Don't Mess With Texas (At Least Not This Weekend)

    Posted by Kerstin

By now, the annual South by Southwest Music Festival, or SXSW, is in full swing in Austin, Texas.

In the crowded bars on 6th Street, hipster showcases, and even backyards, bands from all over the country (and as far away as Lebanon) are doing their best to win over audiences, promoters, and A&R contacts.

6th Street

If you couldn't swing the trip or dreaded spending all your time standing on line to see the next Franz Ferdinand, I've picked some of this year's showcase artists that are worth checking out. Feel free to don some Justin boots and grab a Shiner while you listen.

First, let me point out some past Bluelines favorites making the rounds this weekend: Sia, Nada Surf, and Spoon.

And here are some other standouts:

   

Who: Meredith Bragg

Sounds Like: This delicate, chamber-pop singer and his band, the Terminals, is a cross between Death Cab for Cutie and Nick Drake gone ambient.

Perfect For: Your next dinner party or as an engagement gift for your laid-back, hipster friends.

Who: Goldspot

Sounds Like: A happier incarnation of the Smiths mixed with a healthy dose of Bollywood.

Perfect For: Your work commute or an antidote to hearing American Idols butcher pop standards.

Who: Salt & Samovar

Sounds Like: The Americana-rock lovechild of Nick Cave and Walt Whitman.

Perfect For: The next book-club gathering or playing over a muted Coen Brothers film.

Comments

[sarah]

i'm just now reading this post (obv a little late), but had another suggestion of bands to catch: The Autumn Film, a great band out of Boulder. Well, maybe next year!

[j]

omg, could you say hipster anymore?