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SXSW 2010: BANDS TO WATCH

With SXSW 2010 creeping up,  Discosalt has a preview of this years bands to watch. There are some amazing bands to check out, so clear the rest of your schedule for the afternoon and comb through our list:

JAPANDROIDS

Japandroids (JPNDRDS) is a two piece band from Vancouver, BC. This ‘band’ started in 2006 as a creative outlet for the post-teenage angst of Brian King and David Prowse. Originally intending to be a trio, the boys decided to forgo the logistical nightmare of having a ‘lead singer’ and do it themselves. As a consequence, Japandroids are 1 guitar, 1 set of drums, and 2 vocalizers. They call it garage rock. They don’t care what you call it, as long as it’s not minimal. Japandroids are maximal – a two piece band trying to sound like a five piece band.

http://www.myspace.com/japandroids

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
20 Galaxy Room

CASIO KIDS

Since releasing the first ever Norwegian language pop single in the UK – Grønt lys i alle ledd/Togens hule (Moshi Moshi) – back in October 2008, the electropop collective Casiokids have gone from strength to strength. With 170 shows in 18 countries in 2009 alone, and album deals with Moshi Moshi and Polyvinyl in the bag, the band have plans to release 3 albums in 2009 after previously only releasing a series of limited edition 7″s. Their live show has been known to include giant papier maché heads, dancing monkeys, shadow puppets, 3 metre tall orange monsters, and human sized balloons but the key to their growing fanbase is without a doubt their ability to create melodies that make you want to dance, or at the very, very least grin. Often described as a splicing of Hot Chip, Røyksopp and Sigur Ros and with a live show reminiscent of a fledgling Flaming Lips or Of Monteal, it’s no wonder that the NME declared them “The best thing to come out of Norway since black metal”, The Guardian said “Casiokids you rule in all sorts of wonderful ways”, and the BBC summed up one of their live shows thus “The band basically started a party on stage that emanated into the crowd like beams from the sun – warming all of us who presumably swam there. They swapped instruments, pogo jumped around stage and changed cow bell duties every few minutes. Pineapple shakers, multicolored drum sticks and grinning faces convinced the crowd as they played some absolutely brilliant pop songs.” The album “Topp stemning in lokal bar” is due for release in North America via Polyvinyl in March 2010.

http://www.casiokids.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
20 Galaxy Room

DAS RACIST

Das Racist is an Art Rap/Freak Folk/World Music/Hare Krishna Hardcore duo based in Brooklyn, New York, comprised of Queens-born Himanshu Suri, San Francisco-born Victor Vazquez and hypeman DAP aka Ashok Kondabolu. The two met at Vassar Art College in Massachusetts, where Victor was Himanshu’s resident advisor in a “Students of Color for Social Justice” themed Freshman year dormitory.

http://www.myspace.com/dasracist

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Buffalo Billiards

BOWERBIRDS

Bowerbirds’ debut album, Hymns for a Dark Horse, was nearly one hundred percent focused on the thesis that the earth is a sacred place with merit beyond us, and that humans are just visitors here. Its contrapuntal harmonies documented a moment in the life of the songwriter and the life of the band – Beth Tacular and Phil Moore living in an airstream in rural North Carolina, building a cabin of reclaimed boards by hand in the woods – but did so without, as far as we could tell, delving into their lives at all. While these weren’t protest songs, per se, they had the wry anger of a “Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.” The songs were interconnected, both musically and thematically, a musical whitepaper of the very best, most listenable kind. So it was a big surprise when we heard the songs collected on Upper Air. Bowerbirds were revealing more, writing from a personal voice, exploring love and human emotions in ways that have never been fully fleshed-out in their songwriting before. They have not abandoned their worldview from Hymns, but the lyrics are no longer just observational. These are songs written from a personal place, examining the contradictions inherent to a conscious life, and this emotional depth makes for an undeniably powerful collection of songs.

http://www.deadoceans.com/artist.php?name=bowerbirds

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Club de Ville

CALIFONE

Califone is a band that defies this blueprint. Their albums are full of layers and textures, offering endless depth, entire universes to lose yourself in – and beyond the thick spectrum of sound, they do something even more important: They write great songs. Califone is a band that will stand the test of time. Califone’s music has often been described as cinematic, and the band has been known to contribute live improvised soundtracks to silent films. Many of these performances have been released on Califone albums Deceleration One and Deceleration Two. Primary songwriter and vocalist Tim Rutili’s artistic endeavors stretch beyond music, and include the creation of surreal short documentaries, music videos and experimental films.

http://www.califonemusic.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Club de Ville

