looking for something specific? search our archives:
[SXSW 2011] Queens of the Stone Age Play Their Debut @ La Zona Rosa
I get off a plane and get a cab to the hotel which is empty as Kibbe and Rocko have headed down town. I sit on the bed and slowly start to feel myself sink into the bed after being awake for 24 hours. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE my mind shouts at me as I slowly begin to get comfy. And just like that I'm out of the door and headed to the convention centre to hook up with Rocko for the first time while Kibbe is off to the MTV Woodies to catch a glimpse of Dave Grohl, understandably, he's a sexy man! La Zona Rosa is the venue for Queens Of The Stone Age to make their stamping ground in Austin and as you walk into the venue there's a feeling of something special in the air. Opening up for them is J Mascis, Mini Mansions and Black Angels all who respectively individually put their mark on the evening. The atmosphere was beginning to simmer down a little and then Joey Castillo steps up to the drum kit slowly followed by the ginger giant that is Josh Homme, who takes his position centre stage with his Maton BB slung around his neck ready to play us all what we've waited so long to hear. Their debut, front to back. This was going to be a night for the books.
I get off a plane and get a cab to the hotel which is empty as Kibbe and Rocko have headed down town. I sit on the bed and slowly start to feel myself sink into the bed after being awake for 24 hours. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE my mind shouts at me as I slowly begin to get comfy. And just like that I'm out of the door and headed to the convention centre to hook up with Rocko for the first time while Kibbe is off to the MTV Woodies to catch a glimpse of Dave Grohl, understandably, he's a sexy man! La Zona Rosa is the venue for Queens of the Stone Age to make their stamping ground in Austin and as you walk into the venue there's a feeling of something special in the air. Opening up for them is J Mascis, Mini Mansions and Black Angels all who respectively individually put their mark on the evening. The atmosphere was beginning to simmer down a little and then Joey Castillo steps up to the drum kit slowly followed by the ginger giant that is Josh Homme, who takes his position centre stage with his Maton BB slung around his neck ready to play us all what we've waited so long to hear. Their debut, front to back. This was going to be a night for the books.
The band barely gets comfortable in their positions before Josh's guitar comes screaming out of the speakers and the crowd is thrown back on their heels as the distortion and volume dabs can only mean one thing, the intro of "Regular John". And upon this the room begins to turkey neck and get their groove on. I look on open mouthed, after having being awake for far too long, I'm stood in Austin and QOTSA are literally 10 feet away from me at a show that's not even full to the back of the room. Is this real life?! "Avon" follows naturally, opening up a break for Joey to tentatively do the infamous drum fill 3/4 of the way through.
Songs I thought I'd never get seen played live are unfolding in front of my very eyes and it's hard to soak in the lights, the band, the atmosphere. Your senses are left bewildered as the wall of sound keeps hitting you slap in the face. The band swagger their way through the amazing debut album while Josh's vocals soar through the mix taking us all to a desert somewhere where the sun is setting and tomorrow brings another sun. The album seems to have been played before to long rocking through great tracks like their latest limited edition vinyl "How To Handle A Rope" along with "Mexicola" onto "Hispanic Impressions" and "The Bronze". Before I know it they are off of the stage and Josh has necked half a bottle of vodka and chain smoked his way off of the stage while the audience watches on in disbelief.
We shouldn't of worried though, as just minutes later the band return to the stage and bang out some of their greatest hits and an all time favourite of mine "Make It Wit' Chu". Opening the encore with "Turnin' The Screw" following up with "Misfit Love" and the jam at the beginning of the song had a the whole band swaggering around the stage in a groove only these guys can bring from within. To my happiness they carried on through the hits playing an array of fan favourites (if you don't personally class the whole frikking entire S/T as your favourite!) including "Little Sister" and finally closing the set with "Go With The Flow". Done.
Before waving his goodbyes to the audience, Josh, who'd now drank the best part of a bottle of Kettle One stumbled towards the crowd just feet away and passed the bottle to an unassuming girl. Little did we know Johnny, the lucky SOB, over at Antiquiet would end up taking said bottle back to his hotel, but we're not jealous. Honest. All in all a perfect introduction into not only the first Queens of the Stone Age album that hit the worlds eardrums some 13 years ago but to SXSW Music for the SKoA family.
Set List
Regular John
Avon
If Only
Walkin’ on the Sidewalks
You Would Know
How to Handle a Rope
Mexicola
Hispanic Impressions
The Bronze
Give the Mule What He Wants
I Was a Teenage Hand Model
You Can’t Quit Me Baby
ENCORE
Turnin’ On The Screw
Misfit Love
Make It Wit Chu
Little Sister
Tangled Up In Plaid
Go With The Flow
[Watch] Brother - "Darling Buds Of May" Live At Fader Fort SXSW 2011
In the midst of all our running around at SXSW I managed to miss one of the handful of bands that I REALLY REALLY wanted to see. But that's okay, we have the internet to catalog everything we could ever care about, amirite? Here we have the up and coming Brit-pop band Brother performing their song "Darling Buds Of May" at the Fader Fort while they were in Austin.
As bummed as I am about not catching them, I am happy to report that I will not only be seeing them in a few hours at Mercury Lounge here in NYC, but I will be grabbing them for a quick interview before their set!
What should I ask them? What would you want to know about a band this fresh to the universe?
[Watch] Cedric Bixler-Zavala joins the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (Live @ SXSW)
Well, well, well what do we have here, it's only the Omar Rodriquez Lopez Group playing live at Fitzgerald’s in Houston during last SXSW madness in Texas. Cedric Bixler-Zavala also joined the band onstage only fuelling the rumours that the new Mars Volta album is complete and ready to give our ear drums a good seeing to. Adding with the announcement of The Mars Volta playing Sonisphere Festival this July I think that rumour is almost a definate. Enjoy the performance up at the top courtesy of Music For Perfect People.
[SXSW 2011] Review: Foo Fighters: Back And Forth
Sharing names with a track from their upcoming album Wasting Light, the Back and Forth documentary tells story of how the Foo Fighters went from a demo tape during part of singer Dave Grohl's healing process after Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain passed away to the rock gods capable of playing two sold out shows at Wembley Stadium and fast-forwarding to them returning to their analog roots as they recorded Wasting Light.
Sharing names with a track from their upcoming album Wasting Light, the Back and Forth documentary tells story of how the Foo Fighters went from a demo tape during part of singer Dave Grohl's healing process after Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain passed away to the rock gods capable of playing two sold out shows at Wembley Stadium and fast-forwarding to them returning to their analog roots as they recorded Wasting Light.
The film is by far one of the most entertaining rock docs I've seen to date. Not only is it beautifully shot and put together, but it's genuinely as funny as the guys in the band. I was also impressed by how they tackle the "drama" that the band has experienced over the years. Grohl deserves a major hat tip for facing those areas of the bands history head on and not being ashamed to admit to the decisions he felt he needed to make. The lack of unnecessary finger pointing came as a pleasant surprise throughout the film. It seems as though for once we have a collection of level-headed rock musicians on our hands. How great is that for once?
When the band started to get down to business and work on Wasting Light during the film, it was just another moment for the Foos to shine ever so brightly. Since the album was recorded in Grohl's garage, it removed a lot of the typical formalities that normally come with recording. You see a lot of interaction with their families and an overall easygoing atmosphere amongst everyone involved, which I'm sure will somehow end up having an impact on the way the record sounds in addition to being recorded to tape. It should also be said that the interaction captured between Dave Grohl and his daughters is one of the most heartwarming yet entertaining things you will ever see. To see Grohl, the ever screaming firey frontman patiently let one of his daughters crawl all over him while he's attempting to track his guitar tracks is worth the admission price alone.
Anyone on the fence about how the Foo Fighters will be won over with this doc. Anyone already in love with them will feel all the more connected to an incredible band.
Bottle rating: 5 out of 5 bottles!
