Canadian duo The Pack A.D. plays blistering, bluesy garage rock in the same vein as The White Stripes and The Black Keys. It’s raw and gritty music, with guttural—yet sexy—vocals that bring to mind Joan Jett, PJ Harvey, and Janis Joplin. The band’s two albums, Tintype and Funeral Mixtape, are available at most record stores and the usual online outlets.

Here’s a video of The Pack A.D.’s “Making Gestures”:

The Pack A.D. plays its official SXSW showcase on Friday, 3.19.10, at Jaime’s at midnight. You can also catch the band at various day parties, including one on Thursday, 3.18.10, at Headhunter’s at 3:55pm.

Visit The Pack A.D. online here and on MySpace.

More information on Inner Lights may be found here. More information on Austin’s Smoke and Feathers may be found here.

David Garza is no stranger to South By Southwest. For most of the 90s, Garza was a staple of the Texas college circuit–playing almost any gig he could get–and he gained a lot of devoted fans as a result. After a couple of albums on Lava/Atlantic, Garza went back to doing things on his own. Now back in Austin, he’s still making music, along with producing other people’s music, and spends his free time working on his paintings. His “greatest hits of the 2000s” collection makes its debut during SXSW 2010.

I recently asked Garza a few questions for Houston Calling, which he was kind enough to answer.

Houston Calling: You’ve been playing during South By Southwest for years now. What do you feel is the best thing that has come out of it for you over the years?

David Garza: The best thing to come out of SXSW is all the weird new music you did not know existed.

HC: What would you recommend for musicians that are first-timers at SXSW?

DG: I would recommend ear plugs, free CDs to give away to new friends, and a sense of humor.

HC: You’ve always been a pretty prolific musician, but you’ve also gotten into producing music for others (Juliana Hatfield, for instance). How did that come about and do it you view it as a natural progression for you?

DG: Production for me is very natural if it’s with people I know and love. If not, it is extremely no fun! [Read more →]

This just in:

We regret to inform you that due to circumstances out of our control the ‘Showcase of Showcases’ has been canceled. Pegstar.net and Free Press Houston apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. We hope that you enjoy your time at SXSW and continue to support live music, good fun, and good times.

As our way of showing our appreciation for having RSVPed please accept this bonus offer: buy up to 4 passes to the Free Press Summer Fest (featuring Flaming Lips, Girl Talk and many more, www.freepresssummerfest.com) and get up to 4 free passes. This has a potential value of over $200. All you need to do is put “SXSW party canceled” in the Promotion box at checkout. You will be contacted within 24 hours with confirmation of your bonus tickets.

DJ/producer Ceeplus Bad Knives is a long-time staple of the Houston music scene. Since the 80s, he has been involved in some aspect of Houston music, and continues to perform and produce music. South By Southwest’s own Matt Sonzala has said of Ceeplus: “He’s one of the foremost experimental DJ’s on the TX scene who’s not afraid to take chances…” He has won the Best DJ award in the Houston Press‘ “Best of Houston” and has shared the stage with some of electronic music’s finest.

Ceeplus recently answered some questions for Houston Calling about SXSW and his thoughts on Houston music’s past and future.

Houston Calling: I know you’ve played in Austin during SXSW before. What are you as a DJ hoping to get out of this year’s SXSW?

Ceeplus Bad Knives: More so this year than any other year, I’m going more as an electronic music producer and playing as DJ. My goal is to get my name out there as an electronic music producer. That’s one of my main focuses. I hold many torches, though, and one of them is DJ-ing and producing, and promoting events, doing marketing, so when I go to South By Southwest, I’m kind of two people…

HC: Is there anything in particular that you’re looking forward to seeing during SXSW?

Ceeplus: I wouldn’t mind checking out the SPIN magazine party this year. I missed it last year, but hear that Courtney Love and Hole is playing this year, which could be interesting to see.

HC: In retrospect, how do you view the sets you’ve played before during SXSW?

