A quick update from Tom of Gemini Club as they try to gather their wits about them today down in Austin.
It's insane here. Between the mimosas and the seemingly never-end river of beer that I've been swimming in, writing, or doing anything besides playing music very, very difficult. It's like living on a missile that you're sure at some point will totally explode, but somehow, it hasn't. So here I sit, on our final day, with nearly no voice and a fuzzy brain. But this is not the time to worry. This is not the time for the feint of heart. It is time for two more shows.
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— Anne Holub
A pair of updates from both Jayson and Billy of JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound about their second day in Austin for the SXSW music festival. The band's got a busy schedule that just won't quit!
Thursday
Today we started off with a short set at the Pandora/Americana Music Assoc. stage. It was cool and the food was great. Also because we were the first band we got a full sound check (which is a rarity here at SX) and the band agreed that it was the best sound we'd probably get during the festival.
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— Anne Holub
As they hit the ground running in Austin, we're just now catching up with neo-soul crooners JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound down at SXSW. Here's their recap from lead singer Jayson about their journey down south and first few hours in the fray.
Wednesday
Two days ago I was time traveling. I started just outside of Chicago. I closed my eyes for just a moment and when I opened them it was five hours later and I was thirty miles outside of St. Louis in the parking lot of a Schnucks where the mostly older patrons gave me raised eyebrows as if to ask "who is this stylish n-word*, and why am I uneasily at ease?"
I should have told them it's because I'm a herald of change, but I wasn't there to blow minds -I just wanted a salad...
After some light conversation I closed my eyes again, and this time when I opened them we were somewhere in Oklahoma and it was night. To the outside world hours had crept by, for me it was mere moments. At some point I took over driving -about ten miles before we passed a terrordome called "The Eatin' Hole". I stopped for a large coffee and after downing it promptly began having trouble keeping my eyes open. We made it to Motel Whogivesafuck without dying and the next day we were ready to be in Austin.
"Andy n Kevin" (Photos courtesy JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound)
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— Anne Holub
We're following two Chicago bands at SXSW this year, and they'll be blogging for us daily from down in Austin. First up, an unedited check-in with Tom from electronic quartet Gemini Club.
And here I am. Austin, Texas. At SXSW. A small, yet powerful world where time doesn't really exist and alcohol is more important than water. Really, as I sit here at Blackheart, in a converted on house old, with early 19th century pornography and the biggest whiskey collection I've seen since my arrival. I'm on Rainy street, which is a few blocks of houses-turned bars and god bless the city for granting licenses to these lovely business owners who take pride in preserving and glorifying such wonderfully made structures.
Ands the drinks just ran out. Dear god. The. Drinks. Just. Ran. Out.
Which is probably a good thing, considering I've at it pretty heavily since 2 PM, which is when my first showcase was at the 508 club.
Man, I can find the space bar. I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to the Kendrick Lamar show at 7. I mean, there are dozens of food trucks and bars and people selling bizarre remote controlled helicopters, which I have been tempted to buy so many times that my friends keep telling me to pull the trigger. This is a bad idea. I don't need a remote controlled helicopter. I could surely use one. Definitely, for a million reasons, but this not why I am here. I'm here to get to the heart of Austin and dive straight into crowds who want to be as crazy as possible. And I will.
So keep in touch.
Mahalo,
Tom
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— Anne Holub
South by Southwest is already underway, but this week will bring thousands and thousands of music fans to Austin for the music arm of the annual conference. Two very different Chicago bands — the soul troubadours JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound and experimental electronica group Gemini Club are both loading up their vans and heading down south, and they'll be sending daily updates back to Chicago by way of the Transmission blog.
Electronica quartet Gemini Club consists of members Dan Brunelle, Tom Gavin, Ryan Luciani and Gordon Bramli. I've been a fan of the band's music for a while now, but I'd never had the pleasure of chatting with them. To get a bit more into the band's head before we hear their personal Austin thoughts, I exchanged a few questions with Tom:
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— Anne Holub /
SXSW Wed Feb 06 2013
It's time once again to survey the SXSW Music Festival schedule for Chicago acts to catch if and when you're down in Austin, TX March 12-17. There's a good range of local artists heading down this year, representing everything from hip hop to folk to retro soul. We've also rounded up acts from neighboring states, to give an idea of the attention given to the broader region. Special Thanks to Eamon Daly for technical assistance putting together this list.
Chicago Acts at SXSW
• Chance The Rapper
• The Congregation
• Jerome Derradji
• Device
• Empires
• Frontier
• Gemini Club
• The Hood Internet
• Houses
• JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
• The Kickback
• Davy Knowles
• Jon Langford & Skull Orchard
• Locrian
• Scott Lucas & the Married Men
• Johnathan Mcreynolds
• Chris Mills
• Mahogany
• Omen
• On An On
• Vic Spencer
• Waco Brothers
• Wild Belle
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— Andrew Huff /
