Flyer by Justin Cox.

Sets By

• Architecture in Helsinki (Australia)
  
• Apes and Androids (New York, NY)
  
• Nicole Atkins (Brooklyn, NY)
  
• Headlights (Champaign, IL)
  
• The Forms (Brooklyn, NY)
  
• Earl Greyhound (New York, NY)
  
• Loxsly (Austin, TX)
  
• Hello Stranger (Los Angeles, CA)
  
• The Shivers (New York, NY)
  
• Loney, Dear (Stockholm, Sweden)
  
• The Hourly Radio (Dallas, TX)
  
• Stars of Track and Field (Portland, OR)
  
• Peter and the Wolf (Austin, TX)
  
• Teitur (London, UK)
  
• Sparrow House (Austin, TX)
  
• Tom Brosseau (Grand Forks, ND)
  

Plus

Details

We hope you'll join us.

The Glass Family is a talented indie-rock band from Austin that caters to fans of melodious, riff-friendly pop soundscapes. Although possibly a little under-rated as compared with (the hype associated with) other local outfits, their solid debut effort on i eat records, Sleep Inside This Wheel is chock full of multi-instrumental, well orchestrated pop-rock that does us just fine. Michael Winningham shared his thoughts with us recently.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

Our first outing at SXSW, or at least our first showcase, was a bit exciting for me. I had really wanted to be a part of the festival, and felt especially proud of our band to make it in and be able to perform. I was so excited about playing that I wanted only the best performance we could possibly deliver. What took place was a bit overstated. Two songs into our performance, I was jumping up and down, kicking from the side of my guitar like Van Morrison in the Last Waltz, and probably playing incredibly off rhythm with the rest of the band. The show ended in me head-butting our lead guitarist. I think it is of note that we are not a band that creates music you head-butt, kick, or jump to.

SXSW co-creator Louis Black (left) looks on as folks wait anxiously in line at Waterloo Records for SXSW Music wristbands earlier this afternoon.

First 2,000 are $130 and the next 2,000 shoot up to $160--nearly twice as much as they were five years ago, when the first round of wristbands were $85. Lines stretched around the block, with eager Austinites showing up in increasing numbers even as we left at 1:30pm. In '05, the last of the first-round tickets sold out at 6pm that same day.

Only two hours have passed and the first wristband appears on Craigslist for $250.

Photo by Patrick Dentler

It would be hard to go wrong by attending Sub Pop's SXSW showcase on March 14th. Seattle's little label that can has released some awfully wonderful records in their day: Nirvana, The Shins, The Postal Service, and Band Of Horses to name just a few. Don't you owe these guys the benefit of the doubt?

This year's Sub Pop party at Emo's IV will feature Oxford Collapse, Kinski, and Tiny Vipers, a one-woman band comprised of, well, Jesy Fortino. The Seattle-based Fortino has finished recording her debut album, and arrives to showcase her quiet, folk-based songs to we SXSWers. We recently spoke to her about bugs, burritos, and Simba.

How do your parents describe your music to people?

I don't know. They probably say they like my voice.

Ditch work and get in line, because SXSW wristbands just went on sale! Waterloo Records, corner of 6th and Lamar, limit 2 per person, cash or credit card. Supplies are very limited, so GO NOW.

* posted just after 12 noon

In the last year, Greg Gillis' Girl Talk has become a sort of household name for the music community at large as his third full length album, Night Ripper, stopped party-goers in their tracks and took the art of mixing to an entirely new level. Bio-medical researcher by day and party catalyst by night, Gillis is an entrepreneur of sound as mind fuck: spinning Top 40 radio against explicit rap and hip-hop against 70s easy listening and, well, Boston. Night Ripper was #7 on our year end list here at Austinist (follow the link to read our review of it), and we can't wait to see what the live show brings at SXSW. Recently we had a chance to hear from Gillis himself on his life in the Pittsburgh medical research community, his last experience in Austin, and his thoughts on the mash-up.

In your day to day life as a member of the Pittsburgh community and a bio-medical researcher, there must be choices you make as far as what (if anything) you will reveal about Girl Talk. Has there ever been a person or situation that really called for full disclosure that you had to resist? Or is all the attention made it impossible for you to decide who knows about your alter ego?

I have two worlds. My job world, and the entire other world. At my job, I don't tell anyone about what I'm to on the music side of things. I think there's a good chance that someone knows about all of it and is too embarrassed to call me out on it. I also think there's a good chance that my coworkers are too busy feeding their families and cleaning their houses to even know who Kanye West is. In the rest of my life, such as with my family or dentist or friends, everyone knows that I'm in a sample-based band called Girl Talk.

You've been to Austin before, right? Care to share a story about it?

I've been making music as Girl Talk for about 7 years now, and I've toured the country a number of times. In the past, I was used to riding around in vans without air conditioning to play for 10 people in every city across the entire USA. But back in those less-glorious days, Austin seemed to always shock my friends and I with the attendance and enthusiasm. It was like the only place in the country where more than 50 people would come out.

On the other hand, my worst "show" of last year was in Austin. I had a 102 degree fever, and I was flying down to play a house party. My flight was delayed, and I got in at 2:00 AM and felt like dying. The people throwing the party talked me into playing. I show up at this sweaty house party, and it was the only show of my entire life where my computer would not start. I think it was because of the insane humidity in the room. So I was standing there in front of a bunch of drunk people waiting to party, I'm about to puke, and my computer won't even start. I went to a friends house and had fever nightmares the whole night. It sucked.

Girl Talk will be performing at the Pitchfork party @ Emo's on March 16. For more information on SXSW events and links to other interviews & goodies, visit our Interactive Guide

Photo courtesy the artist's MySpace

[Girl Talk MySpace]
[Girl Talk Official]

Okay, okay - we've haven't been doing a very good job keeping you informed about SXSW Film stuff. But a lot of news has built up over the last week or so, so we're gonna drop it on you all at once, like some kind of awesome 50-megaton knowledge-bomb.

SXSW Film Festival Passes are now on sale at Waterloo Records Video. They cost $65, and they work sort of like music wristbands (at screenings, badges get let in first, then passes). We got a film pass last year, and we think they're a pretty good deal. They'll get you into pretty much any screening, so long as you get there early enough to snag a good spot in line. The only downside is, the actual passes are annoying pieces of cardboard that you have to carry around in your pocket because they're too big to fit into your wallet.

This year's Closing Night Film will be Korean director Chan-wook Park's romantic comedy I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK. Park is probably best known for his Vengeance Trilogy, which includes the films Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Oldboy (which won him the Grand Prize at Cannes in 2004). Cyborg looks very cool, even though we can't understand what the hell they're talking about.

Full screening and panel schedules are now available on the SXSW site, including a partial set of trailers. You have to do a hell of a lot of clicking to get a real sense of what's going on when, but to start you off we've made a short list of some panels that look interesting: TV Comedy of Today, Horror Films of Today, Doc Politics As Usual, When Does User-Generated Video Become Independent Filmmaking?, Blogging About Film, Video Mashups: Please Rolling Stones Don't Sue Us, Lonelygirl15: A Case Study and Grindhouse 101.

We haven't made a shortlist of interesting films just yet, but while browsing through the schedule we noticed quite a few films with Texas connections that aren't screening in the Lone Star States, Texas Shorts or Texas High School Shorts categories. Check 'em out after the jump.

The BBC calls The Hot Puppies a "spiky girl-pop band hiding sharp talons and sardonic wit beneath their cool, Blondie-style new wave exterior." They have also won effusive praise from critics at The Guardian, who want The Hot Puppies to be "the next big thing." After six years together, the band signed to Fierce Panda and released their debut album Under The Crooked Moon in mid-2006. The confident and powerful Radio One Sessions tracks featured on The Puppies' MySpace have us truly looking forward to their appearances at SX.

