Transmission Entertainment » Feature

Beat Connection at SXSW Part 1

Another year, and another SXSW has come to a close. Amidst the corporate logos, masses of people, and long lines, somewhere along the way an exhausting but outstanding music festival was taking place with tons of new and old acts descending upon Austin. Indie rock, punk, hardcore, hip-hop, folk, metal, and country were all represented in droves at venues across the city as a comparably orderly festival came and went before we all even realized it. I made the conscious effort this year to try to catch only the acts that were up and coming and just beginning to make a name for themselves at this year's conference, forgoing The Shins and reliving some 8th grade nostalgia in favor of acts like Grimes and Beach Fossils. Though my legs currently feel like warm gelatin encased in solid lead casts thanks to hours of biking downtown and standing for hours on end, I had an excellent time at the festival and already can't wait for next year. Here are some of the sets I caught during the week:

Monday: Wavves, Beach Fossils, Oberhofer

I headed out to Mohawk Monday night having unfortunately missed Japandroids and Kool Keith but arriving just in time of some of the evening's later acts. I caught a rowdy set from young pop rockers Grape St. on the inside stage before heading out for a set from everyone's favorite California punks, Wavves. The band played a surprisingly professional set with the exception of a few choice moments of banter from lead singer/songwriter Nathan Williams, playing tracks from their hit album King of the Beach (2010) a few cuts from their back catalogue, and one delightfully sloppy Misfits cover. Wavves played loud, fast, and hard, offering a satisfying set of songs to set an upbeat mood for the start of the week. I headed back inside for Oberhofer, who have been the subject of some understated talk and were all over the festival during the week. Band leader Nick Oberhofer played with a ridiculous amount of energy to the point in which it became laughable and quickly found out that I was not in the mood for another hour of pop punk. While I am a fan of Oberhofer's recordings, the band's set seemed goofy the energy displayed by Nick Oberhofer coming off almost as condescending and unappealingly ironic. I decided to skip Oberhofer's sets for the rest of the week. Next up was the thankfully less punishing segmented surf rock of Beach Fossils who played with just the right amount of energy themselves but somehow elicited some inappropriate crowd surfing from some members of the audience. Beach Fossils became the highlight of the evening for me playing with a fervor and satisfying conviction coming from a young band looking to reach a wider audience. It was more than likely that many people who came into Beach Fossil's set not knowing who the band was left as new fans of the group.

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Mon Mar 19 2012 · Posted in Daily

From The Mind Of Adi #56: Steve Terebecki’s Firsts

Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.

Today: Steve Terebecki’s Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired White Denim’s amazingly talented bassist Steve Terebecki. Purchase White Denim’s stellar new album Fits via U.K. label Full Time Hobby. The album will be released Stateside on Downtown Music in October and the band will kick off a U.S. tour at The Mohawk on the 24th of that month.

1st favorite song: I guess it might be "Oh Yeah" by Yello, but I liked the whole record, I was about 4.

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Thu Aug 27 2009 · Posted in Interviews

From the Mind of Adi #12 : James Petralli’s Firsts

Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.

Today: James Petralli's Firsts! I hope you enjoyed my personal Firsts; this time, we examine what inspired White Denim's James Petralli through the years.

• 1st favorite song: "Axel F" – Harold Faltermeyer.

• 1st favorite musician or band: P.M. Dawn. P.M. Dawn introduced me to (Jimi) Hendrix via their rendition of "You Got Me Floating." It is relaxing.

• 1st album recorded on a cassette tape: For You - Prince

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Thu Dec 4 2008 · Posted in Daily

White Denim - Shake, Shake, Shake

Directed by Tom Haines

Video for White Denim's "Shake,Shake,Shake" from their UK Release Workout Holiday on Full Time Hobby.

Mon Aug 25 2008 · Posted in Music Videos

White Denim - All You Really Have To Do

Video for White Denim's "All You Really Have To Do".  This track is available on White Denim's UK Release Workout Holiday (Full Time Hobby).

Mon Aug 4 2008 · Posted in Music Videos

HOT OFF THE PRESS (#2)

This is the second installment of a weekly first glance at music discovered in the last seven days, whether it be just-released, just-leaked, or some long-lost gem that has remained under the radar.  Click here for the first installment, which regarded the new Beck, Fiery Furnaces, and Ponytail.

White Denim – Workout Holiday
Released June 23, 2008 (on their European label, Full Time Hobby).

So...forgive a guy for being skeptical.  Yeah, yeah, White Denim were lauded in Rolling Stone, and influential music blog Gorilla vs. Bear touts them so regularly it’s almost embarrassing…when this much hype is brewing in the music world about a band who hasn’t even released a full album, the raising of eyebrows is nothing less than natural.  After all, there was Vampire Weekend, and we’ve all seen the shitstorm of divisiveness they’ve caused, what with half the world thinking they are the Second Coming (in cardigans, no less), and the other half of the world thinking they're Afrobeat-appropriating snobs who should just lay back on their yachts and shut their mouths.  But let’s give White Denim a chance.  If only because they’re from Texas, and have honed their chops on the Austin scene.

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Wed Jul 16 2008 · Posted in Reviews

White Denim - Lets Talk About It live @ Little Radio, Noise Pop Austin, Tx (3/12/08)

White Denim perform Lets Talk About It live at the Little Radio/Noise Pop party at The Red Eyed Fly in Austin, TX on March 12th, 2008 brought to you by Little Radio, Noise Pop and Wolfgangs Vault.

Sun Jun 1 2008 · Posted in Live Sessions

White Denim - Let’s Talk About It (Live at the Mohawk)

Sun Aug 26 2007 · Posted in Live Sessions

White Denim - Shake Shake Shake

White Denim

White Denim - Shake Shake Shake

Mon Jun 18 2007 · Posted in Songs

White Denim - Dark Sided Computer Mouth

White Denim

White Denim - Dark Sided Computer Mouth

None
Self Released

Tue Mar 27 2007 · Posted in Songs