Seraphina Lotkhamnga on March 12th, 2014

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[Remember when Tuesday was just a day you flew into South by Southwest so you could settle in and see what the interactive portion had to offer on their last day? Well those days are gone; SXSW 2014’s Tuesday of its music portion not only hosted a slew of day parties, but its bountiful options of official showcases made it feel like it was Thursday already. With my gel inserts in my boots, some Jimmy Johns in my tummy and plenty of bands to be checked off my list, Tuesday included some hip hop, garage rock, R&B and more…  ]

@Seraphina_L on Tuesday at SXSW:

“You know the Preatures?” an Aussie asked me in awe when I told him I, too, was there for the Australian quintet’s set during Harvest Records’ showcase at the Haven. He shouldn’t have been too surprised, considering the room was packed with others who apparently also thought they were one of the top acts to see during SXSW. Lead vocalist Isabella Manfredi, who walked onto stage with a mischievous smile and a thin, white, cropped T-shirt underneath an oversized black leather jacket, and her gang didn’t disappoint. Performing songs like chic “Manic Baby” and the rock anthem “Better Than It Could Ever Be,” Manfredi played keys when she wasn’t doing some fancy footwork, jumping up and down, pouring water onto her own head then onto the stage (to which she exclaimed, “Let’s make it wet for Banks [who was up next]. You should get wet for her”), or caressing a fan’s face up front and giving him a kiss in between lyrics. Of course, they saved the breakout single “Is This How You Feel?” for last, but no matter. Manfredi was unstoppable as a front woman and there wasn’t a single moment when the crowd wasn’t eating up their ’70s dance sheen on classic rock.

Also notable. . . 

Haven or heaven? It may have been a sweat lodge at the Haven, but it was also one of the best official showcases of the night with some of the hottest acts. Not only were together PANGEA, but there were a couple of debuts that made the label’s night even more special. Arthur Beatrice – whose name is ironically not referencing the late Golden Girl actress Bea Arthur – made their U.S. debut and impressed fans who had crammed their way in for the Preatures. Lingering somewhere in between R&B and indie rock, the English quartet boasted strong vocalists and intricate musicianship that could pull in fans of both The xx and Kan Wakan.

Speaking of R&B however, Banks also made a debut of her own. Admitting that SXSW was her first festival ever, the singer would gush in between her songs but her live presence on stage was certainly far from demure. Dressed in black from head and to toe, Banks (born Jillian Banks) took command of the stage as she strut and slinked back and forth. Seductive as her music was, Banks made her fans scream and still managed to have an air of mystery about her. Highlights of her set included a cover of “What You Need” by the Weeknd (whom she recently supported on tour), the premiere of a new track titled “Stick,” and surprisingly her ability to ignore the fact that the sound system completely went out about three times during her set (and several more times throughout the night). Charging on with her two band members, Banks continued to sing and sway in real time and came back even stronger when the sound returned.

Masks, clear and golden: Before the lovely madness at the Haven, there were a couple of spots to hit up on 7th street and one of these was the Red 7 Patio where the “Chicago Made” showcase was taking place. My Gold Mask, a band I’ve been meaning to check out since warming up to their 2010 single “Violet Eyes,” was one of the many acts to show Austin what goods Chicago had. With their goth pop drama draped over their noise rock foundation, lead vocalist Gretta Rochelle brought you back to the early days of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blondie and even a little bit of the Duke Spirit at times. The days of Rochelle simultaneously drumming and singing may be gone, but like their name, My Gold Mask’s mystique stays in tact even with all the glitter.

Next door at Holy Mountain, Los Angeles’s White Iris and Defend Music were putting on a showcase that included many L.A. acts, but Nashville, Tenn., by-way-of Brooklyn based Clear Plastic Masks paid no attention and just let their fantastic garage rock songs such as “Baby Come On” and “So Real” rip with abandon. Not sure where the plastic and masking come in, but it’s clear that Andrew Katz and the gang just simply like to rock and roll.

Hip hop from Chi-town: Sometimes you end up at a hip-hop show when you don’t intend to. Preceding My Gold Mask’s set at the Red 7 Patio, hip hop acts ProbCause (hilarious name, methinks) and ShowYouSuck brought the house down with their samples and their rhymes. ShowYouSuck was especially entertaining considering his proper stage banter contrasted his songs’ subject matter. One minute he’s freaking out about a fan bringing him Playstation games, and another he’s rapping about breasts (in “’80s Boobs”).

Hell, what the?

Hang around in the lobby of the La Quinta Inn Austin Capitol long enough and you’ll randomly look up at the T.V. to see Yoda being interviewed on a sports show.

Wednesday’s plans. . . 

See you there?