Guitarist and chief songwriter Luke Taylor of The Hot Puppies spoke with Austinist about the perils of female vocal comparisons, having indie-rock parents, and creating a buzz.

Here in Texas, we know little about Welsh music aside from Super Furry Animals and Manic Street Preachers. Are we missing out on a great music scene?

I think Super Furries are a good example of Welsh music. A lot of Welsh bands have an absurdist element to them, and also a fairly psychedelic side. At the moment there are some really great bands around: Attack + Defend, Heck, and Victorian English Gentlemens Club are all good. The rural parts of Wales have always produced eclectic types. I've found that a lot of the Welsh groups seem to have a broader range of tastes than, say, the hip London scene. Probably because there's not much to do except listen to records out there!

How do your parents describe your music to people?

Well, my parents are quite into music, so they probably baffle various people with references to Can and Nick Cave!

While I'm sure you get lots of Yeah Yeah Yeahs references thrown at you, we detect some late 70's-early 80's influences in your sound (like Blondie and Fleetwood Mac). Who do you feel you are influenced by musically?

We're influenced by absolutely tons of stuff, from African Sanctus to Tiny Tim to Kraftwerk. We do get compared to whatever female fronted band is currently big news. That's just the way it is with girls in bands. But at the moment we're trying to make a record that sounds like a cross between Marianne Faithfull's "Broken English," Bowie's "Diamond Dogs," and African Sanctus. So if we succeed, maybe they'll be no more Long Blondes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons!

The Hot Puppies seem to be generating a lot of UK press in recent months, yet you've been gigging for over six years. What has caused all the fuss?

Well, we came from a tiny backwater town. And we were just making music for the fun of it. I think we're a hard band to get in some respects. So it always seems to take us a long time to get anywhere...but it's been an upward spiral, so we're happy! I think that the exposure of having an album out is good.

You've supported bands like Art Brut, The Crimea, The Pipettes and The Bluetones in the last couple of years. Whose audience responded best to your songs?

I'd say that Art Brut and the Pipettes crowds were probably the best for us. Especially the all-ages shows. Little kids seem to respond well to us. That makes us very happy. People forget sometimes that rock 'n' roll was originally created for them!

There are 1,300 bands playing at this year's festival. Tell us why someone should make attending your showcase a priority.

Because (aside from possibly The Stooges) we are the tightest, hardest playing live band in town! Douglas Sirk-style melodrama in pop form, played by backwater Celts. EXCELSIOR!

Is SXSW fun or business for you?

Fun is my business...and business is good. (Did I really just say that? God, I hate myself sometimes.)

Finally: Tacos or Bar-B-Q? Margaritas or beer? This is the most important question of SXSW.

I think tacos and margaritas for me. But not Beth, as she's vegan. I think she might be the only person in history who sees going to Texas as a good plan for dieting!

The Hot Puppies play SXSW 2007 at the following locations:
Thursday, 3/15 @ BD Riley's - 1am
Friday, 3/16 @ Latitude 30 -12-3pm (New Music From Wales day party)

[The Hot Puppies MySpace]
[The Hot Puppies Official Site]

Image via Barbara Donninelli from The Hot Puppies MySpace page.

San Antonio trio Girl In A Coma is comprised of siblings Nina and Phanie Diaz, and complemented by childhood friend Jenn Alva on bass. The band’s energetic pop/rock has been seen on tour with the likes of Frank Black, The Epoxies, and The Eyeliners, with an upcoming gig opening for the Pogues announced this month. Also secured recently is a record deal with Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records, with their debut album expected sometime this year. For more hype, Phanie D. answered our questions.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

Our best experience so far was 2006's SXSW. We played a pre-party with theStart, who are always greatlive. Later that evening we got to meet up with Boz Boorer of Morrissey. He produced a demo for us in 2005 in London so it was great to see him again. We had some drinks together at an Austin pub. Later on that night we also got to hang out with Nathan, a.k.a. Braice Paine of the Gossip. He came over to one of our best friend's in Austin apt. We all drank together and shared our love for the movie Freeway 2. Yes, we drank a lot that night. Next day, we were put on the guest list by Boz to go catch Morrissey at the Austin Music Hall. Good times.

Is SXSW still fun if most of the people watching you play are industry?

Well it depends. Most of the bands wanting to play SXSW are there for the industry, if they admit it or not. Every band wants to be able to do this for living and to do so you need it. So it's great to meet people who can help you reach that goal, but at the same time, what also makes a live show fun is the energy of the people who are there to see you play. So if we at least have that--then we are definitely having a good time.

What music are you looking forward to in 2007?

At SXSW specifically? All of it. It's exciting to run around the city and go into different venues, bars and shows going on in the streets. There is so much new stuff and bands to discover.

How do your parents describe your music to people?

Well, Nina and my parents just basically tell everyone we are a "rock band" and Nina has a great voice. They’re cute and proud. For Jenn, her parents would say "it's that new rock and roll" due to the fact that they’re not familiar with any new musical genres.

What do you never want to see inside a tortilla?

I once saw a cooked ladybug in a tortilla. True story... would not want to see that again.

BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or distro deal?

Tacos, Beer, and a distro deal. That's a party, so we can have both.

Is rock n’ roll dead?

No, we believe it’s never really dead, but more so reinventing itself or bringing back old influences. Some may say it's dead because it’s not the focus of media, etc. There is a lot of great rock out there but ultimately it’s up to the listeners and media to expose that it’s there.

Girls In A Coma: [official site] [myspace]

Girl In A Coma plays SXSW at Emo’s on March 16th.

Photo from Girl In A Coma’s MySpace, Author Unknown.

We were so excited when Thomas Dolby graced our city with his presence last year, and when the prospect of an interview with the pioneer came our way last week, we literally planned our weekend around it. Now, the thrill has gone and we’re left with some wonderfully insightful responses from the master himself. Enjoy. And then jam out that Grammys performance again.

Are you working on new studio material? When can we expect a new record?

Yes. I have accumulated many new songs over the 15 years I've been away, but I'd like my next album to be comprised mainly of brand new stuff. I hope to have it ready by the end of 2007 or early 2008.

What are your thoughts on the Golden Age of Wireless as it is today?

Do you mean my 1982 album? It still sounds pretty darn good. If you mean the state of the tech world today, well I like that too.

What mp3 player do you own?

I don't own one! I laugh when they come out with players that hold 30k, 50k songs.... there isn't that much music I like in the world, I'd be happy with a iPod that only holds 300 songs.

What was some "cutting edge" stuff when you first got into music, technology, and recording, and how is that different from what you might use now, over two decades later?

My Fairlight was one of the world's first samplers. There were 3 in Britain, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel had the other two. It cost me about $200,000. It weighed a ton, and had about 100th the sampling ability of a current $100 sofware synth.

How did the concept for Beatnik Inc., and later, Retro Ringtones LLC come about? How involved are you in their day to day activities?

I originally wanted to do interactive music for things like games, Virtual Reality, rides etc. Then the Web came along and we switched to that. We made lots of noise, and blew through about $45m in VC money, before we realized there's no money in Internet audio, it's just great promotion (though Apple may disagree :) So I pushed the company into cell phones where we did deals with Nokia, Motorola etc to license our software to do sound on cell phones. Now there are over 650m phones out there with our technology in them--about 2/3 of the world's phones. And it's a good business but it's boring to me, so I just go in for board meetings once a quarter, and I've returned to music full time.

You made some really innovative videos in the early 80's, was that more of a required PR effort due to the influx of MTV and its effects, or was it more a case of fortunate timing, ie. MTV being lucky you were around the time they launched to provide them with these great videos?

