ACL 2019: Weekend One

I'm not going to weekend one so I didn't post about the bands only playing that weekend.  Also, I don't post about bands I've seen or that I'm already familiar with.  This "blog" is really just a note-taking spot for me to use as reference during the festivals as my memory isn't so great.  It's great for me but it doesn't cover some of the better choices for anyone else that reads this (anyone?).  In light of that here is a quick rundown of my best recommendations for Weekend one.  These are mostly bands I've seen before.

Friday:

1pm Erin Rae: mellow singer-songwriter.  She has toured with Jenny Lewis.

1:15pm Sam Fender: earnest pop/rock sound.  I enjoyed his set at SXSW.  He seemed very down to earth despite his talents.  I expect him to blow up soon.

2:45 Cherry Glazer:  Don't miss this.  We saw them at SXSW and I loved them.  Kick ass rock. She can shred on guitar.

3:30pm Tyler Childers. He has blown up.  Well deserved, too.

Saturday:

Weekend one before 6pm has lots of bands that are different from weekend two and I haven't heard of many of them.  I haven't seen anyone so I can't help much.  There's only one band I really like:

2:15pm Men I Trust.  Nice indie pop grooves.  I've never seen them but love their sound.  I wish they were playing weekend two.

Sunday:

12:30pm Julia Jacklin.  I've posted about her before: here and here.

2pm IDLES or Joseph.  Joseph if you want to kick back and relax. IDLES if you want to get motivated to run through a goddamn brick wall.  Any band with a song called "Never Fight a Man with a Perm" is worth checking out.  Here's their set at Glastonbury.  No kicking back to relax at that show.

5pm Billy Strings.  Bluegrass on speed. Extraordinary.  Go to 2:09 in the video.  He's not to be missed.

7pm Lizzo.  Very fun.  She puts on quite a show. 

ACL 2019: Wrabel

Sunday at 5pm.  The last choice is this singer-songwriter out of L.A. He is just playing weekend two while Billy Strings is playing weekend one.

A mix of Coldplay and Adam Lambert.  A good opener for the Third Eye Blind fans.

11 Blocks

ACL 2019: BANKS

Sunday at 5pm.  Electropop from L.A.  I previewed her in 2014 when she played SXSW before her first album was released but we didn't see her.   She has since released three albums. 

Her wikipedia entry says: "Banks' sound has been described as dark R&B and compared to Ellie Goulding, The Weeknd, and Aaliyah, although she cites Lauryn Hill and Fiona Apple as her biggest influences."

Gimme

ACL 2019: Caamp

Sunday at 5pm.  Four choices at this time.  Billy Strings is playing Weekend 1 at this time but we don't get that privilege.

One option is a techno DJ (FISHER) so I'll skip that.  First choice is a band out of Ohio.  Country-folk sound.  One song I heard ("Going to the Country") had a little Grateful Dead feel. 

This is a good opener for the Bruce Hornsby fans before his 6pm set.

By and By

ACL 2019: GoGo Penguin

Sunday at 4pm.  This is the choice opposite Rosalía.  They're playing in the tent after Yola.  Mellow piano jazz instrumentalists from Manchester.

If you want to chill while at work here's their NPR Tiny Desk Concert.  I love the first comment on the video: "looks like 3 guys from a laptop repair shop takin a short break from work ."

The other option is the reggae band Rebelution.  They've played ACL in the past.

Window

ACL 2019: Rosalía

Sunday at 4pm.  Austin360 just published their their recommendations for Weekend 1.  All three critics picked this singer as the one to see.

Peter Blackstock: "The 20something eclectic singer-songwriter from Spain has collaborated with Pharrell Williams and James Blake and won two Latin Grammys last year. She’ll also tape an episode of the “Austin City Limits” TV show on Oct. 8."

Deborah Sengupta Stith: "Buoyed by tremendous range and superb showmanship, the Spanish pop singer who smoothly shifts from dramatic vocal flourishes that tremble with passion to sassy hip-switching Latin pop jams is on a meteoric rise."

Eric Webb: "The flamenco sensation’s “Con Altura” made both my summer playlist and Barack Obama’s. If you don’t believe one of us, at least believe the other."

Those three never agree so perhaps we should check her out.

107M views

MALAMENTE (Cap.1: Augurio)

ACL 2019: Shura

Sunday at 3pm.  This would be my first choice if we had the time to see her.  She's on the vrbo stage which is across Barton Springs Road.  A long way from Tito's.  The other choices besides Koffee are Bea Miller, a 20 year-old pop singer that competed on the X Factor.  She was a little too poppy for me.  The other option is rapper IDK.

Shura is the moniker of British-born Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton.  Electropop/synthpop.  Her new album was released on Secretly Canadian Records.

"BKLYNLDN" is very chill. 

religion (u can lay your hands on me)

ACL 2019: Koffee

Sunday at 3pm.  Yola plays until 3:30 so we won't be able to catch any full sets at this time.  This is the closest stage to Tito's.  It's 19 year-old Mikayla Simpson from Kingstown, Jamaica.  The New Yorker says she is modernizing reggae and states: "To understand both the history and the future of Jamaican music, listen to Koffee."

Toast

ACL 2019: Shandon Sahm

Sunday at 1:45.  Playing after Ley Line on the Tito's stage is Doug Sahm's son/former Meat Puppets drummer Shandon Sahm.  He just released a cover album of his dad's songs called "Sahm Covers Sahm" and is out on tour promoting it.

At 2pm we have two choices,  IDLES and Joseph.  I know you have no interest in IDLES but I'd like to check them out.  You can wander over to Joseph.

We can meet up at 2:45 at Titos for Yola.  I'm beyond excited to see that show.


Give Me Back the Key to My Heart

ACL 2019: Kat Dahlia

Sunday at 1:15pm.  This Cuban-American singer/rapper from Miami (but now based in L.A.) is playing the small BMI stage.  I'm not sure why as it looks like she's quite popular.  The Youtube video below has 53M views.  That's much more than the other 3 artists at this time.

According to this article she took a 2-year hiatus and is now recording new material.   This song was her first big hit back in 2013.

Gangsta

ACL 2019: Duckwrth

Sunday at 1:15pm.  This rapper/singer was at SXSW and I previewed him then.  I predicted he'd be at ACL.  I'm getting good at this.

NPR has an article on him.

This song came out since SXSW.  It's pretty good.

Crush

ACL 2019: Still Woozy

Sunday at 1:15pm.  Soulful R&B sound from Oakland.  This is the moniker of 25 year-old Sven Gamsky.   The reddit poster has a good overview of him.

"Goodie Bag" is cool.  I've listened some other songs and like what I've heard.  He and Mallrat are playing next to each other so we can easily walk between the two stages.


LAVA

ACL 2019: Mallrat

Sunday at 1:15pm.  Four choices at this time.  All are pretty mellow.  I hadn't heard of any of them so I'll preview them all.

This is probably my first choice.  It's the moniker of 20 year-old (she'll be 21 at ACL) Brisbane-born Grace Shaw.  Fader says she's a breakout star.  Good indie pop song.

Groceries

ACL 2019: Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

Sunday at 12:30pm.  Last choice is this band out of Nashville.  They say they were influenced by Tom Petty.  They did a cover of "Won't Back Down" with Austin based Penny and Sparrow.

"Dragons" is a nice song similar to Avett Brothers. 

This song is Alternative rock/pop similar to Of Monsters and Men and Head and the Heart.

End of the World

ACL 2019: Ley Line

Sunday at 12:45pm.  All female band out of Austin.  They played the Campground stage at Old Settler's last year after you left.  Really good. Crowd was totally into it.  They're playing the tent and I bet it would be a good set.  I'd like for you to see them but Julia Jacklin may beat them out.  We need to make an effort to see a show in Austin.  They're quite mellow so it would need to be the right venue.

They play at The Grove at Southpark Meadows tomorrow at 7pm.  They also play HAAM day but it's at Cenote off Cameron Rd. and 290.

This video was recorded at Old Settlers by KUTX on their pop-up stage.  "Respiração" was recorded in L.A. for Jam in the Van.

Oxum

ACL 2019: Julia Jacklin

Sunday at 12:30am.  Three good choices at this time.  First choice is who we saw during SXSW in 2016 at the Hilton Hotel.  She was very good.  She has since released her second album.  I've been listening to it and really like it. 

Caroline Rose followed by Julia Jacklin.  That's a great way to start a Sunday.

Body

ACL 2019: Sego

Sunday at 11:45am.  One more band at this time.  It started as a duo out of Provo that is now a full band in L.A.

They're really going for the Beck sound, especially on "Neon Me Out".

This song has lots of Beck with a little LCD Soundsystem mixed in.

Shame

ACL 2019: Kady Rain

Sunday at 11:45am.  First choice at this time is Caroline Rose. No way I'm missing that.  For informational purposes I'll highlight the other choices at this time.  There's a hip-hop band out of San Marcos (not Brockhampton) called PNTHN that really isn't our style.  You can click on the link if you want to hear one of their songs.

Another option is Austinite Kady Rain Williams.  She got a nice writeup in the Austin Chronicle and was on the 2018 NPR 100 for SXSW. 

Straight up pop.  "Lonely One" has a throwback 80s pop sound. It's pretty good.

R.A.D. Moves

ACL 2019: Natalia Lafourcade

Saturday at 5pm.  Last choice at this time is this singer, composer and producer from Mexico.  Mellow latin pop.  Her big success in the US was singing on "Remember Me" from the movie Coco.  It won the Academy Award for best song and she performed on the show.

Her Tiny Desk Concert has almost 9M views.  Pretty good sound.  She's on the vrbo stage which is the new one on the other side of Barton Springs Rd.


NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

ACL 2019: Chris Schiflett

Saturday at 5pm at the BMI stage.  Americana/country rock side project from Foo Fighters guitarist.  You'll never guess who produced his solo albums: Dave Cobb.  This whole festival is filled with Dave Cobb artists.

The BMI stage is an interesting spot.  I hope it doesn't rain.  That area was a mud pit last year.

I listened to some of his other songs and they're all pretty similar to this one. Nothing really grabbed me but it could be good live.

West Coast Town

ACL 2019: Kali Uchis

Satruday at 5pm. This singer was at ACL back in 2015 in the Tito's tent.  Since then she has released her first album which got rave reviews.  She has toured with Leon Bridges and Lana Del Ray. 

"Get Up" is nice.  She may be my first choice at this time.


After the Storm

ACL 2019: Judah & the Lion

Saturday at 5pm.  Four choices at this time.  Usually by 5pm on a Saturday we have well-known acts that don't need a preview but not this year.  It could be me.

The first option is a former Christian band out of Nashville.  Their last album was produced by Dave Cobb.  That man is busy.  Their wikipedia page lists genres as bluegrass, Americana, hip-hop, folk, rock, and electropop.  Kind of all over the place.

Here's a mellow song with Kacey Musgraves lending vocals.  It was the best song I heard.  The others were too poppy for me.

pictures

ACL 2019: Lauren Daigle

Saturday at 4pm.  Three choices at this time.  First choice is Brittany Howard for me.  The second choice is Pink Sweat$.  I previewed him when he played the C3 B+Q BBQ party at Scoot Inn during SXSW.  I predicted he would most likely play ACL and here he is.

The last option is a Christian singer from Louisiana that crossed over to mainstream with this song.  She sounds like Adelle on this one.

It won't let me embed the video so click to view.

You Say

ACL 2019: Dayglow

Saturday at 3pm. Another good option for this time.  Indie pop from 19 year-old UT student Sloan Struble out of Ft. Worth.  The Austin Chronicle has a story on his breakout thanks to Spotify.  He left school to pursue his music career and has been touring ever since.

Chill pop sound.  "Hot Rod" incorporates Austin's Moonlight towers into the video.  Cool.

 "Can I Call You Tonight?"

ACL 2019: Briston Maroney

Saturday at 3pm.  Indie rock from this 21 year-old singer-songwriter originally from Tennessee and Florida but now in Nashville.  "Steve's First Bruise" has a Strokes feel.  "Caroline" reminds me of "Budapest" from George Ezra.

This is a cool song. 

Freakin' Out on the Interstate

ACL 2019: Hippie Sabotage

Saturday at 3pm.  Dylan LeBlanc is playing the Tito's stage at 2:45pm so that's probably my first choice.  This may be a good slot to walk around and sample different bands, though.  First option is two brothers out of Sacramento that produce EDM music.  They seem to be pretty popular.  The ACL fest website lets you select your schedule and over 433 fans have chosen this band.  Dylan LeBlanc has 77.

They shot to fame with a remix of Tove Lo's "Habits (Stay High)" that has over 733M views on Youtube.  Wow.

Mellow chill dance tunes.  This song only has 65M views.

Devil Eyes

ACL 2019: Sigrid

Saturday at 2pm.  This is a singer/songwriter from Ålesund Norway. (Fun fact: I spent Christmas 1988 in Ålesund.  A breathtakingly beautiful place.)  She won the BBC Music sound of 2018 and just released her first album.  Catchy pop.

"Don't Feel Like Crying" is her biggest US hit.

Sucker Punch

ACL 2019: Madison Ryann Ward

Saturday at 1:45pm.  Two pretty good choices at this time.  First is a singer from Oklahoma that is also an accomplished athlete.  In high school she was named Oklahoma Female Athlete of the Year and was All-State in volleyball and golf.  She played volleyball at Oklahoma and after graduating moved to Nashville to pursue a music career.  It got a boost when she was featured on David Letterman's Netflix show (with Lukas Nelson on guitar!) with Jay Z.   She is signed with Rick Rubin.  Damn.


Mirror

ACL 2019: Diamante Eléctrico

Saturday at 1:15pm.  We go from 3 great choices at 12:30pm to 4 toss-ups.   I listened to all four and none really stand out.  We've got a Cardi B/Lizzo wannabe in Megan Thee Stallion, Back Street Boys flavor from Hell's Kitchen-based high school boy band Laundry Day, and hip hop from Taylor Bennett.

I'm sure Megan Thee Stallion would be the most entertaining show but this seemed to be the most interesting band of these options.  It's rock group out of Bogata that has won 2 Latin Grammys for Best Rock Album.  They've opened for the Rolling Stones and have recorded for Third Man Records.  David Fricke had a glowing write-up of them in Rolling Stone.  His choice quote about their new album:

"The sum of those moments is Diamante Eléctrico’s graduation day, their best record  and a certain fixture of future lists of the greatest rock en español albums... is aggressively purist in its power-trio force, as basic in its charge (despite the samples and studio enhancement) as Cream’s debut LP, 1966’s Fresh Cream, or the Black Keys’ gnarly 2004 album, Rubber Factory. But the determined reach and assured execution of the changes on Buitres echo other precedents: the Rolling Stones’ decisive integration of blues roots and contemporary rebellion on 1968’s Beggars Banquet; Soundgarden’s giant step up from the grunge underground with the progressive hard-rock drive of 1991’s Badmotorfinger; Jack White’s nuclear fusion of antique blues ideals and mass-appeal savvy on the White Stripes’ 2003 smash, Elephant."

That's some serious name dropping.

"Dias Raros" features Billy Gibbons on guitar.  Cool.

Oro

ACL 2019: Flora Cash

Saturday at 12:30pm.  I've heard this song a hundred times on KUTX but never knew the band.  It's a married duo who met online.  He's from Minneapolis and she's from Sweden.  As Wikipedia says: "Lleshaj, from Stockholm, and Randall, from Minneapolis, met in 2012 on SoundCloud when Lleshaj began commenting on the tracks Randall had posted and the two discovered they appreciated each other's music.".  The rest is history.

Opposite this band is Orville Peck.  He's the openly gay masked country singer that sold out Mohawk recently.  I can't remember if he was inside or outside, though.  I like his album and his stage act should be interesting.  He reminds me of a mix of The The, Morrissey, and Roy Orbison. 

The other option at this time is local rapper Abhi the Nomad.  He has gotten lots of airplay on KUTX as well.

I'd be happy seeing all three of these but I'm leaning towards Orville Peck. 


You're Somebody Else

ACL 2019: Vanessa Zamora

Saturday at 11:45am.  Mellow pop from Tijuana.  She reminds me of Sade.  Nice sound.  A good way to start to day.

Solegrande is good, too.



Malas Amistades

ACL 2019: Aquadolls

Saturday at 11:45am.  Four options at this time (5 if you count Barton Hills Choir.  I assume they'll be doing Cure and Guns N' Roses songs).  I'm sure you'll want to see Blackillac at this time, especially if Gary Clark, Jr. joins them.

This is a an all-female band out of SoCal that plays surf punk/pop.  I just found a guy on reddit that is doing a rundown of the bands at ACL and he is much more thorough than me.  Here's his rundown on the band.   He compares them to the Cults and Best Coast.  Pretty accurate.  They've opened for Raveonettes so I'm in.

our love will always remain

ACL 2019: The Comet is Coming

Friday at 5:30pm.  Psychedelic jazz instrumentalists from London.  A nice warm-up for the Thom Yorke fans waiting for the chocolates to kick in.


Summon the Fire

ACL 2019: Lil Uzi Vert

Friday at 5:30pm.  Raconteurs play at this time so that's first choice.  This is rapper Symere Woods out of Philadelphia.  His last album debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and has gone platinum.  I'm so out of it.

This song has 348M views.  Wow.

XO tour Llif3

ACL 2019: K. Flay

Friday at 4:30pm.  Rock from Kristine Meredith Flaherty aka K. Flay.  She stared rapping while at Stanford and decided to pursue a music career.  She cites her influences as Lauryn Hill, M.I.A., Cat Power, Liz Phair, OutKast, and Tame Impala.

One of her big hits is a collaboration with Louis the Child song where she sings:  "It's Strange".

This song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Song.

Blood in the Cut

ACL 2019: Kaytranada

Friday at 4:30pm.  Slim pickings at this time.  There are 4 choices.  The Score is a rock duo compared to Fall Out Boy and Imagine Dragons.  Pass.  TroiBoi is an electronic producer of trap music compared to Diplo and Major Lazer.  Not really our thing.

The other two choices are hip-hop influenced.  First is Haitian born, Montreal raised Louis Kevin Celestin.  His debut album won the Polaris Prize in Canada in 2016.

