Hey, Doreen what a lovely track you’ve got there. Proving again that Mom + Pop are unable to miss in the artists they select, latest signees Lucius absolutely knock it out with new single “Hey, Doreen”. The likely soundtrack to the premiere episode of Season 3 of Girls or at the very least The Mindy Project, “Hey, Doreen” is infinitely catchy, but perhaps the track’s greatest asset (or it’s maybe secret weapon) is it’s soulfulness; like you can imagine melodically “Hey, Doreen” (and we mean this in the absolutely best way possible) coming off the assembly line at Motown and out through the vocal cords of someone like Martha Reeves or Mary Wells; it’s that good. Lucius’ Wildewoman LP is out October 15th on Mom + Pop.
“Rich Girl” an oft-covered topic in popular song. Hall & Oates (naturally) commented that a rich girl can be capricious being able to “rely on the old man’s money” absolved her from responsibility for her actions (incl. ones of the heart). Gwen Stefani made it a point in her track w/ Ruff Ryders First Lady Eve to declare that no man’s financial assets would hold sway over her affections if she were one (a rich girl). (TOTEM) a new American R&B artist takes a bit different viewpoint, proclaiming in that the wealthy girl in his song’s question by virtue of having it (wealth) and knowing what to do with it, or how to use it, makes her that much more attractive and above the vagaries of your basic ham and egger sort of gal.
“Rich Girl” is a great song. There’s a spontaneous, visceral, immediacy-of-the-moment quality to the track that really enhances its believability and its power; you really believe (TOTEM) and you believe his “Rich Girl” character is real; like someone you know. It’s that emotional intimacy that makes “Rich Girl” particularly special. The comparison both melodically and thematically to Frank Ocean is an obvious one but whereas Frank is maybe a more cautious cooler narrator, (TOTEM) seems (within the context of each note, each vocal line) to crave, demand, want the listener’s attention and that pull and magnetism makes “Rich Girl” (for the listener) singularly rewarding.
While walking up a busy Hollywood Blvd on my way to The Fonda Theater this past Monday night, I passed a sea of people (about 90% ladies) waiting in line anxiously outside of the club. Upon entering the venue I grabbed myself an overly priced beer and headed straight to the photo pit. As the opening DJ pumped out trap jams, locally based new R&B sensation JMSN prepared for his set on stage. JMSN (pronounced Jameson) wasn’t just an opener, he was one the most captivating lead acts I’ve seen in a while. There was no counting-down minutes until The Neighbourhood took stage, from beginning to end, JMSN had an energy that resonated throughout the theater. Here’s some photos from his set below.
More EDM hits filled the house speakers as The Neighbourhood’s team prepped for the band’s set. At first, the band took stage minus frontman Jesse Rutherford. As all of the girls in the audience were flipping out, Rutherford finally made his presence. There was a moment of hysteria and you would’ve almost thought Justin Bieber himself had taken stage. Every track The NBHD played was like a sing a long. The crowd held their hands up high, shouted the lyrics and just gave off great vibes. These pictures help say it all. Once again, The Neighbourhood comes back to The Fonda in LA next month on August 15th. Don’t sleep on this.
Soulful London girls over dark hypnotic beats; haha, for lack of a better way of describing it that lane of music may be the one we’re digging the most at the moment. And while Abigail Wyles joins a relatively crowded genre, there is nothing here on “Mantra” that sounds tired or imitative; a very strong singular vocal performance and tune well complements Wyles’ collaborator Holly Simpson’s spare but well-suited & unique ambient-touched production. There’s also an undercurrent of jazz (that you really don’t hear in this style of music or really done well elsewhere) both in Wyles’ vocal and in the instrumental (particularly in the verses) that is especially interesting.
Oh yes. Nu-wave R&B girls start taking notes, new Mad Decent signee LIZ blows the nascent genre’s script out the box w/ her Picard Brothers-produced gem “U Over Them”. You need this track in your life right now.
The girl Ellie shows out for all the Alt-J fanboys and fangirls on the interwebs with this 100% spotless vibed-out sax-featuring cover of “Tessellate”.
