Frank YangFor brevity’s sake, I’m busting up the days and nights of SxSW into separate posts. Of course, a greater volume of posts doesn’t exactly equal brevity, does it. Anyways. As with last year, photos, multimedia and assorted sundry links for all acts covered will come in the following week.

I started Wednesday with a plan. It took exactly no time for said plan to go off course. I’d meant to start with Henry Clay People at Paradise but a promise of free food and beverages at the Austinist party from Donewaiting had me starting things off at the Mohawk with a cup of absinthe. It was… kinda nasty, actually. There was music but nothing I paid particular attention to, and with my head just a bit fuzzy, it was to the Radio Room to see Amanda Palmer. I’m not especially a Dresden Dolls fan but I did see them at Lollapalooza a few years back and enjoyed them quite a bit, and Palmer solo didn’t disappoint. Just off a plane from Australia or New Zealand, she was a bit loopy but still in fine form, playing material from her recent solo record and closing with a ukulele-led, audience sing-along cover of Radiohead’s “Creep”.

Then it was across the street to Maggie Mae’s for new Scottish outfit We Were Promised Jetpacks. I’d been hoping they’d impress the way Frightened Rabbit did last year, but while they weren’t bad by any means, they didn’t make much of an impression with their mildly angsty and anxious indie rock. There were a few moments in a few of their songs that stood out, but not nearly enough.

I was headed out the door of Maggie Mae’s when I ran into a friend who said that French electro-pop act Yelle was about to start just upstairs. Sure, why not – I’d made half-hearted efforts to see her a couple times in the past (which is to say I thought about it), so now was as good a time as any. As it turned out, they were running quite a bit late but when Yelle finally took the stage, it was absolutely worth the wait. Backed by a live drummer and keyboardist and even with a truncated set, frontwoman Julie Budet was an electrifying presence, bounding about the stage and working the packed house into a frenzy. So much sweaty fun.

Gears could not have shifted more with the next act, as I moved from Parisian dancefloors to the Pacific northwest for J Tillman. Though best known as the drummer for Fleet Foxes, Tillman is also a notable singer-songwriter in his own right and was set to demonstrate his skills at Emo’s Annex. Unfortunately, persistent feedback prompted him to abandon the stage after a song and play unamplified in the audience. It was a terrific gesture and the crowd pulled in close around him, but with the racket of all the other day shows bleeding into the open-air venue, it was nigh impossible to hear him play or sing. But still, a noble effort.

Sound problems were also prevalent back at Paradise where I hopped over to see Justin Townes Earle, where there was much feedback coming through the monitors as music. And while Earle took it more graciously than his increasingly grumpy sideman, he was still obviously perturbed though not so much as to take it out on the audience. He may have gotten initial attention because of his famous father, but Earle is his own man and draws little from Steve Earle’s country-rock template, favouring a more traditionally-styled sort of country music. an impressive songwriter and performer.

It was then across the street to Peckerhead’s to wrap up the afternoon portion of the day. I got there in time to see Brooklyn’s Phenomenal Handclap Band. I’ve heard them called “Brooklyn’s Broken Social Scene”, which might be accurate if Broken Social Scene traded in ’70s funk-soul pastiches. There were a lot of members, though, maybe that was the angle. Mildly interesting, but I soon hopped over to the other side of the venue.

And that was where Reading, UK’s Pete & The Pirates were setting up. I’d heard a bit of buzz around the five-piece and had given their debut Little Death a few spins – it didn’t send me over the moon but I was curious enough to give them some time. Live, they weren’t any sort of revelation, one part Noah & The Whale and one part Arctic Monkeys, but adequately catchy and energetic – just kind of anonymous. I didn’t leave thinking that these guys were underrated, just properly-rated.

And then it was time for dinner.

MySpaceIt’s one of those bits and bobs days. Let’s begin.

Seattle dreampop artisans Trespassers William, who appear to once again be down to the core membership of guitarist Matt Browne and singer-guitarist Anna-Lynne Williams, have released details about their next release. The Natural Order Of Things is a five-track EP which follows 2007’s The Noble House as the band’s second consecutive mini-album since their last full-length, 2006’s exquisite Having.

It’s difficult to say what sort of direction this new release will augur for the band – The Noble House was a significant departure from Having, abandoning the trademark sonic denseness of producer Dave Fridmann for a balance between sparer, folkier material more in line with their debut release Anchor and sprawling ambient/instrumental excursions. Couple that with the surprisingly loud and heavy (though in very relative terms) live performance I caught at SxSW last year and you’ve got an act whose only constant seems to be Williams’ beautifully mournful voice and the ability to surprise without becoming too unfamiliar. Am I excited to hear this new release? Yes, I’d say so.

The Natural Order Of Things is due out on the 25th of May via UK label Gizeh, and to pique interest, they’ve provided the lead track”Sparrow” for download. I’ve also provided a track from Having for those of you who haven’t heard it, which is unfortunately probably most of you.

MP3: Trespassers William – “Sparrow”
MP3: Trespassers William – “Safe Sound

Congratulations go out to Aquarium Drunkard, who has just released a tribute album to Paul McCartney’s 1971 solo record RAM with an impressive roster of Los Angeles-based talent including Earlimart and Radar Bros. The album is available to download for free, but listeners are encouraged to make a donation to Macca-approved charity No More Landmines.

It figures, but almost immediately following last week’s post anticipating the new record and tour from Ohbijou, word came down that the album release has been delayed and the previously-announced Spring tour – including the April 18 date at the Opera House – have been postponed. Details are still forthcoming, but until then savour “Black Ice”, as it’s all there’ll be for the time being.

Death Cab For Cutie have released a new video. Update: And this just in – the Death Cab is coming back to town for a show April 5 at the Sound Academy with Cold War Kids and Ra Ra Riot as support. Tickets $40.50, on sale Thursday.

Video: Death Cab For Cutie – “Grapevine Fires”

PopMatters interviews Mac McCaughan about matters Superchunk, Portastatic and Merge. Superchunk’s new Leaves in the Gutter EP is out April 7.

New York Magazine profiles The Mountain Goats and their fans.

Le Blogotheque filmed a Take-Away Show with Johnny Flynn in Buenos Aires.

NPR talks to Neko Case, whose Middle Cyclone is out today.

Halifax’s Dog Day will release their new album Concentration on April 21 – get a taste below. They play the The Drake Underground on March 14 as part of CMW.

MP3: Dog Day – “Rome”

Amos The Transparent will also be in town next week for CMW – look for them at Rancho Relaxo at 1AM on Friday night – and they’ll have a new release along with them. The My, What Big Teeth You Have… EP will be available at live shows through the Spring and Summer and receive proper distribution come Fall – you can hear a couple tracks at their MySpace.

Magnet speaks to Wheat’s Brendan Harney about the forthcoming reissue of Hope & Adams and Medeiros and new album White Ink, Black Ink.

Pulp (online UK magazine, not band) welcomes Woodpigeon to their, uh, boardroom? for a session. Available in video and downloadable audio forms.

Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste writes Drowned In Sound a letter about their forthcoming album Veckatimest, out May 26.

Justin Townes Earle – son of Steve, yes, but an accomplished singer-songwriter in his own right – releases his debut sophomore effort Midnight At The Movies today and has a date at the Horseshoe on April 22, tickets $12.50. Laundromatinee featured Earle in a session a little while back, and if you’ve got a van to sell, he’s looking.

MP3: Justin Townes Earle – “Mama’s Eyes”
MP3: Justin Townes Earle – “What I Mean To You”

Yes, they were here just a few weeks ago but The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are coming back again. Can they pack Lee’s Palace again, so soon? We’ll find out April 28 – tickets for that show are $10.

MP3: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “Everything With You”

Lady Sovereign has a date at Lee’s Palace on May 1, tickets $20.

Loney Dear, whose Dear John has grown on me some since I reviewed it in January, has scheduled a North American headlining tour for May and will be at the Rivoli in Toronto on May 8.

MP3: Loney Dear – “Airport Surroundings”

They’re calling it “Unwigged & Unplugged: An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer”, but what it REALLY is is Spinal Tap. Only without the wigs. And costumes. And with Folksmen songs from A Mighty Wind. Okay, maybe it’s not really Spinal Tap. But it’s as close as you’re going to get anytime soon, and it’ll be happening at Massey Hall on May 21. Billboard has complete tour dates and details and Vanity Fair has an interview with the band… in character.

MP3: Spinal Tap – “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight”