Search results for: Mac DeMarco

New LP Release Day! Listen to Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams, Mac DeMarco – Salad Days & Pure X – Angel

Mac DeMarco, Timber Timbre, Pure XI know it’s April fool’s day and all, but I can’t be bothered to actually pull any pranks (I’m terrible at ’em anyway). I do, however, have some very real and amazing news about what else today represents: Album release day; hooray! Three very different, but talented and beloved bands, Timber Timbre, Mac DeMarco and Pure X have all released brand new LPs, Hot Dreams, Salad Days and Angel, on this fit for tricks day. Whether you’ve already been stumped, deluded and/or duped today, I bring you some refreshing musical truth:

Timber Timbre  – Hot Dreams via Arts & Crafts
Timber Timbre is a dark, beautiful, semi-spooky, and sometimes described as “swampy” Canadian folk project and trio made up of Taylor Kirk, Simon Trottier and Mika Posen. Their moniker refers to a timber-framed cabin set in the wooded outskirts of Bobcaygeon Ontario where they made an early series of recordings. Hot Dreams is their 5th (yes, 5th!) album.

Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams

Timber Timbre – Curtains?!

Mac DeMarco – Salad Days via Captured Tracks
Oh, Mac DeMarc0. He’s everyone’s favorite goofy, guitar slingin’ Canadian crooner (who’s now currently residing in Brooklyn). Since the release of his wacky LP, Rock and Roll Night Club in 2012 (technically his first album), and the blow up of his second album, Mac DeMarco 2, that soon followed after, the 23-year-old seems to be on a never-ending whirlwind tour of mischievousness. Banging out Metallica covers, smoking endless cigarettes, and playing his catchy, crooner crowd pleasers to thousands over and over again, Mac may look tired, but no one is of his music. He’s come a long way since his days of Rock and Roll Night Club. With the release of Salad Days, which touches on more personal and semi-serious tops, like the inability for his long-time girlfriend, “Kiki” to stay legally in the United States in “Let My Baby Stay,” it seems as if Mac’s all grown up… kind of.

Mac DeMarco – Passing Out Pieces

Mac DeMarc0 – Brother

Pure X – Angel via Fat Possum
Pure X is Austin, Texas’s billowy, psychedelic chillwave quartet (formerly known as Pure Ecstasy). Angel is the group’s 3rd album and according to their LP promo material, Angel was written and recorded over just 5 days in a hundred-year-old dance hall situated in a small town in central Texas. Drummer Austin Youngblood described the album as “a record for the ladies, about the ladies.” Now, who can resist?

Pure X – Starlight

Pure X – Heaven

 

Punk Rock! Burgerama III Music Fest Announced: 3 New Mac DeMarco Jams + Black Lips + Hunx & His Punx

Burgerama IIIYou’re familiar with Burger Records, right? They’re the Orange County-based independent record label that loves to write EVERYTHING IN CAPS and use an inordinate amount exclamation points!!! That, and their charming, eccentric and eclectic, grungy/punk/garage/power pop rock artists also make them the quirkiest record label out there. LA Times said it best by stating the label focuses on “Trashy punk with a bubble gum streak.”

Sean Bohrman and Lee Rickard, members of the power pop band, Thee Makeout Party, formed Burger Records back in 2007 and have since transformed it into a blooming, audacious label, record store, and various punk rock music fests. That said, they’ve just announced the sweetest lineup for their 2-day Burgerama III music fest, March 22-23rd. The only downside? It’s in Orange County. Whomp whomp (Sorry, OC folks). If you’re in the mood for sunshine, freeways and outdoor malls, a road trip may be in order. Otherwise, I’m bringing a lil bit of Burgerama to you:

Mac DeMarco is everyone’s favorite goofy crooner. The fun-loving, Viceroy smokin’, ripped jeans wearin’, guitar slingin’ Canadian has been on what seems like a never-ending whirl-wind tour since the release of his second album, Marc DeMarco 2, back in October 2012. As hoped for, the dude’s got some new tunes that are due out in April of this year and he gave CKUA a glimpse into his forthcoming album with three lovely new tracks, “Treat Her Better” (song below starts a 4:13), “Salad Days” (starts at 8:18), and “Let Her Go” (listen at 11:30). Enjoy:

Mac DeMarco – Treat Her Better, Salad Days & Let Her Go live at CKUA

Topping Burgerama’s bill is the infamous 4 piece Atlanta-based rock group of misfits, Black Lips. Their forthcoming album, Underneath the Rainbow, was recorded with the Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, and is due out March 18 via Vice. According to bassist Jared Swilley, “it’s roots music.” Here’s a glimpse with the release of one track, “Boys in the Wood” and it’s as smooth as ever. They’ll be “extensively touring all six inhabited continents in support of the new record” including the SXSW circuit this year, as well as Austin psych-fest in May (okay, now let’s discuss a road trip!)

Black Lips – Boys in the Wood

There’s no way I could talk about Burgerama and not include a Hunx and His Punx jam – the epitome of punk and bubblegum. They’re the San Francisco-based “Queercore” garage punk rock group made up of Seth Bogart (formerly of the gay pop group Gravy Train!!!!), Shannon Shaw (from my faves: Shannon and The Clams) and Erin Emslie. They released their 4th album, Street Punk back in July of 2013 and it’s rippin! Sadly, the entire album is under 20 minutes long (I suppose you can only scream for so long), but it’s filled with quickie 30 second raging gems like, “Everyone’s a Pussy (Fuck You Dude)” and “Don’t Call Me Fabulous.” Listen to up your punk cred:

Hunx and His Punx – You Think You’re Tough

Hunx and His Punx – Bad Skin

Stream: Taste of Savage – Sean Nicholas Savage Covers ft. Mac Demarco, Doldrums, Majical Cloudz

Taste of Savage - His Pupils Singing His MusicAs a toast to Sean Nicholas Savage, the eccentric pop artist and vital key to Montreal’s continuously growing music scene, Arbutus labelmates and Canadian cohorts have compiled a 17-track compilation covering Savage’s songs. The collection, entitled: Taste of Savage – His Pupils Sing His Music features Doldrums, Majical Cloudz, Mac Demarco, Mozart’s Sister and more – All of our favorites in one!

According to Arbutus, the tracks, “ranging from anthems to obscure gems – are anthologized on this release. As the first act ever to release on Arbutus, a community has developed surrounding Savage, his songwriting, charisma and his social philosophies.

