La Luz – Hotel Vegas 3/19, 4pm
Yeah, it rained more than any other South by Southwest in history. Sure you felt a little trapped at the muddy swamp aka Hotel Vegas. Quit yer whining already! 2015 also delivered more rock women then ever before, and let’s face it, they are better at everything. Take Seattle’s La Luz. They did nine shows in four days and delivered their signature moody surf spectacular. They play the Rickshaw on March 31st with ex-pat, ex-Mumler, the great Will Sprott. Don’t you dare miss it!
Pearl Charles – Spiderhouse 3/18, 915pm
LA’s Pearl Charles played eight shows in five days. Beautiful vocals and killer Topanga Canyon guitar sounds courtesy of the woman above.
Sunflower Bean – Spiderhouse 3/19, 3pm
Brooklyn continues to churn out more great bands than just about anywhere else. Sunflower Bean play super psychedelic stuff. Check ’em out April 4th at Bottom of the Hill.
TsuShiMaMiRe – The Grackle 3/19, 5pm
Japan Night returns March 30th at the Independent with lots of good stuff including the explosive rock of TsuShiMaMiRe.
Golden Dawn Arkestra – Hotel Vegas 3/19, 8pm
Golden Dawn Arkestra brought 13 members all the way from Zapot Mgawi Saturn, TX. A Sun Ra inspired frenzy of space jazz groove.
Moon City Boys – Volstead Lounge 3/19, 815pm
Sweden sent very few bands to Austin. Fortunately, they sent Moon City Boys. Stockholm’s very finest garage wizards with similarities to Habibi, they played only two shows in Austin, followed by a house party in SF before sneaking off. Message them “Please return soon!”
Death Valley Girls – Velveeta 3/19, 1am
Death Valley Girls come from LA and played the cheesiest club in town. The crowd was small but very pleased with the gritty, motorcycle grunge.
Death Valley Girls – Velveeta 3/19, 1am
Hinds – El Sapo 3/20, 3pm
And the grand prize goes to….HINDS! These ladies from Madrid played 16 (SIXTEEN) shows in Austin. I witnessed at least four of them. The songs are great. The smiles are infectious. The fun is contagious. Previously called Deers, there was a dispute with some lame Canadian band. Hinds, apparently is a female red deer native to Europe, and a far better name. Touring with boy band Parrots, they are sure to conquer the world.
Hinds – El Sapo 3/20, 3pm
Twerps – Waterloo Records 3/20, 1pm
Melbourne is cranking out tremendous bands right and left. Twerps have been bringing it since 2008. Melbourne also sent Courtney Barnett, but by the time I heard of her, she had been on Ellen and hyped beyond my standing-in-line-limit. Fortunately her buddy Frasier Gorman evaded the hype and played a perfect set of early Dylan-esque songs to a moderate sized, line-free show. Peter Bibby played an early “hangover” show on Sunday to a very small crowd. His folk anthems of drunkenness fit right in.
Sadly the other dozen Melbourne bands didn’t make it this year, but for completeness’s sake do buy all the records from: Total Control, Dick Diver, UV Race, Lower Plenty, etc. Sydney did deliver Big White. They played a bunch of great shows, proving Melbourne has some competition.
Kim & The Created – East Side Bikini 3/21, 445pm
Kim of LA’s Kim & The Created has quite the collection of bodysuits. She was spotted at the Gypsy Lounge in a shiny red one, but we prefer the bling above especially when rolling on the floor or climbing on the counters at East Side Bikini.
Coathangers – Buckshot 3/21, 9pm
Atlanta’s Coathangers played only one show at SXSW this year. Sadly it was at a shitty bar with a shittier sound crew. The bass turned off briefly during each song. Of course, it made no difference. Coathangers are the best fucking band in the Universe.
Nots – Volstead Lounge 3/22, 245pm
Goner Records outta Memphis is building a nice roster with recent releases from The Blind Shake, Ex-Cult and NOTS. All of the above played tremendous shows this year in Austin, but NOTS and only NOTS will be displayed at this time.
Nots – Volstead Lounge 3/22, 245pm
Guantanamo Baywatch – Hotel Vegas 3/22, 9pm
Portland’s Guantanamo Baywatch should need no further introduction for the savvy Bay Bridged reader. We have been in love for years. Their path to SXSW started with a packed Wednesday night show at the Knockout. With a new album coming out, Darling It’s Too Late!, our heroes are heading down under for their first tour of Australia and New Zealand. Finally GBW are getting the love they deserve.