Mont Brown graces us with some new high quality stripper music, right in time for the summer. The bounce on these particular tracks is for dat ass and I like it that way. It’s always more fun to hear that the underdog is balling because it [Mont] represents the grind. Featured Al 1 Thing wins with the rapper/singer combination, even in these cliche times; his continually elevating bars showcase that he’s much more than just cute for girls. I also love that Pace-O Beats is a producer with quality songwriting ability, not the common beat-maker who wishes he was so. By Teddy Pendergrass
We divided and we conquered. Team B3SCI took to the streets of Austin, TX this past March for the annual SXSW Music Conference. Among the seemingly infinite amount of shows we caught by bands from all over the planet, B3 was there with non-stop coverage including exclusive interviews, take-away performance sessions, and even our B3SCI Presents first ever SX-party! So check out from SXSW 2013 some of what you missed, you remember, and what you straight up forgot about with this firsthand look back:
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Sunday, March 10th
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Seryn @ Holy Mountain
I must confess that I had never heard of Seryn before SXSW. On Sunday night, after a long day of trekking about, I ended up walking into Holy Mountain. As I walked in, and took a gander at the surroundings, the bar was about half full and easily navigable. As I made my way in, the band began to play; I could feel the pulse of the kick drum as the sound waves of the low end penetrated the walls, the layered vocals came through with a bright passion, the accordion mixed with the guitar and bass and complemented the percussion, creating a powerful sound that instantly grabbed me. The growing attentive audience seemed to be in on something that I’ve been missing out on. Seryn has an appreciation for skilled musicianship, that can not be replaced by a programmed loop, and their thoughtfully crafted songs are more orchestral than folk-like. It’s not hard to become a fan of Seryn. By Desiree Autobee
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Monday, March 11th
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Poolside @ Mohawk
I’d say the best time to go to SXSW, and not feel pressure, is the day before the music portion is officially set to start. The place to be that Monday evening was Mohawk – it was a breeze to get in and it was slated with a really great lineup. The perfect band to compliment the calm before the SXSW storm was Poolside. With chill beats and solid bass lines, their songs are ripe for a groove or two. It seemed like the entire crowd sunk their bodies into each song, willingly giving up their control for the opportunity to be transported into the rhythmic world that Poolside has so expertly created. By Desiree Autobee
Vacationer @ Mohawk
If ever there was a way to escape a bad day or a general need to have a relaxing good time, I’d recommend seeing a Vacationer show. Their midnight slot at Mohawk on Monday night was packed and it set a great tone for the remainder of SXSW. Vacationer sounded just as good live as they do on the album. Kenny Vasoli does a great job as a frontman, translating Vacationer’s subtly subdued electro-pop sound into a performance that is every bit as energetic as the music is laid-back. Vasoli was genuinely appreciative of the crowd that night, mentioning the band had played SXSW the year before without much notoriety; extensive touring since then with bands along the likes of Tennis, Body Language, and Niki & The Dove, as well as music placements and coverage by the music community has catapulted Vacationer’s fan base – deservedly so. By Desiree Autobee
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Tuesday, March 12th
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Dan Croll @ Cheer Up Chalie’s
Dan Croll hit it out of the park Tuesday afternoon at Cheer Up Charlie’s. His electronic-fused singer/songwriter pop was truly infectious and took hold of the audience. He and his band played tight, sounding great in addition to being charming with banter in between songs. Croll has become a true professional in the short time that he’s made an impact on the music scene. By Desiree Autobee
Zak Waters @ Cheer Up Charlie’s
Zak Waters is a force to be reckoned with. From the moment go, he and his band made you almost forget it was the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday. Waters’ high energy matched the high danceability to his soulful music and the crowd couldn’t move from stage-one (previous performance) to stage-two (where he was) fast enough; Cheer Up Charlie’s turned into a midday dance party. I saw many bands play at SXSW, Zak Waters was a standout. By Desiree Autobee
Guards @ Empire Control Room
New York’s Guards have been creating a stir. They delivered a stellar set at the Empire Control Room on Tuesday despite crappy sound in a room that seems mostly perfect for hardcore punk or metal bands. In a live setting Guards have a straight forward, energetic, hard pop approach that supports consistently good songs. Their debut album is yet to drop, but last song of their set, “Ready to Go” is a single that is putting people on notice that this is a band to watch. By Bruce Rave
Young Girls @ BD Riley’s
Roaming about on 6th St., I followed my ears into BD Riley’s Irish Pub. The scene was a bit strange at first, as I walked in and felt as though I had interrupted a PTA dinner convention, but the music was in wonderful stark contrast to the visual before me, and sounded like it should have been coming from a sun-kissed Levi’s commercial (or similar,etc). It became easy to forget about the people around me and the chaos outside, and to focus on the warm, retro-garage pop being played. Young Girls aren’t young girls, rather they are a quartet of young men, and their music makes you want to take a sick day and head out to the beach. Song after song, they played their hearts out and created a hazy west-coast vibe in the middle of SXSW. This Texas band is one to watch. By Desiree Autobee
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Wednesday, March 13th
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Blondfire @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
Amidst non-stop touring in support of their numerous successful and recent releases, around noon, Blondfire kicked off the B3SCI Presents dayparty at Maggie Mae’s with a line out the door. Erica Driscoll took charge of her four-piece band, initiating the first daytime of SXSW music with a high energy output of hits and fan favorites like “Where The Kids Are,” “Waves” and “Trojans.”
NO CEREMONY /// NOC @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
For their first ever show in the United States NO CEREMONY /// delivered a stirring representation of ambient pop music without hesitation. The Manchester collective performed as a trio, and their electronic set up was accompanied with live vocals, guitars, bass and a variety of percussion. Stunning graphics displayed via mounted projector on stage with the band, accenting yet another layer of depth behind the elusive band. I went on to see /// NOC three more times during SXSW and thus are one of our favorite take-aways from the festival.
Ghost Beach @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
Having seen Ghost Beach perform before, I knew to expect a high energy, electro-pop blow out from the band at Maggie Mae’s for B3SCI’s showcase. The New York duo absolutely rocked the house and have since become a favorite of mine. Playing different songs from their self-titled EP and 2012 release Modern Tongues, Ghost Beach proved to be on the lips of a lot of people at SXSW. It also helps that they would go on to play 8 showcases during the conference. Worth noting, the band had recently taken an ad space in Times Square promoting a social experiment of theirs that asks artists if they are for or against piracy. It’s pretty cool, check it out here. By Brian Litwin
Phil Beaudreau took to the rooftop at Maggie Mae’s with Grammy Award winning producer Dawaun Parker for a first time ever live performance on Wednesday at SXSW. You wouldn’t have known it though. The LA based duo root back to Berklee U in Boston and they had a certain chemistry on stage. Performing early tracks surfaced from Beaudreau’s anticipated debut, Ether, like “This Is Why,” “Anyway,” and “Take It High,” in addition to unreleased material, the two worked the stage. The group’s collaboration of progressive urban beats and new school soul is a winning sound for pop in our books. You can check some footage of their performance here.
