SXSW 2016: Methyl Ethyl

Playing at 10pm at the Tap Room on Wednesday.  This is the moniker of Perth-raised Jake Webb.  They're also playing the big Thursday day party at Sidewinder.  He's friends with Tame Impala and is opening for Courtney Barnett on her current tour.

Mellow indie rock. I've listened to some of their new album and it reminds me of The Cure mixed with old Radiohead.  A little Kurt Vile, too.  I like it.

Twilight Driving

SXSW 2016: Still Parade

Playing at 9pm Wednesday at the Tap Room is Niklas Kramer, from Berlin.  His music is called dream folk.  I like this one.

7:41

SXSW 2016: Harriet Brown

We're two weeks away so it's time to start looking at our options for each night.  Since we don't usually stay out late I'm trying to find showcases that have good bands early that also won't be badges only.  Wednesday we can try the KCRW showcase at 3Ten but if we fail there's Lucky Lounge.  That's mostly indie pop.  A third option is the Tap Room, which hasn't let us down in the past.

Playing at 8pm is this guy out of L.A. that sings slow funk.  He's a multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/producer.  Sounds like old-school 80s soul.  Some Prince in there, too.

Not a bad way to start the week.

20/15

SXSW 2016: Lukas Graham

KGSR just announced their morning lineups.  Not really worth it to go see a band play 2 songs but they always get the buzz bands that are expected to make a splash in 2016.  I've already previewed quite a few of them and we've seen quite a few of the others.

This is a Dane who grew up in Christiania.  Based on that I did not expect this kind of song.  Reminds me of Ed Sheeran.  Definitely KGSR friendly.  It already has 9.1M listens on Soundcloud.

7 Years

SXSW 2016: Bleached

This is the closing band at the Thursday Sidewinder day party.  It's a trio out of L.A. consisting of two sisters and a drummer.  Garage rock/pop.  This reminds me a little of Joan Jett.

Edit: Just listened to another song of theirs I really like so adding it.

Keep on Keepin' On



Wednesday Night Melody

SXSW 2016: Pure Bathing Culture

Playing after Twin Peaks on Thursday at Sidewinder is this duo originally from New Jersey but now in Portland.  They're on Partisan Records (Deer Tick) and after SXSW are going on tour opening for Lucius.

Nice indie pop sound.

Pendulum

SXSW 2016: Twin Peaks

The Thursday day party at Sidewinder (old Red 7 Red Eyed Fly. I keep getting that wrong.) is chock full of good bands.  It's got Whitney, Cloves, Day Wave, and a few more I'll highlight today.

I'm not sure if this band out of Chicago is a fan of the TV show or the breastaurant chain but they're hard to find in google searches.  I should have posted this yesterday as February 24th is the day Laura Palmer's body washed ashore and FBI agent Dale Cooper arrived in Twin Peaks.  In 1989.

I don't know if these guys were born in 1989 but their music is straight out of the 60s.  They're compared to the Beatles but this song is straight up TRex.

Walk to the One You Love

SXSW 2016: A Giant Dog

KUTX just came out with their morning shows they hold at the Four Seasons.  Lots of Austin bands, including this one that was just signed to Merge.  It probably helped that Britt Daniel is apparently a big fan.

This song has a frenetic pace. Reminds me of old Roxy Music mixed with Arcade Fire. Or "Let's Do the Timewarp Again". Could be fun to watch live.


Sex & Drugs

SXSW 2016: Marlon Williams

Americana/folk from New Zealand on Dead Ocean Records.  He's playing the KCRW showcase and the Showtime day party at Clive Bar.  That's some solid exposure.  He's also going on tour with Sam Beam after SXSW.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot more about him.

Hello Miss Lonesome

SXSW 2016: Riothorse Royale

We saw this band when they opened for Other Lives at the Mohawk.  I remember enjoying their set.  It's Madi Diaz and Emily Greene, two solo artists that teamed up for this project.

They play the Wednesday day party at Container Bar on Rainey at 1:20pm.

Rabbit Hole

SXSW 2016: Horse Thief

I've been waiting to post these guys until I saw when they were playing.  Well, they're going to be at the Luck Reunion on Thursday.  They're out of Oklahoma City.

This reminds me a lot of Buxton. I like it.  If we don't make out to Willie's place we need to watch for other opportunities to check them out.

Little Dust

SXSW 2016: Eliot Sumner

The 11pm singer on after Joon Moon on Wednesday at 3Ten is Eliot Sumner, daughter of Gordon.

She sings like him, especially on "Dead Arms and Dead Legs".  Listen to that.  It could easily be on "Dream of the Blue Turtles".  Reminds me of "Russians".

I'll post something a little different, though.

After Dark

SXSW 2016: Cloves

The 8pm show at the KCRW showcase Wednesday is 19 year-old Kaity Dunstan.  She's originally from Melbourne but is now in London.  She's signed to Interscope Records and is compared to Adele and Amy Winehouse.  The songs I've heard are all pretty mellow compared to those two.



