50 Acts You Won’t Want To Miss At SXSW

It’s that time of year again and South By Southwest (SXSW) is just around the corner! We’ve decided to bring back our “50 Acts You Won’t Want To Miss” feature and spent hours trying to narrow down our favorite acts. Not making it to Texas for the event? We’ve got you covered!! Check out our Spotify SXSW playlist which features one song from each artist on it here or at the very end of the list below!

Andy Frasco & The
U.N.
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Americana/Rock
Recent Release: Happy
Bastards
Song To Check Out: “Tie You Up”

Where to catch Andy Frasco & The U.N.: 3.16 – 12am – New
Fronteir Showcase @ Swan Dive; 3.17 – 3pm @ Shangri La; 3.17 – 6pm @ Doc’s Bar
& Grill; 3.18 – 6:45pm – The Most Definitely & Wind Up Records
Presents: THE YARD


BANDITS
Hometown: Denver, CO
Genre: Heavy Rock
Recent Release: Kill Tonight
Song To Check Out:

“Kill Tonight”

Where to catch BANDITS: 3.16 – 5pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ Thirsty Nickel; 3.17 – 1am – Boomtown Music Showcase @ 512 Bar; 3.17 – 5:20pm – Big Picture Media Showcase @ Thirsty Nickel; 3.17 – 9pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ Blind Pig Rooftop; 3.19 – 5pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ San Jac Saloon


Banners
Hometown: Liverpool, UK
Genre: Alternative/Pop
Recent Release: Banners
Song To Check Out

: “Shine A Light”

Where to catch Banners: 3.16 – YouTube Showcase @ Coppertank; 3.16 – British Music Showcase; 3.18 – McDonald’s Loft


Barns Courtney
Hometown: Ipswich, UK
Genre: Americana
Recent Release: “Glitter & Gold”
Song To Check Out

: “Fire”

Where to catch Barns Courtney: 3.16 – 10pm – Americana Music Association @ Lamberts; 3.17 – Floodfest Day Party @ Cedar Street Courtyard; 3.17 – WFUV Day Party @ Hotel Saint Cecilia; 3.18 – 10:40pm – Paradigm Showcase @ Stubbs BBQ; 3.19 – KGSR Live @ W Hotel; 3.19 – 11pm – NME Presents: Official SXSW Showcase @ Latitude 30


Beach Slang
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Punk
Recent Release: The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
Song To Check Out:

“Bad Art &
Weirdo Ideas”

Where to catch Beach Slang: 3.14 – The Onion & AV Club Present Just Another Manic Monday @ Barracuda; 3.16 – 3:30pm – Secret Sounds Presents Falls Festival and Splendour In The Grass At SXSW @ Sidewinder; 3.16 – 10:30pm – Jansport & Noisey Present Bands And A Bonfire Under The Big Sky @ Cheer Up Charlie’s; 3.17 – 12pm – Waterloo Records In-Store @ Waterloo Records; 3.17 – 2:35pm – Pitchfork Party @ Barracuda; 3.17 – 5pm – Biggest Little Day Party @ Frank; 3.18 – 12:30pm – Spin At Stubb’s @ Stubb’s BBQ; 3.18 – 6pm – SXSW Outdoor Stage @ Lady Bird Lake; 3.18 –1am –  Flowerbooking, Topshelf & Polyvinyl Show @ Sidewinder


Bleachers
Hometown: Bergenfield, NJ
Genre: Indie Alternative
Recent Release: Terrible Thrills, Vol. 2
Song To Check Out:

“Rollercoaster”

Where to catch Bleachers: 3.18 – 12:05am – Bud Light Music Showcase @ Bud Light Factory


Blue Healer
Hometown: Austin, TX
Genre: Indie Rock
Recent Release: “Luminescent Eyes”
Song To Check Out:

“Luminescent Eyes”

Where to catch Blue Healer: 3.13 – 5:30pm – Side One Track One Showcase @ Volstead Lounge; 3.13 – 9pm – Do512 @ Antone’s; 3.16 – 8pm – New Frontier Touring Showcase @ Swan Dive; 3.17 – 3pm – Mercy Lounge Presents New Americana Party @ Craftsman; 3.18 – 12pm – QSC Showcase @ Austin Convention Center; 3.19 – 5pm – Eye in the Sky Future of Music Showcase @ Shiner Saloon


