Last night’s show at Mad Planet was great. Old favorites like Dinosaur Feathers and The Rural Alberta Advantage were great as expected. I really loved James Vincent McMorrow who I completely missed at SXSW, but was happy to have finally gotten a chance to see live. If you’re in Madison go see them tonight at the High Noon Saloon.

MP3: James Vincent McMorrow – “If I Had A Boat”
MP3: The Rural Alberta Advantage – “North Star”

Speaking of SXSW, I should mention that I went and had a great time. The festival rapidly swells in popularity and this was the first year that I attended the interactive portion of the festival. I found the entire time to be supremely educational and of course saw some great music. The acts that stood out the most for me this year were: James Blake, Little Scream, Suuns, Low, Wye Oak, and Josh T. Pearson.

Small Sur hails from Baltimore and came up on several occasions while in Austin. Go here to download two tracks for free.

There’s a new Bon Iver album coming in June.

Tiny Mix Tapes shares a new song from Bill Callahan.

TV On The Radio have a new video for “Will Do.” Watch it at Stereogum.

Get Smith Westerns album Dye It Blonde for only $2.99 at Amazon.

(Sad Songs & Waltzes is a recurring feature on Muzzle of Bees, where artists share their favorite sad songs. Previous contributors include Megafaun, Delta Spirit, Damien Jurado, Conrad Plymouth, Frontier Ruckus, Strand of Oaks, and Roadside Graves.)

The Loom are in Austin for SXSW playing a number of shows including our Backyard BBQ on Friday, March 18th. I got in touch with John Fanning en route to Austin for his contributions to our Sad Songs & Waltzes feature.

Matt Bauer – “Don’t Let Me Out” (Listen)
This is actually one of Matt’s more uplifting songs, but the sense of nostalgia that he captures here is just so perfect that it’s actually kind of heart-wrenching. When he sings in his amazing voice, “Girls jumping off the new river bridge, the water rushes up to them, and their hair floats up to heaven, and it’s so pretty, well I can’t take it,” I know exactly what he means, and my mind is filled with memories of jumping off the highway bridge in Massachusetts where I grew up, and for a brief second with that irreplaceable feeling of joy that’s only found in the carelessness and recklessness of youth.

Smog – “Palimpsest” (Listen)
Possibly the most stark and concise articulation of alienation I’ve ever heard: “Why is everybody looking at me like there’s something fundamentally wrong – like I’m a southern bird, that’s stayed north too long?”

The Wailing Wall – “Speak Not Its Name” (Listen)
This might not be one of the saddest songs I know, but it’s certainly one of the most haunting. We recently went on a wonderful tour with this great band, and every night we would all join them on percussion for this song at the end of their set. Without a doubt one of the most cathartic and memorable musical experiences I’ve ever had.

Modest Mouse – “Baby Blue Sedan” (Listen)
A friend and I who had shared some pretty carefree and formative years together found ourselves at a party shortly after we’d moved to New York, sort of standing together drunkenly staring at the stereo when this song came on. Suddenly filled with an uncontrollable amount of nostalgia for those times, she and I both stood there dumbstruck, half mumbling along to the song and half incoherently reminiscing. Though we probably looked ridiculous, we were both very moved.

Mr. Sister – “Spring is for Lovers” (Listen)
The title of this song, like much of the music that Amelia Emmet makes with Mr. Sister, an incredible band from Boston, is deceptively beautiful; the chorus goes “fill my ears, fill my ears, fill my ears with water.” It’s both serene and chilling.

We’re excited to premiere the new Great Lake Swimmers video for the track “Chorus In The Underground” from their album Lost Channels. The video was recorded at The Underground in Hamilton, Ontario and directed by Scott Cudmore, who also directed the band’s videos for “Still,” “She Comes To Me In Dreams” and the popular Legion Sessions series.

The Great Lake Swimmers will be at SXSW, including a our Backyard BBQ on Friday, March 18th. Additionally, Madison fans will be happy to note the band is returning on Saturday, August 27th for a performance at the 46th annual Orton Park Festival.

Great Lake Swimmers Tour Dates:

Mon, March 14 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Thur, March 17 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Paradise (Canada Blast Party – 12:00 PM)
Thur, March 17 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Jovita’s (Twangfest/KDHX Party – 2:30 PM)
Thur, March 17 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Home Slice Pizza (Music By The Slice – 5:15 PM)
Fri, March 18 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ National Parks Project Revue (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM)
Fri, March 18 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Muzzle Of Bees Backyard BBQ (3:15 PM)
Sat, March 19 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ SixShooter/XM Radio BBQ (1:00 PM)
Sat, March 19 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Palm Door (BAMM Party – 4:00 PM)
Sat, March 19 Austin, TX (SXSW) @ Central Presbyterian Church (Red Ryder Showcase – 12:30 AM)
Sat, August 27 Madison, WI @ 46th Annual Orton Park Festival

Buy: Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels

Please join us on Friday, March 18th for our 2nd annual SXSW Backyard BBQ going down once again at 3217 1/2 Hampton Rd. in Austin from Noon-7. (Directions: Ten minutes on the #10 bus Northbound. Stops at Brazos & 6th or Red River & 12th. Get off at the Red River/Harris stop. Left on Harris, left on Hampton. Or 5 minutes in a taxi.)

We have assembled a line-up that we’re incredibly excited about and will be serving up free bbq and ice cold beer all day long. Please follow us on Twitter and make sure to RSVP to get your name on the list.

RSVP: sxswbackyardbbq@gmail.com | Facebook

In 2001, Josh T. Pearson was blowing minds in a psychedelic band called Lift to Experience, whose record The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads continues to be held in reverence today.

Today, Josh T. Pearson is crafting folk songs with his own twist. They’re gorgeously compiled and usually of significant length. He’s got a new album in the works called Last Of The Country Gentlemen, which arrives next month on Mute Records. The above video for “Woman When I’ve Raised Hell” showcases Pearson’s craft and new direction. You can also download the song below.

Josh T. Pearson is playing SXSW this year. I hope to see him every chance I get.

MP3: Josh T. Pearson – “Woman When I’ve Raised Hell”
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Buy: Josh T. Pearson – Last Of The Country Gentlemen