SXSW

Ahhh Venice is Sinking

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There have been a number of great bands from Athens, Georgia (R.E.M. comes to mind).  So I know that when I hear a band that comes from there, I should pay attention. One such band is Venice Is Sinking.  The bands roots sunk deep into Athens as they had the unique opportunity to record a live album in the town’s iconic music mainstay, The Georgia Theatre.  Members of Venice is Sinking also witness the fire that burned down the place.  Hopefully, nothing will burn down when they visit Austin this year for SXSW.

Listening to ‘Tugboat’ I can’t help but think of alot of similarities between the overseas band Belle & Sebastian.  It’s a tad more gloomy, but the echoing voices of Daniel Lawson and Carolyn Troupe backed by horns can’t help but bring me to that comparison.  The endearing tone of the opening line also brings a Neil Young-esque warble that draws me in like the tugboat Lawson sings about.  Venice is Sinking will be on my chill out portion of SXSW’s festivities.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Venice_is_Sinking-Tugboat.mp3]

SXSW

This is No Mondo Drag

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Rock music nowadays just isn’t rock music anymore.  What I mean is that you can’t just call something rock.  It can hard rock, heavy metal, soft rock, pop rock, and so on and so forth.  One of my favorite niche corners of rock just happens to be stoner rock.  Now, I’m no stoner, but the psycadelic grind that stoner rock rivals that of what I see on the mainstream channels.  One such perveyor of stoner rock is Mondo Drag.  They will be heading to SXSW this year.

Just take a trip on ‘Love Me (Like A Stranger).’ It’s your classic 60s freak out with some sludgy rock grind coming up from behind.  Mondo Drag, led by Johnny Cluney, embody what’s missing from rock music today:  a deeper sense of soul that embodies itself as blues driven incantations.  Back in the day, the radio man would say tune in and tune out to Led Zeppelin.  Now we are tuning out to Mondo Drag.

[soundcloud params=”auto_play=false&show_comments=true”]http://soundcloud.com/mondodrag/mondo-drag-love-me-like-a-stranger[/soundcloud]

SXSW

I Got Schooled by Social Studies

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What makes an indie band? Hipster chicks singing in harmony? Kinchy organs flowing overhead? A driving bass with very sharp drums? Maybe so, maybe not, but that’s what makes up Social Studies. Led by Natalia Rogovin on synth with vocals followed by Michael Jirkovsky on drums, Social Studies kicks it indie-pop school straight outta San Fran. They’ll be teaching me a thing or two at SXSW this year.

Take a time out and listen to ‘Time Bandit.’ I know. I know. You’re probably wondering, “What’s Stereolab doing in my speakers?” Okay that was an easy comparison, but pop quiz: Who else do they sound like? Perhaps a female version of Ben Folds? I think that passes. So it’s now time for me to graduate and walk the aisle all cap-and-gowned out while skipping to the Social Studies. Don’t be tardy for these folks or its detention.

[soundcloud params=”auto_play=false&show_comments=true”]http://soundcloud.com/social-studies/time-bandit[/soundcloud]

SXSW

Kid Dakota: Fanning the Slow Flame

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No, seriously, I didn’t want to pun up the title but I did. In all seriousness, Kid Dakota will be brining his cool and soothing sound to SXSW. Darren Jackson drew up the name as a send up to his home state South Dakota and as a parody of Kid Rock. Kid Dakota sounds nothing like Kid Rock. Anywho, Jackson moved from Rhode Island to Minnesota, and has been dreaming up catchy tunes ever since.

“Stars” brings Kid Dakota in full force. I hear the falsetto of Thom Yorke with the percussion of the Heartbreakers backing up. It’s an epic slow jam. I can understand why Low’s Alan Sparkhawk snatched him up back in the early 2000s. The bombastic blast of the guitar at around the 1/3 mark of the song reminds me how silence and noise work together perfectly.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Kid_Dakota-stars.mp3]

SXSW

Jonathan Edwards is my Sunshine

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You know, SXSW brings out just about everyone you can imagine. While we are seeing an influx of 80s artists this year, we have some 70s artists kicking up some dirt as well. I remember the first time I heard Jonathan Edwards on the radio and ‘Sunshine’ came on. It was enough to compel me to buy a CD of his greatest hits back in the late 90s CD typhoon. So there sits Jonathan among other one hit wonders that line my heavy, cloth-infused CD case. His other stuff isn’t too bad either.

‘Sunshine’ is the perfect happy rebellion song. The riff alone is enough to get your toe tapping. Once you dip into lyrics you can hear that the song is more about telling people to fuck off instead hugging others. All the while, Jonathan Edwards sports a big ole grin on his face. I have to admit I’m not familiar with his other work, but I’m going to try my darndest to see him jam out at SXSW.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Jonathan_Edwards-Sunshine.mp3]