SXSW – A Few Worthy Bands

Someday, we’ll get to SXSW, the Austin mega-music festival.  There are a quite a few Seattle bands attending, as well as some lesser known bands from all over.  Literally hundreds of bands descend on that city, along with their faithful fans and music lovers.   Here are just a handful of bands I’d like to see:

The David Wax Museum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9zhaqp4l7k

Boston’s David Wax Museum continues to win awards and praises, including Boston’s Americana Artist of the Year.  The Mexo-Americana band can do no wrong at SXSW.

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo

Brent and the Boys are packing up the van in Seattle and driving to SXSW.  The cowboys will be sure to entertain the Texas crowd.  Their show is a full-on, bad boy country experience, and might include a baptismal ceremony–with whiskey.

Brent’s “Man in Charge”
http://www.brentamaker.com/audio/manincharge.mp3

Abigail Washburn
http://abigailwashburn.bandcamp.com/album/city-of-refuge?permalink

I saw Abigail and her bluegrass band when she opened for Steve Martin.  Sweet and sultry voice, beautiful claw hammer banjo picking and excellent backing band.

North Mississippi Allstars, made up of the Dickinson brothers will be a crowd pleaser.  Luther plays guitar like no other.  He could pick up a stick with a rubber band and make it sing.

North Mississippi Allstars 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-bCERmxWGY

North Mississippi Allstars Stompin’ My Foot 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlPGyVmFGvw

Unnatural Helpers
http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS10720

This Seattle punk band will be a fun one to watch.  Short, energetic songs will get the crowd bouncing.

The Gourds
http://thegourds.com/radio.html

UPDATE! SEE GOURDS SCHEDULE IN COMMENTS BELOW! Those who have never seen them are in for a rollicking, old-timey revival of a show, complete with banjo, violin, mandolin and accordion.

Old 97’s

Texas sweet (and…sweat) hearts.

Singles Club Reviews

Check out randomville for song reviews in a segment called “Singles Club,” including my choice: The David Wax Museum’s “Beatrice.”  I had a blast writing short reviews for this project.  Four other writers, with very different musical tastes, also contributed songs and reviews.  It was interesting to read other people’s perspectives on the songs.