Reviews

If you're going to include in your press release that someone "has a beautiful voice, her vocal range is amazing, her songs are dreamy and magical...," I'm expecting to be wowed by the music in question. Unfortunately, in Holly Miranda's debut album The Magician's Private Library, her "amazing" range was never proven to me.

Click here to read the rest at Red River Noise.

Last day! And why was it so cold? Seriously, this is Austin. It doesn't get cold in December, let alone during Spring Break. So doesn't need to be said that I didn't enjoy nearly as much music, thanks to the weather. Thanks a lot buddy.

Good in the Sack @ Aquarium: It's been 4 years since this Austin punk band played on stage. It felt like good times in 2004 at the Backroom.

Carney @ Purevolume House: Caught a little of their set before I headed to an interview but the two songs I caught were pretty rocking.

Dead Confederate @ Encore: This band played from their new rocking direction & less of the droning songs from "Wreaking Ball." I dug it.

3 @ Encore: Played before Good in the Sack & reminded me of the Backroom days. I heard later that this was also a reunion show.

Cady Groves @ Purevolume House: Turns out this adorable girl was sick so they had to adjust the chords for her voice but she still nailed it

Originally posted at Accent.

I had a lot of interviews scheduled this day so I didn't see as many shows. However, what I did see were pretty awesome.

Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! @ Soho Lounge: This band proved that a clever name brings a crowd. Lucky for them, the music kept the crowd.

Twin Atlantic @ Dirty Dog Bar: Only caught a song or two because I had to go but I love this band. "Lightspeed" is such a good song. Get it.

Jenny Owen Young @ Live.Create Lounge: Another act I caught while charging my phone at the recharge zone. Not my thing but not awful either.

The Pack A.D. @ Jaime's: It was painful to watch this duo deal with major technical problems but when they actually played, they were on.

Patrick Stump @ Dirty Dog Bar: I didn't immediately recognize him with his weight lost & signature hat. His music needs more time to develop

New Politics @ Dirty Dog Bar: One of the guys pulled out his break dancing moves during the songs. That = wins. I love good time rock & roll

Camisama @ Soho Lounge: This duo from Japan kept yelling at the audience something in Japanese along with the word "CD" I was very confused

Originally posted at Accent.

I actually wrote this blog during the festival but silly me accidently closed the window losing everything I written. That basically sums up how SXSW went for me. More on that later.

The Crookes @ Friends: young clean cut boys from UK playing music that reminisce of the 50s and 60s. Adorableness all around.

At Any Speed @ Aquarium: This folk rock band provided a much needed break from all the loud ruckus. A band to definitely keep on the radar.

The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! @ Karma Lounge: Showy costumes for band & fans made a party but strip to music proves they're not a gimmick.

Saint Motel @ El Sol y La Luna: Catchy tunes with tongue in cheek lyrics. Proof that a band needs good tunes, not a label to create a buzz.

Instrumenti @ Karma Lounge: I'll let the audience speak about them: "So this is what pandas sound like?" "They're endangered & hardcore."

Rocky Votolato @ Red Eyed Fly: This former frontman of Seattle band Waxwing played to a packed venue with his punk fused acoustic folk rock.

Titus Andronicus @ The Palm Door: I've heard this name a lot in the blogosphere. After seeing this band live, I totally understand why.

CHLLNGR @ Beauty Bar: Wearing the matching sweaters and coke bottle glasses reminded me of my bro & cousin as kids. But these dudes can jam.

Moonrats @ Beauty Bar Backyard: Only caught one song & sadly, I wasn't impressed. I'm burnt out on indie rock & they fall into this genre.

Eisley @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop: Only caught one song b/c it was crazy packed, but they played one of my faves "Golly Sandra" so that = win.

Riverboat Gamblers @ Red 7 Patio: Always fun & entertaining live show. Austin, if you haven't see this band live, what are you waiting for?

Originally posted at Accent.

Hey everybody.

Survived the first day of SXSW. It was pretty chilled compared to what  I have scheduled today but I saw some great bands and I have some video interviews to post up some time today.

Here are my reviews of the bands I saw in Twitter style, 140 characters or less.

International Waters @ Plush: why aren't more people talking about this band? catchy experimental indie rock. not your typical cliche indie.

Munch Munch @ Plush: Experimental keyboard band from UK with 3 keyboards and lots of drums. It was interesting but pretty rad. I dug em..

The Dandies @ Encore: Walked in thier shows before SPEAK. Straight up good time rock n roll band from Switzerland.

SPEAK @ Encore: They just won Austin Music Awards "Best New Band" & did a cover of the Bee Gees. Enough said. Can't get enough of these guys

Nico Stai @ Live. Create. Lounge: Caught to this low key acoustic guy while I was taking advantage of the power station to charge my phone.

Drake Bell @ St David's Bethell Hall: I don't care what you say. I love his music. Get over the fact he was on Nick and enjoy his music.

That's all I saw. I have interviews coming up from Eisley, Monsters are Not Myths and International Waters.

Originally posted at Accent.

Smile Smile’s newest album Truth on Tape reveals an open letter from the heartbroken vocalist/guitarist Ryan Hamilton to the woman who caused these scars. His lyrics portray the hurt and longing of his former lover. They are accompanied by a simple acoustic piano backing or a head bopping ditty complete with a full band.

The woman who is Hamilton’s muse of these public proclamations is Smile Smile’s keyboardist herself, Jencey Hirunrusm. Hirunrusm even provides backing vocals to the angsty lyrics written about her.

Click here to read the rest at Accent.

I headed to The Independent for the first time on Friday night. SPEAK was releasing their debut EP "Hear Here." Love at 20 was debuting live for the first time ever. This would be my first time seeing Josh Mills' new band Missions. A night of firsts all around.

My overall impression of The Independent is that this is a cute little venue. I love that I don't have to cross I-35 to get to there. It's a quick ride from my house and that equals WIN. The intimate room is perfect for shows like this and the stage lighting gave me some awesome photos.

Love at 20
For this show being this band's debut, they were on top of it. I've heard their album "Time to Begin" many times so I was really familiar with the material and more or less knew what to expect. I chatted with drummer Mark Toohey waiting in line for drinks and he mentioned that the band got together in December and had to learned the entire album. Very impressive first show. The addition of female vocals from Amber Zook gave the songs a nice touch. Frontman Mike Groener had a little trouble with those high notes but I'm sure with more practice and less nerves, he'll be fine at future shows. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on.

Missions
This band was interesting to say the least. Not saying I didn't like it, but after seeing Mills performing in a clap happy dance band in the previous years, this was an unexpected change. Missions still has that dance capability to them but compared to Clap!Clap!, it's like a darker goth-like electronica band. It seemed with the crowd that they either loved them or wanted them to get off the stage so they could get their sugary fill from SPEAK.

SPEAK
What can I say about this band? This is my third time seeing them in the last 3 months. As always, they delivered a fun show. What makes them great in my eyes is that they obviously enjoy performing whether it's their originals or their covers. Guitarist Nick Hurt and bassist Joey Delahoussaye are so enjoyable to watch as they continuously shimmy their glasses off their faces.

By the way, how awesome are those names? These band members have great distinguishable names. Alongside Hurt and Delahoussaye, there is also vocalist Troupe Gammage and drummer Jake Stewart. And I learned that Gammage is a IV which mean there are 3 other people out there rocking that name. Amazing.

Anyway, SPEAK did a two part set which means after they did their first set of originals including songs from the new EP and an awesome rendition of Simple Mind's "Don't You (Forget About Me)," the guys took a short break before coming back with a new wardrobe (most likely as a refreshing change from their sweat drenched clothing) and did an entire set of love-themed cover songs in honor of Valentine's Day.

Unfortunately for me, I have Saturday morning class. (Yes I know and lesson learned: I will never ever schedule a class on Saturdays again.) So that meant I had to leave early and ended up missing the entire covers set. I did catch the first song which was Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" but keeping up with twitter, I learned that I missed Britney Spears' "Toxic" and an amazingly on point cover of "I Will Always Love You." The fact that I didn't witness this is now included on my list of "life's biggest regrets" for sure.

'Light Speed' is the first single from Twin Atlantic mini-album Vivarium (released on September 14th). The four-piece band hails from Glasgow, UK. This is apparent through vocalist, Sam McTrusty's Scottish accent when he sings. The rawness in his delivery of the lyrics adds more intensity to the already fierceness of this song. The band only gives listeners a short time to prepare before they immediately cut straight to the furious bass and guitar-driven melody.

Currently the band is touring around the UK with Canterbury. Shortly afterwards, they will be heading to the US for thier first tour in the states with fellow bands, The Fall Of Troy and Envy On The Coast, including a stop at South by Southwest Music Festival.

Originally posted at Amped Reviews.

photo by Jorge Solares

Spoon has been one of Austin’s hometown heroes for years. After vocalist Britt Daniel initially teamed up with drummer Jim Eno in 1993, the band quickly started earning critical praise from press and music fans for their easily accessible hybrid of indie and post-punk rock.

Spoon achieved commercial success as songs from their 2005 album, Gimme Fiction, provided the soundtrack to a variety of movies and TV shows. The involvement with popular TV shows like The O.C. and Veronica Mars, and movies such as 17 Again and Cloverfield attracted even more aficionados to Spoon’s minimalistic rock.

Click here to read the rest at Accent.

Every year before South by Southwest, I take time out to sit down and sort through all the bands I have befriended on MySpace, visit various websites such as www.showlistaustin.com and Red Gorilla Festival, and make a calendar of all the free shows I want to see.

This normally follows with me printing out this list so that I have a schedule of where I need to be during the week, but of course, when the week finally rolls around, this schedule ends up staying in my bag.

While I did catch some bands that were originally on this schedule, the majority of bands I saw this year were discovered as I was walking down Sixth Street and was intrigued by what I heard. So, without further ado, here is a list of bands not on my schedule, but that I was fortunate enough to see.

Click here to read the rest at Accent.