SXSW 2017: Lillie Mae

ACL released their "Bloody Mary Morning" lineup for Thursday at GSD&M.  I know a few and don't know a few.  I listened to the lowest band and didn't care too much for the one song I heard so we don't need to be there at 10am.  Slow Dancer is playing everywhere so we'll see him at some point.

Lillie Mae has been a backup musician and singer for Jack White and now she's releasing her first album that was produced by Jack White and is being released on his Third Man Records.   Not a bad start.

She's playing Willie's party in Spicewood as well as this.  May be worth checking her out here.

Over the Hill and Through the Woods

SXSW 2017: CHINAH

Here's another band off the blogger's guide.  It's a trio out of Copenhagen.  Nice mellow pop sound in this song.

Also nothing showing for them during the day.  The Operation Every Band blog that puts together the matrix of shows to see says this year only 30% of the day parties have announced their schedules.  Way down from previous years.

Away From Me

SXSW 2017: Skott

SXSW just came out with their "Music Bloggers Guide to SXSW" that highlights the bands picked out by various music bloggers.  One of the acts is this singer from Sweden that's picked to be the next big indie pop sensation.  I don't see any day parties for her yet.

This song reminds me a lot of Lykke Li.  Another song of hers, "Amelia", is also good.

Porcelain

SXSW 2017: QTY

Weather Up always has a really good day party on Friday but we've never ventured over there.  This year is no exception.  A mix of local bands and out-of-towners.  Depending on the time slots it could be worth heading over there for awhile.

This is a duo out of NYC that actually grew up in NYC.  They released this song on Soundcloud and the internet blogs went nuts.  They've since released another really good song, "World Breaker", so they have 2 songs to their credit.  Very high expectations for these guys.

They're compared to early Strokes/Velvet Underground.  His voice has that Lou Reed vibe.

Rodeo

SXSW 2107: Living Hours

Friday at Urban Outfitters starts with the female singers.  There's Molly Burch at 1pm. (I like her album). Then Jay Som at 2pm. (I previewed her and really like her last album.)

Kicking off at noon is this band out of Winnipeg. Dreamy pop.  One review called them mellow Tame Impala and another compared them to Beach House.

Seagull

SXSW 2017: Alex Izenberg

Thursday at at Urban Outfitters starts with the male singer-songwriters.  It has Nick Hakim at 1pm, Gabriel Garzon-Montano at 2pm, and L.A. based Alex Izenberg kicking things off at noon.  Three mellow bands that could be worth biking over to see.

He's compared to 70s songwriters like Harry Nilsson.  I can hear the influence in this song.


To Move On

SXSW 2017: Hoops

Urban Outfitters just released their schedule and it's heavy on all the buzz bands once again.  It seems the big buzz bands are playing all the same parties.  I've already previewed quite a few.  I'll cover some of the others today.

Wednesday starts off at noon with this band from Bloomington, Indiana that reminds me of a mix of Real Estate and Tame Impala.  Their EP is on Amazon and it's pretty good.  Gemini is really good.

This is the first single off their first LP which comes out May 5th on Fat Possum Records.

Rules

SXSW 2017: Christopher Paul Stelling

I mentioned the Blackheart day shows but now they've released the bands for each day.  Friday is really impressive:

Andrew Combs
Slow Dancer
Sara Watkins
Christopher Paul Stelling
The Whiskey Gentry
River Whyless
The Wild Reeds
Nicole Atkins

Great Americana bands.  May be worth spending the day there.

This singer-songwriter currently in Brooklyn hasn't put anything new out since 2015 but this is a nice song.

Castle

SXSW 2017: Allison Crutchfield

Waterloo Records just released their schedule. Still some TBAs.  Waterloo is usually best early before it gets insanely crowded.  Friday at 1pm is this singer originally from Birmingham, Alabama.  She's the sister of Waxahatchie singer Katie Crutchfield who was at SXSW last year.  I previewed her here.

Both bands are on Merge Records.  This song is not bad.  Dean's Room is on Amazon and it's pretty good, too.

I Don't Ever Wanna Leave California

SXSW 2017: Nick Hakim

One more from SXSanJose.  This is a singer originally from DC who attended Berklee School of Music in Boston and now resides in Brooklyn.  He released a critically acclaimed EP and is now releasing his first LP on ATO Records.  This was a KUTX song of the day a couple weeks ago.

Mellow sounds.  Probably better in a more intimate environment.

Bet She Looks Like You

SXSW 2017: Savoy Motel

The Guardian spotted a comment to this video that said "Marc Bolan would be proud."  How fitting given we were talking about him yesterday.

This is a band out of Nashville also playing SXSanJose. Another 70s throwback sound. Seems to be the trend this year.

