I quite enjoyed last week - vicariously living SXSW through other people's Twitters. It was a shame not to be out there, and some day I hope to go back (Forward Russia played a vintage year with Duels, The Research & The Cribs in 2006), and have a Tequila marinated Salmon at the Iron Cactus while sipping on a Mojito....
Anyway, it was an interesting portal to proceedings, and I discovered the following bands / things:
1) THE COATHANGERS
Twice a day someone seemed to be seeing this band play somewhere. Funnily enough, pretty reminscent of a few of the ace Rough Trade bands, like YMG or Raincoats. But I'm being a bit crap cos there's girl singers and funky(ish) basslines
2) LOCAL NATIVES
Like a more direct, less ethereal Fleet Foxes. Intriguing to say the least...
3) MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS SAW MORE BANDS THAN ANYONE... EVER
The world outside Austin, TX didn't stop. Back in the UK, people were astonished by THE HORRORS new Portishead/Kraut-rock inspired track Sea Within A Sea. It's not that suprising when you learn the album is produced by Portishead's Geoff Barrow, but that doesn't make the track (and accompanying video) any less good.
They played a secret gig in London last night to preview more material, which has heralded many an NME hack to laud them as the best band in the world (again)
Finally, check out:
SWAN LAKE, Canadian indie super-group (aren't they all), feat members of Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Destroyer, New Pornographers (and there's only 3 members!).
PHOENIX - French maestro's I've loved long time, since the first time I heard Too Young. No with new management, and already booked to appear on the Late Show in the US, new album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix could do it a bit
Soundtrack to this post: Abe Vigoda, Passion Pit, ANthony & The Johnsons
