New video and interview from The Minutes

So during SXSW, I try and check out as many international bands as I can. I don't get caught in the all the hype of the free booze hipster parties. I look for music or bands that I will only get a chance to see at SXSW. Everyone else as far as popular bands always make their way back around to Austin at some point so I don't sweat missing them at South By.

Well this past March during SXSW, my favorite new discovery, meaning a band even I hadn't yet learned about or heard of, was The Minutes from Dublin, Ireland. They are three piece Irish rock machine that resurrects the spirit of the 60s when rock and roll was raw. They took me by complete surprise by how good they were live and I can't wait for them to stamp a vinyl for me to add o my High Fidelity collection. Check out The Minutes here. Turn it up and listen loud!


The Minutes - Secret History from Krank Music Videos on Vimeo.

What did I tell you? Not bad huh? Learn more about these cool Irish fellows from this interview I did for Red River Noise:

The Minutes Q&A

Attack of the Killer Grocery Store Carts! Agh!

Check out this funny Hurricane Bells video for their song "Monsters". It is a b-side from their album Tonight is a Ghost in case anyone is interested. I just thought this was humorous. Damn those stupid grocery store shopping carts with those crappy wheels.

Cymbals Eat Guitars announce tour and SXSW dates

Cymbals Eat Guitars

New York indie outfit, Cymbals Eat Guitars, have just announced new tour dates with Bear In Heaven. What's with indie bands and blogs having "bear" in their name? I don't get it. I guess since metal bands took wolves and there were already a lot of deer bands, then bears were the next best indie option. Cymbals Eat Guitars are currently in Spain finishing up a European tour but will touchdown for their first date in March. You'll want to see them as they are one of the best unsigned band sin the country.

The tour starts in Pennsylvania and makes its way south to Austin for SXSW. They are one of the many band so already on my wish list to see at South By this coming year, as they have gotten rave reviews by all the indie blogs. Now I don't just read one of those Vegan blogs or Bear blogs and go by what they tell me by any means, but when all agree on a band I do take interest. They all can't be wrong. Some embellish more than others, but that's the way it is I guess.

I'm telling you that Cymbals Eat Guitars will please most indie fans, especially WOXY listeners and Day Trotter devotees. Their latest album, Why They Are Mountains, is a solid album from beginning to end with only a few tracks to skip over. They play that same style of ambient indie with crunchy guitar riffs, keyboard and angsty vocals,mixed with some more poppy tracks. They do slow it down on some songs, such as "Tunguska" which you can hear on the band's MySpace.

Be sure to listen to Cymbals Eat Guitars and start with the shoegazy "And The Hazy Sea". Here are their tour dates for those of you unfortunates who do not live in Austin. Check back regularly for more previews of bands performing at SXSW in 2010.  

US Tour Dates

3/5/10 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
3/6/10 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, DC
3/7/10 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
3/9/10 - The End - Nashville, TN
3/10/10 - Pilot Light - Knoxville, TN
3/11/10 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
3/13/10 - Will's Pub - Orlando, FL
3/16/10 - Mango's - Houston, TX
3/18/10 - SXSW - Austin, TX
3/19/10 - SXSW - Austin, TX
3/20/10 - SXSW - Austin, TX
3/22/10 - Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ
3/23/10 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
3/24/10 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
3/27/10 - Berbati's Pan - Portland, OR
3/25/10 - Bottom of The Hill - San Francisco, CA
3/29/10 - The Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
3/31/10 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
4/1/10 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO
4/2/10 - Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS
4/3/10 - Turf Club - St. Paul, MN
4/4/10 - Schubes - Chicago, IL
4/6/10 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
4/7/10 - Il Motore - Montreal, QC
4/8/10 - Middle East Downstairs - Boston, MA
4/9/10 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY