Alas, I missed Sea of Bees’ recent visit to the UK; but Julie Ann Bee will be stopping by for a bunch of dates in NY, fresh from making an appearance at SXSW. What’s more, there are a whole heap of new videos to share. Definitely my favourite of the two – and probably one of my favourite Sea of Bees songs – is “Sidepain”, a kind of rollicking, celtic-beaty song with a healthy sense of joy (“you’re the sweetest pain in my side”).
Click through for more and for NY live dates.
Day four of SXSW, the last hurrah. SXSW is always a manically insane event but the sheer volume of bands and vendors and mobs of ‘fans’ just looking for a free drink was overwhelming this year. I mean, any year people end up getting tazed at a Death from Above 1979 show you got to admit is pretty crazy. And now we hear that SXSW is considering outlawing all non-official events next year? Um, am I mistaken or did the majority of these head injuries, barricade stormings and said tazing incidents not happen at official events? Also, you’re not the boss of me. And I never tazed anyone at any of my unofficial parties.
(Read the article)
Day three began with a special brunch at Fader Fort to raise awareness for the the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s MyMusicRX.org initiation. Was great to take a breath from the oppressive, mighty, corporate overlords that rule SXSW and think outside of where our next open bar was coming from for a second…Not that we weren’t totally surrounded by Converse branding of course. At the brunch, we were treated to two special intimate performances, the first from Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. Yuna is a new signing to the Fader label, a jazzy, solo artist, think a more soulful Regina Spektor. She was good and I’d be interested to hear her in a bigger setting.
Then as a surprise, Twin Shadow took the the mic for a handful of stripped down songs, which was just outstanding. His music stands up against anything. If you aren’t paying attention, start.
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Today started at the Boston to Austin day party where we caught TMS faves Kingsley Flood, albeit from the back. Spotted in the crowd was KF fan and supporter Adam Duritz, looking as dreadlocked as ever.
The mission for the rest of the afternoon was seeing a couple of rising European pop stars. First, English new soul singer Eliza Doolittle. She’s adorable and can sing, no doubt and in person, much more interesting than her decent but not earth shattering debut album. Worth checking out if you are in Austin for SXSW this year.
(Read the article)
My first band of the day, and of SXSW, was Ponderosa at the Paste Party but I missed my photo opp. Ponderosa were good old fashioned, southern rock, a good start to the day and a nice introduction to Texas. Next, I headed to the DC Does Texas party where after years of hearing her praises, I finally saw Carol Bui, pictured above. She reminded me a bit of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, lots of rock.
(Read the article)
Out today on Fader is Malaysian singer Yuna’s latest EP Decorate, with this pretty awesome video accompanying the short+sweet song. It’s a striking piece, not just musically but also visually – stark but warm at the same time. Love the way the colour bleeds in at the end (OMG SPOILERZ). Yuna is performing at SXSW this week where TMS will be checking in at the show.
Decorate Tracklisting
1. Decorate
2. Deeper Conversation
3. Someone Out of Town
4. Coffee
5. Fears and Frustrations
MP3: Decorate (via soundcloud)
With under a week to go before their flight out to SXSW – shows that coincide with the US release of debut long player Good News – Edinburgh based act Withered Hand have been confronted with some extremely ungood news: their visa has been turned down* delayed in bureacracy hell by US immigration officials.
Bad news…. I found out, with less than a week to go till my flight on Saturday, that my visa petition, which I had been assured by my Visa agency was a strong one, has been flagged by a US immigration official as requiring more evidence of my “extraordinary ability” and proof that I have achieved “significant recognition” and have either performed or will perform at “events that have a distinguished reputation”. er….. hang on… so being invited to perform at SXSW doesn’t count? Apparently I am one of a handful of musicians who landed on the wrong desk, or on the wrong day and encountered a very unhelpful interpretation of the regulations. (read more at Withered Hand’s blog)
Look, honestly, he’s not an agent of the Queen getting ready to come to try and reassert her sovereignty over your country, ‘k. We got over all that a long time ago.
It’s kind of nutso that an artist who’s got shows booked can end up having their visa turned bogged down for what seem like pretty spurious reasons (not a barb just aimed at the US: we can be just as dumbass about it for folk coming the other way across the Atlantic). There’s a petition over at thepetitionsite, which aims “to illustrate the international support of Withered Hand, demonstrating to the US immigration Withered Hand’s extraordinary skills and capabilities”. If that doesn’t work, Auntie Beeb have been following Withered Hand as part of an SXSW documentary they’re making: well, this is certainly going to make interesting viewing.
*Update: Withered Hand tweets:
The Strokes will be releasing their first single off their forthcoming album, Angles, in approximately two hours. They have a countdown clock on their site (little dramatic, huh?). The single, ‘Under cover of darkness,’ will be available for free for 48 hours, after which you will be able to purchase it from the usual culprits.
News also comes via Consequence of Sound’s keen eye and The Strokes management that the band are heading to SXSW. Will they be at The Fader Fort or making a midnight appearance at Stubbs, a la Metallica circa 2009? TMS will be heading down to SXSW and reporting on all the madness, we’ll let you know.
Enjoy their just released SXSW performance of ‘Subtext Is Deadly’ below.