Gold Fields @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MGGIE MAE’S
Gold Fields didn’t merely play the B3SCI Presents SXSW party, they stormed it. The energy of their live show surprises those who only know their Black Sunday album, which the band toned down to display their electronic nuances. Their set-closer “Moves” was the most dynamic single song I heard played all week in Austin, and many people were talking about this band’s live shows. By Bruce Rave
SKATERS @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
SKATERS seemed to have a lot to say in Austin this year. The band is hot off the heels of their “I Wanna Dance” single with some major press surrounding it. Live, the band is loud, tight and singer Michael Ian Cummings was as charismatic as dare we say.. Julian Casablancas. But more than anything, the self described plasma-punks delivered the goods. Not like your too-frequent NYC guitar band, SKATERS have a direct quality. A sound that’s to the point, one that will last well beyond most basements in Williamsburg. A recently announced national tour with Portugal. The Man might serve as some indication of this bands potential and future trajectory.
The 1975 @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
One of the most exciting acts of SXSW 2013 was Manchester’s The 1975. Being big fans of this band from their early days, it was surreal to see them headline the first ever B3SCI Presents SX-event. It became clear that The 1975 raise the bar when it comes to performing. With live shows a big part of their message, the band spared no expense showcasing their major festival ready material, intricate arrangements, explosive performance and impressive musicianship. Besides the musical inclination, there is a timelessly dramatic quality to their sound, offering elements that a diverse climate of fans can relate to. With their pleathera of jukebox ready tunes, and a capitivating live performance to boot, The 1975 were a standout of SXSW for many that we talked to. Keep an eye out for a debut album from the lads dropping later this 2013.
Trails & Ways @ B3SCI PRESENTS @ MAGGIE MAE’S
Passion & belief, the two things that, for us, define a lot of Trails & Ways live show… and really much anything about the Bay Area band’s trajectory up to now. The band’s connection to their (excellent) material and to their performance is really remarkable. A singular and unique mix of indie pop, Brazilian music and R&B; songs like single “Nunca” and the sunny yet literate “Border Crosser” come off in comparable quality to the records, but with that added art-as-experience (and aforementioned) belief and passion. Trails & Ways are a band that has to make (this) music and has to make records like this. To experience it is really very powerful.
Flume @ Red 7
21 year old producer Harley Streten, has garnished a lot of attention in recent months. From releasing tracks that have exploded all over the internet and in turn making his self titled album Flume a platinum record in his home country of Australia, the hype behind him has been large. The line to see Flume at Red 7 was huge, and a lot fans waiting knew they weren’t going to get into one of the evening’s hotter showcases at the venue as well (CHVRCHES was playing just 30 minutes after in the larger patio area). Harley came out a bit slow, but things picked up quickly. He dropped familiar tracks to those who follow him like “Insane,” “On Top,” “Left Alone” and a crowd favorite “Holdin’ On”. By Brian Litwin
Autre Ne Veut @ Empire Auto Club
Arthur Ashin aka Autre Ne Veut has made waves with his new release Anxiety on Software Records. With a lot of hype comes a lot of expectations and at the Empire Auto Club Autre Ne Veut met all of them. Ripping through the album’s two singles “Counting” and “Play By Play,” he had the entire audience in awe. Though the experimental pop singer’s music is not very intense, the live performance is. Autre Ne Veut was all over the stage literally throwing himself into falsettos and dropping down to the ground with the heaviness of the lyrics. I can easily say that this was the best performance I saw at SXSW. By Brian Litwin
CHVRCHES @ Red 7
Of the last to be announced by SXSW, CHVRCHES (pronounced churches) might have won ‘the most buzz’ award at this years SXSW. The Glasgow three piece is an electropop group, consisting of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. The trio fulfilled much of the hype surrounding them at Red 7 that Thursday night. Having gained numerous fans online and the attention of indie all-stars Glassnote Records, CHRVCHES came out calm and collected. Bouncing between the select amount of songs they have, they had the Red 7 crowd grooving, playing hits like “Recover” and “The Mother We Share.” By Brian Litwin
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Thursday, March 14th
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SIR SLY @ HYPE HOTEL
Given the explosive success for bands like Foster the People following SXSW 2011, Sir Sly were high on my list of bands to see in Austin this year. Like the aforementioned, the trio are from Los Angeles and only had 3 songs out before the conference. The differences are though plenty still, and definitely in tone and image. Sir Sly have a darker sensibility to their pop music. Near equally as melodic, their live show is also more refined. Sir Sly delivered a solid set of new material proving that they too are ones to be watched out for in 2013.
HAERTS @ RED EYED FLY
There was little known about Haerts leading into SXSW 2013. With no pictures of the band available on line, and only one song, “Wings” (of which is great) available, the packed back patio at the Red Eyed Fly anxiously awaited the band’s set. And the multi-cultural collective based out of NYC Hearts delivered on expectations, doing so with a dynamic performance of new material. With enough contemporary elements to maintain a progressive sound in today’s musical ecosphere, my favorite elements of the band harkened at their classic rock roots, summoning CSNY, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Yong to name a few.
MØ @ RED EYED FLY
MØ (pronounced meh I’m pretty sure…) was a favorite surprise of the week. Also, with only a few tracks released to her name, the Danish female indie popstar in the making took to stage with an attitude that beemed nothing short of confidence. Her music is almost as unique as her name and presence: high energy, tons of odd contortions, and really really good. Excited to see what the future holds for this young artist that definitely knows how to operate outside of the box.
Phosphorescent @ Willie Nelson’s Ranch
I had the incredible opportunity to get away from the chaos of SXSW and join some of the locals at Willie Nelson’s Luck, Texas ranch for the Heartbreaker Banquet showcase. Topping the bill for this small capacity outdoor venue were Jim James and Michael Kiwanuka. Though buzzing artist Phosphorescent is who caught my eye. The booze was free that day, the weather was incredible and the fans came by the mini-van full, making a perfect setting for the Matthew Houck lead group. It was more than appropriate for Phosphorescent to play at Willie Nelson’s Ranch considering his 2009 release was titled To Willie, and his most recent album Muchacho, is getting rave reviews. The single off Muchacho, “Song For Zula,” might just be one to see some radio play in 2013. By Brian Litwin
Toy @ Cedar Street Courtyard
This was the first-ever US gig for this Brit band. They had just arrived in Austin the late night before. Their single is “Motoring” and that is a perfect description of Toy’s live show, which literally motors along. They play tight and are capable of longer jams, for example their performance of tracks like “Kopter”. Toy anticipate an extensive US tour upon approval of longer-term visas. By Bruce Rave
The Neighbourhood @ ASOS Lounge
Having exploded as one of the most talked about bands of the past year The Neighbourhood came well equipped to their first ever SXSW. Cohesive is actually a good way of putting it. The Neighbourhood is a band without identity crisis. Their look is as dapper punk as their music is similarly pop. Indie rock with the lush overtones of the pacific coast crashed through The Neighbourhood’s set of most spectacular, alternative radio friendly songs. Much more to come from The Neighbourhood.
Peace @ The Mohawk
The Birmingham, UK band Peace are still very new to the rock and roll limelight. They have a compelling, slightly dark, slightly off kilter style and look that totally works. Peace had some tight songs such as “Wraith” and “Bloodshake,” but also stretched out on a dark jam every now and then. Peace are psychedlic Brit rockers for the radar. By Bruce Rave
Palma Violets @ The Mohawk
These UK newbies showed that their pre-album NME hype was well deserved. Palma Violets had NME’s #1 track of 2012 with “Best Of Friends”. This band has an onstage confidence that would lead us to believe they’d been topping the charts for 5 years. They completely nailed “Best Of Friends” live, while the entire set hammered us with consistency, power, and intensity. By Bruce Rave
Disclosure @ 1100 Warehouse
The Disclosure duo, consisting of brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence, was a must see at this year’s SXSW. Everyone was at this show, industry players, fans, bloggers and even fellow DJ duo Bondax. The set was pure fire, blasting their singles “Latch” and “White Noise” and at the same time infusing live elements like drums, vocals and bass. People didn’t care that it was well past midnight for the beginning of their set, and that the venue was far removed from the more congested 6th street. They all came to see one the top draws of the whole festival, and Disclosure didn’t disappoint. By Brian Litwin
JAKE BUGG @ HYPE HOTEL
Jake Bugg took to arms with just his acoustic guitar at the Hype Hotel for a brief set late Thursday night. Possibly because things were delayed, and it was something like 2am, but the young lad from Knottingham brought his mod folk song sensibility to the eager crowd. The writing wisdom of the 18 years old Bugg is pretty incredible, combining influences from Dylan to Ashcroft. Only a microphone and a guitar is all Jake Bugg will ever need.
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Friday, March 15th
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Alpine @ Red 7
The debut LP from Alpine was released in their native Australia last year. It’s not often that a band can make a quality album from beginning to finish, but Alpine has done just that. The band apply that same level of craftsmanship to their live performance as well. During one of their SXSW shows at Red 7 on Friday, I noticed a few fans up front (myself included), the band played to a mostly fresh crowd, as the troves poured in during their set. Each song Alpine played built upon the previous, gaining momentum and energy as the set went on, turning a room full of unsuspecting ears into a room full of grooving SX-goers. Alpine have a unique formula for blending rock, pop, vocal and synth elements, seemingly creating new song forms altogether. Frontwomen Phoebe Baker and Lou James artfully combined demureness with high energy, for a dynamic performance that the band and the audience came alive from. By Desiree Autobee
Merchandise @ Red 7
Punks turned Artful Punks, Merchandise most definitely brought the Punk to SXSW. They rather fortuitously (or not, depending on your perspective) also brought pieces and parts of the more updated elements of their sound to their brief late afternoon set at Red 7. Aside from the weirdness (read hilariousness) of the band members accents sounding EXACTLY like some of my family from Tampa, FL., Merchandise’s performance was loud, noisy, fast and really really good.
Different Sleep @ Hudon’s on Fifth
If you read B3SCI, then you know that Different Sleep’s name pops up on the frequent. There is good reason for that. For being a sophomore in college, Rafa Alvarez amazes us constantly with his downtempo, chillers. I got a chance to chat with him and catch his set at Hudson’s on 5th. His set was dope and expect to hear my exclusive interview with him on the streets of Austin via B3SCI sometime soon. By Brian Litwin
San Cisco @ Maggie Mae’s
Keeping it in the British Commonwealth, Australia’s San Cisco has improved exponentially every time I’ve seen them perform. This very young band scoarched an onlooking crowd with tightness and energy at Maggie Mae’s on Friday. Highlights included “Awkward” and “Rocket Ships” from their Awkward EP. With talented 19 year old singer Jordi Davieson at the helm, San Cisco are proving themselves highly popular with the young girls, and they also did very well playing just before The Vaccines at a show that I had caught in LA not too long ago. By Bruce Rave
Beware of Darkness @ Blackheart
Beware of Darkness is a young LA trio that rocks hard. For a power trio this band is inventive. Think Zeppelin meets early Bowie. Like many of these more promising bands, they have yet to release an album, but their song “Howl” is a winning single. Frontman Kyle Nicolaides shows major star potential. By Bruce Rave
BONDAX @ LA ZONA ROSA
Things got down really quick at La Zona Rosa when UK DJ duo Bondax, George Townsend and Adam Kaye, took over the decks. At this venue near the river, fans got to experience what the UK has been digging for quite some time. Switching between who was at the helm, George opened the set with Moon Boots’ remix of “Gold,” which set the party off right. Throwing in some deep house and smooth samples and closing the set with the original version of “Gold,” Bondax really put their foot down on Austin. Review By Brian Litwin
Savages @ 1100 Warehouse
We’ve heard “Husbands” a lot. It’s one of those “buzz singles” that’s not easy to miss. “Husbands, husbands, husbands”, it’s all right and ok; the single plays fine enough. The walloping we got with the London band’s 1100 Warehouse set, though, was a complete surprise, and most definitely one of the strongest sets we experienced during the whole of SXSW. Heavy, and in the best sort of highly focused, highly compressed, highly syncopated kind of way; Savages live set deviates tremendously from their records. And most notably, the instinctiveness of crop-cut singer Jehnny Beth, and the quietness, rage and laser intensity through which her performance and vocal is really special, and easily one of Savages’ best assets.
