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First Listen: Sigur Rós And 'Valtari'

Posted 5-22-12 by Kara Manning
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Sigur Rós has returned, in full Icelandic splendor, after a hiatus of four years with Valtari, out on May 29. Preview the album now via The Alternate Side's sister station WFUV and NPR Music.

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Built To Spill: SXSW 2012 Interview With Doug Martsch

Posted 3-20-12 by Kara Manning, Alisa Ali
Tags: Built to Spill, SXSW 2012

Yes, Built to Spill, as their one-sentence SXSW bio stated, is still a band. The Idaho quartet, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, helped arrange a SXSW showcase on March 14 for fellow Boise bands and also played a few more gigs in Austin, including South By San Jose at the Hotel San Jose on March 17. Right before the band's Saturday night set, The Alternate Side's Alisa Ali caught up with singer and guitarist Doug Martsch who revealed recording plans for the next Built to Spill album, possibly due out by the spring of 2013, and a not-so-secret fondness for felines. Built to Spill play New York's Governors Ball Music Festival on June 24.

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Poliça: SXSW 2012 Interview

Posted 3-19-12 by Kara Manning, Alisa Ali
Tags: Poliça, SXSW 2012

Poliça, just a year old, was born out of Gayngs, a collective known for its shifting lineup of two dozen musicians — including Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Megafaun. Gayngs member and singer Channy Leanagh is the heart of Poliça, ably supported by her bandmates, like Gayngs' Ryan Olson, who produced Poliça's debut Give You The Ghost, and Bon Iver's own Mike Noyce. Riding high on an NPR Music's free day party last week, plus seven other Austin gigs, Leanagh took some time out on Saturday morning, right before the band's Hard Rock showcase at Cedar Door, to chat with The Alternate Side's Alisa Ali about the genesis of Poliça, which actually began at last year's SXSW festival.

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Django Django: SXSW 2012 Interview With David Maclean

Posted 3-18-12 by Kara Manning
Tags: Django Django, SXSW 2012

Claiming one of the best-reviewed debut albums of this still-young year, Edinburgh's Django Django dived headlong into their first trip to SXSW, consummating a journey that began back in 2008 when the quartet first formed. They've been often compared to The Beta Band and for a pretty good reason; Django Django's drummer, producer and singer David Maclean happens to be the brother of The Beta Band's keyboard player John Maclean. The Alternate Side's Alisa Ali met up with David MacLean at the Hotel San Jose and learned about all of those Django Django rumors that are simply not true.

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Hold On! It's Alabama Shakes Live From SXSW 2012

Posted 3-17-12 by Kara Manning
Tags: Alabama Shakes, SXSW 2012

Long hyped as one of the major breakout bands of SXSW 2012, Alabama Shakes have proved their mettle at showcase after showcase in Austin this week. On Friday at the Hotel San Jose, WFUV and The Alternate Side shot exclusive video of their performance of "Hold On," from their debut album Boys & Girls, due out on April 10 on ATO Records in the States and April 9 globally via Rough Trade. After the jump, check out video of their gutsy performance, led by the mighty, ferocious vocals of Brittany Howard.

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Watch: Shearwater Playing "Insolence" At WFUV's SXSW 2012 Showcase

Posted 3-17-12 by Kara Manning
Tags: Shearwater, SXSW 2012

Shearwater, on a bill with the Punch Brothers and Gary Clark Jr., brought a majestic intensity to WFUV's second SXSW showcase on Friday afternoon at the Austin Convention Center. The band, fronted by Jonathan Meiburg, released their eighth album, Animal Joy, last month on Sub Pop, and explored much of that album during their performance. After the jump, check out video of the 7-minute-plus "Insolence" which closed their set with a blaze of howling, pro-rocking intensity.

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Yukon Blonde: SXSW 2012 Interview With Jeff Innes

Posted 3-16-12 by Kara Manning, Alisa Ali
Tags: SXSW 2012, Yukon Blonde

On the heels of the Fire/Water EP, Vancouver's Yukon Blonde are on the brink of releasing their latest album, Tiger Talk, on March 20 via Dine Alone Records. The quartet launch a Canadian tour on March 22, but they're currently running amuck in Austin playing innumerable gigs, including a show at 2 p.m. CT tomorrow, March 17, at the Exclaim! party at the Spill Bar on East 6th Street. Not in Austin? Yukon Blonde happily play New York's Pianos on April 10.The Alternate Side's Alisa Ali caught up with Yukon Blonde frontman Jeff Innes on the grounds of the Canadian Blast BBQ at SXSW and learned more about the release of Tiger Talk and why the band might shy away from releasing future EPs.  

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