Swimming with Bears - Do What Your Told

Looks like
We're gonna seize the day
Give all that you have away
Run towards the sun
Hold tight
They try to hold your feet
But you gotta find a way
If you wanna live

I met three of the four bear swimmers in a notoriously long SXSW line, waiting to see Beach Slang, Bleached, and Minus the Bear, just chatting about music and tattoos, wishing for taco delivery... Anyway, come to find out they are this local band with quite a lot of buzz (well over 100K Spotify listens, opening one show for Weezer last year, booking several SX showcases this year) who've been compared to The Police (less so Eliot Sumner) and get inspiration from Explosions in the Sky. Happy to know that even if I don't catch them performing over the last couple days this week, there will definitely be other chances in Austin later on. Oh, and I think they mentioned getting to tour the whole country later this year!

RIYL: FOXTRAX, Royal Teeth, Young Rising Sons

Upcoming Shows

Run River North - 29

"29" was already one of my favorite tracks from Run River North and must've been one of their's too as they re-recorded two versions for their 2017 EP. Happy to hear this slightly tighter rendering, and to see them at SX again this year. Also hoping they keep growing and gaining popularity outside of indie festivals.

RIYL: Local Natives, Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club, Killers

Upcoming Shows

Au/Ra - Kicks

Handprints in the concrete
They run, they run, like
Young birds with the red cheeks
Always
Barefoot on the sea glass
Sharp ones, sharp ones, they
Don't learn when they cut class

What's dust to you is gold to me
(Gold to me)
But we're just different books to read
Where every single chapter
Is another cliffhanger

Last year at SXSW, I fell in love with the music (and adorableness) of Norwegian singer Aurora. This year I'm anticipating a similar reaction to a similar-named singer from a very different place (Antigua; Ibiza-born), and a very different sound. Hoping to catch her at one of the showcases she's in next week.  

RIYL: MUNA, Emily Warren, Tove Lo

Upcoming Shows