SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 163:

Hello - now back to listening.  Highlights:

Green Day (10) - The genius of Green Day is how they were able to adapt and stay relevant for twenty-plus years, moving full circle to the trio of records they’ll be supporting at SXSW – the appropriately titled Uno!, Dos! and Tre!.

Japandroids (9) - As they say themselves, Japandroids “yell like hell to the Heavens”, an impassioned plea through the power of rock and roll.

Kat Dahlia (8) - “Gangsta” is a perfect 50/50 mix of pop and hip hop musically, melodically and lyrically.  Backbeat breaks hold down the rhythm, accompanied by classical-inspired piano lines and dance floor bass.   

HRVRD (7) - While the band has been around for a decade (formally known as Harvard), there’s a youthful resonance to From the Bird’s Cage, willingly experimenting in down-tempo electronics amid a dark rock sound.

Judson Claiborne (6) – While Judson Claiborne may come across an understated, folk singer-songwriter at times, it’s the post rock detours Claiborne takes throughout 2010’s Time and Temperature that makes his sound worth noting.  Horns, percussion and subtle electric guitar lines anchor the record, a mood continued on his recent single, “Neo-Pagan Lovesong”.

Johnnyswim (5) – Husband/wife duo Johnnyswim have a really pleasant minimal folk sound, very reminiscent of SXSW 2011 breakouts The Civil Wars.  Johnnyswim round out their sound with an orchestral, soft rock swell on 2012’s Home Vol. 1, but actually sound best on the stripped back “Annie”.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 160:

I’m running to 35 Denton in a few minutes, but first another grouping of bands featuring two collectives fronted by the same guy…only at SXSW.  Highlights:

Deer Tick (10) - With the addition of Deer Tick on the SXSW roster, frontman John McCauley completed a trifecta of bands he’s part of (Diamond Rugs and an “…And Friends” set round it out).  His main unit should be his loosest one if you’re picking from the bunch; Deer Tick tends to especially let it rip when they hit Austin’s streets year after year.

The Flaming Lips (10) - Led off by “Look…The Sun Is Rising”, The Lips have truly made a 180-turn from The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi, so it’ll be interesting to see how their over-the-top stage presence melds with muddling, psychedelic grooves.  This new shift, which still maintains what has become ‘The Flaming Lips sound’, visceral grooves amid seemingly distant, but deceivingly personal lyrics.

Diamond Rugs (7) - Bringing together songwriting and musical bases from such disparate sounding bands gives Diamond Rugs a loose, psychedelic pop feel, like friends jamming while the tape is rolling.

Ed Tullett (7) - Taking a few cues directly from Justin Vernon and co., Tullett switches between ambient, falsetto-driven melodies and an accessible, modern rock drawl, which is a nice balance given the strong connection to Bon Iver’s stylistic approach.

Donora (6) – The twee pop melodies of Donora have a way of building their songs into mini-anthems, addictively upbeat with a emotional reach towards the stars.  Donora will likely be featuring songs from their latest EP Play Nice, a pretty five-song collection that sees the band leaning closer to catchy pop/rock than ever.

Ducktails (6) – The side project of Real Estate’s Matthew Mondanile, Ducktails is mostly ambient, indie pop, synth-driven soundscapes that build off of relatively minimal grooves.  Ducktails’ latest single is “Letter of Intent”, a breezy, temporally psychedelic funk adventure that shows that Mondanile can pull off a wide-range of textures between his two bands.

Emily Bell (6) – An exciting Austin upstart, Emily forgoes introducing herself as some sort of sappy singer-songwriter on her debut track “Back to the Way I Was”, instead going for a burn-burning rave-up led by rootsy, Americana percussion and neo-soul horn lines.

George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic (6) – A real godfather of his own sound, Clinton and P-Funk are heading to SXSW to kick out the R&B soul jams that has influenced so many young musicians that’ll be gigging at the bars next door.  I’m betting P-Funk’s set won’t be some experimentations from a new record, rather look for a 80s throwback, serious party vibe.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 158:

I got a little bit of a late start thanks to a night spend at 35 Denton on Thursday, so back to listening.  About 100 bands to go…4 days left!  Highlights:

Ben Kweller (10) - Taking in Kweller’s set in person, it was evident that his songwriting is in a different league than a majority of bands gigging through SXSW.  Falling for 2012’s Go Fly a Kite sealed the deal, a brilliant meld of everything great about rock and pop music.

