Ah, South By Southwest. It's that time again -- the middle of March, when seemingly the entire new-music industry descends on Austin, Texas like locusts, leaving shards of empty margarita glasses and dried taco husks in its wake. Day and night, bands play every hour on the hour at endless showcases, hoping to get a manager, a recording label, hell, even just a blog mention.
Yes, it's a jungle out there at SXSW, which kicks off officially next Tuesday, March 15 and lasts through Sunday, March 20. Trying as it can be, i's an essential boot camp experience for any artist serious about boosting his or her career. Of course, this year some fierce South Florida warriors are headed out there for the rigors. This week, as a countdown to the festival, County Grind is taking a look at the South Florida acts headed west to play both official and unofficial showcases. First, though, the "officially" selected bands, starting with....
Awesome New Republic
After tirelessly toiling away on the Miami dance-party scene for years, this might finally be the moment at which punk-funkers Awesome New Republic break through. They've long been prized locally for their eminently upbeat anthems that combine a serious love for Prince with a loose New Wave energy. Recent sonic forays, however, have seen them getting more atmospheric and out-there, and the band has played frequently with lo-fi laptop-birthed acts like Millionyoung and Washed Out.
Don't worry that ANR has gone chillwave, though -- they're still as weird and experimental as ever, but boasting enough pop chops to score them BBC radio airplay during a recent foray across the pond. The band headlines a showcase Thursday, March 17 at the Ghost Room, in a sweet slot right after Wallpaper.
Download "Don't Let The Fear Get Out," from the band's latest album, Stay Kids, below via RCRD LBL.