You can catch Back and Forth screening on April 5th at a theater near you below:
| CITY | STATE | SHOW TIME(S) | THEATER | |
| HOOVER | AL | 8:00 PM | RMP PATTON CREEK 15 | |
| HUNTSVILLE | AL | 8:00 PM | VALLEY BEND 18 | |
| MONTGOMERY | AL | 8:00 PM | RAVE FESTIVAL PLAZA 16 | |
| LITTLE ROCK | AR | 8:00 PM | RAVE COLONEL GLENN 18 | |
| SURPRISE | AZ | 7:00 PM | ULTRASTAR SURPRISE POINTE 14 | |
| PICO RIVERA | CA | 6:00 PM | VILLAGE WALK 15 | |
| LOS ANGELES | CA | 6:00 PM | RAVE 18 – LA (FORMERLY THE BRIDGE) | |
| RIVERBANK | CA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY 12-RIVERBANK | |
| TULARE | CA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY 10-TULARE | |
| BUENA PARK | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN PREMIERE THEATRES | |
| MONROVIA | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN 12-MONROVIA | |
| REDLANDS | CA | 6:00 PM | KRIKORIAN PREMIERE THEATRES | |
| HOLLYWOOD | CA | 6:00 PM | CHINESE | |
| APPLE VALLEY | CA | 6:00 PM | ULTRASTAR APPLE VALLEY 14 | |
| CHULA VISTA | CA | 6:00 PM | ULTRASTAR CHULA VISTA 10 | |
| COLORADO SPRINGS | CO | 7:00 PM | CHAPEL HILLS 15 | |
| FORT COLLINS | CO | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE 10 | |
| BRADENTON | FL | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE ROYAL PALM 20 | |
| MELBOURNE | FL | 9:00 PM | RMP AVENUE 16 | |
| FERNANDINA BEACH | FL | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE AMELIA ISLAND 7 | |
| PENSACOLA | FL | 9:00 PM | RAVE BAYOU 15 | |
| PORT ST LUCIE | FL | 9:00 PM | RAVE PORT ST LUCIE 14 | |
| COLUMBUS | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 15 | |
| CONYERS | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE CONYERS CROSSROADS 16 | |
| SAVANNAH | GA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 11-SAVANNAH | |
| JOHNSTON | IA | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 16-JOHNSTON | |
| CHAMPAIGN | IL | 8:00 PM | BEVERLY CENTER 18 | |
| DEKALB | IL | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE MARKET SQUARE 10 | |
| PEORIA | IL | 8:00 PM | GRAND PRAIRIE 18 | |
| PLAINFIELD | IN | 8:00 PM | RMP METROPOLIS 18 | |
| EVANSVILLE | IN | 8:00 PM | EAST 18 EVANSVILLE | |
| MANHATTAN | KS | 8:00 PM | SETH CHILDS 12 | |
| BATON ROUGE | LA | 8:00 PM | RAVE MALL OF LOUISIANA 15 | |
| GRAND RAPIDS | MI | 9:00 PM | CELEBRATION! CINEMAS GRAND RAPIDS – NORTH | |
| NOVI | MI | 9:00 PM | EMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT NOVI | |
| BIRCH RUN | MI | 9:00 PM | EMAGINE HOLLYWOOD 10 | |
| OAKDALE | MN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE OAKDALE 20 | |
| WARRENSBURG | MO | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE UNIVERSITY 8-WARRENSBURG | |
| BILLINGS | MT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 10-BILLINGS | |
| MISSOULA | MT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-MISSOULA | |
| HICKORY | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 14 | |
| ASHEVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-ASHEVILLE | |
| FAYETTEVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE MARKET FAIR 15 | |
| JACKSONVILLE | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 16-JACKSONVILLE | |
| WINSTON-SALEM | NC | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 12-WINSTON-SALEM | |
| CARSON CITY | NV | 6:00 PM | GALAXY FANDANGO 10 | |
| NORTH LAS VEGAS | NV | 6:00 PM | GALAXY CANNERY 16 | |
| LAS VEGAS | NV | 6:00 PM | RAVE TOWN SQUARE 18 | |
| MENTOR | OH | 9:00 PM | ATLAS CINEMAS GREAT LAKES STADIUM 16 | |
| COLUMBUS | OH | 9:00 PM | RMP POLARIS 18 | |
| WEST CHESTER | OH | 9:00 PM | RMP WEST CHESTER 18 | |
