SXSW 2012 Picks for This Weekend
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Holy smokes. Could it be that we’re approaching the finish line after one long and amazing SXSW week? Not quite. We still have the weekend, and there are many more bands to check out. You do have the Austin Music Minute to assist you in making at least a couple of decisions on what to see. Granted, the selections are endless, but it’s good to have a starting point somewhere, especially if it’s something you may not ordinarily check out!
-Take, for example, tonight’s SX showcase at The Bat Bar, 218 6th St. Some pretty heavy-duty rock (and metal!) injected into this one, with punk and electronic bits: Shoegazey, metal and punk hybrid (watch out – the vocals are intense) Deafheaven out of San Francisco; mindblowing prog rock group out of my hometown, El Paso, TX, Zechs Marquise; Los Angeles doom-folk siren Chelsea Wolfe; Belfast, Ireland searing punk/pop instrumentalist band And So I Watch You From Afar; Toronto-based hard rock duo Indian Handcrafts; LA electric/experimental trio Marriages; and Chicago haunted noise-pop outfit favorite Gypsyblood. Each and every band in this line-up is worth hearing, so don’t miss out. Bring your earplugs, man.
-Have you seen the crowds showing up at the KUT showcases at the Four Seasons Hotel? Unbelievable! A quick recommendation: There’s no such thing as getting there too early. People show up armed with plenty of coffee and breakfast tacos to catch these phenomenal acts, and Saturday will be no exception: Sons of Fathers at 8 a.m., Glen Hansard (The Frames, The Swell Season) at 9 a.m., Justin Townes Earle at 10 a.m., and Nada Surf wrapping it up at 11 a.m.
-My recommendation for early Saturday afternoon is Red Feather Presents: TOMB TRADITION, a showcase at the beautiful Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. This is a great mix of local and touring acts to experience. The music starts at 2 p.m. with songwriter Marianne Dissard, followed by Seryn, Les Rav, Mother Falcon, The Silent Comedy, Agent Ribbons, The Colts, The Diamond Center, Hellfire Social, Family Wagon, The Sour Notes, and The Silver Chords performing at midnight.
-And late Saturday afternoon, be sure to join me, your AMM hostess with the mostess Laurie Gallardo, and KUT’s evening music host Matt Reilly as we present artists at South By San Jose, at Hotel San Jose on S. Congress Ave. Our line-up starts at 4 p.m. with Amy Cook, followed by Jonathan Wilson at 5 p.m., Kool & Together with The Relatives at 6 p.m., Ben Kweller at 7 p.m., and Built To Spill at 8:30 p.m.
Here’s to another busy and exciting weekend, with a hopefully merciful return back to relative calm next week. But who am I kidding? Music is life in this town. Happy SXSW, peeps.
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