UPDATES! - 4/30/09- FoundTrack presents Intricate Machines @ Urban Outfitters' Space 15 Twenty

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Thursday April 30th, 7-9pm

Space 15 Twenty
1520 N Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90038

FoundTrack cordially invites you to a special event at Urban Outfitters' new mixed use retail/art/performance venue in Hollywood, "Space 15 Twenty".


We'll be featuring a special LIVE PERFORMANCE by Tightrope affiliated artists "INTRICATE MACHINES" and DJ sets by FoundTrack's favorite ladies on the wheels of steel, Pony-vs-Tiger:


Expect fun surprises including live art, giveaways by our sponsor, Puma, complimentary snacks and $2 beers courtesy of SnackBar LA, refreshing beverages courtesy of Izze, AND complimentary sweet treats courtesy of PopCakes:


Space 15 Twenty is a rad public fashion, art, and music space and a great addition to the Cahuenga Corridor's cultural hub. Feel free invite all your friends and spread the word... the event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and ALL AGES!


P.S.- we'll be hosting a rad AFTERPARTY at our weekly FoundTrack x Puma Thursdays @ R-BAR and DJ Zach Best (aka Original Bozak) from the Tightrope crew will be throwing down some monster tunes to keep the fiesta rolling...

LATEST UPDATES @ www.FoundTrack.com/presents

JUST ADDED!: Live Jewelry Making and Popup Shop by Talia Benson of N.om:

THIS THURSDAY April 30th FoundTrack and Puma present SPACE 15 TWENTY AFTERPARTY @ R-Bar !!!

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FoundTrack and our friends at Puma cordially invite you to week three of our new Thursday evening of revelry at our favorite under-the-radar venue, R-Bar- This week we're hosting the official AFTERPARTY to our "FoundTrack Presents..." Live Music Event @ Urban Outfitters' Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood.

Our hope with this new weekly event is to create a laid back night that's focused on sharing good music and good creative energy. Expect fantastic eclectic tunes courtesy of our resident selector, Indie 103's DJ Jose Galvan, and a host of unique guest DJs each week.

As of now, no RSVP will be needed, but make sure you remember THE PASSWORD IS "RUDI DASSLER" ! Feel free to share this info with friends, family and fellow down to earth folks!

Checkout PHOTOS from previous weeks here
We hope to have some festive surprises for you each week in the way of live art, giveaways, live performances and more. Please, please, please feel free to share any creative ideas you might have for making each week a unique and interactive experience:

Our friends at SIKU Glacier Vodka have graciously offered to host an hour of COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAILS from 9-10pm to assist in getting everyone loosened up for the night ahead.

R-Bar

3331 W 8th St, Los Angeles

Your Hosts for the evening:

V and DJ Jose Galvan of Indie 103:


ON THIS SPECIAL THURSDAY WE HAVE SOME OF OUR TIGHTROPE FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE!!!


Special Guests for 4/30:

Music Selectors:

DJ Zach Best (aka Original Bozak of Tightrope)

DJ Mapi (KXLU's "The Dirty Mop")

Live Art by:
Max Neutra (maxneutra.com)

Photography by Colin Young-Wolff

More surprises coming soon...

Jini's Pick of the Week - East Village Bar, London

After last week's post about a guide featuring some of London's trendiest hotspots, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to check out (and cross off) one of the bars featured in the Pimp London Guide.

Just over a year old, East Village in Shoreditch, takes its name from the trendy underground suburb in Manhattan, and incorporates an element of NYC retro-cool into its stylings and decor. Whether you want to just relax in the chilled out deco lounge or dance to hardcore house and dance music in the club below, this has something for everyone. This has to be one of the less pretentious places I've been to in a while, but you'll definitely find the punters are still a trendy bunch and staff minus the attitude that you'd expect from most trendy hotspots.




