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Rock of the Arts' SXSW survival guide top ten tips

Tuesday, 05 March 2013 21:45 Rick

SXSW 6th Street
Photo by James Buchanon

It's that time of the year again when every musician on the face of the earth starts a tour that includes multiple dates at the Mecca of independent music festivals South by Southwest (SXSW). Over 2,000 bands and counting descend upon Austin, Texas for six days of music, food and unabashed market branding. Indie bands on giant Dorito stages. Homeless people used as Wi-Fi hot spots. It's like the Super Bowl of viral DIY marketing except somehow corporate America has invited themselves to the party. This will be our fourth SXSW and we've developed enough of a track record to pass along some survival tips.

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Boston's Horsehands shine Frank Zappa-ish hue

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 21:25 Rick

Horsehands

Horsehands live on the fringes of Boston's fertile underground. Post-punk, angular and progressive labels don't do the band justice. The barage of sound taunts you with sensory overload, only to come together into a cohesive message that resonates universally. Those of us who face that nine- to-five job can relate to the frenzied madness of 'Righty' right down to the mass coffee infusion and bumping into strangers on the way to total collapse. Their new album Sirs is available on Bandcamp and the word is their live show is not to be missed.

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Interview: Kiings talk about Field Report and PHOX on Wisconsin Remix EP

Monday, 25 February 2013 09:58 Rick

Kiings

Music discovery can take on many different forms. In the case of Milwaukee remix duo, Kiings, that involves new interpretations of Wisconsin artists reworked from a palette of electronic magic. Kiings give new meaning to the role of a producer’s contributions in the Internet world of lo-fi recordings. Listeners who may not have heard of an artist are given the opportunity to discover them through a new musical avenue.

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The Source Family - spaced-out 70s spiritual hippie cult

Sunday, 24 February 2013 02:45 Rick

The Source Family living the hippie dream with a Rolls-Royce?

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Take the upcoming full-feature documentary on controversial early 70s hippie commune the Source Family. Culled from interviews, home movies, photographs, and original music created by the Source Family themselves, it provides a unique insider's view into the cult/commune phenomenon and wild social experimentation of the early 70s.

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Watch the Hooten Hallers live - Methamphetamine Romance

Saturday, 09 February 2013 06:00 Rick

Hooten Hallers

We've been hearing about the Hooten Hallers for years. Our blogger friends from Columbia, Missouri swear by the local duo who manage to put their own quirky take on rootsy swamp rock. John Randall, vocals and guitar along Andy Rehm on drums and vocals deliver a "state of mind experience" that is best seen live. Their shows are crazy, unpredictable and sometimes even scary. A whiskey drinking two piece hillbilly rock machine.