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SXSW 2025

SXSW (07-15 Mar 2025) My Biggest Regrets Not chatting about new artists and the industry with Steve Lamacq "The Godfather" when I ran into him at Creek and the Cave. Missing at least 4-5 unbelievable artists Not networking with enough people and learning more Biggest Artists I Missed Mellt Somebody Someone Grace Sorenson Quiet Light My Biggest Tips Focus on the artists and make it more accommodating for them. Allow artists to play as many unofficial shows as they want and encourage more live shows during the daytime for attendees and artists. Read More SXSW Once again, SXSW (South by Southwest Music Festival) is returning to Austin, Texas. This year marks the festival’s 38th annual event. Like previous years, there are a million bands. ....

Thirteenth year to what could be the end of a new beginning at one of my favorite weeks of the year: South by Southwest (SXSW).

The odds seems stacked against the 2025 SXSW festival—with surging prices, budget issues, and a downsized line-up of 1,000 less bands than normal, including two of my favorites, Yuuf and Elín Hall, who dropped out before the festival. And yet, I had the time of my life. It turned out to be a much better than anticipated festival.

If you listened to a good chunk of the artists and did a little research, you could make a pretty decent 5-day schedule. One of the best parts of SXSW is even if you're not blown away by 25-30 artists, you can still see 3 of your top 10 artists 2-3 times. However you roll, I do a hybrid and catch usually my top 5 to 7 artists twice and still see 100+ bands. I'm quick like a cat at all the shows where if I'm not feeling the first song or two, I'm hopping on a Lime scooter faster than Shazam! 

I was blessed to have two venues very close for daytime parties. They had the deepest lineups all day long at High Noon (Paste Magazine) and Lazarus Brewery (Music for Listeners). At night time if you got a full slate you have to be ready to go all over the place but I would say anywhere central by 7th and Red River is a good spot to be where your close to venues with multiple stage like Palm Door on 6th Street, Swan Dive, Mohawk, and ot

Main tips for future SXSW attendees, listen to loads of bands, make a schedule (day/night), don't drink until the night showcases so you can fly on the scooter to and from all the rad day parties mostly on E 6th. Network with loads of people, bands, label, film, everyone at the fest. Get a nice variety of venues with backyards, churches, and all the cool venues all over the city!

Let’s cut to the spectacular new artists at this year's fest!

Below is a list of my top 20 Performances at SXSW

1. Surely Shirley @ Creek and the Cave (Aussie sweet hearts, Lake Street Dive meets the supremes get ready to dance!)
2. Delivery @ Lazarus (As crazy as king gizzard and had a stage invasion to end the night!)
3. Jazmin Martin @ Marlow (Sault meets Janelle Monoe)
4. Holy F**k @ Mohawk (Trippy Toronto Psychbeats, LCD)
5. Go Cactus @ Low Down Lounge (Spanish Ramones and Clash, Wild energy on stage!)
6. Lizzie Berchie @ Palm Door on 6th (British Embassy)
7. Los Juanos @ Lamberts
8. Personal Trainer @ Lazarus Brewery
9. Voxtrot @ Mohawk
10. Ellur @ Palm Door on 6th (British Embassy)
11. Billianne @ Paste Magazine Party (Biggest Surprise Artist At SXSW)
12. Hanorah @ Saxon Pub (Amy Winehouse potential)
13. Monobloc @ Paste Magazine Party (High Noon) (new Strokes sound)
14. Sophia Rogers @ Hotel Vegas (Lake Street Dive Potential, unreal vocals)
15. Band of Horses @ Stubbs (They still got it!)
16. Weird Blood @ Lazarus Brewery
17. Willie McGee Band @ Secret House Show
18. Makeout Reef @ 13th Floor
19. Pavey Ark @ Lazarus Brewery (E. 6th)
20. His His @ Swan Dive
    
    Honarable Mentions - Pavari, Yndling, Dead Gowns, Cactus Lee, Radio Free Alice, The Vanns, Coldwave, Mall Girl, Yoshika Colwell

