This morning I was casually listening to a live internet chat with two of the members from Scottish alt rock band, Twin Atlantic. Sam (vocals) and Ross (bass) spend some time answering random questions from fans and then played a couple of tunes from their record, Free. One of the songs played was “Make a Beast of Myself” which, incidentally, is one of my favorites from the album and their newest single. The band just released a video for this song. What’s more is that if you watch this video and can find and click on the hidden link, you’re entered into a contest to win a guitar that was used by Sam in the “Time For You To Stand Up” music video.
I think this idea for a contest is genius! Even if you don’t win the guitar, you can still get a free song download.
Here’s the video. The hint for the contest is that Sam likes to paint…
Even more exciting than the potential to win a guitar, is the guarantee to see these gents live during their upcoming US tour with AWOLNATION (another band that made my SXSW ’11 mix). They come to LA in a little over a month! November 3rd at The Music Box.
So, it has begun. The ten weeks of the fall quarter in which my time for musical outings is greatly reduced. The joys of being a teaching assistant. Anyway, need to keep this brief. I’ve got work to do. Let me know how great all the shows are…
What I’d love to do this week:
Monday: Big Black Delta at FREE The Satellite (11pm)…last night of the residency ALSO: Red Circle Underground FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: it’s a school night featuring Ben Folds at Bardot (10pm)
Tuesday: Beverly McClellan and Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Foundry (8pm)
ALSO: Brett Hite at The W Hotel (8pm)
ALSO: Queen Caveat at The Mint (9:45)
ALSO: Rival Sons at Fingerprints in Long Beach (7pm)
ALSO: J Scott Bergman at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Lisa Hannigan at The El Rey (10pm)
ALSO: Happy Hour with Ari Shrine at Saint Rocke (6pm)
Weds: Jens Lekman at the Masonic Lodge in The Hollywood Forever Cemetery (8pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at X Bar Patio Lounge The Century Plaza (8:30)
ALSO: Puddle of Mudd at The Viper Room (11:20)
ALSO: Joe Purdy at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: An Evening in the Round with Garrison Starr, Dawn Thomas, Adrianne, and Maia Sharp at Room 5 (9pm)
Thursday: Dead Sara at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Inverse, Purple Melon, and Love and a .38 at The Key Club (8pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun and Ry Cuming at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Jimmy Eat World at The Wiltern (7pm)
Friday: Jake Newton and Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (10,11)…Jake Newton’s Record Release show
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Hugh Laurie at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Esperanza Spalding at The Orpheum Theatre (8pm)
Saturday: Kozmonaut, Queen Caveat, and Halos at The Viper Room (10,11,12)
ALSO: David and Devine at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Assemble the Skyline and Kyle Nicolaides at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Portugal, The Man at Avalon (7pm)
Sunday: Zero 1 at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Steve Poltz at The Satellite (10pm)
To Keep in Mind:
October 5-9th: Culture Collide Festival
October 8th: Michael Tolcher at The Hotel Cafe
October 9th: Michael Tolcher at Saint Rocke
October 10th: The Silent Comedy at Bardot
October 11th: Rival Sons and Evanescence at Hollywood Palladium
October 11th: Switchfoot and Anberlin at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 18th: Portishead at The Shrine
October 19th: Melissa Ferrick and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin and The Academ Is… at The El Rey
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
This year’s SXSW experience was a little different than in years past (ie I actually got to GO instead of my usual just listening to all of the artists). Still, I wanted to maintain the spirit of my annual SXSW Mix being a list of artists that are mostly new to me that I somehow discovered or was inspired to write about due to my SXSW experience. I am so excited about every one of these artists/groups. I can’t wait for them to come through LA and play!
This is a beautiful song. I wish I could have seen Andrew Belle while we were both in Texas, but sadly it did not happen. If you’re on the east coast, Andrew will be out your way soon so check out his tour schedule. In the meantime, his full length album, The Ladder, is definitely worth investigating.
Another discovery from bandcamp’s handy dandy SXSW playlist. I had never heard of Rams Pocket Radio before. Apparently, Rams Pocket Radio is Peter McCauley from Northern Ireland. I absolutely love “1+2” and can’t wait to explore more from this artist.
One of my favorite discoveries from SXSW, Scotland’s Twin Atlantic was one of the few “new” bands I rearranged my schedule to see. They played several tunes from their new album Free which was finally made available at the beginning of this month. This is their most recent single from that album.
I’m still working on my annual SXSW Mix. It’s shaping up to be mostly new artists that I’d never heard of before or that really came to my attention at SXSW this year. As excited as I am about all my new discoveries, it occurred to me that some of my very favorite experiences of the festival aren’t represented. As such, I was inspired to make a separate list of my top 10 sets of SXSW ’11.
It was their first set at SXSW and I was just SOOOO excited that they were there and that I was there and that everything was happening. The venue itself added the additional bonus of watching Lauren masterfully deal with an awkwardly placed banister AND allowed me to watch all the people walking past, stopping, and being drawn to the window by the music…LOVE watching new people fall in love with my favorite bands! It was a SXSW moment for sure.
I saw The Silent Comedy more than any other band at SXSW. Each set they did was slightly different but their final show at Antiquiet’s The Axis of Audio showcase was the most unique, featuring some new tunes as well as other songs not found in their typical setlist. It also helps that the set was dedicated to me (and Amanda and our TSC gang).
Empires was one of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing play. They had grabbed my attention when they played in LA with Biffy Clyro and seeing them in Austin reminded me why I loved them so much. The way the band, especially singer Sean Van Vleet connects to the audience, drawing them in with an intense energy…it was one of those sets in which I became completely lost in the music.
After a solid day of amazing music, it was incredibly difficult for a band to completely knock me off my feet (as many highly anticipated bands failed to do). Yet Dead Sara had me head banging and rocking out with their 1am set Weds night (or I suppose Thursday morning) at Lipstick 24 like no other. I think this was the hardest I rocked out all week…
You know I love The Kin. Their performance at Antone’s was one of the most memorable of the week. I finally got to hear some of their new material, the audience was completely enraptured especially when they got off the stage to come sing a song on the floor, and Isaac managed to “re-create” his didgeridoo using some sort of pipe that could be found out in the street. When they played “Waterbreaks”, I was SO happy to be seeing them play again (it had been awhile…they’re based in NYC), it brought tears to my eyes.
I had NO CLUE that Doll & The Kicks was even going to be at SXSW, let alone be playing at the British Invasion showcase I was attending on Thursday. It was the best surprise of the week! Their new song “Skeleton” is fantastic and must be downloaded now…!
I had never seen AWOLNATION before, but I’d been enjoying their tunes. I liked the band, but what really gets this set on my top 10 list was the intensity of the audience. I love being swept up in that kind of energy…it was insane without me ever feeling physically threatened. The perfect audience. When they played “Sail”, I was taken to another place…and I couldn’t even really see the stage!
Most of the bands on this list are ones I’d seen (or at least known) before SXSW. It’s easier to really get into a set if you know the songs. But Twin Atlantic I had never really heard of before arriving in Austin. I had come across one of their tunes and that was enough to put them on my watch list. By the end of their set at Antone’s, they were my fave new discovery from SXSW.
9. Viva City at The Dart Music International House
Tuesday afternoon, before the music festivities officially began, we gathered to go see Viva City at The Dart Music International House. I saw this UK act several times over the course of my stay in Austin, and each time it was a crazy fun dance party, but this very first set marked the beginning of my SXSW experience and it will never be forgotten.
That whole evening at St. David’s Sanctuary (one of the Hotel Cafe showcases) was quite magical (see story), but I think my favorite set of the bunch was Brian Wright’s. It’s hard to describe why the set moved me so much. I have seen Brian play plenty of times, but something about this place and time and my specific mood really elevated his performance and songs. It was truly a perfect SXSW moment.
Once again we find ourselves with little time for a true post but we figure it’s best to keep you cool cats in the loop (even if it’s not an extensive one). Also, you can expect us to write a more detailed post at the end of all this madness…
Our day started off in search of Twin Atlantic who somehow did not end up playing the previous day when they were supposed to. But we got an even better surprise, Doll and the Kicks! Check out this rather cool set list….
