SXSW, Here I Don't Come
I don't talk much about the Austin, TX music and film festival SXSW (South By Southwest), mostly because I never get to go and partly because everyone else is already doing it for me! But I figured I'd give a shout out to a few bands, just in case you happen to be going and would like a heads-up about who you should catch. (I told you I was good at giving advice!) The music portion runs March 18th through the 22nd. Click here for the entire schedule.
First up is Australian band Youth Group. Their song "Shadowland" is one of those songs that I can listen to over and over again without ever tiring of it. They put out an album last year called The Night Is Ours and the following song is from it. It's a bit dramatic--not in a bad way--but it paints a rather vivid picture of a person dreaming about a loved one who has died. If you've ever dreamed about someone you've lost, it can be particularly upsetting at first. After a while it's not so bad, but it's rather disturbing until you realize it's not real.
Youth Group--"In My Dreams" mp3 off The Night Is Ours (buy)
You may or may not know this, but I love The Tiny. They're from Sweden and Ellekari Larson's voice is singularly weird and delicious. I suppose she's not for everyone, but ever since I heard their song "My Mother," I've been a fan.
The Tiny--"Burn" mp3 off I don't know--I think it may be unreleased. They're working on a new album right now. You can buy other stuff here.
Gomez is a pretty established band in my opinion, but they're playing right before Andrew Bird at one venue, so I guess they're not as big as I might think they are. Which is fine, coz otherwise a whole lot of other people wouldn't be able to see them in such a great place. They've got a new album coming out at the end of March called A New Tide. I loved 2006's How We Operate, so I'm definitely looking forward to this one.
Gomez--"Airstream Driver" mp3 off A New Tide (buy)
Of course, I would make every effort I could to see my beloved Eugene Francis Jnr and the Juniors. I wish they were coming to Philly after the festival but alas they are not.
Eugene Francis Jnr and the Juniors--"The Beginners" mp3 off The Golden Beatle (buy)
If anyone out there happens to go, I'd love to hear all about it. I understand it's quite the exhausting experience but worth all the sweat and aching feet. Also, if you'd like to read about more fabulous bands that will be there, you must check out several posts at speed of dark. Word on the street has it that Linda and I (and perhaps a few others) might be trekking to Austin ourselves next year. (Yep, I said it out loud, now we have to do it!)
yeah it is that time of year again... every year i say the same thing one
of these times i will make it there as well. :-)
I didn't know that Youth Group were playing SXSW, that's great! I only know
one of their songs, 'Forever Young', which I really like. It was huge here
in Oz a couple of years ago. Would love to do SXSW one year too, but I
kinda have a ton of places I want to go to before I even think about
hitting the US. One day...
I really would love to be in Austin for this at some point, but don't see
it happening. Like Linda, I can dream about it.
rachel--i know, we've been talking about this for a couple of years now! it
sure would be fun to go. : )
Oh that would be fantastic, thank you! And you're right...one land mass at
a time!
Gomez is great but a lot of people don't know about them. Also they haven't
done much lately. May explain the opening slot.
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