This song is interesting.  The first 3 minutes are quite different from the last 2.  It shifts directions in a nice way.  "You're the One" is good, too.  Nice R&B sound.

Glowed Up

ACL 2019: Monsieur Periné

Friday at 3:30pm on the Tito's stage.  Latin flavor from this Columbian band.  They won the Latin Grammy for "Best New Artist" in 2015 but it looks like they were formed in 2008.  Overnight success.

28M views. 

Bailar Contigo

ACL 2019: King Princess

Friday at 3:30pm.  Tyler Childers is playing at this time so that's where I'll be.  The kids will be at this show.  It's the moniker of 20 year-old Brooklyn born and raised Mikaela Straus.  She's signed to super-producer Mark Ronson's (Adelle, Amy Winehouse, co-wrote your favorite song "Shallow") label with Columbia Records.   Trivia: her great-great grandparents were co-owners of Macy's and died on the Titanic.  Her family has quite a history if you want to read more.

This song has over 9M views on Youtube.   She has already performed at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury. 

1950

ACL 2019: Jai Wolf

Friday at 2:30pm.  Electronic dance pop from Long Island.  This is the moniker of Bangladesh-born Sajeeb Saha.  He has produced and re-mixed works from Skrillex and Odesza but his new album is more pop.  Telepathy is a nice electronic instrumental.

He doesn't sing on his songs so I'm not sure who he'll have on stage to perform.  Each song has different singers.  It may just be him behind a bank of computers.

Lose My Mind

ACL 2019: Friday Pilots Club

Friday at 2:45pm on the BMI stage.  I want to see Cherry Glazerr at this time.  We saw her at SXSW at Barracuda outside and she rocked.  Black Pistol Fire is also on at this time.

This is a band out of Chicago signed to Big Machine Records (Midland, ex-Taylor Swift).  Reminds me of Hozier.

Glory

ACL 2019: Flamingosis

Friday at 2pm at the Tito's tent.  The moniker of Aaron Velasquez from New Jersey but now in Brooklyn.  Mellow grooves that would fit on KCRW.

I guess this would be my choice for this timeslot.

A Groovy Thing

ACL 2019: The Aces

Friday at 1:45pm.  We saw this all-female group from Provo, Utah at SXSW in 2017.  They played acoustic at the Whole Foods roof.  I liked their sound then and thought they were good musicians.  Not sure I like their full sound.  A little poppy for me.  I do like the homage to "Heathers" in this video, though.

They're signed to Red Bull Records.  I had to look at what that's all about and they also have Albert Hammond Jr. on the label.  The more you know...

Volcanic Love

ACL 2019: Madison Beer

Friday at 2pm.  Three acts to choose from at this time.  First up is a 19 year-old from Long Island that is backed by Justin Bieber and Island Records.  Pure pop. For the kids.


Home With You

ACL 2019: Jane Ellen Bryant

Friday at 1pm on the Tito's stage.  This timeslot has 5 bands playing at the same time.  I previewed 3.  The 4th is Pike and Sutton.  Think they'll play any Sister 7?

I may have memory issues but I don't recall this singer out of Austin.  She has opened for Suzanna and was a backup singer for Max Frost.  This song sounds familiar so I assume it has gotten local airplay. It has a Jenny Lewis sound to it.

You're Too Smooth

ACL 2019: Savannah Conley

Friday at 1:15pm.  The BMI stage tends to focus on Nashville artists and this is no exception.  Her album was produced by Dave Cobb and is on Elektra Records.  She's only 21.  Not a bad start.

This is more to my liking.

Never Be Ourselves

ACL 2019: The Band CAMINO

Friday at 1:15pm.  Rock band out of Memphis that was just signed to Elektra Records.  Expect lots of airplay on KGSR.  For fans of Twenty-One Pilots and The 1975.  Not really my thing.

Daphne Blue

ACL 2019: Houses

Friday at 1:15pm.  This is the moniker of Dexter Tortoriello, originally from Chicago but now in L.A. He has worked with Diplo and also performs under the band name Dawn Golden.  He has been opening for Jungle on their current tour.

NPR friendly sound. The other songs I heard were ok. 

Fast Talk

ACL 2019: The Beaches

Friday at 12:30pm. All-girl band out of Toronto.  Rock.  Not really my cup of tea.  I'm sure the Guns N' Roses fans that get there when the gates open to stake out front row seats at the Amex stage will enjoy it. 

This was the best song.

Snake Tongue

ACL 2019: Mahalia

Friday at 12:30pm.  It's that time again.  I'll go through the week 2 ACL schedule to find the bands we may want to see.  As usual I'll focus on the bands I don't know.  First up is this singer originally from Leicester that is on the BBC Sound of 2019 list.  Her song "Sober" has 34M views on Youtube. 

Pop-soul/R&B. A good way to start the festival. I liked this song the best.

I Wish I Missed My Ex

SXSW 2019: Playlist

Here are some of my favorites from the shows I saw.  I didn't include bands we'd seen before (Haelos, Patty Griffin, Andrew Bird, etc.)

In no order.


SXSW 2019 bands seen playlist

SXSW 2019: Recap

Tuesday March 12th

@Mohawk

FADE

Black Belt Eagle Scout

Morabeza Tobacco

Barrie

@Cheer Up Charlies

The Beths

@Mohawk

Sorry Girls (partial)

Elder Island (partial)

Divino Niño

Helena Deland

@Cheer Up Charlies

Ratboys

@Side Bar

Illuminati Hotties

@Edge Rooftop at JW

Charlotte OC

Trouble Notes

Kidsmoke

Wednesday March 13th

@Scoot Inn

Blushing

@Stay Gold

The Ophelias

Haelos

Jackie Mendoza

@Scoot Inn

Cat Clyde

Haiku Hands

Ambar Lucid

@Azul Rooftop bar at Westin on 5th

Lucy Whittaker(last song)

Ferris & Sylvester

Thursday March 14th

@GSD&M ACL Bloody Mary Morning

John the Martyr

Priscilla Renea

SONTALK

The Strumbellas

Erika Wennerstrom

Reignwolf

Patty Griffin

@Yeti

Ona (outside)

The Vandoliers

Super Doppler (partial)

Banditos (partial)

Los Coast

Susto

@Hyatt

My Life as Ali Thomas (3 songs)

Red Steppes (partial)

Friday March 15th

@Barracuda

Dylan Cartlidge

Cherry Glazerr

the Beths

the Nude Party 

Sam Fender

Justin Townes Earle

Fontaines D.C.