It was a collaborative thing. They needed great content made at someone else's expense, so they could sell ads and make money. I was interested in the genre and it really launched my career because up until then, radio wasn't playing my music much. But the genre quickly got stale, artists didn't really care about it, and MTV stopped playing music anyway.

We were extremely excited you played Austin recently, and the prospect of more shows so soon during SxSW is great! What are your thoughts on SxSW and its importance to the music industry, as well as the general state of the industry these days with downloads, abundant CD-Rs, MySpace marketing, etc.

If you talk to a label executive or read the trades, you'd think the 'Industry' is in a terrible state,. In reality I think what's happening is fantastic for musicians and for music fans. Instead of the execs playing king-maker, music gets to be popular due to 'vox populi'--real people liking it and sharing it with their friends. MySpace and YouTube generate actual hits, and it's not because some network guy in a suit decided this is what's suitable for primetime.

One of our most distinct childhood Grammy memories is THAT performance with Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Howard Jones. I also recently read your blog about the rehearsal for that performance, can you talk about how the idea of four of you jamming came about and also what you take from it more than 20 years later?

It was the producers' idea. They felt that synthesizers had come of age and wanted to show how established artists and new artists alike had embraced them. The show was a bit of a sham--we were miming--and I felt it was dreary so I was hamming it up in my Beethoven wig. But as I relayed in my blog, the resounding memory of the rehearsal night was Stevie (Wonder) singing Marvin (Gaye) for me and me alone in a tiny attic.

You've played with and on record with an amazing array of acts, what were some of your favorite collaborations / guest appearances (besides the 85 Grammys)?

Definitely Live Aid with (David) Bowie was #1. Then probably The Wall in Berlin with Roger Waters. I am very fortunate to have led a special life and met many of my heroes.

How was the recent jaunt with BT? Any interesting tales from the tour?

It was great to play in front of a younger audience that weren't around the first time. BT's fans are a discerning lot but I made a bunch of new fans. I think having him come up and jam with me on "Airwaves", a song I first recorded when BT was in middle school, was the highlight.

Thomas Dolby: [official site] [myspace]

Appearing at SXSW at Elysium on March 15th, along with a couple of other parties.

Photo provided by Thomas Dolby.

We keep reading that My Latest Novel are being compared with Arcade Fire. Obviously, there are major differences. First, My Latest Novel is a five-piece from Scotland, and Arcade Fire is an eight-piece (or more) from Quebec. And while you can see Arcade Fire this week on SNL, you have to wait until March 16th to see My Latest Novel. Wait you must; for now you can read drummer Ryan King's take on the band's maiden voyage to Texas and his distrust of any taco filling resembling Michael Jackson.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

We've never been to Austin or played SXSW before, so we are really looking forward to getting over there this year.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

I think it's still fun to play, no matter who the audience is. We have had some industry gigs feel quite stuffy in the past, but being on stage and playing our songs is still fun.

What's your favorite song on the new record? Why?

I'd find it hard to pick a favorite from our record. Even the songs that regularly get dropped from our live set get a certain sympathy. You feel sorry for them a bit and feel as though you are neglecting them. I think if I had to pick a song that I enjoy playing the most it would be "When We Were Wolves" because I get my only vocal part.


My Latest Novel plays SXSW at Lava Lounge on March 16th and Buffalo Billiards on March 17th.

[My Latest Novel Myspace]
[My Latest Novel official site]

There are several Welsh acts playing this year's SXSW, but none are newer to Texas than The Gentle Good. Essentially a one-man folk music project, Cardiff's Gareth Bonello has been playing a quietly captivating mix of English, Welsh, and Spanish folk to drunken (his words, not ours) Welsh audiences for several years.

Bonello has already released an EP and is currently recording his first full-length album. He recently chatted with us about cowboy boots, parents, and drinking.

Have you ever visited Texas before?

No, I haven't even been to the US before.

Does the success of folk-based artists like Alexi Murdoch, Damien Rice, and Devendra Banhart make you feel that there is a sizable audience for the music you enjoy playing?

I think there is a renewed interest in folk music, and the success of the artists you've mentioned indicates that. People seem to be more open to acoustic music and music in languages other than English these days. The audience is definitely there, it's just a bit less obvious as it's not the kind of music that is broadcast non-stop on commercial radio. Trends in music are fickle in any case, and any artist worth their salt will stick by their music even when their particular style isn't flavour of the month.

We also see you play in a country music side project. Any intentions of visiting Texas honky-tonks or dancehalls for inspiration?

It's top of my 'to-do' list along with getting a decent pair of boots and a banjo.

Do you have a favorite Welsh band besides The Gentle Good at present?

Richard James's Seven Sleepers Den was probably my favourite album of last year. It's full of gorgeous harmonies and sweet finger-picked guitar. Alun Tan Lan and the Super Furry Animals are also favourites.

How do your parents describe your music?

As "a hobby."

Is there a great album that an ex- has ruined for you?

Not really, I'm not particularly sentimental.

Do you look forward to the SXSW gig knowing that you'll have to win over a drunken, music industry-heavy audience?

I am looking forward to it as it'll be a new experience with a totally different audience to what I'm used to. I do find it hard playing to A&R men, especially when they're wasted and talking a lot. Acoustic music sounds best with a hushed silence. I'm on pretty late so I'm expecting people to be pretty drunk. I suppose I'm used to it, as nobody is sober over here after about 8pm.

Finally, tell us why we should visit Wales someday.

Nobody is sober over here after about 8pm.

Excellent point. Thanks for talking with Austinist.

Thanks to you too!

The Gentle Good will play SXSW 2007 at The Copa on Wednesday, 3/14 at 11pm for SXSW, and at Latitude 30 on Friday, 3/16 as part of the 'New Music From Wales' day party.

[The Gentle Good MySpace]

Image via The Gentle Good's MySpace page. Photographer uncredited.

Here's a situation that's all too common: it's mid-March and SXSW has taken over Austin, but you've been so busy with work and managed to ignore most of the party announcements buzzing around the internet for the past month. So you're stuck at the last minute, painfully hungover, digging through your inbox and a handful of websites to figure out just what parties to go to.

"Why can't someone just tell us what the cool things are?", you think to yourself. "And where the hell they are?"

Relax! This year, we've decided to take matters into our own hands, and today we're pleased as punch to unveil our Interactive Guide to SXSW Music, which you can check out by surfing on over to here:

[Austinist's Interactive Guide to SXSW Music]

A sample Austinist reader checking out what The Onion's cooking up for their day party.

• View what parties we're excited about, arranged by day. Our database includes bands performing, times, whether the party is open to the public or requires an RSVP, and more.
• Quickly and easily see what parties are close to one another, and where everything will be in general. It's important to know if a party or showcase is within stumbling distance of another, if you ask us.
• Get text reminders by adding an event to your Google Calendar. Simply click on the button, and the rest is taken care of! We strongly advise that you set up a Google Calendar if you haven't already.
• Take a closer look at all of the nifty flyer artwork, by clicking on the button where available
• Catch up on recent and past coverage that Austinist has done on SXSW. We want it to be super easy for you to access our profiles and interviews with showcasing bands like Architecture in Helsinki, Sondre Lerche, YACHT and more.

In the next week or so, we'll be adding these features and more:

• SXSW showcase information. Thanks to the lovely folks over at Eventful.com, we'll be able to point out a dozen or two of the really good showcases going on each night that we think you oughta check out.
• Breakfast Taco and BBQ indicators, so you can quickly spot where to get your next brisket and/or eggs-and-chorizo fix.

[Austinist's Interactive Guide to SXSW Music]

Surf on over, check it out, and tell us what you think. We'd love to hear any feedback or suggestions you might have, including additional features you think would benefit everyone.

Austinist's Interactive Guide to SXSW works in Internet Explorer 6+ and most versions of Firefox, but is not currently compatible with Safari. Firefox is recommended.

Canadian outfit Uncut recently unveiled their 2nd full length, Modern Currencies on Paper Bag Records. The band is adept at generating dance-rock walls of sound, with equal emphasis on electronic output and abundant guitars n’ bass (although they have been leaning towards the latter lately.) We were fortunate enough to catch them last year at SXSW during a day set at Brush Square Park, and excited that vocalist / guitarist and founding member Ian Worang answered our questions this year.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

The first time we played SXSW we were only in Austin for a total of 22 hours. We drove for three days, got to Austin the morning of our two shows, played them, then left first thing the next morning. We ended up spending more time getting to and from Austin then actually hanging out there. That was a bummer. The highlight of that trip was playing in a hair salon. That made it worthwhile. It was a good show, but more notably, it was the only time we've ever played a hair salon.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

That hasn't really been the case for us at SXSW. The shows that we've played have all felt pretty much like regular rock and roll shows. That being said, a lot of regular rock and roll shows can feel like the audience is 95% industry. With so many people running blogs, labels, playing in bands and throwing DJ nights, a lot of crowds can act like they're at a business meeting.

What’s your favorite song on the new record? Why?

“Darkhorse”? I love the solos that Sam plays at the end and beginning of that song. It was a truly inspired moment on his part.

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you’ll never be able to reclaim?

Thankfully, no. Music beats out exes every time. But an ex stole my copy of "Heart of the Congos" once, and I'm still pretty upset about it.

Name one record that has influenced you (musically, or otherwise) the most.

The answer to this will change from day-to-day but at the moment, I'm on a huge Nick Cave kick. I've had "Let Love In", "Murder Ballads" and "Tender Prey" on infinite rotation, so I guess those are influencing me a lot right now.

Tacos or burritos? Margaritas or beer?

Burritos are superior in my mind. I like the density, the level of meltiness you can achieve with the cheese, and the lack of mess from them being enclosed. You can just stuff the heck out of them with whatever you want. I generally prefer beer to margaritas. I try not to drink things with multiple ingredients.

Is there such a thing as rock n roll anymore?

I would like to think so. There is probably a higher rock to roll ratio at the moment, which is unfortunate, but I'm not too worried.

Uncut: [official site] [myspace]

Uncut plays SXSW at an Emo’s day gig on March 14th, along with a few other shows, no doubt.

Photo from Uncut’s MySpace, by Matt Rubba.

SXSW 2007's music portion kicks off three weeks from today. We hope you are keeping hydrated, getting extra sleep, and listening to every MP3 you can find in order to plan your schedules. In an effort to help you, the festival goer, here are some great recent developments in the SX world:

- Saturday brought the reveal of the SXSW showcase schedule and band bio pages. After a delayed start with the band list, the schedule landed at about the same time as last year. While many of the showcases are a bit incomplete in terms of times, you can get a good sense of what bands are playing which nights to help plan your initial day and night schedules. Many of the band bio pages have links to a free MP3 by the artist as in years past.

- The updated lineup also brought two great surprises from colder parts of Europe. Both Mew (pictured) and Peter, Bjorn, and John were added to the lineup, as were Perry Farrell's new corporate-rock project Satellite Party. This gave some added flair to a lineup that didn't provide as many initial surprises as in years past. We applaud the additions.

- In everyone's favorite pre-SX moment, the first SX band MP3 torrent is now available for legal download. At 3 gigs, you're going to need to devote some serious listening time to get through this one.

- As in past years, Seattle's indie station KEXP will be doing live broadcasts from the Austin City Limits studios for three afternoons of the festival. Highlights will include sets from Ghostland Observatory, Fujiya and Miyagi (pictured), and Apples In Stereo. The broadcasts are open to the public.

- Still no word on wristbands, but we'd keep a close eye on your SMS, as they are traditionally released in the next few days or so.

- If you didn't see our talk with News 8's Andy Langer last week, Austinist's day party will take place on Wednesday at the Mohawk, with our Australian favorites Architecture In Helsinki headlining. Stay tuned for a full announcement shortly.

- What a kerfuffle! SXSW schedulers have frustrated all the indie kids by pitting label showcases from Sub Pop, Merge, and 4AD/Beggars at the same time. Many people wearing sunglasses indoors are crying into their Sparks while chain smoking. We suppose this is why someone invented day parties.

- Part of the fun of the SX band list is trying to pick the funniest band name. Usually it's tough to decide on a winner, but not this year. Seattle's Steaming Wolf Penis are probably impossible to beat. Unfortunately, they are buried in Sunday night's lineup, meaning we'll never find out what they actually sound like.

Mew image taken by Mew. Peter, Bjorn, and John image via their MySpace page. Photographer uncredited.

For 15 years, Yokohama's Luminous Orange have been crafting a sound of equal parts gentle Kim Deal-style female vocals, noisy guitar feedback, and rhythms that owe debts to both shoegaze and Sonic Youth. The resolutely indie-rock Japanese outfit makes a return visit to SXSW next month after a successful trip in 2006.

Austinist spoke with Luminous Orange founder and vocalist/guitarist Rie Takeuchi about the band's SXSW experiences, along with their general distaste for Texas' Japanese food and love of Homeslice Pizza.

1. You've been to SXSW before. What motivates you to make the huge effort to travel here from Japan to play?

It's the whole atmosphere, the musical excitement, and the enthusiasm of Austin which I'd never experienced. That attracted us.

2. How were you past SXSW visits? Did you meet any other bands you like? Did it help from a business perspective?

From a business perspective, I had a couple of interviews and meetings. Although it didn't directly advance to a record deal, there were some good side effects. Since then, we've received more contact from people outside Japan, and more people outside Japan started to buy our CDs and iTunes downloads. We also had a very fruitful time at day parties we played. It helped us meet many interesting bands like +/-, Missing Tapes, Super XX Man, and Secret Weapons.

3. Your music shares some qualities with artists like Deerhoof and Stereolab. Are there any bands you'd like to play with or open for right now?

We are open to any band! But our recent gig with Ian Masters (formerly of Pale Saints) on guest vocals was a really amazing experience. It was nothing other than a Pale Saints gig which truly inspired me to form this band 15 years ago.

4. Which older bands have influenced you the most?

Well, the Beatles - it was almost impossible not to listen to them in Japan when I was a child. Composers like Debussy, Mozart, and Beethoven strengthened my musical foundation through piano lessons in my childhood, and then YMO, Joy Division, Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, and Pale Saints washed that away later!

5. How do you feel about the current Japanese music scene? Are the artists friendly with one another? Do you enjoy the music coming from Japan right now?

Despite the declining CD sales of whole Japanese music industry, there certainly are many talents sprouting, especially among the younger people. Indie labels like Zankyo are interesting and worth paying attention to. Supposedly, cheaper PC recordings and CD-R and internet distribution helped them immensely to be really daring and creative. Their forerunners (including us and others) who didn't give in to demands like "make more commercially pop sing-along songs if you want to be heard" have survived hard times (sans PC!) somehow and keep making even keener music.

6. We traveled to Kyoto and Tokyo in 2005 and loved all of Japan's amazing food. Do you enjoy our Tex-Mex and Bar-B-Q when you visit?

Oh, I am glad to know you enjoyed Japanese food! I love visiting Kyoto to enjoy walking around and eating there. Their sense for food and cooking is amazing. Tokyo just has too many restaurants, and there are really awful ones, so it is harder to choose correctly!

As for Texas, unfortunately, we didn't know enough about Austin last year and one night we ended up in an awful Japanese restaurant. It turned out that the staff had no idea about Japanese food at all. But after that, friends of ours took us to good Tex-Mex restaurants. One guy cooked great Bar-B-Q for us at a party he organized, and the pizza place day party we played called Home Slice gave us VERY DELICIOUS free slices.

Hailing from Scotland, and pursuing melodious, riff friendly pop-rock, popup is coming to town for our beloved SXSW music festival. Their latest single, “Chinese Burn” has been blazing feverishly on our playlists lately but we would like to stop short in trying to sell them as the next big thing from across the pond, especially since NME (Issue dated 27.1.07) recently stated that Babyshambles would like popup to tour with them. And having Pete Doherty as a fan has gotta mean something these days. So we decided to find out what tickles their fancy, and Damian Gilhooly was kind enough to oblige. Also, last we checked, they are looking for more shows in town during the week of SXSW so holler ya’ll.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

In 2005, I lived in Austin for a few months. I have family out there who helped me get some work and a place to stay. The city is amazing. I used to spend my days cycling about in the sweltering heat visiting quirky little places like Antone’s record store, Barton Springs, and the Hideout coffee shop / theatre on Congress. I worked nights as a doorman at Fado Irish Bar on 4th, which was ridiculous because I had to ask for ID from people 15 years older than me and nobody could understand a word I was saying anyway. I lived in a house in east Austin with a band called the Black Angels who are now doing amazingly. I just got their debut album Passover and it’s brilliant. A fantastic town: great music, art, culture and people. SxSW is going to be an experience, no matter what.

Is SXSW still fun if most of the people watching you play are industry?

Good question. It depends how drunk they are, and how much you really care. For me, SxSW is an experience. The industry is a bit too fickle to allow yourself to be bothered by it. I just love writing songs with my friends, recording them, putting them out, then playing shows to different people. That’s what I’m excited about. Hopefully all the Scottish bands will support each other as well, so we can just make the showcases seem like wee gigs at the 13th Note in Glasgow.

What music are you looking forward to in 2007? At SXSW specifically?

Chemikal Underground Records are soon to release an album where leading Scottish musicians have put music to poems by famous Scottish poets. I’m really looking forward to that. I’ll just wait and see what I come across though. At SxSW I’m looking forward to seeing how a lot of the Scottish bands get on. There’s a whole bunch of us going out so it should be a scream. I’m probably most looking forward to Malcolm Middleton, Emma Pollock, and My Latest Novel, all of whom are amazing. I’d like to see what Badly Drawn Boy is up to as well. I hope to be moved by music I’ve never heard anything like before though. That would be a real benefit to traveling so far.

How do your parents describe your music to people?

I’m not entirely sure. They usually just make their friends go buy our singles. The words ‘messy’ and ‘Scottish’ probably come up, but I’m not sure I could even describe it myself. Hopefully when we hear our finished album back we’ll have a better idea of what we sound like. It’s been odd so far because none of our songs sound much like each other and we’ve been recording in different places, so different engineers can do different things with our sound. My mum and dad seem proud though, which is enough for me.

What do you never want to see inside a tortilla?

Mushrooms or eggs. I can’t stand either. I’d probably rather find a finger.

BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or distro deal?

If these are the only problems we have in Texas, I’m sure we’ll be fine. We’re heading over for a few weeks so hopefully we can keep everyone happy.

Is rock and roll dead?

No. Yes. Ehm, I’m not sure I understand the question. People still play rock’n’roll, but I suppose the real question is whether anybody’s any good at it these days? That’s certainly not up to me.

popup: [official site] [myspace]

Popup will play various gigs in town during SXSW week, including their official show at the Whiskey Bar on March 14th.

Poster provided by popup.

The second album curse has felled bands both big (The Killers) and small (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) in recent months. The short attention span and indie band hype created by the music blogger community only add to the pressure of the big follow-up. It is a relief, then, to report that Bloc Party emerge relatively unscathed on A Weekend In The City, their follow-up to 2005's wonderful Silent Alarm. A wider (and louder) sonic palate and reach has emerged from the band, as they attempt to grow yet retain what we enjoyed about them to begin with.

A Weekend In The City is certainly ambitious, as it attempts with mixed success to focus on the lives of young and seemingly affluent Londoners to tell stories of long work hours, missed connections, casual drink and drug use, and yearning for meaning. It seems wise for Bloc Party to draw directly on their experiences and those of friends, as they are still pretty green to attempt a concept album. Having lived most of these words, the band is mostly successful in linking the material, keeping the connections loose but apparent and turning the album into a thematic short-story collection of sorts.

What is interesting about the results are the parts that work: the music nails it, as this really feels like a London record. The songs create chaos and isolation in equal measure, with the feel of a late-night Underground platform or an Upper Street pub running through them in a really palpable way. It draws on a tradition dating from The Kinks late-60's masterworks to the cartoonishly lovable Blur albums of the mid-90's, and it's nice to see Bloc Party think about what it means to be a Londoner today. Unfortunately, the wordplay isn't up to the music's level of craft. The lyrics are often clunky, and it's best to pick out isolated phrases for the feeling of the piece rather than listening intently. For every perfectly evocative phrase ("Waiting for the 7.18...January is endless, weary-eyed and forlorn...The Northern line is the loudest,") there are twice as many that make you cringe ("I am sitting on the roof of my house, with a shotgun and a six pack of beer.")

We particularly like the way that the band doesn't shy away from the power chord. In the 2000's, most English arena rock is either hypersensitive (Coldplay), willfully obscure (Radiohead), or proggy and over-the-top (Muse). These all represent extremes that Bloc Party successfully avoid here. Instead, they crank up the volume and the thematic content without pandering and with only occasional whininess. Bloc Party is trying to be bigger and more important here, and they've gotten half of it down. With time, the rest will likely come as well.

Bloc Party will play SXSW 2007 on March 15th at a venue TBA.

[Bloc Party MySpace]
[Bloc Party Official Site]
[A Weekend In The City on eMusic]

Photo via Bloc Party's official site. Photographer uncredited.

Michigan's Quack!Media is your entity’s one-stop shop for music, video, print, and web needs. Meanwhile, Quack! affiliate Found Magazine is an intriguing collection of interesting stuff found in random places. As their website states, “We collect found stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework, to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, doodles- anything that gives a glimpse into someone else's life. Anything goes”. Oh, and there’s also a pervy version, Dirty Found Magazine.

Together, they are bringing us one helluva day show this year at SXSW to launch their latest issues. Performers include local bastions of alt-country indie-pop Okkervil River and prolific New York City jet-setters The Walkmen, as well as Quack! artists Tally Hall and Great Lakes Myth Society.

RSVP now!

[Quack!Media]
[Found Magazine]
[Dirty Found Magazine]
[SXSW]

Quack!Media and Found Magazine Party
Thursday, March 15th
Bourbon Rocks
1-5:30pm

Poster Art courtesy of Quack!Media.

We've been fans of Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche ever since happening upon his spectacular 2004 release, Two Way Monologue. Lerche (that's “Lurk-uh”, not “Lurch,” or "Lur-chey") credits his heartfelt, folksy pop stylings to a veritable goulash of decades-spanning influences, from Brazilian psych-rockers Os Mutantes and Elvis Costello (whom he recently toured with) to XTC and Fleetwood Mac. His latest album, Phantom Punch, was released a few weeks ago, and brims with the same youthful exuberance that's made this talented 24-year-old a hit everywhere from the US to his coastal hometown of Bergen, Norway.

Share a story about a previous trip to Austin or SXSW.

Well, SXSW has become a pretty big deal in Norway because so many Norwegian bands go there every year, and thus the Norwegian press follows. When I was there for the first time, in 2003, we were just finishing off my first ever US tour. I had become accustomed to playing for the Americans and I quite liked it. I was playing a Norwegian/Danish showcase, so strangely my first gig in Austin, Texas was in front of an audience consisting of loud Norwegian music journalists, members from other Bergen bands and an American lady who claimed to share my last name (Lerche is not a common name anywhere!)

How do your parents describe your music to people?

