Days 1 | 3 | 4

[MP3]: These New Puritans  ”£4″
Beat Pyramid, Angular/Domino; 2008

[MP3]: Black Mountain  ”Tyrants”
In the Future, Jagjaguwar; 2008

[MP3]: The Fiery Furnaces  ”Restorative Beer”
Widow City, Thrill Jockey; 2007

Awesome instrumental 8===D/metal rock is how I would categorize Chicago’s Russian Circles. These guys are on the top of my list of the many bands I am anticipating to check out during SXSW. They sound like the bullying elephant that marches in the room and pisses these huge and heavy drums and basslines with a shake of big-ass riffs on you. If you didn’t get that, how about; this would be the perfect soundtrack for one of those action flicks where the good guys strap on their guns or swords to go blast and hack away the bad guys to bloody hell.

The 6 song Station LP comes out May 6th on Suicide Squeeze Records.

SXSW:
Mar 15 2008 SXSW – Sargent House Official Show Austin, Texas
Mar 16 2008 SXSW @ Red 7 Austin, Texas

w/ Red Sparowes
March 20 2008 – Seattle at Neumo’s
March 21 2008 – Vancouver at Richard’s on Richards
March 22 2008 – Portland at Berbati’s
March 26 2008 – San Francisco at Bottom of the Hill
March 27 2008 – Los Angeles at Echoplex
March 28 2008 – San Diego at Casbah
March 29 2008 – Phoenix at the Brickhouse

Aw shit! Better pack up those earplugs, Immodium, and Emergen-C’s because the 2008 SXSW Music Festival is just 2 days away. I’m pussing out for the second year in a row, but in classic form, Nghia, Paul, and Theo will be representing FRICTION NYC down in Austin this year. I think this is Nghia’s like umpteenth year in a row or something, seems like the fool has been going since he was a toddler. Anyway, insead of highlighting the typical buzzed acts this year, I decided to pick five R&B bands that I would certainly like to check out. These five acts including Darondo, Barbara Mason, Black Joe Lewis, Eli Reed, and The Aggrolites represent everything from soul to afrobeat to dirty reggae. Check ‘em out if you have the chance.

DARONDO
Saturday, 3/15/08 @ Club de Ville (900 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Didn’t I”
Darondo (pictured) released three singles during the 70s and then mysteriously dissappeared from the music scene for over 30 years. The legendary R&B performer who once opened for James Brown will be making the trek to Austin this week from his home in the San Francisco Bay Area. His three singles released in 2006 via Ubiquity along with an appearance on Giles Peterson’s BBC 1 Radio showcase created enough buzz to land Darondo an appearance at this year’s SXSW. His album, Let My People Go, is a mixture jazz-infused afrobeat and funk, containing the A and B sides from his three 45s as well as three re-worked demos.

BARBARA MASON
Friday, 3/14/08 @ Continental Club (1315 S Congress Ave
[MP3]: “Yes I’m Ready”
Philadelphia’s First Lady of Soul, Barbara Mason, is credited as the originator of Philly soul. Her classic ballad, “Yes, I’m Ready” laid the groundwork for the smooth sweet sounds of Philly soul and established Mason as as an influential female soul artist.

BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEY BEARS
Wednesday, 3/12/08 @ Emo’s Main Room (601-603 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Gunpowder”
J.J. Lewis, aka Black Joe, in his mid-20s and full of spunk, stands tall and strong onstage with his band of gentlemen. He howls into the mic, half James Brown, half his own man, and he splays blood and heart all over the guitar. It’s imperfect yet beautiful. Reinventing his roots of Lighting Hopkins and Sam Cooke, Lewis adds a Red River vibe to the true blues of generations past. In 2007, he formed the Honey Bears, releasing an EP of the same name that summer [Austin Chronicle].

ELI PAPERBOY REED & THE TRUE LOVES
Thursday, 3/13/08 @ Club de Ville (900 Red River St)
[MP3]: “Take My Love With You”
We’ve already sang our praise about Allston, MA’s Eli Reed and his band The True Loves last month. The band plays a slew of dates at this year’s SXSW including the show listed above.

THE AGGROLITES
Wednesday, 3/12/08 @ Flamingo Cantina (515 E 6th St)
[MP3]: “Free Time”
Los Angeles’ The Aggrolites take pleasure in tradition, meshing old-school reggae and ska with rock, soul, and funk to create a sound called “dirty reggae.” Think Otis Redding fronting Toots & the Maytals. The five-piece embarks on an extensive U.S. tour following the festival.

