photos by @griffinshot - Tim Griffin

Andrew W.K. & fans @ Bar 96 on 3/14

Tim's photos from the BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase at Bar 96 back on Wednesday, 3/14 have arrived and are in this post (the previous set we posted by Amanda is HERE). More pictures, sans opener Caged Animals who Tim missed, below....

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase @ Bar 96 in (more) pics (Andrew W.K., Titus Andronicus, 2:54, The Young & more)"

by Bill Pearis

I didn't get in till 6PM so unfortunately I missed the first of our Hotel Vegan day shows, but I rolled into downton just in time for the start of the official BrooklynVegan showcase which took place at Bar 96 on the now hopping Rainey St strip. Like a lot of the clubs there, it used to be a house so it had a backyard vibe, with a good African food truck in the back yard. (I must say, as a New Yorker, the Austin food truck explosion has made eating during SXSW a much more pleasurable experience.) Very chill, very party-like. The area in front of the stage was carpeted in artificial turf, which invited sitting down and chiling out.

Caged Animals

"You can sit for the first two songs, but then lets get up and dance" said Vincent Cacchione of Caged Animals who opened the set. He played affable host, running into the crowd and dancing (and hugging people). Nice mellow start to my week.

2:54

After that it was 2:54 who have gotten exponentially better than when I saw them at Pianos last year, a much more confident band. I am a sucker for their dark, moody, shoegazy sound. Good set, though it was cut short a song by equipment problems.

Cashier No. 9

From there I ventured out to other shows. I really wanted to see Ireland's Cashier No. 9 whose album To the Death of Fun made my Best of 2012 list. The tiny Tap Room stage could barely contain the band's six members and the bassist played on the nearby staircase when their weren't people going up and down. The band reproduced the album's lush sound and rich harmonies ably.

Half Moon Run

From there I went to the M for Montreal showcase and caught Half Moon Run who would play our day party the next day (3/15). Part Radiohead, part '60s folk rock (CSNY comes to mind) the trio sound great -- look out for their debut which comes out at the end of the month.

Craft Spells

I then lost an hour to find my friends and wandering around the Red River strip which has smoke machines and lasers going all night, making the street seem like Ibiza or the Terminator "future" set. I headed back to Planet Quebec to catch Craft Spells (who played our day party on 3/16) who have recently relocated from Seattle to San Francisco. Last time I saw them, nearly a year ago, they were pretty green but a year of gigging later has made them a really good live band. Still very '80s, but more New Order than the Cure which is a good thing. They had a new drummer, only their second show with him, but he seemed up to speed.

Cadence Weapon

Last of the night, after some delays, was Cadence Weapon (aka Montreal resident Rollie Pemberton) who played Hotel Vegan on Saturday (3/17). He was good but I was fading after a day of travel and too many Lone Stars, the ubiquitous Texas tallboy of choice.

Better pictures and reports from the entire week of BrooklynVegan shows coming soon.

Andrew W.K. in Norway recently (more by BBG)

Announced previously with a "TBA" in the midnight slot, I'm happy to announce the full lineup of the 2012 BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase! And it looks like this...

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at Bar 96
8pm: Caged Animals
9pm: 2:54
10pm: The Young
11pm: Screaming Females
12am: Andrew W.K. (full band)
1am: Titus Andronicus

If you have a badge (limited tickets may be sold at the door too), come early to see Brooklyn's own Caged Animals and to guarantee your spot in the 300-capacity venue (be prepared to party hard).

BrooklynVegan also has a Tuesday night official at the Belmont (with Daniel Johnston and Built to Spill - more details TBA), and a heavier one on Friday at Scoot Inn which is where Andrew W.K. is also playing on SXSW Thursday.

All Andrew W.K, tour dates are listed below....

Continue reading "Andrew W.K. completes BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase lineup (with Titus Andronicus, Screaming Females, more)"

Titus Andronicus in Brooklyn recently (more by Andrew St. Clair)

As just mentioned on BrooklynVegan and published on SXSW's website, the main BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase this year will take place Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at Bar 96 (across the street from Lustre Pearl and where Dinosaur Jr plays two nights later).

The reason I haven't really formally announced it before now, is because we had a major cancellation and so the midnight slot is still TBA! BUT, meanwhile, it looks like this:

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at Bar 96
8pm: Caged Animals
9pm: 2:54
10pm: The Young
11pm: Screaming Females
12am: TBA
1am: Titus Andronicus

Screaming Females and Titus are also touring their way from NJ to SXSW together. Stay tuned for more details!

BrooklynVegan also has a Tuesday night official showcase TBA, and one on Friday at Scoot Inn.