Covering the crossroads of music and film.
Entries tagged “SXSW”
SXSW...One Week Later
By Jim Shearer on 03/27/2009
Filed under: LIVE
Sadly, my seven-year streak of attending SXSW came to an end this year. No live music for four straight days (sigh), no warm weather for an east coaster looking to escape a winter that doesn't want to end (sigh), no discovering a handful of promising, up-and-coming indie rock bands (sigh), and no gnawing on a big Texas rib from Iron Works BBQ (sigh). My body does thank me though--I didn't stay up past 2AM one time last week, and come to think, I don't think I had to wait in any long lines either. MORE »
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ME LIKEY: Bat For Lashes
By Jim Shearer on 03/16/2009
Filed under: ME LIKEYIf you like Bjork, American Apparel, and Lily Allen doppelgangers, than you'll love Bat For Lashes, who's set to release her sophomore album, Two Suns, on April 7. MORE »
Party the Day Away at SXSW
By Sarah Pesin on 03/16/2009
Filed under: SOONYou may have noticed an influx of hipsters leaving your town and heading for the nearest airport, because as of this Wednesday, the music portion of the South by Southwest festival begins. For those looking not to spend any money, the free day parties are really where the most fun takes place, and not only are they free, but they often give away food and drinks for the weary music fan. MORE »
Make The Decemberists a Poster in March
By Jim Shearer on 02/20/2009
Filed under: SOON
On the opening music night of SXSW (March 18), The Decemberists will headlining the NPR showcase at Stubb's BBQ, performing in its entirety, their forthcoming album (March 24), The Hazards of Love. MORE »
Never Too Early For SXSW
By Sarah Pesin on 01/15/2009
Filed under: SOONAs the New Year sets in and winter continues to rear its ugly head, the only way to get through these dark months is to look towards the future of spring, sunshine, and more importantly, South by Southwest. The wheels are already set in motion for this year's festival and the first crop of bands playing has just been announced. While the festival is still over two months away, there's no point in not getting a head start on who is worth seeing. (left: Two months and counting.) Of course, my list is extremely biased. Of the over one... MORE »
The Thermals Set Release Date
By Jim Shearer on 12/17/2008
Filed under: NEWSPortland-basement-rockers, The Thermals, last released an album in 2006; the catchy The Body, The Blood, The Machine. Since then they've lost a drummer (then added one, Westin Glass) and switched indie record labels (Sub Pop to Kill Rock Stars). (left: Kathy and Hutch have a new label, a new drummer, and a new album set to be released.) The Thermals announced that their new album, Now We Can See, will be released on April 7, 2009. Their self titled single will drop on March 10, which will be followed by a trip to SXSW. Here's a peak at the... MORE »
TALK: Vampire Weekend
By Jim Shearer on 03/24/2008
Filed under: TALKIn an internet second, Vampire Weekend went from playing college house parties to being heralded by SPIN magazine as "The Year's Best New Band...Already." Pretty amazing stuff, considering the band posed for the publication's cover before their debut album was even released. In the last three months alone, the recent college grads have played a string of sold-out shows, performed on Saturday Night Live, and had to turn people away at their "filled-to-capacity" showcase at this year's SXSW. How did it happen so quickly for Vampire Weekend? Are they just that good? Or did the internet bloggers of the... MORE »
SXSW: Awards for Best & Worst
By Jim Shearer on 03/17/2008
See the picture to the left? That's an actual photograph taken from my brain on the final day of SXSW--everything was turning into one big blur. It was another fun (yet busy) year in Austin, TX, and I was amazed by the amount of day-shows that all the bands were playing. I wouldn't be surprised if bands started playing SXSW morning matinees in the very near future. Nothing like watching your favorite indie group while eating scrambled eggs and bacon. Before I say goodbye to SXSW 2008, I'd like to hand out some awards for the best-and-worst of this... MORE »
SXSW: MSTRKRFT (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/16/2008
Filed under: LIVEArmed with a mixer, two turntables, a CD-deck, and a laptop, MSTRKRFT closed out the night with a thick blend of dance grooves, or as Al-P likes to say, "maximal beats." Jesse Keeler is definitely the rockstar of the group, as well he should be--being a former member of the powerhouse thrash duo Death From Above 1979. I know purists claim electronic music is faceless, but when Keeler wipes back his bangs, or throws up his fist (dice-rolling style) during build-ups and break-downs, it only adds to the spectacle.... MORE »
SXSW: Modey Lemon (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/16/2008
Filed under: LIVEClassic rock on anabolic steroids--that's the best way I can describe the sound of Modey Lemon. By far, this was the loudest performance that I've taken in at this year's SXSW. When a drummer has two floor toms, that's a good indication that things are going to get noisy. Speaking of which, Paul Quattrone obliterated his drum-kit throughout the set and bassist/organist Jason Kirker isn't going to have a neck left in 5 years the way he thrashes it around on stage. Frontman, Phil Boyd also shouted out the band's hometown a couple times, proving once again that people... MORE »
SXSW: Jim Noir (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/16/2008
I think a lot of people were surprised by Jim Noir's new look. He's done away with his three-piece suit and bowler's hat and replaced it with a headband, a shaggy hairdo, and a pair of blue jeans. Noir sandwiched his set tonight with his two biggest hits to date--opening with "Eanie Meany" and closing with "My Patch." In the midst of a song, Noir's voice sounded sweet and confident. In between songs though, Noir seemed uncomfortable as a frontman, having a hard time connecting with the audience. Without a suit and tie to hide behind, Noir lost his... MORE »
