2008-09 Austin M usic Aw Ards - The Austin Chronicle
2008-09 Austin M usic Aw Ards - The Austin Chronicle
2008-09 Austin M usic Aw Ards - The Austin Chronicle
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BEST NEW AUSTIN BANDthe Black & white Yearsm<strong>usic</strong> fest insertphoto by todd v. wolfson<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong><strong>Ards</strong>c o m p l e t e s x s w m u s i c s c h e d u l e i n s i d e
<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsHALL OF FAMEKelly WillisBEST NEW AUSTIN BAND1) <strong>The</strong> Black & White Years2) Blues Mafia3) One-Eyed Doll4) Los Bad Apples5) <strong>The</strong> Tiny Tin Hearts6) <strong>The</strong> Ars Supernova7) Dans la Lune8) Flatcar Rattlers9) 25 Smokin’ Figurados10) DentedAUSTIN SONG OF THE YEAR1) “Power to Change,” the Black & White Years2) “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet),” Bob Schneider3) “Sister Lost Soul,” Alejandro Escovedo4) “Ragged as the Road,” Reckless Kelly5) “Always a Friend,” Alejandro Escovedo6) “Miss Understood,” Carolyn Wonderland7) “Just Us Kids,” James McMurtry8) “Gimme Some,” Grupo Fantasma9) “Moonlight Tango,” Monte Montgomery10) “She Left Me for Jesus,” Hayes CarllTODD V. WOLFSONTODD V. WOLFSONSANDY CARSONAUSTIN MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR1) Alejandro Escovedo2) Bob Schneider3) Carolyn Wonderland4) Guy Forsyth5) Patrice Pike6) Dale Watson7) Monte Montgomery8) Suzanna Choffel9) James McMurtry10) Dan DyerAUSTIN ALBUM OF THE YEAR1) Real Animal,AlejandroEscovedo2) <strong>The</strong> Black& White Years3) Sonidos Gold,Grupo Fantasma4) Miss Understood,Carolyn Wonderland5) Just Us Kids, James McMurtry6) Live at Eddie’s Attic, Porterdavis7) Monte Montgomery8) Calico Girl, Guy Forsyth9) <strong>The</strong> Band of Heathens10) Bulletproof, Reckless KellyAUSTIN BAND OF THE YEAR1) Bob Schneider& Lonelyland2) Alejandro Escovedo3) <strong>The</strong> Black & White Years4) Reckless Kelly5) Dale Watson & His Lone Stars6) Carolyn Wonderland7) <strong>The</strong> Band of Heathens8) Grupo Fantasma9) Suzanna Choffel10) Porterdavis11) <strong>The</strong> Octopus Project2 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mCONTINUED ON P.4
a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 3
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS CONTINUED FROM P.2<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsROCK1) <strong>The</strong> Black &White Years2) Bob Schneider3) Alejandro Escovedo4) Alpha Rev5) Mothers Anthem6) Vallejo7) Monte Montgomery8) Patrice Pike9) <strong>The</strong> Octopus Project10) SpoonINDUSTRIAL/GOTH1) Subnatural2) Death Is Not a Joyride.3) Tungsten Coil4) One-Eyed Doll5) Lucid Dementia6) Exit7) Scorpio Rising8) Chant9) Cry Blood Apache10) ChantTODD V. WOLFSONSANDY CARSONSANDY CARSON SANDY CARSONPUNK1) One-Eyed Doll2) Lower Class Brats3) Krum Bums4) <strong>The</strong> Dicks5) Opposite Day6) Riverboat Gamblers7) Adrian & the Sickness8) Cruiserweight9) <strong>The</strong> Midgetmen10) MocktigersMETAL1) <strong>The</strong> Sword2) One-Eyed Doll3) Powderburn4) Broken Teeth5) Baron Grod6) Meyvn7) Butcherwhite8) Blackholicus9) By Any Means Necessary10) Pack of Wolves4 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mCONTINUED ON P.6
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS CONTINUED FROM P.4<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsINDIE1) Suzanna Choffel2) <strong>The</strong> Black & White Years3) White Denim4) Okkervil River5) <strong>The</strong> Black Angels6) John Pointer7) <strong>The</strong> Octopus Project8) Brothers and Sisters9) Dan DyerDJ1) Toddy B2) DJ Mel3) Jesse Brede4) DJ Tako5) DJ Manny6) DJ Veg7) DJ Bigface8) DJ Chicken George9) Heart & Soul Soundsystem10) Rapid Ric10) <strong>The</strong> StepsJAZZPHOTOS BY TODD V. WOLFSON1) Sarah Sharp2) Ephraim Owens3) Blaze4) <strong>The</strong> Monster Big Band5) White Ghost Shivers6) <strong>The</strong> Belleville Outfit7) Jason McKenzie8) Duane Carter Band9) Brandon A. Brown & the Floating Opera Orchestra10) Marshall Ford Swing BandCONTINUED ON P.86 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
AUSTIN’SLARGESTSELECTIONOF NAOTSHOES5 colors. #1 seller,beautiful detail! Great archsupport comfort!SHOP LOCALLY ATAnderson Lane & Burnet RoadAcross from Northcross Mall • 323-0554www.shoeboxesaustin.comFitting shoes since 1976Barton Creek Mall • 328-0682EAT LIKE ALOCALa u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 9
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS CONTINUED FROM P.8BLUEGRASS1) Bob Schneider’s Texas Bluegrass Massacre2) <strong>The</strong> Lost Pines3) <strong>The</strong> Fireants4) Sarah Jarosz5) Warren Hood & the Hoodlums6) South <strong>Austin</strong> Jug Band7) Flatcar Rattlers8) <strong>The</strong> Belleville Outfit9) Ruby Jane10) Green Mountain Grass<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsSANDY CARSONTODD V. WOLFSON TODD V. WOLFSONROOTS ROCK1) Porterdavis2) Reckless Kelly3) <strong>The</strong> Gourds4) <strong>The</strong> Band of Heathens5) <strong>The</strong> Mother Truckers6) James McMurtry7) Two Hoots & a Holler8) <strong>The</strong> Fireants9) Topaz & Mudphonic10) Guy ForsythFOLK1) <strong>The</strong> Hudsons2) Sarah Jarosz3) Betty Soo4) <strong>The</strong> Lost Pines5) Hayes Carll6) <strong>The</strong> Tea Merchants7) Eliza Gilkyson8) <strong>The</strong> Lovely Sparrows9) <strong>The</strong> Belleville Outfit10) Ed MillerSANDY CARSONLATIN TRADITIONAL1) Los Texas Wranglers2) Jonas Alvarez3) Del Castillo4) Grupo Fantasma5) El Tule6) Boca Abajo7) Cienfuegos8) Trio los Vigilantes9) Ruben Ramos &the Mexican Revolution10) CerronatoLATIN CONTEMPORARY1) Grupo Fantasma2) Sarah Fox & Joel Guzman3) Mary Welch y los Curanderos4) Del Castillo5) Vallejo6) Brownout7) Los Bad Apples8) Charanga Cakewalk9) Maneja Beto10) Boca AbajoSANDY CARSON10 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
WORLD MUSIC1) Atash2) Rattletree Marimba3) <strong>The</strong> Tea Merchants4) Gypzee Heart5) Ghandaia6) Oliver Rajamani7) Lannaya West African Drum & Dance Ensemble8) Silver Thistle Pipes & Drums9) <strong>The</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> Klezmorim10) GovindaNEEDCA$H?Immediate Top $$paid for yourGOLD • SILVERPLATINUM • DIAMONDSWATCHES • COINS.New or Old.GET CASHTODAY!SANDY CARSONTODD V. WOLFSONSANDY CARSONSince 1883611 Congress Ave.512-478-2595www.joekoenjewelers.comcity hall-Rocks!every friday * freeNOON - 1 pm * $6.50 LUNCH SPECIALMarch 20 Indie / PopKacy CrowleyNONE OF THE ABOVE1) More Cowbell2) White Ghost Shivers3) Girl Guitar4) Death Is Not a Joyride.5) 25 Smokin’ Figurados6) Mingo Fishtrap7) <strong>The</strong> Jolly Garogers8) John Pointer9) Grimy Styles10) <strong>The</strong> Octopus ProjectTEEN BAND1) <strong>The</strong> Fireants2) Sarah Jarosz3) Jenny Wolfe4) High on Hot Dogs5) Avenging Poor Yorick6) Carson Brock Group7) Cheap Fire8) Joker9) Khabele Jazz Band10) Silver Thistle <strong>Austin</strong> Youth Pipes & DrumsMarch 27 Jazz / Western Swing<strong>The</strong> Marshall FordSwing BandApril 3 Soul / R&BT Bird and the BreaksApril 10 FolkSahara SmithSANDY CARSONCOVER BAND1) <strong>The</strong> Eggmen2) Mysterious Ways3) Skyrocket!4) Radiostar5) Lost in <strong>Austin</strong>6) StABBA7) Big Balls8) Mystic Knights of the Sea9) <strong>The</strong> Frank Gomez Band10) <strong>The</strong> SpazmaticsApril 17 RockJeremy Nailand the IncidentsApril 24 CaribbeanInside Out Steel BandMay 1 Latin FunkBrownout!CONTINUED ON P.12AUSTIN CITY HALL301 W. 2ND ST.Live from the plaza & on cable Channel 6www.cityofaustin.org/m<strong>usic</strong>a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 11
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS CONTINUED FROM P.11FEMALE VOCALS1) Carolyn Wonderland2) Patrice Pike3) Suzanna Choffel4) Ariel Abshire5) Teal Collins,the Mother Truckers6) Patty Griffin7) Kelly Willis8) Kimberly Freeman,One-Eyed Doll9) Stella Maxwell,Cruiserweight10) Sarah JaroszMALE VOCALS1) Bob Schneider2) Dale Watson3) Dan Dyer4) Guy Forsyth5) Daniel Barrett, Porterdavis6) Willy Braun, Reckless Kelly7) Alejandro Escovedo8) Ed Jurdi9) John Pointer10) Monte MontgomeryBLUES1) Carolyn Wonderland2) Blues Mafia3) Porterdavis4) Gary Clark Jr.5) Guy Forsyth6) Van Wilks7) Black Joe Lewis &the Honeybears8) W.C. Clark9) Pinetop Perkins10) Eric Tessmer BandELECTRIC GUITAR1) Van Wilks2) Guy Forsyth3) Carolyn Wonderland4) Landon Thompson, the Black& White Years5) Gary Clark Jr.6) Daniel Barrett, Porterdavis7) Redd Volkaert8) Josh Zee, the Mother Truckers9) Suzanna Choffel10) David Abeyta, Reckless KellyPHOTOS BY TODD V. WOLFSON<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong>M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsACOUSTIC GUITAR1) Van Wilks2) Monte Montgomery3) John Pointer4) Bob Schneider5) Guy Forsyth6) Rich Brotherton7) Kimberly Freeman, One-Eyed Doll8) Gordy Quist9) Jeff Moore10) Rick del Castillo, Del CastilloBASS1) John Aldridge, the Black & White Years2) Johnny Vogelsang, Suzanna Choffel3) Bruce Hughes4) Alex Dunlap, Alpha Rev5) Will Landin, Guy Forsyth6) Omar Vallejo, Vallejo7) Josh Lambert, the Octopus Project8) Danny G, the Mother Truckers9) David Piggott, Monte Montgomery10) Bobby Perkins, Topaz & Mudphonic12 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mCONTINUED ON P.14
-APPEARING AT SXSW...RoadrunerLP AVAILABLEAMANDA PALMERWho Killed Amanda Palmer$13.99 CDThurs. 3/19 11pm@ Central Presbyterian ChurchNettwerkANGUS & JULIA STONEA Book Like This$13.99 CDWed. 3/18 11pm@ Buffalo BilliardsRed InkANNUALSSuch Fun$10.99 CDWed 3/18 12am@ Radio Room PatioLP AVAILABLEBluhammockTHE BREAK AND REPAIR METHODMilk the Bee$11.99 CDSat. 3/21 9pm@ Maggie Mae’s Gibson RoomFrenchkissCUT OFF YOUR HANDSYou and I$10.99 CDWed. 3/18 8:45pm@ ViceLP AVAILABLENonesuchDAN AUERBACHKeep It Hid$12.99 CDWed. 3/18 10:45@ <strong>The</strong> ParishLP AVAILABLENettwerkDATAROCKDatarock$13.99 CDThurs. 3/19 1am@ Emo’s AnnexShout FactoryDAVE ALVIN<strong>The</strong> Best of the Hightone Years$13.99 CDThurs 3/19 12am@ Continental ClubEasy StarEASY STAR ALLSTARSRadiodread$13.99 CDThurs. 3/19 1am@ ViceSHout FactoryHOT CLUB OF COWTOWNBest of$13.99 CDWed 3/18 8pm@ <strong>The</strong> Ale HouseGold Dust MediaZION I<strong>The</strong> Take Over$12.99 CDWed. 3/18 1:15am@ Back Alley SocialAtlanticJANELLE MONAE<strong>The</strong> Chase Suite$5.99 CDWed. 3/18 8pm@ Stubb’sLP AVAILABLEBluhammockKAISERCARTELOkay... and Other Things We Feel$4.99 CDThurs. 3/19 9pm@ St. David’s ChurchATOLISA HANNIGANSea Sew$13.99 CDThurs. 3/19 9pm@ <strong>The</strong> ParishEpicMINIATURE TIGERSTell It to the Volcano$10.99 CDWed. 3/18 11pm@ Spiro’sMRI AssociateRepriseCAROLYN WONDERLANDMiss Understood$12.99 CDWed. 3/18 12am@ Antone’sTHE USEDLies for the Liars$13.99 CDSat. 3/21 1am@ Cedar DoorFrenchkissPASSION PITChunk of Change$6.99 CDThurs. 3/19 12:00am@ Emo’s Main RoomTHANKS AUSTINFOR VOTING USBEST RECORDSTORE FOR 27CONSECUTIVEYEARS!Razor & TieSEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONSWe Love You$9.99 CDFri. 3/20 1zm@ Rusty SpursWarner Bros.STARDEATH AND WHITE DWARFSI Can’t Get <strong>Aw</strong>ay$3.99 7”Fri. 3/20 9pm@ <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> HallSALE ENDS 3-31-20<strong>09</strong>WHERE MUSIC STILL MATTERSa u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 13Basin StreetTHERESA ANDERSSONHummingbird Go!$13.99 CDFri. 3/20 10pm@ Antone’s
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS CONTINUED FROM P.14<strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>Aw</strong>ardsRADIO PERSONALITY1) Deb O’Keefe, 101X2) Ray Seggern, 101X3) Bobby Bones, KISS4) Charlie Hodge, KLBJ5) John Aielli, KUT6) Rob Mason, KASE7) Dale Dudley, KLBJ8) Bryan Beck, KGSR9) Jason Dick, 101X10) Paul Ray, KUTNEW CLUB1) Shangri-La2) Fiddler’s Hearth3) Aces Lounge4) Lanai5) Malaia World Lounge6) <strong>The</strong> Madison7) Tiniest Bar in Texas8) Black & Tan9) Cielo10) Rusty Spurs11) Annie’s WestClifford AntoneRADIO MUSIC PROGRAM1) Morning X, Jason and Deb, 101X2) Chillville, Ray Seggern, 101X3) <strong>The</strong> Bobby Bones Show, KISS FM4) <strong>The</strong> Charle Hodge Half-Time Show, KLBJ5) Eklektikos, John Aielli, KUT6) KASE Morning Crew, Bama,Rob, and Heather, KASE 1017) Dudley and Bob Morning Show, KLBJ8) KGSR in the Morning, Bryan Beck, KGSR9) JB and Sandy in the Morning, Mix 94.710) No Control, Chuck Loesch, 101XPHOTOS BY TODD V. WOFLSONGriffLuneburgACOUSTIC VENUE1) Cactus Cafe2) Saxon Pub3) Momo’s4) Flipnotics5) Ruta Maya6) Hole in the Wall7) Hill’s Cafe8) Threadgill’s9) Fiddler’s Hearth10) Artz Rib HouseLIVE MUSIC VENUE1) Antone’s2) Stubb’s3) Mohawk4) <strong>The</strong> Continental Club5) Saxon Pub6) Emo’s7) <strong>The</strong> Parish8) Momo’s9) Red Eyed Fly10) Cactus CafeRADIO STATION1) KGSR, 107.1FM2) 101X, 101.5FM3) KUT, 90.5FM4) KLBJ, 93.7FM5) KISS, 96.7FM6) KASE, 100.7FM7) KOOP, 91.7FM8) KVET, 98.1FM9) KVRX, 91.7FM10) KAZI, 88.7FMKGSR’s Andy Langerwith Billy GibbonsWaterloo’s John Kunz & Alejandro EscovedoALL-AGES VENUE1) Emo’s2) Antone’s3) Red 74) Stubb’s5) Ruta Maya6) Red Eyed Fly7) Roadhouse Rags8) Mohawk9) Threadgill’s10) Jovita’sRECORD STORE1) Waterloo Records2) Cheapo Discs3) End of an Ear4) Antone’s Record Shop5) Sound on Sound6) Encore7) Snake Eyes Vinyl8) Half Price Books9) Backspin Records10) Breakaway Records16 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
Hall of FameClass of <strong>2008</strong>-<strong>09</strong><strong>The</strong> DicksDale WatsonPariahAUBREY EDWARDS JOHN ANDERSONTODD V. WOLFSONTODD V. WOLFSONDanny Roy YoungHoseaHargroveTrue BelieversSANDY CARSONTODD V. WOLFSON a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 17
SXSW MUSIC FEST WEDNESDAY FROM P.19MAMMOTH GRINDER11pm, Red 7 Freshman metal trioMammoth Grinder proved one of <strong>Austin</strong>’sfiercest <strong>2008</strong> newcomers, its vinyl debut,marble-colored LP Rage and Ruin, a Texandeath match of scream and gargantuanslam. Hardcore brace rather than classicmetal right turns grinds this Mammoth,howling vengeance in a postured genre.– Raoul HernandezLOVVERS11pm, Red 7 Patio Nottingham’s Lovversconjure blood visions like Jay Reatard. <strong>The</strong>abrasive lo-fi punk foursome has touredwith No Age and Times New Viking, presseda series of claustrophobic 7-inches, andbowed with an EP for Wichita Recordings,Think, which sounds like a basement partyof filth and fury.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellTHE CYNICS11pm, Habana Calle 6 A kingpin of themid-1980s garage-punk revival, the Cynicsremain at the nucleus a quarter-centurylater via guitarist Gregg Kostelich’s Get Hiplabel and searing live sets centered aroundvocalist Michael Kastelic’s Iggy Pop-meets-Red Skelton stage antics. Pittsburgh-bredKostelich and Kastelic went to Spain for anative rhythm section to record 2007’s HereWe Are.– Greg BeetsTHE GRATES11pm, Radio Room Make some noise joyouslyand maybe with a little recklessness.Full marks go to Aussie trio the Gratesfor not overthinking things and executingthem almost flawlessly on new LP TeethLost, Hearts Won. When you rock that kindof abandon, wearing a Batgirl costumeonstage works.– Michael BertinAVETT BROTHERS11pm, Stubb’s After kicking up theAmericana dust with their stage-stomping,string-band fury over the past five years,the Avett Brothers took a turn towardunique, broken balladry with 2007’s aptlytitled Emotionalism. Expect tunes from theNorth Carolina trio’s sixth studio album,due this summer. – Doug FreemanTHE TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS11pm, Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong> <strong>The</strong> sons of bluegrasslegend Del McCoury – Ronnie onmandolin and Rob on banjo – inheritedtheir father’s dedication to bluegrass.With fiddler Jason Carter and bassist AlanBartram, they’re the Nashville act that canhold its own onstage with the likes of theAllman Brothers.– Jim CaligiuriST. VINCENT11pm, Central Presbyterian ChurchAnnie Clark’s breathy cabaret vocals andstage presence belie the fierce tensionof her shredding guitar work and playfullydark lyrics. 2007 debut Marry Me (BeggarsBanquet) garnered the Dallas native a Plug<strong>Aw</strong>ard for Female Artist of the Year, and herupcoming Actor unloads even more elaboratelyarranged pop masterpieces courtesyof John Congleton’s co-production. (Also:Fri., Antone’s, 12mid.) – Doug FreemanCHARLES HAMILTON11:45pm, Back Alley Social This winter’sDJ Skee-mixed Hamiltonization Processseries was part of a <strong>2008</strong> onslaught of mixtapereleases that exposed a playful side to21-year-old Charles Hamilton. <strong>The</strong> Harlemnative showed he has enough game to rollover any type of beat, be it J Dilla, mashedupWindows Media Player sound bytes, orYoung Jeezy. Expect an LP on Interscope.– Chase HoffbergerTHE BLACK & WHITE YEARS12mid, Pangaea This <strong>Austin</strong> quartetplayed an early-evening showcase to fewerthan a dozen people at SXSW 07, but oneof them was former Talking Head JerryHarrison. Impressed by the band’s quirky,electro-dance grooves, he brought them toCalifornia and produced their effusive, selftitleddebut, which came out in <strong>2008</strong>. (Also:Fri., <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> Hall, 8pm.)– Jay TrachtenbergEcho &the Bunnymen12:30am, Emo’s Main (Also: Sat., Rusty Spurs, 12mid)“I want people to realize that I’m a real m<strong>usic</strong>ian and not just a big mouth,” says IanMcCulloch, the somewhat salty frontman of Echo & the Bunnymen, who turns 50 this year.With three decades in the can, the Bunnymen have already outlived their chief inspiration,Jim Morrison, who, like Janis and Jimi, was in the ground at age 27. With originalsongwriting team McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant intact, the band staged a powerfulorchestral rendition of 1984’s seminal Ocean Rain last year and plans to release itsnew album, <strong>The</strong> Fountain, in August. Anyone who caught the free Auditorium Shores gigat SXSW 06, when McCulloch conjured Morrison’s ghost on “L.A. Woman,” knows theLiverpool legends revere the Doors.“<strong>The</strong> Velvet Underground is me favorite band of all time,” McCulloch explains, hisaccent intact and his attitude still defiant. “But, as a band, the Doors always soundedthe most perfectly in-sync with each other. What they were brilliant at were the 3½-minutenuggets of pure tune and hooks. You could hear a song like ‘Hello, I Love You’ and ‘LoveMe Two Times’ just once, and you’d be singing it the rest of your life. With that atmosphere,you could make out to them, too.“If somebody else said that, it might sound twee,” chuckles the singer.<strong>The</strong> same could be said for the Bunnymen’s moody, pristine brand of post-punk.McCulloch maintains that his current efforts aren’t driven by nostalgia or greed.“It’s not a bad thing to be the influencers rather than the billionaires.” – Dan OkoAustralian Cattle God8pm, Room 710 This <strong>Austin</strong> label,founded in 2005, has become a stablefor the weird and heavy in Texas, asevidenced by this all-local showcase.Good Times Crisis Band will likely bownew examples of its Minutemen-via-Jawbox rock, as the follow-up to its tight2007 Cattle God debut is in the works.<strong>The</strong> thunderous Karpisms of Megazillaare documented in high style on first LPPlease, Please, Sorry, Thank You, whileyelpy, butch post-punkers Red X Red Mare close to their debut as well. MountLick Lick a quest for the Bungle-esque with LickLick, as comic frontman Matt Kelly(Middlefinger, Les Saucy Pants, Sprawl) leads his crack prog-punk team down the rabbit hole.Likewise, Black Cock’s brand new CD, Robot Child With a God Complex, has a touch of MikePatton’s vocal experiments layered with grimy keyboards and the ominous syncopation of theJesus Lizard. <strong>The</strong> electro-party anthems of the venerable Pong close out the evening.– Daniel MeeA Haiku Tour of PortugalRita Redshoes (Sat., Aces Lounge, 12mid)That’s a gentle voice.Don’t take this the wrong way but …My mom would like you.Clã (Wed., St. David’s Church, 10pm)Totally EuroWith an Eastern referent.Pizzicato One.<strong>The</strong> Legendary Tiger Man(Wed., Habana Calle 6, 9pm)You stripped down the bluesAnd show titties in your vids.Bet your ego’s huge.David Fonseca (Thu., Stephen F’s Bar, 11pm)All that emotion.Sorry women caused you pain.Here, have some Prozac.– Michael BertinDavidFonseca20 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