Pitchfork liked their album and said "Savoy Motel recreate the sounds of the ’70s using the ’90s pastiche techniques of Beck, Ween and Royal Trux, compacting glam-rock, southern boogie, and Stax sax stabs into 8-bit videogame proportions."

Sounds about right.  "Sorry People" is getting airplay on KUTX.

Hot One

SXSW 2017: The Lemon Twigs

Here's another band on the South By San Jose lineup.  It's two teenage brothers from Long Island that play throwback 70s Beatles/Supertramp sounds and dress to fit the period.  They're signed to 4AD out of England and are selling out shows over there.  The Guardian has an article on their show in Leeds.

As Long as We're Together

SXSW 2017: Slow Dancer

Two weeks away and everyone has waited until the last minute to make announcements.  I don't know if I can cover everything so I may just pick the usual day parties and focus on them.

South by San Jose announced their bands but no times yet.  One of the bands is Dove and the Wolf, the two young women we saw at the Stephen F. bar last year.  The ones from Paris (as they kept reminding us).  They are on a couple other big bills as well.  

This is the moniker of Simon Okely from Australia.  NPR describes his sound as "a delicate blend of folk and indie R&B largely inspired by classic blues from the '60's and '70s".  They mention Nick Drake and José González as influences.

This is a song off his new album which should come out soon.  He's on ATO Records, an indie powerhouse.  Their roster of bands is impressive.

Don't Believe

SXSW 2017: Frenship

Another of the big day parties just dropped their 2-day lineup.  This is the one at Cedar Street that always has the big buzz bands.  No exception this year.  From my earlier previews, here's Tei Shi, Mondo Cozmo, and Jain.  Friday is the day I'd pick to stay all day if we go but I'd at least like to see Jain at 1:50. 

Thursday is not quite as good.  Ten Tonnes sounds like the Strokes to me.  Didn't impress.  The closer that day is this duo out of L.A. signed to Columbia Records.  Electronic dance pop.  My bet is that they'll be at ACL.

This song has 9M plays on Youtube.

Capsize

SXSW 2017: Zipper Club

Less than 3 weeks away and we're still waiting for the bulk of the show announcements.  This year is strange.  There will be no Spotify House, no Hype Hotel, and no Fader Fort.  Those are 3 huge multi-day/night showcases.  I'm not sure where all these bands are going to be playing.

Showtime is back at Clive this year, though.  Last year they were hyping "Roadies".  That didn't work out so well.  This year it's something called "I'm Dying up Here".  I saw Big Thief there last year.  The whole bar is mostly people wanting to see and be seen so there was no crowd in front by the band.  I got a good spot and enjoyed the set.  When I left the line to get in was ridiculous, though.
The best bands are early on Wednesday so that's good.  At 4pm is The Wild Reeds who we saw open for Langhorne Slim at Scoot Inn.  I liked them.  Right before them at 3pm is a duo out of L.A. that is signed to Epic Records.  I like them, too.

Going the Distance

SXSW 2017: Little Simz

KUTX just announced their "Live at the Four Seasons" lineup.  Wow.  Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday are stacked.  Listings are below.  I'm thinking we alter our schedules to attend these and skip the evening showcases altogether.  Friday is the only day I can see skipping.

There isn't much need to preview these bands as they're almost all well known.  I'll start with Little Simz which is the moniker of Simbi Ajikawo from the U.K.  She's compared to Lauryn Hill.

Poison Ivy


Wednesday, March 15
Main Stage Lineup:
7 a.m. Gabriel Garzón-Montano
8 a.m. Hurray For The Riff Raff
9 a.m. Third Root
10 a.m. Real Estate

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child Lineup:
8:30 a.m. Ralph’s World
9:30 a.m. Red Yarn

Thursday, March 16
Main Stage Lineup:
7 a.m. Jonathan Terrell
8 a.m. Maggie Rogers
9 a.m. Middle Kids
10 a.m. Temples

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child Lineup:
8:30 a.m. The Que Pastas
9:30 a.m. Joe McDermott

Friday, March 17
Main Stage Lineup:
7 a.m. River Whyless
8 a.m. Oliver John-Rodgers, aka OJR
9 a.m. Ray Wiley Hubbard
10 a.m. The Black Angels

Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child Lineup:
8:30 a.m. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
9:30 a.m. The Deedle Deedle Dees

Saturday, March 18
Main Stage Lineup:
8 a.m. Molly Burch
9 a.m. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
10 a.m. Little Simz
11 a.m. Spoon

SXSW 2017: Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Another band playing the Thursday Blackheart day party is this 5-piece out of Boone, North Carolina.  They're compared to Head and the Heart but this song reminds me a little of Kings of Leon.  Maybe it's the singer's voice.  "Cocaine Jesus" is also pretty good.

