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The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.
I am unabashedly, totally, completely, terribly in smit with Ice Black Birds, as I think, dearhearts, you've noticed by my lovey-dovey previous posts on them. This is a band that makes good old fashioned scuzzy rock, leaning heavily on the 60s and 70s for influences (think, perhaps, The Yardbirds meets The Faces meets Mott The Hoople [seriously, listen to "22:22" and I promise you'll hear that saucy sleaze of "Sucker"]). They make a beautiful noise indeed, and you lucky people down at SXSW best take advantage of any opportunity to see Ice Black Birds in the flesh. One of these days, they'll humor me and come to DC...in the meantime, Sam Denniston (he of the blistering, howling vocals) had the following to say about all things SXSW:
Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Sam Denniston: We are all flying from Heathrow airport at nine in the morning, however I don't think we will be sleeping much the night before, one never does before big things like SXSW. I know that a few members of the band are not great flyers, so that might be their reason for lack of sleep!
LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
SD: A converter. We have played in quite a few different countries and we never remember to bring a converter, luckily there is always some kind person to lend us one but it makes charging 4 phones very difficult with just the one.
LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
SD: Well, we are doing one official showcase and then the plan is to play as many times as possible during the festival. I know there are a few parties that we are really keen to play, but we will announce all our dates and times closer to the time.
LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
SD: We are big fans of The Strange Boys and so will most definitely be checking them out. White Denim don't seem to be on the line up but as it is their home town, I would imagine they will be there and that's something we wouldn't miss for the world, they are a huge inspiration to us.
LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
SD: That's a good question, I am not sure really, I suppose just wander round and take it all in, none of us have ever been there so we don't really know what to expect. Some hot weather would be nice and lots of BBQs.
LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
SD: The first festival I ever went to was a festival on the Isle of Wight called Bestival. This was about 5 years ago and it was still a very underground festival at the point and so there weren't too many people there. I had one of the best weekends of my adult life! We had all just finished school and decided to go to Bestival to celebrate, it was a group of about 10 of us and we were all really close friends. It was just one amazing weekend. I remember being blown away by The Chemical Brothers and Primal Scream.
LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
SD: Well I suppose the music, if there's a good lineup, but also the atmosphere and surroundings play a key part in whether a festival is good or not. I have heard from so many people that SXSW is amazing and we are all very excited for March to come around!
mp3: 22:22 (Ice Black Birds from 22:22)
As music bloggers, Chris and I both have quite a few folks that come to us seeking musical guidance. Now, I can't speak for Chris, but whenever I get asked for recommendations, I tend to draw a blank. Naturally, I remember a whole host of bands I just know people would love hours after they've asked me. It's a gift to have such a horrible memory, I know. So then, it seemed somehow necessary to begin to offer up mixes for my friends, mixes for those who have both asked for my wisdom and those who need my help, whether they know it or not.
First up: my super awesome friend James, who actually inspired this whole concept. James is no stranger to good music, being in a band down there in Richmond himself (which you should probably check out). Over the years that we've known each other, James has often boosted my ego by coming to me for bands to listen to. Naturally, I'm always more than happy to oblige. However, now, instead of having to get back to him with erratic texts at random hours, I present him with a mix. So James, darlin', this one's for you.
mp3: Daydream (Beach Fossils from Beach Fossils)
mp3: Don't Know Why (You Stay) (The Essex Green from Cannibal Sea)
mp3: The Great River (These United States from What Lasts)
mp3: Knots (Pete & The Pirates from Little Death)
mp3: If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You (Super Furry Animals from Fuzzy Logic)
mp3: Night Might (The Strange Boys from Be Brave)
mp3: Tow The Line (Thieving Irons from This Midnight Hum)
mp3: Big Black Sky (Sunking! from Dreamy Of The Sunchildren)
mp3: Us Vs Them (Common Prayer from There Is A Mountain)
mp3: Young And Dumb (Neverever from Angelic Swells)
mp3: Doors (Ice Black Birds from As Birds We'd Be Fine)
mp3: All Y'all (Gringo Star from All Y'all)
Our inbox is always runnething over here at Les Enfants Terribles. It’s terribly exciting to open up our inbox and see what goodies have been sent to us. Most of what we get is pretty good, but every now and again, my loves, every now and again we get a little something sent to us that really tickles our fancy. And Brighton’s Ice Black Birds, well, they tickle my fancy, float my boat, and shiver me timbers. And then some.
My love for Ice Black Birds was nearly instantaneous. From the sunshine-through-the-clouds, bluesy guitar riffs that serve as the introduction to the band to the slightly theatrical, insanely captivating vocals of “As Birds We’d Be Fine”, I couldn’t tear my eardrums away. It’s a song that feels nearly anthemic at times, so big and broad and bulky is the sound. “I love love love the things that you do,” sings, nay croons, Sam Denniston, and I boomerang that sentiment right back at them. “As Birds We’d Be Fine” is nothing short of fantastic, and could very easily turn into one of my favorite songs of the year. But they’re not done yet. “Doors” is a distinctly sassier, though equally catchy, little number, calling to mind shades of the naughty cheek of bands like Mott The Hoople and Slade (maybe it’s all that cheeky, bombastic falsetto in the middle of the song?), but without all that flouncing and glitter and with a whole lot more of the raunchy Northern Soul, underground kinda vibe. The gist is that they're fucking fantastic, and I was powerless to resist them.
Ice Black Birds has totally, utterly, and completely beguiled me. I’m a smitten kitten over them, and if they don’t somehow come over to the US of A in the near future I’ll be totally heartbroken. They’re definitely my newest objects of sonic affection, and I can’t recommend them enough.
mp3: As Birds We’d Be Fine (Ice Black Birds from As Birds We’d Be Fine)
mp3: Doors (Ice Black Birds from As Birds We’d Be Fine)
The days are getting longer, the nights are getting shorter and sweeter, and that, my little vixens, can only mean one thing: it's getting close to being almost time for the one and only SXSW. And of course, that means I had to ask some questions of the bands I'd sure want to see if I was heading down to Austin for the 25th annual SXSW-stravaganza.
