OFF TO AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

Expect some light blogging for the next few days as I'm heading to Austin for Austin City Limits. My highlight will be seeing CHRISTOPHER DENNY perform on Friday.

FUTURE SOUNDS 32 HAS ARRIVED!

1. LEMON SUN – WANNA HAVE YOU
Coming out growling like THE STONES’ “Bitch”, Los Angeles’ LEMON SUN have just completed a full-length with Dave Schiffman that’s a thrilling ride. A five-piece with dueling guitars and a classic frontman, a la Mick/Robert/Roger. Management: Larry Little. Legal: Michelle Jubelirer. NEEDS: Booking.
LEMON SUN – NEW ALBUM TBD – UNSIGNED

2. THE ETTES – CROWN OF AGE
Los Angeles’ THE ETTES went from unsigned to snapped up since arrival of this amazing CD by Take Root Records, with the North American CD release date on September 9th. Recorded at the famed Toerag Studios, ‘Look At Life Again’ will appeal to any fan of THE KILLS or THE DUKE SPIRIT.
Management: John O’Malley. NEEDS: Booking. Legal.
THE ETTES – LOOK AT LIFE AGAIN SOON – TAKE ROOT RECORDS

3. MAGIC WANDS – BLACK MAGIC
The Nashville duo, MAGIC WANDS, are still performing tricks to gain attention in the homeland, but the Brits are already taken by their strange magic. Booked for Glastonbury and Wireless Festivals, this track’s appeal doesn’t take a crystal ball to figure out.
Management: Simon Bobbett. Booking: Russell Warby/Dave Kaplan. ASCAP.
MAGIC WANDS – DEMOS – UNSIGNED

4. CREATURE – BRIGITTE BARDOT
Mere teenagers from Canada, CREATURE scared up plenty of attention at SXSW and are at work building a monster. ‘Brigitte Bardot’ goes from TOM TOM CLUB to NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB to flashes of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE. A party track with more curves than Brigitte Bardot.
Management: Gourmet Délice, Bonsound. NEEDS:
CREATURE – DEMOS – UNSIGNED

5. THE BLOOMS – WHITE WALLS
Some of the most exciting new music springs up from the strangest places, case in point with THE BLOOMS from Tulsa, Oklahoma. You’d swear they channel directly from Freddie and Brian with this QUEEN-tastic track. Legal: Dave & Steve Bird. BMI. NEEDS: Management, booking.
THE BLOOMS – DEMOS – UNSIGNED

6. CHRISTOPHER DENNY – TIME
Step back into time, our music icons all possessed undeniable talent, whether it was Ray Charles or Johnny Cash. No hiding behind fashion or pro tools. CHRISTOPHER DENNY and his band, the OLD SOLES, are as Arkansas as Arkansas can be & Denny contains a voice that comes along once in 30 years, and could be the long-lost love child of Patsy Cline & Roy Orbison.
Booking: Jonathan Adelman, Paradigm. Legal: Reed Hunter.
CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES – AGE OLD HUNGER – 2:59 RECORDS

7. MY PET SADDLE – IL FAIT BEAU
Sounding like DYLAN’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ era, Fullerton, California’s MY PET SADDLE provide us with a full-on jamboree in ‘Ill Fait Beau’. Live they are reckless drivers, swerving and falling all over the place in true bohemian glory, minus the patchouli but plenty of funk.
NEEDS: Management, legal, booking. No PRO.
MY PET SADDLE – EP – UNSIGNED

8. PORT O’BRIEN – I WOKE UP TODAY
Oakland’s PORT O’BRIEN maybe sitting by the dock in the Bay area, but their ship has already launched in the UK/Europe (City Slang) and in Australia/NZ (Dew Process). They’ve toured with Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, Rogue Wave, and Nada Surf, and need a deal at home. They have the fire and conviction of THE ARCADE FIRE, and are confirmed for the Monolith Festival. Manager: Chrisian Stavros/Bryna Gootkind. Booking: Jackie Nalpant, Paradigm. Rob Challice, CODA, UK. Legal: Brian McPhereson. BMI
PORT O’BRIEN – ALL WE COULD DO WAS SING – UNSIGNED IN US

9. THE YELLING – BLOOD ON THE STEPS
Turn this one up to piss off your parents. Los Angeles act, THE YELLING are new on the scene but quickly getting interest. The banshee like vocals from Nathanal Cox recall ROBERT PLANT, and the guitar work of Robert Davis is one stop off from commanding. This band screams ENORMOUS potential.
Manager: Mike Soens. NEEDS: Booking.
THE YELLING – DEMOS – UNSIGNED

