Hundreds of rocks bands are disembarking at Bergstrom airport, and like the huddled masses at Ellis Island, they are yearning to breathe the air that is a non-existent SXSW record deal. As a rock fan, it’s a bit overwhelming to know that there are so many bands in town that you know nothing about, but still hold the possibility that one could be your new favorite band – the FOMO is strong in this regard. Luckily, we’ve gone ahead and sifted through the sands for you, so that you can enjoy these gems we’ve found without the audial self-flagellation that we’ve inflicted on ourselves. Here are ten rock bands that are worth a trip into Downtown Austin for.
Mute Swan
Swirling guitar hooks, off-kilter drumming, Yo La Tengo-y backing vocals, Mute Swan feels like a less jittery Of Montreal or an extension of Soft Bulletin-era Flaming Lips. Their up-to-the-moment, artful psych lifts you to a dream-space desert and wraps you up in reverb and reassurances.
Stuyedeyed
Irrepressible, loud, direct, fuzzed out — Stuyedeyed are an unhinged skull rattling atop a spine, snapping to intensity and directing your attention to our reality, right now.
Dan Luke & The Raid
Though the four members all hail from the same scene and town, they bring diverse influences to Dan Luke’s sound. Shultz’s roots are primarily in foundational rock and punk—"things like the Velvet Underground and Jefferson Airplane and the Mamas and the Papas,” he says, “and then Television and Talking Heads and the Germs and the Dead Boys, all the way up to the Strokes.”
Bizou
Bizou is the sum of it’s parts: propulsive post-punk bass + wall of sheeny shoegaze guitars + shifting scales of synths + the propulsive rhythms of darkwave — all fused together with dreamy vocals ala’ Curve, Cranes, Garbage or PJ Harvey.
Giungla
Giungla is Italian artist Ema Drei. Bringing together atmospheric electronics with Ema’s guitar work, in turns artfully angular then brashly anthemic and with her passionate vocals – her music is riotous exuberant indie-pop. as dazzling, tricky and bursting with life as the ‘Jungle’ she named herself after.
Morabeza Tobacco
Gustav and Vanilla met when he saw her DJing at an underground club in Norrköping and was blown away by her set. Introductions were made, songs were swapped online and they decided that their shared musical taste made collaboration seem a worthwhile endeavor.
Beshken
Beshken effortlessly coalesces elements of indie, experimental dance, ambient, psychedelia and dream-pop.
Rev Rev Rev
Rev Rev Rev remetabolize shoegaze and psych rock elements in a loud, woozy, fuzz-driven sound.
Saint Pe
After 10 years of touring the world in Atlanta’s legendary Black Lips, guitarist and vocalist Ian Saint Pé needed a change. As he put it, “The only thing you can’t change is time, So it was time that changed me. I loved the Black Lips, but I needed to enjoy new environments. So I got a brand new bag: Saint Pé.“
Warmduscher
Warmduscher are a group of miscreants, known only by aliases, but we know Saul Adamczewski (Fat White Family) is the main instigator. Ardent fans, Iggy Pop and Marc Riley have only gleaming praise to heap on the band, and in return, Warmduscher have blessed them both with immortality.