A Week of SXSW 2009: Bang! Bang! Eche!

[SXSW 2009]
Bang! Bang! Eche!
Sounds Like: Dance-Punk
Drinking Buddies: Death From Above 1979, The Rapture, Foals, Test Icicles
Synopsis: Volatile, vehement dance-punk echoing with feedback.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Friends (8:00 PM, March 17)
• Nueva Onda (11:30 AM, March 18)
• SXSW Party (8:00 PM, March 18)
• Maggie Mae's Rooftop (8:00 PM, March 19)
• Agave (1:45 AM, March 20)
• Bush Square Park (8:00 PM, March 20)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the seventh Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Bang! Bang! Eche!.



The key to enjoying music - the key to finding "good music - as so many call it - is being very liberal. The key is being very open minded. Music can be as deep or as shallow as anyone wishes it. But if you're not willing to swim around the whole pool of music, you're not going to make much headway. You have to see beyond "song structure" and "noise," and look for the creativity, ingenuity, and art in the chaos. You have to see beyond geography, or languages, or tastes to truly appreciate any music you hear. But most importantly, you need to know how to have fun. That's what Bang! Bang! Eche! is all about.

These days, when you hear people chatting about New Zealand, you might guess they're gabbing about the latest hilarious antics of Flight of the Conchords. But if you're delving deep into the music scene spread out through the south-Pacific, you'll definitely be wanting to gab about Bang! Bang! Eche!. These blokes hailing from Christchurch are anything but tame; maybe you catch that drift from the exclamation marks in their name.

If you didn't, you'll be wonderfully surprised by the insanely wild stylings of Bang! Bang! Eche!, who are ready and willing to blow you and your mind right off the face of the map. Bouncing rhythms mix with bass-centric songs, along with chirping keyboards and off-kilter guitar chords, all at lightspeed. All this blares out of the speakers with the hypnotic kick-drum in the background and the lyrics begging for you to sing along. The result is a vibrantly colourful, speaker shattering sound that hints at artists like Foals, and would give Montréalais ex-band Death From Above 1979 a run for their money if they were still in the business.

And here comes Bang! Bang! Eche! like a Pacific typhoon. They've been slowly expanding to the Australian mainland with consistent airplay on Aussie station Triple J, and on several podcasts internationally. Of course, the songs off their eponymous debut EP are the topic of discussion, and Bang! Bang! Eche! refuses to disappoint, with alt-punk begging to be introduced to a dancefloor through all 17 minutes of fast-paced play time. You can drop by their Myspace to check their latest tunes! You can also snag Bang! Bang! Eche!'s EP on iTunes or through CD Baby... that is, if you don't want to get it for free from B!B!E!'s Myspace.

Now, the news from the warfront: Bang! Bang! Eche!'s invasion of Texas is tearing through the musical competition at all angles. The boys are busy-busy getting everyone in Austin to dance their hearts out. For any soldiers wanting to fight on the front lines with their latest dance moves, you can catch Bang! Bang! Eche! at Friends - 8:00 PM, on the 17th; Nueva Onda @ 11:30 AM, followed by a second show at the SXSW Party with We Have Band, The Golden Filter, French Miami, Diagonals, and Fungi Girls. Then, Bang! Bang! Eche! will perform on the 19th at Maggie Mae's Rooftop at 8:00 PM, on March 20th at Agave, early at 1:45 in the morning; finally, their last show is at 8:00 PM in Bush Square Park, during the New Zealand SXSW showcase. WHEW, that was a mouthful.




Bang Bang Eche - 4 To The Floor from Bang Bang Eche on Vimeo.

A Week of SXSW 2009: BO-PEEP

[SXSW 2009]
BO-PEEP
Sounds Like: J-Rock / Garage Punk
Drinking Buddies: Kokeshi Dolls, Fool&Scissors, The Pillows
Synopsis: A punk rock explosion from Japan.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Creekside Lounge (2:30 PM, March 19)
• Whole Foods Market Roof (3:30 PM, March 20)
• Lamberts (8:00 PM, March 20)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the sixth Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is BO-PEEP.



South by Southwest is a festival. Of course, you knew that. But my intention is to point at the extremity of this grand fête! SXSW is so huge, it contributes over 100 million dollars to the Austin economy. That means literally thousands of people, trolling the streets in search of the latest indie film, or hottest new band that nobody's ever heard of. Juxtaposed is the bands from all over the planet converging on the city to passionately play their hearts out to anyone and everyone willing to spend 30-45 minutes of their time before the crowd rushes to the next venue to catch a different artist. So much energy, so much excitement packed so closely together, it's ready to explode. That's what SXSW is like.