Devil Like Me

SXSW 2017: The Molochs

Thursday at the Blackheart is a pretty good day party of quite a few good buzz bands.  There's Muddy Magnolias, KUTX favorite Ron Gallo (not sure you like him), Caroline Rose, and a few more I'll preview today.

This is a duo out of L.A. that seem to be booked for quite a few day parties already.  This song is total old-school Rolling Stones.  They're definitely going for the retro 60's psych/rock sound.  "Sleep in Doom" is pretty good.  Their new album came out in January and is getting very positive reviews.

No More Cryin'

SXSW 2017: Aquilo

One more from the KCRW showcase for today.  This is a duo originally from Phil's old stomping grounds in the Lake District.  Specifically, Silverdale, Lancashire which isn't far from Barrow.

They've released quite a few EPs since 2014 but their first album came out in January.  Most of the songs on Soundcloud are just previews but the whole album is on Amazon Music.

Rolling Stone says they're for fans of Bon Iver and The Guardian says Air.  Both are nice compliments.


Human

SXSW 2017: Mondo Cozmo

Here's another on the KCRW showcase.  It's the moniker of Philadelphia raised, L.A. based Josh Ostrander.  He's signed to Universal Music Group as part of his other band Eastern Conference Champions.  He has only released a few songs under this new name but they seem to be getting good buzz.

I'll post his big song that's getting the publicity but I think I like "Higher" more.


Shine

SXSW 2017: SOHN

The big announcements begin today.  First up are the KCRW showcases.  Their day showcase is at the Convention Center so we can't get in.  It features such unknowns as Temples and Real Estate, along with The Japanese House, who I just happened to preview on Friday.

The evening showcase on Wednesday is at Elysium this year.  It features the guy I raved about who played ACL, Gabriel Garzon Montano, along with KUTX favorites Middle Kids.  Also on the bill is the UK born, Vienna based Christopher Michael Taylor who goes by the moniker of SOHN.  Mellow electronic pop that easily fits on the KCRW playlist.

Signal 

SXSW 2017: The Japanese House

One more buzz band.  This is the moniker of London-based Amber Bain. She has big backing from The 1975 (they produced her albums and she has opened for their tours).  Here's an article from the Guardian about her.

Her voice reminds me a little of Aimee Mann.

Face Like Thunder

SXSW 2017: Jain

Still waiting for schedule announcements.  I'll post some of the buzz bands that should be at the big day parties and showcases.  This is a French singer that was on "Colbert" a couple weeks ago.  Her YouTube video has 52M views.

Poppy sound but I like it.

Come

SXSW 2017: Muddy Magnolias

The schedules are starting to show up on the SXSW website but they're limited.  None of the big venues have started showing up yet.  One interesting showcase is a few local bands on Wednesday at the Parish.  That's the night and venue where KCRW had their showcase last year.  I wonder what that means...

One day party that looks good is at the Blackheart on Thursday and Friday that focuses on Americana bands.  This one is a duo out of Nashville that has already toured with Gary Clark, Jr, and Grace Potter.

It Ain't Easy

SXSW 2017: Japanese Wallpaper

Might as well stick with the teenagers.  Here's 17 year-old Gab Strom from Melbourne.  The term "prodigy" is being used to describe this multi-instrumentalist.  Nice song.

Cocoon

SXSW 2017: Billie Eilish

The schedules should be coming out soon so right now I'm treading water waiting.  This isn't really our thing but she's going to be a big hit with the kids.  She is a kid: 14 years-old.  L.A. based, she's already been in Vogue.

Ocean Eyes

SXSW 2017: Cat Clyde

A little Americana/folk next.  This is a singer out of Hamilton, Ontario.  Reminds me of Hooray for the Riff Raff.  Thumbs up.

Mama Said

SXSW 2017: Middle Children

Some rock'n'roll today.  This is the moniker of Patrick Jennings, currently living in Bloomington, Indiana but spent time in Athens, GA.  Reminds me of old Wilco.  Their first album comes out March 3rd and is getting some buzz thanks to this song.

Fish

SXSW 2017: Jay Som

Here's one I'd like to see.  It's the moniker of Melina Duterte from Oakland.  She opened for Mitski on her tour last year and has been picking up lots of accolades for her album from Pitchfork, Vice, and NPR.

I really like "Turn Into".

Her album is on Amazon Music.  Really good.

The Bus Song

SXSW 2017: NE-HI

Back to the previews after a week of recovery.  This band out of Chicago is getting some airplay on KUTX.  Reminds me of a mix of Real Estate and Kurt Vile.

Stay Young