Oh, I don’t want to know. I would blush.

Is rock and roll dead?

I don’t believe so, I was rocking out just the other day!

What music are you looking forward to in 2007?

At SXSW specifically? A lot of great Norwegian acts, as well as maybe stumbling upon something real exciting. But most importantly, SXSW is the start of our US tour and the first time I bring my band The Faces Down with me to Austin.

Is SXSW still fun if most of the people watching you play are industry?

It’s fun because of all the other great bands that you meet and hear, no industry presence can take that away.

What do you never want to see inside a tortilla?

Mussels.

BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or distro deal?

Tacos, margaritas, and parties!

[Sondre Lerche on Myspace]
[Sondre Lerche Official Site]

Photo credits unknown.

Seattle's Aqueduct have been doggedly honing an indie/laptop pop sound for several years. Essentially a one-man studio band, David Terry channels influences ranging from a suburban Oklahoma upbringing to fandom of Guns 'N' Roses and The Princess Bride into his catchy, lo-fi home studio creations.

Live, the band is a very different animal: at SXSW two years ago, they simply demolished the crowd with a blend of original tunes, rap covers, an Aqueduct theme song, and even a (quite ahead of the irony curve) Journey cover to finish the set. The quality of their shows led to support slots for both The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse. While Terry looks perhaps more roadie than rock star at first glance, his energy and enthusiasm are infectious. We talked to him recently about SXSW '07, his new Barsuk record Or Give Me Death, and annoyingly inaccurate music reviews.

1. So, SXSW. You were our favorite act of SXSW 2005, perhaps because you led with a Geto Boys cover in tribute to Mike Judge. You also covered Jay-Z in the set. Are you still fond of the live rap covers?

I am still fond of the rap covers. Will we do any more? Hard to say. Brother doesn’t want to get pigeonholed.

2. Do you find that SXSW is worth the effort, either from a business or an audience perspective?

Only if you have an album out. I feel like the days of being discovered at SXSW are numbered. That’s what the internet is for, right? Let’s party! ACL Festival seems like the fan festival from where I’m standing.

3. Your new album features some mariachi-style horns. What's up with that - do you frequent Tex-Mex restaurants?

I was going for that certain 60's country-pop feel on that one; think the Gene Pitney/Burt Bacharach gem "24 Hours From Tulsa." And yes, we frequent all kinds of Mexican joints while on the road. Look for a companion Mexican restaurant travel book coming soon. Got any Austinist recommendations for our SXSW visit?

4. Speaking of Or Give Me Death, the new tracks you've posted on MySpace are all quite different from one another. What was the sound or theme you were going for with this album? Or was there one?

The latter. I pride myself in patchwork pop. I’m an everything including the kitchen sink kind of guy when I write and record.

5. Why does every review of (Aqueduct's last album) I Sold Gold compare you to The Postal Service? Frankly, we like you both, but we don't hear it.

Thank God. Finally somebody steps up and tells it like it is. All those critics that said Aqueduct sounded like The Postal Service were really saying that they didn’t listen past the first track.

6. It seems like there was a lengthy wait for the new album. Was it tough to record, and are you happy with the end result?

This record has been finished for a little bit now. But like a fine wine, Aqueduct cannot be disturbed until its time. All I can say is that all the while it was supposed to come out now.

7. Aside from Jay-Z and the Geto Boys, what music interests you right now?

Not to sound biased, but I love the new Menomena record. And I can’t get enough of Dan Bejar of Destroyer and Swan Lake. Yeah.

Last week, the Chronicle announced details for wristband acquisition, and though the .pdf is a little hard to digest, SXSW Baby! broke it down for us:

In short, wristband information will only be sent out to 512 area code numbers via the official SXSW SMS list right before wristbands go on sale. Looks like if you live in Austin, you must be willing and ready to drop everything to go purchase them!

SXSW will not announce the sale of wristbands in advance. If you want to be notified of their availability, you need to register with SXSW SMS and wait. "Around the time" the wristbands go on sale, the Chronicle.com and KLBJ, KSGR, and 101X will make announcements. Be ready to drop what you're doing if you want to grab a wristband!

SXSW Wristband Details

First 2,000 (Max. 2 per person): $130 with proof of Austin address (UT ID, DL, electric bill, car insurance cards)

Second 2,000: $160 and no proof of residency necessary.

4,000 +: (If available) $175 on sale the week of SXSW music.

Sign up for SXSW SMS notifications by sending a text message to 56658 with ‘SX Add’ as the message. To read the entire announcement from the Chronicle, read the PDF here.

Eric Woodruff, formerly of Delay, a space-rock outfit out of Washington, has been churning out material for his new project, Prosser. The final product is a pleasant miasma that's rather hard to classify simply as another offering from a singer-songwriter. He's Matthew Ryan without the gravel and Pinetop Seven without the pathos. Is it alt-country? Is it psych-something? No matter, it doesn't take abbreviated slang music terminology to enjoy the multi-instrumentalist's eponymous debut album. Sit down with a nice hot mug of Ovaltine, read our interview, and then check out some of his tunes. We think you'll dig it.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

Never been to Austin or SXSW.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

Sure – industry folks have feelings, too!

What’s your favorite song on the new record? Why?

Get Gone – magic studio trickery by Paul Turpin turned an old song I was tired of into something new and beautiful…

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you’ll never be able to reclaim?

Radiohead's OK Computer – just can’t listen to it anymore…

Name one record that has influenced you (musically or otherwise) the most.

Neil Young's Tonight’s the Night

[Prosser Myspace]
[Prosser Official Site]

SXSW Asia’s Japan Nite has become a staple of the music festival in Austin. In the past, festival-goers have been able to access acts like Petty Booka and Ellegarden, and this year is no different as a wide variety of Japanese talent invades our city. The 50 Kaitens (pronounced Go Jyu Kaitenzu) will put forth their brand of cheeky garage-punk rock, with maximum comic entertainment promised. Their self titled record boasts song-titles like “Thank You for RAMONES”, as well as a cover of the Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night”; however, their press release states, “The 50 Kaitenz are not comedians. They are rock-o-medians!”

If that isn’t your cup of tea, Asakusa Jinta, a self-proclaimed Asianica Hard March Band, combines punk and rockabilly with brass and horns to evoke plenty of nostalgia and good times. And then there is HY, who gained prominence after a series of street performances, and a joint-live concert with Linkin Park. (But we won’t hold it against them.) Their powerful shows tend to sell out arenas in Japan, and why should we miss out? Other bands performing include Go!Go!7188, Oreska Band, Pistol Valve, and The Emeralds.

[SXSW Asia]
[Benten Label]

Japan Nite
Friday, March 16th
Elysium
Doors at 9pm

Poster Art courtesy of Benten.

Hometown rock stars I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness have finished two quick jaunts to Europe, are working on a new album, put together a terrifyingly beautiful music video for "The Owl" with Emmanuel Ho, and will be playing at SXSW. If you aren't already familiar with their unique brand of Peter Murphy meets Nick Cave inspired minimalist (but fist-flinging urban) post-rock, change your ways: you don't want to miss them live. Recently we had a chance to chat with Tim White, who told us about the industry, ex-lovers' records, and 2008.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

We don't really think of it like that to be honest. It's another show to us, which is a good thing. Mind you, there is that big banner behind us usually advertising Miller Lite and all the show goers drop off their "Biz cards". Gross.

What’s your favorite song on the record? Why?

Well, I can't speak for the others, but I really like "Long Walk" because it's a very old song and it turned out the way we always hoped. We had tried it before with other engineers and such, but Barker knew what to do. It's got some great mashed up vocal loops in the end and those keys sound great. It's not going to get those hipsters to shake those girl jeans anytime soon, oh well...

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you’ll never be able to reclaim?

