SXSW picks, day two

The annual SXSW festival in Austin, TX starts next week. We here at Beards would love to be there but alas, the magic ticket fairy didn't visit us this year. Fortunately, The SXSW website has a complete list of performers, so we'll be bringing you our picks over the next couple weeks. 

Check out today's picks after the jump: Doll and the Kicks, L. Stadt, The Black and White Years, The Howlies, The Pharmacy, The Uglysuit

Dark Halls by Au Revoir Simone

By J.Paul

Continuing with the indie pop theme from the post below, I gotta mention this one.  Au Revoir Simone is an all girl 3 piece from Brooklyn with unbelievable songwriting chops.  If this bouncy, beautiful track can't lift your spirits a bit then you're probably dead.  The video itself is kind of amateurish and goofy, but that's not the point; the point is definitely how the hook grabs you right away and how the harmonizing and handclaps endear the song to you even more.  Or maybe that's just me; the ultimate sucker for a catchy, well-crafted pop song?

Skybox Live Session at Hear Ya

By J.Paul

Skybox was a show I got dragged to back in November by friends.  Had never heard of them but damn, did I walk away impressed.  They played at Schuba's and totally lit the place up.  High energy indie pop played with gusto and sung with a sweet falsetto and more mellow, folkier songs played with a lot of heart.  It seems like whatever these guys put their minds to they absolutely nail it.  Their latest record "Morning After Cuts" came out last month and can be streamed in it's entirety at their site: http://skyboxmusic.com/


Skybox - "In A Dream" - HearYa Live Session 1/16/10 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.


This video is taken from their recent live sessions with Hear Ya.  Performed live these songs have a new vibe and energy all their own, obviously, and are definitely worth the download.  As a companion piece to the record, they offer some great insight into what can be expected from their upcoming shows; though when I saw them they did sound a bit punchier and a bit dirtier.

Check that out here: http://www.hearya.com/2010/02/09/skybox-live-session-65/