WFUV's coverage of SXSW 2012: We broadcast Bruce's keynote, NPR Music gigs, and our own Friday showcase. Find our video, audio & photos on the blog, below. There's more, including exclusive band guest blogs, on The Alternate Side.
You might not think of New York City as the center of the progressive-bluegrass world, but the Punch Brothers have made it so. Their third release - Who's Feeling Young Now? - was written here, and it feels like it. They did a lot of the new songs in their set for the WFUV SXSW Showcase on Friday afternoon, including their cover of Radiohead's "Kid A."
Jonathan Meiburg was in great voice Friday afternoon for the WFUV showcase at SXSW. Shearwater, the band he founded with Will Sheff out of Okkervil River in '99, has seen a burst of attention come their way this year for their 8th album, Animal Joy, which they did a big chunk of for the FUV live broadcast.
Austin's hometown-guy-who-exploded-this-year, Gary Clark, Jr., kicked off the WFUV Showcase at SXSW 2012. We've been fans for a long time (Words & Music 2012 - Words & Music 2011), and it's amazing to see people lining up to see more of him, and not just the blues aficionados.
It was a year of celebrity at SXSW: Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Eminem, Johnny Depp, Anthony Bourdain, Matthew McConaughey, Rachael Ray, Norah Jones, Timbaland, Jay-Z, Arcade Fire, and Jack White.
SXSW has certainly grown into a more mainstream awareness. This year was more well attended then ever, and seemed to break the bank with corporate sponsors. There was even a giant, 3-story-high Doritos vending machine. Huh?
Since I just got back from SXSW, Dennis asked me to give him a quick TAS Report. I chose to talk about the band Polica because they made quite an impression on me.
As I was waiting at the Hotel San Jose for Ben Kweller to show up for our interview, who should I bump into but celebrity chef, Rachael Ray! She was hanging out with her husband (who is in a band called "Cringe") and a few friends.
In-demand producer and session player Jonathan Wilson has finally makes the time to share his own songs with the world, and we are so glad about that. He's well known among musicians, and starting to spread the word to fans with his new album, Gentle Spirit. We were happy to catch up with him and his band in Austin at the Hotel San Jose to capture this live performance of "Moses Pain."
Ben Kweller might have been the nicest guy we met at SXSW. The Austin native kept his cool even when a number of screaming girls stormed the stage during the last song of his set at the Hotel San Jose. Instead of having them removed from the stage, Ben let them dance and sing-along. After the set, he even let them take a quick photo backstage.
Oklahoma's JD McPherson started out as a visual artist but bounced into becoming a musical one. His retro style hearkens back to the R&B-slash-rock and roll of 60 years ago, but his edge is that of a guy who grew up listening to Zep and The Clash. His video for "North Side Gal" got him his record contract -- here he plays the tune for us at the Hotel San Jose in Austin.
Our friends from Hotel San Jose invited us out to check out their showcase yesterday and we ran into one of the most buzzed about bands here at SXSW, Alabama Shakes!
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