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Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Texas Rockfest schedules posted
Surprise! South by Southwest isn’t the only music festival happening this month.
Texas Rockfest, now in its 11th year, promises five straight days of free shows at multiple downtown Austin venues. Things get started Wednesday, March 17 with Shamrockfest, a daylong party pegged to St. Patrick’s Day, and continue through Sunday, March 21.
Check out up-and-coming alternative rockers at these locations:
- Black Ice Lounge at Nuno’s, 422 E. Sixth St.
- Malaia, 300 E. Sixth St.
- Mugshots, 407 E. Seventh St.
- Pure Lounge, 419 E. Sixth St.
- Parking lot at Seventh and Neches streets (main outdoor stages)
You can find schedules for each stage online at the Rockfest Web site.
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Austin at SXSW: Carolyn Wonderland
Austin transplant and multi-instrumentalist Carolyn Wonderland (originally from Houston) has been playing professional music gigs since she was 15 years old. Since the release of her first album, Alcohol and Salvation in 2003, Carolyn has garnered much critical acclaim from local and national critics, and her band was voted “Best Blues Band” at the 2009 Austin Music Awards. Her official SXSW showcase is at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Momo’s during Nancy Fly Agency’s showcase. Carolyn hinted to expect the unexpected at the showcase, and advises people from out of town to experience as much of Austin as possible while visiting, when she answered our SXSW questions via e-mail.
Describe your sound. A trio that goes for it. We like to incorporate as much music as we can into any given night, genres be damned! It is an adventure and I am ever grateful for my band mates, Michael “Lefty” Lefkowitz on drums and Cole El-Saleh on keyboards and key-bass. We are all in this boat together through waves of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, zydeco, gospel or whatever one may define another wave of music as being, searching for songs. Mostly I paddle with the guitar, sometimes I’ll try my hand at a lap steel, mandolin, trumpet, uke, or whatever we travel with. I suppose that takes us around the back roads of Americana music tracking mud from Texas’ many riverbanks.
What can SXSW attendees expect at your showcase? A smoking patio and some smoking bands on stage! Right before us is Betty Soo at 10:30 and following us will be Warren Hood at 12:30. Since we have a bunch of friends in town, you never know who might join us during our set. I’d be lying if I said I knew what to expect!
What other acts are you excited to check out? I am always excited to see how many musicians join us at the Million Musician March for Peace! This year we are marching on Saturday afternoon, March 20th. YOU are invited. As much as i love the camaraderie, every year I hope that this is the last year we have to do it!
Are you planning to go to any panels? I’d like to check out Flatstock, the guitar show, the record convention and gear alley. Like most musicians, SXSW showcases and panels are catch as catch can for me. I try not to schedule too many things in advance and just go with the flow during the week.
What are some Austin must-do or must-sees for out-of-towners? Million Musicians March on Saturday and Gospel Brunch at Maria’s Taco X-Press Sunday morning followed by the Full Moon Barn Dance. Try the food. Eat local. Ask people around you where to go. Don’t forget cash for tipping your kind servers.
Where do you like to hear live music, when it’s not SXSW?
We’re on the road more often than not, but when we’re home I love to listen at Antone’s, Saxon Pub, Threadgill’s, Momo’s, Continental Club, Maria’s Taco X-Press, Nutty Brown, Amsterdam Cafe, Flipnotics, in the various parks, in the series of backyards and living rooms that accommodate such behavior … KUT’s “Live From Studio 1A”, KGSR’s “Lone Star State of Mind”… I love that I can hear original, live music most nights in Austin. Let’s all work to keep it at least as such.
What’s your favorite ‘only in Austin’ thing to do? Monday nights at Ming’s Cafe, eating great Chinese food while grooving to the Mingtones. Sitting in with friends, hearing others do the same. Mexican Martinis, chips, salsa and the occasional guitar lesson at various outdoor patios with live music. For me, personally, getting together occasionally with the Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers when our schedules allow.
Finish this sentence: ‘Industry folks and visiting bands, while we love having you as guests of our city, please don’t…’ drive unless you have to. Please, have more fun than the law allows, drink, tip and then A) walk back to hotel, or B) taxi. Cabs are plentiful, parking is NOT. Have a great time and don’t stress, there are solutions walking past you every few minutes.
Tracks courtesy of Carolyn Wonderland and Bismeaux Records. Photo (above) by Brio.
