This week the second of a two-part series dedicated to SXSW 2011
Playlist:
Dominique Young Unique – What About Me?
Tennis – Marathon
Baths – Maximalist
Sharon Van Etten – Don’t Do It
DOM – Living In America
Thrift Store Cowboys – Silence Depends On the Dose
Ok, this is when it gets crazy. Today I’m going through the Music portion of SXSW 2011, which happens Wednesday, March 16 – Saturday, March 19. Â Keep in mind there’s always gonna be pop-up shows and last-minute party announcements like every year, so follow me on Twitter and I’ll try to keep everyone abreast of anything awesome. Â Also: on Monday I will post my picks for multi-day parties, like Fader Fort, Waterloo Parking Lot Shows, etc. so look forward to that. Today’s list only includes my picks for single-day parties.
Wednesday, March 16
Eat Your Own Ears/Austinist/Windish Day Party @ Mohawk – Free
By far the best lineup of the day – Cloud Nothings, Twin Shadow, Givers, Royal Bangs. Awesome.
Honorable Mentions
Bella Union x Yours Truly @ SXSW
Terrorbird Media/Force Field PR Day Party at Red 7
Amanda Shires @ G & S Lounge (Outdoors) 2420 S 1st St. – 2 pm
Queens of the Stone Age @ Rolling Stone Showcase at LZR – If you don’t have a badge, it’s likely you’re not getting in. Â But best of luck to ya!
Spring break is upon us, and with it the finest week of the year, SXSW. As is customary, my friends and I are gonna RAGE and make like Andrew W.K. and PARTY HARD and all that good stuff. New parties and showcases are being announced every day, and next week I hope to have a list of my picks for ones to check out. In the meantime, however, after the jump is a list of bands I am hoping to see this year while meandering around downtown Austin, and you should try your damndest to see them as well.
10. A-Trak – Dirty South Dance 2
A-Trak – We Don’t Want No Goblins
Dubstep and Southern rap were meant to be together, or at least they are when A-Trak’s behind the crossfader. His second foray into mixing the two genres is a dance party like no other; stand by for the ending highlight, a mashup of Joker and Yung L.A.
9. Wavves – King of the Beach
Nathan Williams’ 2009 and 2010 were completely different. The previous year, he was an up-and-comer that crashed and burned publicly; now he is a renewed creative spirit with a diverse, improved sound.
8. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West – Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj)
Believe the hype – Yeezy’s fifth album is quite probably his finest work yet. His rapping is smart and funny and his production is characteristically slick. If he keeps making gold, we will continue to put up with his hi-jinks, Internet, interview, or otherwise.
7. One Wolf – One Wolf II: Secret of the Wolf
Perhaps the doom and gloom from One Wolf’s self-titled effort has disappeared, but in its place is diverse instrumentation, inescapable pop hooks, and sharp optimism. A sonic collage of indie, Americana, and even metal, this is one that just grows and grows on you.
6. Thrift Store Cowboys – Light Fighter
Thrift Store Cowboys – Regardless
Lubbock’s elder statesmen etch their place in historic alt-country with this, their fourth and finest album. Daniel Fluitt’s keen storytelling and unmistakable voice lead the listener on a gradual crescendo in under fifty minutes. Give it one listen and observe the injustice – Deer Tick should be opening for these guys by now.
20. The Hold Steady – Hurricane J
Craig Finn, while less belligerent, is still plenty drunk and emotional and frank on Heaven Is Whenever, and the group delivers one of their poppiest efforts thus far. “Hurricane J” is a plea to a lost soul he may be care a little too much about, spoken plainly and perfectly alongside a perfect tropical storm metaphor. We’ve all known someone like the person Finn describes, and we’ve all said the exact same things.
Once every three months I list the best of what I heard in albums/songs/remixes for the quarter. I do this to personally keep up with all the awesome music I hear, as it ultimately helps me at the end of the year when I do my overall listing for the previous twelve months. I also do it to introduce you cool cats to tunes you may have missed independently.
Today I continue my ongoing feature showcasing my personal picks for the best songs of the past decade, posting ten songs at a time.
80. The White Stripes – Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
The opening track from White Blood Cells squeals to life, Jack White’s guitar screeching into a staple new-blues riff before Meg pounds in and all hell breaks loose. For many, it would be the first we would hear from this Detroit duo, and first impressions have a lasting impact. Jack and Meg needn’t worry – they certainly got our attention.
All of my close friends know I am a very frugal, selfish, non-charitable individual. If you owe me money/beer/meals, I do not forget. If you borrow something from me, I will eventually hound you for its return. If you need admission to an event or out of jail, call someone else. I am too busy being awesome to be gracious.
I suppose there are exceptions, however. My dear friends, the Thrift Store Cowboys, are currently promoting, marketing, and touring in support of their fourth disc, the remarkable Light Fighter, an album that is certainly a contender for my coveted Top Albums of 2010 list (if it can beat out Weezer and MIA….kidding). As you most likely know – and even if you don’t I’ll tell you – these things cost a LOT of money. The crew has been doing it DIY-style for years now, cruising around in a broken-down van and scraping together their savings for studio time and merchandise.
Thus far (that’s a decade, for those counting) they’ve done pretty well by themselves, touring stateside numerous times, gaining a dedicated following, and churning out four incredible albums that reveal the Lubbock group’s immense talent and trademark cinematic country-rock sound. But alas, hard times have fallen on the group: a fire caused irreparable damage to a slew of merchandise and almost took the life of frontman Daniel Fluitt a few months ago, and TSC are asking for your help.
And so am I. Even if you’ve never heard of this band, never heard a note of their music, never seen them play live, but have a passion for independent, do-it-yourself, honest-to-goodness music, take some time and make a pledge. If you actually HAVE heard this band, then you know your investment is worthwhile. Pick your dollar amount and choose your prize – the guys aren’t asking for money without incentive – always true to the fans, they have a slew of one-of-a-kind rewards for pledgers, including an exclusive, intimate, in-home performance for the top-dollar givers.
Time is running out on Kickstarter, so take 2 minutes of your time today and help out a band well on their way – when you see them in a bigger venue, know that they’ll remember you helped get them there.