Autobus8pm, the Hideout Since forming in 2007,Autobus has become a hub for <strong>Austin</strong>’s indiescene. Canopy kicks off the evening withpop pawing at the orchestration of GrizzlyBear on last year’s Canopy//Anopy debut EP.Avant-garde trio the Weird Weeds cultivatesminimal rock landscapes that blossomedbeyond experimental shoots on excellentthird LP I Miss This. Already indie-pop-certifiedas a member of Voxtrot and Belaire, JasonChronis convenes a party onstage as J.C. &Co., supported by a revolving cast of <strong>Austin</strong>’selite young talent. Mark David Ashworthplies folksier terrain on ambient and Latintingedtunes delivered in a delicate tenor, butthe night’s highlights belong to Sunset andBrazos. <strong>The</strong> former harnesses the psych-popeccentricities of former Sound Team memberBill Baird, while Brazos previews its muchanticipated debut LP, which swims in MartinCrane’s soulful vocals. – Doug FreemanDan le Sac vs. Scroobius PipSANDY CARSONWeird WeedsEight Brit UnmissablesPrimal Scream (Thu., Cedar Street Courtyard,12:30am; Fri., La Zona Rosa, 12:45am)Screamadelica train-spotters uncorked both Dewar’s and fisticuffsat Ruth’s Chris Steak House during their last 512 riot/show. This time expect a (slightly) more Beautiful Future fromthe Glaswegian guitar-and-electronica godheads.Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip(Thu., Aces Lounge, 11pm; Sat., the Scoot Inn, 10:20pm)Hyperintellectual, fully ineffectual hip-hop beardoes “ThouShalt Always Kill.”We Have Band (Thu., Latitude 30, 12mid; Sat., Volume, 12mid)Sexy Kitsuné up-and-cumming trio pets, shops,has girl, beatbox.Dirtblonde (Sat., Emo’s Annex, 9pm)Dirtyfilthynastyrocknrollfuckers.Fight Like Apes (Thu., the Rio, 1am)Pop-rocking Dubliners top Guinness in fookin’ ’ell that’sbrilliant! Test whilst singer MayKay’s supersonic squealshatters pint glasses, eardrums.Out From Animals (Thu., Wave, 10pm)Darwinian evolution no longer “theory.” Man + time = rock/roll/perfection.<strong>The</strong>oretical Girl (Sat., Latitude 30, 9pm)Brit-twee as f**k and twice as pretty.Let’s Wrestle (Thu., Wave Rooftop, 11pm; Sat., Volume, 1am)<strong>The</strong>y wish they were Hüsker Dü, but they’ve pinned the Fall.– Marc SavlovWelcome toTEXAS!CAMERA OBSCURA12mid, Central Presbyterian ChurchWith more than a decade behind them,Camera Obscura still delivers bittersweet,twee-tinged pop beyond compare, andupcoming fourth LP My Maudlin Career(4AD) further distances the Glasgow quartetfrom fellow Scots Belle & Sebastian.Frontwoman Tracyanne Campbell’s vocalsring delicately with a suave balance of defianceand desperation. – Doug FreemanANNUALS12mid, Radio Room Patio Since breakingout of the Raleigh, N.C., scene via theirearly singles, Annuals have blossomedinto one of the more dynamic indie popgroups around. Sophomore release SuchFun finds the sixpiece including traces ofcountry to broaden the range.– Jay TrachtenbergTHE LOVELY SPARROWS12mid, Maggie Mae’s Gibson RoomFollowing their 2006 debut EP, Pulling UpFloors, Pouring on (New) Paint, last year’sLovely Sparrows inaugural LP, Bury the Cynics,stretched the <strong>Austin</strong>ites’ sound into evenmore elaborate chamber-pop arrangements.<strong>The</strong> winding lyrics of Shawn Jones remaintheir hallmark, abject disillusion laced with adark humor.– Doug FreemanELI PAPERBOY REED &THE TRUE LOVES12mid, Continental Club Beantown soul stirrerEli “Paperboy” Reed is equal parts Wilson88<strong>09</strong> Burnet Rd. at US 183Store HoursFirst Quality • Low PricesNORTH AUSTINSOUPickett and Wally Cleaver, crooning classic soul Next to Olive GardenM – S 9 – 9,over the crunchy grooves of his sevenpiece True 512/451-7474Sun. 12 – 6Loves. <strong>The</strong> 25-year-old may not look the part,but his <strong>2008</strong> debut, Roll With You, is a scorchingFrom Head to Toe, Hat to Boots,blast of R&B bravado. – Thomas FawcettCONTINUED ON P.22BOOTS • WESTERN WEAR • HATS • ACCESSORIESName Brands • Tremendous Selection •We’ve Got You Covered!SOUTHAUSTIN4435 S Lamar & Ben WhiteNext to Central Market in WestgateShopping Center • 512/892-4747a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 21
SXSW MUSIC FEST WEDNESDAY FROM P.21Reggae Not From JamaicaDoctor Krapula(Wed., Speakeasy, 12mid; Fri., Dirty Dog Bar, 10pm)Bogotá, Colombia’s ska Rastafarians punk you up.Blue King Brown (Wed., Club 115, 9pm)Aussie posse pumps roots reggae and populist politics.Bedouin Soundclash (Fri., Cedar Street Courtyard,9:45pm; Sat., El Sol y la Luna, 1am)Canucks teamed with Bad Brains’ Darryl Jenifer topreach Street Gospels.<strong>The</strong> Pepper Pots (Sat., Opal Divine’s, 11pm)Think Skatalites backing the Supremes with aCatalan accent.– Thomas FawcettDoctor KrapulaTONY JOE WHITE12mid, the Parish Forty years after “PolkSalad Annie,” part-Cherokee Louisianan TonyJoe White, largely credited as the progenitorof “swamp rock,” still churns out gems suchas last year’s Deep Cuts. – Michael BertinAN HORSE12mid, Maggie Mae’s Rooftop FrontwomanKate Cooper originally started out as a soloact, partner Damon Cox joined later, andBrisbane’s gramatically challenged indie popduo was born. Cooper was discovered byTegan & Sara in <strong>2008</strong>, and the first An Horsefull-length, Rearrange Beds (Mom & Pop), justdropped stateside. – Melanie HauptDD/MM/YYYY12mid, Emo’s Jr. Like the bastard sons ofBrainiac, this Toronto quintet thrashes withprecision, loves odd time signatures, andincorporates keyboards into the spaz-punkfold. Its metronomic drummer is the snappingbackbone of latest LP Black Square, a buffetof noise, melody, and ominous ambience.– Audra SchroederTHIS BIKE IS A PIPE BOMB12:15am, Habana Bar <strong>The</strong>se DIY vets fromPensacola, Fla., play low-volume punk heavilyinfluenced by the protest m<strong>usic</strong> of the 1960s.Past members include folksinger David Donderoand zine author Aaron Cometbus. <strong>The</strong> bandmade the front page of CNN in February whena bicycle festooned with one of its stickerscaused a bomb scare. Again. – Daniel MeeTOKYO SEX DESTRUCTION1am, Opal Divine’s Tokyo Sex Destructionis permanently preparing combustion. <strong>The</strong>Barcelona outfit ripped through <strong>Austin</strong>’s RedEyed Fly last year and left a wake the sizeof drummer J.C. Sinclair’s Stax Recordsmagnitudepocket. Its most recent collection,Singles (BCore), lights the fuse.– Chase HoffbergerTHE BRONX1am, Red 7 Patio Los Angeles thump warriorsthe Bronx were scooped up by Island DefJam after only a dozen shows, then jumpedship to form their own label, White Drugs,birthing a recent self-titled CD. Jackhammersingle “Knifeman” blares the credo, “I wannabe original; I wanna be surrounded by art,”and live, they’re as exhilarating as sin.– Marc SavlovKID CONGO POWERS1am, Emo’s Jr. After co-founding Gun Clubwith the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce and playingguitar on skull-busting classics such as theCramps’ Psychedelic Jungle and Nick Cave &the Bad Seeds’ Tender Prey, D.C.-based KidCongo Powers has plenty of pedigree. Powers’forthcoming Dracula Boots (In the Red) wallopsa slab of fuzz-happy trash rock. – Greg BeetsDELTA SPIRIT1am, Radio Room San Diego’s Delta Spiritenjoyed the heck out of <strong>2008</strong>. <strong>The</strong> band’sRounder debut, Ode to Sunshine, drew ravesnationally with a sound distilled down to a sunshine-drenchedDylan. <strong>The</strong> young quintet, whichspent the latter part of the year touring withNada Surf, now headlines. (Also: Thu., CedarStreet Courtyard, 10:30pm.) – Jim CaligiuriGARY CLARK JR.1am, Continental Club Bringing up the rearof <strong>Austin</strong>’s long, vaunted line of bluesmenguitarists (Jimmie Vaughan, W.C. Clark, DerekDan Auerbach10:45pm, the Parish<strong>The</strong> Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach used to make annual pilgrimages to what R.L.Burnside referred to as “Bad Luck City.” Starting on M<strong>usic</strong> Row in Nashville, Tenn., theAkron, Ohio, native would detour west through Memphis, if only to dig through the binsat Shangri-La Records, before heading south to the Mississippi Delta, where he soakedin its rich blues traditions and tracked down folks such as T-Model Ford.“I just feel so attached to blues m<strong>usic</strong>,” Auerbach stresses. “I grew up with it. It’salways been my rock. I’ve always had this fascination with old blues records. It’s allabout that atmosphere that it creates. I’m not talking about Eric Clapton and shit likethat, where it’s guitar solo after guitar solo. I’m talking about early Sun Records andstuff where it’s three or four guys in a room and everyone’s playing a small part in makingthis beautiful, kind of raw wall of sound. Whenever I make m<strong>usic</strong>, I always have thatin the back of my head, that feeling I get when I listen to those records.”Auerbach’s self-produced solo debut, Keep It Hid (Nonesuch) – perfectly sequenced for vinyl– is a new soundtrack to that voyage. From the back-porch folk of opener “Trouble Weighs aTon” and cosmic-country crush “Real Desire” to the eerie psychedelia in “Heartbroken, inDisrepair” and the maximum Delta blues of “I Want Some More,” Keep It Hid unfolds an intimatetrek down gravel roads and back alleys to the crossroads of American m<strong>usic</strong>.“I’m always drawn to the dark side,” Auerbach confides. “It’s easier to explore when youhave no one else to answer to. I was feeling really comfortable with where I was at withmy writing and my place in the studio. Every little twist and turn was carefully considered.”– <strong>Austin</strong> Powell<strong>The</strong> CoathangersSuicide Squeeze8pm, Red Eyed Fly Suicide Squeeze’s bread and butter is soulful Northwestern rock from thelikes of Minus the Bear and Six Parts Seven, but this year the label is highlighting new blood.Atlanta punks the Coathangers have the stark amateurism and unforced originality that marka talented band in the middle of figuring out what the hell it’s doing; the girlish, menacingScramble drops in April. Another promising debut: Paranoid Cocoon from Cotton Jones,which mines a similar folk-pop vein to that tapped by frontman Michael Nau’s old band, PageFrance. Human Highway, featuring Nick Thorburn of Islands, spikes the neo-folk punch witha shot of R&B energy, which you’ll need in order to deal with Past Lives, the threatening newproject from four-fifths of the original lineup of the Blood Brothers. (Drummer Mark Gajadharalso DJs for showcase hip-hoppers Champagne Champagne.) Jade Tree expats and DriveLike Jehu enthusiasts <strong>The</strong>se Arms Are Snakes headline in support of last year’s TailSwallower and Dove.– Daniel Mee22 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
CEDAR DOOREMO’S JRMYSPACE RECORDS/BLACK SHEEP FELLOWSHIP PANACHE BOOKING18TH FLOOR AT HILTON GARDEN INN CEDAR STREET COURTYARD EMO’S MAIN ROOMACES LOUNGEBLACKBERRYFRENCHKISS/STARTIME INTERNATIONALROB DA BANK CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EMUSIC ESTHER’S FOLLIES THE ALE HOUSE THE END CLUB 115 WESTERN VINYL FLAMINGO CANTINAANTONE’S NACOAMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION CLUB DE VILLE BIGSHOT TOURING AUDITORIUM SHORES STAGE FRIENDS(LADY BIRD LAKE) SOUNDS AUSTRALIA CONTINENTAL CLUB AUSTIN MUSIC HALL YEP ROCAFROPUNK FUZE COPA WORLD MUSICBACK ALLEY SOCIAL CREEKSIDE AT HILTON GARDEN INN THE BEDFORDHABANA BAR HOMETAPES/LEAF BARCELONA DIRTY DOG BAR MEMPHIS MUSIC FOUNDATIONBOND MUSIC GROUP HABANA BAR BACKYARD RHYMESAYERS BD RILEY’S ELEPHANT ROOM BEAUTY BARIHEARTCOMIX BEAUTY BAR BACKYARDIHEARTCOMIX BUFFALO BILLIARDSTHE BILLIONS CORPORATION EL SOL Y LA LUNANXNE HABANA CALLE 6UNDERTOW UNDERTOW/STANDARD RECORDING CO.“SONGS FOR PRESIDENTS” HABANA CALLE 6 PATIOUNDERTOW ELYSIUM HEADHUNTERS BLACKOUT BOOKINGEMO’S ANNEX THE WINDISH AGENCY THE HIDEOUTMOTHER EGAN’SRED 7 PATIOSPIRO’S AMPHITHEATER HEEB MAGAZINE/OTHER MUSIC THE INDEPENDENT LA RECORD RED EYED FLYST DAVID’S CHURCH THE MUSIC GYM PATIO OYA FESTIVAL/OH MY ROCKNESS KARMA LOUNGE THE RIO MUSICNMIND MUSIC FROM IRELANDSTEPHEN F’S BAR THE MUSIC GYM COLUMBUS DISCOUNT ROOM 710 TEE PEE STUBB’S OPAL DIVINE’S FREEHOUSE GREEN LABEL SOUND LAMBERTS RUSTY SPURS SUBMERGED AFTER THE JUMP PANGAEA LATITUDE 30MOODSWING LIVE CRUNCHY FROGNME SCOOT INN SXSW LIVE (THE BAT BAR) AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER LA ZONA ROSA UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC, SOUNDEXCHANGE & NMPA THE PARISH DOWNSTAIRS SXSW LIVE (THE LONE STAR LOUNGE) AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER SESAC DAY STAGE CAFETHE TAP ROOM AT SIX AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER LIVE.CREATE. LOUNGE CHICKEN RANCH THE PARISH HOTEL CAFE MAGGIE MAE’S BMI THE VELVEETA ROOM SIX SHOOTER SMOKIN’ MUSIC KNITTING FACTORY MAGGIE MAE’S GIBSON ROOM VICENEXT BIG NASHVILLE PRAGUE SOHO LOUNGE SILTBREEZE ABSOLUTELY KOSHER MAGGIE MAE’S ROOFTOP VICTORIAN ROOM AT THE DRISKILLGREAT ESCAPE RED HOUSE RADIO ROOM SUB POP SPEAKEASYVOLUMEMOHAWK CARPARKSECRETLY CANADIAN/JAGJAGUWAR/DEADJDUB OCEANS & YOUTUBERADIO ROOM PATIO SUB POP SPEAKEASY KABARET WAVEMOHAWK PATIO SECRETLY CANADIAN/JAGJAGUWAR/DEAD THE RANCH OCEANS & YOUTUBEDANGERBIRD BELLA UNION SPIRO’S ROXWEL.COMWAVE ROOFTOP MOMO’S STOLEN RECORDS RED 7 PPM (POST PRESENT MEDIUM) a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 27
WATERLOO RECORDS SXSW IN-STORESTHUSAT FRI1PM* 2PM 3PM 4PM 5PM 6PMJustinTownes EarleMidnight At<strong>The</strong> Movies$11.99 CDLPAVAILABLE12pm*Martin Atkins(PiL, Killing Joke,Ministry, Pigface)speaking + signingcopies of his bookTOUR SMART1pmWyattMcSpaddensigning copies ofhis bookTEXAS BBQ<strong>The</strong> Pains OfBeing PureAt Heart$11.99 CDCD.99$10.9Departmentof EaglesIn Ear Park$10.99 CDVetiverTight Knit$11.99 CDTombs$12.99 CDRaul MaloLucky One$13.99 CDHeartlessBastards<strong>The</strong> Mountain$12.99 CDSuckers$4.99 CD28 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mJason Isbelland the 400 UnitSelf Titled$13.99 CDBlack JoeLewisTell Em’ WhatYour Name Is!$8.99 CDCauseco-Motion$8.99 CDHowe Gelbof Giant SandProvisions$13.99 CDTelepatheDance Mother$11.99 CD<strong>The</strong> KnuxSelf Titled Winterhours EP It’s Time Remind Me InLPAVAILABLELPAVAILABLELPAVAILABLEWHERE MUSIC STILL MATTERSSALE ENDS 3-LPAVAILABLELPAVAILABLELPAVAILABLEIanMcLaganNever Say Never$12.99 CDHandsomeFursFace Control$11.99 CDLPAVAILABLE<strong>The</strong> Birdand the BeeRay Guns...Three Days$10.99 CD $10.99 CDLPAVAILABLEWATERLOO WILLOPEN EARLY AT10AM ONSUNDAY 3/22
APPEARING AT SXSW...Lost HighwayLP AVAILABLEBLACK JOE LEWISTell Em’ What Your Name Is!$8.99 CDFri. 3/20 12am@ <strong>The</strong> ParishColumbiaAQUALUNGStrange and Beautiful$8.99 CDWed. 3/18 @12am@ Latitude 30Dead OceansBISHOP ALLENGRRR...$10.99 CDThurs. 3/19 8:50pm@ Mohawk PatioLP AVAILABLEColumbiaALLISONMemorama$10.99 CDSat. 3/21 12am@ Spiro’s AphitheaterSaddle CreekCURSIVEMama I’m Swollen$11.99 CDFri. 3/20 1am@ Radio RoomRazor & TieDEAD CONFEDERATEWrecking Ball$9.99 CDThurs. 3/19 10pm@ Spiro’sRounderDELTA SPIRITOde To Sunshine$12.99 CDWed. 3/18 1am@ Radio RoomLP AVAILABLEShout FactoryEARLIMARTHymn and Her$11.99 CDSat. 3/21 9pm@ Central Presbyterian ChurchColumbiaGLASVEGASGlasvegas$10.99 CDWed. 3/18 11:45pm@ ViceLP AVAILABLECBSKEATON SIMONSCan You Hear Me$10.99 CDFri. 3/20 8:30pm@ <strong>The</strong> Ale HouseA&MEpicK’NAANTroubadour$9.99 CDThurs., 3/19 8:20pm@ <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> HallTORI AMOSAmerican Doll Posse$13.99 CDThurs. 3/19 10pm@ La Zona RosaJiveBluhammockLIVING THINGSHabeas Corpus$10.99 CDSat. 3/21 10pm@ PragueVAL EMMICHLittle Daggers$11.99 CDThurs. 3/19 12:15am@ Maggie Mae’sLP AVAILABLELa FaceShout FactoryBIG BOI of OUTKASTSpeakerboxx$18.99 2CDThurs. 3/19 12:40am@ <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> HallLP AVAILABLE LP AVAILABLETHE VON BONDIESLove, Hate and <strong>The</strong>n <strong>The</strong>res You$12.99 CDWed. 3/18 9:45pm@ ViceRounderSAM ROBERTSLove at the End of the World$12.99 CDThurs. 3/19 9:30pm@ Cedar Street CourtyardRazor & TieTHE WHIPX Mark’s Destination$11.99 CDSat. 3/21 8:40pm@ La Zona RosaLP AVAILABLEThirty TigersPolydorSUPERDRAGIndustry Giants$10.99 CDFri. 3/20 11pm@ PangaeaWHITE LIESTo Lose My Life$8.99 CDSat. 3/21 7:40pm@ Stubb’sLP AVAILABLESALE ENDS 3-31-20<strong>09</strong>WHERE MUSIC STILL MATTERSFat PossumWILLEM MAKERNew Moon Hand$11.99 CDWed. 3/18 8pm@ Emo’s Jra u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 29Wea InternationalXIMENA SARINANAMediocre$10.99 CDThurs. 3/19 11pm@ Momo’s
18TH FLOOR AT HILTON GARDEN INNTHE LOCAL ACES LOUNGENME THE ALE HOUSEHOTEL CAFE ANTONE’STHE BILLIONS CORPORATION AUDITORIUM SHORES STAGE(LADY BIRD LAKE) AUSTIN MUSIC HALLBMI BACK ALLEY SOCIAL BARCELONA BD RILEY’S BEAUTY BAR AM ONLYCEDAR DOORARTERY FOUNDATION CEDAR STREET COURTYARDBLACKBERRY CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CLUB 115HUNGARIAN INDIE ROCK HEAVY METAL ISLAM CLUB DE VILLEBIZ 3 CONTINENTAL CLUBPONDEROSA STOMP REVUE COPAWOMEX CREEKSIDE AT HILTON GARDEN INNTHE BEDFORD DIRTY DOG BAR ELEPHANT ROOM EL SOL Y LA LUNA M FOR MONTREAL BEAUTY BAR BACKYARD AM ONLY ELYSIUM JAPAN NITE 1 BUFFALO BILLIARDS INDEPENDENT LABEL GROUPEMO’S ANNEX SOUTHERN LORD CARVER MUSEUM BOYD VANCE THEATER EMO’S JRSLUMBERLAND/CAKE SHOP EMO’S MAIN ROOM VICE RECORDS ESTHER’S FOLLIESCOMEDY DEATH RAY PRESENTS FLAMINGO CANTINATOUCH AND GO/QUARTERSTICK FRIENDSMILITANT ENTERTAINMENT: JAIL GUITAR DOORSPROJECT FUZEREMEZCLA HABANA BARSAUSTEX HABANA BAR BACKYARDGROUND CONTROL TOURING HABANA CALLE 6$5 COVER AND MUSICMEMPHIS HABANA CALLE 6 PATIOPOLYVINYL HEADHUNTERS THE HIDEOUTNOT NOT FUN30 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mTHE INDEPENDENTEND SOUNDS ERNEST JENNING KARMA LOUNGE LAMBERTS LATITUDE 30KERRANG! LA ZONA ROSASCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL LIVE.CREATE. LOUNGEMAGGIE MAE’STHE REBEL GROUP MAGGIE MAE’S GIBSON ROOMWORLDS END/PLAYING IN TRAFFIC MAGGIE MAE’S ROOFTOPGREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL MOHAWKTAKE ROOT RECORDS/ROCK RIVER MUSIC/NOISEPOP MOHAWK PATIOTAKE ROOT RECORDS/ROCK RIVER MUSIC/NOISEPOP MOMO’SKUT 90.5 AUSTINMOTHER EGAN’S THE MUSIC GYM PATIOTHE RIO ROOM 710THE MUSIC GYM SMALL STONE NO QUARTER RUSTY SPURSOPAL DIVINE’S FREEHOUSETHE ROXY THEATRE/AUSTINROX PANGAEABILLBOARDSCOOT INNUBIQUITY/WAX POETICS THE PARISH DOWNSTAIRS DIM MAK SESAC DAY STAGE CAFE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER THE PARISHCONSTANT ARTISTS PRAGUE RADIO ROOMSADDLE CREEK RADIO ROOM PATIOGHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL/FULL TIME HOBBY/MOJO MAGAZINE THE RANCHCOUNTRY LINE MAGAZINE RED 7 TONE DEAF TOURING RED 7 PATIODEVIL DOLLS BOOKING RED EYED FLYLITTLE STEVEN’S UNDERGROUND GARAGE/WICKED COOL RECORDS SMOKIN’ MUSIC SOHO LOUNGEFLEMING ARTISTS/QUACK MEDIA SPEAKEASY SPEAKEASY KABARET SPIRO’SWFMU/AQUARIUS RECORDS SPIRO’S AMPHITHEATERWFMU/AQUARIUS RECORDS ST DAVID’S CHURCH STEPHEN F’S BAR STUBB’SGUITAR HERO METALLICA SUBMERGED HAWAIIAN MUSIC NIGHT SXSW LIVE (THE BAT BAR) AUSTINCONVENTION CENTER SXSW LIVE (THE LONE STARLOUNGE) AUSTIN CONVENTIONCENTER THE TAP ROOM AT SIX THE VELVEETA ROOMCOLDTOWNE THEATER PRESENTS VICETHE WINDISH AGENCY VICTORIAN ROOM AT THE DRISKILLASCAP VOLUMES.L. FELDMAN & ASSOCIATES WAVECONSEQUENCE OF SOUND WAVE ROOFTOPSFXSXSW
BUFFALO BILLIARDSEMO’S ANNEXTHE INDEPENDENTOPAL DIVINE’S FREEHOUSE SCOOT INNTHE TAP ROOM AT SIX LOAD/DULL KNIFE STRANGE FAMOUSNONCLASSICAL18TH FLOOR AT HILTON GARDEN INN EMO’S JR PANGAEA THE AGENCY GROUPKARMA LOUNGE ACES LOUNGE CARVER MUSEUM BOYD VANCE THEATER SESAC DAY STAGE CAFE LAMBERTS AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EMO’S MAIN ROOM THE PARISH DOWNSTAIRS THE ALE HOUSE THE AGENCY GROUPGREEN ROOM MUSIC SOURCEAFRO PUNKTHE VELVEETA ROOMHOTEL CAFE COMEDY DEATH RAY PRESENTS LATITUDE 30 CEDAR DOOR ESTHER’S FOLLIESPRSFTHE PARISH PUREVOLUME.COM COMEDY DEATH RAY PRESENTS BARSUK/MERGE SMOKIN’ MUSIC LA ZONA ROSA BEATPORTANTONE’SPRAGUE CEDAR STREET COURTYARD BRANDY*VINYL SOHO LOUNGE MUSIC FROM IRELAND AUDITORIUM SHORES STAGELIVE.CREATE. LOUNGE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FLAMINGO CANTINA RADIO ROOM(LADY BIRD LAKE) ANTENNA FARM/UNCLE BOOKINGVICE GOTV & 5 GUM MAGGIE MAE’S CHOP SHOP SPEAKEASY XLR8R FRIENDS CLUB 115 RADIO ROOM PATIO CONTROL FREAQ RECORDS UNDOCUMENTED MANAGEMENT/DIM MAKVICTORIAN ROOM AT THE DRISKILL SPIRO’S MAGGIE MAE’S GIBSON ROOM AUSTIN MUSIC HALL FUZE CLUB DE VILLE VIVA RADIO/AMERICAN APPAREL THE RANCH MUSIC MANAGERS FORUM - USCOUNTRY LINE MAGAZINEVOLUME SPIRO’S AMPHITHEATERCLASH MAGAZINE WARPED TOUR LATIN AMERICA HABANA BAR MAGGIE MAE’S ROOFTOP CONTINENTAL CLUB DALLAS OBSERVER RED 7 GONERWAVE ST DAVID’S CHURCHREQUIEMME MANAGEMENT AND BOOKING BACK ALLEY SOCIAL MOHAWK HABANA BAR BACKYARDPANACHE BOOKING & LOVEPUMP UNITED COPACLASS MUSIC WORLD MUSIC RED 7 PATIO STEPHEN F’S BARWAVE ROOFTOP NEW ZEALAND MOHAWK PATIO HABANA CALLE 6PANACHE BOOKING & LOVEPUMP UNITED BARCELONA CREEKSIDE AT HILTON GARDEN INN MINT THE BEDFORD RED EYED FLYSTUBB’S BLOODSHOTSOUNDEXCHANGE/MUSICFIRST MOMO’S HABANA CALLE 6 PATIOAUSTINTEXAS.ORG DIRTY DOG BAR BD RILEY’SWARP MAGAZINE EMO’S JR THE RIO INTERNATIONAL MUSIC INDUSTRY WEEK RAINBOW QUARTZ SUBMERGED MOTHER EGAN’S MINTY FRESH/MILAN HEADHUNTERS IDOL ELEPHANT ROOM EMO’S MAIN ROOM ROOM 710BEAUTY BAR PARK THE VANPOP MONTREAL THE HIDEOUT THE MUSIC GYM PATIO INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONFERENCEGREEN POTATO VENTURES SXSW LIVE (THE BAT BAR) AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER EL SOL Y LA LUNA CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK RUSTY SPURS BEAUTY BAR BACKYARD MUSEBOXSXSW LIVE (THE LONE STAR LOUNGE) AUSTIN CONVENTION THE MUSIC GYM CENTER SACRED BONES ELYSIUM JAPAN NITE 2 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 31
SXSW MUSIC FEST WEDNESDAY FROM P.23Arriving in <strong>Austin</strong>April 20, 20<strong>09</strong><strong>The</strong> human body as thecanvas for moving art.Electrifying m<strong>usic</strong>in an unforgettable show.TUACA Body Art Ball Go totuacabodyartball.comfor your ticket.Stay inside the lines.Drink responsibly.www.tuaca.comTuaca Italian Liqueur, Livorno, Italy.35% Alc. By Vol. Imported by Brown-FormanBeverages, Louisville, KY. ©20<strong>09</strong>Tuaca and Body Art Ball are registered trademarks.FOL CHEN10pm, Beauty Bar Cryptic L.A. electropopsextet Fol Chen released its debut LP,Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made, onSufjan Stevens’ Asthmatic Kitty in February,replete with vocoder, drum machine, a deftlyplaced synthesizer, and tongue in cheek.– Darcie StevensLATE OF THE PIER10:30pm, La Zona Rosa Loving OfMontreal? Can’t manage enough MGMT?This UK fourpiece picks up where you’vebeen dropped off. Debut Fantasy BlackChannel rocks like a robotic Prince frontingthe New York Dolls. (Also: Fri., AcesLounge, 1am.)– Dan OkoMAGNETA LANE11pm, Habana Calle 6 Patio Torontoall-girl trio Magneta Lane busts out raucousyet pretty tracks resting somewherebetween Sleater-Kinney and the Pretenders.With third LP Gambling With God (LastGang) on the brink, frontwoman LexiValentine’s hypnotic presence gets anothergo stateside with “Lady Bones.”– Darcie StevensRUBY COAST11pm, B.D. Riley’s <strong>The</strong>re’s a specialplace for innocent, simple pop songs, andapparently Ontario is it. Indie pop quintetRuby Coast has a knack for crafting bubblysongs that float over life without beingtrite or self-conscious. While debut EPProjectable Collections is garnering morethan a few comparisons to Tokyo PoliceClub, Ruby Coast is infinitely less hip. Welike that.– Darcie StevensGERALD G11:15pm, Fuze As part of DJ Rapid Ric’sWhut It Dew family since 2006, Gerald Ghas had the opportunity to showcase hisTexas-sized talent on such mixtapes as AftaDa Relays 2K7, All Flows From Da Garage,and the Whut It Dew series. Still a newcomer,the <strong>Austin</strong> native’s debut, Mr. 512: <strong>The</strong>Album, is in the works. – Chase HoffbergerTARA JANE O’NEIL11:15pm, Beauty Bar Backyard Like manyof her fellow K Records labelmates, TaraJane O’Neil’s art extends well beyond hersongwriting, encompassing visual arts and,as Strange Clouds, delicate instrumentalscores. Her upcoming fifth album and Kdebut, A Ways <strong>Aw</strong>ay, moves with a delicategrace behind her sweetly bared and tremblingvocals.– Doug FreemanCECI BASTIDA12mid, Flamingo Cantina Former singerfor the seminal Mexican ska outfit TijuanaNo!, Bastida is decidedly less agitated inher solo work but retains more than a littleLatin flavor. Her second LP, Veo la Marea,is due out this year. (Also: Fri., CentralPresbyterian Church, 8pm.)– Michael BertinCarolyn WonderlandAQUALUNG12mid, Latitude 30 British singer-songwriterMatt Hales garnered attention with his polished,commercial-friendly songs, whichappeared on shows such as Gossip Girl,Grey’s Anatomy, and Scrubs. His fourth studioalbum as Aqualung, Words and M<strong>usic</strong> (VerveForecast), dropped in October and featuresacoustic reworkings from his eponymousdebut as well as Paul Simon covers. (Also:Thu., Elysium, 10pm.) – Melanie HauptMASERATI12mid, Soho Lounge Fuel-injected postspacerock quintet Maserati bears comparisonsto everything from Can to Pink Floydto that eerie dream you had falling asleepto Jodorowsky’s <strong>The</strong> Holy Mountain. Latestdeconstruction Inventions Remixes (TemporaryResidence) is epic and intense; live, they killwith squall.– Marc SavlovANGRY VS. THE BEAR12mid, B.D. Riley’s This UK fourpiece nevermet an enraged ursine it didn’t turn into apoppy electroclash single, and that’s sayinga lot for a band that’s only been together sixmonths. Frontwoman Mitzi Fox has the voiceof a Weimar-era chanteuse on a post-discobender, as heard in “I Sing, We Sing.”– Marc SavlovDEER TICK1am, Club de Ville This Brooklyn/Providence,R.I.-based quartet says it sounds “likethe Minutemen meets Brad Paisley meetsNirvana,” but like the parasitic arachnidthe band takes its name from, Deer Tickis a bloody deceiver. Instead, John JosephMcCauley’s whiskey-smoke vox and the Tick’sspare arrangements will soundtrack your nextcrush. (Also: Fri., Habana Bar Backyard, 1am.)– Marc SavlovTODD V. WOLFSONNancy FlyAgency8pm, Antone’s One of <strong>Austin</strong>’s longestrunningbooking agencies, Nancy Flyspecializes in all forms of Texas rootsm<strong>usic</strong>. Fiddler Warren Hood, Champ’sson, kicks things off with a splendidmix of country, swing, and bluegrass.In a town full of ’em, Redd Volkaert isarguably <strong>Austin</strong>’s best guitarist, a rarecombination of imagination, grit, andelegance. Bruce Robison is one of hisgeneration’s foremost song men, with theDixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw,and Robison’s wife, Kelly Willis, amongthe long list of country artists who haverecorded his songs. A local top draw, DelCastillo has perfected a guitar-drivenblend of rock, blues, and Latin sounds.Triple threat singer/songwriter/bluesguitargoddess Carolyn Wonderlandproved on her <strong>2008</strong> release, MissUnderstood, that Janis Joplin slept here.Rootsy quintet Nelo headlines.– Jim CaligiuriKAP BAMBINO1am, Elysium <strong>The</strong> French show their freakyside with this electro duo from Bordeaux.Frontwoman Caroline Martial is a bansheeonstage, her vocals capable of inducing epilepsy,while Martial’s partner in crime, OrionBouvier, mixes spastic electro-thrash beameddirectly from outer space. New LP Blacklistdrops soon.– Dan OkoBLACKLIST1am, Volume A fan of dark, echoey anthems,New York quartet Blacklist tucked into anass-tight jean pocket new LP Midnight of theCentury, which shuns shoegazing and turnsit up in favor of mood lighting and influencesfrom Suede to U2 while remaining fashionablyEast Coast.– Darcie StevensIDA MARIA1am, Buffalo Billiards When Ida Mariaexplodes the chorus of “Oh My God,” it carriesthe gruff ferocity of Karen O with the enticingaloofness of Nico, a melding that windsthroughout her <strong>2008</strong> debut, Fortress ’RoundMy Heart. Recent winner of a NorwegianGrammy, the 24-year-old may be this year’sScandinavian princess Lykke Li. (Also: Thu.,Maggie Mae’s, 12:45am.) – Doug FreemanHYMNS1am, Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room Thoughbased in New York, Hymns rollicks with an easyWest Coast country-rock vibe that recalls theFlying Burrito Brothers with horns and shadesof the quartet’s roots in Texas and NorthCarolina. Last year’s sophomore LP, Travel inHerds, rousted an eclectic range of influencesfrom the Dead to Tom Petty, all burnt with BrianHarding’s raspy vocals. – Doug Freeman32 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
Phoenix, AZDenver, COAtlanta, GAKansas City, MOColumbus, OHBaltimore, MDHouston, TXDallas, TX<strong>Austin</strong>, TXStay inside the lines.Drink responsibly.www.tuaca.comTuaca Italian Liqueur, Livorno, Italy.35% Alc. By Vol. Imported by Brown-FormanBeverages, Louisville, KY. ©20<strong>09</strong>Tuaca and Body Art Ball are registered trademarks.a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 33
THURSDAYPICKSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGEPETER MURPHY7pm, Elysium At last summer’s birthday/Emo’s gig, Bauhaus’ skeletal frontman andgoth-rock godhead proved once and for all hisethereal pipes have aged better than Bowie’s.<strong>The</strong> world has not failed to fall apart in theinterim, however; expect a soul-searing coverof Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and a deep, darkcascade of lovely hysteria. – Marc SavlovCHIKITA VIOLENTA8pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio <strong>The</strong>se rockerostake cues from el Norte and British indiebands, giving them a sound that veers fromsingsong to miasmic. <strong>The</strong>ir onda seems spareuntil they engross with something like “<strong>The</strong>Last Film,” from 2007’s <strong>The</strong> Stars and SunsSessions, which comes at you like an electricdrill before settling into a pensive, driving melody.(Also: Fri., Fuze, 1am.) – Belinda AcostaTHE GOLDEN ARM TRIO DOESDUKE!8pm, Elephant Room In the restless digitsof the Golden Arm Trio’s Graham Reynolds,popular m<strong>usic</strong>’s greatest figure still leads the“Caravan.” <strong>Austin</strong>’s answer to Philip Glassfollows his score to A Scanner Darkly withan upcoming Ellington immersion, featuringlocal jazz standards Alex Coke, FreddieMendoza, and Chris Maresh on Far East Suitefare (“Blue Pepper”) and a perennial or five(“Perdido”). See the light. – Raoul HernandezDAPPLED CITIES8pm, the Ranch Fivepiece indie rock fromSydney, Australia, with two lovely releasesto its credit: 2004’s A Smile and 2007’sGranddance. Think jangly, dreamy, chamberpop with complex tempo changes and chordfussiness recommended for Fleet Foxes (albeitnot as self-indulgent). Quiet for the pastcouple of years but emerging soon with newmaterial.– Melanie HauptGRIZZLY BEAR8:30pm, Central Presbyterian Church Freshfrom anti-hibernation amid the Department ofEagles, the Brooklyn fourpiece is prepping aPrimal Scream12:30am, Cedar Street Courtyard(Also: Fri., La Zona Rosa, 12:45am)<strong>The</strong> last time Primal Scream came totown – the XTRMNTR tour, June 2000 –the Scottish rockers started a brawl atRuth’s Chris Steak House, drank the towndry, and then managed to blow out a pairof day-old Polk Audio speakers within fiveminutes of arriving at an impromptu afterpartyhosted by yours truly. FrontmanBobby Gillespie inadvertently locked himselfin the WC later, requiring much assistanceand a bolt cutter to effect hisescape. <strong>The</strong>n the cops dropped by.“I did all that?!” the newly clean andsober Gillespie puzzles through his denseGlaswegian burr. “Ah, man, I’m sorry.Psychotic episode, right? But that’s justso weird, right, ’cause up until just thismoment, I thought the last time I’d beenin <strong>Austin</strong> was in 1990 when Sire Recordsflew me down to meet Roky Erickson.”Primal Scream’s imminent ninth studioalbum, Beautiful Future, is a1980s-esque, synth-and-hand-clap-drivenpower-pop masterpiece. “It’s sincerelyMay disc, Veckatimest (Warp). Daniel Rossen& Co. return to the haunting melodies andharmonies that made them heroes. (Also: Fri.,Cedar Street Courtyard, 11:45pm.) – Dan OkoMEAT PUPPETS9pm, Stubb’s Formed in 1980, Phoenix, Ariz.’sMeat Puppets are the latest in a parade ofproto-grunge survivors to storm back from irrelevance.<strong>Austin</strong> resident and principal PuppetCurt Kirkwood reunited with ultimate survivorCris Kirkwood for 2007’s return to psychedelicroots form Rise to Your Knees, and follow-upSewn Together (Mega Force) drops in July. Live,there are no survivors.– Dan OkoYOUNG GALAXY9pm, Buffalo Billiards Stephen Ramsay andCatherine McCandless are dreamy, a couplepoised on the brink of dusk as the stars breaksarcastic and sarcastically sincere,”says Gillespie. “<strong>The</strong> idea was to have apop song [“Beautiful Future”] that wouldget on the charts and have everybodyhumming along with it. ’Cause at thetime it was written, it felt like we wereliving in a dystopia, like J.G. Ballard,Burroughs, and Philip K. Dick all cometrue. So that song was a reaction tothat dark culture.”Pop m<strong>usic</strong> to the emotional rescue, then?“If you react with another angry punksong, that’s not going to get anywhere,”Gillespie muses. “But if you make a reallybeautiful pop song, like Blondie, a realfeel-good pop song with a huge chorus ofbells and a beautiful melody, really joyfulbut also sneaking in malevolent lyrics witha critique of society in there, you know,that’ll get through to people, right? It’skind of conceptual, but that was the generalidea.”Clever lad. Beautiful m<strong>usic</strong>.Primal Scream.– Marc Savlovthrough the clouds. <strong>The</strong> core of Montreal quartetYoung Galaxy, the two balance harmonieson 2007’s self-titled Arts & Crafts debut, andwith a new album in the can, it’s time to swayin the dark.– Darcie StevensTORI AMOS10pm, La Zona Rosa Amos’ new album,Abnormally Attracted to Sin, drops in May,but then the flame-haired pianist has a vastcatalog from which to cherry-pick. She’sbeen exploring her multiple personalities asof late (2007’s American Doll Posse), but herearlier 1990s albums remain fierce visionsof strength for a whole generation of womenages 25-35.– Audra SchroederSEBASTIEN GRAINGER10pm, El Sol y la Luna <strong>The</strong>re’s no substitutefor Death From Above 1979, but as theMSTRKRFTCanadian Dance-OffMSTRKRFT(Sat., Radio Room Patio, 1am)DFA 1979 bassist Jesse F. Keeler’s Toronto DJduo with Al Puodziukas.Deadmau5(Wed., La Zona Rosa, 11:30pm)Say “Dead mouse.” Torontonian JoelZimmerman as progressive house/trance DJ.Felix Cartal(Sat., Radio Room Patio, 10pm)MSTRKRFT tourmate Cartal brings hard-hittingelectro from Vancouver.Jokers of the Scene (Fri., Vice, 10pm)Ottawa’s DJ Booth and Chameleonic releasedelectro-rave EP Acid Bagg last year, includingsingle “Baggy Bottom Boys.”Les Handclaps(Sat., Beauty Bar, 1am)Montreal guitar-Farfisa-laptop trio incorporatesdancers.Shout Out Out Out Out(Wed., Karma Lounge, 1am; Fri., Beauty BarBackyard, 1am)SXSW veterans and Edmonton, Alberta,rhythm-loving sixpiece (two drummers plus fourbassists) takes dance punk to a new level.Thunderheist(Thu., Beauty Bar, 12:15am; Fri., Club deVille, 11:30pm)Rapper Isis plus producer Grahm Zilla sweatToronto digitally with Sweet 16.Woodhands(Wed., Habana Calle 6 Patio, 12mid)“Wood” is the new “wolf,” but don’t tellToronto electro-pop duo Dan Werb and PaulBanwatt.– Darcie Stevensdrummer/singer for the former duo, Toronto’sGrainger carries the torch on debut solo LPSebastien Grainger & the Mountains (SaddleCreek). He’s no longer cacophonous or lowend-only,but he still rocks it heavy with“American Names” and a full band. (Also: Fri.,Radio Room, 12mid.) – Darcie StevensGUY DAVIS10pm, Victorian Room at the Driskill NewYork acoustic bluesman Guy Davis, blessedwith a deep, soulful voice, can pick, pluck,and sing, but his mischievous sense of humorand impeccable timing make him special.Original tunes from latest disc SweetheartLike You could be lost Taj Mahal sides, whilerenderings of Leadbelly and Son House areinjected with new life. – Thomas Fawcett34 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