Ceeplus: Every single time that I’ve played, other than the early days when I was playing with a group, as a solo artist I have gotten so much out of South By Southwest. From going to panels and learning about licensing, music industry dos and don’ts, to actually getting connected to out of town shows and promoters, and meeting agents face to face that I’ve been working with for years as a talent buyer, and meeting my clients face to face as a marketer. And as well as other artists who are my peers who we contact each other online, but we finally get to meet face to face and have a drink and seriously work together.

My performances, I’ve been fortunate enough to play some pretty fun showcases. Last year, I played the same showcase as DJ Sun. It was at a really cool venue, and I have gotten a lot out of it. Everything from networking to actual legitimate business endeavors. This year, I am really focusing on my music and production, and I have been already been speaking with a few different labels of choice…  [Read more →]

The Jonx, who recently released the impressive Vocabularian Herds, returns to Rudyard’s this Saturday (3.6.10) to play a free show with Fired For Walking and The Bottom Four.

After the demise of Quicksand, musician Walter Schreifels joined some of his other hardcore buddies as Rival Schools and released the spectacular and under-appreciated United By Fate, which unfortunately was the band’s last official release. However, after several reunion shows in 2009, rumors persisted that the band plans a summer 2010 release for its follow-up. I recently asked Schreifels about it, and he confirmed that Rival Schools will release a new album this summer. He also plans a May 4th release for his solo album, Open Letter To The Scene.

Houston Calling: Are you looking forward to playing at this year’s SXSW? What’s your favorite thing about playing during SXSW?

Walter Schreifels: I am, It’s a great time to see friends from around the country/world that you wouldn’t see all in one place too often. I also like being in Austin, I have good friends there and I expect that I’ll see some great shows too.

HC: I am sure you get this a lot, but I am curious about the length of time for a follow-up to United By Fate? I know you do some solo gigs in New York quite a bit. Do you have any plans to release a second Rival Schools album?

WS: I can’t say there’s any one reason that we’ve held off on the follow up to United By Fate but there will be a follow up this summer. We’ll be playing new songs in Austin along with the old hits. Also, I have a solo album coming out on May 4 called Open Letter To The Scene, so it will be a busy year for me.

HC: Are there any bands you’re looking forward to seeing at SXSW this year?

WS: I haven’t checked into who’s playing yet outside of the shows we’re playing but I’m sure I’ll make my way into at least a few shows. I’m interested in Andrew WK and Fucked Up.

HC: Will you be performing any new material? Any plan for some Quicksand covers?

WS: We’ll be performing new material but we don’t have any Quicksand covers planned, though I do “Thorn In My Side” and sometimes “Delusional” my solo sets.

HC: In retrospect, how do you view the 90s (music-wise) and your contribution to it?

WS: Like any decade the 90s had its moments and great bands. I’m proud of the records I made in the 90s, I only wish I had made more. I guess that’s what’s good about now, you can make as many records as you like, they’re cheaper to make and easier to distribute. [Read more →]

Wayside Drive’s second album, The Other Side, will be released for free digital download beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, 3.2.10). The band plans to release one song every Tuesday until all 12 songs are released. With each single’s release there will be individual artwork, the stems for remixing, and a band trivia poll.

More information at the band’s website.

SXSW again hosts a showcase for Christian rap, which will be held in Austin on Saturday, 3.20.10, at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center. DaSouth.com presents The Life in Hip Hop will showcase performances from:

Tedashii (Dallas) | FLAME (St. Louis, MO)  | k-Drama (Cincinnati, OH) | D-Maub (Cincinnati, OH) | big Al – (Monroe, LA) | Dre’ Murray (OK) | Tre9 (Houston) | The WARRIORS ATX (Austin) | S.O.M. (Soldiers On A Mission) (Houston) | Von Won (Houston) | Gifted Da Flamethrowa (Houston) | Bizzle (Houston)

Admission to this event is free and open to the public. No badges or wristbands necessary.

Electronic ensemble Together, We Are Instruments plays tonight (Sunday, 2.28.10) as part of the Resonant Interval Sound Series #16. The show takes place at 7:45pm at The Husk (2808 Milam, between Khon’s Bar and Pho Saigon).

Here’s a video of the band performing at Avant Garden in 2008:

Cover is $5, which goes directly to the musicians.