Friday, March 15th, 2013 // Blogs,SXSW
Neon Indian (Alan Palomo DJ Set) @ Hipstamatic House
Early afternoon some of us from WRCT caught Alan Palomo, lead of Neon Indian, over at the Hipstamatic House for a funky DJ set. Palomo incorporated a lot of classic disco, funk, and 80s synth-pop into his set that was perfect for the sunny outdoor vibes of the location. Though the set was supreme there was one lingering question in my head: Where is the rest of the band?
Fortunately after the set Palomo was kind enough to stay around and talk. It turns out that Palomo and the band has been working on a third album and it sounded like they all needed a break. Palomo also mentioned after three years of coming to SXSW as a band, he did not want to subject him or the band to the stresses of the festival. To set up a full band multiple times a day, all week can be an exhausting proposition. By doing a DJ Set, Palomo has been able to have a more enjoyable SXSW experience, he said. With less equipment to lug around, he can easily perform all week without much stress.
I think a testament to Palomo’s new found enjoyment was how fun his set was. He seemed really relaxed while nodding his head to the beats, while the crowd danced along. Though the music he was playing was not his typical chillwave, the vibe that it created was the same. It seemed like many of the songs that he played might have inspired the music he makes. So it was interesting to pry inside his mind through the songs he chose. I highly recommend seeing Palamo do a DJ set if you have the chance and check out the third Neon Indian album when that drops.
Post by Sam Friedlander. His DJ show “____lander” airs Thursdays at 1 a.m.
Friday, March 15th, 2013 // Blogs,SXSW
Disclosure is comprised of two brothers, Guy and Howard Lawrence, who produce some of the best house/future music out right now. They have been releasing a steady stream of awesome music since 2010, but really picked up their pace in 2012 starting with The Face EP in June. Songs from this EP sent waves throughout internet blogs and has led them onto a fast track to fame. My personal favorite from The Face was the track “What’s In Your Head.” Since then, they have released two stellar singles: “Latch” (feat. Sam Smith) and “White Noise” (feat. AlunaGeorge).
The Hype Hotel is a very cool venue sponsored by the Hype Machine; it’s set up on the first floor of the Whitney Hotel in downtown Austin. It feels like a warehouse with its open space, stark concrete materiality, and makeshift restrooms. Despite this seemingly cold setting the stage setup was stunning. The lighting was interesting and versatile enough to host a variety of acts. The venue also had free Taco Bell and drinks — nothing can beat that.
Disclosure came on at the end of the Hype Hotel’s Wednesday event and did not disappoint. Instead of doing a DJ set, they came out with a full percussion setup, DJ equipment, a keyboard, and a bass. One of the brothers took care of all the percussion while the other brother switched between keyboard and bass. As a result, the performance made their music seem much more natural and exciting. At the same time it was clear that they were not performing every aspect of their songs. Regardless, it was impressive that they were treading new ground for producers by performing live. The first song they performed was even sung by one of the brothers, which really helped them connect with the audience. From then on, each song got more people dancing. Every moment of the performance was memorable. Disclosure is one group you should not miss this year.
Post by Sam Friedlander. His DJ show “____lander” airs Thursdays at 1 a.m.
Thursday, March 14th, 2013 // Blogs,SXSW
Terrorbird Media held their showcase at Red 7 on Tuesday, featuring a collection of great artists like IO Echo, Fol Chen and Widowspeak. But the standout performance was Shugo Tokumaru.
Hailing from Tokyo, Tokumaru is a meticulous singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, creating and controlling every aspect of his music himself. For his albums, the first of which, Night Piece was released in America in 2004, Tokumaru combines over 100 different instruments to create a unique sound that is inherently Japanese. Guitars, accordion, and piano mix with the twinkle of a xylophone or toy bell and Tokumaru’s warm voice. For his live shows here at SXSW, however, he has enlisted the help of a drummer and a xylophonist/keyboardist/toy instrumentalist to accompany him while he bops along on guitar.
Like Tokumaru’s music, the show was fresh, fun, and optimistic. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Austin and the music fit the setting perfectly. Despite being sung entirely in Japanese, the crowd seemed to be going right along with Tokumaru’s cheery pop tunes. Cheers erupted every time a new toy instrument was introduced; a contraption consisting of a spinning ball and pecking wooden birds being the crowd favorite. The band also seemed to be enjoying themselves, with smiles all around and a healthy amount of jamming.
To finish off the set, Tokumaru pulled out the only english words of the afternoon with a surprise cover of “Video Killed the Radio Star”, played on ukulele and kazoo. The crowd definitely reacted to the familiar tune, and which sounded great with bursts of bells, xylophone and melodica.
Check out a tune and the awesome stop motion video of “Katachi” the single of Shugo Tokumaru’s newest record, In Focus?
Shugo Tokumaru “Katachi” from Kijek / Adamski on Vimeo.
Post and photos by Eden Weingart.
