With SXSW just around the corner, I’ve decided to start highlighting some parties that have aggregated a slew of my favorite acts, because (let’s get real) at this point with the billions and billions of things going on, it’s about time to start SCHEDULING your week instead of deciding to aimlessly wander (which is the option I almost settled with because there are SO many things going on). But I digress…
First off: FRANCE ROCKS AUSTIN—two days of French acts that will no doubt perpetuate my affinity for any (and every) thing not from the good ole U.S. of A—is happening Thursday and Friday of SXSW (March 18th-19th).
DAY ONE:
What: Burex Party - “France Rocks Austin”
Where: Klub Krucial 614 E. 6th St., Austin, TX
When: Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Time: 12 - 6 PM
All Ages • Open to the public • No wristbands or badges required
- 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. : Cocoon
- 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. : Soko
- 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. : Uffie
- 2:15 - 2:45 p.m. : Dead Sexy Inc.
- 3:15 - 3:45 p.m. : The Bewitched Hands On The Top Of Our Heads
- 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. : General Elektriks
- 5:15 - 6:00 p.m. : Brodinski
DAY TWO:
What: French @ SXSW party
Where: Wave Rooftop , 408 E. 6th St. Austin, TX 78701
When: Friday, March 19th, 2010
Time: 8 PM - 1 AM
All Ages • Wristbands and badges required
- 8:00 p.m. : Papier Tigre
- 9:00 p.m. : Sebastien Schuller
- 10:00 p.m. : Cocoon
- 11:00 p.m. : Brisa Roché
- 12: 00 a.m. : Dead Sexy Inc.
- 01: 00 a.m. : Binary Audio Misfits
(PS: Below is a preview of the bands, but CLICK HERE TO RSVP)
(PPS: Click the song to stream it, to download: right click then save/download link)
COCOON:
Wed. 17th @ Spill, 8:00 p.m.
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East), 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 10:00 p.m.
Cocoon—a male and female duet descending from the Auvergne mountains—is the French equivalent of a (rather ideal) marriage between Sufjan Stevens and St. Vincent, illustriously emanating traditional American folk while adding a graceful French sensuality and a catching pop that simultaneously entices and seduces everyone who hears it. At times a blend of beautiful harmony, blaring trumpets, bouncy ukulele, and acoustic guitars, Mark and Morgan (the masterminds behind it all) have gained a spectacular reputation in clubs across Europe, and come to Austin with a successful gold record and live album.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Cocoon—Hey Ya (yes… an Outkast cover)
SOKO:
Wed. 17th @ Galaxy Room Backyard, 8:00 p.m.
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East), 12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
It was Soko’s hit first single, “I’ll Kill Her”, that not only made Stephanie Sokolinski a hot French commodity in countries like Denmark, Germany, Austria, and Belgium, but it also catapulted her to idol status on my radar, as it didn’t take long for me to adopt this cheeky, brazen pop confection as the theme song for my devastated unrequited-love life. (Sidenote: Sweet voice w/ French accent + cleverly cutting lyrics = instant love). Although she has yet to release a full album in the states or abroad, Soko has sold out a plethora of shows and performed a number of festivals since her start in 2007/2008, with her quaint French-accentuated pop. P.S. this is time number TWO for this chick to play SXSW, and, in my opinion, a definite MUST SEE.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Gentlemen Drivers ft. Soko—Beat Her
UFFIE:
Wed 17th @ Emo’s annex, 1 AM
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East), 1:30 PM
Fri. 19th @ Mohawk Patio, 11:30 PM
Once upon a time, I heard a song that changed my life. It was a year when the indie pangs of The Shins and the folk legs of Sufjan stained my walks to class and dominated all my driving-in-the-car CDs, and then I heard a girl—a displaced Floridan, raised in Hong Kong and residing in Paris—whose in your face lyrics layered over clever electronic beats created, for me, a euphoric, get-your-dance-pants-on, blast-out-your-speakers, experience. “Pop the Glock” represents the infiltration of electronica into my life, and Anna-Catherine Hartley (aka Uffie), under Ed Banger records and alongside collaborators DJ Feadz and Mr Oizo, are to thank for that. Uffie’s own jams (“Pop the Glock”, “Hot Chick”, etc) contributed to her popularity in the states and abroad, but her lent vocals to label mate Justice (…sound familiar?) on the song “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy” and a Crystal Castles mashup (“Make It Hott”) definitely haven’t hurt her. Coming to Austin off her February 2k10 EP MC’s Can Kiss, this French-residing chick plans to release a full album later in the spring.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
SIDENOTE: If I hear one more person try and compare Kesha (I refuse to give her a dollar sign) to Uffie… I will slap you in the face. Kesha makes me want to throw up on pop culture.
