SXSW 2018: Cicada Rhythm

The evening showcases are slowly coming together and a nice one just appeared: Wednesday night at Lamberts.  The 8pm band is Buxton!  Another band on the showcase is this duo out of Athens, GA. NPR likes them.  They play from 10-11.  Could be a nice mellow night.  Get there early and be home by midnight.



Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

SXSW 2018: Ratboys

I love this band.  Picture a group named Ratboys with a song called "Elvis in in the Freezer".  Now listen to the song before reading on...

Not what I expected.  The whole album is great.  It's a duo out of Chicago.  NPR has the video of that song and the story behind it.  You should watch it.  Very sweet.

Right now the only place I see them playing is Voodoo Doughnut on Thursday afternoon.  The only other band on the schedule that stands out for me is Anna Burch.

I'd like to see this band do a full show.

Molly

SXSW 2018: Mt. Joy

Pledge Music and Noise Trade have announced the first round of bands for their 4 day shows (Wed-Sat) at Blackheart.  I really liked their band choices last year and the setup at Blackheart with 2 stages is great.  They've got a good lineup again this year.

This band out of L.A. is releasing their debut album on March 2nd but they've already played on "Conan" and are getting top billing on this poster announcement.  I don't see much about them other than a Billboard article and this NPR First Listen (they've got a stream of the new album.)  They're on Dualtone Records (Shakey Graves, Langhorne Slim, Shovels and Rope).

Nice Americana sound.  I like everything I've heard.

Dirty Love

SXSW 2018: Duckwrth

This artist from South Central L.A. has already played Lollapalooza and is playing Bonnaroo so it's a good bet he'll be at ACL.  I'm sure he'll be at the big Stubb's or Moody parties.

Most of his music is more hip-hop than I like but his new stuff incorporates more soul, funk, and R&B.  This is his big song that was inspired by Michael Jackson.

MICHUUL

SXSW 2018: The Marías

I'll post two bands that we probably won't get to see as they'll be at the big showcases.  Both will probably be at ACL so no rush to see them.  The first is this band out of L.A. that is playing Coachella and is big at KCRW.  I'd say they would be a shoo-in to play the KCRW showcase but they are playing in San Antonio on Wed. the 14th which is usually the KCRW showcase night. 

Mellow dream pop.  Kind of a Bittersweet sound.

Only in My Dreams

SXSW 2018: Men I Trust

The schedules for evening showcases are starting to show up on the SXSW website.  Most of the big showcases aren't up yet, though. 

This band out of Montreal is playing Sidewinder on Wednesday night.  More pop for today.  I like their sound.

Tailwhip

SXSW 2018: Why Bonnie

Here is an Austin "bedroom pop" band that did a session on KUTX this week.  I like them.  Their album comes out Friday and they are having their album release show Saturday at Cheer Up Charlie's.  They're also playing SXSW so maybe we can catch a set.

There are quite a few new Austin bands I've heard on the 101x Homegrown podcast that I wouldn't mind checking out.  Unfortunately the shows are always late-nighters.  I'm going to look for them playing SXSW day shows and post if I find them.

This is a link to their album on Bandcamp which has 2 songs up right now.   The second song, "Practice" is nice but both are good.


In Water

SXSW 2018: Joshua Hedley

One more new artist playing the Luck Reunion.  He's out of Nashville and was just signed by Jack White's Third Man Records.  Rolling Stone has a good writeup on him.  They call him "the male counterpart to Margo Price."

His voice reminds me of a young Steve Earle.

American Love Story

SXSW 2018: Twain

Luck Reunion has released its lineup and it is impressive.   Lots of big names.  New names include Jade Bird and Cut Worms.  Those two are looking like big buzz bands this year.

Here's another new name on the list.  It's the moniker of Matt Davidson, formerly part of Spirit Family Reunion.  He's from Virginia but spent time in Brooklyn and just moved back home.  Most of his stuff is pretty mellow.  Nothing really stands out but this is pretty good.

Good Old Friend

SXSW 2018: Himalayas

More rock-n-roll, this time from Cardiff.  The BBC just announced their showcases at the British Music Embassy for the week and they play Tuesday night.  Other bands at the BBC showcases that I've already previewed are Nilüfer Yanya, Jade Bird, and Goat Girl.

This is a good song.  Nice guitar solo.

Thank God I'm Not You

SXSW 2018: The Britanys

I'll start out the week with some rock-n-roll.  This is a band out of NYC that reminds me of the Strokes.  A blog about them said "Saw them a couple of times in New York and the hype around them was intense…"

I listened to their EP they just released and it's pretty good.  Straight-up old-school Strokes.


Basketholder

SXSW 2018: Salt Cathedral

Pandora is the first big party to announce some artists so hopefully that opens the floodgates for  announcements.  Lukas Nelson and Nathaniel Rateliff are the big names.  We never go to this as it's ridiculously crowded but it may be worth checking out some of these bands at other parties.

This is a duo originally from Columbia that is now based in Brooklyn.  They were here at SXSW last year but it looks like their profile will be much higher this year.  Light synth-pop sound.  Their debut album was supposed to come out last year but so far they've just released a few singles.  Maybe they'll release it around SXSW.  "Fragments" is more mellow than the one below.

Always There When I Need You

SXSW 2018: Ruby Boots

For some reason I keep posting female musicians.  Here's another one that was just posted on local blog hearya.  It's the moniker of Australia native and now Nashville resident Bex Chilcott.  She's signed to Bloodshot Records and her latest album just came out.

This reminds me of Nikki Lane.  According to Rolling Stone they are friends.  She (Lane) was just added to the SXSW schedule, too.  Maybe they'll both be at the same showcase.

Don't Talk About It

SXSW 2018: Becca Mancari

This is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter that is also part of the band Bermuda Triangle (which includes Brittany Howard).  We'll see them at Antone's on April 5th.   She'll be at SXSW solo.

Rolling Stone and NPR like her.  NPR compares her to Big Thief and War on Drugs.  Not bad.  "Devil's Mouth" is a good song. The whole album is nice.

Summertime Mama

SXSW 2018: Anna Burch

Still no announcements on showcases or day parties so I'll keep highlighting bands I come across.  This is a musician out of Detroit that just released her debut album.  Pitchfork compares her to Juliana Hatfield and Liz Phair.  Sounds about right to me.


Tea Soaked Letter

SXSW 2018: Caroline Rose

This artist just popped up on one of the local blogs, sideonetrackone, so I figured I'd post it here.   Her new album is coming out on New West Records on February 23rd.  Here's some coverage from  NPR and Vice.

This song reminds me of Jenny Lewis. 

Getting to Me