Chairlift
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Genre: Pop
Recent Release: Moth
Song To Check Out:

“Ch-Ching”

Where to catch Chairlift: 3.16 – 12:10am – Stereogum Showcase @ Bud Light Factory; 3.17 – 9pm – YouTube Showcase @ Coppertank Events Center; 3.18 –4:05pm – The Pitchfork Parties @ Barracuda


Daniel Eyes  & The Vibes
Hometown: Austin, TX
Genre: Indie Rock
Recent Release: Sweet Dreaming
Song To Check Out:

“Sleeping With the
Blues”

Where to catch Daniel Eyes & The Vibes: 3.14 – 7:30pm – Solstice Live Showcase @ Empire Control Room; 3.17 – 1pm – Sound Dessert Showcase @ Stay Gold; 3.17 – 2:55 – Big Picture Media Showcase @ The Handlebar (Rooftop); 3.18 – 2pm – Party In My Pants @ Little Woodrow’s; 3.18 – 1am @ Gigtown Presents 6th Annual Future of Music Showcase @ Shiner Saloon; 3.19 – 9pm – Austin Music Foundation Showcase @ Tiniest Bar In Texas


DNCE
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Pop
Recent Release: SWAAY
Song To Check Out

: “Toothbrush”

Where to catch DNCE: 3.16 – 12:55am @ Monster Energy Outbreak House; 3.17 – Music Is Universal Day @ JW Marriott; 3.17 – 3pm – Waterloo Records Day Party @ Waterloo Records; 3.18 – 12:15am @ Scoot Inn; 3.18 – 3pm – West of the Fest @ Key Bar


Fickle Friends
Hometown: Brighton, UK
Genre: Indie Pop
Recent Release: “Say No More”
Song To Check Out:

“Paris”

Where to catch Fickle Friends: 3.16 – 6pm –The Most Definitely and Concord Music Group Present The Yard Day; 3.17 – 1pm – Music For Listeners @ El Sapo; 3.17 – 12am – Pukkelpop x Disco Naivete Showcase @ The Sidewinder (Outside); 3.18 – 4:40pm – The British Music Embassy Day @Latitude 30


flor
Hometown: Hood River, OR
Genre: Pop
Recent Release: Sounds EP
Song To Check Out:

“Heart”

Where to catch flor: 3.16 – 3:45pm @ The Yard; 3.16 – 8pm @ McDonald’s Loft; 3.17 @ Des Moines Embassy; 3.17 – 6pm @ Westin Hotel; 3.19 – 10:15pm @ Sidewinders


Grace Mitchell
Hometown: Portland, OR
Genre: Pop
Recent Release: “White Iverson”
Song To Check Out:

“Breaking Hearts”

Where to catch Grace Mitchell: 3.16 – 5pm – New Shapes Showcase @ Barracuda (Outside); 3.17 – Music Is Universal @ JW Marriott; 3.17 – 11pm – Floodfest @ Cedar Street Courtyard; 3.18 – 9:55pm @ Scoot Inn; 3.19 – Perez Hilton’s One Night In Austin @ Act Live at the Moody Theater; 3.19 – 10:50pm – Austin City Limits Live @ the Moody Theater


Great American Canyon Band
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Genre: Americana
Recent Release: Crash
Song To Check Out:

“Crash”

Where to catch Great American Canyon Band: 3.17 – 4:30pm – The Midwest Music Foundation and Boulevard Brewing Company Present The 7th Annual Midcoast Takeover @ Shangri La; 3.18 – 10pm – Greenbelt Touring Official Showcase @ Tellers


Great Caesar
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Great Caesar on Audiotree Live
Song To Check Out:

“Hey Mama”

Where to catch Great Caesar: 3.13 – 4pm – McDonald’s Showcase @ Textile; 3.17 – 1am – ASCAP Showcase @ Speakeasy; 3.19 – 2pm – Southwest Invasion @ Whole Foods


Grizfolk
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Waking Up The Giants
Song To Check Out:

“Bob Marley”

Where to catch Grizfolk: 3.16 – 6pm – The Showtime Roadies House @ Clive Bar; 3.16 – 9pm – Culture Collide/Stubhub @ Bangers; 3.17 – 12:45pm – Music Is Universal Party @ JW Marriott; 3.18 – 12:30pm – Windish Party @ Mohawk; 3.18 – 10pm – “Homegrown” Grammy Museum Showcase @ Tap Room; 3.19 – 4pm – Waterloo Records @ Waterloo Records; 3.19 – Pandora @ The Gatsby


