Here’s a band demanding a little more their audience. Les Racquet turn through more directions in track ‘Too Young’s ‘ fantastic harmonies than most bands get through in an album. The trio met up in Brooklyn under two years, and already have a full-length under the belts. But their sound is even more ambitious. There’s an almost schitzophrenic cocktail here that moves from punk to Afrobeat to acid jazz in equal turns, but never pulls away from the meat and potatoes required of any ambitious young group. Like an iPod playlist come to life, this is a group you’ll find impossible to pin down, but easy to get down to. See them when they play The Studio at Webster Hall on April 11th with Not Blood Paint. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for review digitally here.

If you’ve ever listened to The Books before and wondered what this music might sound like without all the obnoxious samples of children playing or newscasters fearing armageddon, then Threefifty Duo’s absorbing guitar work might be a good place to start. With licks as precise as anything you’d hear from classical guitar ensembles like the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, but a mood positively geared toward the instrument’s meditative virtues, songwriters Brett Parnell and Geremy Schulick will pluck you up and take you off to a very personal place occupied by rock and classical in equal measure. Check out new record ‘Circles’ to hear more, and check them out when they play Café Orwell on March 20. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

This band submitted their record for review digitally here.

Attention SXSW-goers! Today, Friday, March 16, at Beale Street Tavern located at 214 E 6th Street, Rocker Stalker (with the help of Deli rock girl Meijin) presents a litany of superb acts from across the country, including:

11:00am: Ghost Bunny
11:45am: Walker Lukens
12:30pm: Black Taxi
1:15pm: The Courtesy Tier
2:00pm: The Click Clack Boom
2:45pm: Vas Defrans
3:30pm: The Naturals
4:15pm: KID SAVANT
5:00pm: Hollis Brown

Doors are at 10am, and music lasts until 6pm. No badge required, free entry, and 21+

Day 2 of SXSW 2012 was a mishmash of musical genres. I started my day with Brooklyn-based dance-rockers, Black Taxi, at the Parish before jetting quickly to the Fader Fort to enjoy some free goodies and see Santagold. However, a confusion of set times left me milling around the event while tribal electro-pop Brits, Django Django, supplied the soundtrack. Scurrying back to The Parish, I caught the last moments of Austin’s The Frontier Brothers before making my way to the Paste Magazine Party for buzz bands, Tennis and Cavemen. Taking a break , I enjoyed a serving of Korean spicy fries from one of ATX’s several delicious food truck options. As evening fell, I decided to wander into a Scottish showcase where folk/electro/country act, Woodenbox, hit the stage. Across the street at The Main, I caught a few minutes of veteran punk rockers, Pennywise’s, rowdy set, before making my way to the Flamingo Cantina for the Latin/World Showcase with Kenya’s Sauti Sol and NYC’s Outernational. Running back to the Main and completing the night, I got to check out heavy rock Austinites, The Sword, and Kentucky’s finest, Cage the Elephant. SXSW 2012 is on a roll! –Meijin Bruttomesso

Listen to just ‘Show Me All The Sounds You Know,’ and you might mistakenly think Idgy Dean’s (who placed at #98 in our recent Best of NYC poll for emerging artists) only weapons are her positive energy and beautifully sultry voice. But stick around for harder-hitting songs like ‘Bang Bang Sun’ and ‘Lung’ and you’ll soon discover some of the depths to this roaring personality. Like a cross between tune-yards and Marnie Stern, Dean’s vocals soar over a backdrop that can include anything from her tympani drum and electric guitars, to double-tracked vocals that surround and pulse through your skin with a physical energy too dynamic to ignore.

See her when she plays at Big Snow on April 15th with Howth. – Mike Levine

For any fan of Perfume Genius, here’s Aunt Ange. There’s an acute sense of dread following every twist and turn through new record ‘Olga Walks Away.’ Essentially a document on loneliness seen through the eyes of Olga’s pain. From the lush violins, accordions and toy pianos of opener ‘Black Funeral Dress,’ to the stomping march of ‘Velvet Sidewalks,’ Aunt Ange takes you from the funeral to parade grounds from deep within the psyche of their absorbing subject. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for review digitally here.

