Dave's SXSW picks part two

by Dave Artrocker

So ploughing through the list of bands showcasing at SXSW and listening to their audio interweb samples is officially not good for your sanity. So much DROSS.

Luckily, a few shining nuggets in amongst the shite. Here’s part two of my SXSW recommendations…

The Death Set


Photo by Frank Hamilton

So we’re deep in the Ds, and I’ve not turned up anything new and interesting so far. Only familiar and interesting. You can’t go wrong with The Deathset.

DOWNLOAD NEGATIVE THINKING

The Downbeat 5

I’m guessing they won’t score enough cool points for Pitchfork et al to get behind them, but The Downbeat 5 is a show I would definitely go to. Featuring JJ from The Queers on geetar, they pump out excellent Muffs/Bel Rays garage rock n roll.

DOWNLOAD DUM DUM DITTY

Drink Up Buttercup

Nice Beefheart / Brendan Benson corkscrew pop, with an infectious manic energy making it sound all the more mental.

DOWNLOAD MR PIE EYES

Grand Archive


Pic by Hilary Harris

Beechwood Sparks / Pernice Brothers harmony laden folk, with a few dark undertones. On Subpop, which should give them a boost in the buzz stakes.

DOWNLOAD MINATURE BIRDS

HANK IV

Bods from Shellac and The Fucking Champs are at the fringes of HANK IV, who as you might expect, play “hard-charging, primitive and visceral dual-guitar/tandem vocals rock punk that has been likened to ‘Crime meets Viletones meets Styrenes punk’”

Another important HANK IV fact - the band bear no relation whatsoever to the Hank Williams clan. I did wonder.

DOWNLOAD FEEDING ME BACK

The Hall Monitors

OK, so this is rapidly becoming a list of the best garage bands playing at SXSW. But The Hall Monitors are definitely deserving of your attention. Pumping Sonics / Standells style hooky garage rock n roll.

DOWNLOAD GIRLS

Heels Catch Fire

You know Heels Catch Fire right? They’re members of the ‘Post Hardcore Artrock Scene’ of course and play some mighty fine frenetic twist art pop.

DOWNLOAD BLACKOUT TO WHITEOUT

Inner City Pirates

ICP provided far and above the best track on a recent Artrocker Magazine covermount CD. Slightly camp hooky art pop.

DOWNLOAD LET’S GO DISCO

  • fingered Mon, 2009/03/16 - 4:48pm

    my top 3 new faces @ sxsw picks

    http://fingeredmedia.com/blog/?p=24

  • Dave Artrocker Mon, 2009/03/23 - 1:04am

    Nice list

    I’m liking Los Fancy Free a lot.
  • Maddy Bennington Mon, 2009/02/16 - 8:50pm

    hall monitors

    The Hall Monitors are so awesome, I want to have their babies!

  • Anonymous Sat, 2009/02/14 - 9:53pm

    dave's picks

    what about Death Is Not A Joyride?

  • The Hall Monitors Wed, 2009/02/11 - 8:26pm

    Thanks!

    Thanks ARTROCKER! We're lining up parties and organizing a few of our own, and we hope to see you in Austin!

    • Post new comment

    The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

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