SXSW

Now that the New Year has sprouted, official developments of the South by Southwest Music Conference are being announced with more regularity given its a mere two months away. Just today, the festival's monthly listserv confirmed a handful of scheduled acts as well as keynote speaker and veteran rocker Lou Reed.

Officially on the showcase roster:
R.E.M. (in support of new album, "Acelerate," due April 1)
My Morning Jacket
Mala Rodriguez
Bun B
Black Keys
Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong
Nortec
Barbara Mason
Uffie
Pato Banton
My Brightest Diamond
Vampire Weekend
Ralph "Soul" Jackson
DeVotchka
MGMT
Tech N9ne
Sia

There are a slew of unofficial sources claiming to know other bands/musicians slated to appear at this year's conference. Included in this 'take it with a grain of salt' roster are: the Black Crowes, the Hotel Cafe tour, Model/Actress, Radar Bros., Wye Oak, Breeders, The Kills, The Ravonettes, Sons & Daughters, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Lightspeed Champion, and many, many more. Stay tuned for more info on day parties, official showcase announcements, etc.

Every year I stumble upon some stellar show at SXSW without meaning to. This time around, it was the Watson Twins.

It happened this way. I was scheduled to see Duncan Sheik's showcase at the Central Presbyterian Church (the most fantastic venue of the year in my opinion.) Somehow I was early—a truly rare thing. I took a seat very quietly among the pews and began watching the two women at the front. Both dressed in white, their dark brown hair a perfect contrast, they seemed angelic. Their smooth, slow vocals washed over the audience easily, thanks in large part to the church's acoustics.

These calm California ladies have received great reviews for their 2006 summertime release "Southern Manners," as well as their work with Jenny Lewis on "Rabbit Fur Coat." They tour occasionally, including quirky little stops like Marfa, Texas' much-loved Thunderbird Motel. 

Watson Twins' MySpace

Scotland's Paolo Nutini has invaded US airwaves with a catchy, fast-paced pop song, "New Shoes." The happy, upbeat number was the "aha" moment for many at his Saturday evening SxSW showcase.

As the second act in a long line of acts leading up to Iggy Pop and the Stooges at Stubb's outdoor amphitheater, it made sense that a large portion of the crowd wasn't familiar with this international teenager. His set was smooth with a supporting band that knew exactly how to play. The downside: watching Nutini sing, which consisted of him grasping the mic stand at an angle and hunching over it for the majority of the set. The guy has got to have some back pain after his live sets.

His music was spot on, but all in all, the live show lacked a little. His posture issue had him looking at the floor while he sang, only coming up during instrumental breaks and between songs. A major highlight was his cover of fellow SxSW showcaser Amy Winehouse 's "Rehab." The tongue-in-cheek number caught chatting audience members' attention and brought a streak of fun into an otherwise uneventful set.

Nutini's album, "These Streets," dropped last September. It's definitely worth a listen. Check out four stand-out tracks on his MySpace.

Continue reading "Carrie Rodriguez does SxSW"

I can't really say I'll miss Austin, at least not for long. I make a point to come through this town at least a couple of times a year for the music, the people and the vibe. But it's always bittersweet watching the capitol fade in the rear-view mirror as I head off to the airport (the sweet part being that I'm headed back to my own bed to let the ringing in my ears subside).

Continue reading "SxSW - It’s All Coming Back To Me Now"

Most people know Emerson Hart as the lead singer of Tonic, a thoughtful pop rock outfit that cruised the Billboard charts in the mid- to late-'90s. But now Hart is concentrating on establishing himself as a solo artist, particularly with the impending June 2007 release of his debut solo album, "Cigarettes and Gasoline."

Continue reading "Emerson Hart’s Friday night SXSW showcase"

I've mentioned VietNam to liveDaily blog readers before. They opened for the Lemonheads show at Emo's just a couple months ago, leaving a packed house, most of whom were initially unfamiliar with the Brooklyn band, wanting more.

Continue reading "VietNam visit SXSW"

My first Elvis Perkins encounter was last year's Austin City Limits Festival, where he and his crew played a sweltering midday set on a rinky-dink side stage. Prior to his show, I'd read up on him, becoming familiar with his family line and a couple of his songs. And despite the hot, dusty conditions, he put on an impressive, folky rock show. I knew when I saw his name listed among the SXSW acts, I should do my best to check him out again.

Continue reading "Elvis Perkins’ SXSW performance"

The Annuals’ official SXSW showcase, slated for 12:45am Thursday morning on the tented Beauty Bar patio, didn’t begin as promptly as planned due to issues during sound check. But once the young group got going, they attempted to make up for it with loud, energetic rock. The packed crowd—whether eager to finally have some entertainment, to have Night One nearly over, or because they legitimately loved the show—ate it up.

Continue reading "Annuals’ SXSW Showcase"

Last night at SXSW, I was blown away by the genius of senior citizens Charlie Louvin and The Holmes Brothers. Tonight, I saw a form of genius that those acts couldn't have imagined when they began their careers. I saw Kid Beyond.

Continue reading "SXSW: Beyond original"

When you plan your night around seeing three bands you've never heard of before, you know things could go horribly wrong. When the first of the three far exceeds your expectations, the good news is that the "horribly wrong" bomb has been defused; the less-than-good news is that the odds are now stacked against the other two acts.

Continue reading "SXSW: Random acts of music"

Live music = technical glitches. It's an expected occupational hazard. No worries. We've ironed out the soundboard issues.

Continue reading "SXSW LiveDaily/Spaceland Party @ Antone’s"

Continue reading "SXSW 2007 :: Heading To Austin"