Austin

Five Must-See SXSW Acts Hailing From the African Continent

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 Some of the most intricate sounds and exciting artists will be emanating from the African continent for SXSW 2019. A diverse contingent of musicians, from every corner of Africa, will be bringing high-energy performances to Austin, and these five acts listed below are a great reason why you should get out and see them.

Kokoko! (DRC) 

Sprung from the ghetto and downtown clubs of the Congolese capital, Kinhasa, Kokoko! had to createin between the government-imposed power cuts. Strong ideas combine with DIY and constructed instruments to create a powerful and unique vehicle for their sound.

Siimba Liives Long (ETH)

A third culture kid raised in New York, New Jersey and Ethiopia, SIIMBA SELASSIIE is just as familiar with the streets as he is with the jungle. Since planting roots in Brooklyn, NY, Siimba has headlined his own national tour and supported artists like Rae Sremmurd, Ty Dolla Sign and Cam’ron.

Alternate Sound (NIG)

The band’s meticulous panache and deft instrumentation has been paired with many of the best African talents and featured on the most prestigious stages across the continent.

 

Jojo Abot (GHA) 

A Ghanaian artist expressing herself through music, film/photography, fashion, literature and performance art. She uses music as an ongoing project to explore the self and as a provocative tool in the discovery, exchange and evolution of her identity.

Stoneybwoy (GHA) 

Livingstone Etse Satekla is a Ghanaian Afro-pop artist, from the Volta region, who integrates dancehall and reggae influences to create an upbeat sound.

  

NYC

Brion Starr reimagines New York on upcoming LP “Global Identity, 03.21

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New York City is a paradoxical place. With familiar landmarks vanishing on the daily, many of the things we conjure when we think about the city are in fact no longer there. This is the city that native Brion Starr inhabits, and his music reflects the disaffected feeling of watching the place you love become unrecognizable before your very eyes. What’s particularly fascinating about Starr’s music is that it draws a lot of influence from one particular New York legend: the underground glam rock scene of the 1970s. The sparkling cacophony of his experimental brand of vintage rock leans more toward Brian Eno than David Bowie, and while watching him perform in sequin jumpsuits its hard not to imagine what those who shaped New York’s past might think of the city today. Perhaps that’s the very question Starr wants us to answer. Wrapping up a tour with The Chills, Starr plans to release his LP Global Identity on March 21st – while you wait, check out “Oh Please”, the first single off the album, below. – Sunny Betz

Austin

Taiwanese Showcase Stands Out At SXSW 2019

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  Taiwan is an island nation that’s dwarfed by its larger neighbors like China, Japan and the Phillipines, but at the SXSW 2019, THEY are the behemoths, with an extremely talented showcase.The country has a rich music history, but having only sent ten music acts to Austin, the quality of their contingent is something to be admired. The Taiwanese showcase will take place March 13th at Elysium at 705 Red River St.

 Chiu Pi

  Avant-garde music that has an ethereal and introspective style, Chiu Pi is changing the general perception of electronic music. 

 

My Skin Against Your Skin 

Their music ranges from garage and psychedelic rock to electronic pop  and they use surreal plots to spin narratives.

 

 The Fur. 

 An indie dream-pop band with sensual vocals and shimmering synths.

 

Elephant Gym

 Elephant Gym is an instrumental rock band that is known for clear and memorable bass lines, emotional guitar riffs and melodic drumming. 

 

I Mean Us 

I Mean Us is a Dream Pop/ Shoegaze /Indier that romantically combines the 1990s analog sound with psychedelic style. 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, March 8 – 10

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A residue of fuzz hangs in the air as one listens to Loose Tooth; the band toys with tempo, creating a low-key tone with the ability to flip the switch and race downhill at any moment, demolishing whatever lies in its way. There’s a reflective, emotive element, merged with an uncompromising, smashing grunge approach. It retains the heaviness of walking out into a storm, and then finds the temporary reprieve of shelter, taking another surprising turn into crisp, melodic, almost gentle-swaying rock. Then surges forward yet again. The group keeps you on their toes as the musical forecast continuously shifts, exhibiting a fun ferocity. Tonight at Kung Fu Necktie, they’ll be joined by the heady haze of So Totally, the exuberant, infectious, pop-punk pairing of Mike Bell & The Lame-O’s, and the anthemic emo of Ohio’s Maybe Later to round out the lineup into full form. – Michael Colavita

Other places to feel warm & fuzzy at this weekend…

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Loose Tooth, Mike Bell and the Lame-O’s, So Totally/DJ Cousin Mike, SAT Fame Lust

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Church Girls, Field Mouse, Blushed

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Daeva

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Friendship, Shannen Moser, Earthboy, SUN Alka

TLA (334 South St.) SUN Grayscale

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Function: DJ Tay Banga, Hashland

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Carroll/(Downstairs) John Byrne Band, No Irish Need Apply, SUN The End of America