It is a true honour to present such a mix of genre and creative thought – and this is what’s captivating about the compilation. A group of artists brought together not by genre but by circumstance: a shared home, one which Savage represents as a primary character in the Canadian music scene.”

Stream Taste of Savage below, and download all 17 tracks over at Arbutus:

Taste of Savage – His Pupils Sing His Music

More Jizz Jazz! Mac DeMarco 2 is Finally Here… But is it Missing a Certain Something?

Mac DeMarco 2FINALLY. Thank you. Mac DeMarco‘s second compilation, Mac DeMarco 2 is here. We can all rejoice in more “jizz jazz” that the eccentric Canadian has unleashed upon us… or can we?

The “proper full length album,” released just six months after his solo debut, portrays DeMarco’s abilities as a singer/song writer more than ever. The LP is full of catchy, slow rock jams crooning about love, loneliness, cigarettes, and “Freaking Out the Neighborhood.” However, the album also seems to be missing a certain je ne sais quoi.

After a thorough listen, I’m left wanting more of DeMarco’s creepy antics, goofy spoofs and overall eccentric playfulness that makes him so intriguing, appealing and the genius behind his self-proclaimed “jizz jazz” jangles. Only at the end of “Ode to Viceroy” do we get a small glimpse of the sleaze he likes to squeeze in. DeMarco’s strengths as a musician are rightfully highlighted, however, in this highly anticipated album, his personality, (which is as prominent as the gap in his front teeth), seems to have been dimmed. Is this a result of backlash from wild live shows, or the pressure to produce as a ‘serious’ musician? The album holds its own, purely as a display of DeMarco’s raw talent, and his irony is still present, however, the A-typical singer-songwriter’s weirdness and downright oddities are surely missed.

Take a listen for yourself and stream Mac DeMarco 2 on Spotify. Here are a few of my personal favs (aside from those you’ve already heard) from the album:

If you want the full Mac DeMarco package, seeing him live will ease this need. This morning, I eagerly jumped to the end of the LP to listen to “Still Together,” as it’s by far one of the most captivating jams DeMarco sings live – it’s also the sweetest of the lot, including a convo between DeMarco and his “kind of woman” that makes you say “awww.”Mac DeMarco If you have a chance to catch the goofy crooner live, he’s playing a ridiculous number of shows (9 total) in New York this week as part of the CMJ Music Marathon, then he’s off for a Euro tour. Check out tour dates here. If you’re in NYC, thanks to BrooklynVegan, they’ve done all the work for me in laying it all out:

Captured Tracks has a CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 18 with Mac DeMarco, Thieves Like Us, and Dignan Porch. Tickets for that show are still available. Mac DeMarco has other CMJ shows scheduled too, including the Panache showcase at Public Assembly (10/19), the My Social List showcase at the Martin Room in Webster Hall (10/16), the post-CMJ show at Bowery Ballroom (10/21) with Wild Nothing and Merchandise, and the just announced free Hype Machine party at Brooklyn Bowl on October 18 with Hundred Waters (who also play these shows).

New Mind-Melting Jams! Doldrums + Blackbird Blackbird + Southern Shores + The Soft Moon + Mac DeMarco

Doldrums

Doldrums – She is the Wave

It’s been a weird and heavy week full of road trips, suburbia-ville, hospital visits, uncertainty, and a general lack of enjoyable jams via local radio. Hence, there’s no better way to bring this bizarro week to close with a round-up of new mind-melting tunes that’ll thrust you back into reality, or a lack-there-of.

Montreal-based Airick Woodhead is the experimental brainchild behind Doldrums, and he’s producing some of the freshest, “mind-melting” music around. His latest jam, “She is The Wave” is from a 7″ to be released via Arbutus Records in November. The new jam contains that consistently catchy electro/experimental beat full of synth, scratches, noise, disembodied vocals and screams – It’s Very Animal Collective-esque and once again, unbelievably addicting. Seriously hoping this launches the creation of a full length album – We all want it!

Doldrums – She is The Wave (feat. Guy Dallas)

San Francisco-based Mikey Maramag is the “dreamy folktronica” phsychadelic wünderkind behind Blackbird Blackbird. His latest hypnotic release “All” comes from his highly anticipated EP, Boracay Planet, slotted for release October 16th.

Blackbird Blackbird – All

Southern Shores, the synth-pop Nova Scotia-by-way-of-Toronto “summer heroes” has released an EP, New World. The latest album (similarly to the last one) via Cascine is full of dreamy, tropical beats. Stream the entire EP on SounCloud here.

Southern Shores – Sankasa

Luis Vasquez aka The Soft Moon is the beloved darkwave noise experimentalist from San Francisco and he’s releasing his new album (via Captured Tracks), Zeros, on October 30th. “Insides” hails from the anticipated album and is the latest goodie rupturing from the depths of darkness:

The Soft Moon – Insides

The ridiculously talented and charming “Jizz jazz” weirdo, Mac DeMarco has a new album (hurry already!), Mac DeMarco 2, due October 16th. Captured Tracks has been slowly but surely releasing jams from the (do you sense a theme?) highly anticipated album. You’ve already heard, “My Kind of Woman,” so feast your ears on DeMarco’s jam dedicated to his fav brand of cigs:

Mac DeMarco – Ode to Viceroy

Mac DeMarco Show Recap + New Local Electro Band: Silver Hands

Mac DeMarco 2ourI saw Mac DeMarco play this weekend on his new album “2our” and it was by far one of the funniest, rockin’ and entertaining shows I’d been to in a long time. It was like a comedy/garage jam/freak show and I couldn’t stop staring, laughing and/or dancing. The crowd, which surprisingly wasn’t all that large, contained a slew of weirdos, geeks, hipsters, etc. and I couldn’t help but look around in amazement at the bizarro fan following Mac DeMarco attracted, obviously myself included.

The entire show made me feel as if I were some sort of fly on the wall witnessing a jam session in progress. DeMarco made goofy faces, flashed wide grins and bursts of laughter, burped loudly into the microphone, busted out Metallica solos in the middle of a jam, and at one point, jumped into the crowd and slow danced with a guy who I’m pretty sure is a bona-fide pedo. All in all, the show was ridiculous amounts of fun… though I’m sure it doesn’t nearly compare to DeMarco’s infamous stage presence in Montreal in which he got “cross-eyed drunk,” naked, and shoved two drumsticks up his ass… regardless, I’m not complaining. He DID play a new song dedicated to his mother apologizing for that drumstick asshole shoving incident, which is sweet.

