Shout Out Out Out Out

My favorite thing about SXSW is discovering new music, and I did just that at the Iheartcomix Beauty Bar showcase. Shout Out Out Out Out is self descibed as : "Two drummers + four bass players + two samplers + five synthesizers + five cowbells + two octapads + one vocoder." These guys blew me away with their spaztastic electro-disco funk jams in the vein of Hot Chip or LCD Soundsystem. Two drummers is always something to behold as well. They turned the whole patio into one fuzzy synth melting pot of dance. Dont mess around, enjoy this track and include it on your next mix cd for that house party you want to flip on its head.

MP3: Shout Out Out Out Out-Dude You Feel Electrical

SOOO Myspace

SXSW Day 4

Due to the fact that Stacy and I stay up until 5 am blogging, we haven’t been waking up until around 1pm out here. It isn’t THAT terrible of a time to wake up, but with parties kicking off at noon, a small portion of my schedule has already been over by the time we get into town. SXSW requires a sharp ability to adapt. Sometimes you don’t get into town until 3pm, sometimes there is a monstrous line outside Buffalo Billiards and sometimes you run into a good friend you haven’t seen since last year and you end up talking for an hour. The point is, being at SXSW requires patience and backup plans, because you never know what is going to happen.

After getting downtown the first party we hit up was the Hot Freaks party, which was put on by a handful of the most popular music blogs on the internet. The party spanned three stages at two venues that are next door to each other. I was glad to finally get to check out North Carolina’s The Rosebuds who put on a fun set filled with airy synths to accompany their smooth dance grooving songs. The Rosebuds make sure their choruses are gigantic and full of group vocals. The band was appreciative to play and the crowd was ready to dance even though it was halfway through the afternoon.

After checking out the last few songs of Menomena’s set next door at the Mohawk Club, I walked back to Club DeVille to see “Special Guests from Dallas, TX”, who everybody in the room knew (thanks to Pitchfork) was The Polyphonic Spree. Watching the Polyphonic Spree’s tech team set up was like watching the gear gods vomiting all over the stage. The band did not spare any instrument or member, despite the stage being about the size of the stage at the Triple Rock. After ages of setup time, the band marched out wearing matching black military style outfits. Their majestic songs of hope filled the tented patio venue as 250 people filled the room to capacity. Front man Tim DeLaughter is as flamboyant and dramatic as they come, thrusting his arms up into the sky as he sings. The 18 piece band are forever in motion, are amazingly theatrical. This cult of happiness really did their job, closing out the party and sending everybody out the door satisfied and inspired.

This fall as I was studying abroad in London I interned at a venue called “the Luminaire.” It was an amazing experience and the man who runs the place, Andy, did a great job of teaching me the inner workings of a venue. Andy of course is in Austin for SXSW and I met him for dinner. It was great to see him again and we had a chance to catch up.

After devouring a delicious slice of pizza, I decided to take a break from music and check out a showcase featuring my favorite comedian, Aziz Ansanari. Most people know Aziz from his short YouTube comedy videos “Clell Tickle” (feat tapes n tapes) and “Other Music”, but thanks to the popularity of those comedy bits and more, MTV has given Aziz, Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer their own sketch comedy show “Human Giant” which premiers April 5^th. The three comedians took over “Friends” tonight to premier clips from their new show and do some standup. It was nice to detour from loud music and get to be on the receiving end of some fantastic comedians.

