SXSW 2010
by Brianne Turner, Photography by Nick Chaivarlis

The first day of SXSW consisted primarily of lots of aimless wandering and severe cramping due to carrying too much shit around (hi, we’re amateurs), so it was a pleasant and colorful moment when we wandered aimlessly right into the Body Language set at Mohawk. Lead singer Angelica Bess kept their set upbeat and adorable with her brightly-colored outfit and the band’s uptempo vibe (and songs).

Packed Venue of the Night award most likely went to the Stubb’s amphitheater, where the lineup featured Visqueen, The Walkmen, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Broken Bells and Austin natives, Spoon. The Walkmen put on an eclectic show (which at one point included an eight-piece brass section) while Sharon Jones‘ energy filled the amphitheater and encouraged anyone with a sense of rhythm to shake his ass. Broken Bells started out mellow and were the only band on the bill to fully utilize the stage projection screen, leaving them to play in almost complete darkness while their super-low bass line shook the amphitheater’s (nonexistent) walls.

After a lengthy setup process, indie rock veterans Spoon took the stage and began their set with newish jam, “Written In Reverse.” The evening’s Lesson In Irony medal was awarded to the band for playing “Don’t Make Me A Target” while the photo pit was at its most feral, nearly every long-lens SLR pointed at lead singer Britt Daniel’s face as he sang it.

If you need photographic evidence of what we saw, you’re in luck! We have it in abundance, and it begins right here:

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Continue reading » Day 2: The Antlers, Bobby Long, Delorean

SXSW 2010
by Brianne Turner, Photography by Nick Chaivarlis and Brianne Turner

All good things must come to an end, and like the best of things, SXSW’s finale is leaving us feeling a small void these last few days. The social networks (for the most part) have stopped crawling with ridiculous hash tags and concert updates, and you don’t have to read about how much fun your friends (or the people you envy) are having in Austin without you on a minute-by-minute basis.

We may not have had time to see your favorite band last week in the midst of all the musical chaos, but it’s an absolute certainty that we covered some bands who could definitely become some of your newest favorites. We know this because they became ours. Here is our SXSW coverage, broken down by day:

Day 1: Brazos, Body Language, Visqueen, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, The Walkmen, Broken Bells, Spoon

Day 2: The Antlers, Bobby Long, Delorean

Day 3: Toro Y Moi, Freelance Whales, Local Natives, Solid Gold, Tanlines, Delorean, WhoMadeWho, Cymbals Eat Guitars, The Trews, The Very Best

Day 4: The Morning Benders, Wye Oak, Ben Gibbard, Titus Andronicus, Here We Go Magic, Pictureplane, The Very Best, Sleigh Bells

Brazos: A trio from Austin, Texas who do folk-pop the right way. The band was originally songwriter Martin Crane’s solo recording project until he decided to add some more texture to his music by calling for a few band mates, guitarist Nathan Stein and bassist Paul Price.

Preview: “Day Glo”
First Impression: A catchy song with simple — yet strong — lyrics.
Listen To: When the campfire stories run dry.
»Save It: “Day Glo”

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