FIDLAR @ FILTER CLIVE BAR
I can’t think of a better place for FIDLAR to have played late Friday night than FIlter’s Clive Bar on Rainy Street. The house party vibe is all set. It’s a house, the band is in the back yard, the beer was flowing everywhere, you could barely move an inch in any direction and the band tore the roof off (if there was one). A rock and roll band for another generation of musical youths, FIDLAR bring the party wherever they go. See this band live.
Charlotte Church @ VEVO Control Room
Yes, that Charlotte Church. The PBS “Girl With The Golden Voice of an Angel” turned trashbag pop star/tabloid pariah’s return to music ran through SXSW and a performance at the oddly named VEVO Control Room. Well… the set, the material, the performance were all phenomenal (really phenomenal). The notion that Ms. Church can sing has never really been questioned and the vocal she gave during this show was truly something special. Charlotte’s new Bjork meets Earth Mother meets Portishead meets ? sound, and the structure of her songs, really gives her the ability and opportunity to perform and showcase the outstanding quality of her singing. It’s almost as if singing in a pop format is something that she’s only now first realizing.
Ryan Hemsworth @ 512
We made it rain Pokemon cards in the club. Though beat dropper/rainman Ryan Hemsworth didn’t repeat that deluging down of Charizards & Bulbasaurs for the crowded 512 Rooftop, the Halifax native did well to translate to a live setting his realer than Real Deal Holyfield mix of electro booty rap mixes and Legend of Zelda-referencing space bass jams.
Rudimental @ Hype Hotel
You could spot all the real Britons assembled at Hype Hotel for electronic/R&B crossover act Rudimental’s late night set by who knew how to dance to drum & bass and who didn’t. Moving in time with a drum & bass rhythm is something that has alluded us Americans for what seems like millennia. Rudimental, who went 9-deep on stage, did well enough to keep all the Solange (next act on stage) kids checked into the Hype Hotel engaged and interested in material they were likely hearing for the first time. The energetic 30-40 minute set was definitely highlighted by the big energy (these Brits work on stage) performance of new single “Waiting All Night” and the impressive vocal of singer Ella Eyre.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH
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Blue Hawaii @ HYPE HOTEL
Riding a wave of chill infused daytime disco, Blue Hawaii are at the front of a movement that is only becoming more popular. The male/female duo did an exempilary job of delivering their material in a live setting. Their combination of live sampling manipulation and vocal performance was both exciting and intriguing in a live setting.
Shlohmo, Mount Kimbie, Baauer @ 1100 Warehouse
Things got down right dirty at the 1100 Warehouse for the Ray Ban – Boiler Room sponsored party on the last night of SXSW. With a lineup such as the one that the Boiler Room had curated, things were bound to get weird and possibly blow up in everyone’s faces. Chief Keef was supposed to be a main draw for the show, but knowing his history and legal issues, he did not show up. The reason is still up in the air, but really, who cares. Before things even got started, you could tell the production team and people from the Boiler Room looked worried at potential technical difficulties bound to happen. Unfortunately, this was the overall theme.
Hitting the stage first was the young LA based, oddball producer Shlohmo. With all that was going on at the venue and with visuals all over the walls, Shlohmo’s beats were a perfect soundtrack to the night. Flipping through different mixes, the crowd already excited just by being in the Warehouse started really feeling it. Joining Shlohmo on stage for a track were The Underachievers, sharing only one mic.
Lunice then hit the decks, throwing together a monster set, making way for Mount Kimbie. The London duo of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos had been ‘the’ electronic act in 2010. On this night, with again all the technical issues, they played some old tunes and some new tunes. The Austin audience started to feel their unique and “post-dubstep” sounds. For their only performance at SXSW this year, they definitely made it worth it.
The smoothest set out of all of them was Baauer’s and RL Grime’s back to back. The bass was extra heavy and as the decks switched back and forth, the crowd got rowdier and rowdier. Harry Rodrigues, Baauer, and Henry Steinway, RL Grime, are both young, talented bass engineers who have incredible futures in front of them. Of course, Baauer has seen more fame with the viral craze of his hit “Harlem Shake,” while RL Grime has made a nice name for himself in the music community as well.
This party, on paper, was one for the ages, and it was, but all the issues it had hampered the overall success of it a bit. Skream closed out the show with a set, and this video [above] kind of says it all… Review By Brian Litwin
HAIM @ STUBBS
One of the most exciting acts that I’d seen come out of SXSW 2012 was Haim. Low and behold, a year later, and the sisters lead group were packing the house at one of SXSW’s largest capacity venues. Haim have done justice to their hype. There songs are anthemic and have the perfect new wave of pop, indie production and classic rock sensibility. Speaking of classic rock – ehemmm, Fleetwood Mac, the collective even shamelessly, and appropriately, covered them during their set. Haim delivered the perfect cap to a SXSW festival that had been most insightful and musically rewarding.
