Call it the South by Southwest Effect.
Most bands playing SXSW tour on their way to the music festival and on the way back home, making for exceptional musical months surrounding the fest at Denver rock clubs. We listed a couple of SXSW ’08 acts playing Denver in the accompanying story, but here are a dozen others. You can see our complete list at music, featuring more than 50 Colorado shows featuring bands that played SXSW this year.
1. X. West Coast punk rock has never sounded lovelier. Tuesday, Bluebird Theater.
2. The Felice Brothers. Lovely, Dylanesque Americana from New York? Signed to Conor Oberst’s label? Oh yes. Tuesday, Larimer Lounge.
3. Black Moth Super Rainbow. Damaged art-pop takes patience but offers great reward. Tuesday, Oriental Theatre.
4. Jens Lekman. This whispering, twee-loving Swede is the new Sufjan Stevens, some say. Thursday, Gothic Theatre.
5. Carbon/Silicon. Mick Jones may have played in the Clash, but that doesn’t make it OK for him to make such a lackluster record. Thursday, Bluebird Theater.
6. The Gutter Twins. More famous names? Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) make music, and this is what it sounds like. Saturday, Fox Theatre.
7. Vampire Weekend. We saw these Ivy League rockers at a half-full Hi-Dive months ago. Now they’re on the cover of Spin, and this show is sold out. April 1, Bluebird Theater, with Yacht.
8. The Black Keys, Jay Reatard. There are no rules when it comes to a Black Keys show. There’s blues. There’s rock ‘n’ roll. There’s sweat. Everything else varies. April 9, Ogden Theatre.
9. Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes. It’s a Sub Pop double-bill, and the new Fleet Foxes were the talk of SXSW. April 14, Hi-Dive.
10. Kimya Dawson. She made the “Juno” soundtrack a hit. Now the ex-Moldy Peaches singer is touring solo. April 22, Bluebird.
11. Liam Finn. More famous names. This eldest son of Neil Finn (Crowded House) is making his own buzz. May 9, Walnut Room.
12. The Breeders. First Kim Deal helped the Pixies reunite. Now she’s back making music with her other band. May 28, Ogden.
– Ricardo Baca