* Also, finally being able to see Twin Atlantic was a huge highlight!
* Dancing along to Purple Melon was pretty awesome. I always forget how good they are because they don’t have any music out 🙁
* Going to the Beaver Party and seeing Jodi Foster talk about the movie and Anton Yelchin in the crowd coupled with good food made this a really memorable party. We were sad to leave but had to move on.
* Finally getting to see Mother Mother and Empires play!
* Also, Augustana, while not what was expected, was a lovely treat.
* Seeing The Silent Comedy play (yes, again).
* Also, getting to sample tons of music and see favs Queen Caveat play twice in one day was pretty cool.
* The new discovery of Tailor Made Fable was great especially since an event like this is all about finding new band loves.
* Our day ended with a bang when we saw Lenka, Fitz and the Tantrums, Neon Trees, Taylor Locke, and Fierce Creatures play. Whew, what a day 🙂
If you don’t know anything about SXSW, you might, at first glance think that it is all about the music. But you’d be wrong. SXSW is really all about networking. You might think that someone only peripherally involved in the music industry (AKA The Scientist who moonlights as a music enthusiast) would not benefit as much from this aspect of the conference, but you’d be wrong.
Also, the idea that the bar is the best place to mix and mingle (a concept I’ve never really warmed up to) might not be entirely correct. I feel like the van rides back and forth from the hotel to the conference center downtown might be the new “bar”. Last night’s transport back, lead us into conversation with a professional “foodie” (from the food network) and someone who works at Bryn Mawr College of all places (my alma mater). So I may not have been able to whisper the names of my favorite bands into some big executive’s ear over a couple of whiskey sours, but I know the best place to go eat in downtown Austin AND I got some top secret intel regarding my 5 year college reunion coming up in May.
Such random encounters really gets me excited about the unknown and unexpected possibilities for the rest of the week!
But back to the music, TONS to look forward to today! The Kin, The Silent Comedy, Twin Atlantic, Oh Land, AWOLNATION, The Blue Pages…all on my list for today.
AWOLNATION plays 10pm at Rusty Spurs for the AustinROX showase…
TOMORROW, we leave for Austin. I’m in the midst of frenzied preparations. I haven’t been posting much these last couple of weeks, in part, due to the fact that every spare second I have managed to accumulate has gone to listening to artists I may get the chance to see at SXSW and preparing my lists and schedules.
I thought I’d share some of the artists I’m most looking forward to (a combination of old favorites and new discoveries). So, here it is. My 10 “Must See” Artists at SXSW ’11:
These San Diego boys have been on my must see list for awhile now. Their growing popularity means they’ve been spending more time away from Southern California so I relish even more every chance I get to see them.
I’ve gotta go support my favorite up-and-coming LA band. For those of you not in LA, don’t miss one of the first opportunities to see Queen Caveat play outside of their hometown. SO much love for this band!
These Australian brothers are favorites of mine from back east. One of the exciting things about SXSW is that it brings together favorite artists from all over the country/world. Also, be sure to follow The Kin on twitter so that you’ll know where they plan to do their next musical robbery on Saturday in Austin.
Two girls from Australia whose tunes caught my ear immediately. I’m even more excited to see them and buy their music, because finding their tunes to download in the US= nearly impossible.
I’ve seen them three times in LA in the last month or so and I can’t remember the last time a band has blown my mind quite this much. Any chance I’ll get to see Dead Sara, I’m taking!
I’ve been wanting to see this new band out of Philly since its inception at the end of last year. I’ve been very jealous of all my Philly friends who have gone to their shows. Now it’s my turn!
where to see them: Friday 8pm: Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces) at the Monster Energy Showcase
I adore this band out of Washington. They were actually on my SXSW ’10 mix. I was terribly sad to miss them play The Echo last week. I only justified my absence with the thought of seeing them play multiple times at SXSW.
A band from Canada that I fell in love with a couple years ago thanks to the song “Hayloft”. I keep missing them when they come through LA, so I’m not going to miss out in Austin!
Honestly there are SO many excellent bands I’m looking forward to seeing at SXSW…can we say “scheduling conflicts”..Here are a few more (still not even half of what’s on my list)
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