No way: I soak those records up.

Name one record that has influenced you (musically or otherwise) the most.

Hmm. It's impossible to name one record. Mission Of Burma, Vs. and Circus Lupus Solid Brass mixed with Natty Dread

Tacos or burritos? Margaritas or beer?

A random question. I like to put them together for a nice soup.

What music are you looking forward to in 2007? At SXSW specifically?

The Stooges!

How was Europe? Any funny anecdotes?

We traveled to Europe twice this past year. Once for a week and then again for six weeks. The latter trip was a true rock and roll whirlwind with us visiting twelve countries playing every night with the exception of two days off which we spent driving. We loved it and hated it too.There are too many funny anecdotes to list, unfortunately.

Can we expect new stuff in 2007?

Yes, I hope so. We are in the process of writing a record right now. It may be '08 before it hits the streets though.

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat!

Chosen Darkness will be playing the Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans showcase on Thursday, March 15 at the Mohawk along with Catfish Haven, Okkervil River, Frida Hyvonen, Ladyhawk, Besnard Lakes, Bishop Allen and many more.

[ILYBICD Official]
[ILYBICD MySpace]
["According to Plan" YouTube]

Update: Our band listings are now sortable by band name and origin.

SXSW unveiled the official lineup around midnight on Wednesday. You can find the roster in table format here -- we'll be adding more functionality to this list in the coming days.

A quick glance down the initial list, which currently numbers just over 1,300, indicates that we were pretty close with our initial predictions. Short of a small handful of nice surprises, like Chicago songwriter/professional whistler Andrew Bird, there aren't that many additions that really stand out.

Meanwhile, The M.O. recently interviewed Austinist staffer Tom Thornton as well as Done Waiting's Robert Duffy on this year's underground SXSW band lists:

What is your take on SXSW’s stance that they are solely concerned about being an “industry festival?” Do you think SXSW is hurting their public image by being so furtive and difficult?

TT: I think that there is more of a consumer side to the festival than the SXSW position might indicate. Every year, many people fly from around the world to attend the festival who have little or nothing to do with the music industry. Of course, SXSW is right that some of those people made their plans months ago when hotels were available and badges were cheaper. So it seems that the ‘delayed’ list hurts bands and managers the most, especially from a logistics point of view, assuming some of them don’t yet know if they’re playing.

[SXSW Band List]

We'd heard rumors of a big blogger bonanza taking place during SXSW Music, and today finally got a glimpse of their awesome setup: two days, three stages, and 32 bands divided between Club Deville and The Mohawk. But then again, what else would you expect from music bloggers like Chromewaves, Gorilla vs Bear, Largehearted Boy, My Old Kentucky Blog, rock insider, and You Ain't No Picasso?

Friday

Saturday

[Official Site]

Inaugural Hot Freaks SxSW / Blogger Curated Music Experience
Friday, March 16th
Saturday, March 17th
Club DeVille & The Mohawk
11am-6pm

Thanks to Moody for the heads up

Austin-based Peel have been together since late 2004, and Austinist writers have recommended that you catch their show for almost two years! A youthful blend of indie pop with noisy drums, keyboards, and multiple vocalists, Peel wouldn't sound at all out of place on late 80's college radio. Their self-titled debut album finally arrives in early April. Last week, we spoke to Peel's Allison Moore about favorite bands, dive bars, and the business of South By.

How do your parents describe your music to people?

They use ambiguously nice phrases. Or "loud."

Is SXSW fun or business?

Downtown Austin is like a river of free Tito's during SXSW...so I'd say a lot of fun and very little business gets done. We're more interested in making friends than business contacts. Unless, of course, you mean the kind of "business" that requires quotation marks.

If you could open for any artist living or dead, in any era of their career, who would it be?

The Modern Lovers in 1971 or Simply Saucer. Together! In Canada! Or maybe Roxy Music, but only when Brian Eno was still in the band.

Who are you most excited to see play at SXSW? Will you have time?

I'm pretty excited about Beach House. But I'm not getting my hopes up. Last year they scheduled us at exactly the same time as the Table of the Elements Showcase.

What's your favorite song on the forthcoming record? Why?

"Workers, Wake Up!" because it has balls. Or "Sliding Doors" because I like that cat meow at the end.

Where does Peel hang out in Austin when not playing a gig?

At work! If you mean for fun, though...dive bars and pool halls like the G&S Lounge. Occasionally several of us will end up at the same house party or dance party unintentionally and it looks like we came as a band. It's embarrassing.

Do you have a favorite Austin band right now (besides yourselves)?

Horse + Donkey and Shearwater. Does Bill Callahan count as Austin yet?

Thanks for talking with Austinist.

Peel will play the Peek-A-Boo Records day party on Friday, March 16th at Bella Blue Boutique. They will also play another show at a time/location TBD.

Image via Aubrey Edwards on Peel's MySpace page.

SXSW Film Festival recently released their lineup of feature films to be screened this year. Check out the full roster after the jump.

LONE STAR STATES

• Forfeit Directed by Andrew Shea, written by John Rafter Lee. Featuring: Billy Burke, Sherry Stringfield, Gregory Itzin, Wayne Knight.
  An ex-con tries to manage his way back into society, reunite with his high school sweetheart, and commit one more crime. (World Premiere)
• Inside the Circle Directed by Marcy Garriott.
  In this kinetic documentary capturing the raw power of a home-grown Texas hip-hop movement, we follow the journey of talented 'B-boys' Josh and Omar (best friends turned rivals), as they struggle to keep dance at the center of their lives. (World Premiere)
• Love and Mary Written and directed by Elizabeth Harrison. Featuring: Lauren German, Gabriel Mann.
  Struggling businesswoman Mary is forced to find a decoy for her fiancé, so that she can return home to Texas and collect what promises to be a valuable gift. (World Premiere)
• Third Ward, Tx Directed by Andrew Garrison.
  After more than a decade of building a community that is safe, livable and desirable, they've attracted forces that may destroy what they made-- real estate development and gentrification. Will it survive the blind force of gentrification playing out in Houston and across America?
• The Unforeseen Directed by Laura Dunn.
  The controversial saga of one community's struggle to come to terms with business developments on a beloved natural landmark. (Regional Premiere)
• Weaving Worlds Directed by Bennie Klain.
  Navajo tales of how the west was spun, exploring the personal stories of Navajo weavers and their complex relationship with reservation traders. (World Premiere)

The Wildhearts have had a fluctuating career marked by numerous peaks and valleys. The English band formed towards the end of the “hair metal” era, released their debut full-length (Earth Vs The Wildhearts) in 1993, and re-formed last year with plans for a new album, due in April of this year. However, their mainstay has always been straight up rock n’ roll, highlighted by the talent, and antics of lead singer, Ginger. Formerly of the (London) Quireboys (some of us might still remember the forgotten anthem “7 O’Clock”), and currently also pursuing solo ambitions, we caught up with Ginger to quiz him on the past, present and future.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

The first time I played Austin, at Stubb’s BBQ, I was in a really pissed off mood. Some guy approached me after the show and called me an asshole. I’m English, and have very little patience when it comes to insults so I punched him, and we were both kicked out of the bar. I went back to the tour bus to calm down and an hour later decided to go see if the tattooist was still open. On walking down the street I saw, in the distance, someone who looked like the guy who had previously insulted me. On running towards him, and seeing that it was indeed my foe, I proceeded to chase him around a large tree, throwing lefts until I could get a good right in and knock him out. As soon as I got to the position where I could land a lovely right hook my punch was intercepted by the same guy who threw us out of the club. A classic interception, too, beautifully executed. Even got me back in the bar and bought me a beer. I have never before, or since, met such a cool bouncer. Shame tho’…that was going to be a beautiful punch.