The pizza was not enough for my hungry belly however, because as soon as I got out of Friends, I needed more. So I stopped by an incredible Bratwurst stand cleverly entitled “The Best Wurst.” This brat lived up to its hype and currently stands atop the “Best Brats Neil Olstad has ever ingested” list. As I munched I walked down 6^th street toward the Beauty Bar to check out the Pipettes, only to find an extremely long line. It would take a great act to make waiting alone in line next to a dumpster for an hour worth it, and the Pipettes ended up being that act. The Pipettes are a trio of sassy, charming young British ladies with a 4 piece backing band. Their sound is straight out of the jukebox in Al’s dinner from Happy Days. Their classic doo-wop sound complete with up stroking clean guitar is simply delightful, and the girls’ choreography that is added to each song is icing on the cake. After a few songs you immediately choose your favorite Pipette. Mine is “Rosay Pipette”, the adorable ray of light who has to continuously flip her brown hair out of her eyes. The pipettes are all around fun, they aren’t out to try something new, the formula is simple and classic, and the most of the lyrics are corny and laughable. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I closed out the weekend by walking down to the Hanbana Calle, the Austin venue that wins the award for “Venue that looks the most like the Playboy Grotto”, to see +/-. The band plays free flowing, atmospheric indie-rock. I first saw +/- four years ago open for Death Cab For Cutie in the Main room and have really grown into their skin, they are now a confident, amazingly talented band with a catalogue of amazingly interesting songs. Their tightly knit set was dominated by songs off their latest record “Lets Build a Fire.” The band is anchored by drummer Chris Deaner’s amazing, innovative playing, and accentuated by the plethora of varied guitar effects and sounds that the rest of the band creates. The weather was beautiful, the crowd was excited, and I was standing in front of one of my favorite bands performing today, I can’t think of a better way to end my experience at this years SXSW conference.

This week has exceeded my expectations. I am thankful to be able to be here in Austin for the second year in a row taking part in SXSW. It is truly a unique experience and is something that is difficult to put into words. I hope through Stacy and my words and pictures you were able to somehow connect with what happened this week in Austin and felt that have a better idea of what the SXSW really is.

SXSW 2007 Day 3

Let me start today be stating that Austin is not big enough for the waves of humanity that flood the city during the 2^nd weekend in March every year. People have been commenting for years that there is not enough room in town for this conference anymore. I tend to agree. When every hotel in a town the size of Austin is full, you have an issue. I don’t think that moving the event to a different city is the answer, but somehow the conference must limit the amount of people who come to town for SXSW. This year, the conference delayed the announcement of who was playing, this made it more difficult for there to be as many day parties, and thus limit the amount of non-badge or wristband holders in town.

Day parties are a nice way to start things out each day. They are a fun way to hang out, meet people, eat Texas BBQ, drink for free and see great live music. Today we started out by checking out New York garage rock trio, Oxford Collapse. The music was a little too generic for me but, they grew on me as they plowed through more songs. The boys played fast and loud, and packed a surprising amount of energy into their set despite it only being 3pm.

Up next was the Under the Radar party where Tilly and the Wall took the stage at around 4:15 pm. The band is of course known for using tap dancers in place of acoustic drums. Their brand of fun-loving, quirky indie-pop caught the ear of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, and he instantly signed them to his “Team Love” record label about two years ago. The sun was shining on Austin and so were Tilly and the Wall’s songs, the 200 or so people at the party really responded well, dancing and clapping along with the fun.

Continuing my party hopping afternoon, I took off immediately after Tilly and the Wall’s set to see “Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s” at the Jane Magazine party. The band is basically eight people onstage making a ridiculous amount of noise, pulling it all together and calling it a day. Grungy looking front man Richard Edwards moans his words as he leads his band through their songs, and keyboardist Emily Watkins adds fantastic harmonies. Unforgettable pop melodies spray from the trumpet or violin and keep each song interesting. The band’s main strength comes from its versatility. They can go from twangy and gloomy to aggressive and angry in the blink of an eye. The day party shuffle came to a nice end, when the band hit their final chord, and left the stage. It was now time to eat…

IHOP provided us with the nourishment necessary to continue on after a long, tough, afternoon in beautiful Austin. I decided on the cinnamon French toast plate that included hash browns, eggs, and sausage. IHOP is a special place, with some amazing food, and I am glad there is one within walking distance in downtown Austin.

