Dawes

To say that SXSW is exhausting would be a gargantuan understatement, and I was very well at my most exhausted when I saw Dawes play at SXSW on Wednesday night. I don’t even remember the venue that I saw them at, but I had just spent three and a half hours waiting in line to not get in to see Spoon at Stubb’s and was just wanting to find a place to sit down. I finally got in this other venue not knowing of any of the bands that were about to play, slumped on top of an upside down trough and began to listen. And then Dawes began to play. I thought I was listening to an early Credence cover band, but they were playing songs I had never heard before. I began to perk up and pay attention to the band on stage, and I hear behind me someone say the word “Americana”. Apparently that is the term for country music now that has not been ruined by pop or repeatedly reminding the listener they are country. Needless to say this band reenergized my for the rest of the night, I was on my feet and really enjoying this new band I had never heard of before. Then it came to their last song “When My Time Comes”, and I was sold on this band.

Their sound can only be described as sounding like the sons of Credence, and they really have an old sound in the best since of the word. The only downfall their music has is that it can become a little dreary sometime, especially the songs in their album “North Hill”. Now do not get me wrong I love this album, but the there are a lot of slow songs on the album, but beyond that, it is still an album you can play all the way through. I suggest to every to give this band a listen even if that is not the sound you like because this band is good enough to be appreciated beyond it’s genre

KICK-ASS is KICK ASS!

Kick-Ass is one of the best films I have seen this year. GO SEE IT IMMEDIATELY, and then go back to box office when you leave the theater, buy another ticket and go see it again. Plot, characters, tone, and visuals, they are all superb in this film. This film is about an average kid who tries to be a super-hero, and with the help of the internet becomes a phenomena and inspires a city. Now I read comic books, so I have known about Kick-Ass the comic book for quite some time (I actually have the first issue sealed, and setting out on my counter currently), so I was going to be incredibly critical of this film from the beginning. And while there have been some changes from comic to screen, the movie was everything the comic was and more. The director Mathew Vaughn really showed that he is a director worthy of giving a big budget, and is a master of blending action and comedy correctly (which I think a lot of directors struggle at doing). The film’s action is superb too, while at point it looks ridiculous, it does not seem implausible, and the Kick-Ass’ first fight is amazing because it looks almost how a real life attempt at defending a person from three people would be. The actors are all fantastic in this film, especially Nick Cage and Cloe Moretz, who are bad ass. Nick Cage, to me, lately has been taking roles that were more paychecks than challengeing, and while this is not an Oscar winning role, it is a great role for where he is at right now. His character, Big Daddy, is a father/crimefighter/victim and Cage's range as an actor was able hit all of those points; he also brings a seriousness to this movie's absurdity. Now on to the main character Kick-Ass, played by relative unknown Aaron Johnson, this movie hinged on the protrayal of this character as real and Aaron Johnson did that. While watching this film I kept thinking to myself that I knew this kid in high school, and that really let me know Johnson gave a great performance. Then there is McLovin (and yes I know that is not his real name, but c'mon), he was the surprise of this movie, because he gave a performance beyond that of a cartoon nerd. He plays a weak kid who desperately wants to be involved in his father's business, easy enough, but his dad a murdering gangster, so you get to see his transformation from a dork into a full fledged super villain by the end of the movie.  It could be said that this movie is just as much about his character as it is Kick-Ass'. Lastly there is Hit-Girl, oh Hit-Girl, to paraphrase one of Kick-Ass' friends, I am in love and I don't care if she is 11, I will wait. But in all seriousness, Cloe Grace Moretz is a star and if you do know believe that before you see this movie, you will after. In very few words, she is a little girl commando who has declared war on crime. She is like a tornado in this movie, you are afraid and in awe of her all at the same time, and she makes you laugh very uncomfortably at times too. Now there has been some contreversy over her role in the movie, and all I have to say is a little girl using the "C" word is no where near as bad as Miley Cyrus pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards.
All in all, this film is a great blend of real and ridiculous, and is the first film of the year that should have you running to the theater.

Hot Tub Time Machine

I was actually a little excited to see HTTM, because I was intrigued by its title. I was thinking that if they can get away with using such an off-putting title, the movie actually may be very good. That was sort of the case. While I did not hate this film, I cannot say that I loved it either. I loved seeing John Cusack in a movie again, especially a film that takes place in the 80's, because to me he will always be outside holding that stereo over his head. The film also showed that the young Clarke Duke could step out of being just a character actor, with him showing some depth for the first time, outside of his show Greek. There were also some good surprises in the film with Crispin Glover giving a very funny performance as a man we keep waiting to see lose his arm, and the always quirky and lovable Lizzy Caplan as Cusack's love interest. But other than Those performances, the movie lacked real situational comedy (only cheap gags), Chevy Chase's cameo was pointless, and it had a super cliché happy ending. I would say this film is best suited to be a rental when you need a few cheap laughs.

Beach Fossils

A few weeks ago I got to experience SXSW for the first time. Even though I was there most for the movie festival, I did get a chance to see some great bands too. The very first band I saw was Beach Fossils at Red7 on Wednesday. This band of four lanky young kids from Brooklyn almost ruined the rest of the music festival for me because they put on the best live show I have seen in the past year. There music was what I can only describe as neo-indie-beach rock, and I loved it. Their music made you feel like you were at a beach bar in So Cal about to go surf for the rest of your life. They also have a very interesting drummer; he only uses two drums, a tambourine, and plays standing up. It has a great sound, and sounds to have nothing lacking from what they would have had with a traditional drum set. I really cannot praise their unique and captivating music style enough. But there music was not the only thing that made them great that day, it was also their energy. The moment they started playing and jumping around stage the whole audience could feel the excitement and could not help but feel the same way. While I do not know this for sure I assumed that performing at SXSW was the biggest performance of this bands short life. whether I am correct on that point or not, there performance and how visibly young the members of this band are really made for a great show, and left me hoping that I will get a chance to see these guys again.
Unfortunately, when I got back from SXSW and heard some of the bands studio recordings, I found that their energy and excitement were gone from the music. The tracks still have their unique style and sound, but the tracks seem boring, almost sleepy compared to their live performance. My suggestion to this young band would be to create a live album.
Overall, I would say check this band out, but know they are much better live.
Check out their MySpace here.

http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils