One of the highlight’s from this year’s SXSW festival was the Sounds From Spain showcase at Red Eyed Fly on 4th/Red River. The showcase featured a number of artists from Spain including current Indie darlings Polock who opened the festivities.
I spent a few minutes with the quintet from Valencia to talk about their first tour in the US in support of their debut album Getting Down From The Trees.
Continue reading “Five Minutes with Spain’s Hottest Indie/Rock Band: Polock”
A: When it’s the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group feat. Cedric Bixler-Zavala OR when Omar says it isn’t.
The backstory: The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group headlined the Sargent House Showcase last Saturday at SXSW at Emo’s Annex, an impromptu stage and concert area built in a small lot on the corner of 6th/Red River. Fans lined up as early as 2 p.m. for a show whose doors/gates opened at 7 p.m. Zavala appeared on stage about 10 minutes before opening time to soundcheck with ORLG. Predictably, Twitter, Facebook and many a carrier-pigeon were sent into the skies of Austin to carry the news prompting the line to stretch out like an intestine up the street and behind the “venue.” The group (Rodriguez-Lopez, Bixler-Zavala, Deantoni Parks, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Juan Alderete and Lars Stalfors) took the stage at 12:50 a.m. to a capacity crowd that included fans who filled up the alley behind the stage and down the sidewalk.
Here’s a clip of the madness and the music by Refused TV:
Continue reading “Q: When is The Mars Volta NOT The Mars Volta?”
I made my first trip to Austin, TX last week to attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and though I only spent 48 sleepless hours there, I’m already making plans to return next year. Coachella, I love you and we had great times but I’m now in love with another music festival.
I saw a lot of great bands, made some new friends, bumped into some old friends and drank some great local beers (hello 512 Porter). The only bad memory I have of the trip is of the non-existent taxi service at night. Hooray for (almost) being left stranded in Austin at four in the morning!
Head over to my Flickr for photos of The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group feat. Cedric Bixler-Zavala (sort of The Mars Volta but not technically The Mars Volta), Adebisi Shank, Polock (interview with Polock coming soon), Fang Island, Little Red Radio and many more.
I’m currently on a jet plane on my way to Austin, TX for two days of interviews, photos, freebies and whatever else comes my way. Wish me luck!
In the meantime (if you haven’t already), check out KCRW’s coverage of SXSW here.
Le Butcherettes opened for living legend Mike Watt (Minutemen, dos, fIREHOUSE, The Stooges) this past Friday for a night filled with many “firsts”: it was the band’s first gig at The Echo (photos here), the first time playing mostly (all?!) songs off their upcoming debut album Sin Sin Sin, and the first time the new lineup featuring Gabe Serbian of The Locust and Jonathan Hischke of Hella performed together.
I spoke with Teri before the show about the many changes and obstacles she’s faced since Le Butcherettes’ performance at The Troubadour last September, how she met her new bandmates, her new home in Echo Park and life as a musician in Mexico and the USA.
Below is the trailer to the movie mentioned in the last clip, Los Ojos de un Omiso Destino:
Latino solo artist Gustavo Galindo celebrated the release of his highly anticipated debut album with fans at The King King in Hollywood on March 8th. Check out the photos on my Flickr.
Hang The DJ’s & Mucho Wednesdays team up for a Saturday night fashion fest!
Above is the official video for the song “Los Adolescentes” by Chilean Indie/Pop group Dënver (good luck pronouncing the umlaut).
The song is the latest single off their recently-released, second album Música, Gramática, Gimnasia (Music, Grammar, Gym). The track is a dreamy mix of Crystal Castles, Hello Kitty and the best scenes from every John Hughes “coming of age” films of the 1980s.
Continue reading “Direct From Chile: The Innocent Sounds of Dënver”
Sacramento-based Math Rock group Tera Melos launched their first tour of the year at The Echo this past Friday night with the help of opening acts Power Axe and Marnie Stern.
I stepped into the venue as Power Axe closed up their set (thanks mainly to most So Cal drivers’ terrible habit of forgetting their driving skills every time water falls from the sky) Judging from the applause and whistles that followed the end of their set, he bass-and-drum brother duo did an excellent job of warming the crowd up.
To those unfamiliar with Mexican singer/actress Ximena Sariñana, it will come as a shock to know that the appearance of such a tiny, unimposing figure such as herself could set a record for a capacity crowd at La Cita in downtown LA. Hundreds of dedicated fans stood in line a full hour before doors were open to the public for her performance at Mucho Wednesday’s weekly dance party where she premiered a number of songs from her highly-anticipated sophomore album.
Afroxander (aka Iván Fernández) 