Harvest Thieves
Hometown: Austin, TX
Genre: Americana
Recent Release: Rival
Song To Check Out:

“Your Damn Vanity”

Where to catch Harvest Thieves: 3.12 – 9pm – Hotel Van Zandt @ Geraldine’s; 3.13 – 5pm – Austin Town Hall and Side One Track One Showdown @ Volstead Lounge; 3.14 – 3pm – Mother Falcon’s “All The Friends Ball” @ Spiderhouse; 3.14 – 9pm – Antone’s x Capital One; 3.16 – 6th Annual Lucy’s Fried Chicken Revival @ Lucy’s Fried Chicken; 3.16 – 5:20pm – Austin Indie Radio Showcase @ The ABGB; 3.18 – 1:40pm – Lone Star Music/Koke-FM Party @ Threadgill’s; 3.18 – 5.15pm – Future of Music Showcase Presented by Gigtown @ Shiner Saloon; 3.19 – 5:30pm – Friends of East Cameron Showcase @ The White Horse; 3.19 – 11pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Victorian Room at the Driskill


Hey Marseilles
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recent Release: Hey Marseilles
Song To Check Out:

“West Coast”

Where to catch Hey Marseilles: 3.16 – 4:30pm – ListenToAir.com Day Party @ AGBG; 3.16 – 10pm – Showtime Roadies Showcase @ Clive Bar; 3.17 – 1pm – Sirius XM Radio @ Omni Hotel; 3.18 – 1:30pm – Baeble Music Day Party @ Empire Control; 3.19 – 4pm – Gingerman Day Party @ Dogfish Head


Icarus The Owl
Hometown: Portland, OR
Genre: Rock / Pop Punk
Recent Release: Pilot Waves
Song To Check Out:

“I Am the
Delorean”

Where to catch Icarus The Owl: 3.16 – 8:15pm – Max Volume @ Spiderhouse Ballroom; 3.17 – 3.45pm – Rocker Stalker/Switch Bitch Records/Behind The Curtain Media Presents Day Party @ Hole In The Wall (Middle Stage)


Jeremy and the Harlequins
Hometown: New York, NY
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: “No One Cares”
Song To Check Out:

“No One Cares”

Where to catch Jeremy and the Harlequins: 3.17 – 9pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Continental Club; 3.19 – 1pm – 18th Annual Industry of Music Showcase @ Ginger Man; 3.20 – 2pm @ Carousel Lounge


Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Edges
Song To Check Out:

“Shame”

Where to catch Jocelyn & Chris Arndt: 3.16 – 9pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ San Jac Saloon; 3.17 – 1:30pm – Big Picture Media Showcase @ The Handlebar; 3.18 – 8pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ The Blind Pig


Judah & The Lion
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Genre: Americana
Recent Release: Folk Hop N’ Roll
Song To Check Out:

“Take It All Back”

Where to catch Judah & The Lion: 3.19 – 10pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Lamberts


Lissie
Hometown: Rock Island, IL
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Recent Release: My Wild West
Song To Check Out:

“Don’t You Give Up
On Me”

Where to catch Lissie: 3.17 – 8:30am – KGSR Radio @ The W Austin; 3.17 – 4:30pm – NoiseTrade Presents: FRYE SXSW Days @ Swan Dive; 3.17 – 8:30pm – “Homegrown” Grammy Museum Showcase @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop; 3.17 – 11pm – Thirty Tigers Official Showcase @ The Majestic; 3.18 – 5:40pm @ Willie Nelson’s “Luck Ranch;” 3.19 – 12pm @ Waterloo Records parking lot; 3.19 – 2pm – SPIN @ Bud Light’s Brazos Hall


LOLO
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recent Release: Comeback Queen EP
Song To Check Out:

“I Don’t Wanna
Have To Lie”

Where to catch LOLO: 3.19 – 12am – Official SXSW Showcase @ Buffalo Billiards; 3.19 – 2pm – Pandora Discovery Den Showcase @ The Gatsby


Magic Giant
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Folk
Recent Release: Set On Fire
Song To Check Out:

“Set On Fire”

Where to catch Magic Giant: 3.16 – 3pm – Stubhub! Party @ Bangers; 3.16 – 10pm @ Monster Energy Outbreak House


