While y’all were enjoying a spring awakening in Chicago, Cul de sac was in Austin, Texas, checking out the sounds of the South by Southwest Music Festival. This yearly fest is proceeded by a Film and Interactive Media portion, but the real party starts with Wednesday’s coronation of the music showcases. Since this is a spotlight of upcoming or established artists promoting new material, our highlights below should help navigate some of 2010′s most compelling offerings.
Even though we were more than 1,000 miles away, our hearts were still firmly planted in Chicago, which is why we checked out the Friday night It’s Chicago showcase at The Lodge, featuring Chicago acts Moneypenny, Willy Joy and The Hood Internet mixing hip-hop, classic rock and Rick Astley.
We had a rocking good time checking out day shows from the Chicago-based booking agency Windish, outside Urban Outfitters and at Emo’s. Local Natives played a snappy set of delicately harmonized vocals over downtrodden percussion, strings and keys. Free Energy kept us dancing with their high-energy, carefree rock at multiple locations, including the Rolling Stone and Spin magazine parties. Nostalgic promo cassettes of their current LP, Stuck on Nothing, were a great addition to a set firmly planted in the past and present of rock.
Though we had a good time hanging with rocking dudes, witnessing strong female-led performances by previous Mondayer Marina and the Diamonds (U.S. album release May 25th), Spin starlet Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and the Elizabeth Harper-fronted Class Actress was the perfect way to close out our Lone Star-tinted week. Jumping from modern pop-rock sensibility to classic Motown sound to synth-soaked 80s throwback kept us on our toes–exactly where we wanted to be. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings new album, I Learned the Hard Way, will be released on April 6, and we can’t wait to relive the moment she taught us how to mashed potato and ride the pony. Class Actress recently released their first EP, Journal of Ardency, in February.
Though we’re glad to be back in Chicago–less so because of the re-freeze of weather–this year’s SXSW captivated and reminded us of all the things we love about Austin: music, good people, and a great time.
