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