Andrew Bird

Heart Bones

Bad Bad Hats

Yola

Low Cut Connie

@Hilton Garden Inn 18th floor

Justin Townes Earle at bar

Saturday March 16th

@Tiniest Bar

Geowulf

@Lazarus Brewing

Lowly

DYGL (partial)

@Zilker Brewing

Quivers 

Trouble in the Streets (partial)

@Lazarus

Fanclub

@Zilker

San Mei (partial)

SXSW 2019: Angie McMahon

Rachel Ray has posted the lineup for her Saturday Stubb's party:

Bleachers
Big Boi
Mike D (DJ Set)
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real
Cautious Clay
Bob Schneider
The Cringe
J.S. Ondara
Angie McMahon
Palm Palm
Ben Dickey
Yola
Billy Raffoul
KOLARS

Very nice.  Only a couple I didn't recognize.  One is this musician out of Melbourne.  She's on tour with the Pixies right now.  She's also on the NPR Austin 100. She's compared to Big Thief.  This is the only day party she's playing so far.


Keeping Time

SXSW 2019: Kidsmoke

It looks like the Second Play stages are starting to get filled out.  Tuesday at the Edge Rooftop bar at the JW Marriott has these bands:

5:00 PM – Trouble Notes
6:00 PM – Charlotte OC
7:00 PM – Kidsmoke

Both Charlotte OC and Kidsmoke are on the NPR 100.  That's an impressive bill.  NPR says of Kidsmoke: "Imagine Real Estate with a bit more pep and a bit less nostalgic melancholy".  They're from Wales.

Passenger

SXSW 2019: Jaime Wyatt

Paul Cauthen has announced the lineup for his Big Velvet Revue Saturday at the Rustic Tap.  RSVPs required to get in.  I RSVPd for us.  This year's lineup isn't as good as last year at first glance.  I don't recognize most of them and after a quick search most of them aren't on the official SXSW schedule.  Erin Rae is an exception.  We saw her open for Jenny Lewis at Gruene Hall.

This California singer-songwriter is getting good press for her first album.  Here's an NPR interview with her. She's opening for Shooter Jennings in March 28th at Mohawk.


Stone Hotel

SXSW 2019: Quivers

NPR has put out their Austin 100 for this year so feel free to go peruse their choices.  I've posted quite a few on the list.  I would post more but at this point in the schedule I'm trying to find bands we have a chance of seeing.  Just a quick glance and quite a few are only playing evening showcases and aren't scheduled to play any day parties.  This band out of Australia is one of them.

Nice indie pop sound.  Their Instragram description is "Cathartic guitar pop somewhere between '80s Australia and '90s America." 


You're Not Always On My Mind

SXSW 2019: Barrie

One more from the B + Q BBQ on Tuesday.  It's a band that formed in Brooklyn but the 5 members are from all over the world: Baltimore, Boston, upstate New York, London, and Brazil.

Dream pop.  Right up my alley.  "Canyons" is nice, too.  This looks like the only day party they're playing. So far.

Edit: they just released a new video for "Darjeeling" and it says their debut LP comes out May 3rd. It must be pretty good for them to get booked for this party.

Tal Uno

SXSW 2019: Pink Sweat$

It looks like the B + Q BBQ (C3/ACL Fest) Day party has moved from Wednesday at Lambert's to Tuesday at Scoot Inn this year.  Unless they're putting on two shows.  I don't see anything at Lambert's yet.

The site says stay tuned for details.  They don't have times listed yet so I'll post when available.  So far they have these bands listed:  Black Pistol Fire, Ambar Lucid, Duncan Fellows, Barrie the band, Pink Sweat$, Sego, Yola, Pottery, Illiterate Light, Zunis & Otis the Destroyer.

I'll highlight this R&B singer from Philadelphia.  He released his first EP last year and it blew up.  This video has 8M views.  Fader calls the EP "dazzling" and he's been interviewed by Billboard.  Many of the artists at the B + Q BBQ end up playing ACL Fest so there's a good chance we can see him there.

Nice crooning sound.

Honesty

SXSW 2019: The Brother Brothers

Shiner's Saloon has listed their day parties  so I'll start with Wednesday.  It's put on by Conscious Immaturity who introduced us to July Talk.  This band plays at 2pm.  It's identical twin brothers.  Saving Country Music says it best:

"Based out of Brooklyn, The Brother Brothers is the closest thing you can find to Simon & Garfunkel in this century, yet with a primitive country sound. Incredible singing, some of the sweetest fiddle playing and cello accompaniment I’ve heard, and songs that are amazing in both their simplicity, and their ability to put rhyme and reason to complex human emotions."

Frankie

SXSW 2019: Liily

Waterloo Records came out with their day parties but there's still some TBD.  Thursday is probably the day we'll be near there so here's the lineup:

NOON Morgxn
1pm Donna Missal
2pm Mansionair
3pm Liily
4pm TBA
5pm TBA
6pm Bright Light Social Hour

We saw a bit of Donna Missal's set at ACL.  Mansionair was here for SXSW in 2015.  I wouldn't mind seeing them.  The band at 3pm is best described by this article: "Liily are some newcomers you need to keep on your radar. The L.A. five-piece is exciting not only because their oldest member is only 19 years old but because of their refreshing take on Foals-era math-pop. Liily are less about the angular riffs and more about a powerful rock sound."

They're playing the Stubhub party at Bangers and the Fender party at Lustre Pearl on Friday with Japanese Breakfast.  Very high profile.  This video has 1M views already.

The chorus in "Sold" reminds me of a rocking Ben Harper. 

Toro

SXSW 2019: Priscilla Renea

The other artist I didn't know at the ACL Bloody Mary Morning party is a successful songwriter that plays music on the side.  She put an album out in 2009 and waited 9 years to release her 2nd.  She has written hits for Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert.  The song "Somethin' Bad" is now used as the NBC Sunday Night Football intro music.  Royalties must be nice.

