Just back from SXSW, the massive showcase festival in Austin, Texas, which features something daft like 2000 bands in five days, in scores of venues across the city.
Well, I say, “just” got back. I landed on Monday morning and have been waiting for the jet-lag to subside and the buzzing to quieten down (SXSW is all noise: the noise of bands trying to get heard; of label bosses plugging their new artists and barmen asking you whether you have a preference of which vodka you want).
But here’s five new things I thought were interesting or good.
BODEGA
Saw this band twice, once at the brilliantly named Beerland, and then Saturday afternoon at Sidewinder Outside, where the above picture comes from. A New York art-rock five piece, this is the first single from their forthcoming album and they play the UK in May. I think this is really powerful. They were great live as well.
There’s some videos and stuff here:
FRENCH VANILLA
Oddly compelling post-punk from LA. Saw this band twice in two days before they left to continue their tour across America with Shopping. Try ‘Evolution Of A Friendship’ for starters from their current self-titled album
https://frenchvanilla.bandcamp.com/
SNEAKS
Annoyingly one of the artists I didn’t get to see, as she was playing across town, and clashed with someone else, but this I like a lot. Minimal electro-pop from the Merge label.
VUNDABAR
The most happy-go-lucky indie-rock I’ve liked in a while. Even at their most restrained, Vundabar are pretty upbeat. A trio, from Boston, they’ve just released an album called ‘Smell Smoke’.
https://vundabar.bandcamp.com/
SNAIL MAIL
One of the hot ticket acts of the week, with queues to see her everywhere. You can see why. The sound’s got a great nonchalance about it, with a really nice, natural voice. Hats off again to Matador Records again for picking this up.
https://snailmailbaltimore.bandcamp.com/album/habit