I also have to give a shoutout to the manager Peter who totally went out of his way to help us with a few issues we had, and the bartender who actually had to get my attention to serve me (when does that ever happen!) On that note - if you find yourself in London with a night out to spare, definitely hit up East Village (and don't forget to take a picture with a flamingo or two)

Source: viewlondon

Photos from FoundTrack x Puma Thursdays @ R-bar week 4 April 23rd

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

FoundTrack x Puma Thursdays @ R-Bar continued 4/23 w an amazing double birthday bash for resident DJ Jose Galvan and Guest DJ Nasty Nass! They were joined by live artist David Hinnebusch and guest DJ Daniel L'Amour who blew the roof off the joint! Thanks to our friends at PopCakes and Siku for the refreshing complimentary treats and cocktails! Props to Colin Young-Wolff as always for the badass photos!

Hope to see everyone at this week's event!

Click here for the full gallery.

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

(photo credit Colin Young-Wolff)

Weekly Events Calendar : Found in LA (April 27th-May 3rd)

Monday April 27th
Ladytron, The Faint @ Henry Fonda (SOLD OUT)
Blow Up LA Presents The Official Afterparty for Ladytron & the Faint feat. DJ Sets from Ladytron, Depressed Buttons (Todd and Jacob of the Faint) , FIGO, more @ The Room - FREE w/RSVP - www.Blowuplaevents.com/ladyfaint
MUSEXPO Presents Addeboy Vs. Cliff feat. Adam Tensta, Sorgente, Gin Wigmore, Andrew Paul Woodworth @ Viper Room - Guest List Only - Contact Sara@anrworldwide.com for entry details.
MUSEXPO Presents Derek Miller, Floor Thirteen, The Blue Van @ Whiskey A Go Go
Zoe @ Amoeba (FREE)
I See Hawks in LA, Marianne Dissard, Andrew Collberg @ Echo Curio
Divisadero, Dusty Rhodes & The River Band, Olin And The Moon, Leslie & The Badgers @ Silverlake Lounge (FREE)
The Henry Clay People, Young Love, The Flying Tourbillion Orchestra, Swim Party, DJ Mark Sovel @ Spaceland (FREE)
Fool's Gold, John Webster Johns, Leopold And His Fiction, DJ Cuz'n Roy @ Echo (FREE)
Eetskeet Presents Rob Roy (Live),Nosaj Thing (DJ Set), EMU (Smog LA), plus resident DJ's Skeet Skeet, BootyTwo @ Temporary Spaces
Mad Mondays Presents Adam Tensta After Party with special guest DJ Rooftop, Diallo, and C-Town, Hoff, Spider, Valida and more @ Standard (Purple Lounge) - FREE w/RSVP - Hollywoodrsvp at standardhotel dot com
Project Butterfly Presents Daniel Pinchbeck @ Downtown Independent

Tuesday April 28th
KCRW Presents Pinker Tones with George Sarah & String Trio, Helios Jive @ Knitting Factory
Tinted Windows @ Troubadour (SOLD OUT)
Castledoor, The Parson Red Heads (Record Release), Princeton @ Echo
MUSEXPO Presents Ruby Tigers, Domenica, Young Love @ Whiskey A Go Go
MUSEXPO Presents Salem, Yves Klein Blue, Chris Pickering, Jessie J @ Viper Room - Guest List Only - Contact Sara@anrworldwide.com for entry details.
Slater Sisters @ Cat Club
Parasitic Fantasy Band, Lucky Dragons, Metal Rouge, Fantastic Sleep @ Echo Curio
Bob Log III, Willem Maker, Stephen Brower & the Silent Majority @ Spaceland
Dim Mak Tuesdays feat. Adam Tensta, Them Jeans, Dan Oh, More @ Cinespace
JDub Records and Nextbook Present Milk & Honey feat. DJ Sabbo (of Soulico), more @ Bar Lubitsch - A New monthly with open bar 8pm-12am or while it lasts
Mathieu Schreyer @ Bar Marmont
Remembering Charles Mingus @ Barnsdall Gallery (Zocalo panel discussion; free, rsvp req'd. Wine reception)

Wednesday April 29th
Tightrope and Fold Present So Many Wizards, Furcast, Intricate Machines, Traditionist @ Bordello
Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, Samantha Crain, The Midnight Shivers, Sister Suvi @ Hotel Cafe (Early Show)
KCRW Presents Jesca Hoop (Farewell Show), Lay Low @ Hotel Cafe (LATE SHOW) - Jesca's Last show before moving to Manchester
NME Presents Oliver Future, Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady), Moneybrother (Sweden) @ Spaceland (CLUB NME)
MUSEXPO Presents Kingsfall, Hey Ocean, Rebelution @ Whiskey A Go Go
MUSEXPO Presents On Blast, Lovebugs, Samantha Heard, Fabienne Holloway @ Viper Room - Guest List Only - Contact Sara@anrworldwide.com for entry details.
Marathon Live Presents The Whispering Pines, He's My Brother, She's My Sister, The Hi-Ho's @ Three of Clubs
Ceci Bastida, Steelwells, Adam Acuragi @ Silverlake Lounge
Ben Solee, Vienna Teng, Paper Raincoat @ Roxy
Wes Coats, Dam Funk, No Culture DJs @ Echo (No Culture)
Blank Blue, Zechs Marquise @ Airliner (Low End Theory)
David Sedaris @ Royce Hall
The Cinema Cabaret: Live Film Narration @ REDCAT
Cornelius Sensurround @ Space 15 Twenty - A Screening in 5.1 Surround with live performances by the Growlers, matthewdavid, more

Thursday April 30th
FoundTrack Presents A Live Performance by Intricate Machines with special guests DJ Divas Pony vs Tiger @ Urban Outfitters' Space 15 Twenty (FREE) - plus complimentary refreshments, $2 beers, live art, giveaways, more

and... THE AFTERPARTY! - FoundTrack & Puma Thursdays feat. DJ Zach Best (aka Original Bozak), DJ Mapi of KXLU, Resident DJ Galvan, live art by Max Neutra and more. COMPLIMENTARY VODKA cocktails, 9-10pm @ R-Bar - FREE w/the Password: "Rudi Dassler"

Pablove Foundation Benefit feat. Silversun Pickups, Eulogies @ Echoplex
Little Radio Presents Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros @ Regent Theatre
Venice Art Walk Pre-Party and Venice Family Clinic Fundraiser ("Donut Jamboree" Art Happening) feat. KCRW's Tom Schnabel, Jeremy Sole, Mathieu Schreyer, Naked Rhythm, more @ Laddie John Dill Studio
Afro Funke Sound System feat. Jeremy Sole, Glenn Red, more @ Zanzibar (Afro Funke)
The Blood Arm, Sweaters @ Bordello
Jack Wilson Jr., Les Blanks, The World Record @ Echo Curio
Joneine Zapata, One Eskimo @ Spaceland
Wye Oak, Pomegranates, Buddy @ Silverlake Lounge
Xu Xu Fang (Record Release), Downtown/Union, The Voyeurs, Voices Voices @ Echo (FREE)
The Finches, Chen Santa Maria, Dan Friel, Some Dark Holler, Lucky Dragons @ The Smell
Ben Lee, Low vs. Diamond, Annie Stela @ Troubadour
Target Video Presents: Raw Power @ Cinefamily (Post Punk Junk)

