Y’know, despite our own SXSW party, I’m feeling it too. Fuck SXSW. I mean, really—I GET it. I’m oversaturated. Stop with all the emails already…your band so-and-so from such-and-such will be killing it in Austin. Right. Just TRY and stand out. Whatever.
OK—right, I’m not going and I’m jealous. (Transparent at all?)
Windian Records’ Travis Jackson put it far better than my rant above yesterday in a Washington City Paper online piece and if you’re like me—NOT paying the ridiculous, jacked-up costs to hit Texas this year—you’re in luck. Windian’s got a SXSW Showcase in your own backyard, DC—and it’s tomorrow.
Jackson’s put together 10 of the label’s grittiest, turbo-charged acts for seven hours of maximum rock and roll destined to be more memorable than anything you’ll see in Austin next week. And you’re spared the rest of the bullshit that comes with SXSW. Right—you’re welcome.
The Windian Showcase kicks off tomorrow at 3PM at U Street Music Hall—and Windian’s given us an opportunity for one of you to win a pair of tickets for tomorrow’s event—AND to have a beer with Travis himself. On YOUR tab. (C’mon – he deserves it.)
Let us know why you deserve the free pair of tickets and the chance to buy Travis a beer in the comments to this post and the most convincing of the bunch will be the winner. Again, the Showcase is tomorrow so we’re choosing our winner at 5PM TODAY!
Travis previews the entire day for you below—IN CAPS:
PINCHE GRINGO | CHAPEL HILL, NC
TWO DRUMS, ONE GUITAR, ONE MIC, ONE MAN.PINCHE GRINGO [JOSH JOHNSON] HAS HAILED FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND EVEN MEXICO CITY TAKING OVER LIVING ROOMS TO LARGE STAGES ON HIS ENDLESS TREK AROUND THE WORLD TO PLAY HIS BRAND OF BLUES DRIVEN GARAGE PUNK TO ANY DRUNK EAR.
TWO TEARS | NEW YORK, NY
KERRY DAVIS HAS DONE SOME PRETTY AMAZING THINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES. FROM THE RED AUNTS TO THE SCREWS TO THE BEEHIVE AND THE BARRACUDAS, SHES YELLED HER WAY INTO THE GARAGE BOOKS WITH ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING VOICES IN ROCK ‘N ROLL.
JUNGLE FEVER | SAN DIEGO, CA
WE HAVE BEEN HUGE FANS OF THE SAN DIEGO SOUND SINCE THE EARLY-NINETIES WHEN RFTC AND JEHU WERE WAILING AROUND. GOOD FOR YOU IT DIDNT END THERE. JUNGLE FEVER RIPS AND THRASHES THROUGH RAMONES LAIDEN 4/4 BASHERS TO AN EVEN SMOOTH VASELINES MELT. THINK ’66 GIRLS IN THE GARAGE / ’77 NY PUNK. DEBUT SINGLE WAS RELEASED LAST FALL ON THE WIN.
THE ELECTRICUTIONS | WASHINGTON, DC
MOST GARAGE BANDS DONT TAKE PRIDE IN SOUND. MOST FLAIL AROUND, BALLS HANGING OUT, SPITTING BEER AT UGLY GIRLS. DONT GET ME WRONG, WE LOVE THAT SHIT, BUT WE ALSO GREATLY APPRECIATE A BAND LIKE THE ELECTRICUTIONS. AIR TIGHT ANTHEMS OF CITY DESPAIR, RAZOR SHARP STRAIGHT AHEAD ROCK ‘N ROLL GUITAR AND BEAT EVEN THE MIGHTY JOE STRUMMER WOULD TAP HIS BOOT TO. THEIR LATEST 7″ WAS RELEASED ON THE WIN FEBRUARY 2011.
MAYBE, BABY | WASHINGTON, DC
THE BF / GF BARELY LEGAL DUO RELEASED ONE OF THE BEST POP/PUNK EP’S OF 2010. “ALL IVE GOT” WAS TEENAGE ANGST FINALLY PLACED BACK IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND GUNNIN’ TO 100 MPH. FURY HEATED GUITAR RIFFS AND 4/4 TIGER BEATS, MAYBE BABY NEVER BANTERS OR CARRIES ON BETWEEN THEIR SONGS…WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID WITHOUT LOUD ROCK ‘N ROLL BLASTING BEHIND YOU? P.S. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT.
OCCULT DETECTIVE CLUB | DENTON, TX
POWER POP PUNK ROCK OUTTA TEJAS! FAST PACED, JANGLY POP BRAIN FREEZERS THAT REMIND YOU, SHORT, SWEET ROCK ‘N ROLL NEVER FAILS. FACT: DUDES FIRST BAND “MAASTER GAIDEN” DID A SPLIT WITH DC’S THE POINTS BACK IN ’06 ON THE BIG ACTION LABEL. ONE MORE REASON TO TRUST THESE KIDS WILL BRING IT.
THEE LOLITAS | WASHINGTON, DC
HERE THEY ARE TO SAVE DC GARAGE PUNK. NEWISH BAND THAT HAS SHIT HOT RIFFS, AND COUNTRY COCK SWAGGER TO LEAVE YOU A LITTLE LOOSER AND A LITTLE MORE WET BRAINED. HEAVY BASHING DRUMS. HEAVY BASHING BASHING. YEAH, VERY BASHING. DC HAS ONLY ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE BECAUSE OF BANDS LIKE THIS.
SWEET SIXTEENS | LAFAYETTE, IN
STRAIGHT-OUTTA PARTY CITY USA COMES THE LO-FI KEYTARD SYNTH POP PUNK HEROES SWEET SIXTEENS! BUBBLE-ISHIOUS PARTY JAMS STUCK TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHOE YOU WONT FEEL BAD ABOUT PICKING OFF AND CONTINUE CHEWING. FUN STUFF! WIN RELEASED THEIR SECOND SINGLE LAST SUMMER.
THE CHENIERS | WASHINGTON, DC
ART-DAMAGED LO-FI CHAMPIONS. WINDIAN RELEASED THEIR DEBUT SING “TROUBLE!” IN 2010 AND HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST. THE CLEAN/THE FALL INFLUENCE WITH A 80’S/90’S DC ROOTS COATING. THESE GUYS OWN AND OPERATE THE YEAH GATES! RECORD LABEL OUT OF ARLINGTON. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY WASHINGTON POST MUSIC CRITIC DAVID MALITZ!
FOUL SWOOPS | ARLINGTON, VA
FUZZZZED OUT BLUES/POP/PUNKERS FOUL SWOOPS ARE YOUNG AND ALREADY A MAINSTAY IN THE LOCAL DC “SCENE”. INFECTIOUS MELODIES RECORDED THE MOST MINIMALIST WAY, AND IN THE RED, THESE YOUNGINS HAVE GOOD THINGS AHEAD. ALREADY RELEASED A SINGLE WITH YEAH GATES! RECORDS…HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
