03:00.002-05:00

Had to share this one as their new album is being released today. These guys are from Stillwater, Ok. They were here for SXSW and also just came through town opening for Decemberists. After that show they impressed a local blogger enough that he posted this song. I like it. Doesn't look like they'll be through town again soon. This song reminds me of The National:

Tamer Animals

The Cave Singers

2011-05-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

Here's the band opening for Fleet Foxes tonight. Also from Seattle and also folkish. They seem to be gathering fans. It could be worth it to arrive early to see them. This song is apparently their show-closer:

Dancing on Our Graves

Bill Callahan

2011-03-28T14:05:00.000-05:00

Also known as Smog, he now makes Austin his home. He plays Mohawk May 2nd. Pretty mellow stuff. He had a song on the "High Fidelity" soundtrack and his songs have been covered by others. His new album comes out April 19th. May be worth checking out.

Baby's Breath

Still Corners

2011-03-25T14:19:00.001-05:00

We saw this London band at the French Legation Museum right after the free Lone Star and PBR ran out and before heading to Uncorked for some delicious Chicken Pot Pie and Stash IPA. It was a beautiful day on the lawn and not too crowded: we got to stretch out on the grass and take in the dreamy pop. Whoever says SXSW is chaotic wasn't with us that day.

Endless Summer

The War on Drugs

2011-03-24T11:30:00.001-05:00

Moving on from SXSW, this band is opening for Destroyer tomorrow (Friday) at Mohawk. Sounds like a good mellow show. These guys are from Philadelphia and count Kurt Vile as a collaborator. They're on Secretly Canadian.

Comin' Through

Recap Part 2

2011-03-22T13:25:00.001-05:00

I could go on for paragraphs on why SXSW is so great but you don't want to hear me get all mushy. I'll just stick to the standard boilerplate of my top bands, even though it's hard to leave the other bands out. When you think that these bands mostly paid their own way here to play for free it's hard to knock them. They have to play in front of an audience tweeting on their iphones yet I found the bands still had a great time just sharing their music and hoping that someone in the audience enjoyed it.

I'll break down the bands into 4 groups of 3 for my top 12:

1. ACL Bound
Head and the Heart
Oh Land
Jessica Lea Mayfield

These three were polished, professional, and had a full catalog. Not one-hit wonders, I expect them all to be making the talk-show/festival/Grammy circuit. They'll be getting lots of press soon so Michael Corcoran should discover them and write about it in the Statesman about two years from now.

2. Adult contemporary/Americana sounds
Still Corners
Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers
Storyhill

Three unknowns for me that had a great mellow sound. They would easily fit on KUT or KGSR playlists. I'll post some songs soon.

3. Indie/pop sounds
Harrys Gym
Chapel Club
Jezabels

Probably my favorite shows among all the indie bands I saw. I wished I'd seen a whole Jezabels set but I was impressed by what I heard. The others had strong sets throughout. I previewed them earlier.

4. Surprises
The Belle Brigade
Yuck
Leslie Stevens and the Badgers

I'll cover each of these individually:
a. The Belle Brigade: I figured they got the KCRW showcase because of their connections to the LA music scene and not for their musical catalog. I was wrong. This band was excellent. Their energy and enthusiasm was contagious. Plus, their music was really good. I'm hoping to see them again.
b. Yuck: I heard a couple of their songs on XMU that were straight 90s alt. rock fuzz/distortion and read the comparisons to Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine so I blew them off. Thanks to Leana and Casey I was talked into checking them out. I'm glad I did. Their music is much mellower than they let on, with good pop sounds. I've listened to their album now and it's really good. I'm a convert.
c. Leslie Stevens: didn't know anything about her but I'm glad she played. She won my sister over and proved once again that you can find your new favorite bands at SXSW if you just get out and listen.

SXSW Recap Part 1

2011-03-21T17:32:00.003-05:00

Please excuse a couple of rants.

First rant: I'd like to comment on the negative spin coming out about crowds, barriers, traffic, etc. It reminds me of those letters to the editor after a marathon race where people complain that they can't believe the streets are closed for 6 hours on Sunday morning. This despite the fact that the race happens every year, there are news reports, signs posted on street closures, diagrams in the newspaper, etc. If people don't understand that SXSW is in a VERY concentrated area (basically a 1 mile radius around 6th and Red River) and plan accordingly it's their own fault, not SXSW. Don't drive into that area! AT ALL. IDIOTS.

