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How shall we even refer to SXSW anymore? Originally conceived as a regional music festival in the late eighties, a place to expose emerging talent — normally relegated to musty basements and approving head nods from friends and family — to record label big wigs, SXSW has since evolved into a multiple-week media extravaganza touching on music, film, design and more that temporarily halts normal life in the greater Austin area.
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While not having quite reached a level of trendiness now associated with the cluster of insanity that is Coachella, South-By, as it’s affectionately called by its dedicated fans, is widely viewed as the place to be if you consider yourself a purveyor of fine music. And the crowd is diverse: you’ll undoubtedly find a small-ish gathering of music industry folk talking your ear off about this one must-see band poised to be the next Nirvana, screaming teenagers coming to see that one rookie rapper on the radio, East Village bohemians smoking clove cigarettes and talking about British bands you’ve never heard of and Cali bros lookin’ for good tunes, herbal remedies and a place to crash. But enough about the people…. it’s all about the music.
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And since we’ll be ingesting enough of it to feed a small nation (that is, if nations could actually survive on music), we decided to break things down and make your life much simpler. So without further ado, we present the five bands you need to check out at SXSW 2011.
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Yuck (pictured above)
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If there’s a single writeup about this London foursome that doesn’t mention Yo La Tengo and/or Pavement, we’ve yet to see it. Channeling their love of Nineties indie-gods on their eponymous debut LP, Daniel Blumberg and co. have quickly become the blog-buzz band of the moment. While Blumberg has splayed his affection for bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and the Silver Jews all over the web, his band is creating a sound all their own, mixing pristine harmonies with hooky-y choruses that squelch your brain like a kid sucks a ring-pop. Capitalizing on their manic momentum, Yuck will performing 9(!?) times at SXSW and stopping by to chat with us live from the FADER FORT by FIAT. Check the schedule of Yuck’s performances at SXSW at the bottom of the post.
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Aside from proving that a band’s name means nothing, if not to grab your attention, this Detroit duo have popped up as one of the brightest new bands with easily one of the most amazing names. It certainly doesn’t hurt that their unique brand of electro-dream pop is assisted by the two musicians’ grainy, suave voices that sound plucked from an angel’s larynx. On their debut EP, Horse Power, Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott combine their affection for choir-boy harmonies with a healthy dose of tremolo guitars and synth-powered trickery. We’ll be sitting down to chat with Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. at the FADER FORT by FIAT to find out the motives behind their NASCAR-style name and how their multiple SXSW shows are treating them. Check the schedule of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s performances at SXSW at the bottom of the post.
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Odd Future
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When Tyler the Creator and Hodgy Beats of LA hip-hop collective Odd Future (whose full name OFWGKTA stands for Odd Future Wolfgang Kill Them All), made a recent appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, barking into the mic in a murderous rage, hopping near Jimmy’s desk and generally frightening most living creatures, people took notice. Seemingly ever since, every music blog with a viewership over 10 visitors a day is touting these scary-good dudes as hip-hop’s next big thing. We’d have to agree. In addition to performing at the FADER FORT by FIAT, Odd Future will be gigging around the Austin area all of this week. Check the schedule of Odd Future’s performances at SXSW at the bottom of the post.
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While originally conceived in the dark dancehalls of East London, dubstep is slowly taking over the global electro-landscape. And a softly-crooning, ballad boy from the U.K., who shares a name with a famous tennis player, is leading the charge. Thanks to a mesmerizingly chilling Feist cover (“Limit To Your Love”), finishing as the runner-up in BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll and a self-titled debut album already being touted as one of the year’s best, the 20-year-old who can crank out ballads with a slice of spastic beats, is undoubtedly one of 2011’s fresh young stars. Blake will be stopping by to chat with us this week at the FADER FORT by FIAT, where he’ll also be performing. Check out the schedule of James Blake’s SXSW gigs at the bottom of the post.
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There’s few blossoming hip-hop stars we know of that would dare to submerge themselves within ambient music (“Rain In England”) or join forces with a goth-like band the likes of Salem. These days,we’re thinking… whatever works. After breaking out with his group, the Pack, with a song about skate shoes, Lil B has gone viral thanks to a nonstop work ethic and hundreds of online songs and videos. After a swarm of mixtapes, the 21-year-old released his first album, Angles Exodus, earlier this year, a prelude to his upcoming release Glass Face. Lil B will be showcasing his skills at the FADER FORT by FIAT on Saturday night. Check out his set time below.
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Yuck
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03/16 KEXP Session @ Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 2.30pm
03/16 Fat Possum Party @ Club deVille 5.30pm
03/16 NPR Showcase @ Stubb’s 8pm
03/16 Paradigm OS @ Club deVille, 1am
03/17 Under The Radar @ Flamingo Cantina, 1.30pm
03/17 Brooklyn Vegan Party @ Swan Dive, 4pm
03/18 Pitchfork Party @ East Side Drive In, 3.30pm
03/18 Noisey.com Launch Party @ Kiss & Fly, 11pm
03/19 MOG Party @ The Mohawk, 2pm
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Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr.
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03/16 KCRW Official Night Showcase @ The Phoenix, 9:00 PM
03/17 PASTE Magazine Showcase @ The Stage on Sixth, 12:00 PM
03/17 DMX Showcase @ Volstead Lounge, 3PM
03/18 Black Iris Showcase, 4 PM
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Odd Future
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3/18 FADER FORT by FIAT 6:45 PM
3/19 Billboard Bungalow, 12 AM
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James Blake
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3/16 NPR Showcase @ Stubss
3/17 Pitchfork Showcase @ Central Presbyterian Church
3/18 French Legation
3/19 FADER FORT BY FIAT, 4:30 PM
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Lil B
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3/19 FADER FORT BY FIAT, 8:00 PM
