Cincy’s Bad Veins – on paper – appear to be a bedroom/studio project for Benjamin Davis (vox/gtrs/keys) and Sebastien Schultz (drums), but the duo has been wowing audiences live with the help of a 1973 reel-to-reel tape player named Irene that augments the sound and fills in where other band members are missing. Their self-titled debut (released in July) is an experimental indie pop album that sounds a bit like Brandon Flowers (Killers) fronting a Sparklehorse/Apples in Stereo/Longwave mash-up.

MP3: Bad Veins – “Gold and Warm”

Division Day, meanwhile, is a veteran of the first (and, to date, only) Donewaiting SXSW day party, performing in 2008 alongside El Jesus de Magico, Catfish Haven, Goes Cube, AA Bondy, Joseph Arthur, Midgetmen, and Spinto Band. Much like the Chicago-by-way-of-Columbus band the Loyal Divide, Division Day’s music has made a pretty significant transformation from a Granddaddy/Silversun Pickups-style indie-rock to something darker and more synthetic sounding (think: Radiohead + Nine Inch Nails – Trent Reznor’s anger).

Show info:
Division Day/Bad Veins/Afortiori
Skully’s Music Diner
September 16
$8 in advance / $10 at door

I was just wondering what Division Day was up to when I got a MySpace bulletin from them (see, MySpace still has value!)

The band is recording a new album, which is great news. They’ve also put out a cover by Japan which we’ve linked up here in the popular MP3 format. It was recorded for Buffet Libre, and if you head over to their site you’ll find tons more downloads.

MP3: Ghosts (Japan Cover)

Waterloo Records has posted their schedule for shows during SXSW.

And we finally have details for the Mess with Texas 2 event featuring The Breeders. As far as I know, this is the only event that The Breeders are playing. Keep reading for details.

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Event: KCRW Official SXSW Showcase
Bands: Duke Spirit, Ting Tings, Division Day, Salt & Samovar, Goldspot, and Jesca Hoop
Location: TBA
Date: Wednesday evening