by Andrew Frisicano

After spending four days in Austin for SXSW, my personal MtyMx experience started with an all-day trip from Austin to Monterrey on Sunday. I arrived to see Andrew W.K.'s set that night, the after-party at the Garage, and Monday from first to last band (minus the comedy set with Dan Deacon, though there are pictures of him too). I'm now writing this from Tennessee where the Big Ears Fest is about to begin. Stay tuned for reports about that, and check out my pictures from the festival in Mexico, with captions, below...

Continue reading "pics from MtyMx (Todd P & Yo Garage's Mexico Festival) "

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

DOWNLOAD: The Morning Benders - Promises (MP3)

The Morning Benders @ Cheer Up Charlie's

The Morning Benders woke up Wednesday morning to a Best New Music on Pitchfork, and just in time to get to Austin to play their packed 1:30pm set at the free BrooklynVegan day party at Emo's (which sounded great). It was their first of a series of SXSW shows that included the Stereogum party, Fader Fort, the True Panther Sounds showcase at Cheer Up Charlie's (Ms. Beas) and the official Rough Trade (their label) showcase. Eight days earlier we presented their free record release show at Cameo, and I'm proud to present that we're doing it again, but this time at the much bigger venue across the street (though not free this time).

After selling out both of their April shows at Mercury Lounge (April 22 & 28), The Morning Benders have added an April 24th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for the new show go on sale Friday at noon.

"As with the first time I caught them at SXSW, the Morning Benders have taken the opportunity that the success of Big Echo afforded them and used it to up their game by a lot. Their live show is a smart blend of early '60s vocal pop and timeless guitar shredding. They're a group I feel like I could see over and over again without tiring of in the least." [YouAintNoPicasso]

Big Echo is available in CD & LP format at Insound. Graeme saw their SXSW set at Cheer Up Charlie's which is where the pictures in this post are from. The rest of those with all dates, below...

Continue reading "The Morning Benders played SXSW (pics), add Brooklyn show (BV Presents) + other 2010 Tour Dates "

photos by Bryan Bruchman

Vivian Girls @ Club DeVille

"Brooklyn Bowl is gearing up for round two of Local X Local featuring Brooklyn's own indie chick-rockers Vivian Girls, with support from the German Measles. This monthly celebration of Brooklyn art and culture showcases local artists, musicians, food, entertainment and anything else that defines Brooklyn. As the borough continues to emerge as one of the nation's fastest growing culture capitals, Local X Local allows New Yorkers a free, monthly opportunity to sample the fruits of Brooklyn."

The above described free (but 21+) show takes place at Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday March 28th. Vivian Girls also have an April show coming up at Maxwell's, and they'll be at ATP NY this year.

Brooklyn Bowl will be Vivian Girls' first hometown show after returning from a tour that started at SXSW where they played a bunch of shows. One of those was the Insound Party at Club DeVille where they went on after Small Black and before Liars (who we interviewed that morning). Another one of those was an intimate show at Todd P's location, Cheer Up Charlie's (ex Ms Bea's). Cassie was celebrating a birthday that day and the crowd sang for her. We got it on video which you can watch below with other videos of the band playing that venue with all dates and more pictures from Club DeVille....

Continue reading "Vivian Girls played SXSW w/ Small Black (pics, video), playing free Brooklyn show w/ German Measles Sunday & other dates"

...five full days of parties at Cheer Up Charlie's

Todd P has been downplaying his participation in unofficial SXSW activities this year. He made people think he wasn't returning to Austin at all due to his latest effort in Mexico, the MtyMx Festival (March 20th-22nd in Monterrey).

Not only will he be in Austin, he's just announced five full days of shows at his old haunt Ms Bea's (though it's now called Cheer Up Charlie's). His final free Austin day show even overlaps with Mexico. That said, it looks like he did step away from SXSW at least a little bit. Almost every one of the lineups has a listed curator. You can check them all out below...

Continue reading "Todd P returning to SXSW in 2010 afterall..."