SXSW Report: Thursday [Jessica Suarez]

Dirty Projectors [Mohawk; 8 p.m.]

The Dirty Projectors' Dave Longstreth reconfigures his band for every tour and album. Here at Mohawks' tiny inside stage, he played with two women on bass and guitar, and a male drummer. Other shows have included orchestral instruments, or even Longstreth and a computer with backing tracks, so this was conventional by comparison. Longstreth (who held his guitar upside down), needed his small band to pull double duty. Each female singer chirped in precise harmonies to fit in the spaces between the other, while Longstreth crooned over and around the women. There were no drum machines or laptops on stage; but the band played and harmonized with computer-punch-card precision. Longstreth introduced "Police and a Troubled Vibe", with a story: He was out on a bike ride when a speeding cop car grazed him. Longstreth flipped off the cop, then was pulled over. It segued into "Fucked for Life" well. [MORE...]

SXSW Report: Thursday [Amy Phillips]

Plan B [Karma Lounge; 8 p.m.]

Plan B is a London-based rapper who plays acoustic guitar while he rhymes. Wait, come back! He's actually an excellent storyteller, and his debut album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words is a syringe spike of white-boy rage. But when opened the Clash magazine showcase, standing up there hurling invectives at his mom's crackhead boyfriend while strumming away, it didn't really work. He just didn't seem angry enough.

Errors [Karma Lounge; 8:30 p.m.]

Mogwai didn't play SXSW this year, but their influence seeped into two of the Scottish bands I've seen play so far. The Twilight Sad build their melodic emo epics on a bedrock of Young Team noise, while Errors, who are signed to Rock Action, the label Mogwai runs, fuse the same sort of racket with what could be called IDM (for lack of a better term). I think I'll name their sound "disco squall". Or maybe "squall disco" has a better ring to it? Squisco? Sisqo? [MORE...]

SXSW Report: Wednesday [Dave Maher]

Future of the Left [Emo's Jr.; 9:15 p.m.]

It was overcast when we arrived in Austin yesterday, but a little drizzle didn't stop South by Southwest from running like a well-oiled machine, full of parties, pork loin, and so much music my ears are full and probably leaking. And since Pitchfork has yet to institute a Best New Barbecue section, let's get right to that music.

Two thirds of Mclusky (R.I.P.) took the stage as two thirds of Future of the Left as the second band at the Beggars Banquet showcase, and after a short checking of the levels, they promptly made the transition from genial dudes to screaming maniacs. Armed with mean riffs and Andrew Falkous' barely contained rage, they played off-kilter, dissonant punk pop not unlike Mclusky. The distorted bass was deafening, the drums were furious and precise (which I chalk up to the fact that drummer Jack Egglestone was chugging Red Bull), and Falkous' lyrics were wry and violent. In between songs, he made sure to explain that going around punching cats is no way to spend an evening. "It's more of an afternoon pursuit."

[MORE...]

SXSW Report: Wednesday [Matthew Solarski]

Cyann & Ben [Day Stage Café; 5:00 p.m.]


Poor Cyann & Ben came all the way from France and only got to play three songs to a seated Day Stage crowd. Wisely they pulled up some chairs as well, lending a campfire homeliness to a couple of Sweet Beliefs' astral slow-burners. It was over all too soon, but pleasant enough while it lasted. (Don't worry, they got to play a showcase show later that night, too.)

The Ettes [Day Stage Café; 5:30 p.m.]


Los Angeles trio the Ettes pound out punchy garage rock, not unlike a lot of their Sympathy for the Record Industry kin. They've got the looks and the spunk, but yet, as with their suffix of a name, there was just something missing from this brief Day Stage set.

Mew [KLRU Studio; 7:00 p.m.]


Seattle's venerable KEXP takes over the gorgeous KLRU studios at the University of Texas for the duration of SXSW, broadcasting short sets from a bunch of festival favorites. This evening's subject was Mew, who dazzled a small gathering with a few tunes from And the Glass Handed Kites and the newly reissued Frengers. If the lighted cityscape backdrop looks familiar, that's probably because you've seen it on "Austin City Limits", also taped here. [MORE...]

SXSW Report: Wednesday [Amy Phillips]
Pictured: Imperial Teen's Jone Stebbins, Kim Deal, Imperial Teen's Lynn Perko

Imperial Teen [Antone's 9 p.m.]

Although we've been planning our SXSW itineraries for weeks, plotting the most efficient routes from day party to showcase to afterparty, one of the greatest pleasures of the festival is its element of surprise. Who knows who will show up at this thing?

Case in point: Last night's Imperial Teen performance at the Merge showcase at Antone's was attended by none other than Kim Deal. The alt-rock icon brought Imperial Teen along as the opening act on the last Breeders tour, and she sported her trademark infectious grin as the band played its first show since July.

Kim's giddiness was shared by the rest of the packed crowd, who lapped up new songs from Imperial Teen's long-awaited forthcoming album The Hand, The TV, The Baby, and The Band. (I think that's what they said it was called. It might be The Ham rather than The Hand? I kind of hope it's The Ham. That would be sweeeet.) UPDATE: APPARENTLY IT'S THE HAIR, THE TV, THE BABY, AND THE BAND. NOT HAND OR HAM. HAIR.

Fresh tracks like "Do It Better" and "The Room With a View" displayed Imperial Teen's knack for sugar-sharp indie pop, blending with old favorites like "You're One", "Lipstick", and "Yoo Hoo" (why was that last one not a huge hit?!) into a sticky-sweet confection that ended way too early.

The coolest thing about Imperial Teen's set was drummer/bassist Lynn Perko, six months pregnant and rocking away. That baby is going to rule.

[MORE...]

Arcade Fire's Neon Bible Debuts at #2

The Arcade Fire's second album, Neon Bible, claimed the No. 2 spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts this week, stomping all over new LPs from Daughtry, Relient K and Robin Thicke. According to Billboard, the album sold 92,000 copies this week; only Notorious B.I.G.'s Greatest Hits sold more. That album, which was released ten years after the rapper's death, sold 99,000 copies. This position is miles ahead of Funeral's chart ranking, which peaked at #131. The album also topped the Independent and Rock Album charts. Neon Bible also took #2 in the UK, coming in second to the Kaiser Chiefs' Yours Truly, Angry Mob.

The Pitchfork Guide to SXSW 2007

For the next 96 hours, humble Austin, Texas becomes the center of the music universe, a delirious shitstorm of over one thousand bands, industry heavyweights by the gaggle, and soused fans coalescing around the intersection of Red River and 6th streets.

Whether you're headed to zip code 78701 to sign, see, or be the next big thing, let Pitchfork offer a few SXSW suggestions: Both here in our news section, where we'll run down some of the biggest showcases, and over in Forkcast, we'll shine a light on more than three dozen emerging artists playing Austin this week. The beauty of the event is options-- at any given moment you've got several dozen of them, most a block-long stagger away.

While a handful of local acts strut their stuff Sunday night and Chamillionaire rocked the mic for a riveting 20 minutes Tuesday evening, the bulk of the music festivities go down over four nights: Wednesday, March 14 through Saturday, March 17. And although SXSW is an indie rock-centric adventure-- with hip-hop, metal, and other genres sorely underrepresented-- there's still plenty to get amped for.

Oh, and if-- like the majority of our readership-- you're not headed to Austin, don't despair! Satellite provider DirecTV will premiere SXSW Live this year, the first-ever real-time broadcast from the music bonanza. The special airs March 15-17 on DirecTV's channel 101, and will feature performances from the Polyphonic Spree, Buzzcocks, Annuals, and Lee "Scratch" Perry, among others, along with festival commentary from Andrew WK(!) and interviews with Pete Townshend, Robyn Hitchcock, Perry Farrell, and Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Plus beloved former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield co-hosts!

For our Austin-bound, pull up a chair, break out the pens and Palm Pilots, and feast your eyes on SXSW's finest delights. Before you dive in, bookmark/print the official SXSW schedule and revisit Pitchfork's 2006 coverage, in several fun parts.

Pitchfork's regular news schedule will be suspended for the rest of the week, as we'll be busy reporting on what we've checked out in Austin starting tomorrow through Sunday.

Wednesday, March 14

The first night of music proper goes off with tremendous fanfare, as Sub Pop, Beggars/4AD, Merge, and Frenchkiss go head-to-head with rock solid showcases. Peripheral highlights abound as well.

Beggars/4AD might have the night's strongest showing, with the former taking over Emo's Jr. and the latter Emo's Main Room. Hometown heroes Voxtrot head the Beggars event, which also features gritty ex-Mclusky rockers Future of the Left and moody NYC trio Calla. 4AD will likely see a full house turn out for gypsy boy wonder Zach Condon and his Beirut ensemble, who'll warm the stage for longtime favorites the Mountain Goats and Blonde Redhead, the latter debuting songs from this year's exquisite 23. Arrive early to watch ex-Delgados singer Emma Pollock premiere solo material.

Merge, meanwhile, invades Antone's with "specials guests from Austin", aka Spoon, along with recent signings the Broken West. Indie vets Imperial Teen make a much-anticipated return to the stage, while the Rosebuds show off their new 80s stylings, as heard on the forthcoming Night of the Furies. We hope they're sporting some Flock of Seagulls hairdos too.

Les Savy Fav, who some might be inclined to call the best live band in the whole goddamn world (with good reason), headline Frenchkiss' showcase at Red Eyed Fly. The Big Sleep and Call Me Lightning and usual suspects Thunderbirds are Now! and Rahim open.

Sub Pop rolls out several of its newest recruits at Emo's IV Lounge, including high-octane rock trio Oxford Collapse, Swede songsmith Loney, Dear, and Pacific Northwest folkie Tiny Vipers. Ascendant Chicago quartet Maps & Atlases, who play math rock with heart, open the showcase.

Other sure bets: The Rapture, The Pipettes, and Swedes-of-the-moment Peter Bjorn and John crash La Zona Rosa; Florida's the Postmarks serve up pretty indie pop at the Ritz's Blender Bar; 8-bit electro-shock duo Crystal Castles turn up the voltage at Beauty Bar; Banhart-approved faerie queen Bat for Lashes attempts to conjure some magic at Dirty Dog Bar; and Glasgow's fabulous Twilight Sad emote over fuzzed-out crescendos at Mohawk Patio.

If you're beats-and-rhymes inclined, Visions plays host to a couple of the fest's better hip-hop opinions: Chicago crew Kidz in the Hall and chilllllled-out weed-fiend Devin the Dude.

Finally, if you're just mad about Donovan, tonight's your chance to see the folk legend in an idyllic setting: the holy (and seated!) confines of Central Presbyterian Church.

Thursday, March 15

Here's where things really get going.

Band for band, the Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar showcase owns the night, with a pair of stages at the Mohawk featuring the wonderful Okkervil River, rambunctious indie rockers Evangelicals, droll Swedish chanteuse Frida Hyvönen, and brooding Austin outfit I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness. Do not miss the majestic overtures of the Besnard Lakes, who'll play tunes from this year's dazzling Are the Dark Horse, and get there early for Dirty Projectors, whose latest incarnation-- essentially overzealous crooning atop female vocal harmonies-- might be their most promising yet.

Hydrahead gets heavy at Emo's Annex, with Justin Broadrick's Jesu crunching out soaring post-shoegaze, while Chicago's Pelican let the riffs ring out and Karp-descended metal agitators Big Business wax apocalyptic. All three should sound positively refined next to manic openers Daughters and Oxbow.

Fat Cat teams with DiCristina to present what's sure to be an inspired evening of adventurous folk at Central Presbyterian Church, kicking off with a set from Matador's latest signing, Okkervil River offshoot Shearwater, and culminating with the rejuvenated Vashti Bunyan. David Karsten Daniels, Jana Hunter, Tom Brosseau, and Nina Nastasia & Jim White round out this ace lineup.

A bunch of Pitchfork favorites warm up for our day party with some late-night showcases, including Deerhunter and Do Make Say Think at Soho Lounge, the Ponys at Emo's Jr., Menomena at Buffalo Billiards, and Fujiya & Miyagi at Karma Lounge. We trust they'll get to bed and rest up immediately afterward.

Glaswegians Shitdisco just might assassinate Franz Ferdinand with their taut, punchy dance-punk headcharge; witness their energetic confections at Beauty Bar Patio-- or step inside for quick-tongued grime star Lethal Bizzle. Down the street, Epitaph's newest signing Cadence Weapon-- aka ex-Pitchfork scribe Rollie Pemberton-- puts his verbal skills to work at Copa.

Pimp C and Bun B of UGK light up 401 Guadalupe, while Vice-signed rabble-rousers Black Lips put the rage in garage rock at Flamingo Cantina. Elsewhere, fey folkstress Marissa Nadler sings her woes away at Bourbon Rocks, while Aa conduct sonic experiments at Parish II and Norway's New Violators get criminal at Emo's Jr. And lucky day: If you missed Voxtrot the night before, catch them now at Emo's Main Room-- following the Gossip, the latest indie sensation to take the major label plunge.

Finally, the night's veteran award goes to Mary Weiss of Shangri-Las fame, who'll showcase material from this year's Dangerous Game at Red 7.

Friday, March 16

We imagine a large portion of the attendees will line up to gawk at/listen to Amy Winehouse-- but there are also many other options.

