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SXSW global: Video clips of 3 standout international acts
While the buzz of big name acts like Kanye West, Jane’s Addiction and metal gods Metallica dominated the festival, hundreds of international bands made epic cross-continental treks to take the stage in Austin during SXSW 2009. International music had a huge presence at this year’s fest, with organizers claiming that 40 percent of showcasing acts were from outside the U.S. I spent the final two days of the fest pounding the pavement, getting my global groove on. Here are three great acts I checked out.
The band: The Pepper Pots
Hometown: Girona, Spain
The showcase: 11 p.m. Saturday at Opal Divine’s Freehouse
Three utterly adorable female vocalists oozed enthusiasm as they gave their take on a sixties Motown girl group. With tight harmonies, choreographed dance moves and retro hair and dresses they had the audience eating out of their outstretched hands. Backed by a robust ensemble with a solid horn section the sound was full, the energy was great and the overall effect was a whole lot of fun. This was the Pepper Pots first trip to the U.S., but with a new album produced by Binky Griptite of the Dap Kings in the works and a sock hop revival steadily spreading across the country, I expect they’ll be back again soon.
The band: Cafe Funque
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The showcase: 10 p.m. Saturday at Opal Divine’s Freehouse
Lead singer Cacao (Lady Acid) is a rock star. She straight up ruled the stage. Clad in a skeleton costume with a painted face, she shimmied, scowled and even threw up devil horns. She also belted out songs from the bottom of her heart and threw herself writhing onto the floor. Killer.
The band: Choc Quib Town
Hometown:Bogota, Colombia
The showcase: 1 a.m. Saturday at Copa
With tight harmonies, irresistible rhythmic interplay and a rhymestyle as ebullient as it was fearless this Columbian hip-hop fusion act tore the roof off at Copa on Friday night (Saturday morning). It wasn’t a full house, but the sizable and strikingly diverse group that crowded the stage rippled with excitement. And when the rappers cried out “Jump!” almost everyone in the house complied.
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