SXSW preview: Five more buzz bands to see this year

SXSW is back! The time-honored tradition of party hopping, industry networking and music discovery (finding SXSW buzz bands) makes its way out of the all digital, online format of 2021 back to physical reality in 2022.

Many of you have been plotting and planning your attack as the names and schedules of your favorite artists have been revealing themselves over the past few months and I’m here to add some personal thoughts on which bands The Cosmic Clash is excited about.

As with every SXSW there are always the contenders for buzz bands of the fest heading into, and if you are lucky, some treasure discoveries along the way. Here’s a short list of artists that I have marked for my attention in hopes of achieving that elusive SXSW moment… new band discovery. 

Sunflower Bean

Founded in 2013, Sunflower Bean has a couple of albums under their belt and have been quietly carving out a solid existence in the pop indie world with notables tracks like “Easier Said”, “Twentytwo”, and “I Was A Fool”. The New York area-based trio fronted by Julia Cumming, spins their ‘80s influenced sound covering musical territory that flirts with neo-psychedelia while bouncing into dance-able pop tune territory while flexing a diverse songwriting style.

Cumming’s lyrical delivery shines buoyant youthfulness delivered with a unique cadence. While the band lists a standard roster of 80’s veterans as influences, my mind can’t help to draw a hard reference to new-wave titan Blondie. 

Sunflower Bean have a release date of May 6 for their third full-length titled Handful Of Sugar.

 

New Candys

If you are a fan of the neo psych-rock scene,  a scene heavily influenced, supported and nurtured by Austin’s own The Black Angels, this Italy-based outfit should fall comfortably into your vibe. Not entirely new to the music scene or a shuffling member lineup, New Candys have released four full-length albums, the latest titled Vyvyd, which dropped last Summer. The band describes their latest release: 

“This record has its own mythology. We played with religious, pagan and archetypal symbols, which have been distorted through our lens. If we had to sum up the album in one concept it would be the contradiction of light: God/good is often represented with a bright glow, whilst Lucifer, the personification of evil, means light-bearer. We’ve been inspired by the visionary cinema of Kenneth Anger and Alejandro Jodorowsky among others.”

There are several opportunities to catch these fuzz-infused, psych-rock, Italians during SXSW 2022 during what one would assume is a rare visit to Texas. With a connection to the Austin-based LEVITATION Fest, playing the French version of the event, New Candys seem to have established themselves as serious players in a genre steadily growing in talent and fan base. 

Thu, MAR 17 -Hotel Vegas

Fri, MAR 18 – Swan Dive

Fri, MAR 18 – SXSW (Space Camp 2022 at Hotel Vegas)

Sun, MAR 20 – The Far Out Lounge & Stage

 

     © Ebru Yildiz

Aeon Station

It’s a fair assessment that the traditional rock band format has been losing ground in the realm of popular music, making way for artists with little to no instruments, often relying on technology to provide the soundtrack to their performance. It’s progress, and I get it, but I’m still an old-school fan of drums, bass, and guitars, and this band, born from the ashes of the indie-rock band The Wrens brings exactly that.

Aeon Station, a band that released the critically acclaimed The Meadowlands recording and was once declared by The Guardian “on this form the Wrens are surely one of the best live bands in the world” called it quits last year with member Kevin Whelan taking his contributions to the band’s unreleased recordings and releasing them under the band name Aeon Station on the Subpop label late 2021. With pedigree like that, it’s no wonder Aeon Station is one of the SXSW buzz bands to watch. The new record, Observatory draws from the frayed relationship and in-band conflicts that typically drive painfully inspired art.

“The bittersweet solo debut from Kevin Whelan—formerly of the Wrens—is a rousing, unabashedly sentimental indie rock album that stakes out a sweet spot between the anthemic and the intimate.” -Pitchfork

Aeon Station at SXSW

THURSDAY, MARCH 17th

1:00 PM / SXSW Showcase @ Elysium 

5:25 PM / Hipster Robot Showcase @ Side Bar

FRIDAY, MARCH 18th

1:30 PM / Brooklyn Vegan Showcase @ TBD

6:15 PM / Midgetmen’s Jumpstart 14 @ 602 E 7th St., Austin, TX 78701

10:00 PM / Pellicular Works @ Soundspace  – Captain Quackenbush’s Coffeehouse

 

         Photo: Megan Doherty

Just Mustard

Full disclosure. I originally reached for this one mostly because of one track that I have had on my running playlist titled “Frank. Couple that with the band name that contains Mustard and it deserves a few seconds of a listen. Upon closer examination…there’s much more to unpack here, aside from a catchy name.

I’ll lump Just Mustard in this group of European exports as of late that have been producing some real, quality heavy rock, a few of which happen to be label mates. IDLES and Fontaines D.C. are leading the pack on this latest wave of rock out of that area, with Austin’s own Black Angels residing on the Partisan Records label as well.

Is this the fevered reaction to life in Europe under the divisive Brexit action as art usually reflects emotional responses to life? Whatever the inspiration may be…I dig it. 

There’s a sonic exploration that slides between sweet atmospheric drifts, lined with nervy guitar and smoothed over with front woman Katie Bell’s angelic vocals. You can easily draw a line from the iconic sounds of the 4AD label architecture sound to current noise rockers A Place To Bury Strangers and find Just Mustard along the way. Hailing from Ireland, this ain’t no U2. 

The band has new tunes dropping May 27 titled Heart Under and a few opportunities to catch the noise during SXSW:

Tues 3/15 – Spring Break Boogie Kickoff @ Hotel Vegas

Wed 3/16 –  Floodfest 2022 @Mohawk 11am doors

                    @Seven Grand 1 am (official)

Thur 3/17 – Lost Weekend 2022 @Cheer-Up Charlies 12-7pm (schedule pending)

                   SXSW Day Party Output Belfast @Cedar Street Courtyard 5:30pm

Fri 3/18 – Lost Weekend 2022 @Cheer-Up Charlies 12-7pm (schedule pending)

 

     Photo: Akasha Rabut

Silver Synthetic

This act, styled with the sounds of late 60s / early70s garage rock, tinged with a bit of classic psychedelia, Silver Synthetic are ones to watch. With Jack White’s Third Man Records to call home, these New Orleans-based musicians have a rich musical past. The members have a connection as players to The Bottom Feeders and Jeff The Brotherhood.  It’s a no-brainer for any fan of those classic sounds a la legends Kinks and T-Rex, mixed with the occasional Laurel Canyon vibe.  

Silver Synthetic released their self-titled, debut album April 2021 and give us a few looks this SXSW to experience their modern take on classic sounds:

Wed 3/16 – Heaven Or Hotel Vegas @Hotel Vegas 11pm (official)

Fri 3/18 – Feels So Good @Fine Southern Gentlemen (time TBA)

               Space Camp Official SXSW Showcase @Hotel Vegas (time TBA)

Discover more SXSW 2022 buzz bands in our preview by Christina DeSefano for more suggestions on who to see at the festival.