Damon Albarn's latest non-Blur enterprise, the Danger Mouse-produced the Good, the Bad and the Queen, shoot 'em up at Stubb's, with dashing Andrew Bird taking flight a few hours before. Psych-rock stunners Boris paint Spiro's Pink, while Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore plays two different sets at Mohawk, amid revered noise rockers Magik Markers and new folk favorites Charalambides, Sunburned Hand of the Man, and MV/EE with the Bummer Road.

Cuddlecore and c86 fans should be delighted to find Tullycraft and the Manhattan Love Suicides playing Parish II as part of Magic Marker Records' showcase, while the short-attention-spanned would do well to catch Matador-signed lo-fi rock trio Times New Viking at Exodus or wacky Dan Deacon at Tap Room. Or get happy: Former Q and Not U drummer John Davis plays with infectious indie pop duo Georgie James at Bourbon Rocks, while perennially positive Texas supercult the Polyphonic Spree preach the feel-good word (with new costumes!) at Austin Convention Center.

Great night for hip-hop, too: Def Jux infiltrates Emo's Main Room, with El-P, Aesop Rock, Cage, Brother Ali, and Galactic (featuring Lyrics Born, Blackalicious' Gift of Gab, and the Coup's Boots Riley) slinging rhymes. UGK return to play Visions, along with Crime Mob, while Chicago MC-on-the-rise Kid Sister works the crowd at Beauty Bar after A-Trak goes all Picasso on the turntable and Domino's latest signing Bonde do Role start the party right. Or don your stunna shades and Vans and step outside to catch the Pack and the Federation at Beauty Bar's Patio.

More options: Canadians Rock Central Plaza horse around at Dirty Dog Bar; reliable rockers the Walkmen get had at Emo's Annex; mascara'd Saddle Creek neo-new-wavers the Faint preview brand new songs at Eternal; Doris Day-tripping Nellie McKay elicits smiles at Exodus; Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys gets crafty at Bourbon Rocks; Simian Mobile Disco start the party at Karma Lounge; Polyvinyl-signed Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin turn up the energy at Red 7; and Broken Social Scenester Apostle of Hustle pimps good tunes at Habana Calle 6 Annex.

Stay up late to witness Beach House whisk us into a druggy haze at Tap Room, Hella shake things up with their new five-piece lineup at Maggie Mae's, or Earthless-- featuring former Hot Snakes/Rocket From the Crypt drummer Mario Rubalcaba-- tear it down at Lava Lounge.

For vets, try Public Enemy at Town Lake, Daniel Johnston's Danny and the Nightmares at Austin Convention Center, or Robyn Hitchcock at Dirty Dog Bar.

Saturday, March 17

Start the night early and catch a rare live appearance by super-recluse Jandek, who'll forgo silly things like rhythm, meter, and melody in favor of 75 minutes of cold, stark, skeletal blues at Central Presbyterian Church. Stick around for Smog-free Bill Callahan. Or, for something completely different, laugh along to Aziz Ansari, Patton Oswalt, Eugene Mirman, and co.'s Human Giant at Friends.

Or try the five-step adrenaline rush of metal behemoths Mastodon at the Town Lake, six-string banshee Marnie Stern at Emo's IV, fist-pumper Andrew WK at Exodus, costumed noise-terrorists White Mice at Room 710, and Norwegian rock legends Turbonegro at Emo's Main Room. For a different sort of rush, opt for spastic Saddle Creekers Cursive at Beauty Bar Patio, erratic ramblers Frog Eyes at Habana Calle 6 Patio, or the David Yow-endowed Qui at Emo's Jr.

The women of Kill Rock Stars, including the aforementioned Stern, take over Emo's IV Saturday night. Herky-jerk trio Erase Errata, Helium graduate Mary Timony, and Australian emcee Macromantics also perform. Elsewhere, the irresistible Pipettes pull shapes at Beauty Bar Patio while Au Revoir Simone pull our nostalgia strings at Copa.

The men of indie rock make a strong showing as well: Canadian upstarts Tokyo Police Club crackdown at Beauty Bar Patio; Danish dreamweavers Mew take us back to days of wonder at La Zona Rosa; Texans Midlake take us back to the 70s at Buffalo Billiards; Spoon dishes out the goods at Stubb's; and England's Field Music keep it spry at Beauty Bar Patio.

Move your feet to Danish duo Junior Senior at Exodus, or remove your clothes to Girl Talk's head-smashing set at Elysium. Hip-hoppers, meanwhile, get another chance to experience Lethal Bizzle, this time at Flamingo Cantina. Exit the festival in winning fashion with either Trae at Zero Degrees or Redman at Cedar Street Courtyard.

