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

SXSW 2019: Tyler Ramsey

Multi-instrumentalist Tyler Ramsey was a solo performer before joining Band of Horses as lead guitarist in 2007 and spent ten years with the band before leaving in 2017.  He has released three solo albums and his fourth album is scheduled to come out soon.

Here's a video from World Cafe.  Cool song.

1000 Blackbirds

SXSW 2019: E.B. the Younger

Today I'll share some solo projects from a few musicians that are (or were) part of other bands.  First up is Eric Pulido from Midlake.  This video is filled with cameos.  It's got musicians Rayland Baxter, Paul Cauthen, and Jonathan Tyler (and I'm sure others I don't immediately recognize.).  It's also got Jason Lee from "My Name is Earl" as the coach.  I bet it was a fun video to make.

Pretty good song.

Used to Be

SXSW 2019: Cats on Trees

French dream pop duo from Toulouse.  They seem to be pretty popular in France.  I don't think they've toured much in the U.S. I don't see much in English out there about them. They released their 2nd album last year.

Pretty good.  This is the best song I heard.  

Keep on Dancing

SXSW 2019: French for Rabbits

Dream pop from New Zealand.  Their new album was released today.   "Your Halo" is a good song.

Pretty mellow.  "Claimed by the Sea" was released in 2012 and seems to be their most played track.

Highest Hill

SXSW 2019: Pip Blom

Hailing from Amsterdam is this 22 year-old that makes catchy indie-rock tunes.  She's gotten regular airplay on KCRW and BBC and her first album should be coming out in February.  Here's an interview with her.

"Truth" is mellow and reminds me a little of Courtney Barnett.  I think I like this song best, though.  Reminds me of early Blondie.


Daddy Issues

SXSW 2019: J.S. Ondara

Breakout alert.  This singer from Kenya is signed to Universal Music and his first album comes out February 1st.  Expect big things.  He's compared to Michael Kiwanuka and is currently touring with Anderson East.  His song-writing inspiration is Bob Dylan and he moved to Minneapolis when he was 20 just to be near where Dylan got his start.  Here's more from NPR.

American Dream

SXSW 2019: Dawn Avenue

Next stop in the around-the-world band previews is Mexico.  There's not much in English online about this duo but they have a pretty big following on Facebook and Spotify.    The other one I heard was too poppy for me.   They've opened for Third Eye Blind and Thirty Seconds to Mars.  Not really my style.

I like this song though.  Reminds me a little of Band of Horses. 

Gold

SXSW 2019: No Party for Cao Dong

Another band from Taiwan.  These guys are apparently pretty big in Asia.  Their style is called post-rock.  "Simon Says" is more low-tempo and has a Jack Johnson feel until about the 3 minute mark when they start rocking out. 

This song reminds me of Foals.  It has over 7M views. 

Wayfarer

SXSW 2019: Say Sue Me

Here is a cool band out of Busan, South Korea.  Great guitar sound.  The song below reminds me of Real Estate. "Crying" has a Blonde Redhead vibe.  Here's an interview with them. KEXP has a song from them on their site that sounds like The Raveonettes.

I like them.


Old Town

SXSW 2019: The Fur.

A vast majority of the bands at SXSW come from either L.A, NY (Brooklyn mainly), or Nashville.  International bands are mostly from London or Australia.  I'll get to those soon as there will be a ton but first I'd like to showcase bands from less well-known pop music locales. 

This is a band out of Taiwan.  Catchy dream pop/indie pop.  Here's a review of a concert they played in Rotterdam.  "We Can Dance" would fit right in an 80s John Hughes movie.

They make their first trip to SXSW and I wouldn't mind searching them out.

Short Stay

SXSW 2019: Eliza Shaddad

One more London-based act for today.  This is a Sudanese-Scottish musician that has lived all over the world.  Here's an interview with her.

Nice sound.  "Waters" is really good.  She reminds me of Cat Power.


Just Goes to Show

SXSW 2019: BLOXX

I'll stick with London bands today.  These guys are compared to Wolf Alice.   You definitely hear it in "Curtains." (Which is a pretty good video, too.)  Here's a good profile on them.  They're signed to Chess Club Records (MO, Wolf Alice).

I like this song.


Monday

SXSW 2019: Westerman

Wristbands are going on sale today so that's my cue to get started on previews.  First up is a singer out of London that seems to have some buzz behind him.  He's been profiled on Stereogum and Brooklyn Vegan.  They compare him to Nick Drake, Arthur Russel, and even Jose Gonzalez.  Not bad.

At first I'll be previewing bands I like that may not be at the big day parties or showcases.  This is an exception.  I think he'll be one of the big names this year.

Outside Sublime is good, too.

Confirmation