Austin – I write this having just heard of the terrible tragedy that occurred last night outside The Mohawk in Austin, TX. This is a bar I go to often to hear incredible live music and in fact, I spent most of the day there yesterday. I speak for myself and the staff of BestNewBands.com when I say; my heart goes out to the victims and families who were struck by a vehicle last night around 12:30 PM.
For those who have attended SXSW festival in Austin, TX, you know there are two ways to do this festival—completely go-with-the-flow, drifting from bar to bar knowing that somehow you’ll stumble upon great music and people you know. The second, that I have found myself falling victim to this year, is keeping a tight schedule to ensure you catch every band you hope to see (or are meant to cover). Yesterday was the official start of the festival’s music portion, though unofficial happenings kicked off the night before.
On March 10, I caught producer Tom Cruz and friends at Holy Mountain. Shaka Girvan showcased artists including rapper, Fat Tony. The venue was completely filled; Girvan and Tony knew just how to play to the intoxicated crowd who would not stop dancing. Favorites such as “BKNY” and “Hood Party” were sloppily joined in on. Though Fat Tony lives in Houston and Tom Cruz/Garvin in Brooklyn, the two come together each SXSW to share their brand of hip-hop with new audiences. Each year, the venues and crowds get bigger. They are a duo I’ve followed for some time and I keep waiting for the year they headline the major showcases. Fat Tony’s rap is accessible and holds powerful messages within the lyrics without preaching. Tom Cruz perfectly captures Tony’s essence within his beats, creating music that pulls even from Fat Tony’s punk vibes. Though one of the first performances I watched this year, it will certainly be a favorite.
The next day I found myself at the same venue just in time to watch New York City’s SKATERS. They’ve been a much talked about band around the festival, playing some major showcases. I quickly discovered I didn’t need coffee that morning, SKATERS was a fine replacement. Opening with their powerhouse first track off their recent release, “Manhattan,” I was thankful for their lengthy sound check. The album is great but this is a band that’s meant to be seen live. They have a loud, gritty sound that makes the hair on your arms stand up. You can fully feel New York in their music. It’s the type of music that would be fitting in a torn up punk venue in Brooklyn or a bougie club in the meatpacking district. They are sure to get Strokes comparisons being from New York and having a raw rock n’ roll sound but they pull from many genres to create something completely their own. Synth and drum machines are used so subtly on their tracks, you’d hardly know they were there. Songs like “Band Breaker,” pull from reggae then they’ll hit you “Deadbolt,” a rough rock anthem. Day crowds can be mellow; I hope to catch this band revving up a night show with a rowdy audience.
The much talked about showcase for the day was Spin’s House of Vans at The Mohawk. The line up was powerful, showcasing Eagulls, Angel Olsen, Deap Vally, Charli XCX, Kelela, and rounding out the night with Pusha T. The first of their six SXSW shows, Deap Vally pulled out an excellent performance on the small indoor stage. Guitarist, Lindsay Troy and drummer, Julie Edwards Pirrone have been building their fan base, touring festivals around the world. Their first time at SXSW as a band, this is their opportunity to create a larger buzz within the US. If they keep drawing out performances like they did yesterday afternoon, they could come away as one of the most talked about bands at this year’s festival. Taking a page from old school female rockers, the girls wore matching sequined outfits giving off a full rock n’ roll superhero vibe. The pipes on both Troy and Pirrone are outstanding and fill out their sound though drums and guitar are the only instruments used. Troy has a rock snarl that would draw anyone who heard it straight in to the music venue. Like SKATERS, they have a great record, but this is a band that is meant to be seen live. Luckily, you have 4 more opportunities this SXSW.
Other notable performances included the stunning Angel Olsen who packed the entire inside of The Mohawk with a line down the block of hopefuls who didn’t get in. With her self-proclaimed “yodel,” Olsen has a unique voice that calms even a rowdy festival crowd. It was just the mellow afternoon performance I needed to recharge. I also stumbled upon a beautiful acoustic set from Kurt Vile at Cheer Up Charlie’s. As a fan of Vile’s twangy reverb sound, it was a happy accident to walk to find him strumming an acoustic guitar in the back of my favorite bar. Another stand out was Austin band, The Venus Illuminato who took over The Volstead on March 10th. I have never seen as epic a rock n’ roll slide as lead singer Rob Franco attempted, we are just lucky he didn’t slide in to anyone. They are surely a local must see for music fans this SXSW.
I’m off to the trenches for day two.
All Photos By Ilyse Kaplan
Ilyse Kaplan
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