MC Lars
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Genre: Lit-Hop
Recent Release: The Zombie Dinosaur LP
Song To Check Out:

“Triforce”

Where to catch MC Lars: 3.19 – 9:25pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Karma Lounge


Milk Teeth
Hometown: Stroud, UK
Genre: Punk
Recent Release: Vile Child
Song To Check Out:

“Swear Jar
(again)”

Where to catch Milk Teeth: 3.17 – 10:30pm  – Artist Group International SXSW Showcase @ Javelina


Misterwives
Hometown: New York, NY
Genre: Pop/Rock
Recent Release: Our Own House
Song To Check Out:

“Not Your Way”

Where to catch Misterwives: 3.18 – Bud Light Music Showcase @ Bud Light Factory


Night Argent
Hometown: Pasco, WA
Genre: Pop/Alternative
Recent Release: “Kamikaze”
Song To Check Out:

“Nothing More
Beautiful”

Where to catch Night Argent: 3.16 – 2:50pm – The Best Lil Big Fest @ The Tiniest Bar in Texas; 3.16 – 6:50pm – Catalyst Publicity Group and Third String Productions Showcase @ The Aquarium


Odd Folks
Hometown: College Station, TX
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Monica
Song To Check Out:

“Enemy”

Where to catch Odd Folks: 3.14 – Three Links; 3.15 – Modern Noise Showcase @ Badlands; 3.16 – Catalyst Publicity Group and Third String Productions Showcase @ The Aquarium; 3.17 – 3pm – Party on the Patio Showcase @ Cheers Rooftop Patio Bar


OHLAYINDIGO
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Genre: Electronic Pop
Recent Release: “Golden Chains”
Song To Check Out:

“Love You To The
Moon”

Where to catch OHLAYINDIGO: 3.15 – 4pm – RedGorilla Music Festival @ The Roof Top on 6th; 3.17 – 12:40pm – Big Picture Media Showcase @ The Handlebar (Rooftop)


Owel
Hometown: NJ
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recent Release: Every Good Boy
Song To Check Out:

“Flying Man”

Where to catch Owel: 3.17 – 7pm – Party On The Patio @ Cheers; 3.18 – 6pm – 3rd Annual Hand Drawn Records Showcase @ Brass House Austin


PINS
Hometown: Manchester, UK
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Wild Nights
Song To Check Out:

“Dazed by You”

Where to catch PINS: 3.15 – 5:30pm – Babe Fest/Tom Tom Magazine @ Salvage Vanguard; 3.16 – 4pm – She Shreds Showcase @ Hotel Vegas; 3.17 – 3pm – Smear Magazine Party Seneca Falls Co-Op; 3.17 – 8pm – Pias Showcase @ Latitude 30; 3.18 – 2:45pm – Jackalope Party @ Jackalope; 3.19 – 12pm – Music For Listeners Party @ El Sapo; 3.19 – 6:25pm – Street Legal Guitars Party @ Street Legal Guitar Shop; 3.19 – 9pm – Warp Magazine Showcase @ The Blackheart


Purple
Hometown: Beaumont, TX
Genre: Punk/Rock
Recent Release: “Bliss”
Song To Check Out:

“Wallflower”

Where to catch Purple: 3.13 – 12:30am @ Hotel Vegas; 3.13 – 5pm – Peachy Party @ Swan Dive; 3.14 – 5:30pm – Strange Brew 5 @ Hotel Vegas; 3.15 – 5:45pm – Casual Strangers Day Party @ Guero’s Taco Bar; 3.17 – 3pm @ Red Bull Sound Select; 3.17 – 5pm @ Doc’s Motorworks; 3.17 – 8pm @ Lucky Lounge; 3.18 – 1pm – Siren Sound Temple Party @ Stay Gold; 3.18 – 6pm – The North Gate Main Event @ Carousel Lounge; 3.19 – 5pm @ The Firehouse Hostel


Quiet Company
Hometown: Austin, TX
Genre: Indie Rock
Recent Release: Transgressor
Song To Check Out:

“Holland 1945”

Where to catch Quiet Company: 3.17 – 1am – Official SXSW Showcase @ Palm Door on Sabine; 3.18 – 103.1 iHeart Austin 3rd Birthday Bash @ Maggie Mae’s; 3.19 – 12:45pm – Quantum Collective Southwest Invasion @ Whole Foods; 3.19 – 11pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Scoot Inn