*See below for more pictures and a mix of tunes from our favorite artists at SXSW this year!
Kids These Days @ Hype Hotel
MS MR @ Hype Hotel
TOY @ Latitude 30
Citizens! @ Tap Room
NO CEREMONY /// @ B3SCI Presents. Maggie Mae’s Gibson Room
The catchy disto-rock of “Bound Widths”, Chicago band Lionlimb’s front single from their “Rot” EP has been on blast here at B3 pretty much all week. Sort of reminiscent of early 2000’s Nada Surf if they were a bit more into beer and chasing girls, Lionlimb’s sound is one will certainly be on watch for in the coming year.
If you like The Vaccines… even a little bit, then you should make a point to see them live. It’s surprising that the band haven’t gotten much US radio support, and like so many other succesful acts in the UK, their stateside ascendency hasn’t happened nearly at the same rate. The Vaccines’ recently performed for a sold-out crowd of 1,200 excited fans at the Henry Fonda Musicbox in Los Angeles on Thursday night this past Valentines Day. What the band has lacked in airplay, they clearly make up for with fans and sizzling live shows.
The Vaccines perform with power, and they play fast. They were originally labeled an indie band but they have said they’d rather be considered a rock group. That’s exactly what they acted like that night at the Henry Fonda. Freddie Cowan’s guitar playing shined that night, especially on the second encore track “Bad Mood”. Vocalist and guitar player Justin Young proved a strong, confident front man. The band’s set focused mostly on their two albums, without touching on the individual singles that were released in-between. Fan favorites “Post Breakup Sex” and “If You Wanna” from the first album closed the main set, receiving the best initial reactions. The girls especially took kindly to the band with many in rows in front singing along, and forcing the mosh pit to the back of the floor. Even those in the balcony were dancing up a storm. It seemed that even the band’s mid-tempo songs were played at a faster tempo that night, all except for the popular ballad “Wetsuit”.
Earlier in the evening, Australian collective San Cisco made a strong impression by more than holding their own as the evening’s middle support band. Their song “Awkward” was a hit in the land down under and was familiar to many in the LA crowd that night. “Rocket Ship” and a new song called “Fred Astaire” were also highlights. San Cisco is on the rise and will return to LA for in April for a headlining gig at The Troubadour. They will also be at SXSW. By Bruce Rave
The DJ’s responsibility is to get the crowd moving. Mike Simonetti takes this quite literally. His alias Billions & Billions (with vocalist Monty Luke) actually tells you to dance throughout “The Dance”. You can’t help but listen and enjoy his directions and rants alongside the uplifting beat. Don’t girls love a man that can get them to shake their bodies to music? You like how I wrote that, yeahhh.. By Teddy Pendergrass
2012. It was a year. We made it through the hurricane, we survived the apocalypse, we shined bright like diamonds, etc. As we toast 2012 and look forward to a major 2013, join the b3 crew in popping the cap on all our individual favorite songs and albums of the past year. See y’all in 2013!