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Summer Scouts, Blueroom, SAT Kenny Price, SUN Ascension Drive, Cardinal Sin 

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI CaveWomen, Hauntress, Wild Dust, SAT Gnarbot, Trap Rabbit, SUN Grace Vonderkuhn

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI The Binary Sea, Canyon, Chalk & The Beige American

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent, SUN Nudey Tunes: Sports

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Torn & Ironic, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT South Street Burlesque Revue presents Necrophilia Haiku Day, SAT M.A.D.E , 3T3N, Big Chooch, Quin Jaye, Fitted Kub

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Vortex: DJ Mike Saga, Elijvh Vrms

The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT lylyly, Kelsey Cork & The Swigs

Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Atomic Cretins, Downtrodder, L.M.I., SAT Dear Forbidden, Worst Ones

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Greg Sover Band, James Pace, SAT The Barker Brothers, Jac w/no K, Pleasant Avenue

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Star Kitchen

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Amanda X

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) SAT Jesse Gimbel, Frankly Lost, PsychoTropic Candy, Breakfast for Turtles, SUN Mondays, Cold Soul, Dipking

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Onett, Spumoni

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI 5AM, Shapesift, SAT Buddie, Weller

The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT Stinking Lizaveta, Shardik

Free Candy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Elison Jackson, Sixteen Jackies, Smokin’ In The House 

Chicago

Dreamboats “Apple Tree”

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Dreamboats released their debut single, “Apple Tree”, this week. This is the Dream Pop group fronted by Maddy Marsan, and she is accompanied by Jeremy Marsan, David Hubbell, and John Duray.

You can catch Dreamboats at Schubas on April 27th with Town Criers, The Edwards, and In The Pines.

NYC

Leikeli47 brings distinctive hip hop sound to SXSW, 03.13

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In an industry dominated by big personalities, it takes a lot for a hip hop artists to stand out. Brooklyn based rapper Leikeli47 has taken on this challenge, ironically, by disguising herself behind a mask – one she dons in interviews and during shows, and is rarely seen without. However, you shouldn’t take the mask as a clue of her being shy, since on her latest album Acrylic she proves she is anything but. Her flow is playful and brash, and on tracks like “Tic Boom” and “Girl Blunt” she experiments with unconventional vocal intonation and rhythm in her takedowns of those who might doubt her individuality and self assurance. Leikeli47 is just one of many talented artists who will be playing this year’s SXSW festival – you can catch her set on March 13th at the Hip Hop/Rap Showcase, and stream Acrylic below. -Sunny Betz

Chicago

Carlie “Spare Me”

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Carlie (aka Emily Carlile Nichols) has release her first two singles, “Spare Me” and “Better Suitor”. This is powerfully minimal independent Pop, and follows up her previous work as Emily Nichols nicely.

You can catch Carlie tonight, March 8th, at Tonic Room with Gibbz and on March 24th at The Boxcar.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Free Around You” – The Dove & The Wolf

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“Free Around You” is the latest single from The Dove & The Wolf, and it captures a dreamy intimacy of a meeting. The beauty of vocal harmony takes a somewhat dramatic turn as the hard thump of percussion and horn fills the distance. A natural sense of familiarity allows you to drop your guard and embrace the moment. It’s a graceful, loving admission. Conversations, the duo’s forthcoming full-length debut is slated for release on May 3. (Photo by Marcus Maddox)

NYC

A Deli Premiere: New single “Breed” off Waterstrider’s new EP

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After a year of tribulations, Nate Salman of Waterstrider, poured heavy energies into his newest EP, The Way Out, on 30th Century Records. The result is a warlockian, mesmerizing blend of songs that have the surreal quality of our beloved Enya but with a Julien Ehrlich falsetto and dark, poppy synths. The single “Breed” is melancholy but hopeful. Lines like “Farewell to secrets/I’ll never keep them” are sung with a pure earnestness and are serenaded by keys with an airy, forestlike quality. This experimental, futuristic collection brings Waterstrider into a new realm. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Philadelphia

Debut Desperate Living EP Available for Streaming & Purchase

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Brian Medlin (The Minor Times), Timothy Leo (The Minor Times, Ladder Devils), Scott Signorino (SOLD), and Jonathan Van Dine (CRUISR) combine forces as Desperate Living. Their debut EP New Concrete was engineered and mixed by Uniform Recording’s Jeff Zeigler, and is out now via Brutal Panda Records. It’s a release of controlled aggression over frustrations both past and present. The band unites as a battering ram of musicality ready to tear it all down.

Chicago

Lexi Jones “Greetings from the Graveyard”

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Lexi Jones (of Phoenix Uncaged) has released her debut single, “Greetings from the Graveyard”. The single is accompanied by a Jake Neumann directed video, and gives you some insight into the song and Lexi herself.

The single is one of those classic jangling guitar pop songs with a beautiful melody and an underlying sadness. Think classic Tonya Donelly or, for a more modern comparison, Phoebe Bridgers.