Music is in the air at SXSW, meaning: it’s that time of year again, Austin.
AdHoc Presented by Audio Femme
On the outdoor stage of legendary and quaint music venue, Cheer-Up Charlie’s, a contradiction was uplifted. The crowd was considerable, as members of Moscow-based art collective, Pussy Riot, took the stage. Opening with the 2017 classic “Police State”, Front-woman Nadya Tolokonnikova was accompanied by two ski-masked dancers who combined sensuality and rage in their choreography. Energy was stomped out that evening with songs like “Punish”, “PANIC ATTACK”, and most notably “TOXIC”. The latter performance demonstrated the masterpiece that is Pussy Riot. Nadya seemingly seduced the crowd with a simple hair twirl, only to then jolt the gleaming eyes with a primal growl from deep within. Sharp shifts in vocal pitch between songs, mixed with often fast-paced punk-rock intoxicated the crowd with a blend of unpredictable grace and defiance. – Emily Martinez
The International Day Stage
The International Day Stage at the SXSW Registrant Lounge kicked off on Wednesday with a diverse lineup of musical talents from around the globe.
Opening the day was 16-year-old Eli Crossley, hailing from London and known by his stage name Askew. He played soulful tracks, including “Last Dance” which set a captivating tone for the event. Next up, Mexico City’s dynamic duo Juanpalitoschinos took the stage, infusing the atmosphere with their infectious Latin-pop beats and synchronized choreography. Their energetic performance featured crowd favorites like “¿Por Qué No Contestas?” that had the audience moving and grooving.
The last act we caught at the International Day Stage was Chartreuse, representing The Black Country in the UK. Drawing from their latest album Morning Ritual, the band treated the audience to a blend of songs inspired by jazz and folk, such as “Switch It On, Switch It Off” and “All Seeing All The Time.” – Jacqueline Fierro
Women That Rock Showcase presented by Austin Monthly
This year, the momentous Women That Rock showcase made it’s return to South by Southwest, and featured a multitude of up and coming female and non-binary artists in the scene. Shows were going on simultaneously inside and outside, and everything was decorated to represents Austin Monthly’s involvement and importance to Austin’s local culture. One of the performers was Nabihah Iqbal, who introduced Austin Garden to ethereal and dreamesque sounds. Following her perfomance was Cassadee Pope, a female singer/songwriter that has been in the scene since the early 2000s. She first started in the scene as the lead singer for pop-punk band Hey Monday, who disbanded in 2011. Pope turned to country music, and is now making a return to her pop-punk roots. During her set, she performed an acoustic combination of Hey Monday songs, her solo country tracks and her upcoming pop-punks tunes to be released in the future. – Keylee Paz
Rolling Stone: The Future of Music (Day Two)
The Rolling Stone event was in full effect, and it was Wednesday’s biggest night at SXSW for latin music. The event featured Regional Mexican artist Peso Pluma, who has been on the rise and in the spotlight since early 2021. On top of performing his hits like “Lady Gaga” and “PRC,” he also performed the songs he is featured in such as Karol G’s “QLONA” and Kali Uchis’ “Igual Que Un Ángel.” Young Miko also performed at the event, bringing the full-on perreo party to ACL Live. She performed her songs like “LISA” and “wiggy,” as well as her popular songs with FEID called “Classy 101” and her BIZARRAP session song. Starting off the night was Kevin Kaarl, who serenaded the crowd with his emotional Spanish love songs. – Keylee Paz
Zheani at Cuatro Gato
Australian hyperpop singer Zheani brought the house down at Cuatro Gato with her intriguing stage presence, as her set brought many people to a small, intimate setting. The singer is currently on tour across the US, and made a pit spot in Austin’s Cuatro Gato before heading to perform a sold-out show at Houston’s White Oak Music Hall. Her set included a lot of jumping, semi-moshing in the small dance floor, and Zheani letting out her inner rage.
– Keylee Paz
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
I'm a southern bred writer and devoted bike-rider from Mission, Texas. I am known for crafting the finest assortment of playlists for every occasion. I received her Bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, and I enjoy dabbling in a variety of hobbies and am always down to learn something new. I'm also an ISFJ (Defender Personality) according to 16 Personalities, do what you will with that information.
I am an Austin-based photographer and social media manager. My love for photography started in high school which lead me to study communications at Texas Tech University and The University of the Incarnate Word. Aside from my love for photography and live music, I enjoy spinning vinyl, kayaking, biking, and chilling with my cat, Petrie.