10. THE MUSLIMS – BRIGHT SIDE
San Diego’s THE MUSLIMS bring that kind of garage rock sound that we generally reserve for THE STROKES to the party. Every track on this self-released disc could’ve been selected to make the playlist this month, and this one should bare warning that another Casablancas sounding frontman could have a hit with a song about a “Brightside”.
THE MUSLIMS – THE MUSLIMS – UNSIGNED

11. THE MORNING BENDERS – WAITING FOR A WAR
They say nice guys finish last, but the exception comes from Oakland’s THE MORNING BENDERS are off to a quick and fortunate start, doing the full NA tour with THE KOOKS and signing to +1 Music. Compared often to THE SHINS and THE LITTLE ONES, live it’s all about the charm of frontman Chris Chu.
Management: Jonny Kaps/Simon Bentley. Booking: Heather Kolker, Paradigm.
THE MORNING BENDERS – TALKING THROUGH A TIN CAN - +1 RECORDS

12. THE BOTTICELLIS – THE REVIEWER
THE BOTTICELLIS are the surf/pop wing of the SEA IN THE SAND collective, which also includes the Raga-Psych project Cotillion and folk duo Kuma/Koshka. One part San Francisco hippie, one part pure power pop, fans of BIG STAR should review the debut LP, Old Home Movies. Highly recommended. Booking: Chris Faville, Mongrel. Legal: Paul Sommerstein. SEASAC. NEEDS: Management.
THE BOTTICELLIS – OLD HOME MOVIES – ANTENNA FARM RECORDS

13. THE ROSEWOOD THIEVES – SILVER GUN
New York’s THE ROSEWOOD THIEVES made their first strike on TVT Records, but now have dusted off and moved on without a label with a string of new songs that will steal your hearts. ‘Silver Gun’ has a JOHN LENNON familiarity to it and they back it up with a captivating live show worth catching.
Legal: Ted Harris. BMI. NEEDS: Booking, management
THE ROSEWOOD THIEVES – NEW SONGS – UNSIGNED

14. THE MUMLERS – SHAKE THAT MEDICATION
Nope, this track isn’t a JIMMY SMITH track or from 1964, it’s live and alive in 2008 by a 19-year-old white kid from San Jose named Will Sprout. Part New Orleans groove, part STAX, THE MUMLERS blend BOOKER T with LITTLE BARRIE. Again, great music bubbles up from unique places.
Legal: A-Train Entertainment. BMI. NEEDS: Booking, management.
THE MUMLERS – THICKETS & STICHES – GALAXIA RECORDS

15. SOCIETY OF ROCKETS – TIME
SOCIETY OF ROCKETS, the San Francisco psychedelic band closes out the disc with a page out of the AL GREEN’s songbook with ‘Time’. Releasing “Our Paths Related” on vinyl on their own vanity label, the album includes everything from way-out guitars to groovy horns. This track was made for a sunny Sunday afternoon, a Frisbee and some BBQ.
ASCAP. NEEDS: Management, booking.
SOCIETY OF ROCKETS – OUR PATHS RELATED – UNDERPOP RECORDS.


THE MOST GORGEOUS SONG OF THE YEAR: FLEET FOXES – OLIVER JAMES


OTHER ARTISTS TO WATCH:

BLONDE ACID CULT – Track: KICK THE FUNK
The cult started in New York City that have taken the Manchester-STONE ROSES and made it their own “Madhatten” sound. One of the strongest demo cd’s I’ve been sent in some time, I’m drinking the cool-aide. Unsigned

GERONIMO – Track: JUST LIKE WATER
Indie rock this good from Saskatchewan, Canada? Since discovering them at SXSW, this one’s been in constant rotation. Unsigned

ELECTRIC TOUCH – Track: DON’T BE AFRAID
Young band from Austin, Texas wrangles up a singer from the UK and sounds like THE LIBERTINES with hits. Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Justice Records

MONTE NEGRO – Track: ME DEUELE NO ESTAR JUNTO A TI
Los Angeles via Mexico, seeing them was like witnessing a band in Felini's 'La Dolce Vita', or the international-ness of Duran Duran's 'Rio'. Epic Records

BIRDS & BATTERIES – Track: AFTER THE FLOOD
A five piece that reminds me of classic THE BAND. This is an album so gorgeous I find myself playing it over and over again because it lulls you into magic. Unsigned

GRAVEYARD – Track: LOST IN CONFUSION
Sweden's WOLFMOTHER, just close your eyes and it's ZEPPELIN - a voice from another time. TeePee Records

THE GRIZZLY OWLS – Track: WHAT’S A GIRL TO DO?
From Bakersfield, CA, THE GRIZZLY OWLS are the husband and wife team of Jenny and Joseph Andreotti that have self-released the disc, 'By Night On My Bed' that is a pure delight. Unsigned