Café Tacvba (9) - Even as a non-Spanish speaking listener, Café Tacvba’s music comes across as emotion and visceral, even when laying down acoustic rave-ups (“La ingrata”, “Ojala que Ilueva café”) or the R&B groove of “Eres”.

The Daptone Soul Review (8) – Soul/R&B revival label Daptone Records is set to take over ACL Live at the Moody Theater on Thursday night and already have scheduled a jam session, most likely featuring stirring vocalists Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones, instrumental jazz/funk outfit the Budos Band and the roots harmonies of the Como Mamas.

Brass Bed (6) – The dense indie rock sound of Brass Bed is well-managed throughout their track, incorporating psychedelic deviations and hooky choruses, wonderfully displayed on their strongest track, last year’s “Bullet For You”.

Brent Grulke Tribute (6) – Last summer, SXSW director Brent Grulke suddenly passed away after a heart attack and the heavy emotional void will be poured into a tribute set at the Austin Music Awards Wednesday night featuring Austin favorites The Wild Seeds, Susan Cowsill, Britt Daniel, Alejandro Escovedo, Robin Hitchcock and Grupo Fantasma.

Como Mamas (6) - Gospel is a genre that normally gets a quick listen through here at OEB, but the Como Mamas flipped the script today after discovering their 2013 record Get An Understanding.  With only the power of three gifted vocalists, the Como Mamas harmonize on traditional, spiritual blues for God completely a cappella, a sound that goes right for the heart and would be an incredible breather while making the rounds through SXSW next week.

Bill Carter and The Blame (5) – While nothing particularly stands out in Bill Carter’s music, his latest album unknown is an all around pleasant listen.  Mid-paced alt country track play the basis for Carter’s lyric-heavy tomes.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 156:

Good morning, good morning.  Much to the OEB team’s chagrin (half-sarcastic), SXSW dropped a nice set of 200 or so more bands over the past week and a half, so we’ll keep the marathon going to hit the finish line before things kick off Tuesday night.  Highlights:

American Authors (8) - On the other hand, American Authors takes about twenty elements that are ‘in the moment’ right now – kick drums, operatic punk vocals, hell, they even have a little banjo for the Mumford crowd.

The Pollies (8) - Opening with a salvo of vocal harmonies that bleeds into waves of understated feedback, “Good For Nothing” is quite a revelatory introduction.  Where The Pollies break away from their Chicago brethren is the Southern grit that infuses the record, whiskey-soaked vocals holding the notes for a half-second longer than expected, almost unwilling loosen their grip.

A Place to Bury Strangers (6) – Pulsing, psychedelic rhythms and bass highlight A Place to Bury Strangers’ latest record, 2012’s Worship.  While some of their new wave grooves can melt into themselves, A Place to Bury Strangers really succeeds with slowly building walls of sound, highlighted on latest single “You Are the One”.

Parquet Courts (6) – The buzzing Parquet Courts are a punk band, but their songs have a laid back, mid-tempo vibe that convey a nice sense of looseness.  Stoner grooves give Parquet Courts a pit of a psych rock edge too, making them an artist to keep an eye out on as they tear through Austin.

Adrian Younge Band (6) – Psych-soul unit Adrian Younge Band forgoes any sort of convention, twisting 50s Motown and funk sounds through a blessed-out kaleidoscope.  Their 2011 record Something About April is frighteningly dark, even though the are a few shoo-wop-doo-wops thrown in which makes the whole a little more joyfully sinister.

Alex Bleeker & The Freaks (6) – When he’s not holding the low end for Real Estate, Alex Bleeker fronts The Freaks, a folk rock band with twists of bright pop and dreamy, psych rock.  Their debut LP is set for release in May and is led off by “Don’t Look Down”, which sounds like a Tom Petty song if it was written on a mix of Ambien and self-inflection.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 154:

This morning’s collection cover the gamut - top spotlights range from gothic pop to fuzz rock to folk-R&B.  Not to mention an emotional tribute to one of the best rock songwriters ever.  Highlights:

The Midnight Ramble Band (9) - As illness took hold, caved away and finally took Levon home, the Ramble wouldn’t slow down as Levon’s musical soul blend into the Midnight Ramble Band, featuring Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Amy Helm, Levon’s daughter.  The crew is bringing the Ramble down to Auditorium Shores on Saturday night to close out SXSW and I anticipate more than a few artists have been on the phone with the Helm family to celebrate life, love and music on a breezy, Texas night.

Marika Hackman (7) – Twists and turns play like the chapters of noir mystery novella – the whole of Hackman’s music carries grey tension, lurking around corners of an old Victorian house.

Mikal Cronin (7) - On the other hand, Cronin just released the lead single to his upcoming sophomore solo effort, MCII.  “Shout It Out” is a breezy summer anthem with a pummeling chorus, a song that has every ability to really take off as the seasons turn the snow away the next few months.

Matthew E. White (6) – An eclectic singer-songwriter, Matthew E. White mixes elements of rock, R&B, blues and jazz into a hypnotic, lounge stew.  White is distinguished by his unique vocal tone, an exaggerated whisper that is surprisingly timid compared to the density of his music.

Meat Puppets (5) – Fuzzy alt rockers the Meat Puppets have been relevant songwriters in the alt/noise rock genre for over thirty (!!) years - flirting with mainstream success when the rest of the world caught up and defined their sound as “grunge”.  The brothers Kirkwood recently recorded their fourteenth record Rat Farm, due this April.

Micah P. Hinson (5) – An artist that must have attended the same otherworldly songwriting camp as The Magnetic Fields, Micah P. Hinson carries a strong classical influence on his gentle, introspective ballads, but also throws in a kitchen sick of genres, the next more complex than the last.

New Beat Fund (5) – New Beat Fund released their debut EP last year, a rock/reggae/hip hop hybrid that is built for an uber-pop showcase.  While some of their songs can come across as sophomoric (“Celibate Celebrity” has me shaking my fists like an old man on my lawn), once the band turns back the radio beats on “Scare Me”, the promise becomes evident.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 152:

This morning, the recommendations keep pouring in from some of the latest SXSW additions.  Top spotlights come from all spectrums of the pop scale today, from grungy country to dark indie pop to acoustic, multicultural Latin rock.  Highlights:

The Lighthouse and the Whaler (9) - There are bright moments all along the record, the staccato synth line of “Pioneers” and the breaths of organ that drive key track “Venice”, but overall there is a somber vibe to This Is An Adventure, an inward-facing sonic exploration that understands epic conclusions require unexpected journeys.

Lucius (9) - Musically, Lucius has a gentle, indie pop air, combining organic and electronic instrumentation in striking consistency.  While upbeat anthems like “Turn It Around” suit Lucius’ sound splendidly, it was the soft harmonies of the acoustic weeper “Go Home” that proved there is more to Lucius than meets the ear.

La Santa Cecilia (7) - La Santa Cecilia’s multi-cultural approach to acoustic folk/rock could be something special in the coming years and I’m not the only one who thinks so – the band just signed on with Universal Music Latino last month.

Lydia Loveless (7) - She did post a few notes regarding new songs around the turn of the year, so hopefully her set continues in the direction of key track “Bad Way to Go”, a passionate burner that proves this isn’t just another pop country singer-songwriter.

Leopold and His Fiction (6) - If face melting guitar solos are on your SXSW to-do list, Leopold and the Fiction should be inked into your schedule.  The gritty blues rockers drive with full abandonment, embracing every lick till every last bit of life is squeezed out of it.

Malford Milligan (5) – Most of you probably haven’t been exposed to Austin mainstay Malford Milligan, but just know this guy can sang.  Old soul covers are expected to be the foundation of his hometown set, a comfortable hammock in the craziness of SXSW.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 148:

For a relatively late set in the SXSW game, this collection is surprisingly stacked.  While there is a significant country lean to the artist rated in the middle of the curve, I lined up some interesting rock and pop artists that funneled right to the top.

J. Thoven (9) - The acoustics can take a back seat to a semi-aggressive guitar attack on tracks like “City Maze” and “A Wash It Won’t Make It Clean”.  Not to say this is going to be a wall-of-noise set at SXSW, rather the other part of J. Thoven’s music a minimal, emotional take on rock/pop structures, a brilliant counterbalance normally unseen on a band’s debut offering.