MUST SEE VIDEO:
DEAD SEXY INC.:
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East) at 2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 12 a.m.
Although I’m not entirely familiar with Dead Sexy Inc., I’ve been mesmerized by their MySpace page for about 30 minutes now. This electro/punk glam group originally got their start in LA back in 2003, when Cleopatra Records picked up the French trio and catapulted them to international stardom. Touring in more than 20 countries, Dead Sexy Inc. have made a name for themselves as “a dangerous international gang of freaks has decided to pervert the dancelfoor” with “kickass bass and electro punk percussions” (as put by Les Inrockuptibles Mag.2008). This year will see the return of the group to SXSW and hopefully a new album come winter time.
CHECK OUT THEIR MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/deadsexyinc
THE BEWITCHED HANDS ON THE TOP OF OUR HEADS:
Wed. 17th @ Mi Casa Cantina, 5:00 PM
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East), 3:15 – 3:45 PM
and @ Cheers, 9:45 PM
Fri. 19th @ Wave Bar, 5:00 PM
Sat. 20TH @ St David’s Historic Sanctuary, 10:00 PM
This French group has one hell of a name, but they also have one hell of a sound to back it up. Although the gang (comprised of 5 guys and 1 girl) has yet to tour the US, they are bringing their smooth-sailing, incendiary pop beats to SXSW next week so that all of Austin (and AMERICA) can fall in love. With anthemic songs that ride on highly addictive melodies and the unconscious ability to make me dance/fidget awkwardly in my seat, The Bewitched Hands on the Top of Our Heads are sure to “bewitch” (yes… I went there) anyone who has a soft spot for the rallying cry of effervescent pop ballads.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
The Bewitched Hands on the Top of Our Heads—Work (raw version)
The Bewitched Hands on the Top of Our Heads—Rapper’s Delight
GENERAL ELEKTRIKS:
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East) 4:15 - 5:00 p.m.
Thur. 18th The Ghost Room, 8:00 p.m.
Before relocating to San Fran in 1999, Herve ‘RV’ Salters— a French native, vintage keyboard extaordinaire— conceived General Elektriks using old school keys and a SM-57 mike to sew addicting loops and fresh melodies. Incorporating an array of genres into every one of his catchy numbers, GE turns out a delightful fusion of psychadelic indie soulful pop rock (which, if I do say so myself, would be SO COOL as a genre unto itself). He is described best as “a friend that you meet for the first time but feel like you’ve known all your life” because of the way his fresh hits seem to feel vaguely familiar and entirely applicable to any dang playlist that you want to make. Experimental antics aside, this kid will surely witness the rise of his star at SXSW, as he stands to gain worldwide fans with his all-inclusive, bad ass jams.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
General Elektriks—Raid the Radio
General Elektriks—You Don’t Listen
BRODINSKI:
Wed. 17th @ Republic Live, 9:00 p.m
Thur. 18th @ Klub Krucial (Emo’s East), 5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thur. 18th Speakeasy Kabaret, Midnight
Clean sets + dirty tracks + a French kid who just so happens to be BFF with Yuksek = one of the most killer tech/house DJs and producers who represents a brand new wave of French electronic music—a.k.a. Brodinski. If you happen to be an avid club goer, then you have no doubt heard the bass heavy, glitchy techno that this kid churns out, seeing as DJ’s worldwide spin his original jams along with his number of remixes (which include, but are in no way limited to, songs from the Klaxons, Peaches, Heart Revolutions, and Tiga). He is being hailed as one of the most exciting DJs and producers to hit the scene in a looooong time because of his broad sense of music and impeccable programming. Luckily for us, he’s coming to SX and will be sure to get your asses nice and sweaty on the dance floor. So get ready.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Brodinski—Bad Runner (Crookers remix)
The Klaxons—It’s Not Over Yet (Brodinski remix)
Tiga—Sunglasses At Night (Brodinski & Yuksek remix)
PS: He is very good looking. And French. So, basically, in my book, he can do no wrong.