EfterklangHometapes7pm, Habana Bar Hometapes might have relocated from Brooklyn to Portland, Ore.,but they’ve still got a digit on cross-cultural pulse. Danish headliners Slaraffenland andformer tourmates Efterklang return with spaced-out mood m<strong>usic</strong> and whimsical chamberrock, respectively. Quintet Slaraffenland dropped EP Sunshine last fall, and a new LP isforthcoming. North Carolina trio Megafaun paints bearded Appalachian tunes with anexperimental blush, Florida hip-hoppers CYNE keep it smooth and soulful on latest PrettyDark Things, and Stars Like Fleas cue the strings and polish the brass from last year’s<strong>The</strong> Ken Burns Effect. Gypsy-folk duo A Hawk & a Hacksaw, back in New Mexico after astint in Budapest, and Madison, Wis., electro quartet All Tiny Creatures pull down thedrawbridge.– Audra SchroederRUTHIE FOSTER11pm, Mother Egan’s You won’t hear a bettersinger all weekend than <strong>Austin</strong>ite RuthieFoster. Her amazingly radiant, powerful voiceis steeped in the gospel tradition, althoughshe feels equally at home singing blues,country, R&B, and folk. Her new album, <strong>The</strong>Truth According to Ruthie Foster (Blue CornM<strong>usic</strong>), recorded in Memphis, Tenn., at thefamed Ardent Studios, is a soulful delight.– Jay TrachtenbergJ*DAVEY11pm, Pangaea Pair the playful and seductivevocals of mohawked singer Jack Davey(the girl) with the future funk production ofBrook D’Leau (the guy), and you have theoddly punctuated J*Davey. On <strong>The</strong> Beauty inDistortion/<strong>The</strong> Land of the Lost, the Hollywoodhipsters spew a brew of acid grooves andglitchy hip-hop that channels everyone fromBadu and Bambaataa to the B-52s.– Thomas FawcettFLOWER TRAVELLIN’ BAND11pm, Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong> No group betterrepresented the enlightened countercultureof postwar Japan than the Flower Travellin’Band. <strong>The</strong> psychedelic pioneers’ second LP,1971’s Satori – a five-part suite of explosive,exploratory heavy blues – tops Julian Cope’slist of essential recordings in his 2007 book,Japrocksampler. After a three-decade hiatus,the Flower Travellin’ Band reunited last year forthe Fuji Rock Festival and has since releaseda new album, We Are Here, along with aneponymous live documentary. – <strong>Austin</strong> Powell8BALL & MJG11pm, Dirty Dog Bar 8Ball and MJG havebeen slingin’ dirty Delta rap since 1993debut Comin’ Out Hard, but the Memphislowriders have been going at it alone as oflate. <strong>The</strong>y followed up 2007’s Ridin Highwith 8’s Doin It Big and MJG’s This Could Bethe Day but recently returned to the studioto record a 10th LP. – Chase HoffbergerBEAUTIFUL NUBIA11pm, Copa Soweto’s streets aren’t theonly ones defining Afro-pop. This Nigeriansinger-songwriter from Lagos has sold millionsof albums but remains unknown stateside.Boasting traditional Yaruba harmonies,folk instrumentation, and quality riddem,last year’s Kilòkilò should be a bigger breakthrough.– Dan OkoTHEE OH SEES11:20pm, Emo’s Jr. With John Dwyer(Coachwhips, the Hospitals, Pink & Brown)leading the way, this SF quartet tossesWest Coast pop in a psychedelic blenderwith droning garage riffs. After numerousincarnations and experimental forays, Dwyersettled the band into a bruising force withlast year’s <strong>The</strong> Master’s Bedroom Is WorthSpending a Night In (Tomlab).– Doug FreemanBLACK LIPS11:30pm, Cedar Street Courtyard M<strong>usic</strong>spawned of pre-cosmic-cowboy Texas psychedeliadoesn’t seem the likeliest candi-CONTINUED ON P.36a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 35
SXSW MUSIC FEST THURSDAY FROM P.35Samantha Crain& the Midnight Shivers<strong>The</strong> Hotel Cafe7:30pm, the Parish; Fri. & Sat.,the Ale House, 7:30pm <strong>The</strong> HotelCafe started out as a small Hollywoodcoffeehouse but has turned intosomething larger: a support groupfor L.A. songwriters, venue for touringacts, and promoter of several wildlysuccessful national tours. Over threenights and two venues, the HotelCafe presents a sampling of favoritesfrom its homegrown scene andabroad. Thursday highlights includeIreland’s Lisa Hannigan as well astwo cafe regulars, Los Angelenos JimBianco and Greg Laswell. Friday,the California country-rock of RoccoDeLuca & the Burden, signed toKeifer Sutherland’s Ironworks label,shakes the walls, while up-and-comingpop diva Erin McCarley is likely tobring down the house. Oklahoma’sSamantha Crain & the MidnightShivers are sure to garner the mostinterest Saturday, as Crain has drawncomparisons to onetime Dylan museKaren Dalton.– Jim CaligiuriBudapest Goes West<strong>The</strong> Moog (Fri., Club 115, 9pm)Giving Strokes and Hives to European Killers since 2004.Amber Smith (Sat., Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room, 8pm)Sensitive boys Muse-ing on EU emo.Supersonic (Fri., Club 115, 8pm)Quartet standing by if Primal Scream no-shows.– Doug Freeman<strong>The</strong> MoogPost Present Medium8pm, Red 7 Dean Spunt, one-half of L.A. noise-punk juggernaut No Age, founded Post PresentMedium Records with settlement money he received from a car accident involving BackstreetBoys’ Kevin Richardson. Since pressing the label’s first release in 2001, PPM has been a reliablesource for underground avant-rock that, like King Coffey’s bygone Trance Syndicate label, servesas a reflection of Spunt’s own interest in the boisterous and bizarre. “I’m not really worried aboutselling a lot,” Spunt says. “This just makes sense.” He handicapped PPM’s showcase:Total Abuse: “<strong>The</strong>y’re kids, and they shred– just raging hardcore. <strong>The</strong>y sent me the songsfor their new 7-inch, and they’re really good.”Silk Flowers: “<strong>The</strong>y’re from New York andprobably the weirdest band I know, likeKraftwerk on a really shitty four-track or‘Cough/Cool’ Misfits.”Gun Outfit: “We played a house show withthem in Olympia, Washington, where they’refrom. <strong>The</strong>y remind me of Dinosaur Jr., MeatPuppets, and X put together.”Soft Circle: “That’s Hisham Bharoocha,who used to be in Black Dice. He does thisAbe Vigodareally cool-sounding ambient ESG dance kindof stuff. It’s a one-man thing.”Abe Vigoda: “Abe Vigoda are one of themost awesome bands to come out of L.A.<strong>The</strong>y have a great vibe, this tropical punk andgoth thing. <strong>The</strong>y keep changing and totallyblowing my mind every time I see them.”Mika Miko: “Hands down one of my favoritebands. <strong>The</strong>ir new record, We Be Xuxa [outMay 5] is like old Redd Kross with theBuzzcocks meets weird, old Delta 5 dancestuff. It’s just fucking great.”– <strong>Austin</strong> Powelldate to grow up in Aughties Atlanta, but thisrowdy fourpiece made a name at SXSW 07 byplaying 38 shows in 14 hours (approximately).This year’s 200 Million Thousand (Vice)sounds good but comes off even better live.(Also: Fri., Emo’s Main, 1am.) – Michael BertinRYE RYE12mid, Aces Lounge Rapping over 130 bangingbeats per minute, Baltimore prodigy RyeRye is a beast on the mic, to say nothing ofher dance moves. Crossing Santogold withLil’ Kim, the 18-year-old party starter recentlytoured with M.I.A., who signed the rapper toher new NEET label. – Thomas FawcettTHE CLUTTERS12mid, the Tap Room This Nashville quartet’slurid Farfisa meltdown is strategicallyimbued with pop-happy ear worms to helpspread the infection across subgenre borders.<strong>The</strong> band drew effusive praise from criticalvectors like David Fricke and Cameron Crowefor 2007’s Don’t Believe a Word, released on<strong>Austin</strong>’s Chicken Ranch Records. – Greg BeetsROSALIE SORRELS12mid, Victorian Room at the Driskill After25 albums, “the travelin’ lady of Idaho” maynot have the hit, but her beloved body ofwork is beyond platinum. Seventy-five-year-oldRosalie Sorrels is a storyteller and folksingerof the truest heart, from Ireland’s green hillsto the m<strong>usic</strong> of Bruce “Utah” Phillips, and perhapsthe only folkie with liner notes written byHunter S. Thompson and Studs Terkel.– Margaret MoserLUKE DOUCET12mid, the Velveeta Room Doucet’s playedthe sensitive singer-songwriter, a hiredguitar-slinger with Sarah McLachlan, andthe leader of jagged neo-psych band Veal.<strong>The</strong> Canadian’s latest release, Blood’s TooRich, featuring his crack band, the WhiteFalcon, reflects Doucet’s fascination with theAmerican South and highlights his always stellarguitar work.– Jay TrachtenbergPASSION PIT12mid, Emo’s Main <strong>The</strong> glitch-pop equivalentof Vampire Weekend, Boston’s Passion Pitgathered serious buzz at Emerson Collegewith its self-recorded EP, Chunk of Change, asentimental mixtape of laptop ballads in thevein of Dan Deacon and Hot Chip. NYC labelFrenchkiss reissued it last year with syntheticsmash “Sleepyhead,” the quintet since signingto Columbia for its upcoming debut LP.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellEASY STAR ALL-STARS1am, Vice <strong>The</strong>se New York City roots reggaerockers think big: <strong>The</strong>y took Pink Floyd’sDark Side of the Moon and channeled itinto Dub Side of the Moon (Easy Star).Likewise, Radiohead’s OK Computer becameRadiodread, and the upcoming Lonely HeartsDub Band transforms the Beatles classic.– Jay TrachtenbergTHE GOURDS1am, Continental Club Released in January,Haymaker! (Yep Roc) brings the five Gourds’patented mix of Cajun rock and true Texascountry to the fore. <strong>Austin</strong>’s answer to theBand became a local institution chroniclingweird Americana long before Haymaker! landedat No. 10 on the group’s discography. SnoopDogg’s “Gin ’n’ Juice” remains optional.– Dan OkoTHE GREENCARDS12mid, St. David’s Church One of acousticm<strong>usic</strong>’s most worthy and recent success stories,the Greencards started in <strong>Austin</strong>, movedto Nashville, and have taken the rest of theglobe by storm. World-class players – CarolYoung on bass/vocals, Kym Warner on mandolin/bouzouki,and Eamon McLoughlin on fiddle/viola – the trio’s on its fourth disc with April’sSugar Hill debut, Fascination. – Jim CaligiuriBEACH HOUSE1am, Volume When Victoria Legrand sings,the microphone melts. Baltimore dreampopduo Beach House – vocalist/keyboardistLegrand and guitarist Alex Scally – wafta twinge of salty air with every measure,and last year’s exquisite sophomore LP,Devotion, drifted out with the tide. (Also: Fri.,Cedar Street Courtyard, 8:45pm; and Sat.,Auditorium Shores Stage, 6pm.)– Darcie StevensTHE INTELLIGENCE1am, Emo’s Jr. In the Red brainiacs theIntelligence found a groove with third LPDeuteronomy. Singer Lars Finberg spent timewith Seattle doom punks the A Frames, butthis project is a bit more lighthearted, a poppiervision of Public Image Limited’s crosscuttingguitar scrape. New LP Fake Surferscrests in April.– Audra SchroederRED FANG1am, Spiros Portland, Ore., Sabbath devoteesRed Fang scored a viral hit last yearwith the hilarious video for “Prehistoric Dog,”which depicts the band battling medievalfantasy geeks (and losing) while clad in armorfashioned from beer cans. Drink up their newself-titled debut LP, out on Sargent House.– Daniel Mee36 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
THURSDAYSLEEPERSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGEGIRLS7pm, Central Presbyterian Church Thoughtheir debut album won’t be released untillater this year on True Panther Sounds, SanFrancisco’s Girls have already won over thebloggerati with the indie snarl of their “Lustfor Life.” Alternating playful and youthful, thequartet bounces California pop off the familiarmalaise of slacker restlessness.– Doug FreemanTHE CARROTS8pm, Emo’s Jr. Have you heard the oneabout the girl group that moonlights asa punk rock band? Half the Carrots turnto power chords in Finally Punk when notdecked out in matching taffeta and sequins,but this end of the <strong>Austin</strong> sixpiece’s sophomore7-inch, “Beverly” (Elefant), shortenedhemlines last year like it was 1962.– Darcie StevensTHE BLUE AEROPLANES8pm, Elysium Seemingly lost in time amongthe grunge and Britpop of the early 1990s,the Blue Aeroplanes released severalalbums of poetic post-punk mingled withfolk-rock jangle that drew comparisons toLou Reed and R.E.M. Led by vocalist GerardLangley, the Bristol-based group has beenon and off since 1995 but is readying WhenThings Are Good for release this spring.– Jim CaligiuriECSTATIC SUNSHINE8pm, Volume Not quite indie rock and notquite experimental, Baltimore’s EcstaticSunshine applies the principles of minimalismto the guitar manipulations of SonicYouth and Glenn Branca, folding bits of candiedinstrumental pop into twisting mirrormazes on last year’s Way. – Daniel MeeMICACHU8pm, Emo’s Annex Twenty-one-year-oldMica Levi screws and chops traditional popon her debut LP, Jewellery (Rough Trade).A few of the UK singer-songwriter’s jamscould be considered glitch-hop or dance onthe level of M.I.A., but much of Jewelleryconjures visions of an entirely new genre,especially when she incorporates a vacuumcleaner into her m<strong>usic</strong>. – Audra SchroederDUBB SICKS8:30pm, Karma Lounge Dubb Sicks isa nasty motherfucker. <strong>The</strong> local rhymeCONTINUED ON P.38Women2nd annual showcaseshows start @ 6pmFri. March 20thrick trevinoSat. March 21stejovallejwillie alvaradolive dvd shoot!shoot!Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian8pm, Mohawk/Mohawk Patio Bloomington, Ind.’s finest purveyors of indie rock returnfor another Red River blowout, merging the one-two punch of Secretly Canadian andJagjaguwar with <strong>Austin</strong> expat Dead Oceans. <strong>The</strong> night begins with all-American balladeerRichard Swift’s upcoming ode to doo-wop, <strong>The</strong> Atlantic Ocean, and walks inside with DeadOceans Seattle quintet Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band. Brooklyn indie poppers BishopAllen bring new album Grrr … outside before Jagjag Canadian chanteuse Julie Doironand her new I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day. Now-Brooklynite Matthew Houck’sPhosphorescent writes a love letter To Willie Nelson; Secretly’s newest, Foreign Born,goes big with the L.A. quartet’s upcoming Person to Person; and South African quartet BlkJks work debut EP Mystery outside, highly recommended. Dead Oceans’ eclectic Brooklyn/Chicago trio <strong>The</strong>se Are Powers take a creepy turn inside, while hirsute label favoritesAkron/Family ready Set ’Em Wild, Set ’Em Free outside. Lo-fi noise-pop fans Women finishup the night indoors with the quartet’s self-titled debut, and a special guest headlines thepatio. Antony is in Europe, but Dinosaur Jr. did just sign to Jagjaguwar … – Darcie Stevenswith:MariachiRelampagomax bacbaa and davicavid faFREE!!fariaswithlos Texmaniacshers anththemmotherwith:<strong>The</strong> VettesDerrick Davis BandJeffery David@ SerranosSymphony Square(11th & Red River)myspace.com/cafeserranosmingofishtrapa u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 37