Anyway, I JUST wrote about Mac DeMarco and his highly anticipated soon-to-be-released album, so in cutting-to-the-chase conclusion: He’s an absolute MUST-SEE live… unless you hate having fun.

While at the show, I also met a fellow DeMarco fan and in a convo about bands, he insisted I check out a recent local electronic duo discovery. I’m surprised by the next morning, I’d actually remembered the name, however, after a little digging, I found Silver Hands, and sure enough, I’m officially addicted. There isn’t much out there about the San Francisco duo aside from a SoundCloud page and a write-up on The Bay Bridged (apparently they recently played with Chaz Bundik aka Les Sins aka Toro Y Moi last week) but it’s enough to keep me and hopefully you listening:

Silver Hands – Skulls

Silver Hands – Visions

Here’s a bonus recent Mac DeMarco interview with CHARTattack:

Hopelessly Obsessive Over You: Mac Demarco & Holobody

Mac Demarco

Mac Demarco

I feel like there are two kinds of people in this world:

1. Those who discover a jam or band that stuns them with such beauty, amusement, intensity, or ridiculously sweet beats that it ignites an obsessive compulsive desire to play said jam and/or band over, and over, and over in one sitting…

2. Those who obviously never have this urge and/or find this behavior odd. A friend once told me that if she really loves a jam, she purposefully won’t listen to it on repeat and/or often because she doesn’t want to tire of it – This just seems unreasonable and completely impossible to me. Obsession over a jam has got to be some sort of ultimate, true form of appreciation, right? So in the spirit of sharing my ultimate appreciation, I present to you my latest obsessions: Mac Demarco & Holobody.

1. I’m hopelessly obsessed with the goofy/creepy/catchy Mac Demarco and his weirdo, soft rock, “pop jangles” that the Canadian often refers to as “jizz jazz.” His debut album, Rock and Roll Night Club came out in March of this year, and he’s announced another coming real soon-like (October 13th). Each jam on his debut album is like a keepsake of uniqueness, unraveling oddities that range from sleazy to crooning; see the charm for yourself in his video below. I can’t wait to hear what he’s got under his sleeve for Mac Demarco 2 – I’ve already picked up my ticket to see him in San Francisco at the Rickshaw Stop in September  – He’s on tour now, catch the “creep” while you can!

Mac Demarco – Rock and Roll Night Club

Mac Demarco – My Kind of Woman (This one’s from the new album)

Holobody

Holobody

2. Holobody consists of siblings Luke and Charlotte Loseth who refer to themselves by their faux/pseudo/stage names: Felix Green and Sea Oleena. They’re originally from Saskatchewan, Canada but now live in Montreal and make dreamy, pyschadelic, experimental, indie, shoegaze pop. Their debut album Riverhood was released in May of this year and I’ve had it on repeat incessantly, specifically the jam Prelude. They also have a ‘zany’ tumblr that features musical goodies including mixes, solo songs, etc. You can stream Riverhood in its entirety and/or discover their individual solo projects on bandcamp too.

Wahoo! Listen to the Sweet Garage Rockin’ Sounds of Meatbodies

Meatbodies - WahooSometimes you need sweet, fun lovin’ garage rock jams to spike excitement in your never-ending battle…er, discovery for amazing jams. Luckily, Meatbodies does just the trick.

Meatbodies, recently shortened from “Chad & the Meatbodies” was formed by, you got it, Chad… Ubovich – Mikal Cronin’s traveling guitarist. The LA-based band has a handful of jams, two of which, “Wahoo,” and “Steps” were recently pressed onto a (pink splattered!) 7″ via In the Red Records (Ty Segall).

Word on the street is that Meatbodies will be releasing an LP sometime this year too – Wahoo! They’re also on tour with none other than the lovable and goofy Canadian crooner, Mac DeMarco. Keep an eye and an ear out for them!

Meatbodies – Wahoo

Meatbodies – Steps

coco stereo radio

Listen to “Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground“ on BFF.fm, San Francisco’s best online streaming underground radio station, every Sunday, 11 am – Noon PT.

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 1-11-15 – Austin Psych Fest 2015 Picks
This is my last radio show 😦 “Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground” aired on BFF.fm every Sunday 11am-Noon PST for an entire year! Thanks for always listening, Stay tuned on cocostereo.com for more new music and news.

Thee Oh Sees – Tidal Wave
Melody’s Echo Chamber – Shirim
Fuzz – What’s in My Head
The Flaming Lips – The W.A.N.D.
Indian Jewelry – Eva Cherie
Mac DeMarco – She’s Really All I Need
Tame Impala – Stranger in Moscow (MJ Cover)
White Fence – Like That
Fat White Family – Touch the Leather
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just Like Honey
Nothing – Bent Nail
The Blank Tapes – Coast to Coast
Rose Windows – Wartime Lovers

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 12-28-14 Best Tracks of 2014 

Mt. Royal – Missing Reward
Honeyblood – Super Rat
Love Again (Akinyele Back) feat. Gangsta Boo – Run the Jewels
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
Angel Olsen – Hi-Five
Perfume Genius – Queen
Tirzah – No Romance
Shamir – On the Regular
Woods – Leaves Like Glass
St. Vincent – Prince Johnny
Hundred Waters – Show Me Love
Sisyphus – Rhythm of Devotion
Kero Kero Bonito – Sick Beat
Glass Animals – Gooey

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-30-14 – Super Fresh Jams

Disa – Sculpture
Cherry Glazerr – Had Ten Dollaz
Shaprece – Her Song
Panda Bear – Mr Noah
Weaves – Buttercup
SZA – Sobriety
Fat White Family – Touch The Leather
Girlpool – Jane
Young Ejecta – Your Planet
Baby Bash – Suga Suga (Jerry Folk Remix)
American Wrestlers – I Can Do No Wrong
Trust Fund – Cut Me Out
Only Real – Yesterdays
Tune-Yards – Gangsta

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-16-14 – Fresh Jams

Misun – Penny
LoneLady – Grove it Out
Mykki Blanco – A Moment with Kathleen feat. Kathleen Hannah
Tei Shi – See Me
Cherry Glazerr – Tip Toe Through The Tulips (Nick Lucas Cover)
Slow Magic – Waited 4 U (ODESZA Remix)
Bosco Rogers – The Middle
Flowers – Joanna
Daniel Wilson – Boy Who Cried Thunder
Robin Bacior – If it Does
Jessica Pratt – Back, Baby – Drag City
RÉN – Time
Island Boy – Hospital Bed

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 11-2-14 – Funky Fresh Jams

Shamir – On the Regular
Continental Shelf – Viet Cong
Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck) feat. Zack De La Rocha – Run the Jewels
It’s Okay with Me – The Good Sports
Better Man – Leon Bridges
Unforgettable – The Harpoons
Waiting Around for Grace – Pond
Got It – Marian Hill
Close Enough – K Stewart
Rose Knows – Allison Crutchfield
Everybody’s Free – TALA
Between Cans – Deers
Shithole – Weaves
Strawberries & White Light – Blue Hawaii
Get Happy – Blue Hawaii

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 10-19-14 Must See Bands at CMJ Music Marathon 2014

CMJ Music Marathon is October 21-25th in NYC. 80+ venues, 1,300 bands, 125K fans! Here are this year’s must-see bands.
Only Real – Cadillac Girl
Dinner – Girl
Banoffee – Let’s go to the beach
Weaves – Hulahoop
Pins – Lost Lost Lost
Tei Shi – Bassically
Gulp – Vast Space
Spookyland – Rock and Roll Weakling
Ami Dang – This Charm
Adult Jazz – Am Gone
Juan Waters – Escucho Mucho
Twin Peaks – Strawberry Smoothie
Doomsquad – Head Spirit (for our Mechanical Times)
Lydia Ainsworth – PSI

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 10-5-14 – The Freshest of New Jams!

Liv – Come a Little Closer
K.Flay – Make Me Fade (Feat. Sol & Buddy)
AlundaGeorge – Supernatural
Ex Hex – How You Got That Girl
Perfume Genius – Longpig
PlanningtoRock – The One (Summer 2014 Version)
Sisyphus – Booty Call
La Plage – Rendez Vous
She Keeps Bees – Owl
TALA – Alchemy
Absolutely Free – Vision’s
Little Dragon – Cat Rider (Poolside Remix)
Hush Pup – Magic Hour
Elliot Moss – Slip

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-28-14 – Eclectic New Tracks

Dinner – Going Out
Blonde Redhead – No MOre Honey
Perfume Genius – Fool
Wampire – The Amazing Heart Attack
Black Milk – Ruffin
Hush Pup – Thailand
Lo-Fang – When We’re Fire
Phlynt – Silence
Blood Sister – Ghost Twin
Caribou – Silver
Makthaverskan – Asleep
Yellerkin – Tools
iamamiwhoami – Vista

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-21-14 – Deliciously Dark Folsom Street Fair Tracks
This radio show is dedicated to SF’s iconic, infamous and non-profit BDSM spectator fest: ‪‎Folsom Street Fair‬. In honor of this delightfully kinky and eye-opening festivity, I ‘whipped’ up these deliciously dark tracks. Enjoy!

Crater – Crater Head
Trust – Rescue, Mister
Yo! Majesty – Freaks Come Out
Hi Fashion – Amazing
Phedre – Atomic Love
Brooke Candy – Bed Squeak
Light Asylum – Hour Fortress
iamamiwhoami – Clump
Austra – Painful Like
Night Drive – After Dark
Mykki Blanco – Wavvy
Trust – Captiol

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 9-14-14 – Fresh New Jams

FEMME – 1990s // Killer (Seal & Adamski Cover)
Helado Negro – Ojos Que No Ven
Kailo – NinetiesGirl
Fictonian – Full Circle Influence
TĀLĀ – Black Scorpio
Rome Fortune – FreandsMaybe feat. IloveMakonnen
Run the Jewels – Blockbuster Night Part 1
Purling Hiss – Forcefield of Solitude
SBTRKT – Gon Stay feat. Sampha
Bass Drum of Death – For Blood
Operators – True
ODESZA – White Lies feat. Jenni Potts
Perfume Genius – Grid
Masionair – Hold Me Down

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 9-7-14 – WEIRD/Fun/Funky New Jams

Hush Pup – Swimming
BabyMetal – Gimmie Chocolate!!
Gay Dog Food – New Feelings prod. by Sasha DZA
Jenny Hval & Susanna – I Have Walked This Body
ODESZA – Sun Models (Feat. Madelyn Grant)
TwinzTrack – All N My Grill
Crooked Colours – Keep Your Mouth for Lying (cln Remix)
Kindness – This is Not About Us
Eyelid Kid – Time Travel
Willow Smith – Easy Easy (King Krule Cover)
New Swears – See You in a Hull
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Cellophane
Institute – Salt
BabyMetal – Head Bangya!!

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-30-14 – Fab New Jams

Tomas Barfod – Lost (Feat. Pell)
Sleepy Dinosaur – Leaving
Femme – Heartbeat
BRONCHO – What
Black Milk – What it’s Worth
Foreign/National – Life Tourist
Allison Crutchfield – You
Love Inks – Shoot 100 Panes of Glass
Spookyland – The Silly Fucking Thing
Jonwayne – World Championship Karate Champion Feat. Quelle Chris And Zeroh
Astronauts, etc. – Gravity
No Rome – Heaven
Honeyblood – Mesmerizing (Liz Phair Cover)
Visuals – Pixel

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-24-14 – Fresh New Jams

Femme – High
Menace Beach – Tennis Court
Generationals – Black Lemon
Only Real – Pass the Pain
PAWS – Erreur Humaine
Beaty Heart – Yadwigha’s Theme
Galimatias – Ocean Floor Kisses
WAFIA – Let Me Love You (Mario Cover)
Alt-J – Every Other Freckle
Mozart’s Sister – Do it Myself (run run)
Leland – Aware
Golden Coast – Dream and an MPC

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-17-14 – Rockin’ & Eclectic New Jams

Daniel Wilson – Killed Ya
Bass Drum of Death – Black Don’t Glow
Ramona Lisa – Getaway Ride
Whyte Horses – The Snowfalls
Thrupence – Don’t You Mind
FKA Twigs – Give Up
Happyness – You Come to Kill Me?!
Fold – Human Again
Needle Points – I Drink Rainfall
Cancer – The Same Colour as Digital Photography
Kero Kero Bonito – Sick Beat
Paul White – Where You Gonna Go?
Josef Salvat – Shoot & Run
Slow No Wake – Noah, Pt. 1

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 8-2-14 – New EZ Listening Jams

Beaty Heart – Get the Gurls
Highasakite – Since Last Wednesday
Wampire – Wizard Staff
Jenny Lewis – One of the Guys
Eyelid Kid – Sleep Well on Knives
Chance The Rapper & The Social Experiment – Wonderful Everyday: Arthur
Dead Times – Every Moment
Kero Kero Bonito – Kero Kero Bonito
Allan Kingdom – Already feat. Kevin Abstract
Mozart’s Sister – Lone Wolf
The Delphines – Vice
Roses – Florence Girls
GRMLN – Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper Cover)
King Tuff – Eyes of the Muse

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 7-27-14 – Wacky, Funky, Wild New Jams

Redinho – Playing with Fire
Meanwhile – Luvletta
Twin Peaks – Strawberry Smoothie
Black Milk – Detroit’s New Dance Show
Beaty Heart – Banana Bread
Guerilla Toss – 367 Equalizer
Fryars – Prettiest Ones Fly Highest
Sinkane – How We Be
BANKS – Beggin’ for Thread
MisterWives – Vagabond (Jared Poythress Remix)
Erlend Øye – Garota
Club KURU – Seesaw
Lowell – The Bells (Dd Elle Remix)

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 7-20-14 – Phat New Jamz

Teen – Not For Long (Saint Pepsi Remix)
SlowPlaceLikeHome – Luna
Perfume Genius – Queen
Emilie Nicolas – Pstereo (DumDum Boys Cover)
Broncho – Class Historian
Slow Club – Tears of Joy
Body Language – 4 Real
Indian Summer – Shiner feat. Ginger & the Ghost
Los Angeles Police Department – She Came Through (Again)
JUCE – Burning Up
Lydia Ainsworth – PSI
Markis Precise – Kiss The Ring(Feat. Elzhi & Fashawn)
La Roux – Sexotheque
SuicideYear – Hope Building A

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground – 7-13-14 – Fabulous New Tracks

Majid Jordan – A Place Like This
Black EL – White ’95 Maxima
Mozart’s Sister – Bow a Kiss
Adult Jazz – Idiot Mantra
Sia – Fair Game
Cash+David – Funn
Dana Buoy – Preacher
SZA – Warm Winds (Feat. Isaiah Rashad)
Roses – It’s Over
Mt. Si – Oh
Geoffrey O’Connor – Her Name On Every Tongue
Wet – Move Me
Le Pélican Noir – …Et Les Arbres Déserteront Les Champs
Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 7-6-14 – Ridiculously Catchy New Tracks

Kailo – Need Ya feat. Aela Kae
Meg Mac – Roll Up Your Sleeves
Baxter Dury – Pleasure
Zella Day – East of Eden
Spider Bags – Japanese Vacation
Glass Animals – Psylla
Juan Wauters – Escucho Mucho
Nautic – Lay Back
Shamir – I Know it’s a Good Thing
PHOX – 1936
White Fence – Like That
Yalls – Finally
Beat Connection – Hesitation
Anand Wilder and Maxwell Kardon – Wedding Day
Mø – Never Wanna Know (Night Version)
Austra – Hulluu

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-29-14 – The Best Fresh Tracks

Vacationer – Vision
Ryn Weaver – OctaHate
Slow Magic – Girls
Grimes – Go feat. Blood Diamonds
Julia Holter – Don’t Make Me Over (Dionne Warwick Cover)
Sam Smith – How Will I Know (Whitney Houston Cover)
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
Chris Staples – Dark Side of the Moon
Dub Thompson – No Time
Moodoïd – La Lune
Sisyphus – Rhythm of Devotion
Mozart’s Sister – My House is Wild

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-22-14 – Rad New Tracks

Islands – Aloe Hills are Blooming
Memory in Plant – Eyes Up
Phoria – Efforttobreathe
The Bilinda Butchers – Edo Method
Honeyblood – Super Rat
Small Black – Real People (Feat. Frankie Rose)
How to Dress Well – Face Again
Salt Cathedral – Tease
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Jackson
Juan Wauters – Water
Dorothy – After Midnight
Lia Ices – Thousand Eyes
Dessert – You’re Welcome
Jessie Ware – Tough Love

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-15-14 – Delightfully Wacky New Jams

Future Punx – 999
Movie – Mr. Fist
Blackbird Blackbird – There is Nowhere (DWNTWN Remix)
Deers – Bamboo (Demo)
Jaymes Young – Habits of My Heart (Surfjan Stevens Remake)
The Homesick – Breakfast
Death Grips – Have a Sad Cum feat. Bjork.
Fold – Be Water My Friend
Rubblebucket – Sound of Erasing
Got a Girl – Did We Live Too Fast
OOIOO – Jesso Testa
TĀLĀ – On My Own In Hua Hin
Sam and Dave – Soul Man (1967) – Father’s Day request by my dad!

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-8-14 – Eccentric New Tracks

SBTRKT – Temporary View feat. Sampha
Panama Wedding – Uma
EMA – So Blonde
Hyde & Beast – Blue
Mac DeMarco – Eating Like a Kid aka Cum on My Lip – Acoustic & Live Vol. 1
Mac DeMarco – Only You – Acoustic & Live Vol. 1
Hurray for the Riff Raff – The Body Electric
Adult Jazz – Spook
Sam Smith – Stay with Me feat. Mary J. Blige
Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – A Sender
Kelis – Breakfast
Kelis – Rumble

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 6-1-14 – Eclectic New Jams

Yann Tiersen – Lights
Hundred Waters – Show Me Love
Hundred Waters – [Animal]
Hundred Waters – Innocent
TĀLĀ – The Duchess
MisterWives – Reflections
Lydia Ainsworth – White Shadows
Mozart’s Sister – Enjoy
Adult Jazz – Am Gone
Courtship Ritual – Kingdom of Beauty
EKKAH – Figure it Out
Alvvays – Ones Who Love You
Low Roar – I’m Leaving
Tove Styrke – Even if I’m Loud it Doesn’t Mean I’m Talking to You

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-25-14 – Funky/Soulful New Tracks

Naomi Punk – Television Man
Black Milk – Dirt Bells
Black Milk – Cold Day
Meatbodies – Wahoo
Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me
Agnes Obel – Aventine
JUCE – (H)ours
Parquet Courts – Instant Disassembly
Helado Negro – Mitad de tu Mundo
Lulu James – Beautiful People
Hush Pup – Sign 11:11
Fol Chen – Boys in the Woods
ZHU – Paradise Awaits

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-18-14 – Anniversary Edition! Amazing Tracks from 2012-2014

Mac DeMarco – Rock and Roll Night Club
Phedre – Aphrodite
How to Dress Well – & it Was U
Empress Of – Champagne
Light Asylum – IPC
Helado Negro – Dance Ghost
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – Lamia
Banks – Waiting Game
Hush Pup – Dusty Rose
Cherry Glazerr – Grilled Cheese
Hundred Waters – Cavity
Sylvan Esso – Wolf
Tirzah – No Romance

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-11-14 – Mother’s Day + Best New Tracks

The Lonely Island –  Motherlover
Last Lynx – Curtains (Embody Remix)
Machineheart – Circles
Kent Odessa – Physical Genius
Landlady – Above My Ground
PAWS – Owls Talons Clenching My Heart
PAWS – Tongues
Cousin Marnie – Cain
Kishi Bashi – Philosophize it! Chemicalize with it!
Atmosphere – Let Me Know What You Want Now
Devonte Hynes – Palo Alto
Emily King – Distance
Kuhrye-oo – Air Days feat. Evy Jane

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 5-4-14- Brand Spankin’ New Tracks

Colleagues – Tears
Sylvan Esso – Wolf
Sylvan Esso – H.S.K.T.
Honeyblood – Choker
SlowPlaceLikeHome – She Comes in Colour Stereo
Jessica Lea Mayfield – I Wanna Love You
M&O – Jimi Savannah
Seoul – White Morning
Homeboy Sandman – White Sands
Tune-Yards – Wait for a Minute
IYES – Toys
Gentlemen – Gentle Duke
Young Magic -Holographic

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-20-14 – Best Live Acts of 2014 (thus far)

Painted Palms – Not Really There
Pure Bathing Culture – Lucky One
Berndsen – Planet Earth
Hjaltalín – Letter to […]
Trentemøller – Gravity feat. Jana Hunter (Lower Dens)
Angel Olsen – High & Wild
St. Vincent – Severed Crossed Fingers
White Hinterland – Baby
Jenny Hval – Mephisto in the Water
Iska Dhaaf – All the Kids
Temples – A Question isn’t Answered
The Knife – A Tooth for an Eye

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-13-14 – Fresh New Jams

Mark McGuire – Wonderland of Living Things
Coves – Beatings
First Aid Kit – My Silver Lining
Banoffee – Reign Down
Ásgeir – Torrent
PHOX – Slow Motion
SZA – Julia
Belgian Fog – Loveless Way
BOOTS – My Heart is a Stone Today (Unharmed)
DESSERT – Player
GMGN feat. Opey Tha Poet – We Got Now
Glass Animals – Holiest fest. Tei Shi
Movement – Like Lust
MS MR – Think of You (Wet Remix)

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 4-6-14 – Best New Tracks

Rome Fortune – Trap Pop
Courtney Barnett – Bein’ Around (Lemonheads Cover)
East – Old Age
Now, Now – School Friends (Ansible Remix)
Julie Byrne – Melting Grid
White Hinterland – Ring the Bell
Alice Boman – What
Blooms – Lust
Strange Bodies – This Town
Sean Nicholas Savage – Heartless
Swans – A Little God in Our Hands
Tune-Yards – Water Fountain
How to Dress Well – Repeat Pleasure
The Bamboos – Avenger

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-30-14 – New Albums Edition

Liars – Mess on a Mission
Iska Dhaaf – All the Kids
Iska Dhaaf – Everybody Knows
TacocaT – Crimson Wave
TEEN – Not for Long
TEEN – Tied Up, Tied Down
Frankie Cosmos – Birthday Song
TacocaT – Bridge to Hawaii
Timber Timbre – Curtains?!
TImber Timbre – Hot Dreams
Mac DeMarco – Let My Baby Stay
Mac DeMarco – Goodbye Weekend
Mac DeMarco – Jonny’s Odyssey
Pure X – Heaven
Pure X – Starlight
 
Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-16-14 – Best New Tracks

Gardens & Villa – Colony Glen
Tirzah – Inside Out
Tirzah – No Romance
How to Dress Well – I Don’t Know the Words
Future Islands – Fall from Grace
Sharon Van Etten – Taking Chances
September Girls – Heartbeats
Tame Impala – Stranger in Moscow (Michael Jackson cover)
Bear Hands – Giants
Anna Calvi – Suddenly
CunninLyngists – Beyond the Sun ft. J-Live
Highasakite – Son of a Bitch
Diane Coffee – Amor Fati (Washed Out cover)
WizardBeats – Lap Dance

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-9-14 – Must-See SXSW 2014 Bands

Tei Shi – M&Ms
Black Atlass – Blossom
Cherry Glazerr – All My Friends
Quilt – Arctic Shark
Chance The Rapper – Cocoa Butter Kisses (ft. Vic Mensa & Twista)
Mutual Benefit – Golden Wake
FKA Twigs – Water Me
Glass Animals – Gooey
Sophie – Bipp (*update* It’s been discovered at South By that Sophie is a HE. Ah, the joys of SXSW)
Speedy Ortiz – Everything’s Bigger
Wet – Bad Idea
Cate Le Bon – Are You with Me Now?
Diane Coffee – Hymn
Hundred Waters – Cavity
Ex Hex – Hot and Cold

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 3-2-14 – Post Vacay Survival Edition

Clare Maguire – Whenever You Want It
Mac DeMarco – Chamber of Reflection
Trust – Joyland
Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me
Mt. Royal – Missing Reward
Woods – Moving to the Left
Hundred Waters – Down from the Rafters
KIll J – Bullet
Majical Cloudz – Love Soul
St. Vincent – Prince Johnny
Mr Little Jeans – Good Mistake
Happy Fangs – Electricity, Man
FKA Twigs x Inc. – FKA Twigs x Inc.