With my belly full of a delicious breakfast, I launched into the evening by heading up to the 18^th floor of the Hilton hotel where a singer-songwriter showcase was going on, starting with Austin native, Dana Falconberry. The conference room, which contained about 25 people sitting down enjoying the music, with a breathtaking view of the Austin skyline at sundown, was in for a treat. The Petit twenty-something, floated through her set of somber songs of sorrow and defeat. Her songwriting and the way her phrases flowed, reminded me of the Decemberists’ Colin Melroy’s style. I know singer-songwriters are a dime a dozen, but tonight, overlooking Austin, Dana Falconberry had the perfect sounds for the setting.

Thanks to the Hilton’s speedy elevator, I arrived safely back on the ground level and was off to Stubb’s to witness Andrew Bird work his magic. He hit the stage promptly at 9:30pm, his scheduled stage time (something that has NOT been happening at all this week). When people talk about Andrew Bird they usually lead off talking about his whistling skills. Well, I am going to do just the same. When you first hear this man whistle, you get chills. I couldn’t believe such a perfect sound was coming from his mouth, it almost seems fake, surely nobody on earth can make THAT perfect of an audible noise! But he can, and all you can do is shake your head in wonder. Five of Mr. Bird’s six songs came from his divine new record Armchair Apocrypha, which comes out on Tuesday March 20^th. His band, a trio, counting himself, did what usually takes five people onstage. This is because he employs multi instrumentalists like Twin Cities native Martin Dosh, who plays drums, keys and Rhodes in the band. Andrew also cuts down the human count in his band by using live violin loops recorded onstage. Bird is a mad scientist onstage, flailing his arms around and running back and forth between instruments. He is the captain of his own ship, steering his epic, transient, dramatic songs through multiple peaks and valleys. Check out Andrew Bird live at First Avenue on May 11^th.

Bedroom Walls were next on my not-so-tidy schedule. The band is a dreamy rock outfit that isn’t afraid to get a little crunchy at times. They pass the “cute indie-pop band” checklist with flying colors; trumpet? Check! Glockenspiel? Check! Tons of tambourine? Check! Quirky keyboards? Check! Clichés aside, Bedroom Walls actually have a solid sound to them, but as the clock raced past midnight, you could tell that the room had a desire to dance, and the band simply couldn’t give them that. It’s too bad too, I think with a little more attention and a lot less crowd chatter, this could have been quite the special show.

For the last show of the night I walked a few blocks west towards The Tap Room to check out Beach House. I had heard many good things about Beach House prior to the show, but I was still unsure of what to expect. The band is a male and female duo from Baltimore. Victoria plays the keyboard and sings lead drenched in reverb while Alex sings backups and switches off from guitar and this enormous vintage organ. Hunched over their instruments, they play some of the eeriest electronic music I have ever heard. An iBook lays out spook bare bones beats for them to jam along with. Beach House is music to listen to as your lay on your back and watch the clouds go by on the worst day of your life. I can only imagine how this stuff must sound while tripping on Acid. When the band first started I found myself wanting to leave, it was creepy and I was ready to go home, but as it went on I became more and more attached to the music, and by the end of their set I found myself longing to fall asleep on the floor as the crowd swayed to the beat around me. The band embodied my favorite thing about SXSW, diving into music outside of your comfort zone, and walking out having your horizons broadened and being thoroughly entertained.

SXSW 2007 Day 2

We awoke today to a warm, but not hot sunny day in Austin. Better weather could simply not be asked for on such a wonderful day as today. Today on our way into town, our quirky apache Indian cabbie “Rain” went from telling us about his girlfriend’s lung cancer to why he sleeps with other women in less than 90 seconds. It doesn’t get much better than that, I am already anticipating what ridiculous things will come out of his mouth tomorrow.

After being dropped off we headed over to the “Found Magazine” party which kicked off with a solid set from Austin locals, Okkervil River. The quickly filling room was swaying their hips to the bands upbeat sound. Their organ-infused pop rock was a nice way to ‘wake up,’ the drink tickets helped as well.

Next it was off to the “My Old Kentucky Blog” party at Antones. I went into the venue thinking that I would just see who was playing next, but ended up staying there all afternoon, taking in three sets, the first coming from Swedish rock and rollers, “Mando Diao.” The band pounded through ten songs in thirty minutes, only stopping to say thanks, before launching into the next tune. Their spastic, crunchy, guitar-rock had a distinctly European flavor to it and their chops let you know they’ve been touring awhile.

Second was “Annuals.” These guys, (and girl) pack a punch. Their songs are anthemic and powerful. Front man Adam Baker’s soulful voice is full of conviction. Synth sounds soar over the songs and help add to the urgency of Annuals songs. Two drum sets and two extra sets of toms onstage cause the songs to often take an impressive percussive form. What really impressed me about Annuals was the way the music evolved as the song went on. Plus how many times have you seen a bassist play slide bass with a clave?

Antones sweltered in the heat of a jam packed club in the middle of the afternoon, and after technical difficulties Blonde Redhead finally took the stage to close out the MOKB party. Singer Kazu Makino slinked around stage to the smooth grooves laid out by her two band mates (Italian twins Amedeo and Simone Pace). Kazu’s voice, layered in reverb takes center stage but their jet never really left the runway for me. After all that anticipation building up, Blonde Redhead was simply a letdown for me. Decide for yourself next month when they play First Avenue.

A trip to Austin is never complete unless you take time to dine at “Ironworks Barbecue,” home to what is considered to be Austin’s finest BBQ. Stacy and I enjoyed a meal alongside fellow twin cities natives Matt Perkins (Vitriol), Lindsay Kimball (the Current), Erik Stromstad (Varsity Theatre), Jeff Johnson (Cloud Cult) and my buddy Jim from school. Jokes were had, Perkins ate an absurd amount of red meat and Jeff is a stupid human trick maestro.

As we exited Ironworks nighttime had fallen upon Austin. I took off for the Mohawk patio to check out JagJaguwar artist “The Besnard Lakes.” The band put on a haunting, yet intense show that centered around male/female combination vocals that pulsate with a captivating eagerness. This band has a knack for brilliant dynamics, and that is something I think we can all appreciate. The breezy patio was relatively empty, as they were the first band of the showcase, but they had the crowd in the palms of their hands nevertheless, as heads were bobbing throughout the venue.

Next up was Sioux Falls Warped Tour rockers, “the Spill Canvas.” I usually can’t stay interested for very long with this style ‘heart on our sleeves’ bands, but there is something about the Spill Canvas that keeps me coming back. Singer/Songwriter Nick Thomas’ powerful voice leaps from a hush to a growl on a dime, crooning the whole way home as the band floated through their set throwing in a few new songs from their TBA 2007 release.

Before heading over to the “Iheartcomix” showcase at the Beauty Bar Patio I stopped by Emo’s Jr. to see how local band “Cloud Cult” was faring in their set. I caught the first two songs that the band played as they pulled out all the stops, live painting and fog machine with onstage lighting. I can’t wait to hear the band’s new record, due out in April.

After waiting in line for about twenty minutes I made it into the Beauty Bar Patio just in time to catch Edmonton’s “Shout Out Out Out Out.” These guys were the surprise of the night. I was blown away by their indie-electronic dance funk. Packing two drummers, and at least two, (sometimes three) bassists these guys have everything you need to put that thump into the chests of everybody in the room. They were the most energetic band I have seen this year in Austin and simply turned the Beauty Bar Patio into one giant dance floor.