SXSW MUSIC FEST THURSDAY FROM P.37Tee Pee8pm, Room 710 Last year’s Encore Records day party in-store peaked withinterstellar instrumentalists Earthless setting their controls for the heart of Creamin a 30-minute back draft of psychedelic tonnage. <strong>The</strong> San Diego trio’s double-discscorcher last October, Live at Roadburn, made the local set sound unplugged. Also atEncore was another SoCal cell of mostly instru-metal acceleration, Ancestors, whosetwo-track, album-length debut last year, Neptune With Fire, hailed the L.A. fivepieceas fiercely gravity-free as well. Its lead axe and beat master, Justin Maranga andBrandon Pierce, moonlight in another City of Angels stallion, Night Horse, whosefall Tee Pee debut, <strong>The</strong> Dark Won’t Hide You, lunged it Danzig-style on fare includingSleepy John Estes’ “Worried Life Blues.” Black Math Horseman, meanwhile, headedout of the Valley and into the desert with Scott Reeder (Kyuss) for its April initializer,Wyllt. Given that Annihilation Time burps its hardcore zip-gun metal out of Oakland,Calif. (III: Tales of the Ancient Age), NYC indie Tee Pee (born 1993) depends on theBrooklyn-born debut of Kreisor, Beyond Our Controls, to open its showcase raping theRight Coast with with organ-toasted 1970s psych rock.– Raoul HernandezInstructions for Three Northern Ireland Acts Beyond the PaleGeneral Fiasco (Wed., Cedar Door, 1am)Drive straight down the road, stopping forhitchhikers. Roll windows down when car fillswith smoke. Increase volume on radio, butignore stop signs.<strong>The</strong> Beat Poets (Fri., Lamberts, 1am)Clean heart wound. Unwrap bandage, andpress carefully to affected area. Inhale deeply,and feel the blood warm again. Release whenpulse pounds.In Case of Fire (Fri., Latitude 30, 9pm)Break glass and swing ax, but do not evacuateunless Fire spreads out of control. Call 911,and then levitate. – Margaret MoserIn Caseof FireEarthlessTunesmiths en EspañolXimena Sariñana (Thu., Momo’s, 11pm)This Mexico City siren can deliver it any wayyou want – soft and smoky or tough and growlybut always with thoughtful lyrics and sophisticatedmelodies.Los Claxons (Wed., Flamingo Cantina, 11pm)Los muchachos de Monterrey, Mexico, bringsmooth, layered vox and backbeat.Nacho Vegas (Wed., Esther’s Follies, 8pm)<strong>The</strong> passion! <strong>The</strong> drama! Gijón, Spain’s Vegasbrings it, sings it.We Are Balboa (Fri., Fuze, 11pm)Lua Watty’s crystalline vocals lead the alt-rockway from Madrid.Poet in Process (Sat., Cedar StreetCourtyard, 9pm)<strong>The</strong>y’re from Barcelona but sing most of theirpop-rock in English.– Belinda Acostaslinger’s <strong>2008</strong> release, Mind in the Gutter, isa hedonistic romp through <strong>Austin</strong> streets andOdessa trailer parks full of binge drinking,verbal beatdowns, and venereal diseases. Notexactly enlightening but entertaining as hell.– Thomas FawcettFERRABY LIONHEART9pm, Club de Ville This folksy L.A.-born singer-songwritercalled Nashville home when hewas discovered by Jon Brion. His solo debut,2007’s Catch the Brass Ring (Nettwerk), showcasedthe timbre of his voice, and while herecently separated from Nettwerk, Lionheartand his new band spent February in New Yorkwith a Monday night residency at Pianos.– Melanie HauptTHE SIGIT9pm, Submerged Indonesian hard rockersthe Super Insurgent Group of IntemperanceTalent claim to have been together since1994 but didn’t release their first LP untilMaki RinkaXimenaSariñana2006. <strong>The</strong> years between show up in thegroup’s honed, organic stage presence andthe songwriting chops behind its SabbathandAC/DC-aping rock. – Daniel MeeTHE SOFT PACK9:35pm, Opal Divine’s Under the monikerthe Muslims, this San Diego-born quartetissued an untitled 12-inch EP of mid-fi garagerock last year that crackled and popped likeearly Kinks but with enough low-end throttleand guitar chops to stand alone. <strong>The</strong> bandhas since changed its name to the Soft Packand signed to Kemado Records. (Also: Fri.,Mohawk, 11pm.)– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellENDLESS BOOGIE10pm, Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong> Brooklyn’s EndlessBoogie is indeed a fan of the extend-o-jam.Debut album Focus Level stomps through theswamp, dragging in blister-forming solos andample choogle, with singer Paul Major doinghis best Beefheart. (Also: Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong>Gym, 1am.)– Audra SchroederRALPH WHITE10pm, Lamberts Whether playing accordion,kalimba, or fretless banjo, former Bad LiverRalph White paints portraits of old Americanain lead-based paint. <strong>Austin</strong>’s one-man bandhas played Cajun with the Gulf Coast Playboysand weird with Jandek but nothing as unique as2007’s Navasota River Devil Squirrel, followedthis year by <strong>The</strong> Atavistic Waltz. – Darcie StevensCONTINUED ON P.40Far East (and Far Out) JazzMaki Rinka (Wed., Maggie Mae’s Rooftop, 10pm)Japan’s Marilyn Monroe sings hooray for cabaret.Futomomo Satisfaction(Sat., Opal Divine’s, 12mid)Big band jazz swings harder with bikini-cladtrombone section.Asakusa Jinta (Sat., Elysium, 12mid)Tokyo jazz punks rock & roll. – Thomas Fawcett38 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
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SXSW MUSIC FEST THURSDAY FROM P.38GUINEA WORMS10:15pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym This quartet’s song“Box of Records” could be the “Louie Louie”of this century. <strong>The</strong>y’re yet another Columbus,Ohio, band with a penchant for shambolic, offyour-medsrock & roll, and latest 7-inch “Lostand Found” b/w “Jeans and Heels” (ColumbusDiscount) continues the trend. – Audra SchroederYARAH BRAVO11pm, Vice Born in Sweden to a Chilean motherand Brazilian father, Yarah Bravo’s melodicflow blurs the line betweenrapping and singing,her style reminiscent ofDigable Planets’ LadybugMecca. <strong>The</strong> groove of“Bluebird” from her collaborationwith husbandDJ Vadim and BluRum 13on One Self’s Children ofPossibility (2005) demonstratesmassive potentialfor her forthcoming debut.– Thomas FawcettCHAIRLIFT11pm, Red 7 Patio <strong>The</strong>dreamy synth-pop ofBrooklyn trio Chairlift conjuresvisions of couples’skate, 1985. It might beCaroline Polachek’s meetme-in-the-back-seatvocals,but April’s ColumbiaRecords debut, Does YouInspire You, is all Saturdaynight drum-machine fever.– Audra SchroederFIGHT BITE11pm, Rusty SpursDenton duo LeanneMacomber and Jeff Louis IIIburrow under a heartbrokenquilt of breathless balladsand melodic fuzz onself-released <strong>2008</strong> debutEmerald Eyes. A BeachHouse built on subtly swirlingkeys for Mazzy StargazingDIY pop lovers.– Doug FreemanÉrikaMachadoJEFFERSON PITCHER11:15pm, Habana Calle 6 After setting NPR’sAll Things Considered ablaze with his 3-CDset of presidential songs, Of Great and MortalMen, NYC’s Jefferson Pitcher the songwriteris getting more difficult to separate fromJefferson Pitcher the historian. Fortunately, hissparse and touching <strong>The</strong> Residue competeswith 220 years of American history.– Darcie StevensMILES BENJAMIN ANTHONYROBINSON12mid, the Parish Downstairs Before fallingunder the tutelage of TV on the Radio’s KypMalone and members of Grizzly Bear, MilesBenjamin Anthony Robinson was drug-addictedand homeless on the streets of New York.Last year’s eponymous debut draws upon the24-year-old songwriter’s former desperation,its exuberant bursts of garage folk and rawlyrical wonder wrapping even the bleakestmoments with hope. – Doug FreemanMOTHFIGHT1am, Wave Former Octopus Project guitaristKevin Attics knows the indie playbook back tofront. Songs with 27 instruments? Check. Boygirlharmonies? Yes. An affinity for all thingsVictorian? Okay, didn’t expect that one, butthe end product is decidedly nonformulaic andrather infectious.– Michael BertinMutant Children ofTropicália (Brazil)Érika Machado(Wed., the Rio, 1am)Samba-rock meets Nintendosamplingsynth beats. Os Mutanteswould be proud.Pato Fu (Thu., Momo’s, 8pm)Belo Horizonte quintet has quackedtracks for nine albums.<strong>The</strong> River Raid (Sat., Fuze, 8pm)Forty years ago, these Recife rockerswould have been exiled.Holger (Sat., Club 115, 9pm)São Paulo crew sprinkles power-popwith banjo licks.Cassim & Barbária(Fri., the Rio, 10pm)Subtropicalists from southern Brazilexperiment with aural alchemy.– Thomas FawcettGORDON GANO& THE RYANBROTHERS1am, the ParishDownstairs Best knownfor providing generationsof brooding adolescentswith the Violent Femmes’self-titled 1983 debut,Gordon Gano first collaboratedwith Billy andBrendan Ryan from indiepop outfit the Bogmenin 2001. Since then, theGano/Ryan team hasuncapped an eclectic torrentof songs that jumpfrom dark gospel and offkilterAmericana to skittishrock. – Greg BeetsBENJY FERREE1am, Buffalo BilliardsBenjy Ferree’s new mouthfulof a sophomore album,Come Back to the Fiveand Dime Bobby DeeBobby Dee (Domino), isas improbable in soundas subject – a tributeto tragic Peter Pan childactor Bobby Driscoll. Yetthe D.C. songwriter rollsthrough stripped bluesrock, Beach Boys pop,bruising Link Wray riffs,and moments of Southernsoul caught in his twingedtenor. – Doug FreemanVIJAY KISHORE1am, Creekside at Hilton Garden InnBirmingham folk-popster Kishore has beencompared to everyone from Jeff Buckley toNina Simone, but we like to think of him asthat bald Desi heartbreaker everyone’s goingto be talking about the day you slept in late.Wake up to his lovely debut EP, Done It Again.– Marc SavlovTANYA MORGAN1:10am, Back Alley Social While the namesuggests the next neo-soul songstress, TanyaMorgan is in fact three dudes. <strong>The</strong> team ofCincinnati MCs Ilyas and Donwill plus BrooklynMC/producer Von Pea dropped Moonlighting in2006, and sophomore LP Brooklynati is dueout this year. Spitting over Von Pea’s Dillaesquebeats, the crew riffs off classic materialfrom OutKast to Busta Rhymes.– Thomas FawcettHank IVSiltbreeze8pm, Soho Lounge When Siltbreeze Records started in Philadelphia, 1989, the criteriafor putting out an album was pretty cut-and-dry: Founder Tom Lax liked it. That includedthe Dead C, Harry Pussy, Sebadoh, and Bardo Pond offshoot Alasehir, among others.After a decadelong onslaught of releases, Siltbreeze laid dormant for about three yearswhile Lax focused on other things.“<strong>The</strong> late 1990s and early part of this decade saw some really terrible m<strong>usic</strong>, undergroundas well as pop culture,” he says. “I wasn’t into what I was hearing, so Iimmersed myself in the culinary world, becoming an executive chef in the process. Ididn’t have time to be bogged down with releasing CDs that only about 100 peoplewanted. So I stopped.”<strong>The</strong>n he heard a demo from a Columbus, Ohio, trio called Times New Viking.“Listening to the first track on that demo, the opening sounded like Blurt’s ‘<strong>The</strong> FishNeeds a Bike.’ I was sold.”If you don’t get that reference, Lax is used to it. Siltbreeze has been around for 20years now and is still vital, which doesn’t seem crazy to him. “This business is full ofpeople who operate within the Dorian Gray parameters,” he sums up. “Noise and lo-fi,like candy and cavities, will never go away.”This year’s showcase features eardrum-rattling candy from Ratas del Vaticano, EatSkull, Hank IV, Psychedelic Horseshit, Naked on the Vague, U.S. Girls, LosLlamarada, and FNU Ronnies.– Audra Schroeder12 Canucks Shilling SlangMoka Only & Def 3 (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 10:40pm)Rhymesayers Entertainment has friends across the border.Jesse Dangerously (Fri., Prague, 10:30pm)Supporting the idea that Canadians are also funny whenthey’re angry.Beast (Thu., Maggie Mae’s Rooftop, 9pm)Scary, scary Southern-styled trip-hop.Grand Analog (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 9:30pm)Live band drops reggae-hop like Minnesota’s Heiruspecs.Keys n Krates (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 10pm)Remixing the remix from inside a jungle party.Empire Isis (Wed., Pangaea, 11pm)January’s Brand New Style, cut in New York, Montreal, Tel Aviv,and Kingston.Buck 65 (Sat., Scoot Inn, 11pm)Gravelly and just bizarre enough for the Strange Famous lineup.Classified (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 12:30am)EmpireIsisThis April’s Self Explanatory finds a bass-voiced MC riding low, soulful beats.Josh Martinez (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 11:15pm)Chicharones’ MC probably passes more than a mic with Devin the Dude.More or Les (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 9pm)Gift of Gab voice hype, hype, hypes it up.Shad (Fri., Wave, 8pm; the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 11:55pm)“Vibes and Stuff,” and Marvin Gaye.D.O. (Fri., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 8:30pm)Blind locals could mistake the North Starr for Young Nick.– Chase Hoffberger40 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
FREESHOW18 & up4:15p3:15p2:30p1:45p1:00p 12:10pa u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 41
fridayPICKSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGETHE LOVE LANGUAGE8pm, Habana Bar Backyard Last SXSW,MTV declared, “Lo-fi is all the rage.” ThisRaleigh, N.C., septet brings out the genre’ssofter side, burying irresistibly rich pop melodiesand Motown soul beneath a layer ofdistortion and tape fuzz. <strong>The</strong> band’s self-titleddebut sounds like the logical continuation ofSpoon’s A Series of Sneaks, custom-made forghetto blasters.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellT BIRD & THE BREAKS8pm, Momo’s Tim Crane, aka T Bird, mastermindsthis 11-piece local soul ensemble.Joining the soul revival from the direction ofblue-eyed shouters such as Mitch Ryder andDelbert McClinton, Crane does it with a youthful,winning touch. 20<strong>09</strong>’s Learn About It containsnine originals that match Wilson Pickettand Roy Head and give the Dap-Kings a runfor their money.– Jim CaligiuriLZ LOVE8pm, B.D. Riley’s Love’s brand of gutbucketR&B has been a welcome additionto <strong>Austin</strong> from her Chicago/Louisiana/California upbringing. Her soulful, funky,righteous vocals decorated Michael Franti &Spearhead’s acclaimed Yell Fire!, but nothingbeats the baptismal fire of Love live.– Margaret MoserWales in 18 AdjectivesToy Horses (Wed., Latitude 30, 8pm)Dual-powered, indie, melodic, Beatles-esque,charming, bright.Amy Wadge(Thu., Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn, 10pm;Fri., Stephen F’s Bar, 12mid)Lingering, earthy, thoughtful, warm,passionate, inviting.Christopher Rees(Sat., Stephen F’s Bar, 10pm)Orchestral, soulful, countryish, cautionary,mournful, satisfying. – Margaret MoserAMAZING BABY10pm, Emo’s Main Like the bastard childof fellow Brooklyn buzz bands MGMT andYeasayer, newcomers Amazing Baby dabblein flamboyant psych-pop and freak-folk jams.<strong>The</strong> quintet’s tantalizing debut EP, InfiniteFucking Cross, featuring cosmic trip “PumpYour Brakes,” dropped digitally last July, withan LP reportedly close to completion.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellBLACK TUSK10pm, Red 7 Volcanic highlands in BritishColumbia blow worlds away from Savannah,Ga., home to metal coven Baroness,Toy HorsesWovenhand12mid, SpirosOver the course of a dozen LPs since the early 1990s, first leading16 Horsepower and now Wovenhand, Denver’s David Eugene Edwardshas preached a gospel of raging, post-punk Americana antique.Wovenhand’s career high gothic, <strong>2008</strong>’s Ten Stones, weighs biblicallyhardcore. Here’s why:Grandson of a preacher man: “Of course we weren’t allowed to listento rock & roll. We didn’t even really listen to the radio. We just heardthe m<strong>usic</strong> from church. He had four or five records, and one of themwas Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. Of course I latched on to JohnnyCash right away, and so we kind of had that as a common interest.”Ring of fire: “Bob Dylan directed me, and then Angus Young wasa huge, huge influence. I loved his sound; I loved his style; I lovedthe aggressiveness. I liked that about AC/DC and Motörhead, bandsthat were serious about what they did, even if I didn’t necessarilyagree with what they were saying. <strong>The</strong>n I heard punk rock, and frompunk rock I got into bands like Joy Division and the Birthday Party,people that were really original and also very serious about what theydid and dealt with serious subjects. <strong>The</strong> first time I heard JoyDivision, I hated it. I just thought it was the ugliest m<strong>usic</strong>. Literallythe next day, I was hooked.”Redemption: “We have a lot of people that come to our shows thatobviously don’t believe the same way I do, but they love the m<strong>usic</strong>.<strong>The</strong>y love its mood, and they love the energy of the show. <strong>The</strong>n thereare people that love what I’m saying more than the m<strong>usic</strong>. I’ll havepeople in their 60s and 70s coming to a show, or three generations:father, grandfather, and a son. I hear from a lot of kids, ‘This is thefirst band that I’ve been able to listen to with my dad.’ <strong>The</strong>n we getpeople from the black metal scene, the punk rock scene, the alt.countryscene. So our audience is extremely diverse, and it’s not a scene –you know what I mean? – which I find really interesting and I’m veryhappy about.”– Raoul HernandezSkeletonwitch, and Kylesa, but this trio’sBlack Tusk moniker has everything to do withthis brutally lithe band’s Southern discomfort.<strong>2008</strong>’s Passage Through Purgatory, liquidrhythms, riffs, and shrieks, preps a split withHoly Mountain and another LP in 20<strong>09</strong>.– Raoul HernandezPILAR DÍAZ10pm, Fuze Chilean rockera Pilar Díaz emergesfrom L.A.’s Los Abandoned, once signedto Neil Young’s Vapor imprint, but rather thanWest Hollywood punkette, she’s channeledJulieta Venegas and Lila Downs into a mouthwateringeight-song EP that came out inDecember and still doesn’t have a label. Takethe hint, gringo. – Raoul HernandezMICKEY FACTZ10pm, Beauty Bar Backyard <strong>The</strong> remixhappyGFC movement that includes FKi andStalley has a clear ringleader in Mickey Factz.<strong>The</strong> Bronx rookie, whose Leak mixtape seriespicked up the pace on Vol. 2: <strong>The</strong> Inspirationand continues in the spring with Vol. 3: <strong>The</strong>Achievement, is part 808’s Kanye West andpart <strong>The</strong> Grind Date Posdnuos in the studio.Onstage, he’s his own party. (Also: 12mid,Back Alley Social.) – Chase HoffbergerZEALE10:30pm, Back Alley Social Since addinggigs with Latin hip-hop players LosBad Apples and Lucky Lounge mainstaysBoomboxATX, Zeale’s local live sets havegotten as flashy as his high-top Nikes. He’srefined in the studio, too; January’s RapidRic-mixed Haterz and Robotz is the most completecollection yet from the Bat City native,who cut his teeth on the battle-rap circuit.– Chase HoffbergerTHE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT11pm, Aces Lounge <strong>The</strong> ATE has what ittakes to kill off the Killers. On last year’s selftitleddebut, the California quintet (Los Feliz,anyone?) comes across like the U.S. answerto U2. Frontman Mikel Jollett, a would-bewriter and journalist, has clearly done hishomework.– Dan OkoRWAKE11pm, Red 7 Rwake is the sound of the newSouthern trend-kill. Emerging from the murkof NOLA sludge, the Little Rock, Ark.-basedsextet crossbreeds bestial black metal withthe ominous ambience and technical proficiencyof Neurosis. <strong>The</strong> group’s third LP,2007’s Voices of Omens (Relapse), proved anapocalyptic soundtrack for backwoods ritualsand sacrificial offerings. – <strong>Austin</strong> PowellMC FRONTALOT11:15pm, Prague Straight outta Brooklyn,nerdcore rapper Damian Hess rhymesabout goth girls and Margaret Thatcher.Nonetheless, his celebrity was enshrined withthe SXSW Film 08 debut of Nerdcore Rising.With his 15 minutes about up, Hess stillcame on like a lost Beastie Boy on his FinalBoss (Level Up) last fall.– Dan OkoCONTINUED ON P.4442 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
<strong>The</strong> FireantsSXSW Underage Day PartyNoon, Momo’s So just how widespread is this teen scene bubbling in and around <strong>Austin</strong>?1980s pop queen Debbie Gibson, better known today as Broadway star Deborah Gibson, isshowcasing her wunderkind, Casey Lee Smith, at this first-ever official SXSW day party forteen acts. This isn’t aw-aren’t-they-cute-li’l-darlings. This is rock & roll at its most authentic,written, performed, and sung with teenage heart. It’s also hip-hop, blues, electronica,indie, emo, psych, roots, pop, and original. Smith joins Texas teen talents such as ChiefRival, Edison Chair, the Diving Captain, Avenging Poor Yorick with guest Jenny Wolfe,the Nouns, the El Guapos, Aftermath, the Fireants, Anarchy on Mars, Team Next,the O’My’s, Carson Brock Group, You & Me, Blankberry, and Blues Mafia. You think<strong>Austin</strong>’s boast about being the live m<strong>usic</strong> capital of the world is hype? Wait ’til you hearwhat the town is breeding.– Margaret MoserPonderosa StompSilver Apples7pm, Continental ClubIf you can’t make April’sPonderosa Stomp in NewOrleans, check out thisfringe-dwelling blast fromTop 40’s golden age. <strong>The</strong>Excels are best knownfor 1963’s Metroplex hit“Let’s Dance,” while DFWcontemporaries the Eliterule the Fort Worth teenscenereissues. <strong>Austin</strong>’sEve & the Exiles deliver R&B-spiked garagerock to set the stage for Dallas’ FloydDakil Combo and its 1964 regional smash,“Dance Franny Dance.” Big D’s HuelynDuvall influenced young Robert Plant withthe 1958 rockabilly summer anthem “ThreeMonths to Kill,” while Waco-based guitarwhip Classie Ballou backed Boozoo Chavison 1952’s “Paper in My Shoe.” Houston’sLittle Joe Washington plies electric bluesiconoclasm with a wail to match, followed byBeaumont southpaw guitarist Barbara Lynn,whose “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” wentTop 10 in 1962. Memphis soul revivaliststhe Bo-Keys feature Stax session guitaristCharles “Skip” Pitts and original Bar-Kaystrumpeter/vocalist Ben Cauley. LongtimeClifton Chenier guitarist “Lil Buck” Senegalbrings a dose of Acadiana R&B, then it’s“Treat Her Right” time with Roy Head.Finally, NOLA-bred Simeon Coxe fronts1960s electro-psych machine Silver Appleson a mechanical mind warp to put the Stompto bed. Sweet dreams, baby. – Greg BeetsBloodgroupThree Icelandic Acts ThatStill Had Enough Moneyto Visit <strong>Austin</strong> After <strong>The</strong>irCountry Went BankruptBloodgroup(Sat., Karma Lounge, 10pm)Good to know that even an insolventcountry can still generate enough electricityto power synthesizers.Sprengjuhöllin(Wed., Opal Divine’s, 8pm)<strong>The</strong> fivepiece released Bestu Kvedjur lastNovember. Our guess at the translation: “Welike hand claps and Britpop.”Steed Lord (Wed., Elysium, 9pm)All the depth of a Roxette song, and youcan dance to it. – Michael BertinSHELLEY HIAMUpscale sports bar • Executive chef • Group events300austin.comLocated along I-H 35 south of Braker 512.834.7733a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 43
SXSW MUSIC FEST FRIDAY FROM P.43<strong>The</strong> RenderersWFMU/Aquarius Records7pm, Spiros/Spiros Ampitheater Jersey City free-form pacesetter WFMU joins San Franciscoretailer Aquarius Records to unleash a circus of aural curiosities on dueling stages. Brooklyn’sGary War jump-starts the indoor stage with brain-curdling synthadelic warble from debut NewRaytheonport, followed by Monterrey, Mexico, bass-and-drum noise duo XYX. <strong>The</strong> Mayyorsexport incendiary freak-punk destruction from Sacramento, Calif., while New Zealand combothe Renderers ply their smoldering psych-folk stateside for the first time in 11 years. SanFrancisco’s Ovens turn out poppin’ fresh scruff-rock, sharply contrasting the Celtic/Gothictribal fusion of Denver-based 16 Horsepower successor Wovenhand. On the outdoor stage,San Frannies Prizehog mine slow-roasted ambient drone to pave the runway for screamingnight thunder from Seattle’s Wildildlife and Maiden-esque epic metal from San Francisco’sSlough Feg. Sole Texan entry Absu hammers black metal from deep in the heart of Plano.Drive Like Jehu/Hot Snakes guitarist/vocalist Rick Froberg leads Brooklyn’s Obits, whoseSub Pop debut, I Blame You, arrives this month. Cambridge, Mass., collective Major Starsdeliver a psychedelicized stoner-rock smackdown exacerbated by the Dead Kennedys-meets-Legendary Stardust Cowboy weirdness of Grenoble, France’s Gunslingers. – Greg BeetsLAZYWALL12mid, Club 115 Constant touring acrossEurope and North Africa indicates that the onlything lazy about this hard-rocking trio/sometimesquartet is the name. Prior to recording scheduledself-release Apoptosia, the band worked withSteve Albini. Purveyors of heavy metal Islam,they split time between the UK and Morocco, andobvious debts are owed to early Ozzy. – Dan OkoCANCER BATS12mid, Latitude 30 Canada and hardcoreweren’t synonymous to us Yanks prior toFucked Up, but Toronto’s Cancer Bats havebeen pounding for five years, combiningthe metal of In Flames with the intensity ofBlack Flag. With elbows out and steel toeslaced up, the fourpiece released sophomoreLP Hail Destroyer last year to sick reviewsand crazy shows. 1 – Darcie StevensIAN MCLAGAN & THE BUMP BAND12mid, Mother Egan’s A founding memberof Small Faces and Faces and <strong>Austin</strong>-basedsince 1994, Mac’s toured or recordedwith Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, BruceSpringsteen, Bonnie Raitt, and myriad others.Locally, he fronts a party band, and histhundering B-3 organ is all over current albumNever Say Never. – Jay TrachtenbergWHITE DENIM12mid, Radio Room Patio Hands down themost exciting new indie rock band to emergelocally in years, White Denim packs more junkin its trunk than a traveling salesman. <strong>The</strong>trio’s spastic full-length debut, Exposion – availableas part of the band’s subscription service– shuffles seamlessly from garage-funk bendersand shoegazed ballads to piano pop andinstrumental psych elixirs. – <strong>Austin</strong> PowellHague Daze:NetherlandsGenre-Benders<strong>Aw</strong>kward I(Fri., St. David’s Church, 10pm)Mellow Bon Iver folk-pop.Kraak & Smaak(Thu., Vice, 12mid)Wicked and wackedelectro-funk trio.Monokino(Wed., Elysium, 11pm)Synth pop trio trembling vocalsacross skuzzed beats.– Doug FreemanJAPANTHER12:05am, Headhunters Japanther is one ofthe young century’s few feel-good DIY stories:<strong>The</strong> Brooklyn duo has spent the last eight yearstouring relentlessly on a shoestring, playinghouse shows, and dropping records on tinyunderground labels. Pegged as “noise rock,”what the band’s truly involved in is old-fashionedpunk songwriting filtered through the sensibilityof stoned and scrappy youth. – Daniel MeeNEW YORK DOLLS12:30am, Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong> Almost 40 yearson, and these damned dolls ain’t dead yet. Infact, save for original bassist Arthur Kane andguitarist Johnny Thunders, these glam-punkheroes are more alive than ever, althoughfrontman David Johansen appears to havebeen pickled in brine some time ago. Summersaw them gigging with Morrissey, and springbrings news of a Todd Rundgren-produced LP.– Marc SavlovDINOSAUR JR.12:45am, Cedar Street Courtyard That oneoff2006 Dinosaur Jr. reunion tour yieldeda new album (2007’s tepid Fat Possum LPBeyond) and a new label, indie pop havenJagjaguwar. <strong>The</strong> amp-distressing trio’s stillferocious live, singer/axeman J Mascis’ searingsolos close to illegal time limits, but it’salways 1991 in our hearts. – Audra SchroederOKKERVIL RIVER1am, the Parish Since last SXSW’s triumphantteaming with 13th Floor Elevators operatorRoky Erickson, these <strong>Austin</strong> indie darlingslost Shearwater frontman Jonathan Meiburgand guitarist Brian Cassidy but gained spots atKraak & Smaakthis year’s Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals.In September, the septet released <strong>The</strong> StandIns (Jagjaguwar), the sequel to 2007’s <strong>The</strong>Stage Names.– Melanie HauptSHEARWATER1am, 18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn Lastyear’s Rook (Matador) was one of the bestalbums of <strong>2008</strong>. Not one to rest on its laurels,this <strong>Austin</strong>-based art-rock trio topped offthe year with heaps of touring and the releaseof a digital EP, <strong>The</strong> Snow Leopard. For now, amuch-deserved breather, with some writingand a few gigs here and there.– Melanie HauptFUTURE CLOUDS & RADAR1am, Wave <strong>The</strong> brainchild of guitarist/vocalistRobert Harrison (ex-Cotton Mather), FutureClouds & Radar is an <strong>Austin</strong> quintet thattakes kaleidoscopic sound to another planet,drawing comparisons to such peerless actsas the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and XTC. Bothits 2007 self-titled double-disc debut and<strong>2008</strong>’s Peoria made critics and orchestralpopfans swoon.– Jim CaligiuriNOMO1am, Antone’s Ann Arbor isn’t usually thefirst place that comes to mind when youthink about Afrobeat, but this horn-heavy,percussion-driven collective takes the m<strong>usic</strong>of Nigeria’s Fela Kuti and gives it a creativespin. Last year’s Ghost Rock (Ubiquity) sawthe band expanding its horizons, forging adeliciously funky world jazz concoction.– Jay TrachtenbergCONTINUED ON P.4644 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
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SXSW MUSIC FEST FRIDAY FROM P.44Wolves in theThrone RoomSouthern Lord7:30pm, Emo’s Annex Los Angeles metalmint Southern Lord stamps out six acts,while the seventh, Neurot recorders It’sCasual, open in duo format fronted by thesponsor label’s promo man, Eddie Solis.Baton Rouge swamp thing Thou follows asquintet quicksand. A pair of deuces nextin Utah twosome Eagle Twin mining Tuvanthroat epics and S.F. steel assault specialistsBlack Cobra spitting out Jason Landrian,Rafael Martinez, and soon a third LP andfirst for the Lord. Punctuated Equilibriumleverages the solo debut of doom progenitorScott “Wino” Weinrich (the Obsessed, SaintVitus, the Hidden Hand). At the last, twoshowcase overlords break the Emo’s Annextent pole when hissing Olympia, Wa., trioWolves in the Throne Room unveils itsthird release, Black Cascade (wicked witchmetal, and we don’t mean J Mascis), andChicago instrumentalists Pelican soar afterhaving flown the coop from Hydra Head for anupcoming bow on SL. South by Southern Lord.– Raoul HernandezUbiquity/Wax Poetics7:30pm, the ScootInn A natural pair:California’s UbiquityRecords has beenpedaling funk,soul, and hip-hopsince 1993, andWaxpoetics is thebimonthly biblefor rare groovefanatics thatrecently launched alabel. DJs ChickenGeorge of <strong>Austin</strong>and San Francisco’sJ-Boogie lay thefoundation withhypnotic jazz andTODD V. WOLFSONdubtronica. <strong>The</strong> understated California soul of Damon Aaron and strangely compellingR&B falsetto of Mayer Hawthorne from Ann Arbor, Mich., play the perfect foil to theBrooklyn-based Chin Chin’s psychedelic brand of disco. <strong>The</strong> night gets a dash ofLone Star style, as well, with Gulf Coast rhyme posse HISD (Hueston IndependentSpit District) dropping gems like a resurrected Freestyle Fellowship and <strong>Austin</strong>’s ownBrownout unleashing a fury of Latin funk.– Thomas FawcettSlumberland/Cake Shop8pm, Emo’s Jr. SlumberlandRecords has peddled sweet and hazysounds since 1989, with a rosterincluding Black Tambourine, VelocityGirl, Lilys, and Whorl. 20<strong>09</strong> marksa year of twee-vitalization (sorry)and a slew of new releases. Thisshowcase, in conjunction with NYCindie venue the Cake Shop, featuresbuzz band the Pains of Being Pureat Heart, which recently droppeda self-titled dish of late 1980s fuzzpop. Fellow New York foursomeCrystal Stilts’ debut, Alight of Night, detunes and distorts behind big 1960s girl-groupbeats. <strong>The</strong> night’s rounded out by the sugar pop of Cause Co-Motion!, the mellow quirkof Woods, the lo-fi crawl of Air Waves, and the cats and rats of local trio YellowFever,which purrs like a Slumberland band from 1991.– Audra SchroederBaile BrazilCafé Funquê(Sat., Opal Divine’s, 10pm)Rio funksters get bum-bums shaking.La Pupuña(Wed., Club 115, 1am; Fri., Copa, 9pm)M<strong>usic</strong>ologists know how to party.Los Pirata (Sat., Fuze, 9pm)São Paulista pirates fill the floorwith heavy surf-punk. – Thomas FawcettDon’t Cry for Argentina: Changing Tango’s PromisePedro Menéndez<strong>The</strong> Pains ofBeing Pureat HeartBrownoutLos PirataIt may take two to tango, but Argentina’s PedroMenéndez is part of tango’s triple threat. At SXSWlast year, Menéndez wowed a modest ElephantRoom crowd with his electronic tango trio, ZonaTango. This year, the multi-instrumentalist returns asPedro Menéndez JazzTango Ensamble(Thu., Elephant Room, 11:45pm), incorporatingclassical compositions and folk traditions like Afro-Uruguayan drumming. Acolyte of the late NuevoTango pioneer Astor Piazzolla, Menéndez also performsas part of the Latin-tinged jazz-fusion operation Peter’s Songs (Sat., Copa, 8pm). Newdisc Eclectico from the latter outfit was released in December. Menéndez isn’t alone in tending tango’shot coals. Buenos Aires contemporaries Debayres (Wed., Club 115, 12mid) traffic their ownnotion of la orquesta típica. Fronted by Japanese singer Sawa Kobayashi, who sings in four languages,the band thrives in the nightclub rather than the ballroom. On the recent Tango Vivo, Debayresembraces innovation and preservation.– Dan OkoFridaySLEEPERSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGEAMY ANNELLE8:35pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym As one arm of thefolk duo Precious Blood with local multiinstrumentlistRalph White, Amy Annelle is theJune to his Johnny. Solo, she takes us downdarker roads, her voice old and wise, songsgothic Americana. She follows up her 2006Brian Beattie-produced Songs for Creeps witha new LP later this year. – Audra SchroederTHE POSTELLES9pm, Maggie Mae’s Rooftop Stroking theirway to a deal with EMI, this poppy NYC foursomehas a wiggle in its walk to match thejangle in its rock. Albert Hammond Jr. producedthe band’s debut five-song EP, andDaniel Balk’s indie honk follows the VampireWeekend model of adenoidal angst.– Dan OkoFUTURE OF THE LEFT9pm, Aces Lounge This Wales-based quartet’srecent live CD, Last Night I Saved HerFrom Vampires, combines percussion-heavyguitar skronk with the intellectually sweatylyricism that both Lester Bangs and DylanThomas could have tippled and toppled over.That may change: This is the sort of guitarheavyhoodoo that can raise the dead.– Marc SavlovPOWELL ST. JOHN9:15pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym While maybe not asiconic as some of his late-1960s Texas psychcontemporaries, Powell St. John is every bitthe Hall of Famer they are (literally, as he wasinducted into the Texas M<strong>usic</strong> Hall of Famein 2005). <strong>The</strong> former beatnik is perhaps bestknown for writing material for the 13th FloorElevators, not to mention Boz Scaggs andJanis Joplin.– Michael BertinSAN SABA COUNTY11pm, Mother Egan’s San Saba Countybroke out in <strong>2008</strong> with its third disc, …Though Cheating Was Never an Option, anuplifting combination that brought to mind theCure, the Replacements, and Gram Parsons.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> foursome calls what it does “postalt.country”– dour, driven, but always inventive.– Jim CaligiuriONE RIGHT TURN10pm, Submerged This pedigreed Hawaiiantrio – comprising sisters Connie Cruz andTiffa Garza and Tiffa’s husband, Imua – specializesin earnest adult-contemporary pop.<strong>The</strong> Cruz family is well established in theHawaiian m<strong>usic</strong> scene, and Imua Garza isthe former lead singer of island reggae outfitOpihi Pickers. <strong>The</strong> group released four albumssimultaneously in late <strong>2008</strong>: Lean on MyShoulder, plus three individual solo releases.– Melanie HauptCONTINUED ON P.4846 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
Three Words on Seven DJs From Seven CountriesInfusion (Australia) (Wed., Prague, 8pm)Emotronic got soul!Nid & Sancy (Belgium) (Sat., Club 115, 1am)Electro-punk clamps off.Miami Horror (Australia) (Wed., Rusty Spurs, 11pm; Thu., Barcelona, 9pm)Remixing 1980s decadence.Diva Gash (Colombia) (Wed., Habana Bar Backyard, 8pm)Soul Brothers No. 2.Cosmopolitan (Mexico) (Wed., Habana Bar Backyard, 11pm)Too much Nintendo.Boys Noize (Germany) (Wed., Elysium, 10pm)Autobahn, full throttle.Popular Damage (Germany) (Fri., Speakeasy, 10pm)Synth-emo overdrive.– Chase Hoffberger$13.99 CD$19.99 DeluxeLP AvailableCome by the storeto register for achance to win 2tickets to seeBruce Springsteenlive in concert atthe Frank ErwinCenter, April 5thSALE ENDS 3-31-20<strong>09</strong>ALSO AVAILABLENid & SancyOslo vs. Bergen Norwegian Pop-OffDeleted Waveform Gatherings (Oslo)(Sat., B.D. Riley’s, 10pm) vs. Casiokids (Bergen)(Thu., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 11pm)Moogy quintet DWG mellows psychedelic,but Casiokids groove smoother.Grande (Oslo) (Wed., Mother Egan’s, 11pm) vs. theNew Wine (Bergen) (Thu., the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio, 9pm)Grande’s roots rhythms and weird, wide-ranging pitchtrump Wine’s synthy, sensitive beats.Datarock<strong>The</strong> Shitsez (Oslo) (Sat., Buffalo Billiards, 8pm) vs. Datarock (Bergen)(Thu., Emo’s Annex, 1am; Fri., <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> Hall 10pm)<strong>The</strong> Shitsez fire like CSS, but Datarock’s nerdy DFA Devo-tion is in.– Doug FreemanWHERE MUSIC STILL MATTERSGet <strong>The</strong> <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Chronicle</strong> in your mailboxevery week for less than $1.25 an issue.SUBSCRIBE.Call 454-5766.austinchronicle.coma u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 47