Rooney
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Rock/Pop
Recent Release: “My Heart Beats 4 U”
Song To Check Out

: “My Heart Beats 4
U”

Where to catch Rooney: 3.17 – 1am – Official SXSW Showcase @ Soho Lounge


Royal Teeth
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Genre: Indie/Dance/Pop
Recent Release: Wild
Song To Check Out

: “Wild”

Where to catch Royal Teeth: 3.18 – 11pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Esther’s Follies


Strangers You Know
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Indie Folk Pop
Recent Release: Loosen up the Leash
Song To Check Out:

“Tell Me I’m
Alright”

Where to catch Strangers You Know: 3.18 – 8pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Tap Room at the Market


SWIMM
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Rock
Recent Release: Beverly Hells EP
Song To Check Out:

“Topanga”

Where to catch SWIMM: 3.16 – 1pm – The Beehive at SXSW @ Swan Dive; 3.17 – Get Buzzed @ The Brew Exchange; 3.18 – “Homegrown” Grammy Museum @ Tap Room at the Market; 3.19 – Double Dutch @ Sidewinder


sykes
Hometown: London, UK
Genre: Alternative Pop
Recent Release: “Chances”
Song To Check Out:

“Chances”

Where to catch sykes: 3.19 – 8pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ The Townsend


Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones
Hometown: New York, NY
Genre: Folk Rock
Recent Release: “Never Knew You Loved Me Too”
Song To Check Out:

“I Thought That We
Said Goodbye”

Where to catch Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones: 3.17 – 4pm – Rachel Ray Feedback Party; 3.18 – 6:30am – KGSR Live; 3.19 – 12pm – KDRP Live; 3.19 – 8pm @ Central Presbyterian Church


The Ballroom Thieves
Hometown: Boston, MA
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recent Release: “Bury Me Smiling”
Song To Check Out:

“Bullet”

Where to catch The Ballroom Thieves: 3.17 – 12am – New Frontier Touring Showcase @ Swan Dive (Inside)


The Christopher Brothers
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Genre: Alternative / Pop Punk
Recent Release: Dog Daze
Song To Check Out:  “The Girl Next Door”

Where to catch The Christopher Brothers: 3.16 – 5pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ The Handlebar; 3.18 – 4:30pm – Texas Rockfest @ Main Stage; 3.19 – 3pm @ San Jac Saloon


The Courtesy Tier
Hometown: New York, NY
Genre: Rock/Pop
Recent Release: When You Were Young
Song To Check Out:

“Little Rock”

Where to catch the Courtesy Tier: 3.14 – 8pm – Priced For Punks Showcase @ Cheer Up Charlies; 3.15 – 10pm – SXSW Showcase Presented by SweetWater Brewing @ Burnside Tavern; 3.17 – 3:15pm – RockerStalker/Bitchswitch Records/Behind The Curtains Media @ Hole In The Wall; 3.18 – 12pm – RockerStalker Presents SXSW Brooklyn BBQ @ Hotel Vegas Annex; 3.18 – 3pm – RockerStalker/Bitchswitch Records/Behind The Curtains Media @ Big Bang Bar


The Gills
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recent Release: “Gimme Gimme”
Song To Check Out:

“Rubberband”

Where to catch The Gills: 3.19 – 11pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Trinity Hall at Old School


The Grahams
Hometown: New York, NY
Genre: Americana
Recent Release: “The Wild One (Big Pink Mix)”
Song To Check Out:

“Glory Bound”

Where to catch The Grahams: 3.15 – 6pm – Sun Radio Broadcast @ El Mercado; 3.15 11:30pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Saxon Pub; 3.18 – 9m – Official SXSW Showcase @ Hilton Garden Inn (18th Floor); 3.19 – 12:30pm – Jenni Finlay & Conqueroo Present Rebels & Renegades @ Threadgill’s on Riverside; 3.20 – 3pm @ Continental Club


The Head and the Heart
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Genre: Pop
Recent Release: Spotify Session
Song To Check Out:

“Lost In My Mind”

Where to catch The Head and the Heart: 3.19 – 12am – Culture Collide & Showtime Present The Showtime Roadies House @ Clive Bar


The New Regime
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Genre: Alternative
Recent Release: Exhibit B
Song To Check Out:

“We Rise, We Fall”

Where to catch Reckless Serenade: 3.18 – 1am – “Homegrown” Grammy Museum @ Tap Room; 3.19 – 10pm 0 Trinity Hall at Old School


The Routine
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Genre: Funk, Rock
Recent Release: Black Tropics
Song To Check Out:  “Too Rich”

Where to catch The Routine: 3.16 – 12am – RedGorilla Showcase @ The Blind Pig Pub; 3.17 – 2:10pm – Big Picture Media Showcase @ The Handlebar (Rooftop); 3.18 – 1:40pm – Texas Rock Fest; 3.19 – 7pm – RedGorilla Showcase @ The Handlebar (Rooftop)


Weatherbox
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Genre: Alternative Indie Rock
Recent Release: The Cosmic Drama
Song To Check Out:

“I’m Ready For You
To Come Back”

Where to catch Weatherbox: 3.15 – Funeral Sounds & Broken World Media Showcase @ Eden House Co-Op


Check out our SXSW Spotify playlist below!

Show Review:: LOLO 2/3

LOLO
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Brighton Music Hall; Boston, MA
Review and photos by Kara Kokinos

Last Wednesday, LOLO took the stage at Brighton Music Hall in Boston, bringing a solid set of power ballads and dance jams. Her set started off with the angry, heartbreak driven “Heard It From A Friend,” Donning a fur coat, the petite singer belted her lungs out, welcoming the enthusiastic crowd forward. If you are unfamiliar with the singer, her 2013 video for the song is a fantastic introduction. Rhythmic and self-driving, the track carries the same energy across live. And if her killer voice seems familiar, you have probably heard it on Panic! At The Disco’s, “Miss Jackson,” “Fall Out Boy’s “Centuries,” as well as the original cast recordings of “Spring Awakening”.

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Not afraid to get close to the crowd, the singer had beckoned those in attendance towards the stage and discarded restrictive layers and fallen to her knees by the middle of her second song, “Comeback Queen.” The performance aspect of LOLO’s set is not to be understated. Clapping along with the track, dramatic gesturing, eye contact with the audience, and ripping through her vocals all seemed to be second nature to Pritchard. “Comeback Queen” is an incredibly danceable track that calls for gospel backup vocalists and invokes plenty of “girl power” imagery.

This badassery was highlighted not only on her more upbeat tunes. With touring guitartist Josh Hoisington, the duo live mixed some beats and slashed through pre-recorded tracks but on the slower tracks they performed, including new track “The Courtyard” and “I Don’t Wanna Have to Lie,” there was a clear ache behind the words being sung. It would be difficult to compete with LOLO’s vocals but on her slower songs, they were given the opportunity to glisten against the more basic guitar/piano backings. That being said, there was an incredible build to every track performed that night as well as a clear narrative that went into the writing and performance.

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Straddling the soul and alternative rock genres, LOLO’s writing is incredibly nuanced and with an obvious jazz atmosphere within a pop track. While on her recorded material the singer’s power is more implicit and backed by more muted instrumentals, her live material is full of raw energy.  Closing out the night, LOLO’s “Hit & Run” brought the same hard hitting energy as her opening two tracks, with the attitude of a late 2000s Carrie Underwood with the gritty tone of Juliet Simms. LOLO’s unabashed gesturing and use of the smaller Brighton Music Hall Stage transformed the venue. It was impossible not to be sucked into the space she created.

While on the shorter side, LOLO’s set packed a hefty punch and her natural stage presence reminded me of a set I caught from Halsey at a small, coffeeshop venue at the start of her career. If the new tracks that were performed that night, “Devil’s Gone to Dinner” and “No Time For Lonely,” are any indicator, it shouldn’t be long until LOLO is on everyone’s radar.

GirlTalk with LOLO

When we first came up with the idea for GirlTalk, we wanted it to be a fun conversation about music, makeup, fashion, and everything in between. So when we had the opportunity to talk with Lauren Pritchard, known to most as LOLO, we knew that we needed to feature her in our first GirlTalk segment. 2015 was an incredibly impressive year for LOLO who released her EP on DCD2 Records, wrote an off-Broadway musical titled “Songbird,” joined the co-headling tour of Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness and New Politics, and was featured on two iTunes Best of 2015 playlists for Songs – New Artists and Singer/Songwriter.