Weird Bloom at Lazarus Brewery (13 Mar 2025) photo courtesy of Anet Prinz

Hanorah at Saxon Pub (12 Mar 2025)

Hanorah at Saxon Pub (12 Mar 2025)

Weird Bloom at Lazarus Brewery (13 Mar 2025) photo courtesy of Anet Prinz

Jazlyn Martin at Marlow (14 Mar 2025)

Willy McGee's Band? at Secret House (09 Mar 2025)

Voxtrot at Mohawk Outdoor (14 Mar 2025)

Surely Shirley at Creek and the Cave Backyard (14 Mar 2025)

Surely Shirley at Creek and the Cave (14 March 2025)

brody ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Band of Horses at Uptown Theater, Kansas City MO (2024-02-18)

Band of Horses at Uptown Theater- Kansas City MO 2024-02-18 BAND OF HORSES SETLIST Acoustic Set St. Augustine (Ben solo) I Go to the Barn Because I Like The No One's Gonna Love You Barrel House Dilly Lights Marry Song Factory In Need of Repair Weed Party Electric Set The General Specific The First Song Laredo Crutch Never Tear Us Apart (INXS cover) The Great Salt Lake Is There a Ghost Warning Signs Blue Beard Ode to LRC The Funeral BAND OF HORSES TOUR DATES Apr 5-6, Hogs for the Cause New Orleans, LA Jun 20-22, Azkena Rock Festival Gasteiz / Vitoria, Spain Jun 27-29, Blue Ox Music Festival Eau Claire, WI Nov 8-10, Moon Crush: An Avett Moon Miramar Beach, FL Band of Horses Things Are Great! The Seattle indie folk rock band wraps their tour right here in KC and it’s been a special outing, called “An Evening With Band of Horses” and features no opener and both acoustic and electric sets.

Things Are (still) Great!

And, a finish with flourish! After over a year on the road, Seattle indie folk rockers Band of Horses wrapped their tour in midtown Kansas City at the Uptown Theater in front of a sold-out crowd of their happiest fans.

Though it may have started as a usual tour to support their latest full-length album, 2022’s Things are Great (via BMG Records), this particular run of “An Evening With….” shows that featured both a full acoustic set followed by a full electric set, also celebrate twenty years of the band, and have become a thank you to the fans for staying loyal as long as they have.

The night began quietly with the acoustic set first, with singer Ben Bridwell coming out himself to sit on a stage framed with numerous candles, a patchwork of cozy floor rugs and a few vintage floor lamps near the set-up instruments. 2006’s “St. Augustine” would begin the evening, with Bridwell playfully inviting the audience, singing “Let's bury ourselves and go haunt someone tonight.”

Bridwell acknowledged it being the tour’s last night and apologized in advance if his vocals sounded more rough and rawer than usual, but the seated crowd seemed too rapt in attention and easily forgave him for something barely noticed. Longtime musical collaborator Ryan Monroe and the band's newest member, guitarist Brett Nash, stepped from the shadows to join Bridwell on the early song, “I Go to the Barn Because I Like The” with the remaining band members in tow.

The rest of the set seemed casual and informal, with the intimacy of a living room concert and the unpretentious Bridwell wondering aloud why he didn’t make a bigger deal playing “Factory” the night before in Chesterfield, MO … at a venue called The Factory.

Smiles could be seen on fans’ faces as Bridwell sang, “Stayin' friends is really fantastic, we'll be together from the cradle to the casket” from the newest album, noticeably laughing when Bridwell would over-enunciate the record’s title, saying the song was “from their latest, 'Things are GREAT!”

At the set break, the cozy campfire vibe of the candles, rugs, and lamps, was all removed to make room for a proper rock show, though the muted woodsy backdrop did remain. Bridwell’s 80’s influence (who knew?!) was clearly on display as the band walked out to The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way” and they would authentically cover the 1988 INXS hit ballad, “Never Tear Us Apart”, just a few songs in.

Though it’s been a warm winter, “The Snow Fall Aka The First Song” dutifully set the mood for a winter holiday scene and lights strobed and guitars roared during 2006’s “The Great Salt Lake”.

“Warning Signs” from the new record gave Bridwell another chance to announce it was from “Things are GREAT!” without too much sarcasm.

2007’s upbeat “Ode to LRC” optimistically reminded us in song that “the world is such a wonderful place” and ending the night with 2006’s “The Funeral” might seem like a downbeat choice even though the song musically builds into a joyous crescendo, and it did seem more reflective and inclusive, with the crowd helping Bridwell sing the “oh, oh’s” of the song and was a chance to hear the distinctive edge in his voice when it gets louder, that one last time.

Band of Horses now takes a well-deserved break with the exception of a few cherry-picked festival shows, but finished this tour leg with a memorable performance, and a not-so-subtle reminder that even in a post-pandemic world, with two wars raging, climate change altering landscapes, and so much more, that… “Things are GREAT!”

 (Click on any image to enlarge and see in full)     

JohnC ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Minneapolis: November 12, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on November 12, 2016.

NOTE: Band Of Horses with Wild Belle will be playing the State Theatre on this date.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Aurora Norwegian Aurora Aksnes, otherwise known simply as Aurora, just released her debut EP Running With The Wolves last week, May 4th via Decca Records. The 18 year-old will be doing a limited …

AURORA
at Cedar Cultural Center
Saturday, 11/12/16, 7pm ($20)
thecedar.org

Norway’s Aurora (aka Aurora Aksnes) is back in Minneapolis, headlining the Cedar Cultural Center this Saturday, November 12th. She previously sold out the 7th Street Entry in April 2016.

Show up early to check out UK solo artist Dan Croll. He’s currently in America to promote his new single ‘Swim’ (which premiered on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show).

Croll was granted the opportunity to work with the legendary Sir Paul McCartney, and won the National Songwriter of the Year Award from the Musician’s Benevolent Fund. Croll recently signed to Communion Records in the UK.

Tour Dates:

11/11* - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
11/12* - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11/13* - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
11/14* - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar
11/25^ - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
11/27^% - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
11/28^% - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
12/02^ - Seattle, WA - Showbox
12/03^ - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre

*w/ Dan Croll ^w/ Foreign Air
%w/ OYSTER KIDS

Read More NOFX A NOFX cover “Linoleum” was also played, but instead of trying to out-punk the Orange County punk band, Fallon’s version is a little more acoustic. …

NOFX
at Cabooze
Saturday, 11/12/16, 8pm ($29)
cabooze.com

The boys are back in town.

NOFX will be making their “First Ditch Effort” appearance at the Cabooze this Saturday, November 12 (with Pears and Useless ID).

Prior to the Cabooze show, you can see Shaun M. Colón’s A Fat Wreck: The Punk-u-mentary documentary about the influential California punk label Fat Wreck Chords (and some of your favorite punk bands: NOFX, Foo Fighters, Bad Religion, Against Me!) at the Sound Unseen Film Festival in St Paul. The film will come to VOD and Blu-ray/DVD on November 22nd via The Orchard and Something Kreative... just in time for the Christmas holiday.

After the show you can try and get into the free NOFX After Party, starting at 11:30pm at the Triple Rock Social Club (walkable from the Cabooze).

Although it’s not a guarantee that NOFX will appear at the Triple Rock, the chances are high that they may show up to hear some Extreme Noise DJ’s playing some classic NOFX songs.

If you are interested in seeing A Fat Wreck: The Punk-u-mentary, here are screening dates:

11/11 Time Community Theater*- Oshkosh, WI
11/12 SOUND UNSEEN FILM FEST - Saint Paul, MN
11/12 Reggie's Tavern* - Wilmington NC
11/17 Marrs Bar* - Worcester, UK
11/18 Neshaminy Creek Brewing* - Croydon, PA
11/19 Mellomveien - Trondheim, NOR
11/20 Soup Kitchen - Manchester, UK
11/21 Enzian Theater - Maitland, FL
11/24 The Exchange - Bristol, UK
11/25 Poppodium Volt - Sittard, NLH
11/25 Hamar kulturhus - Hamar, NOR
11/25 Hyde Park Picture House - Leeds, UK
11/26 Roxy Theatre - Victoria, CAN
11/27 DIY Space for London- Dundee, UK

