The final day of SXSW and I’m on a quest. Phosphorescent play their last show today and I have tried and failed to get into four previous ones already. So it is the long walk away from downtown and up to the San Jose Hotel day party, I arrive hot, bothered and five hours early…but I’m in! No matter either because Shakey Graves is on … Continue reading SXSW Day 5: Experiencing One Or Two Technical Difficulties
Having now learnt from the previous two days of SXSW (fully creamed up for a start) and the seemingly vastly increased numbers from 2009, I headed straight for The Red Eyed Fly determined at the third attempt to get into a Phosphorescent show…only to be greeted by more lines that stretched way, way into the distance. Having no further wish to baste in the midday … Continue reading SXSW Day 4: Ladies Day In Texas
It has to be said that despite one or two hiccups, the second official day of SXSW turned out to be a whole lot more fun. It got off to a good start when we found there was actually a shuttle that came near to our hotel and meant late night night time returns were no longer a problem. We headed off to the Pitchfork … Continue reading SXSW Day 3: In Austin No One Can Hear You Scream
Yesterday was not a great day. It is the little things sometimes. Things like when you wake up and realise that despite knowing I was away for 10 days in total, I had only bought clothes for 8 (except t-shirts which bizarrely could last me for 13) and the suncream tube is actually some kind of foaming face wash. Or all the eggs have gone … Continue reading SXSW Day 2: A Band In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Mohawk
While we bake in the Texas sun, here are some videos to enjoy! Fresh from our 5:1 Interview (click here), Sparrow And The Workshop have given us this new video for the excellent single Shock Shock. Meanwhile Dingus Khan’s insane video for live favourite Knifey Spoony is worth watching for the swan impersonation alone, not to mention being sick in an ashtray and spoon inflicted … Continue reading Videos of the Day: Sparrow And The Workshop || Dingus Khan || Scrimshander || Dan Croll
Taken from Scott & Charlene’s Wedding’s new Two Weeks EP, this is the delightfully titled, and delightfully catchy Gammy Leg. Laconic, slacker pop at its absolute finest, and undoubtedly the best thing we’ve heard from them to date. Grab it here. Continue reading MM Shorts 332: Scott & Charlene’s Wedding Offer Up Gammy Leg
My first trip back to Austin since 2009, and compared with then the town is hectic even before any music is officially due to start. Streets are teeming with folk whereas previously four years ago, the day before the event, Chris T Popper and I had strolled around empty streets and then casually into the marvellous Waterloo Records and bought wristbands for the coming evenings … Continue reading SXSW Day 1: You’ve Got To Be A Ninja About It – Pissing With Thurston Moore
The Sparrow and the Workshop announced themselves with the excellent Crystals Falls album, and consolidated their increasing reputation with a second album, Spitting Daggers, which further enhanced their talent for twisting the tabernacles of folk rock until it turned white with shock. Drawing comparisons as diverse as Jefferson Airplane, PJ Harvey and the Pixies on the one hand, and being labelled as surf rockers, folk … Continue reading MM’s 5:1 Interview No 9: The Sparrow and the Workshop
We are loving this track, Grown-ups by The Burning Hell from forthcoming long player People. The Burning Hell is the alter-ego of songwriter and ukulele-slinger Mathias Kom. Loosely based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the band have quite a few releases up on their Bandcamp page, that on the evidence of this track will be well worth investigating. The track calls to mind such lyrical luminaries … Continue reading Mad Mackerel Recommends…The Burning Hell
In conjunction with their March/April issue, American Songwriter have offered up The Billy Reid Shindig Sampler for free download. It is a SXSW promo for their event being held March 13-14 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Weather Up, and features many MM faves like Dawes, Jason Isbell, Johnny Fritz and Deer Tick’s John McCauley amongst others (see flyer below for details). Just click here … Continue reading American Songwriter’s Free SXSW Download