Second Rant is regarding massive crowding/people. To understand what got us here, my opinion is that SXSW Music has evolved over time to encompass 4 categories of bands/people.
1. First there are the bands that just love to play music and the fans who come to hear them. They have dreams of success to help pay the bills but most likely they'll never be successful. But they don't care. That's still the majority (80%) of the bands that play SXSW today. You'll see them play house parties for locals and have a blast. You could have a great SXSW just by watching these guys play.
2. Next up is the bands with raw talent learning to master their craft, or bands that are one break away from national exposure. They don't have a PR team, a label, or anything. These are the bands that put SXSW on the map for the music industry as it's a perfect place for labels, bookers, promoters, and press to see new bands and nurture them to reach the next level. There's no buzz for these bands yet but they all hope to get discovered at SXSW. Us regular folk have a tough time researching these bands in advance as they look just like the bands in group 1 at first.
3. The success of SXSW has made it a perfect place for the latest category of bands: those with indie label or major label backing looking to get exposure to the crowds of bloggers and press that have come to dominate attendees. These are the buzz bands. These include bands with success overseas trying to break into the US market or new bands about to kick off a tour that want the exposure that SXSW brings. I tend to focus on these bands as they're the one's with songs posted on blogs and with information online that helps me plan my week. With luck I'll get to see some of the bands in group 2 during the day parties or showcases with the bands in group 3.
4. The last group of bands/people are the already multi-platinum artists that for some reason come to SXSW. I call this group the attention whores and their sycophants. They come to town in a blaze of glory and get all the headlines by the adoring press. Every year there are 5-10 parties that dominate all the attention and the crowds, which leads to the bad press about congestion. The Strokes just headlined ACL to a massive crowd that paid over $180 to get in. You think they'll draw a crowd to a free show in a venue that holds a fraction of that? Who would go to that show thinking it wouldn't be crowded? IDIOTS. Why do Kanye and Foo Fighters need to play SXSW? Do they really need more exposure? Attention whores.

So, do I think the Rachel Ray's and the Perez Hilton's and the headliners they invite should stay away? No chance. They deflect attention and press away from the bands I want to see. (Proof? Look at the Statesman's music critics' choices of top shows at SXSW. They get paid for that shit?) If they weren't here all the douchebags and trend-followers would be going to the day parties and showcases I want to attend. That would be horrible.

Rants over. The gist of my argument is that SXSW doesn't need to change at all. The great thing about the chaos is that it rewards those willing to make the effort to find the truly great music. To use a baseball analogy, music discovery is similar to spotting undervalued "Moneyball" players: avoid overvalued players and focus on the players currently undervalued that have the potential to be great.

Numbers

2011-03-21T10:27:00.001-05:00

Still processing the week so nothing enlightening about what I saw at this point. Here's the data dump:

Saw 54 bands in 5 days.
Saw 24 of the 81 bands previewed here with the SXSW2011 tag.
So 30 of the bands we saw were not posted. I'll post songs from some of those soon.

The daily tally in the order that we saw them:

Tuesday

Dan Dyer
Sahara Smith

Wednesday

Head and the Heart
Kids of 88
Operator Please
Jezabels
Fierce Creatures
Generationals
Caitlin Rose
Thousands
Marques Toliver
Still Corners
Tristen
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
The Belle Brigade
Chapel Club

Thursday

Lord Huron
Lower Dens
Das Racist
Oh Land
Mother Mother
Twin Shadow
Janka Nabay
Sharon Van Etten
Lia Ices
Low
Wye Oak
Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers
Cobirds Unite
Or, the Whale

Friday

Class Actress (Leana)
Cloud Nothings
Colin Stetson
Diamond Rings
Gold Panda
Baths
The Soft Moon
Yuck
Dirty Beaches
Edwyn Collins
Sun Airway
Harrys Gym
Jonny Gray (at 6 rooftop)
Birds and Batteries
Leslie Stevens and the Badgers
Gabby Young and Other Animals
Talking to Turtles

Saturday

The Lonely Forest
If By Yes
Jessica Lea Mayfield
Shinyribs
Kevin Welch
Storyhill
Middle Brother

Starfucker

2011-03-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

Since I probably won't post anything tomorrow I'll hit one band playing Saturday at ND at 2:30pm. That ND day party is really good: Starfucker, John McCauley and Ian O'Neil of Deer Tick, Baths, Thao...and more. Hmm.

This is an indie/electro/pop band out of Portland. Most of their SXSW shows are late night rave appearances that I won't be attending so this is probably the only chance for us to see them (if you like and the schedule works...)

Julius

Rural Alberta Advantage

2011-03-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

While we're in Canada I guess it's time to post this band. We saw them at Mohawk during SXSW last year (?) and I really liked them. This year they're coming in with a lot more hype off what is supposed to be a great new album that just came out. I need to check it out. They're playing the Phoenix at 3:30 pm and Home Slice at 6:25 on Friday. They also play the Paste Party at 5:00pm on Thursday. Hopefully they'll be coming to town again with a full show soon.