PAPIER TIGRE:
Wed. 17th @ Amsterdam Café, 10:00 PM
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 8:00 PM
Eric Pasquereau, Arthur de la Grandiere, and Pierre-Antoine Parois are some long names the three French kids that make up the rock band also known as Papier Tigre. After playing together in various bands over the years, the trio finally began pursuing their own ideas with the formation of this group in January of 2006, and within a year they completed and released a debut album in France and Europe. Although the group lacks bass (as in the guitar), they are carried by the combination of distinct vocals, pounding drums, and unique guitar riffs, all delivered with a definite punkish air. Papier Tigre have a style and schedule all their own, playing an impressive amount of live shows (over 300!!!) in less than 4 years and in over 15 countries on two albums.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Papier Tigre—Concrete Residential
Papier Tigre—Health and Insurance
Papier Tigre—Concrete Residential (Minitel Rose remix)
SEBASTIEN SCHULLER:
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 9:00 p.m
Sat. 20th @ Mi Casa Cantina, 8:00 p.m
To slow things down (in a good way that is), Sebastien Schuller is coming all the way to Austin from Les Yvelines in the Parisian suburbs, and as a thirty-something classically trained percussionist and multi-intstrumentalist, he is sure to mesmerize the masses with his dedication to acoustic numbers peppered at times with electronic undertones and tinges of pop. His songs are dream-like in an ethereal sense (as opposed to the candy-coated-top-40 sense) and draw on a melancholy mood without seeming overly depressive. If anything is clear when you listen to his tunes: his strong love for melodies and sounds is translated beautifully through each one.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Sebastien Schuller—Tears Coming Home
Sebastien Schuller—Weeping Willow
BRISA ROCHE:
Thur. 18th @ Lamberts, 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 11:00 p.m.
Although technically she’s an American musician (born in California), Brisa Roche moved to Paris in the early 2000’s and kicked off her musical career abroad, releasing her debut album The Chase in 2005. With a style combining jazz, rock, pop, blues, folk, and old-school country, Brisa has made a name for herself as a sultry indie songstress. Although, she admits, she’s technically singing “pop” songs from the past, Brisa shuns the title of a “war-era parody”, sticking to her guns by trying to create a modern experience in the way she feels/acts/creates on and off stage.
Check out her music on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/brisaroche
PS: She kind of looks like Bjork. That is neat.
BINARY AUDIO MISFITS:
Thur. 18th @ Club 115, 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 19th @ Wave Rooftop, 1:00 a.m.
Last, but not least, on the list of French acts that will be jamming out the FRANCE ROCKS AUSTIN parties, are the Binary Audio Misfits—a Texan (yes, Texan) and French coalition that happened to join forces on (…. wait for it…) Myspace back in 2007. After French rock group, Experience, discovered the Texas rap collective, The World Association, an interesting and radical idea arose. After asking The World Association to sing on one of their tracks, the Frenchmen were so thrilled with the result that they decided to continue their unique collaboration. Although still a fabulous work in progress, B.A.M. (which is the best.acronym.ever.) will be packing the dance floor and blowing people’s minds in the wee hours of the morning.
SONGS TO LISTEN TO:
Binary Audio Misfits—Brain Drain Generation
DON’T FORGETTTTT… FRANCE ROCKS AUSTIN is happening Thursday, March 18th (during the day) at Klub Krucial and Friday, March 19th (at night time) on Wave rooftop.
And make sure you check out the website because they have a WHOLE lot of other French bands that are playing the festival as well (of note: Dan Black, Sliimy, and The Toxic Avenger). And who knows, maybe even PHOENIX (is that rumor still floating around?). Either way, France is bringing some KILLER talent to Austin, and you’re not gonna want to miss it. SEE YOU THERE (I will be the one dancing my ass off…with a French boy… if all goes right).
