SXSW Excito-Meter #1: HAIM

For the next few days I'll be posting bands that I'm excited to see this SXSW.

I'll start with the hipster's version of Destiny's Child (and the already ubiquitous band), HAIM. They're fun, talented, and totally deserving of the hype. With praise from people like Julian Casablancas, Jenny Lewis and Florence Welch, this sister trio is poised to take SXSW by storm again, after their break-out during last year's southby.

They'll probably be playing a ton, but you can see them for free on Friday the 15th at the Showdown at Cedar Street party. RSVP here. (I'll be tagging all posts with links to RSVP's with the very handy RSVP label for easy access.)

I'll leave you with their new single "Falling." (Does it remind anybody else of a indie version of "I'm a Survivor"?)

Empress, back on the horse

New names appeared today in the ever-growing list for the next SXSW. I haven't looked at the list, I just started feeling preemptively overwhelmed. It did get me thinking, though, how it's time to start our own little tag for next year, and how this could be the perfect chance to get me back into posting.

Then I went to GvB and played the most recent video on it:

Empress Of playing a sweet acoustic version of "Don't Tell Me" for Yours Truly. Super easy sell. The original version (side B of her debut 7" Champagne -- free download) was great, but certainly not this lacrimogenous.

née Lorely Rodriguez lives in Brooklyn. But the last name, use of Colombian rythms (see #2 below) and lyrics in spanish (see #13) lead me to believe there's a richer story there.

Listen to all of her 15 "Colorminutes"down here.
Download "Champagne".
Visit her Craigslist-inspired website.
Keep an eye open for her when she comes next spring.