Most of the tattoos that grace my winter ravaged skin were inspired by old-school tattoo legends Sailor Jerry (aka Norman Keith Collins) and Bert Grimm. I’ve been fascinated with the Hawaiian-based tattoo artist’s Japanese influenced art for the better part of the last 5 years and was psyched to see that Philly filmmaker Erich Weiss will be premiering his Sailor Jerry documentary, Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry this year at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival.

Read some more about the tattoo legend and check out some of his flash at Philly’s very own Sailor Jerry Store. Synopsis below. Trailer here.

Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry is a feature length documentary exploring the roots of American tattooing through the life of its most iconoclastic figure, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Considered by many the foremost tattoo artist of all time, Collins is the father of modern day tattooing, whose uncompromising lifestyle and larger than life persona made him an American legend. Through rare interviews, photographs and hours of archival footage, Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life and Times of Norman Keith Collins, explores the past, present and future of the global tattooing phenomenon.

[MP3]: The Ruby Suns  ”There Are Birds”
Sea Lion, Lil Chief/Sub Pop; 2008

Yeah British Sea Power‘s new album Do You Like Rock Music? is pretty much BA. As in Bad @ss. Their third full-length has been getting constant play everyday since released a couple of weeks ago. I think BSP is literally the best name in music today (behind Depeche Mode of course) plus lead singer Yan is one of my favorite voices ever. The sweeping epic sounds contained within fierce guitars and volatile vocals are back. While at times their second album was unlistenable, lets not make the mistake of saying this one is better than their first classic The Decline of British Sea Power just yet. There is potential in the lasting power of the new one. I still listen to that first album once a month.

Lyrics still have undertones of an anarchic and prophetically bleak future, plus some homoerotic themes are thrown in for good measure. What’s great about the album when you listen to it, is that the songs transition smoothly as lets say ‘Men Together Today’ to ‘Apologies to Insect Life’ on The Decline of BSP. The same instance and effect occurs on Do You Like Rock Music?. When listening to the first single ‘Waving Flags’, all of the ‘ohs and ahhs’ make you want to just pack up and escape from this cold Northeastern hell. It really takes you to orgasmic new heights. ha! ‘The Great Skua’ a melodic and instrumental tune seems torn right out of pages Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed You Black Emperor (who have officially broken up by the way). ‘Down on the Ground’ and ‘A Trip Out’ kind of will bore you at the beginning with the everyday blues/rock, shuffling boogie riffs. This could eventually be the favorite and best album of the year, though the simple line-drawing artwork from the previous albums should have been kept.

‘Waving Flags’ is pretty much going to be the pre-drinking song for us down in Austin for SXSW, where BSP will be making multiple appearances. I’m really feeling these great lines.
Go see their live show and you’ll experience the energy.

“You are astronomical, fans of alcohol, so welcome in” …
“Are you of legal drinking age? on minimum wage? well welcome in”

[MP3]: British Sea Power “Waving Flags”

BRITISH SEA POWER U.S. Tour Dates
Feb 25 San Diego, CA @ Casbah (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 27 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 28 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland (Colourmusic supports)
Feb 29 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door (Colourmusic supports)

Mar 01 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill (NoisePop) (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 05 Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Club (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 08 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 12 New York NY @ Late Show w/David Letterman
Mar 13-16 Austin TX @ SxSW
Mar 19 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 20 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 21 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock (Colourmusic supports)
Mar 22 Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club (1900′s support)
Mar 24 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (1900′s support) [Early and Late Show ****]
Mar 25 Pontiac, MI @ Eagle Theatre (1900′s support)
Mar 26 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop (1900′s support)
Mar 27 Columbus, OH @ The Basement (1900′s support)
Mar 28 Louisville, KY @ Phoenix Hill Tavern (1900′s support)
Mar 29 St. Louis, MO @ Billiken Club (1900′s support)

Apr 11 Dallas, TX @ The Loft (Film School support)
Apr 12 Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Film School support)
Apr 13 Houston, TX @ Numbers (Film School support)
Apr 15 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon (Film School support)
Apr 16 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Apr 17 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder – Florida State University (Film School support)
Apr 18 Orlando, FL @ The Social (Film School support)
Apr 19 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits (Film School support)
Apr 20 Mount Pleasant, SC @ CANCELLED
Apr 21 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (Film School support)
Apr 22 Birmingham, AB @ Bottletree (Film School support)
Apr 23 Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone (Film School support)
Apr 26 Norman, OK @ Norman Music Festival w/The Polyphonic Spree

