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Previously: First Look: Paramore - Brand New Eyes

Rose Melberg in October 2009 / photo by David Greenwald

And you thought SXSW was a wild week. This weekend’s concert action kicks off today with Aquarium Drunkard, The Echo and KXLU’s “Waved Out” all-ages festival at the Echo and Echoplex, featuring Surfer Blood, Best Coast, Dirt Dress, Gamble House, Active Child and a full array of interesting upcoming acts. The inaugural effort kicks off at 3 p.m. for a mere $12.

On Sunday, twee gurus are in for a treat: Aussie songwriter Guy Blackman, the Crayon Fields (who were ace in Austin) and the Finches will all play an afternoon gig at the Echo Curio at 3 p.m. The show should wrap up just in time to make your way over to the Echo for the totally insane SLumberland Records 20th anniversary show, which features modern indie-pop winners Pants Yell! and Devon Williams as well as, incredibly, a reunion show from Rose Melberg’s Go Sailor and fellow ’90s icons Henry’s Dress and Boyracer — and four other bands! Having seen Rose, one of my all-time favorite songwriters, twice in L.A. last year after her decade-long absence from our fair city, having her back once more seems almost too good to be true. (Softies reunion in 2011? Fingers crossed!)

More L.A. dates (and add ‘em to your Google Calendar!) here.

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

The first act I caught at the Autumn Tone Records showcase, Blair blissfully strummed her way through tracks from her Cat Power-goes-electric full-length debut, Die Young. More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

In which our hero yodels (!?) in front of green-screen Swiss alps. Doesn’t get any better than this, folks.

Cokemachineglow, the last word in online music writing (and not just because I went to SXSW for ‘em), has dropped its top 100 albums of the decade list. What’s great about CMG vs. other sites whose tastes have changed or expanded in recent years is that the Glow – despite a raft of new writers – has retained its identity. Its list is the work of critics who take pop music seriously and have spent the last 10 years grappling, indefatigably, with bands and artists striving for perfect sound forever. I suggest you join them — and yes, that’s my byline under album No. 64.

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

I’ve been waiting years — 7 of ‘em, in fact — to see former Beulah frontman Miles Kurosky live. He didn’t disappoint, bringing a pair of fans on stage to help out with Beulah classics “Popular Mechanics for Lovers” and “Emma Blowgun’s Last Stand” as well as playing a full set of his excellent new material. Look for my interview with the musician in these pages soon. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

With yet another excellent album under their belts this year in Transference, Texas heroes Spoon filled Stubb’s with inimitable ferocity and the joyous sound of new jams. After all this time, they’ve never been more ready for, or deserving of, the commercial spotlight they seem to be stepping into. More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by David Greenwald

[Rawkblog @ SXSW 2010: Complete Coverage]

At the stroke of midnight, Rose Elinor Dougall—formerly known as Rosay, the brunette Pipette—took the stage at Paste’s Galaxy Lounge showcase. In a shimmering leather jacket and all-black ensemble, the formerly fey singer looked like a cross between Kristen Stewart in “The Runaways” and Ellen Page in everything—nevertheless, she lead her new band through a striking 40-minute set that picked up right where the Pipettes left off—and rebooted them in the ‘80s. Driven by keyboards and Depeche Mode-toned guitars, the new project had the electronic air of acts such as Metric and Reverie Sound Revue—but while those bands err on the side of glassy cool, Dougall still thrives on pop drama and a stunning vibrato. The best of the new tracks were as exuberant as past Pipettes favorites—and even as a solo frontwoman, she hasn’t forgotten the occasional choreographed move or two from her polka-dot days, too. [Via my Cokemachineglow review.] More photos after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »