http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157616094639590/....

.. ..Better late than never, right????....

.. ..Here’s my recap of SXSW 2009, including photos. ....

.. ..**** 5 Favorite Discoveries ****....

.. ..1)      TEENAGE BOTTLEROCK – Jaw-dropping Ramones-influenced punk pop quartet from, of all places, ....Laramie.., ..WY.....  Like the Ramones, this young quartet seldom paused between songs, and if they did, the next number was counted off with “1-2-3-4!”  TB obviously have an avid fan following because most of the people at the gig knew all the words.  I bought both their CDs at the gig, 2005’s “Total” and 2008’s “Warning Device.”  I prefer the grittier production of “Total.”....

.. ..See my pics of TB here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157616090177958/....

Listen to TB here:  http://www.myspace.com/teenagebottlerocket....

.. ..2)      LADYHAWKE – I already knew about Ladyhawke but I’m mentioning her because her SXSW appearances were her first American dates.  This lady has a fascinating medical history.  As a child she was diagnosed with a disease previously only seen in seagulls.  Soon after, it was determined that she’s allergic to all antibiotics.  As if that wasn’t enough, as a teen she learned she has Asperger’s syndrome.  Asperger’s is a form of autism that causes a person to come across as awkward in social interactions, and it’s also been shown to cause a person to fixate on one thing.  In Ladyhawke’s case (yes, she’s named after the ‘80s fantasy flick with Michelle Pfeiffer) she fixated on ‘80s New Wave music.  Well, all right!  Perfectly blending dance beats and indie rock, Ladyhawke performed in a black Nirvana t-shirt and added some wonderful rock firepower to the not-so-shabby electronics of her feisty self-titled debut album.  ....

.. ..Listen to Ladyhawke here:  http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock....

.. ..3)      PARENTHETICAL GIRLS –  Think early Rough Trade D.I.Y. singles.  Think Pulp’s earliest recordings.  You’re on track to discovering Parenthetical Girls.....

.. ..See my pics of PG here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157616092665758/....

Listen to PG here:  http://www.myspace.com/parentheticalgirlsband....

.. ..4)      THE CUTE LEPERS – Having discovered the Briefs years ago at SXSW, I was eager to see that band’s singer/guitarist fronting his semi-new band, the Cute Lepers.  The singer/guitarist to whom I refer is Steve E. Nix, a colorful character who writes songs in the classic style of Generation X, Buzzcocks, The Boys, and Richard Hell.  The Lepers put on an awesome show and were loads of fun to photograph.  But my bubblegum high burst yesterday when I discovered that the band’s touring guitarist – who I had just photographed last week – had died this past Saturday.  He accidentally mixed a lethal dose of booze and pills and never woke up.  R.I.P. – Travis Criscola (1985-2009).....

.. ..See my photos of  The Cute Lepers here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157616000240613/....

Listen to Cute Lepers here:  http://www.myspace.com/thecutelepers....

.. ..5)      BLACK LIPS – I know I’m waaaay late to the party here.  I think this ....Atlanta.... quartet just released their fourth album.  Just goes to show you, Randy isn’t always first on the block (I can hear the wails of disbelief as I type).  In any case, I dug their Jeffrey Lee Pierce-inspired hellhound blues/punk hybrid.....

.. ..See my photos of Black Lips here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157616091787026/....

Listen to Black Lips here:  http://www.myspace.com/theblacklips....

.. ..

....Thanks for reading and support new music. ....

R.  ....