I recorded my first solo album ‘Valor Del Corazon’, at Willie Nelson’s studio, Pedernales, in Austin.
On walking in I spotted, among the many pictures on the wall, a photo of Willie and a very friendly looking guy who I was looking forward to meeting. During the session increasingly strange paranormal phenomenon started to happen, culminating in an unmistakable banging and swinging of a coat that had been hanging in the studio.

Our session piano player later asked if I’d met Bucky, the ghost. On replying to the affirmative he remarked that this must be a good session as Bucky only shows up during the recording of great albums. Bucky was Willie’s assistant who died five years previously. A well loved guy and a great musician. On leaving the studio, after completing the recording, I asked Rusty, the new assistant, who the guy in the picture I saw when I first arrived. The picture was of Willie and Bucky.

Is SXSW fun or business?

The most fun you can have doing business.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

Yeah, if they stump up the cash for distributing our album. It’s always fun to deafen people, especially industry people.

What’s your favorite song on the new record? Why?

“Rooting For The Bad Guy”: It is the first song on the album and it’s nine minutes of sonic assault and battery, with some cool melodies and some awesome riffing.

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you’ll never be able to reclaim?

Every great CD of mine is ruined as my ex was incapable of putting CD’s back into their cases.

Name one record that has influenced you (musically, or otherwise) the most.

Ramones: Rocket To Russia, because it is perfect in every way.

If you could open for any artist living or dead, in any era of their career, who would it be?

The (Rolling) Stones, any period of their career.

What album of 2006 can you not leave at home?

Mastodon: Blood Mountain

Who are you most excited to see play at SXSW?

Dunno who’s playing yet. Tell me. I’m looking forward to The Wildhearts as I hear they are shit hot.

What’s your mode of transportation for the week going to be? Tell us about your van, car, caravan, bus or donkey.

We are playing NYC, Rebel, on March 10th then hiring two Winnebagos and driving to Austin. It’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to drive a Winnebago and I’ve always wanted to drive from New York to Texas.

Pitchfork: Do you even read it?

Nope. Should I?

How do your parents describe your music to people?

My mother tells people that I’m the most talented human being alive. My father won’t even acknowledge liking my music.

What do you never want to see inside a tortilla?

Coriander. I fucking hate coriander.

BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or distro deal?

BBQ, Margaritas (extra salt)…and believe me I’ll be partying when I get US distribution.

Is rock and roll dead?

Of course not. That’s like asking if fun is dead or girls are out of fashion.

Is there such a thing as rock n roll anymore?

Yes, you are talking to it.

The Wildhearts: [official site] [myspace]

Appearing at SXSW at an undisclosed time in an undisclosed location.

Photo from The Wildhearts’ MySpace, Author Unknown.

After taking last week off because we were sure SXSW would release their master plan, we now return as there seems to be no end in sight to the band list embargo. Many indie labels and some marquee acts have simply announced their appearances, as bands attempt to book routing shows in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, or elsewhere to make their long drives worthwhile. The lack of info has started to get the press gossiping, as recent pieces by MTV News, Pitchfork, and the Austin Chronicle can attest.

Before we get to the list, we'd like to again credit Done Waiting's SXSW blog for their timely info, along with additional tips from Brooklyn Vegan, Pitchfork, Showlist Austin, +1, and Hyperactive Music Magazine. Now, 503 bands await your perusal, including The Good, The Bad, and The Queen, Amy Winehouse, Razorlight, Alexi Murdoch, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Steve Earle.

Jona Bechtolt is no more a normal human being than a toaster is a Ferrari. His eye and ear-boggling work with his pet project YACHT testifies to the hamster on acid that is constantly running in the wheel full speed in his head. As part of the duo that is The Blow, he is at least partly responsible for last year's awesome Paper Television. We e-cornered him to share a bit about himself and the prospect of performing here in March.

Share a story about a visit to Austin or a previous trip to SXSW.

The last time I was in Austin I was given an air organ that was later stolen out of my car after its window was smashed. I'm pretty sure Austin's air organs are fucking cursed! Weird, right? I was also told that on my way west I should stop in Marfa, Texas to check out these weird supernatural lights. I'd never heard of Marfa or the Marfa Lights and seeing them totally blew my mind! Now it seems like Marfa is blowing up.

Is it still fun to play live if the audience is 95% industry?

What industry? Those people won't have jobs in 6 months! THE INTERNET RULES!

What’s your favorite song on the new record? Why?

The new YACHT record doesn't come out until May and it so hard to keep it a secret! My favorites change every time I listen to it, but right this second I think it's "Women Of The World." Ivor Cutler represent.

Is there an album an ex ruined for you that you’ll never be able to reclaim?

Luckily no. I don't know how that hasn't happened.

Name one record that has influenced you (musically or otherwise) the most.

Nirvana's In Utero changed my life. My Mom and I heard "Rape Me" on Seattle's 107.7 The End a couple months before the record came out and our minds were blown. My Mom is amazing. She still asks me to play "About A Girl" off of Bleach every time I'm near any musical instrument.

Tacos or burritos? Margaritas or beer?

Tacos! I have a weird relationship with burritos. I don't want to be told I have to eat that whole thing. Margaritas taste more like candy to me. I like candy. A lot.

Is there such a thing as rock n roll anymore?

Yes and there probably will be for a long time. Hopefully it won't keep getting increasingly boring.

If you could open for any artist living or dead, in any era of their career, who would it be?

Bach in 1708. Straight up. People would be completely freaked out. On a side note if I got to stick around after I played it would be pretty amazing to see Bach as an organist in his most productive years.

Who are you most excited to see play at SXSW?

Architecture in Helsinki! We're both putting out new records and touring together in the spring. I've only heard one new song and it's epic! They're also some of the sweetest people I've ever met.

YACHT will be playing SXSW at Lucky Lounge on March 16th and Emo's on March 18th.

[YACHT Myspace]
[YACHT Official Site]

Montreal's Besnard Lakes are not your typical Canadian outfit. When you think of an outfit fronted by a husband and wife duo, you probably think of sugary slop soaked with trite lyrics and knowing glances, but don't make that mistake when it comes to The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, the band's latest effort. Roy Orbison and Brian Wilson spring to mind as masters of falsetto harmony, and that comparison is legit, but we also love the fact that Dark Horse saunters through very dark shoe-gazing and melancholy rock fields as well. All the elements are here, and we can't wait to see them play during SXSW. They took a few moments to answer some questions for us recently:

Care to share a story about a previous trip to Austin or SXSW?

All I remember was walking around in a stupor the entire time we were there - I remember falling in love with the warm weather, seeing the bat colonies, going to the springs, you know, touristy stuff. I'm a sucker for that. Oh, and seeing some great shows. The Raveonettes were particularly memorable.

How do your parents describe your music to people?

I think they're so dumbstruck by its awesome-ness that words do not come to their lips.

What music are you looking forward to in 2007? At SXSW specifically?

Iggy Pop and the Stooges. How cool is that!

Is SXSW still fun if most of the people watching you play are industry?

Yeah, it is. Yeah, that's an interesting question really. I suppose that's why the festival has to constantly evolve so that you keep it at the grassroots level. I do think however that musicians should have the golden ticket for attending the shows - unlimited access, yeah! I'm impressed to hear that it's going to be a "carbon neutral" event. We're doing our part by not driving down in our brown mansion this time either. That thing on its own contributed to 10 square blocks of heinous emissions, I'm sure.

BBQ or Tacos? Margaritas or beer? Parties or distro deal?

I think I'll have the tacos and margaritas this time. Beer makes me bloated and I did indulge overly with the BBQ last time. We'll do some parties for sure - we're facilitators of fun!

The Besnard Lakes will be playing SXSW at an undetermined time in an undisclosed venue.

[Besnard Lakes MySpace]
[Besnard Lakes Official]