Ha Ha Tonka - All With You

Tonight I'm telling secrets
You already knew
I know I'm gonna show off
That's just what I do
And I just might, I just might
Be able to prove I wanna see it all
Ah, with you

I can read the stories that surround your eyes
I love it when you smile, how they come alive
Tonight I want to climb up beyond the past and view
I want to see it all with you

Their label puts Ha Ha Tonka in the "Nouveau South" category, which makes it slightly difficult for me to admit I enjoy them, but it's true (along with *some* songs by the recommended artists below). Yes, I have a knee-jerk aversion to country... but not to wry folk-wisdom and heartfelt hooks. I didn't squeeze them into my SX week but they're playing in Brooklyn while Keith & I are in NYC this June. Can't pass up the opportunity to say I'd rather see it all with you, babe. (Two days left apart!)

RIYL: Fleet Foxes, The Head and the Heart, Apache Relay

Upcoming Shows

Braves - Seapunk

There's nothing but monsters at the bottom of the sea, 
There's nothing in the waves I'm convinced that I need, 
I tried to, 
But I'm not going to the beach, 
I tried to, 
You'll have to swim without me

When I was a child there was a shark inside my dreams, 
He ate everyone and now there's only just me, 
And I'm nervous, 
Cause i've got nothing left to feed him, 
I'm nervous, 
I don't want bites out of me

But what if all my friends wanna go to the beach? 
Wanna go to the beach? 
I'll just stay in the sun, 
I'll be fine on my own 

How about a song from a lo-fi garage-surf-punk band from Perth for your Friday? (Inadvertent almost tongue-twister: bonus.) Seapunk is the title track from their most recent EP (hope there's new music coming soon!)

RIYL: Wavves, Cloud Nothings, Surfer Blood, Beach Slang

Upcoming Shows

Swimming with Bears - Do What Your Told

Looks like
We're gonna seize the day
Give all that you have away
Run towards the sun
Hold tight
They try to hold your feet
But you gotta find a way
If you wanna live

I met three of the four bear swimmers in a notoriously long SXSW line, waiting to see Beach Slang, Bleached, and Minus the Bear, just chatting about music and tattoos, wishing for taco delivery... Anyway, come to find out they are this local band with quite a lot of buzz (well over 100K Spotify listens, opening one show for Weezer last year, booking several SX showcases this year) who've been compared to The Police (less so Eliot Sumner) and get inspiration from Explosions in the Sky. Happy to know that even if I don't catch them performing over the last couple days this week, there will definitely be other chances in Austin later on. Oh, and I think they mentioned getting to tour the whole country later this year!

RIYL: FOXTRAX, Royal Teeth, Young Rising Sons

Upcoming Shows

Run River North - 29

"29" was already one of my favorite tracks from Run River North and must've been one of their's too as they re-recorded two versions for their 2017 EP. Happy to hear this slightly tighter rendering, and to see them at SX again this year. Also hoping they keep growing and gaining popularity outside of indie festivals.

RIYL: Local Natives, Young the Giant, Tokyo Police Club, Killers

Upcoming Shows

A R I Z O N A - Oceans Away

I never let
My guard go down
But you messed me up
When you came around
When the high wore off
Know you needed space
But I don't wanna wait
I don't wanna mistake

Few thousand miles and an ocean away
But I see the sunrise, oh, just like the other day
Picture your eyes as I fall asleep
Tell myself it's alright, oh-oh, as the tears roll by

Ooh, I wish I could feel your face
Ooh, I'm helpless when I'm oceans away

Three songwriters/producers from the Jersey came together in Boston and decided to make and perform music for themselves. Why they call themselves Arizona is unclear, but the fact remains that forming a band was the right decision. Poppy and current, with thoughtful lyrics set to a danceable background. They were my biggest surprise from Day One of SXSW Music this year and I'm sooo glad to have caught them, as it turns out it was their only Austin show for the entire year. "Oceans Away" is their latest single. Don't be surprised if one of their remixes shows up on our Pleasures list soon, too.

RIYL: Frenship, Postal Service, Islandis

Upcoming Shows