OEB’s 5 SXSW Qs – Dana Falconberry

Hometown: Austin, TX

OEB 2013 SXSW Review

Locally based Dana Falconberry checked in with OEB this week to share some insightful comments into SXSW, both for her personally and advice to not treat the festival as the “moment to break” and just enjoy yourself.

While most SXSW artists go for some sort of pop sound, you seem to comfortably deviate into more hypnotic tones.  Where does that penchant for moving left-of-center come from?

I think that’s just what comes out! I’m not setting out to make any certain type of music, really, it’s just what ends up happening. I think I’m probably also more drawn to more hypnotic and ethereal music myself too.

You are able to accomplish a striking tone with little more than a whisper.  Does that introspective vocal approach reflect on your songwriting as well?

Yeah, I suppose so! Songwriting is a pretty internal and soul-searching process for me, so I guess that probably comes out in the way I sing too. Also I am mostly singing about ghosts, and I imagine that they usually whisper. Also I don’t really like my voice when I sing loud, so there’s that. :)

Do you plan to tour as heavy in 2013 as 2012 or are there any other plans on deck?

Tour tour tour, bring it on!! Yeah, I want to stay on the road a lot. Right now, though, I am sequestered in the Arkansas woods and rivers for two months of heavy songwriting. So at some point there will be another record in the works. But we are cooking up lots of tours, too.

Do you have any appearances lined up for SXSW yet?  Is there anything you’re looking to get out of the festival beyond a normal string of shows, especially from a local perspective?

Yeah I know we are doing an official showcase with our label, Antenna Farm Records. That should be really fun, there are a ton of bands to drool over on the label. We’re also teaming up with Riot Act, our PR agency for some shows, and those will also be a blast! I do a showcase every year with my friend Shari at Charm School Vintage in East Austin. We’re teaming up with Riot Act for that this year, and it’s going to be crazy. Vintage clothing, jewelry, wigs, lovely ladies, and awesome music. It’s a great reprieve from the business bustle of the festival downtown. I’m sure other things will come through too, but that’s what we’ve got lined up for now.

I stopped looking for any meaning or success from SXSW a long time ago. I think a lot of people put a lot of stock into the festival as The Thing That Can Save Them From The Depths And Gutters Of The Music Industry, but that’s just not true. Maybe it’s true for about 2 bands per year. But for the other 5 million, it’s a great chance to meet lots of wonderful musicians and compare battle scars. For me now, it’s just a week of playing an ungodly number of really fun shows, having dear friends from all over the world in my lovely city, not being able to get into my favorite bars, and lots of free beer and pizza. Woohoo!

Have you had a chance to check out the band list for SXSW?  Any acts you are looking forward to catching yourself?

I’m actually really looking forward to seeing a lot of our labelmates play, like Social Studies, and our PR agency mates like Brass Bed! But, my favorite part of SXSW is being blown away by some band I’ve never heard of at a party that I never meant to go to. Can’t wait!

35 Denton Friday: SXSW Favorites

While Operation Every Band’s primary focus is our yearly SXSW mission, we always like to spend some time highlighting our hometown festival.  Held the weekend prior to SXSW Music, 35 Denton plays in a similar fashion as SXSW’s evening showcases, but also adds a couple day stages with bigger name acts.  Less than four hours north of Austin, Denton is an excellent music town and 35D has consistently delivered since its inception four years ago.  For $45, it is an excellent SXSW kickoff and an intimate and comfortable walking festival in its own right.

Every Friday, OEB will be featuring artists performing at 35 Denton to give a little push for the festival itself and provide an overview for any attendees.  As always, the 35 Denton Spreadsheet is up and running with all the same features of our SXSW list.

Today, I wanted to start out with some of the bands we’ve already reviewed.  In addition to unique performances, 35 Denton gives attendees a chance to catch SXSW bands a week early in a alternate setting.  This week’s spreadsheet picture highlights artists that we rated at a “5” or higher.  To check out more, follow the links to read this year’s SXSW reviews:

Akron/Family (9)

Fossil Collective (9)

Dana Falconberry (8)

Mac DeMarco (8)

The Last Bison (8)

Chelsea Light Moving (6)

Soul Clap Dance Off (5)

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 28:

Tonight’s set features a ton of highlights, including three strong indie pop artists.  Highlights:

Elizabeth & The Catapult (9) - I’m sure the Brooklyn indie pop outfit will have some new tunes up their sleeves that hopefully continue their track record of gorgeous piano rock ballads and pop songs.

Dana Falconberry (8) - This music is incredibly pastoral, like a chilled wind.  There’s a whimsy present, but it doesn’t take away from the serious tone that resides throughout most of Leelanau.

Everything Everything (7) - With percussive influence from hip hop and EDM, Everything Everything seems to have opened themselves up even more to experimental while actually becoming catchier.

The Evaporators (6) – The Evaporators are the Canadian indie punk/pop rock band fronted by none other than Narduwar, the Human Serviette.  Their live shows from last year had the band and instruments crowd surfing through packed bars filled with joyous sweat.

Carrie Elkin (5) – Another three-peat performer at SXSW next year, Carrie Elkin’s low-key country tunes maintain a pull to tradition while still welcoming a pop country audience.

Empires (5) – Empires go for a pretty big sound throughout their two-album catalog, utilizing dramatic vocal lines and alternative rock guitar licks in an accessible way.

Evans the Death (5) – At first, Evans the Death seems like any other garage pop band, but their lo fi, emotional approach gives them an engaging and youthful step up.