Seen Your Video: Wild Flag Performs "Romance" on David Letterman Last Night

Wild Flag rocked the snot outta Late Night with David Letterman last night. I've now seen them twice (SXSW and the Black Cat a couple months back), and last night's performance was nothing compared to the power they bring during a full club set. Wow...

SXSW 2011-Day 1 (3-16-2011)

Another year, another SXSW Music survived. It's crazy, it's five days of no sleep and eating on the run. But then you see that new band that knocks your socks off, or start chatting with that established musician whose music you've always loved on the street as you race from one venue to another, and no matter how tired you are, you know you're coming back next year.

Carrie Brownstein of Wild Flag @ NPR' Day Party @ The Parish

This year, I also covered acts from Washington, DC for the Washington City Paper, which you can read here. Wild Flag, a girl-super group of Mary Timony, Sleater-Kinney and Helium was tremendous. They may very well rank as my favorite act during SX. Other locals were These United States, Ted Leo, and the Bad Brains. I think the Nikon and I survived that madness by the grace of God and the 6'5 guy who stood behind me the whole time.

H.R. of Bad Brains @ Emo's Main Room

I'd never seen the Brains live before but I had a feeling it would be mayhem. What was really interesting though was watching while the crowd went insane, the band just stood there calm and collected-no leaping about for H.R. And he bowed to everyone, including the audience, after every song. Complete serenity in the midst of chaos. It was amazing to witness.

Other bands I caught Day 1 included Hayes Carll, The Tender Box, Duran Duran, and Fake Problems.

Hayes Carll @ American Songwriter's Day Party




The Tender Box @ Rusty Spurs







Duran Duran @ Stubbs








Fake Problems @ Dirty Dog Bar



(See the rest of the photos from each set here)

Sondre Lerche Announces New Record, Tour Dates (Includes SXSW Shows)

Sondre Lerche has one of those other-worldly voices of beauty that can bring light to the deep and dark places. (Check out this video for a perfect example, long one of my favorites.)

Lerche is releasing a self-titled record, his sixth, on 6/7 this year. What will be interesting to hear is that many of the tracks are one-takes. "We recorded a lot of it to tape, forcing ourselves to either commit or burn bridges and move on," said Lerche. "We were killing darlings left and right. It was truly liberating."

Lerche also announced a slew of shows he'll do in support of the record throughout June (and prior to that, SXSW yayayayay!) Pre-sale for shows is on now through tomorrow (3/3) at 8 am on Sondre Lerche.com.

Sondre Lerche Tour
@ SXSW
3/16:
-SXSW Bookstore Signing (1:45pm)
-Paste Day Party (Stage on Sixth - 6:30pm)
3/17:
-Rawkblog Party (The Liberty - 6pm)
-Yep Roc Music Showcase (Maggie Mae's - 9pm)
3/18: Bella Union / Zeitgeist Showcase (Central Presbyterian Church - 11pm)

Headlining Tour
5/31: Mod Club Toronto, ON
6/1: Sala Rossa Montreal, QC
6/2: Paradise Boston, MA
6/3: World Café Philadelphia, PA
6/4: The Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
6/7:The 9:30 Club Washington, DC
6/9: Cats' Cradle Carrboro, NC
6/10: 12th & Porter Nashville, TN
6/11: The Variety Atlanta, GA
6/12: Workplay Birmingham, AL
6/14: Southgate House Newport, KY
6/15: Old Rock House St Louis, MO
6/17: Fine Line Minneapolis, MI
6/18: Schubas Chicago, IL
6/19: Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
6/21: Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
6/22: Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
6/24: Biltmore Vancouver, BC
6/25: The Croc Seattle, WA
6/26: Doug Fir Portland, OR
6/28: Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
6/29: El Rey Los Angeles, CA
6/30: Belly Up San Diego, CA