SXSW 2022: Tayla Parx

Still not many day shows announced so I'll delve deeper into the existing shows.  Wednesday at Container Bar is:

6:00 PM Dawn Richard
5:00 PM Tayla Parx
4:00 PM Ezra Furman
3:00 PM Sunflower Bean
2:00 PM La Doña
1:00 PM BLACKSTARKIDS

Tayla Parx is from Dallas but now lives in L.A.  Here's a history of her acting, song-writing, and musical career.  It says: 

Tayla Parx’s discography reads a bit like a who’s who in the music industry. She’s written and co-written songs for superstars including Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera, and more recently Khalid, Panic! At the Disco – along with the smash-hit ‘Thank You, Next’ for her friend Ariana Grande. The latter were all Top 10 singles, with Grande’s song peaking at no.1 in the US, and Parx also snagged a no.1 with the song ‘7 Rings’ together with Grande. She can also lay claim to the involvement in a bulk of tracks on Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer album in 2018.

Very impressive.  She's releasing a new single right around the time of SXSW according to this interview.  It's not online so here is one of her old songs.

SXSW 2022: Horsegirl

Another band playing San Jose on Thursday.  It's a trio of teens that just graduated from high school in Chicago.  From Steregum, who calls them a Band to Watch:

When Penelope Lowenstein received invitations to see Nora Cheng and Gigi Reece, her two best friends and Horsegirl bandmates, graduate from their respective high schools, she was faced with a dilemma: Both events were scheduled for the same day. One of the upsides to the pandemic, however, is that virtual options are increasingly available, so she did what any good friend would and figured out a way to celebrate them simultaneously. While Reece’s high school graduation unfolded on her phone, Lowenstein hopped in the car to catch Cheng’s ceremony in person. That’s when their song “Ballroom Dance Scene” came on the radio.

Here's "Ballroom Dance Scene", their first single.  Since then, they have been blowing up.  Now signed to Matador, they have released a new single that got Rolling Stone's attention.  It's below.

They cite Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and Belle and Sebastian as influences. 

SXSW 2022: Yard Act

I post this band as they are playing all the big shows so FYI.  Not sure it's your cup of tea.  They're from Leeds and are apparently a supergroup according to Pitchfork.  It says:

Yard Act signed to Island, the same label that released Pulp’s major-label debut. Elton John became a fan. So did notable post-punk scholar Ed Sheeran. Cue the up-and-comer appearances in NME and DIY, on the BBC and Jools Holland. 

They play Lazarus Brewing on Tuesday, their evening showcase on Wednesday, San Jose on Thursday, and Hotel Vegas on Friday.  They are also tabbed to play the British Music Embassy at Cedar Street at some point.  

Post-punk britpop.  Their main single and the title of their album is "The Overload".  I think I like this song best.

SXSW 2022: Hannah Jadagu

Wednesday at San Jose has these bands:

Midlake
Sunflower Bean
Geese
JOSEPH
Hannah Jadagu
Ada Lea
Strawberry Guy

Another great lineup of buzz bands along with my old favorite Midlake.  The only one I don't know is this artist from Mesquite that recorded her EP in her bedroom.  She is now signed to Sub Pop (Nirvana, Father John Misty).  She is a student at NYU as well.   Here's a good interview with her.

Dream pop.  I like it.  "What is Going On?" is good, too.

SXSW 2022: Mini Trees

Friday at San Jose has quite the lineup:

Houndmouth
Seratones
Steve Gunn
La Dona
Buffalo Nichols
S.G. Goodman
Mini Trees
Calder Allen

The only one I don't know is the moniker of L.A.'s Lexi Vega. Here is an interview with her.  

Nice pop sound.  Right up my alley. 

SXSW 2022: Surfbort

Here's another band playing both Container Bar and San Jose. Another band with a lot of buzz.  They've already played Coachella.  Here's what the Guardian says about them: 

Feted by Blondie, signed by Julian Casablancas’s Cult Records, unlikely stars of a 2019 Gucci campaign and famed for their uninhibited displays of wildfire garage punk, Surfbort are the combination of one Californian former wild child (Miller) and three survivors of the 90s Texas punk scene (drummer Sean Powell and guitarists David Head and Alex Kilgore), on a mission to splatter visceral responses to the world’s most terrifying subjects.

If that isn't enough buzz, Fred Armisen appears in one of their videos.  I have to share the song "Lot Lizard 93" because I love the name.

