Atwood Journal took on Austin, Texas’ annual SXSW Music Competition but once more and wrangled up a shortlist of the perfect performances of the week!
A week has handed, and at last Austin has begun to get well from one other intense yr of South by Southwest.
After per week (and two days) of getting in an insane quantity of steps, ready on public transportation with understandably irritated bus drivers, looking for Ubers escaping I-35 visitors, and sweating then freezing in indecisive Texas climate – I survived SXSW. By no means have I been so grateful to reside in Austin… principally as a result of I may crawl again into my very own mattress and escape to my residence for meals as an alternative of counting on lodge mattresses and overpriced snacks. But in addition due to the devotion of music that’s endlessly intertwined with the town’s tradition.
As anticipated, each venue was stacked, with lineups starting from native favorites like punk-rockers Gus Baldwin & The Sketch and traditional nation outfit Chaparelle to out-of-towners like Montreal’s dreamy pop/rock hybrid Alicia Clara, indie-rock New Yorkers Monobloc, and oh so many others. Julien Baker & TORRES performed their first correct reside present, and St. Vincent even closed out the week’s festivities with a particular shock set. However after all, there was a plethora of unfamiliar sounds… and I conveniently compiled the perfect acts for you.
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shishi? yesyes.
An ethereal entity exits the icy Baltic Sea and splits its consciousness into thirds… certainly it’s the one logical clarification for the three ladies of shishi being ever so transfixing and entrancingly in sync. Hailing from Lithuania, the trio attracts on the eclectic sounds of varied rock subgenres and pop neighbors – a refreshing discover in an oversaturated style.
Victoria’s bass line basis loosens with Benadetta’s punchy hits, wriggles with Teresa’s slippery Stratocaster dietary supplements, and collapses beneath their witty lyricism, “You didn’t do your homework / In all probability your canine ate it / Or perhaps it ate your mind / Is your canine OK” (“Canine OK”). In good tune with their playfulness, their names are however assumed aliases… so who’re shishi? And the way quickly can I get extra of their funky, wavy, sideways sounds injected instantly into my bloodstream?
Laura Lee & the Jettes Transcend Language
Krautrock in Texas? Extra doubtless than you’d suppose. Alt-rock immersion jolts the midnight gatherers awake as Laura Lee & the Jettes take centerstage. “Thanks to your unsolicited recommendation / I’d get again to you / However I feel we’re doing positive,” Laura Lee quips to the voice mansplaining motherhood all through the observe (“Unsolicited Recommendation”).
Switching to her native tongue, the English-speaking, head-banging viewers absorbs every phrase as if German themselves. Outfitted in an outsized hockey jersey and a Jazzmaster in hand, the Berliner snakes by the dancing crowd mid-riff because the three males on stage again their charismatic frontwoman. Sonic chaos ensues as drums rage, bass tightens and fast, heavy strums of electrical guitar feed off the room’s feverish frenzy.
Joan & the Giants’ Vibrant Sonics
Draped in purple, from her dyed hair to her brilliant, flowing gown, Grace Newton-Wordsworth effortlessly wins over the room together with her vivacity and pop/rock hooks. The Perth four-piece (and Atwood Journal 2025 artist to look at) displays off the mirrored partitions, their electrical presence being absorbed from each angle. The small stage wiggles beneath the Australian’s naked ft with every hop to the mic.
Hair shielding her face, she concurrently shreds and sings with out lacking a single word; her three bandmates projecting the sonics even additional. Declaring a want to expel anger, 4 acquainted chords ring out as she channels her internal Dolores O’Riordan for a powerful “Zombie” rendition.
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