Frail Love

SXSW 2016: Joon Moon

I listened to these guys yesterday and was instantly hooked.  Wouldn't you know it, today the Wednesday KCRW showcase was announced and they're playing it.  It's going to be at the new 3TEN @ACL Live, the site of the former Coal Vines.  The Statesman had an article on it today.

Capacity is 350 so perhaps they'll let the public in?  I'd really like to see these guys at some point.  It's a duo out of France but the lead singer is originally from Kansas City.  They just have an EP out with 3 songs but they're all great.  This is my favorite.  

A must see for me.

Chess

SXSW 2016: Car Seat Headrest

Playing after Day Wave on Friday at the Spotify House is the moniker of Will Toledo, a 23 year-old originally from Virginia but now in Seattle.  Expect to hear more from him as he's also slotted to play the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago.

Somebody said he's a cross between the Beach Boys and the Strokes/Arcade Fire.  That's about right.

Something Soon

SXSW 2016: Day Wave

Spotify just released their schedule for SXSW.  Lots of pop and hip-hop on most days.  Thursday is Americana/Country day but Friday seems like the best bet if we want to fight the crowds and spend all day watching bands.  It's indie day.  The headliner is The Kills.

This is the moniker of Berkeley-based Jackson Phillips.  A throwback sound to the 80s.  He plays at 1:30pm after Porches.

Stuck

SXSW 2016: Bayonne

Another big 3-day party on Rainey (Container Bar) is being hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe.  Thursday has DMAs, Hinds, Polica, and Lucius.  That's a sick lineup.  It also has local breakout Roger Sellers playing under the moniker Bayonne.  His solo stuff is a lot more mellow.  I like this.  He plays at 1:30pm.

Appeals

SXSW 2016: Big Thief

Some of the big day parties are starting to make their announcements.  Showtime is promoting it's new Cameron Crowe TV show "Roadies" with a party at Clive Bar on Wednesday.  Whitney is playing at 3pm and this band out of NYC is on after them at 4pm.  Their first album is coming out sometime this year on Omaha-based Saddle Creek Records (Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes).

Reminds me a little of Lucinda Williams mixed with Jenny Lewis.


Masterpiece

SXSW 2016: ARO

One more act playing the Lucky Lounge Wednesday showcase along with Ember Island and East of My Youth.  It's Aimee Osborne (daughter of Ozzy who was not on the TV show).  Suddenly I'm thinking it may be harder to get into this one.

I do like this song, though.

Raining Gold

SXSW 2016: Vallis Alps

Here's a Friday showcase at the Empire Control Room Garage.  This showcase also has expected breakout band XYLØ.  There's no way we'll go as it will probably be badges only but I had to share this band.  It's a duo out of Australia/Seattle that has exploded in Australia.  This song has over 2.7M 3.8M plays on Soundcloud alone.

Really good. Reminds me of the XX.  The whole EP is supposed to be great so we need to find them playing a day party somewhere.

Young

SXSW 2016: The Greeting Committee

Since schedules aren't finalized I'll jump around looking for interesting showcases already posted.  Thursday at Blackheart has Margaret Glaspy, RayLand Baxter, and Joseph, as well as this band of high schoolers from Kansas City.  Their EP was picked up and re-released by major-label Harvest Records (Warner Brothers sub-label).  They probably will have the 8pm set.

Her voice reminds me of Edie Brickell.

Hands Down

SXSW 2016: Little Scream

The Parish on Wednesday night is usually the place to be as NPR and KCRW have showcased bands there in the past.  The sxsw.com website doesn't list the sponsor this year but I assume it's one of those again.  The artists are all the buzz bands, including Adia Victoria (who we saw at ACL), Basia Bulat, Escondido, and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.

This is Montreal-based Laurel Sprengelmeyer.  She has worked with Arcade Fire and the National in addition to her solo work.  Her first album was released in 2011 on Secretly Canadian but her new album is coming out on Merge Records.  That's some indie cred right there.

Love as a Weapon

SXSW 2016: The Weather Station

One more at the Wednesday Sidewinder showcase.  She's out of Canada and reminds me of Daughter mixed with Joni Mitchell.  Quite mellow stuff.  She's playing the inside stage.

Way it is, Way it Could Be

SXSW 2016: Porches

Another Wednesday showcase worth watching is at Sidewinder, the former Red 7 Red Eyed Fly.  No times are listed but there are lots of good acts on both stages.  I've already previewed Whitney (who you liked) and Your Friend and we've been trying to catch Caveman for years (or did we finally see them?).

This is a guy out of NYC that is signed to Domino Records.  Pitchfork calls his latest Best New Music of 2016.

Be Apart

SXSW 2016: Ember Island

I keep waiting for announcements on showcases and/or day parties but everything is delayed this year.  Last year KCRW announced their showcases on Feb. 3 but here we are two weeks after that and still nothing.  showlistaustin.com, my go-to site for day parties, has hardly anything listed.  There are some showcases slowly showing up on the sxsw.com website but not much so far.  Maybe the floodgates will open this week.

One showcase on Wednesday at Lucky Lounge holds some promise.  Mostly indie-pop from international bands.  It has East of My Youth who I previewed in January, but they go on at Midnight.  I doubt we'll make that.

This is a trio out of Sweden.  Nice mellow sound.  They go on at 11pm.

Need You

SXSW 2016: Janne Schra

Here's another European singer, this time from Holland.  She's very popular in her home country and has toured Europe and Canada but hasn't had much exposure in the U.S.

This song reminds me of Feist.  

Everything I Do Ooh Ooh

SXSW 2016: Låpsley

Holly Lapsley Fletcher is an 18 year-old from Merseyside, England. She was recognized on the BBC Sound of 2015 list and her first album is coming out in March.

I think the obvious target is Adele fans.  Which is everybody.


Love is Blind

SXSW 2016: Whitney

Another folky.  It's a duo out of Chicago composed of former members of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Smith Westerns.  They just signed to Secretly Canadian so I expect they'll be at that very popular showcase.

The falsetto voice brings obvious comparisons to Bon Iver but the music is more like America.  A really nice mix of strings, horns, and guitar.


No Woman

SXSW 2016: River Whyless

Folk day today.  This is a band out of Ashville, NC that has been around for a few years.  They've been on World Cafe and Tiny Desk Concert.  I don't see any new stuff on the way but I like this song.

Reminds me of a more mellow Head and the Heart.

Life Crisis

SXSW 2016: Milk & Bone

Another mellow groove.  It's a duo out of Montreal.  Reminds me of an electronic First Aid Kit.  They were at SXSW last year but since then their album was longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.  Expect more attention this year.

New York

SXSW 2016: HÆLOS

I'll go mellow today.  This is a trio out of London signed to Matador Records (Kurt Vile, Cat Power).  Their first album comes out March 18th.

They're compared to Massive Attack and I hear some Morcheeba as well.  Sounds like a good KCRW showcase band.

Dust

SXSW 2016: Pearl Charles

Here's another L.A. singer.  She has toured with Father John Misty. The next Linda Ronstadt?  A very 70s Laurel Canyon sound.

I like this song.

I Ran So Far

SXSW 2016: Paul Bergmann

We'll stick with Americana/rock today.  This is a guy from Massachusetts that now lives in L.A.  He's signed to Fairfax Records (Edwarde Sharpe, Florence and the Machine, Gotye).

Old-school throwback sound.  I like his voice.

You May Never Know

SXSW 2016: Margaret Glaspy

This NYC musician is touring with Rayland Baxter right now.  Reminds me a little of Liz Phair but I'm sure the Courtney Barnett comparisons will be made, too.

You and I

SXSW 2016: Rayland Baxter

I guess I really don't need to preview this guy. We saw him open for Nikki Bluhm at the Parish. He was solo acoustic for that show so maybe we can see him with a full band.  I think you bought his CD.  This song got lots of airplay.


Yellow Eyes

SXSW 2016: Kill J

One more for today.  This is a duo out of Denmark.  Reminds me of  a mix of Lykke Li and MØ.

You're Good but I'm Better

SXSW 2016: Charlotte Cardin

We'll stick with the women today.  This is a singer out of Montreal.  Jazzy.  She was in the French-Canadian version of the Voice and came in 4th. It appears she's a model, too.

A mix between Kat Edmonson and Bittersweet.

Big Boy

SXSW 2016: Laura Gibson

Another female singer-songwriter.  She's originally from Oregon but now in NYC.

This song has a "Tusk" beat with a more gothic sound.  It came out in 2012 on Barsuk.  Back then she did World Cafe and Tiny Desk Concert on NPR.  I don't see any new stuff coming out but she was in a building that exploded in the East Village in March that destroyed all her stuff.  She survived and started a GoFund me campaign to start over.   In her letter she does say she's working on a new record so maybe that's coming out soon.


La Grande

SXSW 2016: Your Friend

Since I missed a couple days I'll post a bunch today.  This is the moniker of Taryn Miller, a singer-songwriter out of Kansas.  Her first album just came out on Domino Records (The Kills, Real Estate).

Reminds me a little of Lower Dens.

Bangs

SXSW 2016: Grace Mitchell

I'll stick with the dance pop today. This is another major label future hitmaker.  She's an 18-year-old out of Portland that's signed to Republic Records (Taylor Swift, Lorde).  Enough said.

NoLo

SXSW 2016: The Chainsmokers

Phil saw these guys on James Corden's Late Late Show and recommended them.  It's a duo of NYC producers that bring in different singers.  This one is a major hit on the dance stations worldwide.  It has 11.6M listens on Soundcloud and it's only a sample.  I'll throw up a link to the Spotify full-version below (117M listens).

They haven't released a full album yet.

Roses




Roses (spotify link)