FRIGHTENED RABBIT

Frightened Rabbit return with a brand new single ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’ released through FatCat on 16th November, a primer for the band’s forthcoming and as yet untitled abum, expected in Spring 2010. Boasting a stunning string arrangment from labelmate, Teutonic ivory-botherer, Hauschka (http://www.myspace.com/hauschka) ‘Swim Until You Can’t See Land’ takes up where we left off, a hugely anthemic song that is perfect as a first indiacator of the new album’s direction, it’s very upbeatness perhaps to be read as a subconscious riposte to the angst of the preceeding, ‘Midnight Organ Fight’ album. Scott expands, “’Swim Until You Can’t See Land’ was the title I had in my mind before I even started writing the album; I was becoming more and more interested in the idea of a rejection of the habits and behaviour most people see as normal, and in turn embracing a certain madness. It’s about losing your mind in order to reset the mind and the body. Forget what’s gone before and wash it out. This is not necessarily a geographical journey, as the ‘swim’ can involve any activity in which you can lose yourself. It’s a good introduction to the record as the theme unravels therein.”

http://www.wearefrightenedrabbit.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Scottish Arts Council

18 Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center

CUBIC ZIRCONIA

Huddled around bowls of sushi rice and bottles of Sake in a hole in the wall Sushi-ya on East 7th Street, three of the four of members of NYC’s Cubic Zirconia are letting it all hang out. The East Village spaced-out RnB acid house revivalist outfit Cubic Zirconia is just getting started. The three founding members Nick Hook, Todd Weinstock, and Tiombe spent the last ten months file sharing and co-creating songs between the hours of 9pm and 5am fueled by high-grade java and premium sake. The result is what Tiombe affectionately refers so as “Soul white boy nerdy disco dance house fun party time music.”

http://www.cubiczirconiamusic.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Speakeasy

THE WALKMEN

The Walkmen is a rock band formed in New York in 2000. In the late 90’s, the guys constructed an analogue recording studio in an abandoned Nash Rambler factory in west Harlem, where they self-recorded their first album, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone. Three of the members now reside in Brooklyn, and two have moved on to the cheaper pastures of Philadelphia. The band has released 4 albums of original material–including 2008’s You and Me, which still sounds as fresh as the day it was conceived. The band has travelled extensively around the world in the last 8 years, but has always called New York home. They are currently in New York recording a 5th album, which is slated for release in early 2010.

http://www.thewalkmen.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Stubbs

18  Day Stage Cafe Austin Convention Center

SPOON

http://www.spoontheband.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17 Stubbs

SURFER BLOOD

Meet Surfer Blood: they call West Palm Beach home and, while still in their early 20s, have penned an album worth of catchy, summery indie songs that even the most hook-laden power pop band would rightfully be jealous of.. Comprised of members JP (dubbed “The Mastermind” by the rest of the band), TJ, Thomas Brian and Marcos, Surfer Blood met one fateful night at an after party for Miami’s Ultra Festival, though they didn’t attend the festival itself (“We do not like the D’n’B,” they proclaim). After discussing music, what else, for the remainder of the night, JP and TJ decided to recruit the three other guys to perfect a couple of songs they had been working on for some time, and thus, the band was formed.

http://www.myspace.com/SurferBlood

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
17  Wave Rooftop

18      Lustre Pearl

19      Mohawk Patio

DEER TICK

There are many reasons why Deer Tick are an excellent band. Here are mine. Firstly, they have great songs. War Elephant is a great album. The follow up, Born on Flag Day is just as strong. Alt-country is a curious genre, often misconstrued, misrepresented and misunderstood. Well, for me, this lot here’s a contemporary blueprint. There’s country (duh), punk, blues, folk, grunge and garage rock. Hell, even their choice of cover versions – Replacements, Michael Hurley, John Prine, The Sex Pistols and Chuck Berry – goes a long way to pinning down their sound. McCauley’s voice is a hybrid of Kurt Cobain and Gary Louris from the Jayhawks. Sometimes he sounds like he’s been gargling gravel with moonshine. He can croon, he can yelp and he can shout. He’s a superb lead singer, backed by a talented, if mostly acquiescent unit.

http://partisanrecords.com/deertick

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 Beauty Bar

19 Red Eyed Fly

SEABEAR

Seabear is 7 Icelanders who just finished recording their 2nd full
length album “We Built A Fire”. The band started out as a one man
project of singer/guitarist Sindri Már Sigfússon (also the main man
behind Sin Fang Bous and recently dubbed the “icelandic Beck” by
Rolling Stone magazine) but grew into a big experimental-indie-folk
collective with their debut album “The Ghost That Carried Us Away” in
2007. The band has been linked to their icelandic friends Múm and
Sigur Rós as well as being described as “Sufjan Stevens meets an
unplugged Arcade Fire” (Clash magazine).

http://www.myspace.com/seabear

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 The Hideout

THE XX

The xx are a London quartet, featuring the dual lead vocals of Romy Madley-Croft and Oliver Sim (who also play lead and bass guitar respectively), Baria Quereshi (keyboards and guitar) and Jamie Smith (beats, MPC sampler).

