Live music preview: Six SXSW 2023 buzz bands to see

Alright, folks. It’s March in Austin which means it is time to begin your planning for SXSW 2023. Posters and RSVPs have already begun opening up. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of artists, showcases, and events happening around the city. Here is a list of six SXSW 2023 buzz bands I am most excited to see perform this year.

Otoboke Beaver

A quartet of Japanese punk rock / garage rock ladies from Kyoto, Japan, these girls will melt your face off with sonically packed jams. Not for the faint of heart, “Don’t Light My Fire” deceptively leans in with a call and response type vocal with no pause before inciting a riot. In 2018, Otoboke Beaver travelled to California to perform at Coachella. Their top track “S’il Vous Plait” conjures up true lo-fi with riffs that remind me of Arctic Monkey’s debut album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” with their bass standing at the middle of the tornado.

Sudan Archives

Not officially on the SXSW lineup as of yet, Collide on Rainey may have jumped the gun, unveiling Sudan Archives as their headliner. So yeah, I consider it a good Sx pick. Sudan Archives’ album Natural Brown Prom Queen hit my top albums of 2022, with every track revealing itself a bop. Brittney Parks fuses R&B and hip hop with unconventional sounds and instruments, like violin or experimental electronic. “Selfish Soul” serves as anthem of self-love: “Okay, one time, if I grow it long, am I good enough? Am I good enough? About time I embrace myself and soul. Time I feed my selfish soul.”

Divino Niño

Light, easy, breezy, and… quirky. Band members Camilo Medina and Javier Forero became childhood friends back in Bogota, Colombia, eventually moving to Chicago, meeting guitarist Guillermo Rodriguez. The psych pop band would perform onstage with a drum machine before introducing drummer Pierce Codina. Finally, in came multi-instrumentalist Justin Vittori. Their most recent album Last Spa on Earth immerses you in a sound bath with wispy echoes and light grooves. For fans of Helado Negro and bedroom pop.

Blvck Hippie

From Memphis, Blvck Hippie has just the faintest trace of emo amongst alt and indie. The delightfully lo-fi track “If You Feel Alone at Parties” is approachable and relatable: finding another person alone, seeking out the animals in crowds of people. What started as a solo project to fulfill college requirements turned into a full on DIY project to “boost visibility of those who share his interest and look like him” (WNXP.org), as a black individual in the indie rock world.

Mauskovic Dance Band

Amsterdam based act, Mauskovic Dance Band puts rhythm forward with all sorts of percussion for a psychedelic, funk feel. The effervescence of “Down in the Basement” will have you jiving and grooving with bongos, cowbells, the faintest of faint guitar mixed into the track. Mauskovic Dance Band released their second album Bukaroo Bank in the fall of 2022. Give them a listen if you enjoy Babe Rainbow. This might be the most unusual act on our SXSW 2023 buzz bands list.

Algiers

Algiers released their new album Shook on February 24. Their album, created with Matador Records spans a number of influences. “Irreversible Damage” has eerily similar vibes to Run the Jewels (except with instrumental backings instead of Trackstar the DJ), even pulling in Zack de la Rocha as a collaborator. Franklin James Fisher even nails Killer Mike’s style rapping before slipping into soulful vocals. The song, “73%” packs all the angst of post punk bands like Bloc Party with their guitar hooks and unnervingly unpredictable percussions. Algiers might be your SXSW 2023 favorite new buzz band.

Featured photo by Mayumi Hirata courtesy of SXSW