While the recession may be eating away at our once dependable paychecks (no matter the size, of course) and our mundane 9 to 5 work arrangement, the reality of a weakened economy does have a few perks. Large scale music festivals like SXSW, while still quite grand in nature, are forced to scale down the opulence just a tad bit. Granted, there were still a number of lavish parties that were impossible to wiggle your way into, but this year’s festival seemed to cater a little more to the kind of bands that are on the brink of being something really special - if only people would pay attention.
But, SXSW isn’t just about the music anymore. As individuals and corporations alike delve deeper and deeper into the world of technology, SXSW too shifts and molds itself to fit the informational hunger of everyone from musicians who want optimize their utilization of the Internet for music promotion, to tech geeks who want to stay ahead of the curve. SXSW is still the ideal place to bulk up on new music, but it’s rapidly becoming the “it” event for all your uber-nerdy Web needs. (On a side note, I’m convinced that a sizeable percentage of iPhone users were present at this year’s festival, thereby inundating the cellular functionality of AT&T and leaving said iPhone users scrambling to find reception. It was pretty awesome to watch!)
From the panels to the trade show, SXSW has really become a well-rounded experience for musicians and industry personnel who opt to take advantage of all the festival has to offer. Honestly, if a band were to strategically map out its days at the panel discussions they would learn a heck of a lot of information and get in some valuable networking time. There is a new reality for musicians trying to make a name for themselves in the music business, and playing really good music isn’t enough. Bands now have the ability to shape their image, and to have that kind of creative control can be equal parts overwhelming and empowering. This is exactly why SXSW is working to cater to the growing needs of the “new musician”.
Speaking of musicians…there actually were a few that happened to play a show or two throughout the festival. While some of the bigger names in indie music may have stolen the limelight a time or two, there were tons of talented indie and hip hop artists that gave these indie veterans a run for their money. One of the most aesthetically stunning additions to this year’s event was the shows that took place out at Lady Bird Lake. Though it was a bit of a trek from the central core of downtown Austin shows, SXSW goers who opted to head over were rewarded with live sets, placed against the Austin skyline, from: M. Ward, Cold War Kids, Explosions in the Sky and Erykah Badu.
For those of us who chose to hang out around 2nd-6th street, we got a taste of a lot of music that sounds more or less the same as everything out there already. It has sadly been far too long since I’ve heard from a band that genuinely makes me feel like a kid in a candy store with unlimited access to sugar. Hell, I would be content hearing inspired, new sounds from musicians I have always admired, but that doesn’t seem to be happening much either these days. There is plenty of good music out there, just not a lot of “new” good music out there. But, every now and then a band would take to the stage and restore my faith in musical humanity. The following bands are the ones that shook me out of my musical coma and secured ample playtime in my home/car/life for good.
MUMFORD & SONS
Oh, Mumford & Sons…where have you been all my life? This rustic band of four formed in London during the later part of 2007 and since then has released a couple of incredibly infectious EPs. Although, they only have a handful of songs recorded, there is an undeniable talent that exists amongst the group. Everything about this band is right. Their brand of folk/bluegrass music sounds traditional enough to pass for the kind of music you’d hear spilling out of an old British pub in the East End of London after a clan of rowdy old friends get drunk and get to singing. Despite the folksy nature of their instrumentals, Mumford & Sons have skillfully written their lyrical poetry in a modern day vernacular - making their music appealing to everyone from indie loving hipsters to appreciators of a more homegrown folk sound. It is this incredible combination of banjo twangs, four part harmonies, and beautifully romantic and insightful lyrics that play tug-of-war on your heart strings. Their songs are the perfect soundtrack to listen to before, during and especially after a turbulent relationship. For a band that only has a couple of digitally accessible EPs out - one can only surmise as to the new heights Mumford & Sons will reach over time. The music is so passionate and raw. Every song grows on you in a new and different way and their live performances speak to their commitment to the music and the natural ease in which they perform each song. It’s rare to feel blessed after seeing a band perform live - but Mumford & Sons makes you feel darn lucky to have functioning ears for which to hear the lovely music they create.
CAMERA OBSCURA
One has to wonder if any less-than-amazing bands have ever actually come out of Glasgow, Scotland. Every time I hear a band that I fall madly in love with, it turns out they are from somewhere in the UK and often times they have emerged from whatever brilliant scene they have going on over there in Glasgow. Camera Obscura is a now 6 piece band that plays some of the most gorgeous indie pop music I have heard in awhile. Lead singer Tracyanne Campbell’s voice is made of all the best parts of music and echoes with a fierceness that is as strong and demanding as it gentle and subdued. Add in lots and lots of instrumentation including the organ, trumpet, mandolin and piano and you have a classic combination for great indie pop music. Though the band has been around since 1996, we here in the US have only gotten to know them as a contender in the indie music world over the last couple of years. Songs like “Razzle Dazzle Rose” sound kind of like The Mamas & the Papas backed by the guys from Doves. Their songs are dreamy and melancholy and meander lazily, letting the listener linger on the notes as they unravel. They have a new album titled My Maudlin Career that is set to release on April 20th of this year and several US dates scheduled for live gigs.
VIVA VOCE
Viva Voce is another one of those bands who have been around for quite awhile, but are making the kind of buzz they always meant to make, just a few years later. First forming out of Alabama in 1998, Viva Voce spent many years playing indie rock as a duo. Many years later, Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson moved on to Portland, Oregon where they were greeted with a warm and welcoming music community where they could thrive creatively. The duo self-produced a couple of albums, did lots of touring and found their popularity was rising pretty steadily overseas around 2004. By 2007, Anita was singing harmonies with The Shins and Viva Voce spent most of that year touring with them. Having toured with the Shins and collaborated with other prominent Portland musicians as a country/rock side project Blue Giant, Viva Voce was already shaping up to be something bigger than itself. Having re-formed in 2009 with the addition of Evan Railton and Corrina Repp, Viva Voce is ready to take on a whole new world of music. Rose City, which is set to release in May of 2009, has a chilled out classic rock feel with subtle, but wisely placed twists of indie rock. The new band members bring another layer of texture and depth to the live performances and the addition of instruments like the Theremin give the songs a cosmic, lackadaisical feel. Having played their first live gig as a quartet only days before their SXSW performances, Viva Voce’s new configuration is proving to be the right decision for the band. Keep a look out for the new album and the next time they’ll be playing in your town. It is their live performances that really bring out the true essence of a band that keeps evolving.
PJ HARVEY
There are some musicians that make music with no ulterior motive behind the songs they create. Sometimes, the music they make is nothing more than an outward expression of the random thoughts in their heads. Some may disagree that PJ Harvey’s lyrics are nothing more than her casual thoughts set to cacophonous notes, but maybe she really is a musician making music without the goal of stirring the pot just to watch things bubble over. Since the early 90s, Harvey has been producing albums that are musically discordant and experimental and raw. Her poetry is macabre, but her vulnerable strength is so contagious you can’t help but immerse yourself in its absurdity. Harvey’s recent musical endeavors, as seen with her 2007 release White Chalk, still has an underlying layer of melancholy darkness, but the musical medium in which it is being transmitted is softer and more controlled. Harvey has collaborated with John Parish on her latest album and he fits as a suitable partner to her style. Their performance at Stubb’s during SXSW was one of the most memorable live music experiences one could hope to witness. Her small stature is irrelevant when it comes to the reality of her performance persona. I am convinced that PJ Harvey is one of the few women in music who can still look demure and poised while shouting lewd, but honest lyrics into a microphone. Though we’re no stranger to her work, PJ Harvey continues to reinvent her music and does so with no apologies. Her music is her own and if you allow yourself to be open to it, you will be forever changed.
Another SXSW has come and gone, but in its aftermath we are left with a handful or two of great bands worth the downloading legally. These guys should tie you over until the next time around:
WHITE LIES - Everything about this band, from the stage lighting to the lead singer’s deep, distinctive voice screams Interpol. Despite the obvious similarities, the music of White Lies is captivating and interesting through and through [above].
RAZORLIGHT - These guys win the award for most energetic performance of SXSW. The lead singer of Razorlight must have been channeling the persona of other flamboyant front men - Mick Jagger comes to mind - because he was all over the place. Their music is polished indie pop rock with a layer of garage rock thrown in for good measure [pictured].
ANNI ROSSI - Some might think that the world is already inundated with too many solo female artists, but Anni Rossi will quickly change the hearts of many. All she needs is her viola and her stunning and powerful voice to fill a room with beauty.
LONEY, DEAR - Although, Loney, Dear oddly resembles a Swedish version of Perez Hilton, plays barefoot on stage and keeps referring to his iPod as a Zune, he belts out some fantastic music. His style is akin to the likes of Damien Rice and Sondre Lerche only a little more laid-back, electronic, and filled with his quirky sense of humor [pictured].
AMAZING BABY - Catching their last performance of SXSW made me wish I had had the opportunity to check these guys out when the sound system wasn’t on the fritz and they weren’t so frazzled. Amazing Baby’s music is heavy on the rock - to the point of it almost being glam in nature - with a few indie rock gems to accentuate their range. Their first album, currently titled “Rewild” is set to release this summer and it looks like people are waiting with bated breath for its arrival.
PASSION PIT - There is nothing particularly original about the indie pop that Passion Pit plays. It incorporates all the typical indie instrumentation - keyboards, lead singer with a voice like James Mercer of The Shins and a synth-rock undertone - yet the melodies are infectious and fun. The crowd danced wildly from the first to last note played and still begged for more. They are proof that sometimes reinventing and perfecting the wheel is just as valuable as starting anew.
CHAIRLIFT - The first time most of us ever heard of Chairlift was during the 20 second clips of their song “Bruises” from the iPod Nano commercials. Even in those 20 seconds, you could tell this band was more than just an iPod commercial. Despite their lackluster performances at SXSW, they still deserve recognition for the catchy indie pop they make because it really is that good [pictured].
INVINCIBLE - If you are a hip hop fan who loves political advocacy in the form of dope rhymes, you need to check out Invincible. She is taking Detroit and the hip hop scene over with some of the most provocative prose we’ve heard in a long time.
And…last, but never least, Houston indie music was really well represented this year. Check out some of these guys if you are into indie pop music with accents of western swing, power pop and post punk: News on the March, Wild Moccasins, Young Mammals and Tambersauro.
Words: Brigitte B. Zabak [April 20, 2009]
Pictures: Iman Saqr