Vets: Buzzcocks sear through Emo's Main Room, followed by the reunited Meat Puppets. Danny and the Nightmares play again at the Ritz's Blender Bar. And what better way to end your SXSW adventure than with Lee "Scratch" Perry, who closes out the night at Flamingo Cantina? While nursing your own aching feet, do take a gander at Perry's one-of-a-kind kicks.

Casiotone Hits the Road With Xiu Xiu, Shearwater

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, aka one Owen Ashworth, will tour both with Xiu Xiu and Shearwater on previously reported dates and all by his painful lonesome on dates that bookend those. The tour starts communally enough, with a show in Chicago with BARR on March 17. There'll be no merry-making this St. Patrick's Day!

Even more U.S. dates are in the works, and Ashworth is also planning an early May tour of eastern Canada with P:ano's Nick Krgovich. Look out for, like, 322 limited seven-inch releases from Owen this year. [MORE...]

The Black Angels Kick Off North American Tour

The Black Angels will descend upon their hometown of Austin this week with five South by Southwest shows. Then, the sextet will take its psych-rock assault to the rest of North America in support of last year's Passover, starting March 21 in Houston. VietNam will join them on most dates.

Look for a second leg of spring dates soon. [MORE...]

OOIOO Embark on Rare U.S. Tour, Get Remixed by Eye

Over there in Japan, they do things a little differently. Instead of the usual chorus to "Old MacDonald", they sing "OOIOO". And instead of the plucky banjo and fiddle arrangement, it has this sort of free-form, tribal feel, with lots of erratic shrieking. Oh, and they don't call it "Old MacDonald" at all-- round there it's referred to as Taiga.

Yep, we're totally full of crap. But one thing remains true: Experimental rhythm quartet OOIOO, led by Yoshimi of Boredoms and pink-robot-battling fame, kick off a brief but welcome U.S. tour on March 20 in New York City. They'll play six dates over here in support of last year's Thrill Jockey LP Taiga, aka [OMG] one of Sufjan Steven's favorite records of 2006!!! [/OMG]

Even more exciting, Boredoms' Eye has remixed a pair of tunes off Taiga-- "UMO" and "UMA"-- for a new EP informatively titled Eye Remix EP. Look for it in CD and 12" formats on April 24 via Thrill Jockey.

OOIOO also released a DVD music video collection in Japan back in January. [MORE...]

Sir Richard Bishop Tours With Bonnie, Animal Collective

Since Charles Gocher's death last month following a battle with cancer, the remaining members of Sun City Girls-- brothers Alan and Richard Bishop-- have nixed the possibility of new tours or records under the SCG name. They do, however, have plenty of unreleased material that they hope to put out eventually, and it seems that they will continue to write and perform.

In fact, Richard Bishop kicks off a tour tonight as Sir Richard Bishop. He'll join Bonnie "Prince" Billy on a European jaunt, and in May, he will travel the U.S. with Animal Collective. [MORE...]

Winter Music Conference 2007 Invades Miami

Let the silly indie kids have their silly SXSW, with their flannels and ironic t-shirts, their jangle and distortion. The rest of us have the cool, crisp, rhythmically dependable sounds of electronic music in its many-splendored forms: techno, house, dubstep, electro, disco, and more, plus all the hybrids and subgenres and unclassifiables. And they all come together once a year in sunny Miami for the annual Winter Music Conference.

This year marks the 22nd year of the festival. A true endurance test, it goes down at Miami Beach Resort & Spa from March 20-25. All sorts of satellite events take place across Miami's club scene-- including the previously reported Ultra Festival-- and a whole heaping lot of the biggest names in dance music will be there, including the Cure (eh, sure, we'll dance to them), Peaches, Fischerspooner, Booka Shade, Matthew Dear, El-P, A-Trak, Kid Sister, Justice, Digitalism, Crystal Castles, Henrik Schwarz, MSTRKRFT, Tiga, M.A.N.D.Y., Richie Hawtin, Escort, Miss Kittin, Marco Bailey, the Presets, Deep Dish, Josh Wink, DJ Hell, Paul Van Dyk, Carl Cox, and the inimitable Ferry Corsten, plus like a bajillion more.

It would be easier to tell you who's not playing, frankly. Consult The List-- the "official 'unofficial'" guide to WMC events-- and search for your favorites. And check out the official official conference website for details on panels, interviews, and other fest happenings.

Trust us-- after this one, you will never want to dance again.

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)