Friday May 1st
Sneaker Pimps feat. House of Pain, feat. B-Real, Dj Muggs, Wale, 88 Keys, Young MC, more @ Vanguard - World's Largest sneaker show
Wolfmother, Ruby Suns, Phatal DJ and Chico Sonido, more @ Natural History Museum (First Fridays)
Black Lips, Flowers Forever, Static Static, DJ Simon Bennett @ El Rey
Loudon Wainwright III & Friends @ McCabe's Guitar Shop (Peter Case Benefit)
KCRW Presents Starsailor @ Troubadour
KROQ Locals Only Presents Useless Keys, Winter Gloves, Eagle Winged Palace @ Spaceland
One Eskimo @ Hotel Cafe
Queen Kwong, Ballerina Black, Go West Young Man @ Echo Curio
Megalasaurus, The Happy Casualties, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Health Club, Seasons @ Mr. T's Bowl
Control Presents Jokers of the Scene, Acid Girls, Destructo, Mr. White @ Avalon
Flash Express @ Echo (Club Undergound)
Dan Wilcox (KCRW) @ The Doheny - New Residency at upscale/exclusive downtown hotspot; Usually Members Only but FREE w/RSVP - send e-mail to dan dot wilcox at kcrw dot com
Soul Slam (Prince vs Michael Jackson) feat. 4 hr tribute set by DJ Spinna @ Echoplex
Vibrate feat. Anthony Valadez @ Zanzibar
"Urgh! A Music War" (1981) (Not available on DVD) @ Nuart (Midnight Screening)
Dublab Presents A Labrat Matinee VI : Selections From An Astral Projectionist @ Cinefamily

Saturday May 2nd
Yann Tiersen, Asobi Seksu @ El Rey
Dave Alvin, Stan Ridgway, friends @ McCabe's Guitar Shop (Peter Case Benefit)
Myx feat. DJ Daniel L'Amour @ Blue Velvet (Downtown)
Fast Fwd feat. Anthony Valadez @ Little Temple
Bootie LA feat. Dj Tripp, Adrian and the Mysterious D, Paul V, R.A.I.D., more @ Echoplex
Santa Monica Museum of Art Presents The 5th Annual Incognito @ Bergamot Station
UNIQUE Los Angeles @ California Market Center
Urban Paper Book Launch and Art Show @ Mobius (Koreatown - 7pm)

Sunday May 3rd
T- Bone Burnett & Friends @ McCabe's Guitar Shop (Peter Case Benefit) (SOLD OUT)
Manic Hispanic with CH3, Los Creepers @ El Rey
Maria Taylor, Whispertown 2000, JJAMZ @ Troubadour
Damien Jurado, Laura Gibson @ Spaceland
Joe Lally (Ex-Fugazi), Qui @ Echo (Part-Time Punks)
AC Indie/Goodmusic Presents Ubyk, The Karabal Nightlife, and The Hard to Get @ Air Conditioned (Venice)
Katie Melua @ Amoeba (FREE)
Katie Melua @ Hotel Cafe
Osunlade/Quetzal @ Vanguard (Deep)
UNIQUE Los Angeles @ California Market Center

LOOKING AHEAD
5/5 - Lucha Va Voom @ Mayan Theatre
5/5 - Avi Buffalo @ Echo
5/7,8,9 - Van Morrison (Astral Weeks) @ Orpheum
5/8 - Iron and Wine, Alela Diane, DJ Turquoise Wisdom @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary (SOLD OUT)
5/9 - The Avett Brothers, Magnolia Electric Co. @ Henry Fonda Theatre
5/9 - Iron and Wine, Yogoman Burning Band @ Troubadour (SOLD OUT)
5/9 - Keane @ Palladium
5/9 - 1st Annual Craft Beer Fest LA @ Echoplex
5/10 - The Shins @ Palladium

Long-Running Events
April 4th-May 1st - April's Academy @ L'Keg Gallery
April 4th - May 2nd - Bukowski and Burroughs @ Track 16 (Bergamot Station)
April 9th - May 2nd - Candy Stains @ The Landing Party Gallery
April 11th - May 2nd - Papershapers @ Scion Space (Culver City)
April 4th - May 9th - Is That A Gun My Friend ? New Works by Parra @ HVW8 Gallery
Feb. 19th-Aug. 9th - ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero! The Golden Age of Comic Books - 1938-1950 @ Skirball Cultural Center
Feb. 19th-Aug. 9th - Lights Camera, Action! Comic Book Heroes of Film and Television @ Skirball Cultural Center

* UPDATE

Ximena Sariñana Rivera is a young (22yr old) both Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated Mexican singer/songwriter and actress. Her debut solo album Mediocre, was released mid 2008 - it's a collection of contemporary pop-rock/vocal jazz.

Ximena Sarinana is one of my favorite artist right now and I'm looking forward to hearing more out of her - perhaps an English album as she is multi-lingual. For her debut album she choose to record in her native tongue - Spanish. Fortunately music is one of those mediums like film that transcends the language barrier - no matter what language you speak, you can definitely appreciate the beauty and passion that comes out when Ximena sings.





Catch her tonight at the Avalon, show starts at 6:30pm - buy your tix at the door for $30. Monday she will be at SoHo in Santa Barbara giving another performance at 9pm. I'll see ya at the Santa Barbara show!

Edward Walton Wilcox Art Opening at Merry Karnowsky Gallery 4/25

Our friend Edward Walton Wilcox will be having an art opening for his new show at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery this Saturday 4/25 from 8-11pm. Definitely make sure to check it out for a unique take on LA fine art, and make sure to checkout our previous post on Wilcox and his works...

Merry Karnowsky Gallery
170 S. LA BREA AVENUE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90036
323.933.4408

Guerrilla Cuffs x Roger Hayes

You have probably never heard the name Roger Hayes but now you shall. Roger Hayes is an artist based out of Long Beach who I had the opportunity of meeting recently. Amongst the various local artist and vendors that set up shop in a parking lot on Main St in Downtown LA -during the Downtown Art Walk, every 2nd Thursday of the month - was Roger Hayes. His small stand immediately grabbed my attention - showcased were a number of beautifully hand-craft bracelet's that looked really unique.

After many years as a steel artist......I began making raw, welded, hammered, one of a kind steel cuffs, bracelets, neck pieces etc. for the Venice Beach Show. I developed a loyal base of LA area friends and customers....along with visitors from all over the world. My friends and customers are the "Guerrillas" of society. They’re weary of the slick, commercial, mass-produced, high tech lifestyle we live in today. Wearing a steel cuff around your wrist is somehow psychologically empowering, along with being an edgy fashion statement. - Roger Hayes.

These bracelet's are made out of cold rolled steel which is virtually Unbreakable. The bracelets are all one-of-a-kinda pieces hand cut, welded and hammered by Roger Hayes. All colors are natural and occur through the heating of metal, no paint is used. For comfort the bracelet's are lined with rolled leather lining - no metal touches your skin. They are pretty much one-size fits all - as the metal is easily bendable.



How do you get your hands on these one-of-a-kind pieces? You can be try to be an extra for the sequel to 300 or Gladiator - or you can visit Roger's website @ Guerrilla Cuffs.


Source: Guerrilla Cuffs

Disney Samples...Disney!

We all know that Baloo from the Jungle book looks very similar to Little John from Robin Hood (well, they are both bears) but this little video delight shows just how similar certain animated sequences in some classic Disney films are...i.e. they just traced it! Love the video editing - really brings the point home!



Source: Cinematical

Jini's Pick of the Week - Pimp London: The Guide

I can't believe I hadn't come across this before, but what a pleasure it was to find this gem whilst randomly killing time in Urban Outfitters. So what is it that could get me so excited I hear you ask - the most useful book for any visitor to London (or indeed local) - Pimp London: The Guide aka "the definitive guide to London for global style hunters". This is definitely going to blow your Lonely Planet out of the water, because this is not for you if you're looking for how to get from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, but this is a guide to where real Londoners spend their time and hard earned cash, enjoying the best of the capital's rich and diverse culture. Featuring the best of art/culture/bars/clubs/shops in all four corners of London town.

Brought to you by the guys at pimpguides, who "publish the most luxurious free magazine on the market - a hardback collectable style and street culture title" as well as being an "artist agency [which] represents some of the world's biggest and best contemporary street artists whose work you can buy in [their] online store" and they also "throw parties, art exhibitions and music events" to boot! Phew! So you can rest assured these guys know what they're talking about.

I had a lot of fun competing with my mates to see which places we had been to and which ones we'd heard of - ah, the stories of people jumping fully clothed into the pool at The Aquarium! One of my favourite features are the interviews with London style icons and trensetters asking the question, "Someone arrives in London for only 4 hours, where do you take them?" which is a great question for any city in the world. So, come on pimp peeps, when are the LA and NYC editions coming out?

Buy it here in the UK or here if in the US.

Source: Evolving Styles/Pimpguides

THIS THURSDAY April 23rd FoundTrack and Puma present a Birthday Night of Revelry @ R-Bar !!!

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FoundTrack and our friends at Puma cordially invite you to week three of our new Thursday evening of revelry at our favorite under-the-radar venue, R-Bar- This week is also a special birthday bash for our teammates Jose and Nass!

Our hope with this new weekly event is to create a laid back night that's focused on sharing good music and good creative energy. Expect fantastic eclectic tunes courtesy of our resident selector, Indie 103's DJ Jose Galvan, and a host of unique guest DJs each week.

As of now, no RSVP will be needed, but make sure you remember THE PASSWORD IS "RUDI DASSLER" ! Feel free to share this info with friends, family and fellow down to earth folks!

Checkout PHOTOS from previous weeks here

We hope to have some festive surprises for you each week in the way of live art, giveaways, live performances and more. Please, please, please feel free to share any creative ideas you might have for making each week a unique and interactive experience:

Our friends at SIKU Glacier Vodka have graciously offered to host an hour of COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAILS from 9-10pm to assist in getting everyone loosened up for the night ahead.

R-Bar

3331 W 8th St, Los Angeles

Your Hosts for the evening:

V and BIRTHDAY BOY #1 DJ Jose Galvan of Indie 103:


Special Guests for 4/23:

Music Selectors:

DJ Daniel L'Amour (myspace.com/DJDanielLamour)

BIRTHDAY BOY #2:
DJ Nassir Nassirzadeh (FoundTrack)

Live Art by:
David Hinnebusch (FakeArt.net)

Delectable Birthday treats!:
courtesy of our friends at PopCakes !!!

Photography by Colin Young-Wolff

More surprises coming soon...

FoundTrack's Winter '09 Collection (Track 10/22) - Lights On - John And Anne

Lights On - John And Anne (Track 10/22)
Label - Self-Release
Album - Waiting For the Heart to Beat EP (Sample/Purchase)
http://www.myspace.com/lightsonband
Photo Taken By Christy Zaragoza




Lights On is the collaborative creation of Tim Hines and Mike Kamoo, two San Diegans who came from different bands/backgrounds in the SD scene to produce a fresh blend of Post-Punk guitars and Electronic/New Wave melodies with an indie rock aesthetic. Upon first listen to Lights On, I was struck by such a diverse yet reminiscent sound. One of their standouts, "Listen to the Radio" sounds like a cross between the Arcade Fire's "Rebellion/Lies" and Modern English's "I'll Melt With You" yet our featured "John and Anne" sounded like The Stars and Echo and the Bunnymen's take on Peter, Bjorn and John's "Young Folks". Pretty impressive coming from a band with just one self-released EP under their name. Even more impressive was their reception from our reader poll on favorite tracks from our Winter Collection, locking 44 votes and counting. The band has added a batch of new material on their myspace and I'm excited to see they will be in LA at Spaceland with Loney Dear on the 16th of May. Highly anticipating a solid full-length coming soon from these guys so stay tuned for more.

South By South YES! - Meijin's Top Six SXSW Picks

Before heading to this year’s music portion of the 2009 SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, TX, many adjectives had been thrown my way to describe the events I was about to experience: crazy, insane, hectic, ridiculous. I was seemingly unprepared: no badge, no prior acquaintance with SXSW, and no previous trips to Austin, but after years of festivals and concerts under my belt, I believed I could handle what was to come. Soon enough, I discovered that SXSW was a breed unto its own.


A sort of musical heaven with substantial access granted by a simple RSVP or early arrival, Austin’s 22nd SXSW never fell silent during my five-day adventure, with music pouring out of every club, restaurant, and bar, and off each downtown street corner. Music saturated the fabric of my SXSW stint: instrumental carry-ons overstocked the Los Angeles to Austin flight; hotel rooms served as rehearsal spaces; shuttles from hotels to the Austin Convention Center transported a mix of musicians, merchandise, and media professionals from 8:30 AM to 3AM; and taxi trips became networking and scouting opportunities. SXSW melded and amplified the most extreme aspects of Vans Warped Tour and the CMJ Music Marathon. Outdoor stages and tents, 80-degree heat, sun and sweat-soaked concert-goers, and street vendors reminiscent of Warped Tour met CMJ’s Indie sound, plethora of artists and venues, thousands of music business professionals, abundance of panels, chaotic and crammed show scheduling, and strategic city navigation. Day parties, night parties, official day showcases, official night showcases, and shows that had nothing to do with SXSW except coincidence kept the 25,000 attendees blissfully entertained by nearly 2,000 bands.

In the short week, I tallied up my “band count” at 41, and hours of sleep at 18. Because several of the bands I heard had caught my ear before SXSW, I expected to be impressed. Yet several new finds deserve special recognition in my “Top Six SXSW Picks”:






1. Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights
Smooth soul and gritty blues come together into a sultry sound that sets a standard for Southern rock. Tyler’s spirited vocals, rollicking riffs, and boisterous attitude channel the best of their Dallas and rock ‘n roll roots. A mind-blowing live act, the group also entertains with their fiery full-length Hot Trottin’ which is available in stores and for download on iTunes. Highlights include “She’s from the Other Side” and “Slow Train.”




2. Out From Animals
Out from Chester, UK, this quartet establishes themselves as leaders of the SXSW pack with a musical species evolved from a merry mish mash of electronica, techno, ska, disco, metal, and rock. The band is currently touring their home territory and developing their full-length album, but fans that are chomping at the bit can purchase OFA’s wild EP The National Curriculum and get schooled in genre-fusion with “No Place Like Home” and “Up All Night.”




3. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
Dapperly dressed with a dynamic stage presence, Austin’s guitarist/vocalist Black Joe Lewis and his trusty band The Honeybears revive the classic R& B “shouter” style, big brass sound, and funky mess-around licks, but replace the blues mood with humorous patter. The octet’s Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! is now out for jamming enjoyment with seriously great tracks with not-so-serious vibes. “Boogie” and “Bitch, I Love You” are just two of the fun and funny favorites worth sampling.



4. The Boxing Lesson
Spacey rock trio from Austin turns and spins heads with a cosmic concoction of breathy vocals, echoing guitar tones, swelling synthesizers, and buzzing bass drones. Get in the ring with their newest record Wild Streaks and Windy Days on iTunes and CDBaby.com, and prepare for knockout tracks like “Back From the Dead,” and “Dark Side of the Moog,” a nod to psychedelic pioneers Pink Floyd and synth-mastermind Robert Moog.




5. Dawes
Uplifting acoustic guitars culminate with feel-good vocal harmonies, gospel keys, and shuffling beats that relax and warm the soul. The folk-rockers bring brightness to their craft with notably singable melodies and delicate nuances that create a soothing aura on their aptly titled North Hills, a tribute to their home town in California. Lift your spirits with “When My Time Comes” and “Bedside Manner.”





6. Izzy the Eskimo
Londoners turned Angelenos hypnotize with atmospheric grunge produced by a ghostly blend of brooding bass, eerie vocals, and haunting guitar feedback. Despite the mysterious air that surrounds the group’s background and underscores their sound, their metal-meets-mesmerism has not gone under the radar. Stay tuned for an official release and chill out to the enigmatic “And the Stars” and trippy “Sleep All Day.”



-Meijin Bruttomesso