Those Manic Seas

When you see three guys standing on the street with a robot, handing out CDs...you just have to stop and ask what in the world is going on.


I stopped and asked one of three guys what was with the robot and he said that the robot was their singer and that they were in a band.  

And when someone tells you that they have a robot as their singer for their band...you have to ask more questions.  Then you have to ask for a quick interview.  That's what I did and this is what I got.


The three-piece band with a robot as a singer is Those Manic Seas from Richmond, Virginia.  

Those Manic Seas include Daniel Medley on drums, Chris Westfall on bass, Curtis Park on guitar and their robot or machine or their lead vocalist that's not a real person.


I asked the fellas, why the robot?  They said they had issues finding a lead singer, so they built a singer.


How the robot/machine/not real person works is that Those Manic Seas have three singers sing their songs and the songs are pre-recorded for their lead vocalist to sing at their shows.  They have the robot on stage and their is a face that appears on the TV screen of the robot and the robot sings.  Simple as that.


The machine has been with them for about one and half years they told me, but they've been a band since September 2011.


This was their first time to SXSW and also their first time west of the Alabama state line.  After SXSW they plan to do more touring along the east coast.


Those Manic Seas described their sound as loud, energetic, rock and a fun light show at their concerts. 


Their influences are Mutemath, early U2 and Modest Mouse.

Those Manic Seas are definitely a band that are doing things in a different way, but doing things their way.  Keep an eye out for them.

Those Manic Seas Homewebsite  


Those Manic Seas Facebook

"Streets Assunder"

Space Between Words

An edgy alternative, garage band from Miami, Florida brought a little sunshine with them to SXSW 2012. 

And what I mean by sunshine is their latest EP, The Valley of the Lizard King, which was released on March 20.

The EP is a lyrical roller coaster ride that takes you through the twists and turns that life sets in your way.


If you're curious exactly what Space Between Words sounds like, The Miami New Times describes them as, "If Weezer's Pinkerton and The Pixes' Doolittle made passionate love on a hot night in a dingy motel with a broken air-conditioner, that would be Space Between Words."


So, there you go...and follow the links below for more information.  Do it!!!


Space Between Words Home Website


Space Between Words Facebook


"Over Complicated Mind"

Spoek Mathambo and Theo

SXSW 2012 at Waterloo Records (Picture Taken By:  Mary Allen)

I was intrigued by the rapping and hip hop sounds that I heard while standing outside of the Waterloo Record Store.

I found out the performers on stage at the time were Spoek Mathambo and Theo and they were both going to be signing autographs after their performance.

I approached Spoek Mathambo and Theo's manager in Waterloo Records when the two were signing autographs.  I asked their manager if I could ask the two gentleman a few quick questions.  

Their manager asked Spoek Mathambo and Theo and fortunately I was able to ask Spoek Mathambo and Theo a few questions.

I discovered that this was Theo's first time in the U.S. and that Spoek Mathambo and Theo have never toured together and that this was their first time touring together.

The two met in high school in South Africa.  After high school they didn't see each other for ten years.  And after ten years they reconnected.  Now, their writing songs together and touring together for the first time.


They described their sound as vintage South African hip-hop with soul and classic South African sounds.


Spoek Mathambo and Theo also mentioned that they are translating their influences into one sound.  They are taking their background into the future by pushing South African sounds forward.

I find their music intriguing and very unique.  Check out the links below for more information....

Spoek Mathambo Home Website

Spoek Mathambo myspace


"Control"

"Father Creeper" - EPK 2012

Typhoon

Typhoon at The Stage on Sixth at Paste Magazine's showcase at SXSW 2012

Large bands that look more like orchestras are becoming a very popular trend for bands.  However it's hard to find large bands that are polished and aren't jam bands.  Typhoon isn't another jam band.  They're more polished than a jam band.


Typhoon a twelve piece band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2005.  In 2008 and 2009 the band took a hiatus, but reformed and released Hunger & Thirst in 2010.  The band has release five albums with their first three releases on their own Boy Gorilla Records.

I saw Typhoon perform during SXSW 2012 at The Stage on Sixth during Paste Magazine's showcase on Wednesday, March 14.  Typhoon was loud and all the members sang vocals.  They were definitely in sync with one another and they harmonized very well.


After their show I got a chance to interview a few members from Typhoon.  I actually interviewed a portion of their percussion section of the band.  Alex Fitch on drums, Pieter Hilton on drums and Devin Gallagher on electric ukulele.


The fellas described their band's sound as "Post Rock and Punk" and "Apocalypse".

They said they had no influences, but each other.  

They all grew up in high school bands together and "kept at it", they told me when I asked them how they started as a band.


I asked them if this was there first SXSW and they said that this was their second SXSW and that they were in Austin last year.


I asked what the connection was with Paste magazine and they said, "They like us." and "Paste was the first magazine to write about us."


Typhoon...a large band that is making big waves and keeping at it as they are getting some national attention.

Typhoon's Home Website


Typhoon's Facebook

"The Honest Truth"

Not In The Face

Jonathan Terrell (left) and Wes Cargal (right) of Not In The Face at SXSW 2012

Austin, Texas is home to a plethora of bands, but one band making a lot of noise is Not In The Face.


Wes Cargal wails on the drums and Jonathan Terrell writes the songs, shreds on the guitar and howls out the vocals that he says has been compared to the vocal styles of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.


Terrell and Cargal draw influences from many different artists.  Cargal's says his influences are Elvis, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Lightning Hopkins and Howlin' Wolf.  Terrell says he draws influences from Roy Orbison and Tom Petty.


With only two members in the band drawing from a wide variety of influences, makes you wonder what Not In The Face sounds like.  Terrell describes their sound as, "aggressive country with a sweetheart edge."


And that's the kind of sound you can hear on their album, Bikini, which was their debut album in June 2011.

There was a limited edition of Bikini released that Terrell said had match sticks soaked in Aqua Velva Cologne laying in the spine of the album when you opened it up.  "We did it to be different," he said.


Cargal further explained the limited edition album and said,"we just do it entertain ourselves."


After the release of Bikini in June, Not In The Face went on tour with no press at all.  They did 90 shows between June 2011 and December 2011, said Terrell.


Not In The Face performed several shows at SXSW 2012 and even got noticed before SXSW.


MTV released, The ABCs of SXSW:  A Ridiculous Band Name Primer for SXSW 2012.  Not In The Face was...you guessed it, chosen for the 'N'.


"We're amazed to be on anybody's radar," said Terrell, when asked about how he felt about being on MTV's Ridiculous Band Name Primer.

Either way, if you agree or disagree with Not In The Face's band name, one thing we can all agree on is that they are one high-energy band with some awesome music.


If you need proof or what to hear this band for the first time check out the videos below.


Fun Fact:  Terrell said that Way To Go Baby was shot in one day using about eight cards of memory.  A buddy of theirs took the pictures and used about 530 photos to make the music video.

Not In The Face Home Website

Not In The Face Facebook

"Way To Go Baby"

"Brass Tacks"