This is the only performance she has scheduled at the moment.  Not even an official showcase yet.

Gentle Hands / Heavenly

SXSW 2019: John the Martyr

I RSVP'd to the ACL Bloody Mary Morning for us.  I know all but 2 on the list.  I saw Strumbellas at Lambert's in 2016 after you went back to work.  They played ACL that year but I don't remember us going to see them.  They'll get the crowd going.  We definitely saw Reignwolf at ACL in 2013.  SONTALK is on my list to see and we may end up seeing him a couple times since he's playing everywhere during SXSW.

This is a band is out of NYC.  I'll just copy what this article says about them, mispellings included: "John the Martyr came together in 2017 when guitarist 26-year-old Kyle Ridley, who had moved to New York City from New Orelans, first encountered 70 year-old Harlem native Bill Hudson singing with a doo-wop group in the subway. Ridley approached Hudson abot recording some music he had written, which led the formation of John The Martyr. The 10-piece soul collective, fronted by Hudson, whose vocals have been compared to Otis Redding and Al Green, will release their debut record in 2019."

Cross the Line

SXSW 2019: My Life as Ali Thomas

The Second Play Stages are starting to be announced.  These are the happy hour shows at hotels around downtown.  This band is from Bangkok and is on the big evening showcase at Central Presbyterian on Wednesday.   They play the Stephen F. bar on Wednesday at 3pm.  They also play the Hotel Van Zandt on Tuesday at 6pm and the Hyatt Regency Thursday at 6pm. 

"Cordelia" is good.

Daydreaming

SXSW 2019: MUNYA

Cedar Street/Flood Magazine has their lineup out now for Tuesday and it looks good:

12:00 p.m. MUNYA
1:00 p.m. Illuminati Hotties
2:00 p.m. Priests
3:00 p.m. HÆLOS
4:00 p.m. White Denim
5:10 p.m. Broken Social Scene

If you want to meet at lunch the noon band is the moniker of Josie Boivin from Quebec.  Gorilla vs. Bear and Fader both like her.

Chill-out grooves. Here are two.  The first is the best.

Hotel Delmano



It's All About You

SXSW 2019: Ambar Lucid

The first act on the KCRW showcase is a 17 year-old Dominican/Mexican-American from New Jersey that KCRW loves.

Nice mellow sound.  Probably too mellow for a day party at SXSW.  She plays at 2pm at Clive on Thursday after CLAVVS.  Going to be tough to get the talkers quiet there.

Candy

SXSW 2019: Cautious Clay

One more KUTX artist.  While looking over his other shows I found the KCRW showcase, which is Tuesday at Elysium.  Badges/wristbands only.  The schedule:

Ambar Lucid (8:00pm)
Westerman (9:00pm)
J.S. Ondara (10:00pm)
Broken Social Scene (11:00pm)
Cautious Clay (12:00am)

The last artist is Josh Karpeh originally from Cleveland but now in Brooklyn.  Very nice sound.  He did a Tiny Desk Concert where he shows off his musical chops (including flute!) if you want more.  Here's an interview with him.  Right now I don't see any day parties for him but I'll keep an eye out.

Cold War

SXSW 2019: Jealous of the Birds

KUTX announced their morning schedule and it's got a good mix of big names, local rising artists and the non-local buzz bands of the year.  Saturday is my favorite but there's no way I'm waking up early enough to get in line to try and get into the Four Seasons ballroom.  We'll just have to listen.

We know most of the bands on the schedule.  Yola is expected to be the breakout as she's booked for all the highest profile gigs.  Her official showcase is at Central Presbyterian Church on Wednesday.

Also playing that official showcase and on KUTX is Naomi Hamilton from Belfast who goes by Jealous of the Birds.  She was here for SXSW in 2016 where she was "discovered", signed a major label deal, and is now back.  She released an EP on Feb. 1st.

I'm not sold based on what I've heard.  This was the best. She's also playing the British Music Embassy Thursday at 4:40 before The Brummies.

Clementina

SXSW 2019: The Marcus King Band

The only band I haven't highlighted from the Lucy's Wednesday show is out of Greenville, SC.  They were just on the Late Show with South Carolina's own Stephen Colbert.  They're also playing Willie's Luck Reunion. Rolling Stone calls him "An Artist you need to know."  He's 22.

Reminds me of Chris Stapleton. 

Goodbye Carolina

SXSW 2019: BAILEN

Lucy's announced their schedule for Wed.-Sunday and they've got quite a lineup.  Look at Wednesday:

12:00 Katie Pruitt
1:00 BAILEN
2:00 Tyler Ramsey
3:00 Logan Ledger
4:00 Marcus King Band
5:00 SUSTO
6:00 Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Holy moly. That's going to be tough to beat. I've already highlighted most of these bands. One I haven't is a trio of siblings from NYC. They are also playing SXSJ on Wednesday along with Black Pumas and E.B the Younger. South Congress may be the spot Wednesday.

I Was Wrong

SXSW 2019: Yola

Breakout Alert.  One more artist playing the Current party on Friday at Barracuda.  She's from Bristol, England and her new album just came out.  I listened to it and am blown away.  Go listen to it now. Holy shit it's great. It was produced by Dan Auerbach.


"Faraway Eyes" is good but I like this one best.  Really nice.  We need to check her out.  She's also at the Luck Reunion and the KCRW day showcase at the Convention Center (we can't get in to that).

Love all Night (Work all day)

SXSW 2019: Sam Fender

The Current just announced their day party for Friday and it's at Barracuda.  I guess they're only doing one day party this year.  Too bad.  They always have great bands.  They haven't announced all the bands yet so I'll keep an eye on updates.

This is a singer out of Northeast England that has taken off in the U.K.  He was on the BBC Sound of 2018 list and won the Brit Awards Critics Choice for 2019 as well. He's 22.

This song reminds me of Hozier.


Play God

SXSW 2019: Minke

Haelos just tweeted the lineup for the British Music Embassy Day parties and it is stacked.  Friday has Haelos, Westerman, and "music's next it girl" Minke.  We may have to check this out.

This reminds me of Maggie Rogers.

Gold Angel

SXSW 2019: CLAVVS

Culture Collide has started announcing their day parties on Rainey.  These usually have quite a few big artists along with buzz bands expected to break out.  The evening showcases are always badge only but the day parties are easier to get into if you arrive early.