Coincidentally, that is the same sort of image you can see in BO-PEEP as well. It could be understood that one might question what sort of explosive contents lie within the beating hearts of a Japanese trio of girls. But don't let their femininity fool you - BO-PEEP are an extremely aggressive outfit from Tokyo. They're the type of dog that has more bite than bark. They're volatile, and will burst at the seems with all their potential energy until their entire audience is kinetic.

Filled with attitude and zeal, BO-PEEP break any language or culture barriers that lie in their way as if such invisible walls were built with paper. BO-PEEP's style draws from everyone from Nirvana, to The Pillows, to Black Flag, to the Arctic Monkeys; powerful, intense, punk-infused, loud, blaring rock that send shocks straight up and down the nervous system. You don't come across this sort of honest punk-rock these days anymore. BO-PEEP's style is one of a kind in our post-Y2K, bubblegum pop society.

BO-PEEP has a very eclectic repertoire as well, with mini-albums, 0X3 and Time of Rock, along with two full lengths, Is It Good For You?! and Sick Orange Television, all bulging at the seams with energetic J-rock. Of course they have a Myspace, but sadly they only have one full-length song. If you're looking for more of their material that is accessible, may I suggest visiting their Last.fm page? Or check out this three part live performance (un | deux | trois). And if you've been doubting this whole explosion of energy thing throughout the article, watch the last 5-7 minutes of the third live show... you'll understand.

What does this all mean when it boils back down to SXSW? Blatantly, it means you have this brief opportunity to see exactly how intensely awesome BO-PEEP can be. It's an absolute necessity to catch the gals while they are stateside. They'll be at the Creekside Lounge at 2:30 PM on March 19th for the Japan Preview Showcase (a free performance). Then on March 20th, they'll show up on the roof of the Whole Foods Market at 3:40, followed by a performance at Lamberts. Some solid chances that you definitely don't want to miss.

A Week of SXSW 2009: The Moi Non Plus

[SXSW 2009]
The Moi Non Plus
Sounds Like: Experimental / Trance / Noise Rock
Drinking Buddies: Holy Fuck, Health, Foals
Synopsis: Insanity, probably?
Appearances at SXSW:

• Music Gym - Amsterdam Outsiders Showcase (8:00 PM, March 18)
• Opal Divine's Freehouse (10:00 PM, March 18)
• AA Fleamarket [DJ set] (8:00 PM, March 19)
• MS Bea - Todd P & Ground Control Showcase (8:00 PM, March 20)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the fifth Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is The Moi Non Plus.



BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
That's the bass drum. It's loud. It's wild. It's magic. It makes feet move; it makes torsos twist; it makes hips swing. It tells a band what they're doing, when they're doing it, and what they should do next, because that's the beat. That's because it keeps the beat, and be that beat slow, fast, or just disconcerting, it tells a lot about a band.

The drums tell a lot about The Moi Non Plus. This duo hailing from Amsterdam are all about blaring. Blaring guitars, blaring drums, loud loud loud, BOOM BOOM BOOM! Their tunes are dark, but very danceable. The Moi Non Plus embraces a thorough sense of musical hypnotism to entrance their listeners in a parade of eclectic, confusing movement. They use their voices and English lyrics more like intruments, adding a distorted edge to the all the guitar feedback and steady repetition Using drum and guitar samples, as well as live instrumentation, The Moi Non Plus crafts songs designed to draw the energy out of people, and let them steep in the lifeforce and souls now hanging in the air. It can be an out of body experience, or it can be a lively celebration of chaos. Your choice.

Though, dear reader, I admit I am at a loss in explaining The Moi Non Plus further. For you see, they are good at two things: making wildly awesome music, and being extremely mysterious. They have a Myspace which is irreverently inexplicit. They have live performances dotting the internet here and there. What is known, though, is that The Moi Non Plus is affiliated with Subbacultcha!, an independent label out of The Netherlands. You can get The Moi Non Plus self-titled debut album there.


SXSW 2008 is a different story, as The Moi Non Plus have quite a few scheduled appearances around the Texas capital. They are set to play at the Music Gym for the Amsterdam Outsiders Showcase at 8:00 PM, followed by a second show at Opal Divine's Freehouse for the SXSW Showcase at 10:00 PM, all on March 18th. On March 19, they are set up for a DJ set at the AA Fleamarket at 8:00. Finally on March 20, the'll be at Ms Bea, for the Todd P & Ground Control Showcase at 8:00. Make good on this brief opportunity to glimpse such a North-European mystery. Go!

A Week of SXSW 2009: Songs For Eleonor

[SXSW 2009]
Songs For Eleonor
Sounds Like: Electronica / Techno
Drinking Buddies: Hello Seahorse!, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Au Revoir Simone
Synopsis: Sentimental electronica for the deep-hearted.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Habana Bar (7:00 PM, March 18)

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the fourth Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Songs For Eleonor.



It's something about the way that music can make you feel things. The way it can make you move, and make you think. The ability of music to change your mood, alter your perception, and invigorate your mind is truly a powerful thing. If you allow it, music can be it's own unique form of magic; no fairy dust or wand required, just some speakers and a willingness to listen.

Lyrics are a significant piece of any song that incorporates them. A band can craft their poetry with great diligence to garner the desired effect they wish to invoke with your song; it's a bit of a science into the soul of a band's music listeners, really. And this is a science that Songs For Eleonor knows front to back. This duo from Mexico City takes on their duties of teaching the world how to love and be loved, by playing deeply textured love songs.

But don't mistake Songs For Eleonor for your run-of-the-mill electronica artist. In fact, Songs For Eleonor are quite the progressive team, very often pushing toward narrative lyrics, alongside inventive song structures that often lack choruses. The bass pulsates onward for a danceable atmosphere filled with ambient keyboard, following lighthearted, delicate melodies. The steady repetition of the rhythm is soothing in the most hypnotic sense, letting your mind wash over their words like water on the beach.

Songs For Eleonor has been busying themselves away with work on their second album. This if of course, after the release of their eponymous debut LP, released on the Mexican label Discos Termento. During South by Southwest, you can see Songs For Eleonor live on the first evening of the musical festivities - during their only performance at the festival - at the SXSW Official Showcase at the Habana Bar. Don't miss it, because the only shows the duo has scheduled for the future remain below the border. Go!

A Week of SXSW 2009: Champagne Champagne

[SXSW 2009]
Champagne Champagne
Sounds Like: Hip-Hop
Drinking Buddies: The Cool Kids, N.A.S.A., Jaguar Love
Synopsis: Foolish flows for hectic hipsters.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Red Eye Fly - Suicide Squeeze Showcase (8:00 PM, March 18)
• Long Branch - Mt. Fugi Showcase (6:00 PM, March 19)
• Beerland - Panache Day Party (3:00 PM, March 22)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the third Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Champagne Champagne.



It's something about a groove that can get you moving. Something about a flow that speaks the feeling better than anything else. In some circumstances, no form of poetry nor diatribe can possibly compete with the flow; the rhyme. It's a magnificent feeling when the beat drops and the MC begins to break it down like a demolition site, laying down logic for you fools, kid. It's like magic, or magnetism, or something simply indescribable. And it's something that takes talent.

Champagne Champagne has talent to a scientist. But maybe that's because they have talented individuals among their ranks. Pearl Dragon is the house rapper who drops his knowledge, "rapping to the first degree." Thomas Gray compliments Pearl Dragon's style, all orchestrated by DJ Gajamagic - AKA Mark Gajadhar - AKA former member of ex-band The Blood Brothers.

It is this talented trio that fuels the fire for Champagne Champagne crew. Rockin' the house out of Seattle, the guys formed back in 2007, beginning to craft their thoughtfully provoked tunes. Tunes, tunes, songs that bubble like fresh champagne out of the bottle, blasting out and spewing across the room, lively and festive. Champagne Champagne is tangy in a may that makes you want to go, "WOO!" after having a just a little. And it all goes down smooth.

Champagne Champagne has one album so far, self-titled, filled to the brim lyrics of the sass and sarcastic. You can catch this, along with plenty of their tunes, off of their Myspace. When it comes to shows down in South by Southwest, you can see the trio first on March 18 at the SXSW Suicide Squeeze Showcase, around 8:00 PM at the Red Eye Fly. On Thursday - March 19 - they'll be at the Mt Fugi Showcase at Long Branch, performing at 6:00 PM; Champagne Champagne may be playing on the 20th and 21st, but are definitely set to perform at Beerland for the Panache Day Party at 3:00 PM. Performances you won't want to miss!

A Week of SXSW 2009: Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves

[SXSW 2009]
Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves
Sounds Like: Soul / Funk
Drinking Buddies: Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, The Blues Brother Band.
Synopsis: YEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!
Appearances at SXSW:

• Sonny's Vintage Party [2928 Guadalupe St.] (6:30 PM, March 18]
• Continental Club (11:45 PM, March 18)
• Room 710 (2:00 PM, March 19)
• Peckerheads [My Old Kentucky Blog / Aquarium Drunkard Party] (7:00 PM, March 19)
• The Pure Volume House (11:45 PM, March 19)
• The Four Seasons [KGSR 107.1 FM Live] (7:00 AM, March 20)
• The Gingerman (6:00 PM, March 20)
• The Continental Club (10:00 PM, March 20)
• Jovitas (5:00 PM, March 21)
• Clementine Coffee House (11:00 PM, March 21)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the second Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Love.



