I do a fair amount of research on the artists attending SXSW in the weeks leading up to the event. Before I arrived, Ireland’s Somebody’s Child were at the top of my artists to see; when I left they were the best band that I saw. The group, the brainchild of singer-songwriter Cian Godfrey, recently released their self-titled debut. The album is chock full of melodic rock anthems, which the band delivered live with an unbridled fury.
A semi-secret show by indie rock legends Spoon was a mighty fine way to kick off my SXSW experience. They kept the stage conversation to a minimum as they unleashed an onslaught of brooding rock and roll.
Nashville by way of Texas artist Mando Saenz sure knows how to write a song. His catalog brims with catchy melodies and well-crafted lyrics. I caught him twice, both shows with a crack band who helped bring to life Saenz’s brand of country-tinged rock and roll. The performances were chock full of favorites, including my request (“Talk Is Cheap” if you’re wondering).
Austin’s Greyhounds kicked off the inaugural SoCo Stomp (named for South Congress Avenue) in South Austin with their trademark mix of gritty R&B.
I caught two afternoon sets from Los Angeles-based L.A. Edwards – singer-songwriter Luke Andrew Edwards and his brothers Jerry and Jay – over the course of the week. They’ve got a great classic rock sound a la the Heartbreakers, members of whom have appeared on some of their studio recordings. A particular highlight was seeing the brothers harmonize on Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You”.
Seeing Atlanta by way of Alabama singer-guitarist Bains is a SXSW tradition for me. His performances are always electric guitar fueled and fiery. As usual, Bains spent a portion of his set spitting out lyrics as he prowled through the crowd.
I only caught a few songs from Canada’s Boy Golden but really liked what I heard. Even in that short time, he and his band ran the musical gamut from honky-tonk to rock and roll. I’m ready for more.
Another find from my pre-festival research was Canada’s The Hypochondriacs. Great harmonies, horns (!), and songs with a 1970’s soft(ish) classic rock flair – what’s not to like?
Even though sound problems vexed their set, indie rockers Mightmare – fronted by River (aka Sarah) Shook – powered through with an intense and enjoyable performance.
One of the great things about SXSW is that when one artist has to cancel, there’s another one – of equal or better talent – ready to take the slot. Such was the case for me late Saturday afternoon when the artist I was expecting to see wasn’t the one performing when I arrived. Lucky me. This was my first time seeing Katie Toupin, who impressed with a glorious set of pop songs (not to mention some entertaining between song storytelling).
I stepped across the street after seeing Katie Toupin and stumbled into a fun set from New York-based power popper Simons. Bonus points for having a sax player in the band – it added some nice flavor to his songs.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.