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-16-14 – Valentine’s Day Edition

Clare Maguire – In the Night
K.Flay – So What
Marian Hill – Lovit
FKA Twigs – Ache
Sean Nicholas Savage – Lonely Woman
Chance the Rapper – Lost (Prod. by Nate Fox)
Farao – To Sleep Apart
Daniel Wilson – Will You
Timber Timbre – Hot Dreams
Gregory Alan Isakov – Saint Valentine
Widowspeak – Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover)
Wet – No Lie (Noah Breakfast Remix ft. Spank ROck)
Mutual Benefit – C.L. Rosarian
Beyonce – Drunk in Love
Shy Girls – Second Heartbeat

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-9-14 – Best New Tunes Edition

Hospitality – It’s Not Serious
Black Atlass – Blossom
Ex Hex – Hot and Cold
Tomas Barfod – Pulsing (Ft. Nina K)
Julie Byrne – Prism Song
Temples – The Golden Throne
Hidden Cameras – Year of the Spawn
G-Eazy – Tumblr Girls ft. Christoph Andersson
Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me
Marissa Nadler – Dead City Emily
SKATERS – MIss Teen Massachusetts
Waterstrider – Twice (Little Dragon Cover)
Lowell – Cloud 69

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 2-2-14 – Groundhog Day Edition

Cherry Glazerr – Haxel Princess
Cherry Glazerr – Grilled Cheese
Cherry Glazerr – All My Friends
Woods – Leaves Like Glass
Woods – Be All Be Easy
Hozier – Take Me to Church
Hozier – Like Real People Do
dd elle – Kind 2 U
dd elle – A Note
Supreme Cuts – Gone (ft. Mahaut Modino)
Supreme Cuts – Envision (ft. Channy of Polica)
Brolin – Reykjavik
Brolin – Portland
Ricky Eat Acid – It Will Draw Me Over to it Like it Always Does

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-26-14 – GIRL POWER! Edition

Alpines – Oasis
The Courtneys – Lost Boys
Tei Shi – Sickasfuck
Alice Boman – Waiting
Marian Hill – Whisky
Warpaint – Biggy
Honor Gavin – Yes Mazoni
Angel Olsen – Hi-Five
Kyla La Grange – Cut Your Teeth
Hospitality – I Miss Your Bones
MISUN – Travel with Me
Farao – The Hours
BROODS – Bridges
iamamiwhoami – Fountain

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-19-14 – Trashy, Bubblegum, Surf/Punk Rock Edition

Pookie & The Poodlez – Hallucinating
The Black Lips – Boys in the Wood
NOBUNNY – I am a Girlfriend
Bleached – Dead in Your Head
The Coathangers – Shut the Fuck Up
Mac DeMarco – Treat Her Better, Salad Days & Let Her
The Blank Tapes – Coast to Coast
Hunx And His Punx – You Think You’re Tough & Everyone’s a Pussy (Fuck You Dude)
Together PANGEA – Offer
Colleen Green – Time in the World
Summer Twins – I Will Love You
Shannon and the Clams – Hey Willy
Allah-Las – Catamaran
Sam Flax – Fire Doesn’t Burn Itself

Cuckoo for Coco’s Pop Underground 1-12-14 – Loopy Head Cold Edition

R.L. Kelly – Life’s a Bummer
PLANNINGTOROCK – Human Drama
Seinabo Sey – Younger
Trust – Rescue, Mister
CEO – Wonderland
Connan Mockasin – Caramel
HWLS – 001
Damaged Bug – Eggs at Night
Lucius – Hey, Doreen
Netherfriends – Uptwon Boys
Juana Molina – Sin Guia No
Son Lux – Lost it to Trying
Ginger & The Ghost – One Type of Dark (Ta-ku Remix)
Elvis Depressedly – Okay
Phèdre – Supernatural

Coco Stereo Radio 1-5-14 – Breakout Bands You Shouldn’t Have Slept On Edition

SALES – Renee
Béisbol – Is it Over?
Tweens – Be Mean
FUZZ – What’s in My Head
Melt Yourself Down – We Are Enough
Dungeoness – Shucks
Chance the Rapper – Favorite Song (ft. Childish Bambino)
Companion – 20th Century Crime
Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Speedy Ortiz – Everything’s Bigger
Ejecta – It’s Only Love
Jamaican Queens – Water
Jacco Gardner – Clear the Air

Coco Stereo Radio 12-29-13 – Best Tracks of 2013 Edition

Josef Salvat – Every Night
No Joy – Hare Tarot Lies
Mozart’s Sister – Mozart’s Sister
K-X-P – Magnetic North
Teen – Carolina
Sean Nicholas Savage – You Changed Me
Jessie Ware – Still Love Me
The Holidays – Voices Drifting
Jackson Scott – Evie
Wet – Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl
Mortar & Pestle – U.V.
Banks – Waiting Game (Produced by SOHN)
SOHN – Bloodflows
Fyfe – Lies
Still Corners – Berlin Lovers

That’s a Wrap! 8 Phenomenal Highlights from SXSW 2013 Music Fest

SXSW No Breakfast TacosToday, I don’t have any plans to stay up until 4 am, drink cheap booze, eat copious amounts of meat or breakfast tacos and race around Austin, TX to watch 2,000+ bands play on a bridge, some steps, in a bar, church, garage, house, backyard, or in a burger joint… it’s weird. SXSW is officially over.

Although the mayhem of a music festival is utterly exhausting, it’s also rejuvenating in the sense that you fully submerge yourself into the deep end of a music-worshiping pool. At SXSW, you’re surrounded by thousands of bloggers, musicians, music industry folk, podcasters, writers, celebrities, and most importantly, but simply, fans. During these 6 whirlwind days, you’re immersed amongst a concentration of people who all share the same love and appreciation for music as equally as you do. It’s refreshing.

The festival exposes you to so many surreal opportunities, chances, music discoveries, and connections that you’d most likely never experience otherwise – It’s a truly magical experience. With that, here are 8 phenomenal highlights from SXSW 2013:

k-x-p

K-X-P

K-X-P at the Karma Lounge + Bob Boilen (Creator and Host of NPR’s All Songs Considered)
Helsinki’s goth LCD Soundsystem trio, K-X-P was absolutely electrifying and their performance was by far my favorite of the SXSW experience. Donning goth gear in the form of black capes and studded leather dresses, K-X-P pulsed long, intensely dark synth and heavy beats throughout the bar at 1 am. I also spotted Bob Boilen from NPR’s All Songs Considered in the room and introduced myself, as I’m a big fan. Quite extraordinarily, Bob mentioned me in his podcast that night, and coco stereo in his SXSW wrap up – Truly an honor!  You simply never know who may rock out next to at SXSW!