For our first GirlTalk interview, we spoke with LOLO about her latest release, Comeback Queen, her tour must-have items, and her opinion on the lack of female presence in the music industry. Read our full interview with LOLO below!
Continue reading GirlTalk with LOLO

Show Review:: The Wilderness Politics Tour 11/21

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Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, New Politics and LOLO
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Upstate Concert Hall; Clifton Park, NY
Review and photos by Eric Riley

I’ll be the first to admit that, going into Saturday night’s show, I was already bringing a pretty big bias along. An opener with a serious buzz surrounding her, a co-headliner that has become an international sensation, and a top-billed artist who has consistently been one of my favorites since before high school. So, yeah, it didn’t take a lot of convincing to get me there.

Working a 7am-3pm shift isn’t normally a huge deal, but when there’s a show at 6:00, it becomes a little tiring. So, the idea of stopping for coffee beforehand seemed like a good one. However, the power-nap that I took in the small gap of time between the two ran
a bit longer than expected and I had to skip the Starbucks run. Rushing inside just as opener LOLO took the stage, I was able to get into the photo pit after only missing her entrance and a few seconds of her first song. During her set, I kept thinking of how disappointed I would have been had a Tall White Chocolate Mocha made me late enough to keep me from watching her perform. (Also, I specified what I typically order just in case anybody decides they feel like treating me, just saying).

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Donned in a floor-length fur coat flashy enough to make Macklemore melt, her pull-no-punches soulful pop quickly got the crowd stirring. With only vocals and guitar played live, the rest done through sampling and recordings, LOLO, born Lauren Pritchard, was able to set herself as the center of attention without putting the weight of the show strictly on her shoulders. And on a semi-related note, as I write this, Wikipedia just informed that LOLO is the same Lauren Pritchard that performed in Spring Awakening. So not only is she currently killing it under her stage name, she’s a serious double-threat from an original cast that has a shelf full of TONYs to back her up. Sorry, that’s off topic, but it’s still pretty cool.

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Following next came New Politics, playing a larger role than I had last seen them in when they opened for Fall Out Boy and Paramore on the Monumentour last summer. When they opened that show, their crazed energy and onstage poise both impressed me, even more so given that they were opening for arguably (though I don’t think you’d have to argue very hard) two of the biggest bands in the world. This time around, in a co-headliner spot, they somehow managed to up the ante even further. Still carrying the same huge liveliness, the trio took full advantage of their extended set and deeper catalog.

Tracks like “Tonight You’re Perfect” and “Berlin” had the crowd roaring, and Andrew McMahon joining the stage briefly elevated this even further. Closing with “Harlem” sent them off stage on a high note, wrapping their set up perfectly while simultaneously setting the bar for the next performance.

As I mentioned previously, I have a bias when it comes to Andrew McMahon. To put it simply, there are few people whom I genuinely admire as much as I do him, and that is only partially due to the fact that he is responsible for penning a handful of the most flawless albums I’ve heard throughout my life (I’m not saying that as a hyperbole; every note and key and word on Everything In Transit is literally perfect and we may need to fight if you say otherwise).

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Starting things off with a quiet, softly-lit “Rainy Girl,” McMahon eased the audience into the show, warming everyone up before leading into “Dark Blue” and taking his foot off the brake. Throwing in songs throughout each stage of his career, McMahon appealed to fans from all eras, making sure not to stay with one project for too many songs in a row as well as including a few varied renditions of older songs, like an acoustic take on “Punk Rock Princess” or a smoother, slower, almost lounge singer-esque version of “The Mixed Tape” to begin his three-song encore.

There were a few points where I was pleasantly surprised with the song selection. I wasn’t expecting to hear “I Woke Up In A Car,” nor did I expect “Dark Blue” to be the second song of the evening. “Swim” has always been one of McMahon’s heaviest, strongest pieces and his short introduction before it, speaking first about the recent attacks in Paris and his fight against leukemia, then about his recovery and about the need for safe places and positive thinking, added even more heart to an already crushing song.

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I don’t want it to sound like the evening was a total downer. Quite the contrary, actually. Even during the few ballads, the energy in the room never wavered, always holding strong thanks to the echo of the crowd singing every word back to the stage. Later, to close out the initial set, there was a roar throughout the room when McMahon pulled his harmonica from his pocket for “La La Lie.” What is normally a ≈ 3:00 song, give or take a few seconds, turned into an extended performance, with McMahon asking the bar at the center of the venue if they were still serving before swimming on a sea of upstretched arms to grab a shot of Jäger. Upon his return, the three members of New Politics were there waiting for him to help bring the song to a close. And, in McMahon’s words (to the best of my recollection), “he [David Boyd] may have some better moves and six-pack abs, but I’ve never seen him do that!” On that note, I had never seen a show come to an end with a room full of grown adults running around beneath a rainbow-colored gym class parachute, but that’s exactly what happened, so I guess it was a night of firsts for everyone, huh?

Setlist:
Rainy Girl
Dark Blue
Canyon Moon
Holiday From Real
Driving Through A Dream
I Woke Up In A Car
Maps For The Getaway
Swim
Bloodshot
Punk Rock Princess
All Our Lives
La La Lie

Encore:
The Mixed Tape
Cecilia and the Satellite
Synesthesia

LOL Gallery: LOLO, New Politics, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

Who: LOLO, New Politics, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
What: The Wilderness Politics Tour
When & Where: 11/21/15, Upstate Concert Hall; Clifton Park, NY
By: Eric Riley

For full gallery, click here!

Review:: Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die | Panic! At The Disco

By this point, we can all agree that we should never “expect” things from Panic! at the Disco. They are a band that will entirely recreate themselves at every turn, diving head-first into it as they do so. From the guy-liner & masquerade theatrics of their explosive debut to the equally infectious yet absolutely different follow-up and back again, their ambition is an element that few bands can match.

With the band’s fourth full length, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, another album means another transformation. Opening with the heartbeat of the album’s second single “This Is Gospel (which also features a brilliantly shot music video),” Urie delivers a sort of mantra for the album as well as the band’s attitude as a whole – “The gnashing teeth and criminal tongues conspire against the odds / but they haven’t seen the best of us yet.” Because as the band continues to release new albums, Urie continues to show us what he’s made of.

Following the first two songs, which are also the first two songs released – the previously mentioned “This Is Gospel” and lead single “Miss Jackson,” Panic! dives into the hyper, electric “Vegas Lights.” Packed to the brim with synth and an explosive pop chorus, it is a nod to the older era of the band’s music, while still keeping things fresh and new.

“Girls/Girls/Boys,” which was recently released as the third single, is upbeat and snappy, going nicely with the instantaneously addictive clap-along chorus of predecessor “Nicotine.”

The dark shoegaze of “Girl That You Love” and “Casual Affair” are buzzy and synthetic, though they teeter on repetitive. Contrarily, the 8-bit tinkering of the verses on “Far Too Young to Die” grow into echoing choruses that draw you in.

“Collar Full” continues with the feeling that Vices & Virtues carried, specifically tracks like “Ready to Go” or “Trade Mistakes.” By keeping with the same vibe as the last record, even if just for a moment, Panic! lends a bit of assurance that they are, in fact, still the same band. And on finale “The End of All Things,” there is a culmination of everything the group has been since their inception – the orchestration that we grew to love following the intermission of A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, the low, piano-accompanied crooning that Pretty. Odd. showed us, and the ghostly ambiance that took charge throughout parts of Vices & Virtues.

I’ll be the first to admit that I never know what to expect from Panic! at the Disco.

Eight years ago, (eight?!) when A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out was originally released, it was unlike anything I had ever heard. And Pretty. Odd. took everything we would have expected for the band’s sophomore effort and completely rearranged it, delivering folksy pop rather than the electro-dancepunk the preceded it. Vices & Virtues took a little bit of both and threw them in a blender. Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die throws the blender out a window. It possesses elements that you would expect to hear from a dozen different bands on a hundred different albums, all masterfully compiled into one 10-song, thirty-two minute record.

Back in 2005, a mere minute after pressing play on A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, a promise was made between Panic! at the Disco and their listeners – they swore to shake it up if we swore to listen. And nearly a decade later, we’re both making good on that agreement.

Release Date: October 8th, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Runtime: 32:32

Tracklist:
1. “This Is Gospel”
2. “Miss Jackson” (featuring Lolo)
3. “Vegas Lights”
4. “Girl That You Love”
5. “Nicotine”
6. "Girls/Girls/Boys”
7. “Casual Affair”
8. “Far Too Young to Die”
9. “Collar Full”
10. “The End of All Things”

Panic! at the Disco is:
Brendon Urie – Vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizers/programming
Spencer Smith – Drums
Dallon Weekes – Bass


Written By: Eric Riley