Difference is key. Being different definitely sets you apart, and that difference can draw all kinds of attention. Going against the grain is what South by Southwest is all about; featuring the latest and greatest who aren't mainstream; the many and proud participants in independent music culture. Genre, style? Hogwash! It doesn't matter while surrounded by the throngs of people in Austin; all they're concerned about is hearing good music, be it modern or retro.

If you happen to be looking for something eclectic outside of the quote-unquote "indie rock scene," whatever that is exactly, all you have to do is a little listening and looking. Then you'll find some jive turkeys like Eli Reed, and his travelling troupe of troubadours, The True Loves. These guys are a blast from the past straight into the present; if you - for whatever reason - stopped listening to all forms of music since the mid 1970s, and Eli Reed was the first thing you had, you might find it hard pressed to admit 40s years have passed.

Truth be told, Eli Reed & The True Loves play a completely retro style of funk and soul, with a bluesy twinge. Complete with uppity guitar solos, a whole brass section that would make Beirut swoon, and a voice that rivals Sly Stone. And it isn't just the comparisons that are close; Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves are a wonderful, near perfect, modern representation of the funk movement. Filled with energy and attitude, how can you go wrong? The folks have two albums out, which I believe can be purchased right now off of Amazon.com.

Concerning South by Southwest, which helped launch the gang back in 2007, you'll have no shortage of opportunites to catch them live. Excuse the following run-on sentence: you can catch Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves at Sonny's Vintage Party (2928 Guadalupe St.) for free at 6:30 PM, as well at the Continental Club's Official SXSW Showcase at 11:45 PM all on March 18th; at Room 710 for the Pirate Radio Party at 2:00 PM, followed by the My Old Kentucky Blog / Aquarium Dunkard Party at Peckerheads, starting at 7:00 PM, along with the Photo Finish Records Party at The Pure Volume House around 11:45 PM on MArch 19th. Then, there's the live radio session on KGSR 107.1 FM at 7:00 AM, live at the Four Seasons, the Dogfish Head Brewery Party at The Gingerman around 6:00 PM, and the Ponderosa Stomp at The Continental Club at 10:00 PM all on the 20th. And as if this paragraph couldn't get longer, you can see more shows on March 21st at Jovitas around 5:00 PM, followed by their final performacnce of SXSW at the Clementine Coffee House at 11:00 PM.

So don't say you don't have a chance to catch Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves. Because that would be such a lie! Get goin'!

A Week of SXSW 2009: Phosphorescent

[SXSW 2009]
Phosphorescent
Sounds Like: Folk
Drinking Buddies: Iron & Wine, Mount Eerie, Bon Iver
Synopsis: A quiet expression of introspection.
Appearances at SXSW:

• Club de Ville (11:59 PM, March 18)
• The Mohawk (9:40 PM, March 19)
• Mrs Bea's (3:00 PM, March 19)
• Red Eyed Fly (4:20 PM, March 20)
  

[Myspace]




All this week, Voilà! is covering South by Southwest.
Time for the first Voilà! featurette.
Today, the featured SXSW artist is Phosphorescent.



Folk music is sometimes not given its due and proper. Sure, there are plenty of people who pay tribute to the wonderful genre, from more modern forms like Thao with The Get Down Stay Down and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, to more traditional styles from bands like Bon Iver and Okkervil River. But largely, beyond these break-out artists, many don't pay mind to such traditional song-making, a very low-key, lo-fi song making. The song making that represents the people. Real people in real places, with real things to say.

Phosphorescent is one of those sort of bands: a band with something real to say. The solo project of Matthew Houck expresses the thoughts and experiences of the kind of guy who's good at singin' it out, rather than speaking it. With a blend of traditional folk elements along with an country twang, Phosphorescent - with its full band sound - presents a very vibrant, imaginative sound that stands unique in American folk artists.

Their tunes are laid back and calm, almost soothing. Phosphorescent is good at down tempo, and good at understanding the value in quiet and laid back. Their songs are relaxing: songs about drinking to drink to - songs about love to be in love to - songs about singing and having fun to sing and have fun to. Phosphorescent is all about coming together and enjoying something simple, real, and uniquely, passionately beautiful. Phosphorescent has quite a few albums, their most hailed being Aw Come Aw Wry, and are currently working on brand new LP, titled To Willie. You can listen to and purchase Houck's music right off of his Myspace.

For those braving the wild streets of Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest festival, you'll have quite a few opportunites to catch them. Firstly, on March 18th, you can catch a special "To Willie performance at Club de Ville at 11:59 PM (this may even be a record debut). March 19th will have Phosphorescent at Mrs Bea's for Todd P's Party at 3:00 PM, followed by a performance at The Mohawk for the Dead Oceans Showcase at 9:40 PM. And to round out the fesetitivties of SXSW, there will be one last shows at the Red Eyed Fly for the Little Radio Dayshow, at 4:20 on March 20. Pick up a drink, and get that singin' voice ready.