Tacos & BBQ & Beer: A SXSW 2013 Playlist

It's exhaustive (much like SX). See you in two weeks!

xo

7 Days til SXSW!

We are officially one week out from the music lovers springbreak known as, SXSW. YKTAM has been highlighting some of the up and comers that will be there this year via Sunday Morning Soundtracks the past couple weeks (you can listen here, here and here). But, other publications have done a bit more thorough combing of the lineup to get you ready for what's sure to be blazin' hot outta Austin. (NOTE: Final SX edition of the Sunday Morning Soundtrack coming 3/12)

The always impressive NPR Music has their All Songs Considered SXSW preview; which is great. And, if you can't make it out to ATX - they will be live streaming their shows. Sweet deal!

Artist site Bandcamp has also put together a nearly endless playlist with hundreds and hundreds of artists to dive into. Check it.

What would a YKTAM post be without a little KCRW love?? Jason Bentley and Rachel Reynolds put together a little SXSW podcast. It's great stuff - can't wait to see all the fun things our hometown station has going on in ATX. You can get the lowdown on the same site.

Get on it - you've got your work cut out for you.

This time of year rules - giddy up!

Odds and Ends

Tonight, Saratoga Springs, NY buzz duo Phantogram play Bordello Bar in downtown LA. I won't be in attendance, so if you happen to go, would love to hear what you think. I'm hoping to check them out in a couple weeks at SXSW; want to see what all this hype is about. Their Barsuk debut album Eyelid Moves is out now. Stream the single below.

Speaking of SXSW, NPR Music compiled a 100 song playlist of artists you need to check out that are playing the annual music conference. Whether you plan on attending or not, it's definitely worth a listen. Love those guys.

Cheers!

Phantogram - When I'm Small

For the Record: Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Living in LA I've had the pleasure of hearing for quite some time (live or UK release, which hit fall '09), Gorilla Manor by Silver Lake's Local Natives. While an outright review of the album might be redundant, a diagnostic approach to what makes these guys so good might be more par for the course.

The Local Natives recipe is as follows:

Instrumental Chops: Quite simply, these dudes can play and have a well developed ear for melody/harmony and it's mind-blowing to realize they have only been playing music together for a couple years.

Songwriting: The subject matter of the lyrics is creative and precise; personal development is the theme heard in ("Wide Eyes") and the all too clever ("World News") focuses on all that can happen in the waning moments of your commute home. In keeping with their experience beyond years theme, one must remember that these well thought out lyrics accompany the arsenal of melody and rhythm leaving little room to let your mind wander while listening. And while you might expect this from a more seasoned band, they deliver with ease on this debut album, making it seem all too natural.

See this band live: Gorilla Manor on it's own is amazing; their performance is transcendental. Percussion assaults, four part harmonies, high energy and an overwhelming respect for those that listen to them abound in their typical hour long set. And one can't help but be immersed into an immediate memorable music experience.

While there has been a bit of a wait for proper US release of their album, it couldn't come at a better time for these fine dudes. A lengthy European jaunt (where they are quite popular), leads into anchoring sets at SXSW, Coachella, Sasquatch and Bonnaroo. Blog buzz abounds as they tore through sets at SXSW '09 and CMJ '09 but the festival setting should provide them well deserved exposure and it's only a matter of time before the masses will be taking a note out of their lyrics, thinking: "I want you back..."

Gorilla Manor is available now on French Kiss Records and digitally via iTunes. A media player can be found below with live performances and streams of singles.

As always, enjoy.

For the Record: Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

Surfer Blood is a young band that hails from West Palm Beach, Florida. At first glance you would think that they are riding the "wave" of 2009s hazy lo-fi surf-core, but they bring something a bit more to the table.

Take one part Built to Spill one part Pavement and add a bit of Modest Mouse's quirkiness and more or less you have a recipe for these guys.

I highly suggest a listen and with an extensive tour itinerary (including a stint in Austin for SXSW), I suggest you hop on board (get it?).

Peep these cuts:

Surfer Blood - Floating Vibe

Surfer Blood - Take it Easy

The bands debut album Astro Coast is out now on Kanine records.