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SXSW 2015: Twerps at Waterloo Records, Austin (20 Mar 2015)

Read More Twerps According to the poster artwork, Melbourne's Twerps were openers to all the Australian Laneway Presents/Penny Drop dates. The last news I heard from Twerps was that their new album is called Range Anxiety ....

Continuing the SXSW coverage... this time Dan is over at Waterloo Records Showcases. Today (March 20th), at Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas:

BRONCHO

Twerps

Ibeyi

WAND

The Well

METZ

Big Data

Dan writes:

Twerps - great indie pop with chiming guitars and male and female singers.

Twerps' SXSW dates:

03/20 Waterloo Records 1pm
03/20 After the Goldrush 4pm
03/20 Panache Booking Party 9:10pm
03/21 Four Seasons (KUTX) 10:00am

Twerps' Range Anxiety (Merge Records) is out now, look for the twee band to arrive in Minneapolis on April 08th at the 7th Street Entry.

Twerps at Waterloo Records, Austin (20 Mar 2015)

vu + dan ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

CUT COPY – ZONOSCOPE

Need You Now (Architecture in Helsinki) Tour Dates 04/08/11 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater 04/09/11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue* 04/12/11 Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo* 04/15/11 Indio, CA - Coachella 04/16/11 San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom 04/16/11 San Francisco, CA - Sutter Room 04/17/11 San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom 04/20/11 allas, TX - Granada Theater 04/21/11 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ* 04/22/11 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ 04/23/11 New Orleans, LA - Republic* 06/05/11 Houston, TX - Free Press Summer Fest 07/07/11 Mariaville, NY - Camp Bisco 07/17/11 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork 08/12/11 Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre *with Holy Ghost! as support

Cut Copy is currently on a worldwide tour to promote their third album, Zonoscope. Already they have played sold out shows in New York and Washington DC.  On April 8^th they play to a packed house at Chicago’s Riviera before coming to Minneapolis’ First Ave the next night.

I saw them three years ago at the intimate 7^th Street.  When it comes to musical performances, I do not quite understand the lure of watching someone standing in front of a sampler, but most in the crowd had no trouble swaying to the warm, uplifting music.

Cut Copy’s latest release continues the tradition of getting the listener on his or her feet.  As the Huffington Posts recently wrote, “Zonoscope is the kind of intelligently crafted electro synthpop that the dancing averse crowd can embrace for sheer musical sophistication...” 

The reviewer, Chris Kompanek, goes on to write most will have a hard time being passive and stoic in the throes of a blissful sound.  Listening to their first single, “Take Me Over,” I found it impossible not to move at least one body part. 

My favorite track is “Sun God,” which lasts longer than a government worker’s smoke break.  It’s surprisingly sprite for being over 15 minutes. It may jump into my pantheon of extended favorites like John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things,” Ani DiFranco’s “Pulse” and Bob Dylan’s “Highlands.” It’s a song that turns into a musical landscape, organically expanding, extending farther than any listener can hear. 

Dave

 

VHS or Beta + Yves Klein Blue @ The Factory Theatre

Yveskleinblue1 Yveskleinblue2

 

VHS or Beta - Night On Fire

VHS or Beta

A sunny Friday night, quite a modest crowd at the Factory Theatre in downtown Marrickville (not far from my house, so I was happy). I had not actually been in there before and I must say that it's a pretty awesome place to see a band. Tacky (but not sticky) carpet and a great sound.... and the best bit... the beer wasn't astronomically priced!

First band up (and I admit we only caught the last 3 songs of) was Brisbane band, Yves Klein Blue. I was actually quite blown away by these guys. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but just by looking at them I surely didn't expect what I got. The singer had a sound that if i was to close my eyes, at some points sounded slightly Pete Doherty-esque, but that's probably highly insulting to most normal people, so I won't say that.

As I said, I only heard the last 3 songs, but in those songs was a wealth of musical diversity. I don't think I could label these guys into any sort of genre. All I know is that as well as being very dance-able, they were also fitting to sit back and relax.

Also, I have to say it. If my nanna were there she'd have a heart attack and try to put headbands on certain band members with hair in their faces (as she did to me when I was about 8 years old trying to grow out a tragic 80's fringe).

 

Vob1 Vob4 VHS or Beta

  Earlier that day I was doing a little research into VHS or Beta. I read that they were "French house and dance punk" and let me tell you, I was slightly scared. Silly Sally, there was no need for this fear! They were really great. I'm not sure what the deal was with the guy with the camera on stage wedged into the one of the band members armpit for most of the show.

Similar to Yves Klein Blue, VHS or Beta had a diverse range of song types and sounds. Some were poppy, some were dancey, some were sort of more ambient. Partially electronic, but with most of the music being played live by the guys themselves.
 

 

VHS or Beta - You Got Me

All up, these guys from Kentucky, USA, have broadened my horizons somewhat. You may even catch me moseying down the street to purchase some tunes by these guys.

 

I'm sure you're probably more up to speed with the world, but if not, have a peek at what these guys are about at the following places:

VHS or Beta - Official Website
VHS or Beta - MySpace Page

 

Yves Klein Blue - India @ The Tote, Melbourne

and not forgetting:

 

Yves Klein Blue - Official Website
Yves Klein Blue - MySpace Page

There you go! Sally
Photos by Dave