May 1 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s (Rosebuds support)
May 2 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s (Rosebuds support)
May 3 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge (Rosebuds support)
May 4 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle (Rosebuds support)
May 6 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle (Rosebuds support)
May 7 Charlottesville, VA @ Satelite Ballroom (Rosebuds support)
May 8 Washington, DC @ Black Cat (Rosebuds support)
May 9 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s (Rosebuds support)
May 10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Rosebuds support)
May 11 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Rosebuds support)
May 13 Boston, MA @ Paradise (Rosebuds support)
May 15 Montreal, QUE @ La Sala Rossa (Rosebuds support)
May 16 Toronto, ONT @ Lee’s Palace (Rosebuds support)
May 17 Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf (Rosebuds support)
May 18 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre (Rosebuds support)

Wednesday 3/12

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Noon to 6pm
Emo’s Main Stage
12:00 – These United States
12:45 – Evangelicals
01:30 – These New Puritans
02:15 – YACHT
03:00 – The Raveonettes
03:45 – The Mae Shi
04:30 – WHY?
05:15 – The Blow

Emo’s JR.
12:15 – Laura Barrett
01:00 – Radar Bros.
01:45 – Headlights
02:30 – Bowerbirds
03:15 – Let’s Go To War
04:00 – The Death Set
04:45 – Panther
05:30 – Hey Willpower

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Mess With Texas 2 is worth being at just for The Breeders alone.

Music: The Breeders + NOFX + Simian Mobile Disco + Islands + Kimya Dawson + Black Mountain + Yeasayer + F*cked Up + Lucero + Jay Reatard + No Age + Neon Neon + Pissed Jeans + Atlas Sound + Two Gallants + White Denim + Matt & Kim + Municipal Waste + The Night Marchers (featuring John Reis) + Howlin’ Rain + Dead to Me + Langhorne Slim + Shearwater + Gil Mantera’s Party Dream + Grand Ole Party + Darker My Love + Moonrats + Annihilation Time + The Coathangers + Abe Vigoda + + Mellowdrone + Monotonix + Aloha + Selmanaires

Comedy: Janeane Garofalo + Human Giant + Brian Posehn + Todd Barry + Eugene Mirman + Paul F. Tompkins + Jon Glaser + Jon Benjamin + Earles & Jensen + Leo Allen + Hard n Phirm + Scott Aukerman + BJ Porter + Reggie Watts + Jonah Ray + Matt Brunger

Filter Magazine’s Showdown on Cedar Street

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X-Wife (myspace) – Ping Pong (via BadmintonStamps)
X-Wife – When The Lights Turn Off

Mar 9th Ruff Club @ Annex New York, NY
Mar 10th 2007 FIXED meets Modular @ Studio B w/ Simian Mobile Disco Brooklyn, NY
Mar 11th 2007 Club Midway w/Metronomy, The Flesh New York, NY
Mar 14th 2007 SXSW, Friends (208 E 6th Street) Austin, TX

I have no clue how I missed Indian Jewelry last year. After hearing great things about their legendary live shows and finally getting around to listening to Invasive Exotics, I’m kicking myself for missing them back in December. For those of you heading out to SXSW this year, do your ears a big favor and be sure to catch Indian Jewelry. They’re playing two shows on March 16th at Victory Grill (3:00pm) and Blender Balcony at the Ritz (11:45pm). If you already have something scheduled at one of those times, fuck it, cross it out on your little itinerary and write in “heart shaking hallucinogenic experimental techno shit recommended by CrackersUnited.com” and don’t forget to go.

The Houston, TX three-piece consisting of Tex Kerschen, Erika Thrasher, and Rodney Rodriguez has been described as a “dream marriage between Suicide and early Butthole Surfers, monotonous rhythm married to guitar pyrotechnics, vocal histrionics, and squealing synth stabs, all bathed in the blinding flash of the strobe light.” Like Invasive Exotics, their live shows also feature an array guest musicians. Check out the stomping leadoff track, “Lesser Snake” and “Come Closer” from Invasive Exotics below and pick up the album at Monitor Records.

Indian Jewelry  ”Lesser Snake” (via Funtime OK)
Indian Jewelry  ”Come Closer”