SXSW madness starting with a (all ages!) bang!

My first recommendation for the official start of SXSW, Tuesday March 17th would be the lovely all-ages Terrorbird/Force Field Day party.

Highlights include chillwave (bear with me, it really is a genre) artists Toro Y Moi. Toro Y Moi aka Chaz Bundick made it to Texas A&M University last semester with a great set for MSC Town Hall's Lunch Box Concert series and has been winning audiences over with his sublime vocals that drip and drop over lusciously layered beats that gurgle with soul. Check out his debut full-length album here.

Neon Indian has made a name for himself with the same sort of 8-bit-meets-morphine-and-molasses type of electronic sound. They have been featured at festivals all around the nation (ACL, Funfunfunfest, Bonaroo '10) and should be breaking into the rest of America's eardrums soon after their SXSW domination. Check out their great debut album here.

The Rural Alberta Advantage play perfect indie-folk jams. Throw in some xylaphone, some one-and-two-and electro beats sparringly along with songs reminiscent of the places we came to love and cherish growing up and you've got yourself a bonafied SXSW breakthrough artist. Check out their stunning album, Hometowns, here.


If you're not sure who Real Estate is, then for God sakes scroll down about half-way and check out the post about them on this blog earlier in the year. Think bonfire on the beach with your best friends and a couple guitars to get the idea of the vibe these guys convey (60's california, not 00's O.C.). Check it here.

Those Darlins from Tennessee are an amalgamation of jingle-jangled whiskey-tinged breath along with 60's girl pop jams. But much more of the former. Outlaw country tunes sung by twenty-something year old girls doesn't get any better than this. Song matter includes: drunk biking, broken hearts, country cookin' and good ol' honkeytonkin'! Check it out here.


Oh yea... forgot to mention the FREE BEER for those of age.


Terrorbird / Force Field Day Party
Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, Real Estate, The Rural Alberta Advantage, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Matias Aguayo, Those Darlins, Beach Fossils, Oh No Ono, Choir of Young Believers, The Fresh & Onlys, Frankie Rose and the Outs, Stricken City, Inlets, Ernest Gonzales, The Splinters at Red 7 [a] [m] [noon-6pm, free, all ages, free beer noon-2pm]
(from showlistaustin.com)

It's been a minute but...

It's about that time folks... SXSW is only a month away and the parties and unofficial showcases are already being revealed. I will be posting all of the unofficial stuff going down. And by unofficial I mean free. No badges. No bullshit. Yes hipsters (as far as the eye can see). Yes Lone Star (most of the unofficial stuff going on is 21+ but there are a few dope parties that are 18+ or all ages). There is no need to spend $600+ on a laminated badge when you can catch all of the real stuff happening with the people who just want to throw a good time and don't care about the money. I'm talking house parties, parking lots, parks, genuine DIY festivals that provide free quality entertainment for the hell of it. I was able to go to SXSW last year for two days and even then I was overloaded with choices of free stuff to check out. If you've never experienced unofficial SXSW please do yourself a favor and check it out.

I will be posting links to RSVP/whereabouts to house parties throughout the month leading up to SXSW so keep checking back.

To kick off the festival before it even begins, there are a few pre-opening day parties that should start off the week just right.

Tuesday, March 13th is looking to shape up really nice. There are multiple house parties featuring some amazing local and national talent.

Day Before the Mess Fest

• Thee Oh Sees (SF, 1am), The Fresh and Onlys (SF, 12:20am), Woven Bones (midnight), Wounded Lion (LA, 11:40pm), The Baths (SF, 11:20pm), Shapes Have Fangs (11pm) at the 21st Street CO-OP (707 W. 21st St.) [+]
• Harlem (11:30pm), The Beets (NY, 11pm), Beach Fossils (NY, 10:30pm), Air Waves (NY, 10pm), Total Slacker (NY, 9:30pm), Fungi Girls (Denton, 9pm) at House of Guys(1907 Rio Grande) [+]
• The Carrots (8:30pm), Reading Rainbow (PA, 8pm), Eternal Summers (VA, 7:30pm), The Girls at Dawn (NY, 7pm), Predator (GA, 6:30pm) at a house off of 30th and Red River (near Austin vet hospital) [BBQ, BYOB)]

(copied from showlist austin)

Austin locals Shapes Have Fangs are an amazing throwback band that calls on the beginnings of R&B and surf rock. Remember that song Wipeout by The Surfaris? Just like that with a little more grime around the edges.

Check out their album here

Denton band Fungi Girls play some good ol' punk-inspired-noise-infused-surf-tested-Texas-approved garage rrrrrock.

Check out their album here

Harlem have been the garage darlings of Austin for the last 6 months or so and specialize in jangly catchy minute-long songs about girls, drugs, france, and everything in between. Check out their beautiful debut album, Free Drugs, here

The Carrots channel Motown greatness in all its glory.

Check their two song EP here

I will post more shows that I will be attending along with downloads so you can check it out and enjoy the noise before the glory goes down.