The top 21 performances at SXSW
Every year during spring break people from all over the world convene in Austin to hear some of the year's newest, most exciting bands.
Although a lot of them fail to live up to the hype, there are a few artists who manage to successfully use the festival as a launching pad to stardom. Here is a list of those who surpassed my expectations and who should do well in the very near future.
1) Efterklang (Emo's Jr., Saturday 9pm) My favorite show. As good as Sigur Ros live. Seriously.
2) Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers (Club De Ville, Wednesday 9pm) They are much better live than on their recordings.
3) K'Naan (Austin Music Hall, Thursday 8:20pm) Lived up to the hype. Incredible show.
4) Devo (Austin Music Hall, Friday 12am) Josh Freese + Devo + Giant Video Screen Awesome!
5) Janelle Monae (Vice, Saturday 12am) This girl really knows how to work the crowd. Go see her live.
6) Easy Star All-Stars (Emo's Annex, Wednesday 5:15pm) One of my favorite reggae bands.
7) Dirty Projectors (The Parish, Thursday 4pm) Went to see Blitzen Trapper, but these guys stole the show.
8) Ceci Bastida (Flamingo Cantina, Wednesday 12am) Easily one of the best groups from Mexico.
9) Dignan (Aces Lounge, Wednesday 8pm) They will be the first band to put McAllen on the map.
10) Maps & Atlases (Karma Lounge, Thursday 10:10pm) Totally blown away by their performance.
11) The Octopus Project (Emo's Main Stage, Saturday 9pm) That green monster/robot made everyone wanna dance.
12) Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves (Peckerheads, Thursday 7pm) Funky, funky, funky. These guys really know how to groove!
13) Delta Spirit (Cedar Street Courtyard, Thursday 10:30pm) Matt Vasquez has "it" and his band does too.
14) Ra Ra Riot (Radio Room Patio, Friday 4pm) Some of the nicest people in the business
15) MSTRKRFT (Radio Room Patio Saturday 1am) Danced in the alley since we couldn't get in.
16) Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (Radio Room Patio, Wednesday 3:30pm) The name alone kicks ass.
17) King Khan & the Shrines (Emo's Main Stage, Friday 4:30pm) Possibly the strangest, most entertaining show at SXSW.
18) Alex Cuba (Flamingo Cantina, Wednesday 1am) Great singer. Great writer. Great performer.
19) Rosie & the Goldbug (Aces Lounge, Thursday 8pm) The girl who played drums was extraordinary! Rosie Rawrr
20) Anathallo (Mohawk Indoor, Wednesday 9:40 pm) Thoroughly enjoyable. Hope they make it down again.
21) Lisa Hannigan (Central Presbyterian Church, Friday 11pm) An absolutely unforgettable performance.
*(Forgot to mention Ben Harper & Daniel Johnston. Both very memorable performances.)
**(I realize Devo, MSTRKRFT and Lisa Hannigan have been around for awhile :D )
Best Voices at SXSW - Ed Harcourt, Marli
Most Beautiful Sound - Young Galaxy
Amazing Artists I Stumbled Upon/Discovered - Vetiver, The Rosebuds, J Tillman, These Arms are Snakes, Riverboat Gamblers, Amber Smith, Ximena Sarinana, The Hot Kicks, Asa, Amanda Diva
Other SXSW groups to check out
- St. Vincent,
- Andrew Bird,
- Girl in a Coma,
- Bob Schneider,
- Kat Edmonson,
- Silversun Pickups,
- Annuals,
- The Black and White Years,
- Billy Harvey,
- Cold War Kids,
- Zeale,
- Aqualung,
- The Little Ones Daniel Johnston,
- As Tall As Lions,
- Dosh, Cursive,
- The Spinto Band,
- Gil Mantera's Party Dream,
- Booka Shade,
- Gringo Starr,
- Brazos,
- Dead Confederate,
- Explosions in the Sky,
- Grizzly Bear,
- The Mae Shi,
- Ruby Coast,
- Brannen Temple's Temple Underground,
- Greyhounds, Brownout,
- Sleepercar,
- The Decemberists,
- Los Claxons,
- Busdriver,
- Department of Eagles,
- Foreign Born,
- Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band,
- Lenka,
- DJ Shadow,
- The Thermals,
- The Duke Spirit,
- Earliment,
- Glasvegas,
- Heartless Bastards,
- The Iguanas,
- ...Trail of Dead,
- Manchester Orchestra,
- Pompeii,
- This Will Destroy You,
- Juliette and the New Romantiques,
- KB the Boo Bonic,
- Shiny Toy Guns,
- The Republic Tigers,
- The Tallest Man on Earth,
- Nakia & His Southern Cousins,
- White Denim, Sybris, T
- he Tontons,
- Amanda Palmer,
- Toy Selectah,
- Elvis Perkins in Dearland,
- Young Love,
- DJ Rapid Ric,
- Superdrag,
- Thao With The Get Down Stay Down,
- The Toxic Avenger & Franki Chan,
- M. Ward,
- Voxtrot
Homer Rios is a McAllen-area musician and half of the duo Stereo Kitsch. He is also helping to coordinate the lineup for McAllen's upcoming Another Music Festival.