SXSW: Day #4
By Jim Shearer on 03/15/2008
The final full day of music at SXSW (whew). It's no longer a music festival--it's an endurance test. Bands, managers, publicists, bloggers--everyone's dragging. I'm excited for all the performances tonight, but I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't anxious to get back home and log some Z's. Today I met up with Vampire Weekend, My Morning Jacket, Matt & Kim, and MSTRKRFT. Keep in mind all of these full-length interviews will be posted at a future date (don't have enough time to transcribe them right now)...... MORE »
SXSW: Tapes 'N Tapes (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/15/2008
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I saw the members of Tapes 'N Tapes set up their own equipment. Despite being a case study in the successful "blog band" phenomenon, they all still work day jobs when they're not touring. Tapes 'N Tapes' set echoed the band's demeanor--nice, honest, not overly dynamic, and a bit unpredictable. They showcased a few new tunes, which I won't be able to explain, cause I've never been able to pinpoint Tapes 'N Tapes' sound. Tonight, whenever I predicted a high-hat hit or a certain chord progression on the new material, they... MORE »
SXSW: Vampire Weekend (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/15/2008
Filed under: LIVEDenied. The picture to the left sums up my Vampire Weekend experience. This is the first time in all the years I've come to SXSW that I wasn't able to get into a show. I got to the venue a good 40 minutes before Vampire Weekend's set, and in those 40 minutes I probably moved up 10 feet. The irony in all of this, is that for all the people wrapped around the building to see Vampire Weekend, they didn't even notice when frontman Ezra Koeing popped out a side door, hung out for a couple minutes and brought... MORE »
SXSW: Day #3
By Jim Shearer on 03/14/2008
BREAKING WEATHER REPORT: For the first time all week, the sun came out in full force. Temperatures are nearing the 90's--alas, warm weather in Austin, TX! Ah, a good night's sleep, it's first time I logged more than five hours the whole trip. This morning I also got to eat breakfast and sort through my SXSW goodie bag for the first time. I've got my second wind! On the bummer-end of things, Nada Surf and Billy Bragg had to cancel our interviews scheduled this week. No hard feelings though, since I'm sure their schedules are pretty packed at this point... MORE »
SXSW: The Presidents of the U.S.A. (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/14/2008
Filed under: LIVEI always feel a bit guilty watching a high profile rock group at SXSW, since my conscience tells me I should be watching a struggling up-and-coming indie band. But every now and then I need a little sugar--a little pick me up if you well. It's not like the President's of The United States of America are smoking hundred bills in a hot tub filled with supermodels, but they've tasted the fruits of rock success. After poking my head into a bunch of SXSW day parties, seeing various younger indie-acts, I almost forgot how much fun a polished rock... MORE »
SXSW: Money Mark (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/14/2008
Filed under: LIVEI have seen Money Mark perform 20-plus times with the Beastie Boys, but I have never caught one of his solo gigs. So tonight, I thought I owed it to myself and the Beastie-family tree to take in Money Mark's set. I'm also a fan of his work, so I was long overdue for a live show. Early in the set Mark was having technical difficulties. His echo-box (for his guitar) wouldn't work and a friend who came on stage to play theremin couldn't figure out how to position it in the microphone. After the glitches were ironed out,... MORE »
SXSW: Tim Fite (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/14/2008
Filed under: LIVEFolky-country-hip-hopper, Tim Fite looks and acts like a big, little kid (think Pee Wee Herman with a rounder face). Tonight he was backed by only band member, and performed all of his songs to a backing track that synced up to a movie screen displaying various childlike, storybook images (damn, this is going to be a tough one to explain). On other songs, Fite would perform with three other versions of himself on the screen. Lost yet? Fite's live show is his own unique vision of Pee Wee's Playhouse and Captain Kangaroo. Everything is broken down into childhood terms... MORE »
SXSW: Day#2
By Jim Shearer on 03/13/2008
If I was a top-notch blogger in the same arena as Perez Hilton, and--see, I can't even name another prominent blogger. Anyway, if I was blogging by today's standards, I should have already posted five or six blogs by now. Keep in mind though, I come from the 'zine world. Back in the day, all of the info I'm gathering here at SXSW would be used for one issue of a 'zine--which probably wouldn't come out until a month after the event. It's not like I'm sitting poolside licking BBQ off my fingers. It just so happens I've only... MORE »
SXSW: The Black Keys (Live)
By Jim Shearer on 03/13/2008
Filed under: LIVEThere was a huge line to get into The Black Keys performance at Emo's. After about 40 minutes, I finally managed to make my way in. I think I only missed a song or two. There was a lot of buzz over this particular performance, because everyone was excited to hear some new material from The Black Keys (they have a new album coming out April 1). The Black Keys played four new songs, but Dan Auerbach only introduced one of them, saying, "This is a new one, we could mess it up." The new stuff didn't stray too... MORE »
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