Austin – The number of Austin-area music fanatics multiplied this week as SXSW 2016 kicked into high gear. Thrill-seeking audiophiles paraded through the city and bounced between venues to search for the sounds they craved. City streets were blocked off, the lines grew longer by the minute, and coffee was the only thing keeping people
Chicago – U.K. trio The Virginmarys will soon be releasing sophomore album Divides. In preparation, the English punk rockers have been touring relentlessly, including supporting Shinedown on a North American tour and playing South By South West in Austin, Texas. The Virginmarys first formed in 2007, as a project between friends Ally Dickaty (vocals/guitar) and
Los Angeles – The Minneapolis based group Night Moves triumphantly return, after nearly four years, with sophomore LP Pennied Days (Domino Recording Co.). The band’s first record, 2012′s Colored Emotions, was a collection of poppy, 70s vibrancy. It was nostalgic yet distinctive. It heavily wore its influence on its sleeves. On this latest effort, principal members John Pelant (vocals, guitar) and
Los Angeles – Nashville rockers The Wild Feathers knew they wanted to do something a little bit different for the follow-up to their 2013 self-titled debut. While their sound has had a bit of a rough around the edges quality, the four friends and bandmates wanted to tap into the raw, live sound they had created after
Chicago – Baltimore rapper Tate Kobang is ready to bring his city, er, cities to the mainstream hip hop game. Tate Kobang, born Joshua Goods, is a twenty-three year-old (soon-to-be twenty-four year-old, this April) Maryland native, who grew up on the streets of Northeast Baltimore, experiencing the pit-falls of poverty, as well as the joys of
Austin – SXSW officially ended Sunday, but that’s a mostly ceremonial date: Saturday night hosts the last of the big showcases. Whether SXSW was structured this way or we accidentally put together a theme, Best New Bands’ Saturday schedule was made up of loud, energetic, party-all-night sets from Joey Bada$$, Sweater Beats, and Earl
Austin – The penultimate day of SXSW saw the bad weather continue—thank God this festival is mostly indoors—but it wasn’t too bad as long as you weren’t a pedicab driver. Tip those people well, by the way. Friday’s offerings included two of Best New Bands’ most anticipated sets, Christine and the Queens and Until the
Austin – Day three marks roughly the halfway point for SXSW, and it featured some of the best day shows yet. Which was fortunate, because the weather really took a dive. Making it to both Viet Cong and Ibeyi, whose sets were just ten minutes apart, was a bit of a personal victory. Viet Cong
Austin – Wednesday was—fingers crossed—the most frustrating day schedule-wise at SXSW. Attendees were forced to make painful choices between Elliphant and Shamir, and those of us that chose Elliphant ran into a line that wouldn’t budge. But the line was moving smoothly for the Ray Ban showcase at Boiler Room, and it wound up being
Austin – A lot of people say SXSW Music doesn’t really start until Wednesday, but those chumps missed out on day one. It was a little slower than usual as people waited in line to collect wristbands, but careful planners could have filled up their schedules. Or, just stayed at Spotify House. They had some