This band is at Clive Bar on Thursday at 1pm.  It's a duo originally from Atlanta but now in Brooklyn.  Graham Marsh is a Grammy award winning producer (CeeLo Green, Bruno Mars) so I guess this is his side project.  I like their sound.   A little Lewis Del Mar mixed with Groove Armada.

Lay Back

SXSW 2019: Dean Lewis

KGSR Austin City Limits Radio just announced the first wave of bands to play their morning shows at the W.  Lots of recognizable names as well as some I previewed already like J.S. Ondara and Sontalk.  Hembree is the band of kids from KC that Phil met when they played Woodrow's last year.  He really liked them.

This guy is out of Australia and has already gone triple-platinum.  Reminds me of Ed Sheeran.  Not really my cup of tea but he seems primed for an ACL booking.  I'm sure he'll be a regular on the new KGSR playlist.

Waves


 

SXSW 2019: Logan Ledger

Playing the Yeti Flagship on Wednesday is supposedly the Next Big Thing in Americana music.  My go-to blog for Americana/Country spotlighted him in September.  It said: "But just like Tyler Childers, Ledger is about to go from privileged information to the guy people are talking about." He signed with T-Bone Burnett and has his first album coming out on Rounder Records.  He's also playing Willie's Luck Reunion. 

There's not much music online.  SXSW looks like his coming-out party.   Here's what I found.  This one reminds me of George Jones.

@ The 5 Spot

SXSW 2019: Katie Pruitt

BMI has announced their showcases and day parties so I'll try to cover some of the bands they've scheduled.  Just a quick glance and a lot of these aren't on the SXSW website as official artists yet.  One of them is this singer-songwriter originally from Atlanta and now in Nashville.  She's playing Ray Benson's Birthday Party (we going this year?)  along with Robert Ellis and I'm sure some unannounced guests.


Loving Her

SXSW 2019: Jonathan Bree

Still waiting on the announcements to get going.  Not even a trickle yet.  I think they'll hit in force next week.  In the meantime here's a Valentine's Day song.  Well, he says he doesn't need a Valentine.  He's out of New Zealand and has a unique stage presence that apparently was copied by St. Vincent.

He's been around for years, before this with the band The Brunettes.  The buzz is strong thanks to his song "You're So Cool" which has over 9M views on Youtube.  Very cool song and video.  Check it out.

Valentine

SXSW 2019: whenyoung

One more band playing the Music for Ireland showcase and day party.  It's a trio out of Limerick.  They're also playing a showcase Monday the 11th for DIY Magazine.

Reminds me of HAIM/Metric.  Catchy pop.  They're signed to Virgin EMI/Universal Records and apparently are friends with Bono so expect big things.

Given Up

SXSW 2019: Talos

The big day party announcements should be coming soon so while we wait I'll post what we know so far.  Music from Ireland just posted their showcase and day party (at BD Rileys) and they usually have some good bands.

This is the moniker of Eoin French.  He was here last year and has been on tour with Peter, Bjorn and John.  Melodic ballads.  Not really my thing but not bad.

See Me

SXSW 2019: Ryan Culwell

Some nice Americana for today.  This singer-songwriter is originally from the Texas Panhandle but is now in Nashville.  He has toured with Patty Griffin and Hayes Carll.  Both NPR and Rolling Stone have good articles on him.  The only show so far is at Mohawk on Tuesday the 12th.

This has a Buxton sound to it.  "The Last American" is more mellow but also good.

Can You Hear Me

SXSW 2019: Baby FuzZ

This band is playing on the same showcase as The Ophelias (Wednesday at Cheer Up Charlie's).   It's the moniker of Brandon Lowry who moved from the U.S. to Montreal after Trump was elected.
One article I read states: "After years of writing for artists like Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX, Madonna and Adam Lambert, Brandon Lowry created his stage name Baby FuzZ to write and release music of his own."

Catchy tunes.  The video for "Disneyland" is great.

I like this song.  This could be a fun show.  I bet he ends up at a big day party like San Jose.

What U Gonna Do 4 Luv

SXSW 2019: The Ophelias

Playing with The Brummies at the BD Riley's Tuesday showcase is this all-female band from Cincinnati.  They also play Wednesday at Cheer Up Charlie's.

Very nice.  Right up my alley.  Reminds me a little of Au Revoir Simone.

General Electric

SXSW 2019: The Brummies

Since the Grammys were last night I tried to find a tie-in for today.  This is the best I could do.  It's a trio out of Birmingham, AL that is now in Nashville.  This song has Kacey Musgraves on backing vocals.  Here's a good article on their background and how they know her.  It calls their music melodic pop rock which sounds about right.  They're playing Bonnaroo this year. 

Right now their only showcase is Tuesday at BD Rileys.  I bet they land on one of the big showcases when they're announced.

Drive Away

SXSW 2019: Tim Atlas

The first schedules are now posted on the SXSW website.  I'm just starting to look them over but I'll highlight the Maggie Mae's Wednesday showcase first.  It has illuminati hotties as well as this singer originally from Oakland but now in L.A.  He was on "The Voice" but don't let that cloud your judgement.  I like his sound.

"Sidestep" is good.   Nice R&B sound.

This one has an old Prince sound to it.

Unwind

SXSW 2019: illuminati hotties

The Luck Reunion announced their lineup.  Lots of bands we've seen before plus a few newcomers.  This band is the moniker of L.A. based Sarah Tudzin.   Kind of a nice departure from the traditional bands that play there. 

Catchy song.

(You're Better) Than Ever

SXSW 2019: UPSAHL

Another youngster just out of high school.  She's from Phoenix and is getting lots of buzz after signing with Arista Records.  She'll be opening for Max Frost at Scoot Inn April 4th.  Fitting since he produced her song "Kiss Me Now". 