SXSW MUSIC FEST FRIDAY FROM P.47Asobi Seksu<strong>The</strong> Cocktail SlippersLittle Steven’sUnderground Garage/Wicked Cool Records8pm, Red Eyed Fly “Silvio Dante” himself hosts thisshowcase, which kicks off with Montreal psych-pop quintetthe High Dials. S.F.’s Magic Christian features guitaristCyril Jordan (the Flamin’ Groovies), bassist Eddie Munoz (theSkunks, the Plimsouls), and drummer Clem Burke (Blondie)grinding out harmonic power-pop, while Copenhagen’s theBreakers mix Faces-era Rod Stewart rasp with a pelvicbackbeat. Dublin’s the Urges nail the acid-daubed spiritof mid-1960s garage rock on <strong>2008</strong>’s Psych Ward. All-girlOslo quartet the Cocktail Slippers balance that out withsugar-pop paeans to love. <strong>The</strong>n it’s time for the Woggles,Georgia-bred purveyors of the hottest garage rock stageshow around. L.A. indie quartet the Shys deliver steinswingingsing-alongs such as “She’s Already Gone” from lastyear’s acclaimed You’ll Never Understand This Band the Way IDo. We end where the revival began as Rochester, N.Y.’s theChesterfield Kings preach the fuzz-tone gospel just as theyhave since 1979.– Greg BeetsPolyvinyl8pm, Habana Calle 6 Patio Topping the Champaign, Ill., indielabel’s showcase is Japanese-American dream-pop duo AsobiSeksu, which dimmed the lights for its third shoegazed kiss,Hush. Well-respected Swedish solo indie popper Loney, Dear isa new addition to Polyvinyl’s roster, releasing his fifth full-length,Dear John, in late January. Champaign’s own Headlights, acheerful indie pop quartet that made a splash with Kill <strong>The</strong>m WithKindness in 2006, preps for its August release. Brooklyn-based,prog-influenced percussionist and composer Cale Parks droppedSparklace in November and plans a follow-up later this year.– Melanie HauptHeavy Metal Islam10pm, Club 115 “We play heavymetal because our lives are heavymetal,” remarks a Moroccan metalscenepioneer in Heavy Metal Islam:Rock, Resistance, and the Strugglefor the Soul of Islam by Mark Levine.<strong>The</strong> book explores undergroundcounterculture from Morocco to Egypt,including punk, hip-hop, and metal. Adocumentary of the same name is inthe works, and the m<strong>usic</strong>, repressedin much of the region, comes alivein <strong>Austin</strong> for this special showcase.Tarantist has been called Iran’s bestdeath metal band, whilePunjabi war-core punksthe Kominas (newalbum: Wild Nights inGuantanamo Bay) areBoston-based, Lazywallimports Moroccanmetalheads, andPalestinian Rapperzcelebrate frontmanMohammed Al-Farrafinding political asylumin the States. Levine wonders if heavymetal can transform the Islamic world,Tarantistand while that’s up for debate, it willcertainly have heads banging onthis night. – Thomas FawcettPOLKA MADRE12mid, Copa You can’t be a wallflower whenthese crazy Mexico City kids get their polkapunk on. <strong>The</strong>y’re not that nice little combofrom your abuelita’s back yard, either. PolkaMadre is full-body polka, dowsed in surfercool and klezmer-slapped, with some circustinkles thrown in. Todo loco! Todo wacky! Todomust see!– Belinda AcostaDAVID TAMAOKA12mid, Submerged Tamaoka is a singersongwriterfrom Honolulu, blending the acousticconfessional poetry of Damien Rice andJeff Buckley with songs ready for any givenyouth-oriented TV serial drama. Tamaokawon the BMI songwriting contest at the KauaiM<strong>usic</strong> Festival in 2006, which afforded himthe opportunity to lay down tracks for his yetto-be-releasedsolo debut. – Melanie HauptASHER ROTH12:30am, Club de Ville A suburbanPhilly white boy whose first CD was DaveMatthews Band, Asher Roth is in many waysyour typical frat brat. Except, of course, forthat major label deal he just signed. <strong>The</strong>Eminem comparisons are unavoidable notbecause Roth’s a white rapper but becausehis voice is eerily similar to young Marshall.(Also: Sat., Vice, 10pm.) – Thomas FawcettFive Down Under Acts for PeopleWho Fear the UnknownBirds of Tokyo (Thu., Friends, 10pm)Well-produced post-skater-punk not fromSan Diego.Rodney Fisher (Sat., Wave Rooftop, 9pm)Check his passport; Fisher couldn’t sound moreAmerican singer-songwriter.Hell City Glamours(Fri., Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong>, 10:30pm)Throwback to 1970s AOR.<strong>The</strong> Temper Trap (Wed., Dirty Dog Bar, 10pm;Thu., Latitude 30, 1am)Too polished to be garage or indie but not slickenough to turn off.Midnight Youth (Sat., Wave Rooftop, 12mid)Coldplay, Travis, and Keane.– Michael BertinAMY LAVERE1am, Habana Calle 6 Although Amy LaVerecurrently calls Memphis home, the bassplayingpixie is a native of Bethany, Texas. Herjazzy folk, as perfected on Anchors & Anvils,possesses an intoxicating Waitsian smokeand-whiskeyvibe.– Jim CaligiuriBirds of TokyoAU REVOIR SIMONE1am, Maggie Mae’s Rooftop This trio oflong-haired, synth-playing brunettes fromBrooklyn takes its name from a farewell salutationin Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Formed in2003, ARS released <strong>The</strong> Bird of M<strong>usic</strong>, itssecond full-length, in 2007 and specializes inreflective, subdued fun. – Melanie HauptMAGIC LANTERN1am, the Hideout <strong>The</strong>re’s something aboutLong Beach and druggy psych rock thatmakes perfect sense. Unlike its more upbeatLBC homeboys Crystal Antlers, fivepieceMagic Lantern comes from the Comets onFire school of winding jams, as heard on newLP Underwater Dynasty. – Audra SchroederPTERODACTYL1am, Radio Room Pterodactyl’s jittery,freaky punk sometimes comes across like anUnwound LP played at the wrong speed, butthe skronk hides a curious pathos. BassistZach Lehrhoff also played in the Seconds andEx Models, and drummer Matt Marlin recentlyserved as a stand-in for Zach Hill in MarnieStern’s touring band.– Daniel MeeBOXCAR SATAN1am, Habana Bar Beefhearted guitarist/vocalist Sanford Allen leads venerable SanAntonio art-punk trio Boxcar Satan on a teethgnashingexcursion into the darkest nightsof film-noir soul. While Pere Ubu and ScratchAcid define the surface, Boxcar’s sour-mashmojo is distilled from deep in the MississippiDelta. Its fifth album, <strong>2008</strong>’s Trouble All ItsOwn, gathers no moss. – Greg Beets48 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 49
saturdayPICKSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGERINGO DEATHSTARR8pm, Headhunters <strong>Austin</strong>’s answer to MyBloody Mary Chain has taken to ending its setswith a squall of feedback, almost as a test ofaural endurance. 2007’s debut self-titled EPwas a less abrasive collection of short, sweettremolo-assisted pop. – Audra SchroederDAVID GARZA8pm, Continental Club After a fury ofdigital EPs, last year’s Dream Delay, a tightlysprawled but never self-indulgent effort, wasthis local pop savant’s first full LP in almostfive years. From busked hysteria on the UTcampus to a pair of Atlantic LPs last decade,David Garza remains an iconoclastic popsavant along the lines of Britt Daniel, WillSheff, and Prince.– Michael BertinDANIEL FRANCIS DOYLE8pm, Mohawk <strong>Austin</strong>’s energetic one-manlooping/drumming machine Daniel FrancisDoyle manipulates crowd and stage whilekeeping rhythm, slamming pedals, and stillsinging on key – mostly – into his necessaryheadset. He’s a force to be reckoned with, asheard on new LP We Bet Our Money on You.– Darcie StevensJANA HUNTER8:10pm, Beauty Bar Backyard <strong>The</strong> Texasbredsinger-songwriter had a truly hauntingvision with 2005 acoustic debut BlankUnstaring Heirs of Doom. Since then, sherelocated to Baltimore, released the more uptempo<strong>The</strong>re’s No Home, and is recording newsongs that are neither blank nor unstaring.– Audra SchroederKILLER MIKE9:20pm, <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> Hall Killer Mikeearned his stripes as an OutKast apprenticedropping fire on “<strong>The</strong> Whole World.” Now fouralbums deep, the Atlanta-born big man is stillfeeding off the excitement generated fromJuly’s I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II, a mixupof street-wise tales and political opinion.Fifth album 16 in the Kitchen comes this year.– Chase HoffbergerMARY SLEDDExplosions inthe Sky 8pm, Auditorium Shores StageExplosions in the Sky haven’t performed ineight months.“This might be the longest we’ve gonewithout playing a show since the band started,”realizes the <strong>Austin</strong> quartet’s drummer,Chris Hrasky.King Khan & the ShrinesThu., El Sol y la Luna, 12mid;Fri., Emo’s Main, 1amTHE LOVE ME NOTS9:30pm, Smokin’ M<strong>usic</strong> With <strong>2008</strong>’s JimDiamond-produced Detroit (Atomic a Go Go),the Love Me Nots stitched sinister Fuzz Toneguitars, mind-curdling Farfisa swirls, bad-girlvocals, and irresistible hooks into a garagerock confection that knocks your wind out.<strong>The</strong> Phoenix quartet’s vitality didn’t go unnoticedby Little Steven, who picked “Give EmWhat <strong>The</strong>y Want” as one of the year’s 20coolest songs.– Greg BeetsSUZANNA CHOFFEL10pm, Momo’s That pitter-patter you hear is<strong>Austin</strong> native Suzanna Choffel’s YouTube hit,Having already crisscrossed the globe severaltimes, released five successful albums,scored a film, played Lollapalooza, curatedAll Tomorrow’s Parties, and thoroughlyexplored a distinctive and influential instrumentalform of fireworks, EITS have doneKing Khan, lead growler for soul collectivethe Shrines and one-half of the King Khan &BBQ Show, riffs on his adopted homeof Berlin:“Someone told me once that Berlin wasbuilt on sand, and for the past five years, it’sbeen my oasis of choice. M<strong>usic</strong>ally, it’s likeany other place with lots of different scenes;1960s nightclubs play the best R&B andgarage punk, and people actually danceuntil 8am. Occasional trannies run around incrazy outfits picking on jocks and rockabillysquares. Some streets in Berlin smell like amix of sewage and burning tires.“A few nights ago, BBQ and I were invitedto play a private party during the Berlinale[film festival]. <strong>The</strong> best part was I got to eatsix raw oysters right after coming offstage,and the guy who gave them to me told meNew York City is built on oyster shells,“Raincloud,” a heavenly burst of sophisticatedpop-rock with a jazz soul. It’s a neat trick forsomeone whose last CD came out in 2007.Style, lots of substance, and Zeitgeist setsher m<strong>usic</strong> apart from the rest. Ready for yourclose-up, Miss Choffel?– Margaret MoserB.O.B10:55pm, <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong> Hall <strong>The</strong> comparisonsto Andre 3000 don’t stop at theDecatur, Ga., upbringing. B.o.B’s eccentricstyle and willingness to weird have beenlikened to the OutKast do-it-all’s funk sincethe rest of the country got familiar on lastmost everything an indie rock band cando, including opening for Fugazi, andnow find themselves at a creativecrossroads.“<strong>The</strong> first four records, it was all usplaying live in a room. That’s how allthe songs were written, and that’s howthey were recorded,” says Hrasky. “Andthe last couple of months, we’ve beentrying different ways of doing things,where a song doesn’t necessarily haveto be able to be duplicated live for it tostand as a song.”It’s hard for him to say what thegroup is looking for or if it will find it.“Even though we’ve been doing thisfor a long time, we always feel likewe’re starting over from scratch,” heexplains. “And it takes us a long timeto get our confidence back. We’re like,‘Do we even know what we’re doing?’“I think we’re very comfortable rightnow with the idea that we’re just notsure what it is we want to come upwith, and we’re just kind of lookingaround at the moment.”– Daniel Meebecause back in the day, when they werepaving the first streets, there was such anabundance of oysters that they built the cityon top of them. So, in a nutshell, I like citiesthat are built on sand or oysters. <strong>The</strong>y makeyou feel like you’re in some giant aquariumbeing watched by a villain who’s about toblow up the universe.”– Audra SchroederThree More Berliners to Swallow:Popular Damage(Fri., Speakeasy, 10pm)Lush electro-pop.Kamikaze Queens(Sat., Club 115, 12mid)Twangy carnival punk.Damero(Sat., Karma Lounge, 9pm)Ambient dance meets torch song.summer’s Hi! My Name Is B.o.B mixtape. Hisdebut, <strong>The</strong> Adventures of Bobby Ray, is set forrelease in June.– Chase HoffbergerANDRE WILLIAMS11pm, Continental Club Forty years ago,Andre Williams sang for Motown and Chessand penned hits for Stevie Wonder, Ike &Tina Turner, and George Clinton. In the lastdecade, he’s become the “Black Godfather,”playing the role of croaking, badass MC incampy funk ensembles like the New OrleansHellhounds, which released <strong>2008</strong>’s Can YouDeal With It?– Daniel Mee50 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
<strong>The</strong> Biscuit BrothersSXSW Children’s ShowNoon, Auditorium Shores Stage Since the babysitting funds will probably run out bytonight, take the sprouts to Lady Bird Lake to see local PBS stars the Biscuit Brothers,who make m<strong>usic</strong> education engaging. Joe McDermott is another local rock dad thatappeals to slightly taller rugrats, while John Boydston, otherwise known as Daddy a GoGo, gets his sons, ages 14 and 16, on the kid-rock bandwagon, influenced by everyonefrom the Beatles to the Ramones. Jambo is an L.A. quintet making country-roots m<strong>usic</strong>for animal-loving wee ones. If your kiddos still have steam after all that, stick around forthe atmospherics of Beach House (6pm) and locals Explosions in the Sky (8pm).– Melanie HauptTHE KNUX11pm, Vice Displaced from their native NewOrleans after Hurricane Katrina, brothersKintrell “Krispy Kream” and Alvin “Rah AlMillio” Lindsey found solace in L.A. with theirfresh brand of live-band hip-hop. <strong>The</strong>ir <strong>2008</strong>Interscope debut, Remind Me in Three Days …,evokes mid-1990s OutKast, De la Soul, andSouls of Mischief. Totally classic, completelyoriginal.– Chase HoffbergerTHE PEPPER POTS11pm, Opal Divine’s Ska in pearls and highheels? 1960s swing with a reggae beat?This trio of bright voices from Spain, backedby an eightpiece band with a blow-yourhair-dryhorn section, makes its cocktail ofsound not too sweet, not too earthbound.Island m<strong>usic</strong> meets soul and girl-groupbebop.– Belinda AcostaJIMMY & THE WEBBS11pm, Prague Legend. Or maybe the biggestlegend you don’t know that you know.“Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “By theTime I Get to Phoenix,” and “MacArthurPark” are all Jimmy Webb’s hits. Even cooler,his gig is with the Webb Brothers, his sonsand a Chicago-based indie pop outfit in theirown right.– Michael BertinGOLDEN BOYS12mid, Beauty Bar Backyard When RossJohnson, former drummer for Memphistango-billies Tav Falco’s Panther Burns, callsyour show one of the more “enjoyable toiletCONTINUED ON P.52$5 Gift Card with $ 50 purchaseTime to rockM<strong>usic</strong>al Instruments StoreNow OpenNon-Commissioned Sales Reward Zone® Program Benefits Guitar Lessons AvailableValid 3/13/<strong>09</strong>–4/12/<strong>09</strong> only in Best Buy® storesGet a Best Buy Gift Card instantly, with the following purchases$10 Gift Card with $ 100 purchaseGift Card good toward future purchase. Not valid on gift card purchases. Limit $ 5 in total gift card value with $ 50 purchase. Limit $ 10 in total gift card value with $ 100 purchase. Limit $ 100 in totalgift card value with $ 1000 purchase. To reach qualifying purchase amount for free gift card, items must be purchased on same receipt and exclude the following items: Bose ® audio products; Polk Audio; Power Priceitems; Sony OLED, XBR7 XBR8 and XBR9 TVs; Home <strong>The</strong>ater Delivery; Apple ® iPod; Microsoft Zune MP3 players; laptops and desktop computers; monitors; projectors; internal hard drives; computer software; computersubscription software; In-Home Geek Squad ® service; VoIP; broadband; desktop packages (packages include computer, monitor and printer); Wacom accessories; Harman Kardon/JBL computer speakers; HP ink; SonyD-SLR cameras, lenses and flashes; unlocked phones; contract cellular phones; Fender ® and Squier ® m<strong>usic</strong>al instruments; video game hardware; Electrolux major appliances; Magnolia Home <strong>The</strong>ater ® products: Bose ® ,SpeakerCraft ® , Vienna Acoustics, MartinLogan, BDI furniture, Magnolia ® Guaranteed Performance Agreement and special order merchandise; gift cards; taxes; prior purchases; Outlet Center items; special order, clearance,demo and open-box items. Selection varies by store. Valid on in store and in stock items only. Valid only at Best Buy stores in the U.S.A; excludes stores in Puerto Rico. Online and in-store offer may vary. Not validon any BestBuy.com order, including store pickup. Best Buy employees are not eligible for this promotion. Not good in combination withany other coupons or offers. Limit 1 offer per coupon, per household. No dealers. No copies. No cash back. Cash value is 1/100th of 1 cent. Couponmust be presented at time of purchase. Coupon valid 3/13/<strong>09</strong>–4/12/<strong>09</strong>. MJ1Cashier Instructions: Scan coupon UPC. Scan qualifying product UPC(s). Scan all other product(s) being sold. Press “Total.” Write “VOID” oncoupon and place in the register coupon media file.37599 © 20<strong>09</strong> Best BuyVisit us at: 4970 US Hwy 290 W, <strong>Austin</strong>, TX 78735 | Store hours: Mon-Thurs: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.;Sat: 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.$100 Gift Card with $ 1000 purchaseBestBuy.com/mistorelist37599 © 20<strong>09</strong> Best Buya u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 51
SXSW MUSIC FEST SATURDAY FROM P.51club gigs” he’s witnessed in years, that’s acompliment. He says as much in the linernotes to this local quintet’s latest LP, GoodbyeCountry (Monofonus), another whiskey-assistedcrawl through rock & roll.– Audra SchroederTHE HANDSOME FAMILY12mid, Habana Calle 6 Brett Sparks possessesone of the most distinctive voicesin m<strong>usic</strong>, a brooding baritone that plodsthrough traditional folk songs, softenedby wife Rennie’s harmonies. <strong>The</strong> Family’supcoming eighth LP, Honey Moon, marks theAlbuquerque, N.M., duo’s 20th wedding anniversaryand renews their Appalachian sound.– Doug FreemanSILVERSUN PICKUPS12mid, Antone’s Debut studio albumCarnavas (Dangerbird) finally gets a companionthis April with Swoon. <strong>The</strong> L.A. quartetwrapped up two years of touring in support ofCarnavas at <strong>2008</strong>’s <strong>Austin</strong> City Limits M<strong>usic</strong>Festival and promises the new album containsa balance of quiet, delicate, and “reallyfucking loud.”– Melanie HauptGRAVY TRAIN12mid, Radio Room Who needs meat whenyou’re full of gravy? Oakland’s Gravy Trainpumps tabloid techno-punk that will make youpuke neon rainbows, which isn’t to say thefoursome’s softcore sex-and-candy floor showisn’t fun before the crash. <strong>The</strong> troupe siftsthrough 2007’s All the Sweet Stuff (Kill RockStars) like seasoned thrift-store veterans.– Greg BeetsGRUPO FANTASMA12mid, Emo’s Main Grupo Fantasma’s beenkilling local clubs for years but busted outta<strong>Austin</strong> city limits in <strong>2008</strong>. <strong>The</strong> funky Latinorchestra got Prince’s purple seal of approval,entertained troops in Iraq, and earned aGrammy nomination for Sonidos Gold, a blendof psychedelic cumbia and vintage 1970ssalsa, amplified by saxman Maceo Parker andFania All-Star Larry Harlow.– Thomas FawcettGLC12:30am, Barcelona Playing Memphis Bleekto Kanye West’s Jay-Z, GLC’s been with theCollege Dropout since day one. <strong>The</strong> Chicagorapper’s first taste of the big time cameas a thick-voiced guest verse on West’s“Spaceship,” and he signed with the superproducer’sGOOD M<strong>usic</strong> label in 2004. Hisdebut, Love, Life & Loyalty, is expected laterthis year.– Chase HoffbergerMONOTONIX1am, Mohawk Patio Like a spry, basslessreincarnation of Blue Cheer, Monotonixstrangles every last drop from the power ofthree. <strong>The</strong> Tel Aviv trio’s shows are visceralcommunions between band and audience;last October’s Mohawk gig literally spilledinto the middle of Red River. <strong>The</strong>y finally dropa full-length to follow up Drag City EP BodyLanguage this fall.– Greg BeetssaturdaySLEEPERSALL SHOWCASES SUBJECT TO CHANGECOMA IN ALGIERS7pm, Headhunters This local quintet of m<strong>usic</strong>almisfits likes it loud and lewd. 2007 debutThis Is Your Justice screamed and stomped inthe name of punk rock and in the vein of theJesus Lizard on PCP. New LP Your Heart YourBody awaits.– Audra SchroederJILL BARBER8pm, Habana Calle 6 Maybe it’s AMC’s MadMen that makes sweet songs sound so goodin this anxious era, but even those withoutcable are drawn to Nova Scotia’s Jill Barber,whose voice seduces like Patsy Cline on threedirty martinis and a pack of Luckies. Barber’sChances, released in November <strong>2008</strong> onCanada’s Outside M<strong>usic</strong>, pits early-1960storch against Americana comfort.– Darcie StevensRUBY JANE8pm, the Ranch At half past 14, fiddler RubyJane Smith boasts substantial credentials asa singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist,having played with Lyle Lovett and WillieNelson and toured with her m<strong>usic</strong>al mentor,Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel. Withone foot in Mississippi and one in Texas, hercountry bears a distinctive, unforgettableroots edge.– Margaret MoserGOLDEN BEAR8pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio <strong>Austin</strong>’s GoldenBear turns family values and nervous energyinto some of the most triumphant and whimsicalindie rock this side of the PolyphonicSpree. <strong>The</strong> quintet’s new digital-only EP,Everest, featuring guest vocalist Pink Nasty,marks a welcomed return to the joyous,dual-guitar roar of the band’s eponymous2006 debut. – <strong>Austin</strong> PowellTHE WHIP8:40pm, La Zona Rosa Manchester dancepopquartet the Whip released debut XMarks Destination (produced by ArcticMonkey-master Jim Abbiss) last year tonearly instant acclaim, but prior to that, itscalling card was the incessantly excitingKitsuné single “Trash.” – Marc SavlovDREW SMITH’S LONELY CHOIR9pm, Momo’s Early life as an Army brat isan obvious influence on local Drew Smith,who’s all over the m<strong>usic</strong>al map, from the popof Harry Nilsson to the bombastic side ofSpringsteen. <strong>The</strong> singer-songwriter’s <strong>2008</strong>debut, Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir, drew ravesfor a breezy yet never pretentious sound.– Jim CaligiuriEZRA FURMAN & THE HARPOONS10pm, Submerged Last year’s sophomoreeffort from Ezra Furman, Inside the HumanBody (Minty Fresh), shrugs off the Dylan comparisonsand jostles around indie pop withCONTINUED ON P.54Barsuk/Merge8pm, the Parish Chapel Hill, N.C.’s Merge Records doesn’t have <strong>Austin</strong>’s Spoon intow this year, but Michael Benjamin Lerner’s Seattle live quartet Telekinesis beginsthe evening with its eponymous debut, a mix of classic rock songwriting and timelessstructure. Seattle’s Barsuk Records brings its newest euphoric signees, the WoodenBirds, led by renewed <strong>Austin</strong>ite and former American Analog Set head Andrew Kenny.While Dinosaur Jr. signed to Jagjaguwar, Lou Barlow remains on Merge, and he performswith Imaad Wasif tracks from 2005 solo debut Emoh and an upcoming follow-up. Seattle’sEric Elbogen dropped the “mom” for Say Hi’s newest, Oohs & Aahs, his first dose of indiepop on Barsuk. Merge favorites from Raleigh, N.C., the Rosebuds ooze last year’s Life Like,the duo’s heaviest to date, balancing Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp’s vocals to dramatic effect.Syracuse, N.Y., sixpiece Ra Ra Riot ends the evening on the indie pop tip with string-ladendebut <strong>The</strong> Rhumb Line (Barsuk). No moping in the house.– Darcie StevensPete Philly& PerquisiteSay HiHip-Hop in DutchIn Stereo (Perceptie & Kapabel) (Thu., Karma Lounge, 11pm)You won’t understand a word, but true mic skills need no translation.Arts the Beatdoctor (Thu., Karma Lounge, 11:30pm)Cinematic soundscapes hint that the Beatdoctor has studied the surgical procedures of DJShadow and RJD2.Pete Philly & Perquisite (Sat., Buffalo Billiards, 11pm)<strong>The</strong> deeply soulful flow of Pete Philly paired with Perquisite’s orchestral beats make thisAmsterdam duo more potent than purple haze.– Thomas Fawcett52 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
&South X Southwest Performance Schedule:PASTE MAGAZINE PARTYWednesday the 18th:1.30PMBourbon Rocks508 E 6th St.ROKY ERICKSON ICECREAM SOCIAL DAY PARTYThursday the 19th: 2PMThreadgills301 W Riverside Dr.FILTER MAGAZINE PARTYThursday the 19th:4PMCedar Street Courtyard208 W 4th St.INSTORE PERFORMANCEFriday the 20th: 4PM600-A N Lamar BlvdFriday the 20th:12AM<strong>The</strong> Parish214 E 6th St.www.blackjoelewis.comwww.losthighwayrecords.comSaturday the 21st:1AMBuffalo Billiards201 E 6th St.a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 53
SXSW MUSIC FEST SATURDAY FROM P.52Golden BootsPark the Van8pm, Room 710 This Philly label isfast curating its own little Elephant6 collective, only the sequel is moreaccessible. For the layperson, it’s Dr.Dog’s label, plus a lot of bands thatsound kind of like Dr. Dog. Spaceoddityopener Eagle Winged Palaceis followed by tootsie poppers thePeekers, whose almost annoyinglyprecious Life in the Air drops soon.Golden Boots answer the ageoldm<strong>usic</strong>al quesion: What wouldhappen if Mac from Superchunk wentto Sedona, took a heroic dose ofpeyote, and started thinking he wasBrian Wilson? (Answer: Winter of OurDiscotheque.) Floating Action offersup neo-hippie retro, and anchoringthe whole shebang is the SpintoBand, which writes perfectly craftedpop songs that sound like they wereinspired by early Britpop 33s playedat 78 speed. – Michael BertinGoner RecordsHarlan T. Bobo8pm, Red 7 Founded in 1993 by Eric “Oblivian” Friedl, Memphis’ Goner Records hasbecome synonymous with the gravel-kicking, primitive side of the city’s m<strong>usic</strong>al heritage.Harlan T. Bobo strikes a raw nerve on 2007’s I’m Your Man by slathering droll witover brokenhearted flophouse pop. If the extra color on 2006’s <strong>The</strong> Flip Side Kid is anyindication, expect chicken-fried garage rock kingpin Jack Oblivian & the TennesseeTearjerkers to keep expanding upon the Oblivians’ legendary canon with the forthcomingDisco Outlaw. Guitarist/vocalist Shawn Cripps leads the Limes through warbling mindslop,while sole non-Memphians Box Elders represent Omaha with bop-tastic pop-punknuggets accented by surf-flavored reverb. <strong>The</strong> Magic Kids are an erstwhile Spectorianoffshoot of the Barbaras with an album due later this year. If their teenage symphoniesdon’t get you to chewing bubble gum in rhythm, might as well hang it up. – Greg Beetsfrantic, yelping intensity. Furman’s nasal wailleads his Chicago quartet’s unhinged soundwith the youthful affection of the ModernLovers and bitter wit of the Violent Femmes.– Doug FreemanHA HA TONKA10pm, Red Eyed Fly Straight out ofSpringfield, Mo., Ha Ha Tonka’s casualanthems owe as much to the Ozarks assweaty college rock. <strong>The</strong> band’s 2007debut, Buckle in the Bible Belt (Bloodshot),garnered the quartet acclaim, and last yearit toured with the like-minded Old 97’s andMeat Puppets. Look for Ha Ha’s second,Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, in thelate spring.– Jim CaligiuriDIRTY EPICS10pm, Soho Lounge Three men and onewoman from Dublin whose debut, Straight inNo Kissing (Universal), is a retro-revelationthat recalls X-Ray Spex at their most aggressivelyhorny. Pure pop-punk for wow people,and single “Way Too Pretty” is an instantcome-on classic.– Marc SavlovRUSTED SHUT11pm, the Independent From its 1986 inceptionas a byproduct of Grindin’ Teeth, Houston’sRusted Shut epitomized a symphony of industrialdecay giving way to high-decibel repetitionas mechanical assault on the senses. 1998’simmolating Hot Sex EP finally saw the light ofday last year, but a decade in the can did nothingto lessen its blast radius. – Greg BeetsTHE PACK A.D.11pm, Habana Calle 6 British Columbia duoBecky Black (vocals, guitar) and Maya Miller(drums) spit out guitar-heavy Delta blues likethey’ve got that feeling deep down inside, withBlack’s voice straight from Robert Johnson’sgrave. One spin of the duo’s <strong>2008</strong> sophomoreLP, Funeral Mixtape (Mint), burns like whiskey.– Darcie StevensLOW LINE CALLER11pm, the M<strong>usic</strong> Gym Patio Hard to categorizeadding a vocalist as “evolving,” butthe local quintet has moved away from itspost-rock instrumental odyssey to a moreneatly wrapped package (now with words!).Last year’s Hi Def Soft Core is still dark in abehind-the-beat kind of way. – Michael BertinBritish SteelGallows (Wed., Emo’s Main, 8pm;Fri., Latitude 30, 1am)Kerrang! sez: “Best British Newcomer.”Bring Me the Horizon(Fri., Latitude 30, 11pm)<strong>The</strong>y look 15 and sound like an eternityof hellkilldeathfuckarrrrggh.Fuckshovel(Thu., Spiros Amphitheater, 9pm)Bruce Dickinson loves ’em.Turbowölf (Wed., B.D. Riley’s, 1am)WHITE SWAN BLACK SWAN12mid, Victorian Room at the Driskill WhiteSwan Black Swan is essentially New Zealand’sversion of She & Him. Sonya Waters (WhiteSwan) scores amber-hued Americana popthat’s offset by the melancholy of Arch HillRecords founder Ben Howe (Black Swan). <strong>The</strong>irlatest collaboration, Double Mini Album, splitsthe song credits across two discs, but thegroup’s most affective work combines the bestof both realms.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellSOLANGE & THE HADLEYSTREET DREAMS12mid, Buffalo Billiards Hard to step out ofbig sister’s shadow when Jay-Z pronouncesher “the hottest chick in the game.” SolangeKnowles veers left on Sol-Angel and the Hadley<strong>The</strong>y’ll rock the mustache clean off of your face, pick it up off the beer-sticky floor, lick the back ofit, and make it their own.Tat (Sat., Spiros Amphitheater, 10pm)Short for Tatiana DeMaria. Her dead-sexy punk yowl will leave you neutered.Gallows– Marc SavlovSt. Dreams, a Supremes-styled set poweredby superproducers Q-Tip, Pharrell, RaphaelSaadiq, and Mark Ronson. <strong>The</strong> result is quirkierthan Beyoncé but the most polished popyou’ll find at this Festival. – Thomas FawcettBLAQSTARR12mid, Friends Mid-Atlantic hip-hop is movingpast its bass-heavy Baltimore club scenebehind Spank Rock homecomings and MadDecent Records, and Baltimore’s Blaqstarr isright in the thick of things. <strong>The</strong> singer/rapperput together songs for last year’s I’m Bangin’ 2with M.I.A. and Mad Decent’s Diplo. He lightsthe fire with a controlled chaos. Sings, too.– Chase HoffbergerWHITE SHOES &THE COUPLES COMPANY12mid, Submerged <strong>The</strong> re-creations of bigband swing, disco, funk, and tropicalia deliveredby this Indonesian sextet are joyous andjaw-droppingly accurate, save for the lyrics,which are sung in the group’s native Bahasa.<strong>The</strong>ir irresistible retroisms set all but thesourest hearts aflutter. – Daniel MeeTHE DEVIL MAKES THREE1am, Submerged Stepping out from behindthe redwood curtain, this unplugged Davis,Calif., trio hews closely to the talking bluesmodel per Steve Earle or early Tom Waits.With whiskey on their minds and forest ontheir breaths, they’re tight as hell after sevenyears of touring, offering up harmonies fromsomewhere south of heaven. – Dan Oko54 THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m
Seven Japan Nite HighlightsDetroit7THE OBAMA STOREDEEP DISCOUNTS WE CAN BELIEVE IN!2’x3’ POSTERS $ 5 ½ price BUTTONS• Shepard Fairey “HOPE” 3” buttons .............. $4 $2• “A World Changed” 2” buttons .............. $2 $1Newspaper Headlines• “Obama Silhouette” ½ priceby Tommy BirdT-SHIRT SPECIALSSelected Shirts ......... $10SS shirts .............. $20 $15LS shirts ............. $25 $20Kid shirts ........... $15 $10COFFEE MUGS $ 1010 different designs!BUMPER STICKERS1111 E. 11th St.across from Victory Grill 4 blocks east of IH 3511 a.m.-7 p.m. Every Day512.656.6337•www.<strong>The</strong>ObamaStoreOnline.comE. 11TH STREET SITE CLOSES MARCH 31!PLUS: keychains, calendars,bookmarks, totes, postcards,rulers, tons more!Flip (Fri., Elysium, 8pm)Femme foursome of teen poppers cut cutewith power chords.Grapevine (Fri., Elysium, 12mid)Alt-rock trio aims epic.Detroit7 (Fri., Elysium, 1am)Fuel-injected garage rock trio firing on all cylinders.Stereo Pony (Sat., Elysium, 8pm)Young female trio riding melodic rock frequencies.Specialthanks (Sat., Elysium, 9pm)Teen queen fronting freneticpop punkers.<strong>The</strong> Emeralds(Sat., Elysium, 10pm)Perennial SXSW trio returns riffinggarage punk rhythms.Sa (Sat., Elysium, 11pm)Tokyo punks get Rancid.– Doug Freeman<strong>The</strong> Ones & Twos ofSwedish Indie RockLoney, DearLoney, Dear(Fri., Habana Calle 6Patio, 11pm)Emil Svanängen splitsthe difference betweenthe chamber pop of JensLekman and Andrew Birdcollaborations with Doshon third LP Dear John.<strong>The</strong> Tallest Man onEarth (Thu., BuffaloBilliards, 12mid)Former Montezumas frontman trades in stark ballads on folktastic debut Shallow Grave.Wildbirds & Peacedrums (Fri., Antone’s, 9pm)Male-female duo from Gothenburg builds on the sparse avant-pop of <strong>2008</strong> debut Heartcorewith jazz leanings on latest <strong>The</strong> Snake.Dag for Dag (Fri., Radio Room, 8pm)Unsigned Stockholm-based brother-sister twopiece trades vocals over minimalist rock beats,like a heated exchange between P.J. Harvey and the National’s Matt Berninger.Marching Band (Sat., St. David’s Church, 11pm)Formerly known as Second Language, this Swedish pair makes laptop-based bedroom rockfor the <strong>The</strong> OC generation.– <strong>Austin</strong> PowellTHE MOTHER TRUCKERS1am, Continental Club Although they were namedBest Roots Rock Band at 2007’s <strong>Austin</strong> M<strong>usic</strong><strong>Aw</strong>ards, it was <strong>2008</strong> when the Mother Truckersreally brought down the house. With their loudand sassy sophomore effort, Let’s All Go to Bed(Funzalo), the Truckers set country pretensionsaside and barely stopped for breath. – Jim CaligiuriSIX FINGER SATELLITE1am, the Independent Providence, R.I., has producedplenty of art-school dropouts that go on to formart rock bands, but Six Finger Satellite existed outsidethat scene. After a five-album 1990s stint on Sub Popand an early 21st century hiatus, the Paranormalizedelectro-post-punks are set to release a new album onProvidence label Load Records. – Audra SchroederLAUNDRY ROOMSQUELCHERS1:30am, the Hideout Miami’snoise posse returns to <strong>Austin</strong> with30 minutes to rattle windows.<strong>The</strong> whole night is part of leadSquelcher/Miami noise vet RatBastard’s International NoiseConference and features localsDoug Ferguson, Aurora PlasticsCompany, and Venison Whirled,plus other agitators such as MuguGuymen, Gaybomb, and What’s YrDamage? Earplugs be damned.– Audra Schroedera u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o m MARCH 20, 20<strong>09</strong> THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE SXSW MUSIC SUPPLEMENT 55
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