HONEY CLAWS – Track: SHOUT OUT
This collective from Austin, Texas take the hipster-hop of COOL KIDS and drop 808-style bombs. One moment indie, the next electronic rock, but hip hop through and through. Unsigned

ALSO BUZZING:
Flash Lightnin’, White Lies, Girls, The Hands, Abigail Warchild, Fake Shark – Real Zombie, Amazing Baby, The Brute Chorus, Chairlift, Dukes of Daville, He Say, She Say, Heartsrevolution, Erin McCarley, Let’s Go To War, Mostly Bears, Chikita Violenta, Florence & The Machine, The Ironweed Project, Rebekah Higgs, Django James & The Midnight Squires, Duchess of York, Civil Twilight, Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons, Grand Archives, Red Wire Black Wire, Born In The Flood, Friska Viljor, The Airlines, Crayonsmith, The Frontier Brothers, Wallpaper, Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains, Social Studies, Snake & Jet’s Amazing Bullit Band, Wintersleep, Pistol Pistol, Dignan, Princeton, Hockey, The Pity Party, Gringo Star, The King Left, Titus Andronicus.


**** Please remember to buy music when you can or go out and see these acts live.

CHRIS DENNY: A NATIONAL TREASURE SAYS DAYTROTTER

Jump on DAYTROTTER today for a session with CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES. As usual, Sean's words are masterfully woven into a snapshot on this talent from Arkansas that is the genuine article. The recordings from Rock Island reflect the storyline perfectly and the songs speak for themselves.

Download 'Vacation' HERE. (Via Daytrotter)

SXSW RECAP

Freaks? Nope, HOT FREAKS

I've never had so many tacos in one week in my life as I did last week in Austin at SXSW. Beer, BBQ and tacos. I saw more bands that any year ever and spent a lot of time at HOT FREAKS at the Mohawk, surviving the sun and downing Tochie's Tacos. I'm still recovering from the late flight and all the poison, but here's a brief recap of my trip.....

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE OF SXSW 2008:

CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES @ Club Deville

Finally caught CD with his band, The Old Soles, and it was better than imagined. It's refreshing to see actual, undeniable TALENT, that has nothing to do with fashion and hype.

RUNNER UP:

WHITE DENIM @ The Mohawk (Hot Freaks)

Hometown boys were the belle of the ball all week. All I have to say is, "Turbo! Turbo! Turbo!"

MOST INSANE SHOW:

PEELANDER Z @ The Mohawk (Hot Freaks)

If you missed this performance, you'll have to read about it forever. A spectacle in the best sense of the word.

Fantastic to see our dear friends SHOUT OUT LOUDS @ The Parish for the Merge showcase. SOL's and then DESTROYER was a highlight of the week for me.

OTHER STANDOUTS:

GRAVEYARD @ Bourbon Rocks
Sweden's WOLFMOTHER - close your eyes and it's ZEPPELIN - a voice from another time.

CATHY DAVEY @ Soho Lounge (Irish Showcase)
Dublin's superstar in the making. Another huge voice on a beautiful person.

BIRDS & BATTERIES @ The Beauty Bar (Bay Area Takeover)
Barely missed being my runner-up show. Even better live than on the CD I adore.

THE DODOS & BON IVER @ The Mohawk
I put these two together because they were two sets that sored beneath HUGE vocals and emotionally charged lyrics. Breathtaking.

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, FILM SCHOOL and FIGHT LIKE APES were also tremendous. The Skewer Party at Maggie Mae's was also excellent, running up and down the steps to each stage helped work off the brisket and Lone Star.

It was far and away my favorite SXSW, and I did my best to stay away from every over-hyped party full of bands we've all seen a hundred times before and get back to what the festival was set up for initially - to showcase new and rising talent.

Thanks to Ryan Suffern for the photos and to HOT FREAKS for the hospitality.

SXSW 2008 PICKS

Everyone will be chasing the tale of the usual suspects again this year as usual, but if you're interested in checking out some other bands/artists that show tremendous promise, try and add these to your schedule:

THE HEAVY

3.13 8PM Elysium - Counter Records Showcase
3.13 11PM The 301 - Playboy Party
3.14 4:45PM Hank Sinatra's House


CHRISTOPHER DENNY
3.13 6pm - 5775 Airport Blvd (at 290)
3.14 9pm - Pangaea - 409 Colorado St - Billboard Showcase
3.14 10:40pm - 801 Red River St
3.15 12:30pm - Club De Ville - 900 Red River St - Hot Freaks Party

MONTE NEGRO

3.12 9PM Continental Club
3.13 12PM MexicArte Museum
3.14 5PM Habana Calle 7
3.15 5PM Borders Sessions at the MACC

