Friday , March 29 2024
Whether or not you can make it to Austin, we have some samples for you in the Goodie Bag.

BC Music Goodie Bag: A Peek at SXSW – Ionia, Gomez, The Felice Brothers, Heartless Bastards, and Uncle Lucius

Austin Texas's popular festival kicked off this past weekend, but these is still plenty to see and do if you are lucky enough to be attending. This week's BC Goodie Bag is full of audio and video treats from bands who are appearing. It may not be even a faction of what's being offered, but we think they are a few you won't want to miss.

Not able to make this year's festival? I feel your pain. Hopefully these samples will help ease the pain.

Ionia hails from New York City and has been labeled a "socially conscious, melodic alt-rock' band by the Meriden Record-Journal (CT). They are down in Austin previewing tracks from their upcoming CD and reaching out to their ever-growing fanbase. If you want to listen to them before you make up your mind check out their MySpace profile or their official website.

You can catch Ionia on Thursday, March 19 at 10:15 p.m. at the Texas Rock Fest on 7th and Trinity (Outdoor Stage); Friday, March 20 at 2:45 p.m. at the Bayou Lounge on 6th and Neches; on Saturday, March 21 at 4:00 p.m. at the Troubadour on 6th and Neches, at the Texas Rock Fest's Outdoor Stage at 7:30 p.m. on 7th and Neches, and at Red Gorilla Music Fest at midnight at Nuno’s Upstairs (Nina’s Lounge) on 422 E. Sixth St.

Gomez is who you are going to want to check out if you are in the mood for some delta blues with a dash of psychedelia. A New Tide which will hit stores the end of the month, is their follow up to the 2006 release How We Operate, which received critical acclaim. You can hear clips from the upcoming release at their MySpace profile and catch them at SXSW on March 19 at Stubbs (10:00 p.m.) and on March 20 at Village Voice Media SXSW Party (3:15 p.m.)

Check out the video for the title track from that 2006 release right here:

The Felice Brothers is another band hailing from NYC. They're down in Austin giving potential fans and devoted followers alike a taste of their newest release, Yonder Is The Clock (available April 7 from Team Love Records). The New York Daily News has been singing their praises, saying, "You won't find more American music than that of The Felice Brothers, with their wheezing accordions, broken-down pianos, flinty acoustic guitars and creaky vocals, the brothers capture the history – and mystery – of rural America."

Preview their sound at their MySpace profile and then catch them live on March 20 at the Lucero Family Picnic (The Dirty Dog) at 4:00 p.m. and March 20 at the Ground Control Showcase (Habana Bar Patio/Backyard) at 10:00 p.m.

Included right here is the video to their song "Roll on Arte:"

Heartless Bastards are pausing momentarily from their world tour to join the party and spread the word about their new album, The Mountain (Fat Possum Records), which was released last February. If you like your rock tinged with a bit of mandolin, banjo, and strings, you're going to want to make sure you catch them at one of their four SXSW shows.

  • March 18 – 2:30 p.m. – Paste Day Party (Bourbon Rocks)
  • March 18 – 10:00 p.m.: NPR Showcase (Stubbs)
  • March 19 – 5:00 p.m.: Rocky Erikson Ice Cream Social Day Party ( Threadgills)
  • March 20 – 3:00 p.m.: Waterloo InStore

Austin natives Uncle Lucius may not have to travel far to bring their patented brand of outlaw country rock to the festivities, but that doesn't mean they are any less enthusiastic than those who traveled further.

The band consists of singer/guitarist Kevin Galloway, guitarist/harpist/singer Mike Carpenter, bassist Hal Vorpahl, and drummer Josh Greco and their new album, Pick Your Head Up (Boo Clap) will be highlighted at their four remaining SXSW shows.

  • March 18 – Official SXSW Showcase at Mother Egan's – 8:00 p.m.
  • March 19- Maggie Mae's, – 3:30 p.m.
  • March 20 – The Key Bar- 6:00 p.m.
  • Mar 21 The Radisson-SXSW 2nd Play Stage, Austin, TX, 6:00 p.m.

Want to know what you're in for before you head out? Take a look at the video below:

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