Austinist Presents: Gonna Gonna Get Down IV [Akron/Family, Vetiver, Elvis Perkins & More]

Their live show's reputation precedes them, but Akron/Family's greatest feat might be managing to capture all the nuance, energy and beauty of their performances in the sometimes bleak stillness of recorded music. There's a sort of steady flow between each version of what they do: they are at once living up to all the flawless harmonies, dense instrumental agility and simple but mystical elegance of their work in the studio in their live show, and never betraying that gorgeous wilding that is their show. If you saw them at SXSW last year, you wound up outside of Emo's on Red River, hugging strangers, beating drums and chanting along with the band. In unheard-of SX form, Seth, Miles, Dana (& Co.) performed for over two hours, bobbing and weaving between tunes, effortlessly tangling songs together and unraveling them later -- calling and responding to themselves, between each other, like a flock of birds falling in and out of pre-ordained formations. We'll no doubt be treated to something truly special this year, as the group performs at 5:00 p.m. outdoors in support of their upcoming release, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. -Paige Maguire

Check out some tunes from SXSW '08 with Daytrotter.

Vetiver caught our eye with their gentle and faithful rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Save Me a Place", but as we dug deeper into their work, we found a surreal world of throwback folk, an almost eerie music resemblance to George Harrison, and a depth that is all too often left by the wayside. At once dense and subtle, their latest full-length Tight Knit reveals Andy Cabic's talents slowly and purposefully, adding value with each listen. A perfect match for friends Akron/Family, and known to be joined once in a while by Devendra Banhart, Vetiver will grace the stage just before the end of the afternoon. -Paige Maguire

Elvis Perkins is a folk singer/songwriter who made some commotion with critics and fans alike with his first album, Ash Wednesday. Now, just before playing South by Southwest, he’s set to release his next one, and he’s sweetening the pot. Perkins’ project used to just be called just Elvis Perkins, but it looks like he took on a grander title for his new record and a grander sound to go along with it. He recently released three tracks from his upcoming sophomore effort on his website, and one in particular, “Doomsday”, steps things up a bit. An organ and horns help inflate this cheerful march about being consumed by life and not the end of days. Something Interesting: Perkins is the son of Psycho star Anthony Perkins. He also has one of the most interesting pedigrees and list of dramatic occurrences in and around his life. Read more about him. -William Mills

The Mae Shi hail from L.A., and have been releasing records since 2003, but '08's HLLLYH sort of pushed them over the shadowy edge of avant mystery into full-fledged (so called) popularity. After an adoring Pitchfork review, the word started to spread through more spacious pathways. If Xiu Xiu's Jaime Stewart created pinball games about spastic teenage robots, the Mae Shi would write the music. With all the angularity of the late great Monorchid, the shill and always-urgent vocal work reminiscent of Gravity's L.A. sons Antioch Arrow and Heroin, and the pure volume of manipulated Casio, MIDI and who-the-heck-knows-what-else, they are guaranteed to blow the roof off the Mohawk's intimate indoor stage. And we can't wait. -Paige Maguire

Gringo Star (not Ringo Deathstarr, and definitely not Ringo Starr) will be a part of our annual SXSW day party this year. The band was originally called A Fi-Ju Well, hails from Atlanta, and is comprised of Pete DeLorenzo, Matt McCalvin, and brothers Peter and Nick Furgiuele. Gringo Star released its debut full-length All Y’all late last year -- the band’s piano tinged, psychedelia dressed garage-rock should be a perfect pick-me-up during the first afternoon of SXSW Music. Check out the video for “All Y’all” via Vimeo and come help us re-create some of those shenanigans at The Mohawk on the 18th. -Adi Anand

Reveling in the sonic gore of forebears The Birthday Party and The Jesus Lizard, Louisville, KY's Young Widows play the kind of angular, whiplash-inducing rock and roll that gives lie to the cliche "They don't make 'em like they used to." This is no-nonsense post-grunge, not quite metal, not quite indie, not quite punk, yet somehow encapsulating all three with songs that swing with the force of a silk-wrapped sledgehammer. New full-length Old Wounds By Young Widows, recorded by sonic alchemist Kurt Ballou, delivers a goose-bump-inducing barrage of riffs guaranteed to get you through...whatever it is that you listen to this kind of music to get through. -Matthew Dewitt

Kevin Devine is a Brooklyn-born, Brooklyn-devoted singer songwriter who cut his teeth in several bands (Miracle of 86, Wetlands Preserve) before taking off on his own. He has put out four albums since 2002, and is planning an April release for his latest, Brother’s Blood. Devine’s music is acoustic guitar-based with a steady focus on the playful but sincere lyrics: song titles include “Love Me I’m a Liberal” and “Another Bag of Bones.” Devine’s style has aligned him with the new school of confessional emo artists, and he has toured with both Jesse Lacey of Brand New and Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra and Owen. -Adam Schragin

SET TIMES

In
11:30 a.m.: DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives
12:15 p.m.: Kevin Devine
1:00 p.m.: Garotas Suecas
1:45 p.m.: Caitlin Rose
2:30 p.m.: J Tillman
3:30 p.m.: Vetiver
4:40 p.m.: the Mae Shi

Out
11:45 a.m.: Telekinesis
12:30 p.m.: Here We Go Magic
1:15 p.m.: TV/TV
2:00 p.m.: Young Widows
3:00 p.m.: Gringo Star
4:00 p.m.: Elvis Perkins in Dearland
5:00 p.m.: Akron/Family