SXSW 2022: Geese

High buzz alert.  This band from Brooklyn just graduated from high school and they're already getting press from the NY Times and Rolling Stone.  Check out the comparisons from the latter:

You can hear NYC guitar zone-out Zen masters like Television, the Feelies, and Parquet Courts; the early-’00s neo-New Wave and dance-punk of the Strokes, the Rapture, and LCD Soundsystem; scads of art-spaz stuff from DNA to Deerhoof to Black Midi; and even a flash of prog touchstones like Yes and Radiohead. Singer Cameron Winter can hoist his voice into a Thom Yorkean falsetto, put on a posh pout à la Julian Casablancas or Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen, or lapse into a stentorian yawp that brings to mind Mark E. Smith of the Fall or Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner.

Jeez.  That's a lot of praise.  He was talking about the song "Projector". I think I like the song below better.  It has a definite similarity to Television. Here they are live.

They play San Jose on Wednesday (that is a stacked lineup) and Container Bar on Thursday.  Suffice it to say I bet they play a couple other high-profile parties.

SXSW 2022: Faux Real

South by San Jose has released their lineup.  Some of them are also on the Dr. Marten's lineup so I'll cover the overlaps from Wednesday at Container Bar first.  There's La Doña who was just at ACL (preview here), Sunflower Bean, and this band.

Faux Real plays Wednesday at Container Bar and Sunday at San Jose.  They are Franco-American brothers.  Here's more on them.

This was the best I heard.  Next best was "Spooky Bois". Neither do much for me.

SXSW 2022: BLACKSTARKIDS

Another band playing Wednesday afternoon at Container Bar.  It's a trio out of Kansas City signed to Dirty Hit Records (The 1975, Wolf Alice).  They have been opening for Glass Animals.  Here's an interview with them.

Alt-pop/hip hop.  "Juno" reminds me of Michael Franti.  I think I like this song best.

SXSW 2022: Dawn Richard

Dr. Martens has announced their lineup for Wed-Friday at Container Bar.  First I'll look at Wednesday.  This is a singer/songwriter/actress and dancer out of New Orleans.  She has had a long career of twists and turns as this NYTimes profile covers.  Choice quote:

Adding another unexpected twist to a career full of them, Richard’s sixth solo album, “Second Line,” will be released April 30 on the storied North Carolina indie label Merge Records. Merge, founded in 1989 by members of the punk band Superchunk, is more typically associated with earnest and outré guitar bands like Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel and Waxahatchee.

“I was kind of like, ‘I don’t see a lot of Black on the roster,’” she said.

The new album is being hailed as one of her best. Pitchfork gave it an 8.0. Interesting tidbit: she's Vegan and owns a vegan food truck in New Orleans.

"Bussifame" is a dance number.  I like this one the best. Sounds like something from "Insecure".

SXSW 2022: Cuffed Up

This band out of L.A. plays Side Bar on Tuesday (15th) at 1:15pm.  Post-punk sound.  Here's an article about them in SPIN. They were produced by Brad Wood, who also produced Liz Phair and Veruca Salt. 

"Canaries" is good but I like the dual vocals.  I like this song best:

SXSW 2022: Enumclaw

We have our first day party announcement. It's Tuesday at Side Bar so a little early for us but it looks like a good bill of buzz acts.  I've already previewed Me Rex and Bendigo Fletcher.

This band is out of Tacoma and formed during the pandemic. They released the song below and it got praise from Pitchfork, which got other publications (Seattle Times, Stereogum) to notice and the buzz built.

They have since performed an At Home concert for KEXP and are now making it to SXSW. They are interviewed on that show as well.

Seattle grunge sound. They compare themselves to Oasis and Nirvana. The singer, Aramis Johnson, grew up listening to hip hop and has rapped in the past so he brings that experience to the sound.  

SXSW 2022: Ada Lea

Here is another artist playing the Aquarium Drunkard evening showcase.  Exclaim Magazine ("Canada's Authority on Music, Film, and Entertainment") has her as one the top 5 Canadian artists you need to see at SXSW.  It's the moniker of Alexandra Levy from Montreal.  She's signed to Saddle Creek Records (Big Thief, Rilo Kiley). 

That same magazine had this song as one of the 30 best songs of 2021.  It's off her 2nd album.  

SXSW 2022: Steve Gunn

Still waiting for day party announcements so here's one more act playing Luck Reunion.  He is also playing the Aquarium Drunkard evening showcase.  He is originally from Philadelphia and played with Kurt Vile while pursuing his solo career.  He now lives in Brooklyn and is signed to Matador Records.  

Two high profile showcases for him this year. The music I heard is pretty mellow.  This song reminds me a little of Kevin Morby.

SXSW 2022: S.G. Goodman

Continuing with the Luck Reunion previews.  There are a lot of bands on that bill for a single day. Even if they each play just 30 minute sets it is really packed.  

Here is a singer-songwriter out of Kentucky.  Jim James produced her debut album.  Rolling Stone says she is for fans of PJ Harvey and Cat Power.  It has a good interview with her.

According to interviews she is very politically outspoken and it is reflected in her lyrics. Here's a good quote from this article:

“The South has historically been the scapegoat for those who don’t live in this region to point a finger toward bigger problems and regressive policies. I wonder what would happen if people invested time and energy into a progressive idea of what the South could become. If there’s anything positive that can be attributed to this administration, it’s that it truly lifted the veil of how widespread these social injustices and deep-seated beliefs are, and how certain injustices attributed to the South are actually in every neighborhood in this nation.”

"The Way I Talk" talks about social injustice.  I hear the Jim James influence, too.

This one is good. 

  

SXSW 2022: Night Moves

This band has been around awhile and they've played Austin many times but once again I have missed the boat.  Their breakout hit was "Carl Sagan" but I don't recognize it. It's good, though. They're from Minneapolis so they've probably played The Current's parties.  They've opened for Lord Huron and are playing Luck Reunion this year.  I recognize the name but that could be because of the Bob Segar song. 

They released their 3rd album in 2019 which was recorded in Austin and produced by Spoon's Jim Eno.

Good song.

SXSW 2022: Neal Francis

 Some quotes from various media according to his bio:

“The reincarnation of Allen Toussaint.” Craig Charles, BBC Radio 6

“Think New Orleans meets the Midwest with a little bit of California sun shining in the background.” -TwinCitiesMedia.net

“There’s a good chance you’ll have heard of Francis by the time the year is over…classic Funk, Soul and R&B.” Cincinnati CityBeat

“…gleefully mired In 70s style funk.” - NPR

A child piano prodigy, he fell into addiction:

by 2015 he had been fired from his band, evicted from his apartment, and was perilously close to self-destruction. “When you get close to death like that you can feel it,” Francis recalls. An alcohol-induced seizure that year led to a broken femur, dislocated arm, and, finally, the realization that he needed to get clean. 

Now sober, he's been heavily touring since.  Here he is at KCRW. 

I think I've heard this song on KUTX.

SXSW 2022: Danielle Ponder

 More from the Luck Reunion.  She has a great story: 

Danielle attended Northeastern University where she received her Juris Doctorate. For 5 years, Danielle worked as a public defender where she provided criminal defense to the indigent community. While working as a public defender, Danielle also toured Europe and scored opening spots for St. Paul and the Broken Bones and George Clinton. In 2018, after five years as a public defender, she made the gutsy decision to pursue her No.1 passion -- music. In 2021, Danielle performed at the Newport Jazz Festival where her performance was hailed as one of the stand out performances of the event. Danielle is preparing her first self-produced EP, Some of Us Are Brave, set for release in early 2022 on Future Classic. Danielle continues to advocate for criminal justice reform and has been an influential leader in the Black Lives Matter movement in Rochester, NY.

Wow.  She will be playing Stubb's indoors on April 24th as well.  The obvious comparison is Yola but she's more blues than Americana.  "Poor Man's Pain" is a must-listen.

 

SXSW 2022: Bendigo Fletcher

 I'll let this article describe the band:

With poppy folk-rock melodies similar to those of Ben Bridwell (of Band Of Horses) and a thunderous howl akin to fellow Louisville-native Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), Bendigo Fletcher frontman Ryan Anderson takes a wide-eyed, awe-inspiring approach to performance.

I'll add that "Evergreen" has a close resemblance to BOC's "Godzilla". 

This song is good. Folk and Americana.  "Retail Lord" is good, too. 

 

SXSW 2022: Abraham Alexander

I guess I'll keep going alphabetically down the Luck Reunion lineup.  This artist opened for Leon Bridges at Stubb's but we didn't get there in time to see him.  

Born in Greece to Nigerian parents, his family moved to Ft. Worth when he was 11.  Shortly after moving his mother was killed by a drunk driver.  Here's an interview with him in Texas Monthly.  He has been opening for both Bridges and Gary Clark, Jr.  