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Austin at SXSW: Ume
Indie-rock trio Ume (pronounced ooo-may) will play for a cause during this year’s SXSW festival. Girls Rock Camp Austin hosts the official showcase at 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Submerged. Enigmatic lead singer Lauren Larson explained the scope of the non-profit, and shared her zeal for Austin’s local flavors via e-mail. If you miss the official showcase, the band will play a couple side parties during the week as well, so check out our side parties database, or list of side parties to find out where else you can see them rock out.
Describe your sound. We just try to bring catchy melodies, a little madness, and really heavy guitar riffs together into pretty songs.
What can SXSW attendees expect at your showcase? Our showcase is a benefit for an amazing non-profit I work with called Girls Rock Camp Austin. Every band features awesome female musicians and donations will be taken up to help empower girls through music. As far as our performance, we’re just going to try to put ourselves completely into this performance like we do at any show.
What other acts are you excited to check out? I haven’t got to scour the list yet, but I do hope to check out Surfer Blood and Chamillionaire. I also think we’re playing once with Warpaint, which I’m excited about.
Are you planning to go to any panels? We’re for sure seeing our pal Dave Allen’s - from Gang of Four - panel on social web strategies for musicians.
What are some Austin must-do or must-sees for out-of-towners? Eat locally - whether you’re a bar-b-q fanatic or vegan, Austin has some of the best food anywhere (but be sure to get a Mexican breakfast). Since most of the country will still be freezing, I’m hoping it will be warm enough here for people to check out Barton Springs or other local swimming spots.
Where do you like to hear live music, when it’s not SXSW? We see bands play all over town - Emo’s, Mohawk, Parish, The Parlor, Art Authority, house parties…
What’s your favorite ‘only in Austin’ thing to do? I love to camp on Lake Travis, eat migas and guacamole queso fresco tacos when hungover, and have the chance to see a band play every night.
Finish this sentence: ‘Industry folks and visiting bands, while we love having you as guests of our city, please don’t…’ forget to check out some local bands, too, :)
Tracks and photo courtesy of Ume.
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Home Slice releases full Music by the Slice lineup
Over at their own official blog — which, it has to be said, is easily the coolest blog you’ll ever find for a pizzeria — Home Slice Pizza has revealed the lineup for its annual Music by the Slice festival, which takes place this year from Thursday March 18 to Saturday March 20. The event runs from noon to 7 p.m. all three days. It features a stacked array of great artists and is free and open to the public with no RSVP required. With Home Slice having an entire other storefront at their disposal this year, it should also be easier to grab a slice while you’re enjoying the quality tones.
Highlights include Lou Barlow, Phantogram, the Cave Singers, the Bright Light Social Hour, Quasi and the Henry clay People. Full line-up is posted below the jump.
Saturday, March 20:
* Admiral Radley
* The Henry Clay People
* The Happy Hollows
* Elliot Brood
* Pomegranates
* Quasi
* Winter Gloves
* Peter Wolf Crier
* Jeremy Messersmith
* Letting Up Despite Great Faults
* Idyllists
* La Strada
Friday, March 19:
* Lou Barlow
* The Cave Singers
* Miles Kurosky (ex Beulah)
* The Lonely Forest
* Wye Oak
* Jukebox the Ghost
* Generationals
* Phantogram
* Woodhands
* Let’s Wrestle
* Slow Club
* A Giant Dog
* Movits!
Thursday, March 18:
* Bright Light Social Hour
* Oh No Ono
* Dinosaur Feathers
* These United States
* Lost in the Trees
* Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
* Radar Brothers
* Love Language
* Surf City
* Pattern is Movement
* Brazos
* Hop Along
* Darwin Deez
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Will Johnson wants to play in your living room
In non-sxsw news (although Centro-Matic will be appearing at the festival) Will Johnson will be embarking on an acoustic tour of living rooms this spring with guitarist Anders Parker. The duo is looking for people to host shows in several cities, ending in Austin on April 24. It’s not a private show for you and your friends—hosts get five tickets, with the remaining seats being sold online for $20 prior to each show. Requirements for hosting include cool neighbors and two seats for the performers. No word on whether you’ll need to provide finger sandwiches for the guests.
For more details and info on how to apply, click here.
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SXSW party update: Mog and the Austinist
With a mere two weeks remaining before the South by Southwest Music Festival commandeers downtown Austin, the party updates are now flying fast and fierce, with most of the big names announcing their plans — whither art thou, Fader Fort and Mess With Texas?
