SXSW BANDS TO WATCH | 2011
According to the official South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) stats, there were 2,000 +/- bands who played in roughly 90 different music venues. SXSW is known as premier venue to showcase up-and-coming acts. Having seen over 60 of them in a whirlwind 5 days, here is the Record Dept. list of some the most interesting acts to catch over the next year.
AGESANDAGES | PORTLAND, OR
This Portland seven-piece is on the brink of wide discovery, with contagious optimism and a sunny sound that fuses folk rock and 60’s rock and produces lush vocal harmonies.
CLOUD NOTHINGS | CLEVELAND, OH
Young Cleveland artist Dylan Baldi and his touring band play interesting and enjoyable indie/fuzz pop/punk songs, full of jangly guitars and catchy melodies.
DIRTY BEACHES | VANCOUVER, BC
Alex Zhang Hungtai’s lo-fi sound, minimalist rockabilly riffs, and bad ass attitude make for an energetic and fun show, but check out his albums where the production brings the songs to greater life.
FENCES | SEATTLE, WA
Seattle based, tattoo-covered singer-songwriter Chris Mansfield’s well-written acoustic indie folk/pop songs about relationships gone wrong balance the pain with some uptempo moments, always letting Mansfield’s voice take center stage.
COLLEEN GREEN | LOS ANGELES, CA
Armed with fuzzy electric guitar and a drum machine, Green is a master of the classic California surf sound, with a lo-fi brand of punk pop that is part 60’s girl group, part 90’s power punk / pop tart.
GROUPLOVE | LOS ANGELES, CA
This Los Angeles quintet craft delightful and apt sun-soaked tunes that revel in full-band harmonies and exceptional instrumentation that features unusual but compelling guitar riffs.
THE HEAD & THE HEART | SEATTLE, WA
The Seattle based folk pop band that just landed with Sub Pop blends elements of bluegrass with pop melodies, weaving in smooth vocal harmonies atop catchy piano lines, with bass and drums driving in the background.
HIGH HIGHS | NEW YORK CITY, NY
Sydney duo Jack Milas and Oli Chang dole out wispy atmospherics in their style of dream pop, where gently picked guitars, organs and percussion meld with vocals whispered in a high range, creating rising harmonies and lilting melodies.
HUNX AND HIS PUNX | SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Think garage rock meets garish pop culture, where the endlessly entertaining band blends the sugary pop of 60s girl groups with garage-rock.
LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER | PORTLAND, ME
Lady Lamb, a.k.a. Aly Spaltro, whose volatile delivery of love songs vacillates between extremes, from shifting tempos, to changing vocal temperaments, to poetry to angst filled garage rock.
THE LIPTONIANS | WINNIPEG, MB
Winnipeg’s The Liptonians are true DIY’ers, crafting tight pop melodies that involve experimental arrangements and rich instrumentation (keyboards, percussion, organ, accordion) with a palpable and contagious energy.
LORD HURON | LOS ANGELES, CA
Musician Ben Schneider creates beautiful music that thrives on the natural, with songs that take their shape from a blend of folk guitar, tribal percussion, and Calypso inspired harmony.
MIDDLE BROTHER | BROOKLYN, NY
This rock supergroup – John J. McCauley III (Deer Tick), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit) – debuted at SXSW last year, and they marked their anniversary with even more of their popular alt-country folk meets soulful rock n roll.
MONA | NASHVILLE, TN
This is another band whose rise can be attributed to their internet fame. With witty lyrics, driving guitar, thumping percussion, and emotional vocal delivery, this retro-sounding indie rock band is a must see.
OBERHOFER | BROOKLYN, NY
Brad Oberhofer, who records solo but tours as a quartet, left the PNW for NYC, where his lo-fi indie rock enchants crowds with his infectious melodies and energetic live shows.
PORCELAIN RAFT | LONDON, UK
London-based Italian Mauro Remiddi, former frontman of Sunny Day Sets Fire, is now the psych-pop band Porcelain Raft, mixing in piano and electronic for a smooth chillwave vibe.
REVOLVER | PARIS, FR
This French pop trio utilizes spare and energetic guitar, occasional cello instrumentation, and lush and charming vocal harmonies for a sultry chamber pop sound with elements of 60’s pop.
ROMANY RYE | LOS ANGELES, CA
Calling to mind the days of Laurel Canyon folk and rock, singer/songwriter Luke MacMaster and Co. have picked up the torch where their counterparts left off while continuing to update the sound.
SALLIE FORD & THE SOUND OUTSIDE | PORTLAND, OR
Ford, guided by her three-piece band with drum, bass and guitar instrumentation, belts out retro blues/soul/jazz/rock sounds and sassy lyrics, full of brashness and gusto befitting the talented band.
SHIMMERING STARS | VANCOUVER, BC
British Columbia quartet Shimmering Stars have a retro 60’s pop vibe but a modern indie sensibility, turning out stark tunes swathed in reverb and warm melodies.
SPECTRALS | LEEDS, UK
Britain Louis Jones turns out lo-fi garage pop rock that is a reverb heavy blend of 60’s/70’s soul, Motown, doo-wop and The Beach Boys, recreating the sound of an great era.
COLIN STETSON | MONTREAL, QC
Montréal-based musician Stetson, whose credits include Bell Orchestre, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, plays his bass saxophone with mastery, building an almost symphonic presence with the single instrument.
SWEATERS | LOS ANGELES, CA
This Los Angeles indie-pop band is brazen, and at times fierce in their music, melding catchy hooks, driving rhythms, piano overdubs, lush melodic harmonies, and even a farfisa organ into the mix.
TYPHOON | PORTLAND, OR
Another Portland band – the 11+ member indie orchestral rockers, Typhoon – continues to be much talked about, for their vast cast of musicians (2 drum, 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 guitars, all singing) and beautiful, tender symphonic folk rock.
WILD FLAG | PORTLAND, OR
Buzz abounds over this indie rock super group of Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium) and Rebecca Cole (Minders). With a psychedelic bent, and hardcore rock chops, be sure to catch a show or their debut album later this fall.
YELLOW OSTRICH | NEW YORK CITY, NY
Wisconsin native Alex Schaaf is new to the scene, bringing an innovative and dynamic style of music that mixes looped acapella vocals with thumping drums, distorted guitar, and various sound effects.
YUCK | LONDON, UK
This London four-piece is an internet phenom with a slacker/garage sound, jangly, distorted guitars, and a youthful spirit reminiscent of Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies, Guided By Voices and Pavement.