Shearwater Kick Off Their SXSW at Waterloo Records

Shearwater took to Waterloo Records this afternoon [03.11.12] for the first of their nine shows during SXSW.  They performed a handful of songs off their recently release album Animal Joy from Sub Pop Records. Check out videos below of "Animal Life" and "Dread Sovereign," as well as the band's schedule for the next week.


 


Sunday 3/11:
5pm @ Waterloo Records, 600 N. Lamar Blvd.

Monday 3/12:
1pm @ French Legation, 802 San Marcos St.

Wednesday 3/14:
2pm @ Hypemachine Hype Hotel, 504 Trinity (JM and Lucas duo set)
5pm @ Parish, 214 East 6th St.

Thursday, March 15, 2012
7:30pm @ Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St.
1am @ PureVolume House, 504 Trinity Street (technically Friday early morning)

Friday, March 16, 2012
12:25pm @ Radio Day Stage – Austin Convention Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez
3:50pm @ Roky Erikson Ice Cream Social, Threadgills, 301 West Riverside
11pm @ Red 7 Patio, 611 E 7th St (Sub Pop Showcase)

Girl In A Coma @ Waterloo Records, 6.01.09

Girl In A Coma celebrated the release of their sophomore album Trio B.C. in their home away from home today (6.01.09). Waterloo Records in Austin was the spot for an in-store performance at which the band showcased several songs off the new album including "Baby Boy" and "Pink Lemonade."

The band lead by ubber-cutie Nina Diaz on guitar and vocals have built quite the fan base as they trekked all across the land in the last two years. The new album picks up where Both Before I'm Gone left off. While it's punk rock moments hit as hard as its predecessor's, Trio B.C. displays an obvious maturity in songwriting as Girl In A Coma have injected more pop appeal into their rock. And Nina's Morrissey-ish yelp sounds as good as ever.

Those who couldn't make it to Waterloo can catch Girl In A Coma this Saturday (the 6th of june) as they take the outside stage of Emo's, with Miss Derringer and Trinity Stardust favorites The Boxing Lesson rounding out the bill.

Lykke Li @ Waterloo Records and Antone's, 02.19.09

Lykke Li’s Waterloo Records in-store performance… FREE. Lykke Li’s show at Antone’s … $20. Seeing Lykke Li perform twice in one day… F’in PRICELESS.



Thursday, February 19th, 2009 was the day that Swedish pop starlet Lykke Li [pronounced loo-key lee] invaded Austin by giving a short stripped down set at Waterloo Records and then delivering a tour-de-force at Antone's. This day will now also be associated as when I saw one of the best live performances I have ever seen. I say that with no light-heartedness. Lykke’s show at Antone’s was everything that a live show should be.

I’ve seen Marilyn Manson bring crowds to riot-like frenzy at music halls in Philadelphia and Austin, the beauty of Radiohead performing at the a large outside amphitheater, and the shock of surprise unbilled A Tribe Called Quest reunion at the TLA. And without a doubt Lykke Li now joins those veterans at the top of the list.

While the set at Waterloo was intimate and impressive, the full show at Antone's was one of those performances that should become legendary. Energetic, prolific, and surprising... Lykke had it all. From her opening the Swedish dance club for "Complaint Department" to closing the night by jumping into the crowd with a hip-hop medley of covers that included A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It" and "Hustlin" from Rick Ross, those who were in attendance will be talking about this one for a long time.

I can't stress enough how impressive Lykke Li is live.

@ Antone's

@ Waterloo

And here is a really cool interview from Nardwuar. See how cute Lykke is rapping Tribe...

Marnie Stern @ Waterloo Records, 11.19.08

Marnie Stern's shedder technique of guitar is something that needs to be witnessed. For those not familiar with "shredding," think Eddie Van Halen's opening guitar in "Hot for Teacher."  Now imagine that sound for a whole song, and there you have Marnie Stern.  Its kind of hard to think that someone could actually play an entire song that way, and that's why it's pretty much a thing you need to see to believe. Thankfully I got the chance when Marnie Sten gave an in-store performance at Waterloo Records on November 19th.  

Marnie introduction to the indie world came last year on her 2007 debut In Advance of the Broken Arm from Kill Rock Stars. The response was overwhelming with The New York Times calling it "The year's most exciting rock 'n roll album," and Venus Zine going on to name Stern as one of the "Greatest Female Guitarist Of All Time." With the accolades raked up she didn't keep her fans waiting long for a follow-up by releasing the even more amazing  This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That in October of this year.

While Stern's kissing booth antics have been garnering some publicity during her current tour it doesn't overshadow those amazing guitar abilities I saw there at Waterloo.  She attacks her guitar with finger-tapping or by playing the neck, as opposed to the traditional way of using the body of the guitar. She performed a crop of songs from both albums and ended with my favorite track from In Advance "Every Single Line Means Something."

And for the hell of it, here is Marnie Stern looking as cute as can be doing a Rocky impression in her video for "Ruler" off the new album.