Tomorrow night, the U-District’s Rat and Raven will play host to a deep roster of Northwest acts, featuring local pop-smiths the Balloons, fellow Seattleites the Hoot Hoots and the Fabulous Downey Brothers, and Portland’s Hollyood Tans. With reputations for fuelling fun-filled evenings with infectious and dance-inducing tunes, the four acts sharing the stage should offer a great opportunity to wrap up your week, and kick off your weekend, on a high note. 

Doors: 9:00 p.m.

Cover: $5

21 and over

Thursday began at the Filter Magazine party in the Cedar Street Courtyard where UK-based bands filled the afternoon. Rock ‘n roll trio, Band of Skulls (pictured) played to a packed patio along with the charismatic and energetic Kaiser Chiefs and pop act, Keane. An afternoon jaunt around downtown led me to the beautiful architecture and luxurious history of the Driskill Hotel where Fuse TV was hosting a shindig with live music and comfortable couches. Brooklyn’s Outernational performed in acoustic form after pop band, Waters, from San Francisco. I sprinted to Hotel Vegas on the very east side of the 6th Street strip to catch the last of reggae-infused Indie rockers, Deadbeat Darling, and fellow NY brethren, Black Taxi. Shortly after. 
The night was Deli partay of course! See separate blurb about it. –Meijin Bruttomesso

If Arcade Fire discusses the world as adults sharing their troubles from a child’s perspective, The Henry Millers are just the opposite. While the band’s two leading members are just in their early twenties, the group explores an enormous emotional range under an equally large musical landscape. ‘Mr. Flash Gordon’ for instance, discusses the pressures of a dying romance over grinding organs, persistent guitar strums, twinkling mallets and most importantly… a give and take between the group’s two guiding lights that give you an idea of what makes this band such a rare commodity.

Most of these songs are written by John MacCallum, but witnessing him share his woes with good friend/collaborater Katie Schecter live and on record is a big part of what makes you feel so at home with this group. Like you’re sharing a pent-up secret you’ve been holding inside for a long time, with someone you can trust with its importance. The Henry Millers’ outsized honesty and primary consideration for poetic narrative must have something to do with why they chose their band name, or it may just be something that makes sense between good friends who’ve known each other a long time.

This band submitted their music for review digitally here.

I’m not sure what kind of architecture you might use to construct a psychobuilding, but the band is definitely a supergroup of local freak talent. Singer/songwriter Peter LaBier has teamed up with Peter Schuette (Silk Flowers) and Juan Pieczanski (Small Black) to create Psychobuildings. These are a trio that blends towering layers of synth and percussion, creating the band’s upbeat-yet-eerily dark electronic dance sound. Songs like ‘Birds of Prey’ and ‘Terror Management’ from their past 12-inch releases, provide an aural document standing in for the manic insanity of their highly choreographed live shows. – Mike Levine

The first day of SXSW 2012 started off drowsy and jet-lagged but was invigorated and perked up by the sights and sounds of downtown Austin. Dismounting the R&R Shuttle Bus, I scouted a few parties and giveaways, including the Vintage Clothing Arcade, where Dubstep shook the walls of the room housing threads from the 60s-80s, before heading to the JanSport Party at Mohawk. Kicking off the day, Nashville’s Fly Golden Eagle got the groove going with a seductive mix of R&B, reggae, and pop-rock. Next, Brooklyn’s pride and joy, Bear Hands synthesizer-driven, punky rock brought the venue to capacity, and Austin-based Strange Boys channeled the country side of the city. Closing the afternoon, Austin’s White Denim (pictured) left the audience in awe with seemingly impossible rhythmic shifts, vibrant stage presence, and radiating energy. A quick Tex-Mex break transitioned me into the evening entertainment. I headed to Friends Bar for the annual Oklahoma City showcase for country/punk rockers, Black Canyon, and folksy pop-rock four-piece, Mont Lyons. My consistently noted act and perfect closer, The Pretty Black Chains, who, although have shrunken from a quartet to a trio, have not lose an ounce of power in their heavy retro rock and tight knit sound. A good day of music set the bar high for the rest of the week. –Meijin Bruttomesso