North Star

City and Colour

2011-03-15T08:40:00.000-05:00

Now Friday. Speakeasy is having an interesting day party, with singer-songwriters mixed in with dancy/pop bands. City and Colour is a side project of Dallas Green, a Canadian singer-songwriter from the band Alexisonfire. This is a sweet song.

The Girl

Edwyn Collins

2011-03-14T09:14:00.000-05:00

Closing out Thursday at the French Legation is Edwyn Collins. From Scottland, formerly in Nu-Sonics and Orange Juice in the 70s, he's still cranking out music. His latest album was recorded with the help of members of Franz Ferdinand, Aztec Camera, the Drums, and even Johnny Marr. That's some serious backing.

This song has been in lots of movies.

Girl Like You

Low

2011-03-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

To continue the trend, today is Thursday day show options. The French Legation has quite the mellow lineup. Low is a band from Minnesota that has been around awhile (1994) but never has had mainstream success. Pretty mellow, the French Legation would be a good place to see them. Robert Plant covered two of their songs on his recent Band of Joy album: "Monkey" and "Silver Rider". That's enough of a recommendation for me.

Try to Sleep

Violens

2011-03-11T10:04:00.000-06:00

Okay, last post of the day. This band is playing the Lipstick24 party on Wednesday. That's my first choice. I'd like to see Jezabels at Mohawk which is my only big conflict. We'll have plenty of time to see Grouplove and The Head and the Heart. If not, they'll be through town again shortly I'm sure.

This band is from New York. Interesting mix of styles. They describe themselves as a mix of "60s psychopop, thrash metal, and Miami freestyle." We'll have to see.

Violent Sensation Descends

Kids of 88

2011-03-11T09:53:00.000-06:00

This is a duo from New Zealand. Very dance-able. They're playing the MTV Garage day party between Friendly Fires and Matt & Kim. Not a bad gig. Like Cloud Control, it doesn't appear their album has been released in the US yet. The only thing available on Amazon is an import.

Just a Little Bit

Esben and the Witch

2011-03-11T09:35:00.000-06:00

These guys are playing quite a few day shows. They're from Brighton. Signed to Matador. Their sound is compared to Siouxie and the Banshees but I hear a little Kills, too. Good old-fashioned goth.

Marching Song

Cloud Control

2011-03-11T09:23:00.002-06:00

Since there are only a few days left until the Best Week of the Year I figured I'd focus on each day and the showcases we may hit. I'll cover some of the other bands playing showcases we may want to check out. First up is Wednesday. Cloud Control is playing a few day shows so there's a good chance we'll get to see them.

Another Australian band! Poppy harmonies. They won the Australian Music Prize, which I guess is a big thing. They've toured with Local Natives and Temper Trap, which is a good barometer for their style.

There's Nothing in the Water We Can't Fight

Agnes Obel

2011-03-10T13:29:00.001-06:00

Another Danish singer/songwriter. Much mellower than Oh Land. This song was featured on "Grey's Anatomy" and KCRW has been praising her latest album. She's making her US debut at SXSW so see her before it's too late! It looks like the best time for us to see her is Friday at 1:20pm at Speakeasy, before Mother Mother at 2pm.

Riverside

Vandaveer

2011-03-10T08:15:00.000-06:00

Mark Charles Heidinger goes by Vandaveer. He's from Lexington, Kentucky and has been playing awhile but success in the U.S. has not been quick. Apparently he's very popular in Europe, especially France. So most of his touring is over there. Maybe this year he'll break out here.

He plays at Fado at 1:30pm on Saturday.

Concerning Past and Future Conquests

Eilen Jewell

2011-03-10T07:53:00.000-06:00

A little country/Americana music today. Eilen Jewell is based in Boston. She sounds a bit like Lucinda Williams in this song. She's been around for a few years and has toured extensively but this is the first time I've heard her. I gotta get out more.

It looks like the best opportunity to check her out is 5:30pm Saturday at Zax. Maybe grab dinner before walking over to Auditorium Shores?

Rain Roll In

Alessi's Ark

2011-03-09T13:31:00.000-06:00

Alessi Laurent-Marke is a singer-songwriter from Hammersmith, London. She sounds a little like Kathleen Edwards. Good stuff. She plays at 11:10 am Wednesday at Threadgill's and at the French Legation Museum later that day.

The Horse

Kurt Vile

2011-03-09T09:23:00.000-06:00

He's not exactly unknown but he's not a big name yet. From Philadelphia, this song reminds me a little of Freedy. He and his band are playing Auditorium Shores Saturday night along with Middle Brother and Bright Eyes. Should be a good fit.

In My Time