close
 

Share this page using one of the following services:

 

What is this?

 

South by Southwest: Best Bets and Big Stories

March 15, 2007 - Every March, tens of thousands of music fans converge on Austin, Texas, to attend South by Southwest — a four-day music marathon in which dozens of clubs showcase more than 1,300 acts in a wide variety of genres. Part industry trade show, part fan feast, SXSW provides one-stop shopping for those looking for music discovery.

In anticipation of SXSW, which runs through Saturday, NPR music producer Stephen Thompson offers these recommendations.

Shearwater

Shearwater photo by Mary Sledd

'Hail, Mary'

Purchase Featured Music

close window
 
  • "Hail, Mary"
  • Album: Palo Santo [Expanded Edition]
  • Artist: Shearwater
  • Label: Matador
  • Released: 2007
 
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
 

Shearwater's music is best heard amid bleak conditions: It should tour under its own little rain cloud. At SXSW, the band — appearing in support of last year's Palo Santo, which gets reissued next month — does the next best thing, making stately and sublime music in the pristine confines of Austin's Central Presbyterian Church on Thursday night.

Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K. photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images

'Party Hard'

Purchase Featured Music

close window
 
  • "Party Hard"
  • Album: I Get Wet
  • Artist: Andrew W.K.
  • Label: Universal
  • Released: 2001
 
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
 

Andrew W.K. is a rock 'n' roll messiah figure, an inspirational purveyor of heart-swelling, hedonistic, overdriven party anthems. The occasional MTV personality never quite became the star here that many anticipated — I Get Wet attracted widespread media attention in 2001 — but he's soldiered on, releasing Close Calls with Brick Walls overseas late last year. His ongoing attempt to win over American hearts and minds continues at SXSW.

Stax 50th Anniversary Reunion

Isaac Hayes photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

'Walk on By' - Isaac Hayes

Purchase Featured Music

close window
 
  • "Walk on By"
  • Album: Stax 50th: A 50th Anniversary Celebration [Box Set]
  • Artist: Various Artists
  • Label: Stax
  • Released: 2008
 
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
 

In honor of the label's 50th anniversary, Stax Records — one-time home of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers and Booker T & the M.G.'s, among others — is back in business. In addition to repurposing classic material, Stax will release new albums by Hayes, soul singer Angie Stone and more. At SXSW, the reincarnated label gets under way with a newsworthy performance by some of Stax's all-stars, including Hayes and members of Booker T & the M.G.'s.

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images

'Rehab'

Purchase Featured Music

close window
 
  • "Rehab"
  • Album: Back to Black
  • Artist: Amy Winehouse
  • Label: Republic
  • Released: 2007
 
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
 

One of the festival's most talked-about up-and-comers, Amy Winehouse has grabbed headlines for her unhinged persona and deft mixture of old-school soul and debaucherous subject matter. An unapologetic celebration of substance abuse, "Rehab" is Winehouse's breakout hit, and she looks to build on that song's momentum at SXSW.

Laura Gibson

Laura Gibson

'Hands in Pockets'

Purchase Featured Music

close window
 
  • "Hands in Pockets"
  • Album: If You Come to Greet Me
  • Artist: Laura Gibson
  • Label: Hush
  • Released: 2006
 
Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
 

A real find from the festival's less-hyped margins, Laura Gibson sounds a bit like Jolie Holland, another winsome folksinger with an ear for barren, timeless music. "Hands in Pockets" is downright perky compared to some of Gibson's If You Come to Greet Me, but the song, the album and the singer all radiate approachability and warmth.

Share this page using one of the following services:

 

What is this?

 
 

Comments

Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.

 
 

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor

Feeds

Podcast RSS

  • Music Interviews
     
  • SXSW: Live From Austin
     
 
 

 

  • Andrew W.K.

    Purchase Featured Music

    close window
     
    • Album: I Get Wet
    • Artist: Andrew W.K.
    • Label: 731458658825
    • Released: 2002
     
    Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
     
  • Andrew W.K.

    Purchase Featured Music

    close window
     
    • Album: I Get Wet
    • Artist: Andrew W.K.
    • Label: Universal
    • Released: 2001
     
    Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?
     

NPR thanks our sponsors

Become an NPR Sponsor