B3SCI STAFF TOP 20 ALBUMS LISTS
Mike Clemenza
01. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
02. Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
03. Jessie Ware – Devotion
04. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
05. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
06. Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again
07. Keaton Henson – Sweetheart What Have You Done To Us
08. Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
09. Usher – Looking 4 Myself
10. DIIV – Oshin
11. Tame Impala – Lonerism
12. The xx – Coexist
13. Tallest Man on Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
14. Spector – Enjoy It While It Lasts
15. The Vaccines – Come of Age
16. Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
17. Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light
18. Flying Lotus – Until the Quiet Comes
19. The Maccabees – Given to the Wild
20. Lucy Rose – Like I Used To
Troy Meyer
01. Miguel – Kaleidoscope Dream
02. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
03. Jessie Ware – Devotion
04. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
05. Tame Impala – Lonerism
06. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
07. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel
08. Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light
09. DIIV – Oshin
10. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
11. Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory
12. El-P – Cancer For Cure
13. Grizzly Bear – Shields
14. Chromatics – Kill For Love
15. Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
16. How to Dress Well – Total Loss
17. John Talabot – fin
18. Actress – R.I.P.
19. Cat Power – Sun
20. Jeremih – Late Nights
Christopher Gedos
01. Bob Dylan – The Tempest
02. The Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
03. Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again
04. Lianne La Havas – Is Your Love Big Enough?
05. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Bruce Rave
01. Django Django—Django Django
02. Muse—The 2nd Law
03. The Vaccines—Come Of Age
04. Jack White—Blunderbuss
05. Silversun Pickups—Neck Of the Woods
06. Howler—America Give Up
07. The Ravonettes—Observator
08. Hot Chip—In Our Heads
09. Madness—Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da
10. Metric—Synthetica
11. Passion Pit—Gossamer
12. The Walkmen—Heaven
13. The Hives—Lex Hives
14. Soft Swells—Soft Swells
15. Bloc Party—Four
16. Divine Fits—A Thing Called Divine Fits
17. Cloud Nothings—Attack on Memory
18. The Royalty—Lovers
19. Reel Big Fish—Candy Coated Fury
20. Father John Misty—Fear Fun
Erin Routson
01. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
02. Prinzhorn Dance School – Clay Class
03. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel
04. 2 Chainz – Based On a T.R.U. Story
05. Ke$ha – Warrior
06. Freddie Gibbs – Baby Face Killa
07. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
08. Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light
09. Tanlines – Mixed Emotions
10. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp
11. The xx – Co-Exist
12. Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill
13. Tame impala – Lonerism
14. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
15. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
16. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
17. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
18. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
19. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
20. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
Jon Herriot
01. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
02. Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is an Animal
03. Mumford and Sons – Babel
04. The Shins – Port of Marrow
05. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D City
06. Rah Rah – The Poet’s Dead
07. Said The Whale – Little Mountain
08. Metric – Synthetica
09. The Lumineers – Submarines
10. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
11. Passion Pit – Gossamer
12. John K Samson – Provincial
13. Bahamas – Barchords
14. Hoodie Allen – All American
15. Macklemore x Ryan Lewis – The Heist
16. Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe
17. Hannah Georgas – Hannah Georgas
18. Grimes – Visions
19. The xx – Coexist
20. Yukon Blonde – Tiger Talk
Nathan Hetherington
01 Alt-J: An Awesome Wave
02 NZCA/LINES: NZCA/LINES
03 Pond: Beard Wives Denim
04 Polica: Give You The Ghost
05 Andrew Bird: Break It Yourself
06 John Talabot: Fin
07 Django Django: Django Django
08 Tame Impala: Lonerism
09 Mac Demarco: 2
10 xxyyxx: xxyyxx
11 Melody’s Echo Chamber: Melody’s Echo Chamber
12 Lower Dens: Nootropics
13 Allah-las: Allah-las
14 Chairlift: Something
15 The Luyas: Animator
16 Yeasayer: Fragrant World
17 Negative Pegasus: Looming
18 Clock Opera: Ways To Forget
19 Daphni: JIAOLONG
20 Dark Dark Dark: Who Needs Who
Brian Litwin
01. Purity ring – Shrines
02. Kendrick Lamar – good kid m.A.A.d. City
03. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
04. Grimes – Visions
05. Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
06. Poolside – Pacific Central Time
07. Tame Impala – Lonerism
08. Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
09. Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
10. Death Grips – The Money Store
11. Passion Pit – Gossamer
12. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
13. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
14. Yeasayer -Fragant World
15. The M Machine – Metropolis Pt. 1
16. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist
17. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
18. The xx – Coexist
19. Jessie Ware – Devotion
20. Grizzly Bear – Shields
Russ Ramos
01. Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
02. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die Paradise Edition
03. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
04. Kitten – Cut It Out
05. Jessie Ware – Devotion
06. Krewella – Play Hard
07. JMSN – Priscilla
08. Meg Myers – Daughter in the Choir
09. Grimes – Visions
10. Zedd – Clarity
11. Kimbra – Vows
12. Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror
13. Fun. – Some Nights
14. Gotye – Making Mirrors
15. Best Coast – The Only Place
16. Calvin Harris – 18 Months
17. Frank + Derol – Frank + Derol
18. Imagine Dragons – Night Visions
19. Skrillex – Bangarang
20. Alexander Spit – A Breathtaking Trip
B3SCI STAFF TOP 20 SONGS LISTS
Mike Clemenza
01. Yuna – Live Your Life
02. Frank Ocean – Thinking Bout You
03. Big Sean – Clique (Feat. Kanye West & Jay-Z)
04. Tom Odell – Another Love
05. The xx – Angels
06. Muse – Madness
07. Madeon – The City (Feat. Zak Waters)
08. Trails and Ways – Nunca
09. Carly Rae Jepson – Call Me Maybe