The Other Team

SXSW 2019: Lunar Vacation

Dream pop out of Atlanta.  The SXSW website has the best description so I'll just paste it from there:

"Atlanta-based Lunar Vacation formed in the summer of 2016 as a way to escape the monotony of suburban Catholic-school life. The five members- guitarist/vocalist Grace Repasky, guitarist Maggie Geeslin, bassist John Michael Young, keys man Matteo De Lurgio, and drummer Connor Dowd- began writing and performing in their junior and senior years of high school. Unsure of how to label their fusion of dreamy melodies, surfy progressions, and psych-rock jams, the five-piece has described their music as “pool rock”

They just graduated high school and are starting their first US tour.

I like this song.

The Basement

SXSW 2019: Dramatic Lovers

The AV Club just posted their "Manic Monday" showcase that kicks off SXSW every year.  The Beths are there, of course.  Also Ratboys.  It's on Monday night which is earlier than we get started and goes late. 

The first band on the outside stage is Dramatic Lovers out of Milwaukee.  I can't find much about them.  Their bandcamp site has 2 songs total and their website has two as well.   Something must be on the horizon for them to get a spot outside at Mohawk at one of the biggest showcases.



The Comedown

SXSW 2019: Illiterate Light

One more Americana/rock band.  This is a duo out of Harrisonburg, VA.  They have been touring with Rayland Baxter and it looks like they are on the Shakey Knees lineup this year.

Their website states: "Spanning the better part of a decade, the creative evolution between Jeff Gorman and Jake Cochran is far from ordinary. The duo ran an organic farm in the Shenandoah Valley, toured the mid-Atlantic by bicycle,  and lived in small communities while pursuing modes of alternative education. Their eclectic background is mirrored in Illiterate Light's sound and lyricism, floating between postmodern confusion and vibrant, life-affirming optimism. "  Interesting.

"Better Than I Used To" reminds me of Jim James mixed with Band of Horses. 


Growin' Down

SXSW 2019: SONTALK

We'll start U.S. band week with Joseph LeMay from Nashville.  He is planning to release an EP on March 15th but it looks like all the songs are already on Amazon Music.

Americana/indie rock.  "I Am a War Machine" is compared to War on Drugs.  I really like what I've heard.  If we miss him at SXSW he's opening for Telekinesis at 3Ten on April 24th.  I posted about Telekinesis in 2011 and 2013 but we've never seen them.  I would be up to see that show.

This song reminds me of Ryan Adams:

Baby I'm Gone

SXSW 2019: The Beths

I'm sure you've already heard this New Zealand band as they get airplay on KUTX.  Their album "Future Me Hates Me" is on many of the Top 10 lists of 2018 (impressive since it just came out in August) so they'll most likely be at the big showcases at Stubbs, etc.  We may not get to see them at SXSW but I definitely want to see them when they come through town on tour.  I really like the album.  You should give it a listen.

Future Me Hates Me

SXSW 2019: Joshua Burnside

Two more international bands to end the week.  Next week I'll focus on U.S. bands.  First up is a musician out of Belfast.  He was at SXSW last year and made the NPR Austin 100 list.

This song reminds me of Jose Gonzalez.  Nice.

Blood Drive

SXSW 2019: Hunkpapa

We'll cross the Irish Sea for the next band.  These guys are out of Belfast and have quickly established themselves as a great live act.  Here's a review of one show in Belfast.

They only have a few songs out and haven't released an EP or album yet.  Indie rock.  "Obstructive" sounds a little like Mt. Joy. 

This is the best song I heard.  A little Bon Iver feel. 

Losing All

SXSW 2019: Celeste

Soul from Brighton, UK.  She's on Lily Allan's new record label and is getting lots of publicity.  Here's an article in Interview and one in Fader. 

This song was just released.  "Chocolate" is good, too.



Father's Son

SXSW 2019: SPINN

One more band from Liverpool.  This is a quartet of youngsters (all around 20 years-old) that has the Fab Four look going on.  A tag for their songs is #Jangle Pop.  Sounds about right.

The lead singer looks and acts like Ferris Bueller in this video for "Who You Are".

Catchy.  "November" is a good song but this was probably my favorite:

Home

SXSW 2019: Trudy and the Romance

Since today marks the 50th anniversary of the last public performance of the Beatles I'll post a couple bands from Liverpool.  First up is a band that was a trio but it looks like a quartet now.  Their first album is coming out in May.  They call their music "mutant 50's pop".  It would fit in "Blue Velvet".

This was the best song I heard.

Is There a Place I Can Go

SXSW 2018: Catherine Britt and the Cold Cold Hearts

Classic country sound from Newcastle, New South Wales.  She lived in Nashville for a few years but is now back in Australia.  Her latest album is also nominated for the Australian Music Prize.  She's been playing since 1999 and has put out 7 albums.  I guess I should have heard of her but I guess my country knowledge is limited.  It looks like she's definitely more aligned with country than Americana artists, touring with Brooks and Dunn and working with Kenny Chesney.

Reminds me a little of Margo Price.


Red Dirt

SXSW 2019: Geowulf

This duo is from Sunshine Coast in Queensland, about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, but they now live in London.  Breezy dream pop.  It's what you say is my type of music. 

I like them.

Sunday

SXSW 2019: Tia Gostelow

Since it's Colin's birthday today and he spent a couple years working in Australia I'll post a few bands from Down Under.  First up is a singer out of Mackey which is in Queensland about a 10 hour drive north of Brisbane.   When she was 18 she moved to Brisbane (she's 19 or 20 now).

Her first album, "Thick Skin" is receiving praise and was nominated for the Australian Music Prize in competition with acts like Courtney Barnett and Middle Kids.  Indie pop with a throwback sound.

This one reminds me of Jessica Lea Mayfield mixed with Alvvays.  I really like the album.  Would like to catch a show.

Vague Utopia

SXSW 2019: Parker Gispert

Atlanta-based The Whigs have been around since 2002.  "Right Hand on My Heart" is their big hit you'll recognize.  Power trio guitar rock.  They played ACL back in 2012 and I previewed them but I don't remember if we saw them. I need to write that stuff down.

The band is in hiatus as the other members take a break to raise families so their lead singer decided to record his first solo album and go out on tour.  He was at Mohawk on Friday night and is coming to SXSW as well.

Pretty mellow.  This article calls it "autumnal acoustic pop".  Sounds about right.  Reminds me of M. Ward at times.  Here's the whole thing if you want to listen.

This song is more uptempo than the others.

Too Dumb to Love Anyone