SXSW

SXSW Review: The Barberettes, March 17, ACC

Posted on by Ricky in South By Southwest | Leave a comment

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Rising to fame mostly via youtube videos, Korea’s The Barberettes brought a much needed dose of sugar and sweet to the ACC Trade show floor on Tuesday afternoon.

The trio have been gaining some steam lately with their take on 50’s era pop music and it’s easy to see why. The trio’s harmonies, attire and choreographed movements were all on point as they shelled out their tracks as well as a few covers. They reminded me a bit of the Pipettes, but with a bit less punch. In a way, they were almost too sweet, but that is probably because I am a cold emotionless robot.

A cute track from the band included a song about Kim Chi, but as with all nostalgic era bands, the ultimate crowd pleaser was their cover of The Ronettes “Be My Baby”. Not a bad way to start off your day.

SXSW Preview: Kaleo – “All The Pretty Girls”

Posted on by Gary in Everything, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

Kaleo, which means “the sound” in Hawaiian (as Google unerringly told me), hails from a suburb near Reykjavik, Iceland. Which means your brain might automagically connect them with Of Monsters and Men. But on this single Kaleo gently lays down the divider like you would for fellow shoppers at Whole Foods, and marks a territory that’s light, but more melancholy than their peers.

“All the Pretty Girls” deserves an instant promotion to your permanent playlist. However, it is a little disconcerting when Kaleo admits in their SXSW interview that the promotion single is very different from what they typically sound like. I’ve had a few soured sets at SxSW when the expectation drifts far from the reality. The lyrics aren’t the strongest. If I’m being literal, line after line of “Won’t you lay me” recalls scenes from high-school classrooms with pheromones oozing out of teenagers, jarring in light of the beautiful atmosphere of the song. Look past it (and it’s easily done), their sound is enjoyable.

Kaleo starts their SXSW at the ever cozy Lamberts at 11pm on March 18th.

SXSW Preview: Cody Brooks

Posted on by Paul in South By Southwest | Leave a comment

cody brooks

Nashville’s Cody Brooks may not have experienced the same sort of trials and tribulations that the old time musicians from back in the day did, but he has led a life somewhat outside of the norm – living off the grid, travelling around, occasionally sleeping in barns and once getting bitten by a copperhead snake and sweating out the poison in a 3 day fever dream. That last one does admittedly sound kind of badass – the closest I’ve ever come to that was having a bad reaction to some cold medicine once.

Brooks’ debut EP Handshake was produced by former Uncle Tupelo/Wilco drummer Ken Coomer and highlights his bluesy growl. He’ll be playing at Stubb’s for the BMI ‘Howdy Texas’ showcase on Tuesday, March 17 @ 6pm. In the meantime, check out Brooks’ “Shadow Banjo No. 1” video:

SXSW Preview: Jukebox the Ghost – “The Great Unknown”

Posted on by Gary in Everything, South By Southwest | Leave a comment

So it’s been 4 years since I moved down to Baltimore from the Center of the Universe (Toronto). Surely I’m now qualified to introduce the “power”-pop act Jukebox the Ghost as a local band. I first heard them in 2012 via their third album Safe Travels, and saw them at Mt. Royal station in Baltimore during ArtScape in 2013. Their set was well controlled and well-received, though I think the crowd reaction didn’t match the potential energy in their music – too bad the set wasn’t at Foggy-Bottom. They won’t be short on the right audience at SxSW, though. Their new single The Great Unknown is a fairly accurate representation: simple and effective delivery of solid music. Our DC correspondent Halley agrees – see this glowing review of Jukebox’s recent show at 9:30 Club. I expect good things from them in Austin.

Jukebox the Ghost will play several showcases, starting at the Bungalow at 9:50pm on March 17.