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump

Jason Lytle Tour Dates 12/03/12 Michigan Theater Ann Arbor, MI 12/05/12 Massey Hall Toronto, Canada 12/06/12 Métropolis Montreal, Canada 12/08/12 State Theatre Portland, ME 12/09/12 House of Blues Boston Boston, MA 12/10/12 Union Hall Brooklyn, NY 12/11/12 Hammerstein Ballroom New York, NY 12/14/12 The Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA 12/15/12 The National Richmond, VA 02/07/13 Scala London, United Kingdom 02/09/13 The Haunt Brighton, United Kingdom 02/11/13 Le Grand Mix Tourcoing, France 02/12/13 Café de la Danse Paris, France 02/13/13 Antipod Rennes, France 02/14/13 Le 106 Club Rouen, France 02/16/13 Tour & Taxis Brussels, Belgium 02/18/13 Rotown Rotterdam, Netherlands 02/19/13 Bitterzoet Amsterdam, Netherlands Read More Grandaddy Here's one called Grandaddy, who are from the nowheresville town of Modesto, California. I used to live around this area, so I was quite excited to see these 'local boys done good'. I'm sure you've all remember .....

I used to joke that Grandaddy was from my hometown, even though Modesto isn't anywhere near Fresno or Sacramento (I used to live in both cities).

Ticket stub to Grandaddy at First Avenue, Minneapolis (05/09/2001)

Anyway, if you were wondering why there's suddenly all these concert tickets being scanned: that's because I'm in the process of moving and found my old journals/scrapbook. Sadly I did not write about any of the bands I saw, instead, I just stickered in my concert tickets. I supposed I thought I would always remember the shows. Here's a hint kids: write down your thoughts in your journal, because you will forget.

I saw Grandaddy on tour for their best album, The Sophtware Slump, which came out around the tech-bubble and it was their "difficult" sophomore album that many bands face. Surprisingly, everyone, at least at the time, loved The Sophtware Slump. I was pretty excited to finally catch them in Minneapolis. Virgil Shaw was listed as opener on the ticket, but I couldn't tell you what he sounded like.

As for Grandaddy, it was very light-showy from what I can remember. Singer Jason Lytle spent most of the time staring down at the keyboard or his guitars. They did most of the songs The Sophtware Slump, including my favorite "Hewlett's Daughter."

The album was re-released 11 years later as a bonus/deluxe album. They couldn't have done it for the 10 year or 20 year anniversary?

I believe Grandaddy came back on tour a few other times, but after seeing them in 2001, I felt it was good enough and I never saw them again.

So, what's going on with Grandaddy? Earlier this year (March), the band reformed, and went on tour (all the August dates are listed here), including headlining End of the Road Festival in London (09/04/12) and Paris' Rock en Seine Festival (08/26/12).

Are they gone? Was this simply a "Get in, rock out, get paid, get out" as Lytle joked? I guess we'll wait and see, but between you and me, there's no shame in making loads of money and getting out.

Jason Lytle is doing a solo-tour supporting Band of Horses, and then headlining in the UK. If you've never seen Grandaddy, I'm pretty sure he'll play one or two songs?

Grandaddy Tour Postcard

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ grandaddymusic.com

All about the Benjamins

Read More Death Cab For Cutie Death Cab for Cutie, I have to explain that I've seen the band before in 2001 at the 7th Street Entry for $5. People who live in Minnesota know that the 7th Street is a tiny venue. ....

This is part two of Ben There, Done That.

BENJAMIN GIBBARD
benjamingibbard.net

Benjamin Gibbard's debut solo album Former Lives just came out on Barsuk Records. Gibbard will be hitting the road in November in support of his album. I get the feeling that it will be pretty low-key with just Gibbard and his guitar (as seen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon).