It looks like he has released just one EP  but according to that interview more is in the pipeline. Here's him playing the EP live at Paste Studio.  The first song on it, "Lover's Game", has some good guitar picking. Expect big things.

This is nice.  

SXSW 2022: Abby Hamilton

Another artist playing the Luck Reunion.  She's from Nicholasville, Kentucky and it looks like she's just released 2 EPs.  Not much press out there.  Pretty cool to get to play at Willie's picnic.  

Songwriting and musical style similar to Kathleen Edwards.  "Broke Girl" is good, too.

SXSW 2022: 49 Winchester

Luck Reunion released their lineup today.  Wow.  Just amazing.  I'll try to cover those I don't recognize.

This band from the heart of Appalachia in Virginia is also on New West Records and is playing their showcases.  According to this article, it's "the nom de plume of singer/songwriter/guitarist Isaac Gibson".  I like this quote:

"we’re still just a bunch of country kids from the middle of nowhere that didn’t go to work in the mines and didn’t join the military and chose to take a stab at playing guitars and drums for a living."

The bio under this video says "The band has an electric live show but stays true to their roots in folk, ragtime, country, & blues, to create their blend of Appalachian music."

Reminds me a little of Chris Stapleton.

 

 

SXSW 2022: Riley Downing

Another New West artist.  He's part of The Deslondes (also on New West. They played the New West day party at Threadgill's in 2015 when I won the guitar. I think you got there late and missed them).  He decided to release a solo album during the pandemic and is now touring behind it.  

"Start it Over" is from his new album.  Nice sound.

I really like this song.  It's an older one.

SXSW 2022: Seratones

I've seen this band's name throughout the years but have never really listened to them until now.  They're from Shreveport but they play around town quite often, including at SXSW shows we've attended (Yeti, New West, Clive Bar, St. Vincent DePaul, Hotel San Jose).  They even opened for the Black Pumas at Mohawk for Night 4 of their Stubb's 5 night shows.  Not sure how we haven't seen them yet.

They were originally on Fat Possum Records but moved to New West for their newest album.  "Power" is a few years old.  It's a good rocking song. 

This is from their new album that is due to be released on April 29th.

SXSW 2022: The Pink Stones

Another band on the New West showcases. They're out of Athens, GA.  This article describes them as "country, pop and psychedelic sounds that leave you feeling entranced". 

Mellow country-rock.  Reminds me of Gram Parsons.  I like it.

SXSW 2022: Boulevards

 New West has announced two evening showcases so I'm going to cover a few of their bands.  We'll have to look for them at day shows around town.  First up is the moniker of Jamil Rashad.  This article says about his new album: "The funk is there from the start, echoing everything from Curtis Mayfield to Gnarls Barkley and beyond.".  Apparently Adrian Quesada contributed to it.

The album came out Friday.  Here it is on Bandcamp:

Nikki Lane is featured on "Better Off Dead"

We need to check this out.

SXSW 2022: Moon Panda

Ethereal dream pop out of Denmark.  It's a duo.  She's from California and he's originally from Denmark. They were supposed to play SXSW in 2020 and were in Austin when it was cancelled.  They say it best here:

We had all flown out to the US to play SXSW 2020 and as soon as we landed, we read that they had banned all international flights and that SXSW was cancelled! We were all feeling a little lost and buzzing with all this energy we had built up for the festival. So, we drove our rented van around to all these national parks, hiked around, and made makeshift studios everywhere we went. We’d stopped rehearsing and started jamming. It changed the way I thought about music and making music. All of us hunched over our instruments, sitting on a cheap shag carpet, losing our minds and our worries in the music. It was like being in a trance. We ended up making an epic adventure from a really scary time. ‘Vacationer’ is about that adventure.”

Here's "Vacationer".  

"Slow Drive" is a nice mellow tune and it looks like the video is from their travels. Gorgeous. 

 

SXSW 2022: NewDad

Indie pop out of Galway, Ireland.  This is right up my alley.  This article compares them to Wolf Alice.  They cite The Smiths, The Cure, and The Pixies as their inspiration in this interview.  It looks like they are getting lots of positive press and selling out shows in the UK so may be worth checking out.

"Blue" is a nice mellow tune.  "I Don't Recognise You" is a good video and the song is pretty good, too.

This is probably my favorite of those I heard.