photos by Tim Griffin

Serena Maneesh

"Not sure about the recorded stuff, but, live, Here We Go Magic's sound made for an enjoyable listen. It was rocky, bouncy, and sometimes outright dancey--but with enough complex time changes thrown in to keep listeners off-guard and from getting too comfortable in one place...

...The Middle East very much lived up to the hype it had earned at last weekend's NX35 conferette in Denton, where it went from a relative unknown to a much-buzzed-about-Denton act. This Austin crowd seemed relatively unfamiliar with the act as well--but also was eventually won over. Gorgeous stuff, indeed, if a little too mellow and unvaried." [Dallas Observer]

Dawes kicked off the BrooklynVegan showcase at Club Deville on the first night of SXSW 2010. They were followed by HWGM & The Middle East who played before a delayed (technical issues) Bowerbirds who managed to get a set in before Califone took the stage almost an hour after their posted set time. Of course that meant the night's closer Serena Maneesh also went on an hour late - 2am to be exact, and then were cut a bit short by the venue who wanted to go home. It was a long day that started at noon down the street at Emo's (on two stages). More pictures, reviews, and videos from the night below...

Continue reading "Serena Maneesh, Califone, Bowerbirds, Middle East, Dawes & Here We Go Magic @ Club DeVile (official BV showcase) - pics"

Beyonce Knowles has signed on to play blues singer Etta James in "Cadillac Records," a 1950s period film about the founder of Chicago's Chess Records and his lineup of stars.

The 10-time Grammy winner joins a cast that includes Adrien Brody as Chess Records founder Leonard Chess, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, and Columbus Short as Little Walter.

Darnell Martin ("Their Eyes Were Watching God") will direct the Sony BMG Films project from his own screenplay. Knowles will also serve as an executive producer. [Hollywood Reporter]