Houston Calling

SXSW preview: Wild Moccasins

March 12th, 2009 · 2 Comments

photo credit: Molly Rodriguez

photo credit: Molly Rodriguez

Wild Moccasins are a young indie-pop bands from Houston whose music draws heavily upon such pop icons as The Beach Boys and B-52s. Thankfully, the band eschews the latter’s hokier qualities and instead works its youth and energy into an addictive blend of sing-song pop and Pixies-style indie rock. Too-cute-for-words vocalist Zahira Gutierrez — along with boyfriend/guitarist/vocalist Cody Swann, bassist Nick Cody, drummer Andrew Ortiz, and guitarist Andrew Lee — recently released Microscopic Metronomes with a sold-out show at Walter’s on Washington.

In preparation for the band’s first official SXSW showcase, Wild Moccasins’ guitarist/vocalist Cody Swann recently answered some questions for Houston Calling.

Houston Calling: What are you hoping to get out of this year’s SXSW? What are you most looking forward to at SXSW?

Cody: A really bad back ache from playing as much as we can while we are there. Really looking forward to all the free shows that our friends are throwing.

HC: Why should someone who has never heard Wild Moccasins come see your showcase at SXSW?

Cody: Don’t know really, but I hope they do. We have a ton of new songs we are excited about playing so we hope people can join in that.

HC: You guys just released your first album, and the CD release show was one of the first local shows that was completely sold out (that I remember anyway). What was your reaction to that? Were you at all surprised?

Cody: We were all blown away to say the least and yes, pleasantly surprised. It was a really great night for all of us and we hope for everyone that attended. We had a ton of help from friends and fellow musicians with all the extras we were offering. They certainly were a lot of the reason it was able to run so smoothly. We just hope the next one is as fun and successful.

HC: As someone who has been on the edges of the Houston music scene for a while now, I have seen a lot of bands come and go over the last few years. I have been impressed with the way you guys have gained a pretty wide fan base — including other musicians — in a relatively short period of time. Are you pleased with the response you’ve gotten from fans and critics so far?

Cody: I think we’d have to say ‘yes.’ Good or bad response, it has all contributed towards what we’ve been able to do this past year.

HC: It seems like the Houston area has a lot of great, relatively unknown bands ready to “break out” and get their music exposed to a wider audience. What are your plans for marketing the new album outside of Houston? Texas?

Cody: We have a three-week east coast/midwest tour in June that we are really looking forward to. As well as multiple dates until then around Texas and out of state.

HC: What’s your favorite song on the new album and why?

Cody: I think my favorite is “Shiny Strings.” It has some sentimental value to it since it was the first song written, but I also had a lot of fun with the arrangements at the end of the song.

HC: What are some of the bands you’re looking forward to seeing at this year’s SXSW?

Cody: All of our friends from Houston who are driving over to play a ton as well.

Here’s a video from Wild Moccasins’ ;live at The Mink’s Backroom in Houston:

Wild Moccasins play an official South By Southwest showcase Wednesday, 3.18.09, at midnight at The Tap Room at Six (311 Colorado St.). The band also plays some day parties: Wednesday, 3.18.09: 11am @ Club 1808 Rancho Relaxo (1808 E 12th), 2:30pm @ Red House (1917 Manor Rd.); Friday, 3.20.09: 12:45pm @ Stem and Leaf Day Party (801 Rio Grande), 6pm @ Co-Lab (613 Allen).

Visit Wild Moccasins online at www.myspace.com/thewildmoccasins.

Tags: Interviews · Music · Show listings · SXSW

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 SXSW previews // Mar 20, 2009 at 7:53 am

    […] Wild Moccasins | The Whip | Superdrag | Death is not a joyride. | Ume | Glasvegas | Kamerra Franklin | My Education | That Petrol Emotion | Bosque Brown | Johnny Goudie and The Little Champions | Tre9 | B L A C K I E | Austin Collins & The Rainbirds | Indian Jewelry | Jimmy Webb & The Webb Brothers […]

  • 2 SXSW preview: Wild Moccasins // Feb 26, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    […] You can read the interview I did with the Wild Moccasins’ Cody Swann for last year’s SXSW preview here. […]

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