Kerli (8) - Pop artist Kerli has blown up internationally since we last explored her sound in early 2011, moving her sound closer and closer to a dancefloor-diva, mainstream hit zone.

Kelly Hogan (7) - From Andrew Bird to Vic Chesnutt to The Magnetic Fields, Hogan’s efforts to twist songs from disparate treasure boxes into a fully formed record is a clear dictation of where Hogan’s vocal and arrangement smarts belong.

Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas (6) – Jennifer Hernandez is an energetic performer, a new blues-jazz-pop songstress with a throwback tone.  Musically, the songs of The Deltas are pretty straightforward, allowing Hernandez’s smoky, twenty-percent punk-infused voice to shine forward through the early part of their career.

Jon Dee Graham (w/ William H. Graham) (6) – Veteran singer-songwriter Jon Dee Graham has had some sort of showcase at SXSW pretty much every year since the conference’s inception, a true Austin musical legend.  This year, the deep-throated, emotionally vulnerable performer is not only offering a solo set to retrospect his career, but will also be accompanying his son William as part Tuesday night’s fascinating family-oriented showcase at Saxon Pub.

Keaton Simons (6) – Hotel Café balladeer Keaton Simons just released his latest single “Beautiful Pain” last month, a song that has pop hit written all over it.  If Simon’s 2013 material continues in the same direction, look for Keaton Simon to be the next emotional, pop/folk big hitter in the vein of Jason Mraz and Gavin DeGraw.

Jason Boland (5) - While the general vibe can sometimes dip pretty far into the pop country murk within Jason Boland’s music (his voice is especially Radio Nashville), there’s a smart focus on expert musicianship throughout Boland’s decade-plus recording career.  Boland is part of the “Red Dirt” categorized group of artists, bringing his Oklahoma roots down to Austin once again, closing out a loaded Thirty Tigers showcase at St David’s Thursday night.

John Baizley (5) – Musically, a John Baizley solo performance has an air of ambience, stripping down songs he wrote for his main band Baroness while still keeping and air of veracity.  This year’s SXSW performance should have an air of relief and celebration, as the guitarist/vocalist/noted album cover artist got in a frighteningly serious bus accident last August and just started hitting the stage again in January.

Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison (5) – As a married couple of fifteen years and regular musical collaborators, 2013 paired album Cheater’s Game is far from a debut for the accomplished duo.  Years on the road and in the studio have paid off – the record is comparatively the most successful Americana/country record of their long career.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 145:

There’s a consistent blues vibe throughout the latest OEB SXSW set, a really nice mix for a lazy Sunday brunch anchored by the latest from the mighty folk of Iron & Wine.  Highlights:

Iron & Wine (10) - Iron & Wine’s fifth record, Ghost on Ghost, is set for release this April and has already kicked off with lead single “Grace for Saints and Ramblers”, shared just four days ago.  While one track can only tell so much about the record, there is a hint of 60s style R&B pop that percolates through the track (neat harmonies!), another new addition to this always-maturing songwriter.

Grupo Fantasma (8) - Over the past decade-plus, Grupo Fantasma has discovered an ideal blend of Latin grooves, jazz, hip hop, rock, soul and funk.  If you aren’t dancing at a Grupo Fantasma show, you probably died years ago and your ghost is a boring stiff.

Hanni El Khatib (8) - Hanni El Khatib is a garage blues artist, but there is an inventive songwriter angle throughout his gritty catalog.  In fact, most of this music is as much punk as anything else, glossing an air of authenticity over ripping guitar licks.

Hooka Hey (5) – Hooka Hey’s sole release seems to be 2011 Little Things EP, a collection of fuzzy, blues rock numbers with a major 70s rock influence.  There is a ton of drive in Hooka Hey’s music, so look out for a burning SXSW set later this month.

Israel Nash Gripka (5) – Southern alt country, mid tempo rocker Israel Nash Gripka is eyeing a follow-up to 2011’s rootsy effort Barn Doors and Concrete Floors as he heads to SXSW this year.  The pop-infused grit of Gripka’s songwriting is really accessible, while maintaining enough of an edge for a deeper listen.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 143:

A light set tonight is anchored by a trio of punk-infused rock bands that will be turning some heads at SXSW.  Highlights:

Gold-Bears (7) - Like a twee-pop version of The Hold Steady, Gold-Bears cover their 2011 record with lyrical, fuzzy rock drive.  These songs are all hooks, a pleasant way of keep one’s attention through the feedback haze from start to finish.