APTEKA

3.13 6PM Agave Bar - 415 E 6th St
3.13 9PM Bikinis Bar & Grill - 6901 North IH-35
3.14 9:30PM Pete's Bar
3.15 3:15PM Pete's Bar

THE MAI SHI
3.12 1:15pm Fader Fort
3.12 3:30pm Emo's - Terrorbird Party
3.12 5:30pm The Parlor
3.12 9pm Solar Stage
3.13 11:30am Emo's Lounge - Brooklyn Vegan Party
3.13 2:15pm Lucky Lounge
3.13 8pm Ms Bea's
3.13 10pm The Whiskey
3.13 11:45PM Children's Museum
3.14 1PM The Opera House - Smell Party
3.14 4:30PM Victory Grill - Vice Party
3.14 7PM Spiderhouse
3.14 11:45PM Flamingo Cantina
3.15 2PM West Wine Art Museum
3.16 8pm Beerland

FIGHT LIKE APES
3.13 4:30PM BD Riely's - MFI Full Irish Breakfast
3.14 12:30pm SOHO Lounge - Music For Ireland
3.15 1am - The Hideout - Canadian Music Week

BIRDS & BATTERIES
3.12 2pm Spider House Cafe
3.13 1:30PM Beauty Bar
3.13 3pm Bay Area Takeover Party

MAKE MODEL

3.13 4pm - Habana Annex - Bebo Party
3.13 10pm - Friends - Clash Magazine
3.14 4:40pm Latitude 30 - Scottish Arts Council
3.14 8pm Wave Rooftop - NME

SPIRAL BEACH
3.14 7pm Chain Dive
3.15 8pm Momo's - NXNE

OTHER BANDS THAT SOUND VERY INTERESTING:

GRAVEYARD
3.12 9PM Bourbon Rocks - Tepee Records
3.13 8PM Tepee - Alarm Party
3.15 8PM Volcom Skate Party

HONEY CLAWS
3.12 11:45PM Club 115 - SXSW Showcase
3.14 8PM Apple Bar

ABIGAIL WARCHILD
3.12 9:15PM Dirty Dog Bar - ASCAP

THE BUZZ:
THESE NEW PURITANS
THE FELICE BROTHERS
DEAD CONFEDERATE
WHITE DENIM
THE DODOS
THE AIRBOURNE TOXIC EVENT
EVANGELICALS

RECOMMENDED:
Film School, Cathy Davey, Ida Maria, The Virgins, MGMT, Shout Out Louds, Constantines, Delta Spirit, The Slits, Brazos, Brooke Waggonner, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Jenn Grant, Magic Bullets, The Wombats, Wisely, Thieves Like Us, Juiceboxxx, Office, The Law, Peter & The Wolf.

CHRISTOPHER DENNY PERFORMS AT SILVERLAKE BBQ

Thanks to everyone that had a hand in the cozy afternoon on Sunday that brought together some amazing musicians and that incredible BBQ assortment. CHRISTOPHER DENNY, set to return to his home-state of Arkansas today, gave us a parting gift as he and local talent, MATT TAYLOR, delivered a handful of originals and a stack of covers up on Westerley Terrace. Former Future Sounds artists also in attendance were DUKE SPECIAL (FS25) and DAVID HOPKINS (FS03). I should have some video of the event very soon. Christopher Denny was just confirmed for a DAYTROTTER performance on March 3rd.

CHRISTOPHER DENNY IN LA TUESDAY NIGHT

I've been waiting to see CHRISTOPHER DENNY for a long time, and tomorrow night at the HOTEL CAFE in Hollywood I finally get my chance to see this young artist from Arkansas with a voice for the ages. His vocal delivery is stunning, unforgettable and actually the first time you hear it you might not know how to categorize it or even digest it, but then it seeps in like a good varnish. Unique is an understatement, like the voice of BOB DYLAN or ROY ORBISON the first time you heard either artist's sound for the first time.

If you haven't listened or purchased his 2007 release, "Age Old Hunger" (00:02:59 Records), then you're really missing one of the best albums of last year.

NEW SOUNDS: CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES

This one is more like a blast from the past, or like finding an old journal in your grandpa's attic, it's CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES performing their song "Westbound Train" in the Tiki Lounge at Niagara in the East Village. Scary part is that this feels like it could've happened 40 years ago in the Village and it would fit right in. Christopher's album "Age Old Hunger" will be released on Tuesday, August 7th. History on him - I think he's 24 - grew up and lives in Little Rock and really hasn't expanded his horizons other than a couple of NY shows this year. Feels like ROY ORBISON or something off the O'BROTHER WHERE OUT THOU Soundtrack.

CHRISTOPHER DENNY & THE OLD SOLES
WEB SITE
MYSPACE