| STILLWATER | OK | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 10-STILLWATER | |
| CORVALLIS | OR | 6:00 PM | CARMIKE 12-CORVALIS | |
| CENTER VALLEY | PA | 9:00 PM | RMP PROMENADE 16 | |
| CHARLESTON | SC | 9:00 PM | JAMES ISLAND 8 | |
| FRANKLIN | TN | 8:00 PM | THOROUGHBRED 20 | |
| JOHNSON CITY | TN | 8:00 PM | JOHNSON CITY 14 | |
| MORRISTOWN | TN | 8:00 PM | COLLEGE SQUARE | |
| CHATTANOOGA | TN | 8:00 PM | EAST RIDGE 18 | |
| DYERSBURG | TN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 9-DYERSBURG | |
| KNOXVILLE | TN | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 16-KNOXVILLE | |
| EDINBURG | TX | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 20 | |
| AUSTIN | TX | 8:00 PM | GALAXY HIGHLAND 10 | |
| FORT WORTH | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP RIDGMAR 13 | |
| HOUSTON | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP YORKTOWN 15 | |
| HURST | TX | 8:00 PM | RMP NORTH EAST MALL 18 | |
| TYLER | TX | 8:00 PM | CARMIKE 14-TYLER | |
| PROVO | UT | 7:00 PM | CARMIKE WYNNSONG 12-PROVO | |
| ROANOKE | VA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 10 | |
| FAIRFAX | VA | 9:00 PM | FAIFAX | |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE | VA | 9:00 PM | CARMIKE 6-CHARLOTTESVILLE | |
| GIG HARBOR | WA | 6:00 PM | GALAXY UPTOWN 10 |
[Watch] Jack White Does Surprise Performance At TMR Rolling Record Store
About a week and a half ago, Jack White and his Third Man Records team announced their plans for the Rolling Record Store. The name says it all, with Jack and his crew driving around spreading their love of vinyl to the masses. They also announced that the TMR Rolling Record Store would be making its debut at SXSW from the 16th to the 20th. As a little surprise for all those who came to visit his store on wheels, Jack decided to perform an acoustic in the parking lot at SXSW. The video, courtesy of NPR, shows off his performance of two song, one from Buddy Holly and the other was White Stripes' own "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground."
[SXSW 2011] Check Out: Gold Panda
March 16th: IODA Party @ Emo's, 5.30pm
March 16th: Anticon Showcase @ Mohawk, 7pm
March 18th: Pitchfork Party, 2.15pm
March 18th: Dave P party,
Friday 18th Shangri-la, Time TBC (evening)
March 19th: Stereogum Last Night Party @ Purevolume House, 3am
[SXSW 2011] Preview: Jamie Woon
British singer/songwriter Jamie Woon hit the scene in 2007 with his EP Wayfaring Stranger and hasn't stopped making waves since. Riding off of last year's successful single "Night Air", Woon is hitting the ground running in Austin to get the world rowdy for his upcoming album, Mirrorwriting, which hits stores April 11th.
I have been in love with his voice since the first time I laid my ears on "Lady Luck" (video and remix below). Really looking forward to catching him at one of these sets during my stay in Austin.
March 16th - 1:15pm - Mohawk (FULL BAND)
March 16th - 5.55pm - British Music Embassy (FULL BAND)
March 17th - 3.30pm - Phoenix (FULL BAND)
March 17th - 9:00pm - Windish House (FULL BAND)
March 18th - 1.30pm - French Legation Museum (STRIPPED DOWN SHOW)
March 19th - 9:00pm - Lanai Roof Top Lounge (FULL BAND)
"Lady Luck"
[Watch] The Kills Perform New Song "Baby Says" At SXSW 2011
Check out The Kills perform a new song titled "Baby Says" from their upcoming album Blood Pressures for IFC's showcase at SXSW. The full performace was made available to watch live on Monday night, sadly we missed the whole performance but according to our buddy Peter at TwentyFourBit he said it was amazing (not in those exact words). Check out the performance above.