The Go (6) – Neo-psychedelic rock artists The Go take influence from 60s and 70s rock and update them with a garage blues twist.  Their latest is 2013’s Fiesta, a full fifteen years since their 1998 Sub Pop debut Whatcha Doin’.  Fun fact: The Go included none other than Jack White as a full-time member for less than a year in the late 90s until he turned his attention to a new project: The White Stripes.

FIDLAR (5) – Buzzy garage punkers FIDLAR dropped their self-titled debut back and January and it is loaded with youthful, teenage punk anthems.  This is in essence a power pop record, but it’s delivered with an unabashed fury.

35 Denton Friday - Hip Hop, Etc.

The 35 Denton hip hop and R&B acts this year are some of the best the festival has had since its inception. The headliner for this set and a big draw for the Denton crowd is rapper Astronautalis, joining him is Killer Mike who had an amazing 2012. The group is filled out by indie electro R&B star Solange, 35 Denton favorite A.DD+, and poetic rapper –Topic. (Kevin’s Note: I added a grab bag of artists to round this one out) Highlights:

Astronautalis (10) – Astronautalis is first a storyteller and second a rapper, a fucking excellent rapper at that. He’s constantly touring and moving as an artist, at each show he performs a freestyle based on topics, with a few rules to keep it unpredictable, suggested by the audience. 

Doug Burr (10) - For my money, Burr is the strongest songwriter to come out of Denton since the boys from Midlake broke out, layering his songs with grace, honesty and spirituality.  His performances are often mesmerizing, hushing the crowd with his emotional vocal tones only armed with minimal acoustic instrumentation. 

Killer Mike (7) – Atlanta rapper Killer Mike has a brash in your face style and spits socially conscious bars that never alienate hardcore aggressive rap fans for fly by night fans. He paired with indie pioneer producer El-P for his newest album, R.A.P. Music, which finds Mike at the top of his game.

-Topic (6) – -Topic is a rapper from Dallas who writes poetic bars and he’s front and center on his tracks with jazzy backing beats that never drown out his intricate wordplay.     

A.DD+ (6) – A.DD+ are a Dallas hip hop duo who are creating a buzz around the DFW metroplex for their high energy live shows and contrasting styles. Paris Pershun raps with a deep voiced slow flow, stretching words, while Slim Gravy raps faster packing bars with words or sings the group’s hooks.

Solange (6) – Solange is an R&B singer from a musical family in Houston, her newest release an EP titled True is a quirky mix of electronic indie pop songs that feature her charismatic warm vocals and danceable beats.

Chambers (6) – While Denton’s Chambers lives mostly within quiet and windless rooms on their initial tracks, the chamber pop band has an interesting way of layering sound with an eye towards complex and challenging harmonies.  This is a nice break-off from expected minimalism, so hopefully this full sound will inform Chambers’ directions in the future.

Madisons (6) – Austin folk rock band Madisons has a well-formed sound, heavy on handclaps and down-home Americana roots.  While these songs come across as relatively minimal and straightforward on their record Desgraciados, the band can expand to 12+ members live, so hopefully they bring plenty of friends to their 35 Denton showcase a week from tonight.  The song “Sweetwater” should hold some special significance that weekend, as the title not only reflects songwriter Dominic Solis’ hometown, it is also the name of the venue Madisons will be gigging at.

A.M. Ramblers (5) – Local Denton bluegrass/Americana band A.M. Ramblers have a rootsy and loose sound, the kind of music friends make around the campfire.  Musically, A.M. Ramblers have a strong sound, focused on laid back solos and traditional harmonies.

Daniel Francis Doyle (5) – Singer-songwriter Daniel Francis Doyle takes a minimal approach to pop music, though his sound ranges from terse, acoustic ballads to eclectic fuzz rock at different times.  Of note are Doyle’s off-kilter rhythmic elements, allowing his songs to dip into disparate breaks that break Doyle’s music from the expected.