So, Cravedog went to SXSW in Austin, Texas last month and had a blast. So much fun and so many adventures that it took this long to actually put some thoughts to paper - or should I say, to keyboard. Not gonna try and tell you about EVERYTHING, but just a few highlights.
First off, bands we saw and loved: DeVotchka, The Black Angels, The Helio Sequence, The Raveonettes, The Nightmarchers (ex Rocket From the Crypt), The Upsidedown, She & Him, Elf Power, Longwave, Akron/Family, Jenny Wolfe, Shout Out Louds, Scotland Barr, Supersuckers, The Bleedin' Bleedin's, My Brightest Diamond, Blitzen Trapper, Freddie Steady 5, The Radar Bros. - there were definitely a few more, but I can’t actually remember them right now.
Have to say that She & Him (pictured) were pretty unbelievable at the Merge Records showcase at The Parish. Our good mate Mike Coykendall plays guitar and keyboards in this band that features M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel (She & Him – get it?). I felt like I was spending an hour back in the 60’s listening to Ronnie Spector fronting The Zombies, The Beatles or even Ronnie’s band The Ronettes - nice countrified/psychedelic/poppy edge. She & Him’s debut album, of which Mike C engineered/mixed/played on, sounds like a total throwback to this era. Amazing production with two amazing voices. 100% Wonderful.
Another live show that stood out was The Upsidedown at the Dream Machine party at Jaime’s. (the margaritas at jaime’s = very yummy, very sexy). A little biased with The Upsidedown because my record label released their debut album, but they truly blew Jaime’s outdoor roof off with their psychedelic and dark-hearted brand of musical trickery. The Upsidedown play a cover of Spaceman 3’s ‘Losing Touch’ and they honestly own it. Seriously, it sounds better than Spaceman 3 could have ever played it. My opinion. The Upsidedown played more shows down at SXSW than probably any other band this year. I think it was like 8 or 9 shows or something. Crazy.
The other live show that stood out for yours truly was The Helio Sequence at the Under The Radar party (pictured). A Portland band with the loudest and most surreal sounds ever to come from only two people. They’ve got the melody to go with it too. I sat next to a fella named Ray Weikel on my connecting flight from PDX to San Jose on the way down to TX. Ray just happens to be the father of Benjamin from Helio. Great guy – had a pretty interesting conversation about the future of music/downloads/etc. with him. Ray wasn’t even going to SXSW – he was on his way to his co’s Silicone Valley HQ in San Jose. Small world – Ray also knows more about the music industry than probably anyone I met during SXSW. Go get the new Helio album. It’s really good. T’was also one of the albums Todd just got with his Jackpot gift cert we gave him for his b-day last week. Happy B-day month Todd!
Speaking of airplane adventures – I coincidentally sat next to Lou from Chores and A Weather fame on the way back to Portland. Another top notch gent that I was hoping to catch up with down in Texas, but completely missed. Funny how these things work out. I mean, out of the 100 or so people on the plane, he was seated right next to me. Cravedog manufactured Chores' album a few months back. Chores also played our summer warehouse party last year. Very good! Not to mention that the other band he’s in, A Weather, is being romantically stalked by the press and radio right now.
OK, that’s all from Texas. Until next year! In the meantime, this is what we’re listening to in the office today: KEXP, songs from the new Black Angels album, Doves, Yeasayer. The Portland Cello Project - fresh off the presses; we just manufactured their CDs. Amazing - a who's who of Portland musicians incl. Adam from Weinland, Gideon Freudmann, Laura Gibson, Loch Lomand, Nick Jania, among others. Go buy this CD. We all love it. They do a cover of Britney's song Toxic that blows Ms. Spears away. We also listened to The Dry County Crooks - another CD we just pressed. Produced by Jeremy Wilson. Pretty kick a rock n' roll, ala The Clash and Social D.
MF
The Upsidedown: Airplane Eyes
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