11 Mar 2012
Posted by admin 
Today we held a meet and shoot at Cedar Creek Recording Studio with a few select bands from around the U.S. and Austin. On site was videographer Brent Anthony to record footage of the day’s events and acoustic performances by The Yearbook Committee, Wild Child, Standing Shadows, Salesman, along with a first time collab with Standing Shadows and Zeale. Stay tuned for more interviews a video interview with Zeale and the acoustic performances by these amazing artists. ( in progress)
A special thanks goes out to John Silva and Fred Remmert of Cedar Creek Recording, also, to Mercury pizza for providing the yummy eats for our event today. A double special thanks to all of our super staff that helped bring this whole thing together, Bobbi Douglas, Kelli Wilson, Jason Duncan, Lecia Bates, Kim Woo, Clayton Hodges, Amy Rice, David Bradley, Lisa Mejia and Annie Ngo.
For the rest of these photos you can check out Fuzebox Photography and Austin Fusion on Facebook
Recap Video by Brent Anthony, Music by Wilco
Austin Fusion’s music writer/ photographer Clayton Hodges had the chance to sit with Zeale at our SXSW meet and greet. You may have heard the name Zeale, he is featured in the hit song by The Soldier Thread , “Anybody” …. Zeale gives us a teaser of what he has planned for the future.
(video by Brent Anthony shot at Cedar Creek Recording Studio)
With so many bands in Austin trying to stand out amongst the throngs of artists, Standing Shadows DOES. The L.A. based quartet brings smart lyrics, memorable riffs and a distinct blend of New Wave/Post Rock to the stage this week at SXSW. Standing Shadows have one of those infectious stage acts that actually engages the audience rather than having a bunch of musicians play at you. Do yourself a favor and catch the boys next door in the neighborhood of Placebo, Primal Scream and Muse. Stay tuned to Austin Fusion Magazine for footage of their acoustic performance and a collaboration with local hip hop rising star, ZEALE!
Standing Shadows ”One by One EP” Now on itunes
www.facebook.com/
Wed. March 14th @12 am “Texas Rockfest @Blue Moon 422 E 6th
Thurs March 15th @ 11pm “Digin Invasion” @ Rusty’s 405 E. 7th
Fri. March 16th 630 pm One Coconut Water Music Showcase @ Whole Foods Rooftop 525 N Lamar Blvd
Sat. March 17th 1030pm “Sea Now Showcase” @ Brew Exchange 706 W. 6th
While the professionals edit the videos from yesterday we thought we would give you a sneak peek: Standing Shadows plays their song Silent Revolution Featuring Zeale
It was a last minute collaboration Zeale does this amazing freestyle.Check it out…
More with our other artists soon.
Video (shot by Fuzebox Photography)
Warner Drive
Interview by Clayton Hodges| Images by Fuzebox Photography
Warner Drive pulled into the Chuggin Monkey at 11:27 last night, setup their gear and proceeded to blow the roof off the venue. Austin Fusion caught up with the band right after a 500 mile sojourn (in three days) from L.A. ”We aren’t your typical L.A. band,” says Jonny Law. ”We aren’t a glam band. We have a familiar sound you’ve never heard before.” Expect a rockin’ punk edge when they play Chuggin’ Monkey again 3/13 at 5:30, Red Shed 3/14 at 8:15, and the Whole Foods Rooftop on both the 16th and 17th at 7:30 and 8, respectively. NOT TO BE MISSED!
Salesman
Interview by Jason Duncan| images By Fuzebox Photography | MUA/Hair: Lecia Bates
AFM: “What is the meaning of your band’s name, Salesman?”
Salesman: “It derives from a gothic word, saljan; that’s the root for the word salesman, which meant “sale” to them, like goods and services, as it does to us, but it also meant any transaction with the spiritual world, so it meant an offering in that sense, or a sacrifice, and that name has been with us for a long time, but once we discovered the older, deeper, meaning to the word then we decided to stick with the name rather than changing it.”
AFM: “Is there a certain sort of feeling that you like to impart to your listeners?”
Salesman: “I think we like to put across a certain sense of a certain landscape. We’re often defined as ‘desert rock,’ and I guess that’s the sort of place that our music evokes.”
AFM: “Do you feel that the narrative aspect of your songwriting is important to you as songwriters?”
Salesman: “Definitely. It’s just something we’ve always done. All of our creative endeavors seem to have narrative elements to them.”
AFM: “And do you have any particular musical or creative influences that seem to come into the creative process for you as songwriters?”
Salesman: “We have lots each and come from very different backgrounds, but poets are actually a primary influence for us. Poetry is all about doing more with less, fewer words, more meaning, and I think that carries over into our music too, fewer notes, greater impact.”
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Salesman recently played at the SXSW event “Official Jail Guitar Doors,” at “The Swan Dive,” a program geared toward rehabilitating inmates by way of providing them with instruments and musical training. Between their evocative “desert rock” musical style, love of poetry, and penitent for the sparse minimalistic sound that typifies their creative works, Salesman is a dedicated group of talented young musicians that every Austinite should keep an eye out for. You can also download their free new single at their website, http://salesmanmusic.tumblr.com/.
YEARBOOK COMMITEE
Interview by Jason Duncan| images By Fuzebox Photography | MUA/Hair: Lecia Bates
Yearbook Comittee consists of Jon DaCosta, Travis Dillon, David Goodier, Rachel Rasley, Christina Blust, and Brad Lone. They hail from Indiana and made the trek via automobile to Austin for SXSW. Here are a few things you may not have known about them…….
AFM: “What do you believe typifies your sound? Were you influenced by any other artists, or was this something that just came about by your working together? Are there any major influences that brought you together?”
Jon: “We all have a wide range of influence that we pull from I think.”
Christina: “Since we’re all song writers, we bring our influences to the group but then the group takes it and unifies the sound. Since there’s no sole lead singer as well, then everybody’s influences can be used each time when that person sings.”
Travis: “I am influenced by the sounds of the river” (laughter)
AFM: “What do you think the future plans of the group will be? What’s on the horizon?”
John: “Record another album.”
Travis: “We have so many songs, it’s almost a burden” *laughter*.
Christine: “But since we have six people recording songs, we have a lot of songs.”
What started as a humble collective of friends and songwriters enjoying each other’s work on a back porch became Yearbook Committee, a group of singer-songwriters who, through their mutual creative goals have managed to formulate an artistic endeavor devoid of ego, a creative gathering that functions to accomplish one thing: an amalgamation of their best ideas and talents that results in the unique sound that is Yearbook Committee. Be sure to check out their free SXSW sampler and their upcoming tour schedule. You can check them out tomorrow for their official SXSW showcase at the Velveeta Room at 8 pm, and again at Cheapos Records for their in store performance. We fell in love with this band, and your ears will too.
Rogue Valley
Interview by Lisa Mejia | Images by Fuzebox Photography | MUA/Hair: Lecia Bates, Kelli Wilson & Bobbi Douglas
Being a band from Minneapolis, playing in an environment like Austin during SXSW is an eye opening experience. While the members of Rogue Valley (Chris Koza: vocals/guitar, Linnea Mohn: vocals, Peter Sieve: guitar, Luke Anderson: drums, and Paul Engel: bass) have visited the festival before, playing during SXSW is a whole new experience.
Linnea talked about her experience watching showcases as a fan saying, “It’s an amazing experience and a wonderful event. However, seeing all these bands doing their thing was more than I could handle. You just want to play and be involved.” Peter had a different reaction, talking about how playing and seeing other bands is a way to differentiate yourself from the other bands out there. Peter continues by saying, ”It helps you to understand what makes you standout and leverage that as much as you can.”
Rogue Valley came in last night and had barely enough time to settle in before they played their first show at Hole in the Wall. Linnea describes the affair as a good start to their SXSW experience. It was a warm welcome for a band making their debut playing the festival.
One thing that separates this band from the other artists is their four album project ( I. Crater Lake, II. The Bookseller’s House, III. Geese in the Flyway, and IV. False Floor) depicting the seasons. Recorded and released over the course of a year, it was a project that evolved into a multi-album release. “We originally wanted to do something that would separate ourselves from what’s out there. The project started off as a few songs that went together in one way, but was stylistically different in another,” explains Chris. Linnea, however, had a different reaction to the formation of the project. “For me, these albums were an exorcism of the touring process over the previous two years. We saw the seasons change traveling north to south, south to north, and the coasts. We absorbed all this information and travel, I believe the songs were inspired by that.”
The beauty of SXSW is being exposed to bands that you might not normally get a chance to see live. Rogue Valley has multiple shows this week, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see them live. This is one band that you want to get behind before it crashes over the masses. CLick Here for more info on their SXSW performances.
Wild Child
Interview by: Amy Rice | Images by: Fuzebox Photography | Makeup & Hair: Lecia Bates
Austin-based, Wild Child, consists of seven band members, fronted by the harmonious and playful Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins. I had the privilege of talking with them during the Austin Fusion Magazine Band Meet & Greet at Cedar Creek Recording Studio in South Austin.
At SXSW, the full band will play sets with the full band – Kelsey Wilson (vocals and violin), Alexander Beggins (vocal and ukelele), Carey McGraw (drums), Sadie Wolfe (cello), Matthew Morris (banjo), Chris DeNunzio (bass) and Evan Majors (keyboard)– as well as perform two acoustic sets.
AFM: How did the ukelele come to be an instrument in the band?
WC: Alexander started playing the ukelele in earnest two years ago during their first tour with The Migrant. He half jokingly says he started playing it out of necessity due to it’s small size and portability on tour. He started playing it early in life and viewed it as a “toy” up to that point. “I fell in love with it, and now a guitar it feels huge.”
AFM: How did you start touring with The Migrant?
WC: They’ve toured twice with The Migrant, a Scandinavian band, after being introduced through mutual friends. Wild Child had just returned to Austin from their own, first tour through Southern states. “We did a show every day for 3 weeks,” says Kelsey. Despite this, both she and Alexander exuded energy as they enter the SXSW week.
AFM: What are your goals for SXSW?
WC: “Get a manager! We want to take the band to the next level,” says Kelsey, “and we’re meeting a lot of great people.” This is their first, “official” SXSW, with their showcase on 3/13 at Beale Street Tavern. Check out the official SXSW site for their other shows at http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/
AFM: Who does the song and lyric writing?
WC: It’s totally a collaborative effort, Kelsey and Alexander say, almost in unison.
AFM: Tell me about the making of the Pillow Talk video?
WC: It was filmed in a huge, un-airconditioned garage in the middle of the record-setting heat in Summer 2011. They had to take lots of breaks in front of air conditioning vents in the car. Kelsey proudly admits to being the constructor of the “30 foot long pillow fort” used in the video.
“It’s exciting to have two songs in the top ten on Hypem” says Kelsey, with Tale of You & Me at number two and Pillow Talk ranked seventh. Check it out on the Hype Machine app or at http://hypem.com/popular. They are in the process of writing for the next album. Check out their SXSW events here.
other links: http://www.wildchildsounds.com/
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