10. Rhye – The Fall
11. Schoolboy Q – Hands On The Wheel (Feat. A$ap Rocky)
12. Electric Guest – This Head I Hold
13. The Neighbourhood – Sweater Song
14. The 1975 – You
15. Everything Everything – Cough Cough
16. Jessie Ware – Running
17. Dan Croll – From Nowhere
18. Purity Ring – Odebear
19. Blondfire – Where The Kids Are
20. Chris Malinchak – So Good To Me
Troy Meyer
01. Usher – Climax
02. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
03. Jessie Ware – Running
04. Kanye West – Clique (Feat. Jay-Z & Big Sean)
05. Jai Paul – Jasmine
06. Solange Knowles – Losing You
07. Miguel – Adorn
08. Kendrick Lamar – Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe (Feat. Lady Gaga)
09. Lana Del Rey – Ride
10. Rihanna – Diamonds
11. Yuna – Live Your Life
12. Ke$ha – Die Young
13. Purity Ring – Obedear
14. Rhye – The Fall
15. The xx – Sunset
16. Meek Mill – Amen (Feat. Drake)
17. The Neighbourhood – Sweater Weather
18. Nicki Minaj – Beez in the Trap (Feat. 2 Chainz)
19. Peace – Follow Baby
20. Father John Misty – Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Bruce Rave
01. Foxy Shazam—I like It
02. Django Django—Default
03. Gold Fields—Moves
04. The Vaccines—Teenage Icon
05. Passion Pit—Take A Walk
06. Fun—Be Calm
07. The Presets—Ghosts
08. The Vaccines—Bad Mood
09. Tilly and the Wall—Heavy Mood
10. Diamond Rings—I’m Just Me
11. Bloc Party—Octapus
12. Battle Tapes—Sweatshop Boys
13. Dirty Projectors—Gun Has No Trigger
14. Beach House—On the Sea
15. Citizens!–True Romance
16. Crocodiles—Endless Flowers
17. The Walkmen—We Can’t Be Beat
18. Citizens!–(I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend
19. Father John Misty—Nancy From Now On
20. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros—Dear Believer
Trevor Meyer
1. Peace – California Daze
2. Gabriel Bruce – Sleep Paralysis
3. George Barnett – Lone Rose
4. Kendrick Lamar – Enjoy
5. Saint Motel – 1997
6. Big Boi – Lines
7. The Record Company – This Crooked City
8. Natural Child – Derek’s Blues
9. The #1s – He’s Too Good For Everyone Else, But He’s Not Good Enough For You
10. Fast Years – Young Hearts
11. Porcelain Raft – Something In Between
12. Tayyib Ali – I Ain’t Scared
13. Sam Sparro – Happiness
14. Wild Nothing – Only Heather
15. Triptides- Bright Sky
16. Azealia Banks – Fuck Up The Fun
17. Tame Impala – Mind Mischief
18. Mike Higbee – The Waltz of Dead Love
19. Go Back To The Zoo – Weekend America
20. Dan Croll – From Nowhere
Erin Routson
01. Solange – Losing You
02. A$AP Rocky – Fuckin’ Problems (Feat. 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar)
03. Meek Mill – Amen (Feat. Drake)
04. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
05. Kitty Pryde – Okay Cupid
06. HAIM – Hold Me
07. YN Rich Kids – Hot Cheetos & Takis
08. Pac Div – Cross Trainers
09. Chief Keef – I Don’t Like
10. Santigold – Disparate Youth
11. MIA – Bad Girls
12. Fun – Some Nights
13. Kindness – Swingin’ Party
14. Big Boi – Higher Res (Feat. Little Dragon and Jai Paul)
15. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
16. Blur – Under the Westway
17. Danny Brown – Grown Up
18. The Hood Internet – These Things Are Nice
19. Kanye West – Clique (Feat. Jay-Z and Big Sean)
20. Sinkane – Runnin
Jon Herriot
01. Santigold – Disparate Youth
02. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
03. Capital Cities – Kangaroo Court
04. The Royal Concept – D-D-Dance
05. Passion Pit – Carried Away
06. The Shins – Simple Song
07. Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
08. The Tallest Man on Earth – 1904
09. The Lumineers – Ho Hey
10. Everything Everything – Kemosabe
11. RAC – Hollywood (Feat. Penguin Prison)
12. Azealia Banks – 212
13. Joey Bada$$ – Survival Tactics
14. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
15. Rah Rah – Prairie Girl
16. Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (Feat. Florence Welch)
17. Grimes – Oblivion
18. Wiz Khalifa – Remember You (Feat. The Weeknd)
19. Carousel – Where Have You Gone?
20. Alabama Shakes – Hold On
Erin Feathers
01. Yuna – Lve Your Life
02. Usher – Climax
03. The Lumineers – Ho Hey
04. Jai Paul – Jasmine
05. Grimes – Oblivion
06. Miguel- Adorn
07. Alabama Shakes – Hold On
08. Alt-J – Breezeblocks
09. Kendrick Lamar- Swimming Pools (Drank)
10. Frank Ocean – Pyramids
11. Big Boi – Lines (Feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram)
12. Death Grips – The Fever (Aye Aye)
13. Tame Impala – Elephant
14. Schoolboy Q – There He Go
15. PS I Love You – Sentimental Dishes
16. Purity Ring – Obedear
17. RZA – Baddest Man Alive (Feat. The Black Keys)
18. Beach House – Myth
19. The Artic Monkeys – RU Mine
20. Spiritualized – Hey Jane
Nathan Hetherington
01 Grizzly Bear: Yet Again
02 Everything Everything: Cough Cough
03 Purity Ring: Obedear
04 Four Tet: Lion (Jamie xx Remix)
05 Major Lazer: Get Free (Feat. Amber Coffman)
06 Savages: Husbands
07 Bat For Lashes: Laura
08 Jacques Greene, Koreless: Arrow
09 Liars: No. 1 Against The Rush
10 Odd Future: Oldie
11 The 1975: You
12 Daughter: Medicine
13 Porcelain Raft: Is It Too Deep For You
14 Nicolas Jaar: And I Say (With Just One Glance) (Feat. Scout LaRue and Will Epstein)
15 The xx: Angels
16 Splashh: Vacation
17 Foxygen: Shuggie
18 El-P: $Vic/FTL (Me And You)
19 Fear of Men: Green Sea
20 Egyptian Hip Hop: Yoro Diallo
Brian Litwin
01 – Frank Ocean – Pyramids
02 – Alt-J – Fitzpleasure
03 – Grimes – Oblivion
04 – Dirty Projectors – About To Die
05 – Bat For Lashes – Laura
06 – Purity Ring – Fineshrine
07 – Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
08 – Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pool (Drank)
09 – Alabama Shakes – Hold On
10 – Disclosure – Latch (Feat. Sam Smith)
11 – Santigold – Disparate Youth
12 – Death Grips – Get Got
13 – Yeasayer – Longevity
14 – AlunaGeorge – Your Drums, Your Love
15 – Tame Impala – Elephant
16 – The xx – Angels
17 – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Thrift Shop (Feat. Wanz)
18 – Chris Malinchak – So Good To Me
19 – HAIM – Send Me Down
20 – The Soft Pack – Bobby Brown
Russ Ramos
01. Ellie Goulding – Don’t Say a Word
02. Lana Del Rey – Gods & Monsters
03. Frank Ocean – Pink Matter (Feat. Andre 3000)
04. Kitten – G#
05. Jessie Ware – Night Light
06. Krewella – Alive
07. JMSN – Love & Pain
08. Meg Myers – Curbstomp
09. Shlohmo – Changes (Shlomo Remix)
10. Santigold – Disparate Youth
11. Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
12. Zedd – Clarity (Aylen Remix)
13. Flinch Light It Up (Feat. Heather Bright)
14. Yuna – Lullabies (Adventure Club Remix)
15. Alexander Spit – B.N.E. (Feat. C.B.G.)
16. Knife Party – Fire Hive (Krewella Remix)
17. Kavinsky – Nightcall
18. Iggy Azaelea – My World
19. The Weeknd – Gone
20. Nero – Must Be The Feeling (Delta Heavy Remix)
(Soundcloud) 
