Month: March 2013
SXSW 2013: Blank Tapes @ Valhalla Presented by Antenna Farm...
The Blank Tapes stage presence is best compared to the Muppets band, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, except Animal would be playing the tambourine. … read more
SXSW 2013: Gepe @ The Friends Bar – Sound of...
I heard this Chilean band’s soundwaves reverberate through Sixth Street in Downtown Austin and straight to my ear while on the fly and decided to stop in and catch their set. The stage presence of Gepe turned into a dreamy, energetic Enrique Iglesias style of soft arm waving, combined with occasional fist bumping. … read more
Alabama Shakes @ Saltair 03.08
I’ve been a fan of Alabama Shakes for shy of a year and even though I love their album, I was expecting a canned performance, appealing to a broad audience, sticking only to their album and no jam seasons. I was wrong. The Alabama Shakes have one of the tightest rhythm sections I’ve seen in quite some time—without their quick stops and interplay, the vocals of Brittany Howard would not have a platform to launch from. … read more
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Sallie Ford and...
When I first saw Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside perform in Portland, I was hooked, and I selfishly wanted them to become more popular, hoping that would mean tour dates that included Salt Lake on the route. This is the second time they’ve visited Salt Lake (that I know of, at least), and hopefully not the last! Sallie embodies the sounds of a wicked vintage diva, from throwing it back to surf rock influences, to using the upright bass (an element I especially dig), to belting sassy lyrics with crude themes. … read more
SXSW 2013: People of Letters @ 18th floor at Hilton...
I was introduced to People Of Letters in passing and recommended by Angela Brown, editor of SLUG Magazine, who also attended the panel. The one and only member of the panel I would consider marring would be Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls, although I don’t think it would work out, since her husband Neil Gaiman was in the same room. … read more
SXSW 2013: California X @ Holy Mountain 03.13
I discovered California X through the SXSW schedule at a time when I needed to fill a hole during my day. It was one of those “watch/listen to one thirty minute segment and throw caution to the wind” situations, and I hoped California X was something I could get into. … read more
SXSW 2013: Baths @ Mohawk 03.13
Baths is many things, but his humor in between his non-transitions of DJ songs took the prize. One of the funniest things that came out of Will Wiesenfeld’s vocal box (his real one) was “All great DJs have transitions between songs. Well, I don’t, so they can all fuck it.” Words alone are not a good example of Baths’ humor, so I recommend you see the “band” in person. … read more
SXSW 2013: The Wolf @ Hotel Vegas/Volstead 03.13
It would be great to see The Wolf play with The Entrance Band, for the pure joy in showing The Wolf how an adult garage psych band really makes original music. … read more
SXSW 2013: Café Tacvba @ Stubb’s NPR Music Showcase 03.13
I made my way to the Stubb’s stage, which was in an outside-concert-style scheme. It was nighttime, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make it through the line in time to see Café Tacvba, as the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s were booked to play next. I made it in with ease, though, and got up front with a packed crowd during their first song, which was a rock n’ roll–ranchera hybrid played to easygoing spiritedness from the front of the audience. … read more
SXSW 2013: Nü Sensae @ Holy Mountain Backward Enabler PR...
I would marry Andrea Lukic. There was just something about her—the same thing I like about Chelsea Wolfe—which makes me think that she would have a nice conversation with me one day over tea, then strangle me in my sleep the next. I like that in a girl. … read more