Kasey Anderson & the Honkies
Music is often about improvisation. In this case, however, it wasn’t the type of improvisation that one would expect. When the bass drum kept slipping across the cement floor, the band grabbed a keg to hold it in place. When that didn’t work, Anderson took a seat on the keg to ultimately solve the problem. I suppose that is a testament to the pounding that the drums were taking as Anderson & crew careened through a set mixing originals, mostly from his latest release, with choice covers (Cee-Lo Green’s “Fuck Youâ€). It was rock and roll in all its glory, right down to the keg.
Find more Twangville coverage on Kasey Anderson here.
Audio Download: Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, “Mercy” [audio: http://twangville.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/02-Mercy.mp3]
The Biters
Drawing equally from the musical heritage of Cheap Trick and the New York Dolls, Atlanta’s the Biters scuff up catchy melodies with a heavy dose of guitar. Live, they bring it all together in a show that becomes a foot-tappin’, hand-clappin’ party. SXSW is always my sure sign of summer and now I’ve got a ready soundtrack for the season.
Audio Download: The Biters, “Melody For Lovers” [audio: http://twangville.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/The-Biters-Melody-For-Lovers.mp3]
Damien Jurado
Jurado has been a artist that I’ve wanted to see for quite some time and I was thrilled to finally get the chance. Captivating is the best word to describe the Seattle singer-songwriter. He took the stage to engage a rowdy SXSW crowd with just his songs and acoustic guitar. Simply put, Jurado won. He delighted the crowd (me included!) with a set that was as focused as it was rewarding.
Sharon Van Etten
Van Etten has been generating quite a buzz and now I know why. Her voice is haunting and commands attention while keeping a sharp focus on lyrics that are simple yet engrossing. Although she was backed by a bassist and drummer, it was Van Etten’s simple strummed guitar that make her songs all the more enchanting. Even better, the performance that I saw took place in a church where the acoustics made the performance all the more stunning.
Andy Clockwise
Clockwise was on my list from last year where I unfortunately never got to see him perform. I corrected that fact this year by catching his afternoon Aussie Day Party performance. He took the stage with a quick apology for a voice suffering from one too many performances. He need not have bothered. Clockwise and a crack rhythm section thundered through a boisterous rock and roll set.
Audio Download: Andy Clockwise, “Love and War” [audio: http://twangville.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Andy-Clockwise-LoveAndWar.mp3]
Jon Dee Graham
I can’t imagine a SXSW without catching at least one set from the Bard of Austin. This year was no exception. Graham’s gruff vocals are equally matched by an incendiary guitar and sharp wit.
Audio Download: Jon Dee Graham, “Airplane” [audio: http://twangville.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/15-Airplane.mp3]
Janelle Monae
I wouldn’t ordinarily have put this set on my list. But that’s what SXSW is all about — checking out things unknown as well as unknown. Truth be told, Monae was a last minute fill-in for Cee-Lo, who I had already marked on my list. At times the show seemed a bit too staged, but let there be no doubt that Monae is a tremendous entertainer with a powerhouse voice. A guitarist that bore a strong resemblance to Rick James only added to the fun.
Mona
Although they hail from Nashville, their sound screams London. I saw the band play the legendary Antone’s where their earnest alternative rock anthems filled the room with a musical electricity.
Peelander Z
There are always those late night moments when your energy is waning after a long day of music. Peelander Z was made for those moments, packing their sets with more energy than a case of Red Bull. Sure, the songs are good – punk songs with a heavy dose of pop hooks, but it’s the live show where they shine. Lead singer Peelander-Yellow (aka Kengoswee) bounds around the stage, and audience for that matter, with abandon. (Apparently he was climbing the stairs to the balcony at another SXSW gig and tumbled down into the crowd.)
View more Twangville coverage of SXSW 2011 here.
Photo Credits: Shanna Gillette (Kasey Anderson), Scott Dudelson (Sharon Van Etten).
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.