Austin – My feet are swollen, wrists adorned with ten wristbands, body aches, hunger pangs, and I feel like I need about a week’s worth of sleep. SXSW is one of the best but most draining music festivals. Every building is turned in to a music venue which means you’re often running across town. Lines are posted down entire blocks while fans hope to see the best showcases. Though it’s a fun vacation from reality, Austinites are ready to take back their town and return to the simplicity of seeing a few live shows a week rather than several live shows a day.
BURGERMANIA at Hotel Vegas has become a SXSW staple. With three stages, there is music constantly playing in order to accommodate over thirty bands. Burger is a small label run out of Orange County, CA and is a California staple. The bands tend to have a gritty sound but range from punk to psych to everything in between. With the diversity of the showcasing bands, it’s impossible to attend this showcase and not find something you like. Of course, there is also the chance you’ll find something you love as I did with Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel. Hailing from Los Angeles, this band was pure psychedelic bliss. Complete with spiraling keyboard sounds and an energetic tambourine player, this band was a welcomed surprise. Recently released, Nico And Her Psychedelic Subconscious contains danceable bubblegum-psych that came off perfectly during their live set. Songs such as “Nico” can only be described as groovy. Live, their instrumental jams are even sharper than on the album. They have this sound that rises and falls causing your head to spin in the best way possible. If only they played at night—prime time for a hippie freak out. Other notable bands from BURGERMANIA included the psych/surf rock sounds of Guantanamo Baywatch and the dogged punk sound of Dead Ghosts.
Red Bull Sound Select pulled great acts to The Belmont each day but Saturday’s showcase was most anticipated. Rapper Danny Brown has gained much prominence in the rap world for his unique use of the genre. He’s not your typical rapper. Entering the stage with a green tipped Mohawk and continuously sticking out his tongue, Brown prides himself on being odd; of course it’s in a great way. His voice has a higher tone, which makes it interesting to listen to and during his live show; he uses this to emphasize phrases. Brown has an energy that completely draws in the crowd, whether a rap fan or not, you can’t help but love him. The crowd especially took to his song “Drinkin and Smokin” from his latest album, “Old,” probably because that’s what many people were doing during his set. Along with his oddities come smart, poignant, and funny lyrics. I wish I could watch Danny Brown’s insanity unfold on a daily basis because you never know what he’ll do next.
Brown was joined by openers, Kydd Jones (above), A.Dd+, and Lucki Eck$ who each brought the energy to another level in their own right. Jones is an Austin native who is helping to create a rap scene within the city. He combines hip-hop with a strong R&B sensibility and brings an air of sophistication to his music. A.Dd+ is a hip-hop duo out of Dallas who perfectly plays off of each other to hype the audience. Another city not necessarily known for it’s rap, this group shows that with a true hip hop sensibility, a rap scene can be created anywhere. The showstopper of the openers was Lucki Eck$, a teenage rapper out of Chicago. Lucki didn’t have to do much on stage to have the audience engaged. They were hanging on every word. He is an artist where the depth of the lyrics can’t be heard on first listen. I have a feeling many will go back to hear his words again after the SXSW chaos has ended.
Another band making its mark this SXSW is July Talk. A featured artist in the School Night showcase at The Parish, this 5-piece stunned the audience with their up beat indie rock sound. The soulful yet sweet voice of singer Leah Fay would lure anyone in to a music venue. Not to mention, their wild, energy packed performance. Guitarist Peter Dreimanis, leaves no area of the stage untouched as he moves about not missing a beat on his instrument. Between seeing all the bands you plan on, one of the best things about SXSW is stumbling upon greats you never expected. For me, July Talk is certainly one of those hidden gems.
It’s a good thing we get a whole year to rest before the next SXSW.
Ilyse Kaplan
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