Clare & the Reasons was the very first show we witnessed at SXSW this year, and it was also one of the best. Up there in the top 3 with Lykke Li and the Akron Family. It was definitely the most sublimely beautiful show we saw.

We wrote about Clare Muldaur a few months ago - and her record "The Movie". With a few months gone, we can safely say that "The Movie" was our favorite record of 2007. It's still played constantly around here.

The live show was as equally impressive. Clare probably has one of the most perfect female voices on the planet, reminiscent of some '20s flapper singer, and her musicians are top notch. The band featured, violin, viola, cello, keyboards, bass, guitar and the occasional toy instrument.

My one disappointment was that they didn't play my favorite track (Nothing, Nowhere) BUT they did play 2 new songs that weren't on "The Movie" as well as a brand new cover of Tears For Fears "Everyone Wants to Rule The World", which... well... ruled.

All in all the best start to a SXSW ever. Enjoy.

Live MP3 MP3s:
Removed per Label Request

Labels: austin, dirty dog, indie, live mp3s, soundboard mp3s, sxsw

Another lovely show from the 2nd day of Hot Freaks! at SXSW, David Bazan played a completely packed show at the Mohawk (inside stage.)

Focusing on his newer "solo" tracks, David was good enough to recognize the fans wanted some older material and pulled out some Pedro the Lion classics, as well as a track from his short lived Headphones project.

A fairly intimate and raw show, the recording gives a near perfect representation of the in-your-face feel of David's solo performance - just a guy emoting over an electric guitar. Enjoy.

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro
Weeds in the Wheat
The Devil Is Beating His Wife
Selling Advertising
When We Fell
Transcontinental
Harmless Sparks
Please Baby Please
The Stitches
Of Minor Prophets And Their Prostitute Wives
Hot Girls
Outro

Lullabyes is pretty much a PG-13 blog. Family friendly, if you will. Occasionally, a band will force into "hard" PG-13 territory by using profanity in their name. Guess it just comes with the territory.

For HF I almost think it's a shame, as it pretty much guarantees a lack of commercial radio play, and these guys are amazingly catchy. Even as pure instrumentals, the songs possess so much dynamic, unique character that you easily witness and throughly enjoy their live 30 minute set.

These guys played all over Austin during SXSW, with a stop at the Brooklyn Vegan day party (fantastic line up) that was going down at Emo's Annex. Their live sets are a fairly interesting experience - 4 guys rocking out on a series of keyboards, effects, cool toys and even the occasional piece of silverware. The kicker? No loops, no laptops - all played out in real time.

If you need a starting point, go with the single - Lovely Allen.

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro
The Pulse
Milkshake
Bontempi Latin
Royal Gregory
Choppers
Tone Bank Jungle
Frenchy's
Super Inuit
Lovely Allen
Outro

Labels: austin, emos, indie, live mp3s, soundboard mp3s, sxsw

Quick post! I won't get to post again til Wednesday, and wanted to get at least one more SXSW show out there!

This was one of our favorite shows this year - definitely in the top 3. It didn't hurt that we'd had Lykke Li's record, Youth Novels, on repeat for the last week. Hearing the record, then seeing her live, you just know that this artist is going to make it big. Last year it was Amy Winehouse at SXSW. This year, we're betting that Lykke blows up in Europe and the States.

If you haven't heard any of her studio tracks be sure to head over to her MySpace and check them out. You can also buy her record here.

Amazing set - Lykke's performance and voice was just spot on, and the live interpretations of the studio tracks were inspired, especially the odd "toy" instruments, and ultra-simple drum set up.

I'm personally hoping more Lykke set's show up from SXSW. Enjoy!

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro
Dance Dance Dance
Let It Fall
Hanging High
Little Bit
Window Blues
I'm Good, I'm Gone
Outro

Labels: austin, Club De Ville, indie, live mp3s, soundboard mp3s, sxsw

200th Post! Wooot!

Okay, setting the minor milestone aside, it's time to get back to SXSW.

As mentioned yesterday, we got to see a lot of shows over the course of SXSW. Here's a quick recap!

March 13th -
Clare & the Reasons
Johnathan Rice
Emmy the Great
Lucas Haas
Holy F**k
Dr Dog
Joseph Arthur
Mark Kozelek
My Morning Jacket
Yo La Tengo
My Morning Jacket
Thurston Moore
Lou Reed & Moby
N.E.R.D

March 14th -
Nicole Atkins & the Sea
The Dodos
The Duke Spirit
She & Him
Limbeck
Le Loup
Akron Family
El Guincho
Herman Dune
Walter Meego

March 15th -
Frankel
Jealous Girlfriends
Bodies of Water
Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club)
Kevin Barnes
White Rabbits
David Bazan
White Hinterland
Lykke Li

There were lots more 10 minute stops around town - but these were the full set or near full set acts that we saw over the last few days. The feet and lower back officially hurt, and there are definite signs of farmer tans.

Great, great times. We mostly stuck to day parties this time around and took in more of Austin in the evenings.

One killer showcase was put on by Everloving records at the Design Within Reach furniture store. We were fairly surprised the store allowed the showcase (and were especially surprised at the free beer that was being handed out) as the furniture pieces were all "designer", "unique" and very, very expensive.

Still, hanging out on a $4k coach and watching some great music is never a bad thing.

We had never heard of Walter Meego before they played, but we were nothing short of impressed by this Chicago band's European flavored, Daft Punk-esque and dancy tunes, that were overlaid with pop-meets-indie vocals. They were also fairly impressive musicians, nicely using an array of keyboards and even switching back and forth to electric guitars.

Enjoy!

Live MP3 MP3s:
Girls
Forever
Through a Keyhole
Got Me Going
Lost
Romantic
Everything Is Meant To Be

Labels: austin, design within reach, indie, live mp3s, soundboard mp3s, sxsw

Austin during SXSW 2008. Fantastic.

We got to see a couple of dozen bands at some great parties over the last few days, including memorable stops at the Nylon Guess shows at their 5th Floor pool party, Hot Freaks at Club de Ville/the Mohawk and Everloving at the ultra-swank furniture store, Design Within Reach.

One of the beautiful aspects of SXSW is that you never actually know what you're going to get from the bands. Today a guest 30-minute DJ set from "List Christee" aka Kevin Barnes, lead singer from Of Montreal turned into a surprise live performance at the Hot Freaks show at Club de Ville.

Intended to be an acoustic set, Kevin ended up borrowing an electronic guitar from the band White Rabbits, who were next up on the bill, after technical issues forced him to set aside his acoustic.

An eclectic set, Barnes played a new one-minute track (which in lieu of an official title, we've labeled "Why Am I"), a couple of cool MIA and Grateful Dead covers and an Of Montreal staple. He also played a song he attributed to Bob Dylan. After a couple of listens and some time with Google, it seems that the track may have been a spontaneous creation, with Barnes making up the lyrics on the spot. Any corrections would be appreciated!

Enjoy

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro
Why Am I
Jimmy (MIA)
Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
Shakedown Street (Grateful Dead)
Matchbox Cars

Labels: austin, Club De Ville, concerts, indie, live mp3s, soundboard mp3s, sxsw

Quick post tonight - we're getting ready for SXSW!!!

We got a chance to see Beach House play a mini-show at Good Records on Saturday. Good stuff.

Our friends from GorillavsBear were also there, and we managed to get some decent audio and nice HD video. Check out the video for 'Gila' over GvsB.

Live MP3 MP3s:
Intro
Gila
Wedding Bells
D.A.R.L.I.N.G.
Apple Orchard
You Came to Me
Master of None