K-X-P – Melody

Empress Of at the Hype Hotel
12 pm is early by SXSW standards, but it was Empress Of‘s first appearance on the festival circuit and it was well worth the price of a little lost sleep. Empress Of is not only adorable, but possesses a magnetic voice and purges raw, refreshing talent that made her performance appear seamless. Her voice quavered when introducing herself, but she happily bounced along to new electro-pop gems we were all eager to hear, as she currently only dons three. Humble, yet extremely talented, Empress Of stole the hearts and ears of many.

Empress Of – Don’t Tell Me

Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco. Photo: Colin Kerrigan

M for Montreal /Arbutus Records Showcase at the Swan Dive
I could write a novel’s worth of blog posts purely about this showcase as I never left, and it was 7 hours long! The lineup included Mac DeMarco, Sean Nicholas Savage, Majical Cloudz, Pat Jordache, Blue Hawaii, Doldrums, and Braids. If it wasn’t already obvious that Montreal is kicking serious ass in the music realm, it should be now.

Though Mac DeMarco, everyone’s favorite goofy crooner/rocker isn’t an Arbutus Records artist, he is from Montreal and a dear friend to these musicians. This was the 3rd time I’d seen DeMarco (who was still wearing the same garbs) at SXSW, and not purposefully, he just seemed to be everywhere. However, this was by far his best performance, as he seemed to be in true bizarro form amongst friends. At one point mid-performance, DeMarco scrambled up a wooden beam and began swinging from the ceiling rafters which throughly pissed off venue owners, yet pleased the crowd to no end.

Mac DeMarco – Ode to Viceroy

Sean Nicholas Savage

Sean Nicholas Savage. Photo: Colleen Corkery

The intriguing, ever-ecclectic and highly talented singer/songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage got on stage with just a keyboard and a microphone. He took his shoes off, swayed his hips, sang his best hits and the audience melted, or maybe that was just me.

Sean Nicholas Savage – Lonely Woman

Blue Hawaii‘s performance was by for the most surprising and mind-blowing for many. The duo filled the white washed venue with pulsing synth and Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s sweet, melodic, falsetto voice strikingly resembled Grimes. The crowd danced hard, especially Devon of Majical Cloudz who was front and center.

Blue Hawaii – In Two 

With a drummer and two keyboard/synth backups, Doldrums ferociously played his hypnotic, experimental electro beats (out of a suitcase), belted lyrics while crowd surfing with ease, and placed a dance inducing spell over the entire audience. Never had I seen such a massive conglomerate of pulsating, jumping and gyrating humans at SXSW. Everyone in the audience completely lost themselves in the music and it was incredible to witness/experience. The energy was at an all-time high.

Doldrums

Doldrums at SXSW 2013. Photo: Colin Kerrigan

Doldrums – Egypt

The most endearing aspect of the showcase, however, was witnessing the camaraderie, support and love each of the Arbutus and/or other Canadian artists showed for each other. I also spotted DeMarco obviously, as well as Born Gold and Mozart’s Sister amongst others. The entire venue was filled to the brim with artists who watched, cheered and danced harder than most to their fellow musicians’ music.

Rhye at the Pitchfork Day Party
I had the guilty pleasure of proving multiple people wrong at the Pitchfork Day Party, by exclaiming “Rhye‘s a guy y’all!” when many were smacked with the realization that Rhye is indeed a man. I mean, his name is Mike Milosh and he owns that dreamy, silky, seductive and sultry voice. Rhye explained that he and his band, including a phenomenal violinist and trombone player, had just flew in from Berlin and were on their 40th hour of being awake. Yet, they still played an astonishing set of what Milosh referred to as sexy “night time music” during broad day light.

Rhye

Rhye’s a guy! Photo: Trent Maxwell

Rhye – Open

Girls Names at the Flamingo Cantina
Though their faces were quite complacent, Girls Names rocked long and hard, and not an eye could pry away from their quint essential post-punk Brit rock, (they are from Belfast, after all). There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, crazy, or gasp-worthy necessary to make this a successful set, Girls Names simply provided steady, hefty, refreshing rock n’ roll.

Girls Names – Hypnotic Regression

Ólafur Arnalds at Peckerheads
I was completely unaware of this ambient Icelandic group/producer until my good ol pal, Bob Boilen had suggested the show. The bar, rightfully named Peckerheads, was clamoring with noise from happy drunkards and thumping beats from below, but Ólafur Arnalds urged people to take a seat and enjoy the beauty he was about to embark upon us. Accompanied by an intense violinist and cello player, Ólafur’s soothing, melodic and beautiful instrumental music quieted the crowd and made people exclaim, “wow.” 

Ólafur Arnalds – Only the Winds

The Exploded Drawing Party Boat

View from the Exploded Drawing SXSW Party Boat. Photo: Colleen Corkery

Giraffage on the Exploded Drawing Party Boat
I somehow managed to start day 1 of SXSW, typically the tamest of all, in the most blissful way. A crowd of people piled onto the Exploded Drawing double-decker party boat and we floated down the river into the sunset, all while sipping on cucumber/kale margaritas and dancing to the seriously sweet beats of 10+ DJs. Giraffage, the moniker of San Francisco-hailing producer, Charlie Yin, had the quickest, and most nimble fingers of them all, and he induced everyone to jump up, and all the ladies to get down.

Giraffage – Close 2 Me

Parquet Courts, Merchandise & Destruction Unit on Pedestrian Bridge at 3 am
Granted, this was technically a Chaos in Tejas event put on by BrooklynVegan, but racing to watch indie punk rockers Parquet Courts, Merchandise and Destruction Unit rock hard on a bridge at 3 am seemed so utterly SXSW. The bridge was literally rockin’ while the crowd was rollin’ into each other during a frenzy of excited mosh pits that lasted well into early morning.

Parquet Courts – Stoned and Starving

In the effort to make this wrap up reasonably succinct, out of the 50+ bands I managed to see, other stand out performances included: Baths, DIANA, Autre Ne Veut, Mozart’s Sister, CHVRCHES, Austra, Ryan Hemsworth, and MØ. And while everyone in attendance may be missing SXSW already, it’s never too early to plan for next year. Until next time, adios Tejas!