Of course, I've been following Gibbard's band, Death Cab for Cutie since the early 2000, having seen them at the tiny 7th Street Entry to the 5000-capacity Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

Although the band can easily sell out any venues, I think part of their problem is their band name. As Lara pointed out in her …And You Will Know Us by the Ridiculously Long Band Name and Other Obnoxious Idiosyncratic Moniker article: "I know, I know, Death Cab is a serious, important band. Forgive me."

I think as simply "Benjamin Gibbard", people will accept his music as "serious". It should be interesting to see the fans at his upcoming shows:

11/01 Minneapolis MN @ Assembly Hall* 11/02 Chicago, IL @ Athenaeum Theatre * 11/04 Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theater * 11/05 New York, NY @ Town Hall * 11/07 Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre * 11/08 Washington, DC @ Sixth & I * 11/10 Saxapahaw, NC @ The Haw River Ballroom * 11/11 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse * 11/13 San Francisco, CA @ Palace of Fine Arts+ 11/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Wilshire Ebell +

11/16 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox+ 11/17 Seattle, WA @ Washington Hall 11/18 Portland, OR @ The Crystal Ballroom+ 11/29 Hamburg, Germany @ Kulurkirche Köln 11/30 Berlin, Germany @ Passionskirche 12/03 London, UK @ Union Chapel 12/04 Brussels, Belgium @ ORANGERIE 12/05 Paris, France @ Café de la Danse * w/ Advance Base, + w/ Damien Jurado

BAND OF HORSES
bandofhorses.com

You know that front man for Band of Horses, Benjamin Bridwell called his original band Horses? They changed their name, probably because they needed a more unique name, or possibly because of other bands called Horses. Plus, I always think of Patti Smith, in terms of music.

Anyway, Band of Horses are currently on tour in support of their album, Mirage Rock, which came out last month (September 18th), via Columbia Records.

If the new album had a feel of classic Americana rock (Neil Young, Tom Petty), it could possibly have something to do with producer Glyn Johns, who has worked with Led Zeppelin, Joe Cocker, Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, among others. Critics generally loved it, but Pitchfork didn't love it, calling it, "Americana-flavored junk food devoid of substance."

Tour dates below:

10/23/12 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom 10/24/12 Houston, TX House Of Blues 10/26/12 Tempe, AZ The Marquee 10/27/12 San Pedro, CA Warner Grand Theatre 10/28/12 Oakland, CA Fox Theater 11/15/12 Birmingham, HMV 11/16/12 Glasgow, O2 Academy Glasgow 11/17/12 Dublin, Ireland Olympia Theatre 11/19/12 Manchester, Manchester Academy 11/20/12 London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo 12/01/12 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre 12/03/12 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan Theater 12/05/12 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

12/06/12 Montreal, QC Metropolis 12/09/12 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston 12/11/12 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom 12/14/12 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory 12/15/12 Richmond, VA The National 01/15/13 Wellington Wellington Town Hall 01/16/13 Auckland Auckland Town Hall 01/18/13 Sydney, Australia Sydney Showgrounds 01/20/13 Gold Coast, Australia Parklands 01/22/13 Newtown, Australia Enmore Theatre 01/23/13 St. Kilda, Australia Palais Theatre 01/25/13 Adelaide, Australia RA&HS Showgrounds 01/26/13 Melbourne Flemington Racecourse 01/28/13 Perth, Australia Claremont Oval

IO ECHO
ioechomusic.com

IO Echo is a Los Angeles duo (Ioanna Gika and Leopold Ross) and their self-titled debut EP came out in the US prior to CMJ. UK fans will need to wait until November 26th to get the record via LuvLuvLuv Records.

You can stream it on Pure Volume with commentaries.

IO Echo's music was recently used as the soundtrack to a short film by dancer, choreographer and director Benjamin Millepied (best known for his choreography and starring role in Darren Aronofsky's feature Black Swan and also Natalie Portman's husband.)

The video is available on Nowness.

The band is currently in the UK:

Oct 23 London, United Kingdom - Scotch
Oct 24 Manchester, United Kingdom - Castle
Oct 25 Nottingham, United Kingdom - Bodega

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M