The recent outbreak of outstanding concerts in Atlanta has been due to the annual mass migration of musicians passing through the South heading to Austin, Texas for the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival. The bands all try to pick up some gigs while traveling, and Atlanta is strategically located between the East Coast cities where so many of the bands are from and Austin, so virtually every stage here gets booked by bands passing though town this time of year. The only reason that there aren't more shows is that there aren't more venues for them to play. This mass migration is why Fanfarlo were passing through town when they did, and why Variety Playhouse was able to field a triple bill of The Love Language, The War On Drugs, and White Rabbits last weekend. The same thing happens after the massive festival is over as all the bands head back home again.
In fact, there's enough action that I've made up another imaginary festival, sort of like Rocktober, for all of the shows that can be crammed into the month of March during this annual migration of bands. Not to be confused with the basketball tournament, but I call the event "March Madness." March Madness started on the leap-year bonus day, February 29, with Shearwater, and then continued with last week's set by Spectrals, Mrs. Magician, and Cults, and then last weekend's shows by Young Man, Fanfarlo, The Love Language, The War On Drugs, and White Rabbits. And March Madness is just getting started!
I had briefly (very briefly) considered going to SXSW this year, but decided not to go for strategic and financial reasons. I'm trying to start a new business and it's probably not the wisest decision to spend a week out of town and out of reach of my prospective clients right now. Plus, since I'm no longer on salary, I don't get paid when I'm not working.
But no need to despair: Seattle's KEXP Radio will be broadcasting live sets during SXSW from Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin. Their full broadcast schedule is below (sorry to be provincial, but all times are EST).
Wednesday, March 14th In fact, there's enough action that I've made up another imaginary festival, sort of like Rocktober, for all of the shows that can be crammed into the month of March during this annual migration of bands. Not to be confused with the basketball tournament, but I call the event "March Madness." March Madness started on the leap-year bonus day, February 29, with Shearwater, and then continued with last week's set by Spectrals, Mrs. Magician, and Cults, and then last weekend's shows by Young Man, Fanfarlo, The Love Language, The War On Drugs, and White Rabbits. And March Madness is just getting started!
I had briefly (very briefly) considered going to SXSW this year, but decided not to go for strategic and financial reasons. I'm trying to start a new business and it's probably not the wisest decision to spend a week out of town and out of reach of my prospective clients right now. Plus, since I'm no longer on salary, I don't get paid when I'm not working.
But no need to despair: Seattle's KEXP Radio will be broadcasting live sets during SXSW from Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in Austin. Their full broadcast schedule is below (sorry to be provincial, but all times are EST).
Howler, 12:30 pm
The Barr Brothers, 2:30 pm
Wussy, 4:30 pm
Allen Stone, 6:30 pm
Of Monsters and Men, 8:30 pm
Thursday, March 15th
Imperial Teen, 12:30 pm
The Wedding Present, 2:30 pm
Choir of Young Believers, 4:30 pm
Tennis, 6:30 pm
Shearwater, 8:30 pm
Friday, March 16th
Pickwick, 12:30 pm
The War On Drugs, 2:30 pm
JD McPherson, 4:30 pm
The Men, 6:30 pm
Youth Lagoon, 8:30 pm
Meanwhile, not to be outdone, NPR.org will be webcasting their SXSW Showcase at Stubb's on March 14 and their NPR Day Party on March 15. Here's their schedule:
Sharon Van Etten, 10:00 pm
Dan Deacon, 11:00 pm
Alabama Shakes, 12:15 am
Andrew Bird, 1:30 am
Thursday, March 15th
La Vida Boheme, 2:00 pm
Sugar Tongue Slim, 2:45 pm
Polica, 3:30 pm
Lower Dens, 4:15 pm
The Magnetic Fields, 5:00 pm
Finally, our good friends at Daytrotter are broadcasting free live sessions all week (unfortunately, you already missed Shearwater yesterday).
Tuesday, March 13th
Harriet, 3:00 pmGuy Clark, Jr., 4:30 pm
Vox and Hound, 8:30 pm
Wednesday, March 14th
Father John Misty, 9:30 pm
Thursday, March 15th
Jimmy Cliff, 4:30 pm
Counting Crows, 7:00 pm
Friday, March 16th
Owen, 11:30 am
PAPA, 12:30 pm
Jenny O, 8:30 pm
Saturday, March 17th
Chad Valley, 1:30 pm
Of Montreal, 3:30 pm
Widowspeak, 5:00 pm
Field Report, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 18th
Madi Diaz, 1:00 pm
Wednesday starts straightforward enough and without conflicts - Of Monsters and Men's 8:30 show on KEXP should be over well before Sharon Van Etten's 10:00 pm show starts on NPR, and it may be possible to squeeze in Father John Misty's (J Tillman, formerly of Fleet Foxes) Daytrotter session between Dan Deacon and Alabama Shakes on NPR. But Thursday presents some difficult choices - Choir of Young Believer's 4:30 pm set on KEXP overlaps both Lower Dens' 4:15 and The Magnetic Fields' 5:00 pm sets on NPR, and Jimmy Cliff's and Counting Crows' Daytrotter sessions conflict with KEXP's Tennis and Shearwater sets. And although Youth Lagoon's KEXP set should be over well before Jenny O's Daytrotter session, the earlier KEXP Pickwick set conflicts with Daytrotter's PAPA set. In other words, it's just like being at an actual festival and the discriminating listener will have to make some tough choices. What fun!
My personal recommendations include Of Monsters and Men (KEXP, 8:30 pm) and Father John Misty (11:30 pm) on Wednesday; Choir of Young Believers (KEXP, 4:30 pm), Shearwater (KEXP, 8:30 pm), and Sharon Van Etten (NPR, 10:00 pm) on Thursday; Pickwick (KEXP, 12:30 pm) and The War on Drugs (KEXP, 2:30 pm) on Friday; and Chad Valley on Daytrotter (3:30 pm, Saturday).
Remember, all times are Eastern and it's probably a good idea to check the sites for schedule changes before the shows.
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