SXSW: 10 must-see bands beyond L.A.
Seraphina Lotkhamnga on
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It’s always nice to be able to see some of the big names in music all in one spot. The South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin is one of the best places to do that, but with bands passing through Los Angeles every night, it’s hard to say we haven’t seen our share of bands promoting their latest album on tour. Starting Wednesday, there will be hundreds of bands who may be the next big thing and this is the best chance to catch them on the verge. Here are some artists beyond the L.A. music scene who will be worth your time.
If you like: Heavy pop orchestrations complete with fierce percussion and falsetto.
What’s up with them: ANR (short for American New Republic) is a two-piece comprised of John Hancock and Brian Robertson. Currently putting Miami, Fla., on the map with majestic melodies that are reminiscent of TV on the Radio, the duo is getting ready to release their debut album “Stay Kids” on March 29.
Catch them: 1:30 a.m. Thursday at The Ghost Room, 5 p.m. Friday at Cedar Door and 4 p.m. Saturday at Karibu Ethiopian Restaurant
If you like: Early 1980s British New Wave sounds that fit in between Kate Bush and The Knife.
What’s up with them: At first listen, Austra may sound slightly dangerous with vibes of the supernatural, but their grimy beats (which contains both ritual incantations and operatic vocals from lead singer Katie Stelmanis) are perfectly dark and dirty for the dance floor. Their debut album “Feel It Break” will be released via Domino Records on May 17.
Catch them: 10 p.m. Thursday at Emo’s Main Room.
If you like: British rock bands fronted by a former American.
What’s up with them: The Boxer Rebellion (pictured at top playing at SXSW 2010) returns to Austin after releasing their album “The Cold Still” in February. This band across the pond may be the next stars filling our arenas stateside with their aggressive alternative rock even when songs shimmer with some tenderness – but that’s the beauty of epic Brit-rock.
Catch them: Midnight Tuesday at Latitude 30, 9 p.m. Wednesday at Buffalo Billiards
If you like: San Fran rock ’n’ roll that’s been dipped in multiple layers of psychedelia, pop and glam.
What’s up with them: Lo-fi three-piece Burnt Ones may only need two floor toms, a bass and a guitar to perform but their pop hooks will be stuck in your head all day after dancing along to them like you’re a DIY kid who just doesn’t care about anything else but the roots of simplicity. Burnt Ones is not only the first band signed to Roaring Colonel, but their debut “Black Teeth & Golden Tongues” also balances just the right amount of hippie swirl with rock swag.
Catch them: Thursday evening at Spider House, 5:30 p.m. Friday at Peckerheads, Sunday at Beerland.
If you like: Extreme optimism set to electronic-garage rock.
What’s up with them: NYC’s Hooray For Earth first garnered attention with their extremely peppy (and ridiculously adorable video for) “Surrounded By Your Friends.” They are now getting ready to release their long-awaited debut “True Loves” LP on May 10 (via Dovecote) which is expected to boast a variety of experimental syncopation as well as vocal structure. Expectations have been set high since band-leader Noel Heroux says his influences have come from “somewhere between harsh-noise and Enya.”
Catch them: 10 p.m. Wednesday at 512, 4 p.m. Thursday at Emo’s Annex, 12:45 p.m. Friday at the Flamingo Cantina and three other shows
If you like: My Bloody Valentine followed by Belle & Sebastian on your iTunes playlist.
What’s up with them: For those of you who are looking for a local band in Austin and enjoy melody-heavy guitar pop, Ringo Deathstarr is one of the bands out there who revive and restore faith in loud blitzkrieg pop. Serving as nod to the Jesus and Mary Chain with boy/girl call and response choruses that also echo the most darling of Twee bands, there’s a sweet similarity to The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. Ringo Deathstarr just requires more of a dive to find the pop underneath all raucous shoegaze going on their latest album “Colour Trip.”
Catch them: 12 p.m. Wednesday at Annie’s West, 11 p.m. Friday at Easy Tiger, and seven other shows
If you like: Angular rock via warbling guitars and stomping electronica.
What’s up with them: The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney may have discovered and signed this Knoxville trio back in 2008, but with a new album, “Flux Outside,” coming out on March 29 via Glassnote Records, Royal Bangs’s futuristic rock may have entered another dimension where their success can be all their own.
Catch them: 11 p.m. Wednesday at Buffalo Billiards, 4 p.m. at Thursday at Waterloo Records, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cheers, 1:30 p.m. at Stubbs and 11 p.m. Saturday at The Windish Agency House.
If you like: Digging through crates full of Shuggie Otis and Curits Mayfield records.
What’s up with them: Recently signed to Stones Throw Records, the Connecticut trio are aware of their influences but refuse to be simple Motown throwbacks with their hybrid of funk, psychedelia, neo and classical soul, punk and jazz. Their first single “Shadows on Behalf” is a good taste of what they’ll be offering on their 12-inch debut this April. If their SXSW showcases go as well as expected, those slabs of vinyl won’t be in any crates for long.
Catch them: Midnight Wednesday at Kiss & Fly, 11 p.m. Friday at Malverde
If you like: Nashville, easy on the twang, heavy on the sharp-tongued folk.
What’s up with her: Singer-songwriter Tristen opens up her album “Charlatans At The Garden Gate” with upbeat guitar strumming and a gentle tone, but razor-edged lyrics such as “Tame that nasty shrew” make her an expert at straddling sympathy and cold-heartedness as a storyteller.
Catch her: 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Phoenix, midnight Thursday at Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room
If you like: Shoegaze-influenced folk that makes loneliness sound like bliss.
What’s up with them: Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack have been never been afraid to get personal but their latest album “Civilian” beautifully cuts close to home on every front as Wasner sings of relationships falling apart. The title track especially showcases the duo’s adeptness at temperamental volume and distortion.
Catch them: 3 p.m. Thursday at the Mohawk, 11.45 p.m. Friday at the Parish
Good reviews. I can’t go to SXSW, but I appreciate the exposure to some new-to-me artists.