Directly following Shout Out Out Out Out was “Matt and Kim” a synth-pop duo from Brooklyn. The premise is simple, Kim slams away on her three-piece drum set while Matt, who looks like a blue-era Rivers Cuomo, sings and creates catchy beeps and boops with his (apparently now industry standard) Nord Electro. Their infectious smiles are plastered on throughout their thirty minute set and apparently are contagious because myself and everybody around me could not wipe the grins off our faces. With childlike exuberance, the duo looks like kids playing with toys they just received for their birthdays. Matt and Kim’s music is admittedly basic, neither one of them are incredibly skilled at playing their instruments, but what they are skilled at is loving every note and beat they play and that is what matters.

As soon as I purchased Matt and Kim’s record I hustled 5 blocks down 6^th street to Buffalo Billiards to see the Menomena close out the Barsuk Record showcase. As Aquaduct was finishing their set they let everybody know what was to follow, stating “get ready for Menomena Mania!” Mania it seemed to be, as the trio setup their instruments the crowd grew antsy to see the blog world favorites. The band uses baritone saxophone and lower octaves on a keyboard instead of bass guitar on most songs and the unconventional doesn’t stop there. Menomena’s songs are quirky and unexpected, with strange tones popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, the showcase had been running late all night so the headliners could only get in six songs before the houselights came up signaling the end of the evening for the band. Luckily they have two more sets coming up, one on Friday and one on Saturday. I will have to go check them out again, as this band is truly something special, and their new record is one of my favorites of the year.

Walking down 6^th street at 2 am to meet Stacy at the end of the night I was reminded of how much this is a party for the entire city, not just the convention attendees that come in from around the world to experience SXSW. The streets at night are an absolute catastrophe, with trash and drunken University of Texas students everywhere. All of this on THURSDAY evening, tomorrow should be worse, or more fun, depending on your level of intoxication.

SXSW 2007 Day 1

After a six AM flight out of Minneapolis and an hour layover in Dallas, I officially arrived in Austin, Texas for the annual South by Southwest music conference for the second time in as many years. Not booking your hotel months in advance these days means that you don’t stay downtown, but instead in one of many hotels lining the Austin highways. The La Quinta Inn and Suites is where I will call home this week.

A quick nap at the hotel put a little spring back into my step and got me ready for the evening. Stacy (Sandstrom, HWTS photographer and writer) and I hopped in a cab with our driver “Rain” and made it downtown for the night’s events. South By Southwest’s official showcases mostly take place in the evening, but the music conference attracts vendors and other business that host free day parties, taking advantage of the absurd amount of people that fill the streets of Austin for each year’s conference.

We had some time to kill and as we walked around downtown I was quickly reminded of what makes SXSW so special. There are musicians and music EVERYWHERE. You cant walk two blocks without seeing a group of musicians playing on a street corner or hearing a band’s music blaring out of venue’s open doors. There is gear in the street, waiting to be loaded into clubs, and music industry conversation everywhere you turn. This is my kind of conference.

The keynote was given by Peter Townshend of legendary rock band “The Who.” Mr. Townshend spoke to a mostly full Hilton ballroom of eager fans and music appreciators alike. His words mostly spoke of the past and current state of music. Peter also talked about his time with the Who and what he was trying to accomplish with the songs he would write. The keynote was honest and witty, a nice way to kick things off.

At last it was time to get to the bands. The first showcase I checked out was the “Sub Pop Records” showcase at Emo’s IV. Maps and Atlases, (the only band NOT on Sub Pop of the evening) started the night out with their technical and innovative brand of math rock. Led by Dave Davison’s wailing vocals, the band slaps you in the face with fits of guitar harmonics and razor sharp drumming. Speaking of the drumming, I have no problem crowning Maps and Atlases’ drummer the best of SXSW. Speed and consistency aside, his sheer innovation on the set, using his shells, rims and hardware in ways I have never seen before, puts him ahead of most drummers I have ever seen and I would be shocked if I see a better drummer in the next four days.

As soon as Maps and Atlases finished their set, I hustled over to the Beauty Bar Patio to check out Langhorne Slim. Slim’s lip curling songs remind me of the smell of cigarette smoke and dirt on your hands. Although I have been a big fan of his work over the years, I have never been able to catch him live. I was surprised to find that he plays with two other guys. An upright bassist and brush-wielding drummer round-out Langhorne’s band. His down-home twang and obvious Dylan influences were a treat.

