SXSW

SXSW Song Of The Day: Idles – Mother

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One of the most memorable acts I caught at last year’s SXSW was Bristol band Idles. For the band’s final set of the week, they packed themselves onto the tiny stage at BD Riley’s and proceeded to blow all those in attendance away with a powerful performance. Political lyrics, heavy guitars, and a bit of a confrontational vibe all made for an exciting show that night, and so I was happy to see that the band would be returning for this year’s edition as one of the bands playing The British Music Embassy at Latitude 30.

The lineup for this years British Music Embassy has just been released and it features notables such as Gaz Coombes, Frank Turner, Pale Waves, Girl Ray, Goat Girl, and Jade Bird taking to the stage at Latitude 30 throughout the week with Idles closing out the night on Thursday, March 15 at 1:00am. It will be intense.

Check out the video for “Mother,” off of last year’s Brutalism, below:

SXSW Song Of The Day: Hatchie – Sure

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Brisbane’s Hatchie (aka Harriette Pilbeam) has been making some headway recently back in Australia and now joins the contingent of Aussie artists who’ll be coming to SXSW this year.

Hatchie’s music has been described by Noisey as being “Somewhere between Cocteau Twins and Sky Ferreira.” That’s an intriguing mix, and I’ll add that Hatchie also reminds me slightly of another Harriett – The Sundays’ Harriett Wheeler. The chiming guitar that opens her song “Sure” brings to mind the same sort of sounds that The Sundays made back in their ’90s heyday. It’s a solid pop tune with a bit of shoegaze thrown in.

Hatchie plays Cheer Up Charlie’s on March 15 and Lucille on March 16.

SXSW Song Of The Day: No Vacation – Mind Fields

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San Francisco five piece No Vacation, perhaps somewhat ironically, produce the kind of chilled out, hazy dream pop that might actually work quite well as the soundtrack to a vacation. I could definitely imagine somebody listening to their music while lounging by a pool somewhere.

Alternatively, it would also sound pretty sweet on some outdoor stage on a sunny Austin afternoon, a scenario which is entirely possible when No Vacation make their way there for SXSW next month.

Check out the video for “Mind Fields” off their latest, Transmission:

SXSW Song Of The Day: Anna Burch – Tea-Soaked Letter

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Anna Burch has been active in the Detroit music scene for a bit now, playing in bands like Frontier Ruckus and Failed Flowers, but her upcoming album Quit the Curse (out February 2 on Polyvinyl Records) will be her solo debut. The few songs I’ve heard from it so far sound fantastic, with the standout being “Tea-Soaked Letter,” a jangly indie pop tune buoyed by an infectiously catchy melody.

Anna Burch will be playing probably a whole bunch of shows at SXSW this March and she’s definitely made my list of must-sees. Check out the video for “Tea-Soaked Letter” below.