Even with the humid weather, the fine Thursday afternoon and evening didn’t stop Austin festival goers from checking out their favorite, upcoming bands at multiple showcases across the city.
Flood Fest at Mohawk
Attending Flood Fest at Mohawk during SXSW is an annual tradition that always leads to discovering one of my new favorite artists. This year featured a diverse lineup from across the globe with each act bringing a unique sound and energy to the stage. Estevie encouraged everyone in the crowd to cumbia, Hinds’ indie ballads had festival goers swaying, and Caleb Landry Jones might have set the record for the most people on the inside stage. We were also able to catch Fat Dog, J Noa, VIJI, and Coach Party. Chromeo closed out the showcase at the Mohawk with an epic DJ set, which was just the endorphin high we needed to take us into Thursday night. – Jacqueline Fierro
Keynote Conference: The Black Keys
Inside Ballroom D, at the Austin Convention Center, members Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys reflected on their artistic journey chronicled in their documentary: This Film is about the Black Keys. The duo’s accidental pairing came from an impromptu jam session and a four-track recorder enabled their experimental journey which they described as “recording bullshit”. Fast forwarding to the whirlwind that was four years of shows, they graduated from playing at dive bars to arenas. Their album, Brothers, propelled them into an increased tempo which took a toll on their personal relationships and resulted in a conscious decision to step away from the spotlight and record another album: El Camino. They ended with a promotion of their new album. – Emily Martinez
Marshall Fun House presented by Resound
Parish was dressed up in a pretty pink and smiled big underneath the Marshall signs adorned on every door and available wall. The party was a two parter, The Lot hosted a variety of food vendors, a bar, and a Dj supplied vibes. A large crowd waited in line at the doors for the show where Nashville-band Snõõper was setting the stage. Among the props that enhanced the experience was a traffic light, and a pimped out phone crafted with a camera attachment that reflected the animated crowd. The band’s set brought out all the punk rockers and a mosh was inevitable. There was no shortage of high energy at Parish with a performance that kept the audience jumping and thrashing along to songs “Powerball”, “Fruit Fly” and culminated with a banger rendition of “Runner”. – Emily Martinez
Third Man Records + CREEM Magazine Day Party
Third Man Records partnered up with CREEM Magazine to bring a killer unofficial showcase to Austin’s 13th Floor venue on sixth. One of the standout acts was Fcukers, who performed their electronic dance pop tunes. Following them was the highly anticipated acts of the fest named They Are Gutting a Body of Water (or TAGABOW for short). The band performed in a circle setup on stage, making their set much more intimate and well-rounded, despite their riddled technical difficulties. – Keylee Paz
Planetary Group Showcase at Valhalla
The band HighSchool, took the stage and displayed effortless coolness that paired well with the band’s dreamy melodies. Valhalla swiftly transformed into a place where worries melt away and the rhythmic beat engaged the crowd to sway slowly with a soft bounce. Included in their set were songs from their 2021 EP Forever At Last and recently released single “Doesn’t Matter”. Next on stage, Montreal band Zouz introduced themselves and began with a groovy-mellow tune “Seuls”, from their album Vertiges. The pace gradually increased during their set and the band demonstrated incredible cohesion on stage while they each shone in their respective talents. They showcased remarkable performances of songs from their entire catalog which included “Hubert” from EP 1, “Bordée tu nages” from EP 2, and also announced the release of a fourth album in the fall. – Emily Martinez
Faux Real at Elysium
It’s always a pleasure to catch Faux Real at any show due to their exuberant stage presence and performance. The brother duo took over Elysium for a fun night of dance, energy and pop music, rocking the house down and making sure the people weren’t standing still. This Los Angeles-based band performed their funky tracks like “Boss Sweet,” “Kindred Spirit,” “Rent Free” and “Full Circle.” – Keylee Paz
Gorilla V. Bear + Luminelle at Seven Grand
Attending the Gorilla vs. Bear + Luminelle showcase during SXSW at Seven Grand was a mesmerizing journey through a sonic wonderland. We were able to catch Heavy Meddo, Lola 1:2, Hinako Omori, and Fabiana Palladionx during the Thursday night showcase. Heavy Meddo’s psychedelic sound engulfed the venue, transporting the audience to a euphoric state of mind with their hypnotic melodies. Lola 1:2 captivated the audience with her energy coupled with electronic beats. Hinako Omori’s performance was like floating through a fantasy world, her ethereal vocals and dreamy compositions creating an enchanting atmosphere that felt surreal yet captivating. Fabiana Palladionx rounded out our night, showcasing her experimental blend of electronic and indie pop by playing songs like “Closer” and her newest single, “I Can’t Dream Anymore.” – Jacqueline Fierro
X Ambassadors at This Fiction Showcase
For the final set of This Fiction’s showcase, X Ambassadors performed a very intimate set that include a great mix of their hits and songs from their upcoming album. This Fiction Music was celebrating their 10th anniversary as a company, and had a killer lineup featuring Tommy Siegel (of Jukebox the Ghost) and Saint Kid. X Ambassadors walked out and played “Renegades,” in which the entire crowd sang along as loud as they could. They promoted their upcoming album, which is set for release on April 5th. The band ended their set with “Unsteady,” a heart-wrenching ending to such a busy Thursday. – 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.
