Impose Magazine has more details about the Todd P competing event during SXSW.
While the entire endeavor is still somewhat “hypothetical,” Todd Patrick and Fiona Campbell (of the band Coasting) have a team working on a three to four day festival to be held in a huge field a couple miles from Monterrey between March 19 and March 22. It’s looking “much more real” every passing day.
and it does seem like there will be no Todd P events at SXSW this year either way:
While it’s not a complete break, [Todd] Patrick claims to be cleaning his hands of South by Southwest. “I think the festival kinda blows,” he says. “After all these years we’ve helped the value of the festival. We’ve given people justification for going to South by Southwest even if they hate it. I don’t feel like helping SXSW look more cool.” He estimates that last year, his free shows on the east side of Austin attracted upwards of 2,500 people for Wavves, and 1,500 the following night for Health, and he worries that rumors that float around every year about being shutdown will finally come to fruition.
Yesterday some interesting pictures of an abandoned drive-in movie theater turned up on Facebook. BK DIY scene leader Todd P posted them. Later I came to learn that the pictures are of the potential grounds for a post-SXSW festival in the Mexican city of Monterrey, roughly four hours south of Austin. Rumor has it 200 bands will be playing the three day festival, which will reportedly kick off the Saturday March 20th, and will overlap with SXSW for a couple days. (more)
The Low Anthem being added makes me super excited. Attack Attack being added makes me giggle, knowing that there will be so many bloggers at that show giggling away.
Aa(Brooklyn NY) Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO(Osaka JAPAN) A Classic Education(Bologna ITALY) *Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys(Austin TX) *Allo Darlin(UK-ENGLAND) Alpha Rev (Austin TX) *Alvarez Kings(Rotherham UK-ENGLAND) Amaral(Madrid SPAIN) And So I Watch You From Afar(Belfast IRELAND) *an horse(Brisbane QLD) Apostle of Hustle(Toronto ON) *Arborea(Lewiston ME) *Bomani Armah & Project Mayhem(Washington DC) Arms(Brooklyn NY) Ólöf Arnalds(Reykjavik ICELAND) Art vs Science(Surry Hills NSW) A Shoreline Dream (Denver CO) *Astra(El Cajon CA) *Atash(Austin TX) Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea(Asbury Park NJ) *Attack Attack!(Columbus OH) Autumn Owls(Dublin IRELAND) *AV Okubo(Wuhan CHINA) *Ayah(Toronto ON) *Elle Bandita(Rotterdam THE NETHERLANDS) *The Band of Heathens(Austin TX) *Jill Barber(Vancouver BC) Bare Wires(Oakland CA) *Bastard Child Death Cult(Downtown Toronto (Christie) ON) *Beans on Toast(London UK-ENGLAND) *The Belle Brigade(Los Angeles CA) Julian Berntzen(Bergen NORWAY) *Berri Txarrak(Lekunberri (Navarra) SPAIN) Best Fwends(Austin TX) The Black(Austin TX) *The Black & White Years(Austin TX) The Black Atlantic(Groningen THE NETHERLANDS) *The Black Box Revelation(Brussels BELGIUM) Dan Black(Paris FRANCE) *Black Feelings(Outremont QC) *Blacklisted Individuals(Austin TX) *Black Spiders(London UK-ENGLAND) Black Tide(Miami FL) Bliss N Eso(Albert Park VIC) *The Blow Waves(Melbourne VIC) *Blue Roses(London UK-ENGLAND) Continue reading →
Columbus band Six Gallery inked a deal with German label Superball Music (Trail of Dead). The label, along with label InsideOut, recently announced that they will be cooperating with Century Media Records and EMI Music to distribute their artists’ music worldwide. The official press release will be out soon, but I decided to talk to Six Gallery’s singer/guitarist Daniel Francis (former Pirate) first.
How did this deal with Superball come about and how much time has passed since the beginning stage?
The entire record deal probably took about two months worth of conversation. We emailed someone. He was completely disinterested. We kindly asked him if there was anyone he might know who would like it and here we are..
So I understand SG’s record Breakthroughs in Modern Art will be the first record released on the Superball in 2010?
As far as I know, that is correct.
And it will be distributed in Hollister stores in the US and Canada? What are your thoughts on this?
There’s no reason to not distribute your music as widely as possible. I’m too cool for Hollister? No, I’m not too cool. There’s nothing keeping people who shop there from being uneducated in music. People find bands they like in stranger places.
Over the last few months, via the musical grapevine, the band Fanfarlo has kept reappearing on my radar. But it wasn’t until visiting the UK in October that I actually heard them for the first time. I was able to catch them at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, where I was initially only there to catch opening act First Aid Kit. After settling on the fact that I could walk away completely satisfied after their set, Fanfarlo took the stage. While on record they sound a bit harnessed and calculated, their live show illuminates their talent enthusiastically. Created by ex-Swede Simon Balthazar, the six-piece band is based out of London and has been actively touring Europe and the US on their debut record Reservoir throughout 2009. They also just played CMJ and have again been added to the SXSW 2010 roster.
Balthazar sings with a sweet and bold voice (similar to that of Beirut’s Zach Condon) and is backed by an amazing group who each play multiple instruments to form a big full sound, reminding me of the Arcade Fire. Have a listen, but more importantly, check out some live footage.
Fanfarlo has recently been recording a number of “Laptop Sessions” where they perform covers. You can find those here, as well as some music videos.
Over 200 bands have just been announced for SXSW 2010.
Aa(Brooklyn NY) Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO(Osaka JAPAN) A Classic Education(Bologna ITALY) Alpha Rev(Austin TX) Amaral(Madrid SPAIN) And So I Watch You From Afar(Belfast IRELAND) Apostle of Hustle(Toronto ON) Arms(Brooklyn NY) Ólöf Arnalds(Reykjavik ICELAND) Art vs Science(Surry Hills NSW) A Shoreline Dream(Denver CO) Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea(Asbury Park NJ)Continue reading →
Bella Union is preparing for a bumper 2010, with new albums due in Q1 from Laura Veirs, Lawrence Arabia, Midlake, Beach House, The Acorn, The Kissaway Trail, and Abe Vigoda. The label’s recent signees include Lone Wolf, I Break Horses, John Grant with Midlake, and Simon’s own new band, Snowbird (where does he find the time!). Many Bella Union artists also have US labels, so it isn’t always possible to host every band on the roster but their SXSW 2010 schedule is starting to look pretty exciting! (more details)
If the zoom on my camera was better, this photo of Kanye would be so much cooler:
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The last day of SXSW always is a bit of haze. It’s hard to consider watching bands all day and eating free food as “work”, but man, tell that to my feet. Dang. I started the day off at the Rachael Ray party, an event that had one of the longest lines I’d seen all week. I was able to bypass it and get in early (dont hate), and went on to drink way too many Rachael Ray mojitos. Ate her food, too. This beer and beef burger with chedder bacon biscuit ruled my life. I would seriously cut someone in the neck for another one. (I saw Rachael briefly, but she was crowded. I wanted a photo of her for my sister, but it didn’t work out)
It was then off to The Hot Freaks party again, this time catching Vivian Girls, Mason Proper, and Viva Voce. This is how it went down: Vivian Girls‘ instruments broke down after a few songs. The pains of doing too many shows, I think. Their hearts weren’t totally into the set, but I enjoyed what they played. If it was any other band I might not give them the leeway, though.
Mason Proper sounded AMAZING live. Seriously, they recreate the sounds of their album almost too perfectly live. Lead singer has a lot more energy onstage than I saw most bands all week, so that was a refreshing change. As for Viva Voce, well, I dunno dudes. When I saw them as a two piece they seem to have amazing fire and energy in them, but their set as a four (5?) piece wasn’t as inspiring. I’ll have to check them out again in a non-SXSW environment.
Vivian Girls
It was then off to the Fader Fort for one of the worst kept secrets of SXSW: Kanye West performing. Before he went on, there was some good stuff though. Diplo and Switch’s new band, Major Lazer. If I had any energy in me, I would have danced like a crazy person to this, but I was already running on empty. They threw out several hundred t-shirts to the audience and it made everyone sort of lose their mind. It was fun.
I spent the next few hours hanging out with the SCHED team, talking about next year’s SXSW. Side note: I’ve learned that at SXSW you don’t need to see 20 bands a day to have a good time. In fact, I saw fewer bands this year than any other but probably had more fun. Hanging out with old friends goes a long way, let me tell you.
Before Kanye’s showcase, Dead Prez came out for a three song set. I have proof:
It was then time for Kanye West‘s G.O.O.D Music Showcase. I’d never seen Kanye live, unfortunately, so catching him in a smaller venue was a real thrill. In keeping with the SXSW spirit, he played some of his songs while also introducing his up and coming artists of his label. People went absolutely insane for Kid Cudi, man. And when Kanye brought out Common and Erykah Badu, people just about lost their marbles. Definitely a special event and I was glad to be there. Read Pitchfork’s story for a more thorough write-up.
After that I went to to see Silversun Pickups, but their show was running late and I had a 6:30AM flight to catch, so I went home for the night, already plotting out SXSW 2010.
NOTES
– SXSW is the greatest music festival, hands down.
– Shout out to my Irish roommate Niall of Nialler9. You don’t know it yet but I’m crashing at your house within the next 2 years.
– Thanks again to Energizer’s Energi to Go. You can see the photos I took on their Flickr, some videos here. Also they’re on Twitter and Facebook.
– Don’t forget to get some vitamins in you during SXSW. Pizza is delicious, though.
– It was great meeting old and new friends alike.
– For readers of DW who aren’t into SXSW, coverage is over! (for now)
– 2010 SXSW can’t come soon enough.