One of the toughest things about SXSW is the conflicts that come up while trying to plan your evening’s schedule. Often you will be faced with a decision to check out a new band that you have never seen before, or going to see one of your favorite live acts. My first crossroads was tonight at 10PM when I chose to go see “To Live and Die in LA’ rather than go to Emo’s to see ‘Beirut’ who I had seen this fall in London. To Live and Die in LA is a pretty straight ahead rock band. They don’t do anything amazingly special or mind-blowing. The band uses a mixer to supply ambient sound samples to create more of a ‘wall of sound.’ The effect is nice, and the guys sound great on record, but it just didn’t come across as well in a live setting.

This past summer my Itunes was dominated by “LDN” and “Smile” by a then up and coming pop star, Lily Allen. These days she is one of the biggest celebrities in the U.K. and is looking to sink her teeth into the states as well. Austin’s premier midsized venue, Stubb’s was home to one of Lily’s first shows stateside and anticipation filled the air as the capacity crowd (including an out of place Adam Sandler) waited for Allen to take the stage. After a short wait the lights went down and Lily came on, bottle of Budweiser in one hand, cigarette (or fag) in the other. She played only 5 songs in her short set and although the songs were tight, especially accentuated by a charming three piece horn section, the energy level was low. Lily admitted to being drunk, having ‘been sitting in her bus waiting all day to play,’ and paced the stage back and forth for the entirety of her 30 minute set. What was most interesting about this was the crowd’s reaction, anybody who has heard Lily Allen’s music knows that it is danceable pop music. That being said, almost nobody in attendance seemed to be dancing or even moving around much. I quickly decided that it was because that most people, much like myself, were there simply to see what all the hype as been about, and in Lily’s case, not much.

After leaving Stubb’s disappointed I decided to take another chance and check out a band that I had heard little from in the past, Les Savy Fav. The Brooklyn based band would simply be a high energy rock band if it wasn’t for front man Tim Harrington (think Kyle Glass and Har Mar Superstar). The man is overweight, balding, but has plenty of hair elsewhere on his body. The thirty-something squeezed into a spandex full body suit and took us all for a ride. The crowd, full of seemingly hardcore Les Savy Fav fans screamed along as Harrington used the entire room as his play area. Dragging kids onstage to simulate sex acts, climbing to the bar to have the bartender sing a chorus, and laying in the middle of the floor, he pulled out all the stops. The raw energy that this band brought truly blew me away. It was somehow offensive and inspiring at the same time. That’s what I love about this conference, the idea of being able to stumble across insane bands like this at almost any hour of the day. There is so much to do and see, it truly is an adventure. What will tomorrow’s discoveries be? Time will tell.

SXSW 2007: Day 0

Tomorrow I leave for Austin Tejas for SXSW 2007. I plan to blog about each of the days events as I did last year. The only difference is that this year I have Fort Cosmo, and I am an official HowWasTheShow.com correspondant. So my words will likely be posted in three spots. It shouldnt be hard for you to find everything you need to follow along with what I am up to this week.

Stay Tuned....

Matt & Kim

There are times when you just want to listen to music that you are pretty sure you could write yourself. What Matt & Kim do is pretty simple in practice. Neither one of them seems to be a great musician. Matt glides over basic catchy synth lines while partner Kim thumps out sloppy kick-snare-kick-kick-snare patterns. Despite being firmly rooted in simplicity, Matt & Kim's songs are incredibly fun to listen to. Matt's voice is nasely and full of sneering pop hooks. After downloading these tracks, be sure to check out the band's video for "Yea, Yeah." I defy you not to smile.

MP3:Matt & Kim-Yea, Yeah
MP3:Matt & Kim-No More Long Years

Matt & Kim Myspace