MOG, the online music listening service, takes over the Mohawk from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 20 with a free, open-to-the-public affair headlined by blues rock duo the Black Keys, making their only SXSW appearance this year. They’re releasing a new album, “Brothers,” May 18 on Nonesuch, hot on the heels of last year’s better-than-it-had-any-right-to-be rap/rock album “Blakroc.” Real Estate, the Antlers, and Freelance Whales, among others, also play the day party, but the other highlight would have to be Demolished Thoughts — any band that includes Thurston Moore, J Mascis and Andrew WK is bound to rock. Full lineup (so far) after the jump.
Not to be outdone, the Austinist, WOXY and BMI have unveiled their SXSW plans, with a party at the Mohawk from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, with a humdinger of a lineup including White Denim, Anni Rossi, Phantogram, Toro Y Moi and Yukon Blonde, among others. This soiree, too, is free and open to the public.
• The Black Keys
• Demolished Thoughts (w/ Thurston Moore, J Mascis, Andrew WK, Don Fleming, and Awesome Allison)
• The Antlers
• Real Estate
• Rye Rye
• Freelance Whales
• Dum Dum Girls
• Free Energy
• Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers
• Javelin
• More to be announced
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Austin at SXSW: Dixie Witch
Dixie Witch have been playing “100 percent Texas Motor Rock” in Austin for the last 10 years. Led by Trinidad Leal and Curt “CC” Christenson, and recently joined by guitarist Joshua “JT” Todd Smith, the Texas power trio has released three albums to date, and will be recording their fourth next fall. The official SXSW showcase presented by Small Stone Records will be at 1 a.m. Thursday, March 18, at Encore (Red River and Seventh streets area). SXSW might be your last chance to see the band perform in Austin for awhile, as they will embark on a European tour in mid-April. Drummer and vocalist Trinidad Leal shared his favorite Austin music venues and tourist spots with us via e-mail.
Describe your sound.
Melodic, heavy southern-flavored Texas rock ‘n’ roll. Imagine if you will, going to see Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Sabbath while having a whiskey with Waylon Jennings. We like to call it 100 percent Texas Motor Rock!
What can SXSW attendees expect at your showcase?
The Smallstone Showcase will be a family style event featuring some of the best classic sounding rock and heavy rock this nation has to offer! The showcase will go from a Converse sponsored free day show into the SXSW Smallstone Showcase featuring the label’s heavy-hitters, making the whole day/night a Smallstone experience.
Dixie Witch is excited to introduce our new guitarist Joshua “JT” Smith to fans, as well as new music to be out on a new record coming Spring 2011!
What other acts are you excited to check out? I am excited to see too many acts to name…let’s just say I will be taking advantage of the wristband!
Are you planning to go to any panels? I will try to attend many of the independent panels discussing the future of music, via downloads, and writer’s rights as far as performance for television and film.
What are some Austin must-do or must-sees for out-of-towners? Climb Mt. Bonnell and see the beautiful Austin skyline and the hearty Hill Country! Always love checking out the Bats — if it’s the season!
Where do you like to hear live music, when it’s not SXSW? Emo’s, Ginnys Little Longhorn, Stubb’s Amphitheater, Long Center, The Nutty Brown and Encore of course!
What’s your favorite ‘only in Austin’ thing to do? Love the Alamo Drafthouse for a movie — a great Sunday Gospel Brunch — and of course my BBQ I grill in my backyard, using only happy meat-truly organic spices and Mexican martinis!
Finish this sentence: ‘Industry folks and visiting bands, while we love having you as guests of our city, please don’t…’ Don’t trash it! Recycle properly — and eat locally! Take care of the fine folks serving you — and don’t DRINK AND DRIVE!
Tracks courtesy of Small Stone Recordings.
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Chilean bands with Austin ties unharmed in earthquake
Austin-based band manager Derek Woodgate was awakened by a 5 a.m. phone call Saturday from a friend who told him a massive earthquake had devastated part of Chile. Woodgate’s daughter Tessie plays bass and sings for Chilean band Intimate Stranger, who are booked for the first-ever Chilean showcase at South by Southwest March 20.
“It was the longest day of my life,” Woodgate says of the hours he frantically tried to get any information on the safety of his daughter and her family in Santiago. “Finally, Skype saved the day,” Woodgate says of the app that allows users to make voice calls on the Internet. By Saturday night, he was able to confirm that his daughter was unharmed.
A former manager of the Swans, the British born Woodgate manages three bands from Chile- the Ganjas and Casino, in addition to Intimate Stranger who are playing SXSW. “The lead singer of the Ganjas had his house destroyed, but he got out okay,” says Woodgate.
The three Chilean bands managed by Woodgate will play a March 23 benefit for Chile relief efforts, in conjunction with Caritas. There’s also a New Orleans date for April 17 that’s close to confirming.
Other Chilean acts at SXSW, including the highly touted Anita Tijoux, Funky C and Capsula, will appear as scheduled at Maggie Mae’s March 20.
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KGSR announces Four Seasons line-up
Straight from man-about-town himself, DJ Andy Langer, we’ve got the line-up for KGSR’s annual live broadcast from the lobby of the downtown Four Seasons.
For the early risers with the fortitude to make it out early during what’s surely one of the hardest times of the year to make it out early, KGSR’s assembled an impressive schedule of performers including She and Him, Sharon Jones, Dixie Chicks spin-off the Court Yard Hounds, Kat Edmonson and a tribute to Stephen Bruton.
As with past years, KGSR is in the lobby from 6 to 10 a.m. on March 15 through March 19. A $5 donation to Seton’s Shivers Cancer Center gets you in the door and also gets you coffee and breakfast tacos. Be advised — people tend to queue up early for this one, so if you want in you’d do well to get there Very Early Indeed. Of course, if you can’t make it out you can always tune in to the station to hear all the performers and “guests from the film festival and random celebrities.” Sounds intriguing. Full line-up after the jump.
Monday, March 15
7:00 a.m.: Nakia
7:30: Amy Cook
8 : The Coveters (Suzanna Choffel, Dan Dyer, Ed Jurdi, Warren Hood)
8:30: Stephen Bruton Tribute
9: T-Bird And The Breaks
9:30: To be announced
Tuesday, March 16
7:00: Danny Barnes
7:30: Sahara Smith
8: Tom Freund
8:30: Kat Edmonson
9: The Trishas
9:30: Bob Schneider
Wednesday, March 17
6:30 : To be announced
7: Griffin House
7:30: Alpha Rev
8: Steve Poltz
8:30: Bodeans
9: Texas Tornadoes
9:30: Raul Malo
Thursday, March 18
6:30: Oh Mercy
7 : Matt Morris
7:30: Charlie Mars
8: Gin Wigmore
8:30: Grace Potter
9: John Hiatt
9:30: The Court Yard Hounds
10: Jakob Dylan
Friday, March 19
6:30: Dawes
7: Sarah Jaorsz, Ben Solee, Cary Brothers
7:30: VV Brown
8: Rogue Wave
8:30: Ozomatli
9: She & Him
9:30: Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings
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Pitchfork party lineup announced
Music site Pitchfork and the Windish Agency, which tend to have some of the buzziest buzz bands play their sxsw parties, announced the lineup for their March 19 party at Emo’s yesterday. Highlights include Los Angeles breakouts Local Natives, Philly classic rockers Free Energy and sometimes Austin-based Neon Indian. Pitchfork will also host an official sxsw showcase on March 20 at the Scoot Inn. The full lineup is below.
The Pitchfork/Windish Austin Bash (Emo’s, March 19):
12:00 - Warpaint (Emo’s Jr.)
12:30 - Local Natives (Emo’s)
1:00 - Javelin (Emo’s Jr.)
1:30 - Free Energy (Emo’s)
2:00 - Real Estate (Emo’s Jr.)
2:30 - Washed Out (Emo’s)
3:00 - Dâm-Funk (Emo’s Jr.)
3:30 - Best Coast (Emo’s)
4:00 - Memory Tapes (Emo’s Jr.)
4:30 - Surfer Blood (Emo’s)
5:00 - Neon Indian (Emo’s Jr.)
5:30 - Japandroids (Emo’s)
The Pitchfork SXSW Showcase (The Scoot Inn, March 20):
7:30 - Titus Andronicus
8:15 - The Smith Westerns
9:00 - Here We Go Magic
9:45 - Pictureplane
10:30 - The Very Best
11:15 - Bear in Heaven
12:00 - Freddie Gibbs
12:45 - Sleigh Bells
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Billy Joe Shaver trial date set
Singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver will face charges of aggravated assault and unlawful carrying of a weapon April 5 at the 54th District Court in Waco.
Shaver is accused of shooting Billy Coker in the cheek outside Papa Joe’s nightclub in Lorena the night of March 31, 2007. Here’s more on the case.
Shaver will be represented by superstar Houston attorney Dick Deguerin, who made a national name when he represented another Waco native, David Koresh, during a 1993 standoff with federal agents.
Here’s a copy of the arrest warrant from 2007.
