2013 SXSW Show Reviews

SXSW Show Review March 14th

Presets at Emo’s East
It is a veritable rarity to find the Presets playing a North American show, so to have them playing Thursday night in Austin, on their only American stop this year, is an absolute blessing from the electro gods. The Aussie DJs mixed up their powerful set with remixes of “This Boys In Love” and “Youth In Trouble.” Their unique blend of electro, house, and new wave influences set the crowd into a dancing frenzy that nearly spilled out into a rave. To see such a talented electro group come out of their way to play Austin exclusively while in America, was a huge decadent slice of SXSW magic.

SXSW 2013 Show Review March 14th

Metz at The Main
This trio of mayhem brought their brazen punk stylings to the Brooklyn Vegan Party on Thursday and proceeded to melt faces and wreak havoc like a berserker horde. Thrashing through songs with blistering pace, Metz galvanized a sunburned and hesitant audience to lose themselves in the violent malaise. At one point, the band stopped the show because a crazy kid had stage dived twice, headfirst into a wooden pole. Not lacking in energy, moxie, or talent – Metz will continue their streak of punk destruction.

SXSW Show Review March 15th

Goldroom at Avenue on Congress Rooftop
It is a mind-blowing experience to be on a rooftop after midnight in downtown Austin, peering out over the madness of SXSW, but hearing only the ethereal, soulful rhythms of Goldroom instead of the usual cacophonous roar. Goldroom is the project of L.A-based Josh Legg, whom decorates romantic, tropicalia beats with electronic ornamentation and powerful choruses. Goldroom is an exploration of modern music that celebrates exotic pop samples and clean electro beats. The new addition of the beautiful and talented, Mereki Beach, to the touring lineup, spiced up the live performance as well, making their set on Friday night one of the best shows I saw at the festival.

SXSW Show Review

Poolside at Red Eyed Fly March 15th 

As my most anticipated act coming to Austin for SXSW, Poolside did not disappoint with their intimate performance at the Red Eyed Fly. Playing a style of ambient electronica, that is self-described as ‘daytime disco,’ Poolside plays chilled down disco beats that are an ideal score to a lazy afternoon of day drinking. Jeff Paradise and Filip Nikolic are both veterans of the L.A. electro scene, and their focus on a tropical ambient aesthetic in their music leaves listeners relaxed and entranced with each. Playing through many of their songs off their newly released album, Pacific Standard Time, Poolside won over the crowd quickly with their disco infectiousness. As one of my favorite discoveries of 2013, I hope Poolside finds more reasons to return to Austin, bringing their soma-like West Coast ambience with them.