http://www.thexx.info

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 Mohawk Patio

19 Central Presbyterian Church

BAD VEINS

Bad Veins are a rarity in today’s musical landscape: An act who didn’t set out to become critical darlings or the next “buzz” band, but managed to achieve both after only playing a handful of shows. However, despite the fact that Bad Veins’ music has been instantly embraced since their inception in late 2006, the duo of Benjamin Davis and Sebastien Schultz decided not to rush out the disc you’re currently holding in your hand. The result is Bad Veins, an album that’s unique but familiar, and not only lives up to the hype but surpasses it. Looking back, it’s hard to believe it all started out a little over two years ago in a non-descript attic in Cincinnati, Ohio.

http://www.myspace.com/badveins

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 Red 7

BAND OF HORSES

http://Bandofhorses.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 Stubbs

19 Central Presbyterian Church

LOVE OF DIAGRAMS

After much anticipation, Love of Diagrams unveil Nowhere Forever, their third studio album. Recorded at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle with producer Ryan Hadlock (Gossip, Blonde Redhead, Steve Malkmus among many others) Nowhere Forever, is the guitar-drenched dream-pop record Love of Diagrams have always wanted to make. Throughout their career the band have constantly stretched and explored their sound – from the pummeling instrumental beginnings of 2003’s The Target Is You, through to a skeletal minimalism and bold introduction of vocals with 2007’s critically acclaimed Mosaic (recorded by Bob Weston and released world-wide by Matador Records).

http://www.loveofdiagrams.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
18 Wave Rooftop

YACHT

http://www.myspace.com/yacht

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
20 Cedar Street Courtyard

NEON INDIAN

An elusive new project from composer Alan Palomo. Neon Indian delivers equal parts synthetic nostalgia, Dreampop lullabies, and grinding guitar noise to create something eerier than the sum of its parts. Forged after a hazy winter gathering in Texas, this initial batch of tracks were the result of field recordings, record samples, a collection of bizarre synth sounds. Soliciting the visual acrobatics of Video artist Alicia Scardetta, this project is setting out to be a multimedia maelstrom. Orbiting around the themes of drug induced heartbreak, weary afternoons, and lost chances, this music provides a lush soundtrack to the deadbeat exploits of teenage ennui . Neon Indian’s bedroom ballads have already forged the upcoming Psychic Chasms, set for release this summer. They’ve been compared to New Order, Future Bible Heroes, and most recently said to sound like a saw-wave cutting a Doobie Brother’s song in half. Expect much racket to be had from this fresh faced crew.

http://www.myspace.com/neonindian

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 Club De Ville

THE ANTLERS

Sometimes you have to put yourself first, no matter how difficult that notion seems; no matter how much time and effort you’ve already put into this one person—the person who’s reduced your very being to its absolute core. Just ask Peter Silberman, the string-pulling founder of The Antlers, a solo project that suddenly went widescreen on the self-released Hospice LP (now receiving a proper widespread pressing through Frenchkiss). The first Antlers effort to feature two key permanent players—powerhouse drummer Michael Lerner and the layer-lathering multi-instrumentalist Darby Cicci—it’s an album with a sound that’s actually as ambitious as its concept.

http://www.antlersmusic.com/

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 Galazy Room Backyard

SUCKERS

Suckers merged as the sound and aesthetic of three one-man bands playing together. Pan, Quinn and Austin each played multiple instruments per song: singing, shouting and chanting in unison. The trio knew they were missing something or someone, and thankfully, that person arrived in drummer/keyboardist Brian Aiken, fresh off a year abroad in Hungary. Once Brian was on board, the band hit their stride, packing local venues and sharing bills with friends and kindred spirits in Yeasayer, MGMT, Dragons Of Zynth, Chairlift, Kyp Malone and Awesome Color, among others. Their heralded live performances feature group singing, primal beats, future sounds, Serbian interpretive dancers, trumpet blasts, religious truths and sheer enjoyment.

http://www.myspace.com/suckers

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 Galazy Room Backyard

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club most recently released a three-disc Live DVD on Abstract Dragon/Vagrant Records The DVD features over two hours of live concert footage from three sold out shows in Berlin, Dublin and Glasgow. The footage documents the end of the band’s 2007 tour in support of Baby 81, their most recent full-length release and was directed and edited by Tessa Angus with live audio mixed by BRMC’s own Peter Hayes.

http://www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 La Zona Rosa

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART

Since forming in early 2007, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart have become one of the most talked about pop bands in years. Their distinctive brand of noisy pop is a tidy distillation of all the great noise-pop precedents – early MBV, House of Love, Pale Saints, Rocketship – but with that incredible exuberance and energy that the Pains bring to every song. They have released a handful of singles on classy labels like Slumberland, Fortuna Pop!, Atomic Beat and Cloudberry, each one issued to greater anticipation and even wilder reception. Critical acclaim has come from such varied quarters as The New York Times, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Fader, Big Takeover, Skatterbrain, Drowned In Sound, Indie-MP3, Clash Magazine and uncountable others.

http://www.thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 Mohawk

NO AGE

http://www.noagela.blogspot.com

SXSW PERFORMANCES
March
19 Red Patio 7

20 Barbarella