Tonight is also the hardest night of the week musically, with four uncompromisingly loud, hardcore and totally alternative North Walian bands getting a chance to live and breathe some Big Weekend excitement. All of which makes the choice of venue all the more unusual, but there is logic to this madness: Speaker' Corner is already a well-seasoned and respected rock venue in these parts. The staff continue serving unfazed by the chaos around them, even when someone mounts the serving counter on more than one occasion.

Although Speakers' Corner is the smallest of our Fringe gigs this week, tonight has been vital in providing a platform for a genre that struggles to gain acceptance outside of the big cities around the world.

Admittedly, the tunes are difficult to swallow at times, but to me it captures everything about new music that we first fall in love with: rebellion, expression, angst, and passion.

First up: Die Chihuahua Die. Think New York's Trash Talk or England's Gallows for good melodic, driven, tightly-played hardcore. Whatever they are singing about - and it all sounds rather unpleasant - the essential element is the excellent pact between the musicians, each throat-ripping scream delivered parallel to the cascading crescendo from bass, guitar and drums. Each member of the band is captivating to watch. It's an exciting start. 

Next, Kixxstart Kitty. Big hair and eye-catching appearance aside, Kixxstart have been described to me as glam rock. They may not look it, but there's metal, melody, incredible musical showmanship (a la Slipknot) on the drums and guitar, and charisma abounding.

They throw a few crowd pleasing covers in the mix, too, from Placebo and Beastie Boys.

Bastions are on fire! They make a huge impact tonight, with singer Jamie making a passionate Southern Baptist preacher style call to arms to the hardcore crew of Colwyn Bay.

Jamie discovers new ways of expressing this genre of music, making it entertaining and accessible to even the most curious of passing punter tonight. These guys are ready for a bigger international stage.

Finally, Leucine teeter between hardcore and the more mainstream emo side of the genre, delivered with youthful energy and excitement. The faithful at the front know all the words and hang on every bounce. It's a lively end to the night.

Tonight we head to the heartland of Welsh speaking-Wales to a gig in Caernarfon. More from me tomorrow!

Previous posts:

Yr Wythnos Fach / The Fringe week - Day 1 in Wrexham

Bethan Elfyn presents BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1

Find out more about Yr Wythnos Fach / The Fringe Festival

Check out the line-up on the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend

I was reminded on this, my fourth visit to Austin, what this festival offers above others: an early look at some touring names that we'll see grow over the next 12 months, a chance to see how the American market and blogsvreact to exciting new British names, a 24 hours-a-day week full of live music in its liveliest setting, and the warm, welcoming, friendly, fun and definitely 'far out' backdrop of Austin, Texas.

My personal band highlights were DD/MM/YYYY, Broken Bells, Dum Dum girls, Washed Out, Warpaint, Fenech Soler, Nice Nice, Pivot, Hudson Mohawk, Flying Lotus,

Of the bands I'd been listening to for a while but had yet to see, I enjoyed: Unicorn Kid, Choir of Young Believers, Local Natives, Yacht, Neon Indian, Oh No Ono, Memory Tapes and Smith & Westerns.

The bands most talked about that I didn't quite get round to seeing (thanks to huge SXSW queues) but would recommend were: Bear in Heaven (about who Huw's been raving), Happy Birthday, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, and Sleigh Bells.

Now for some final photos:

1. Empire Automotive Service; one example of a makeshift venue - a garage turned into an outdoor festival tent.

2. Hot chili sauce shopping from Austin's famous shop, Tears of Joy Hot Sauces.

3. Flatstock. The massive gig poster exhibition at the SXSW convention centre, where the best poster artists from around the world will gather.

3. Austin houses downtown, where lots of house parties were held.

That's all folks! To hear all the interviews and the best new music from Texas, tune in to BBC Introducing in Wales this week.

More posts from SXSW 2010:

Huw's musings from SXSW - Day 4

I got down there early and caught a couple of the Yorkshire bands in the morning. The Crookes made their set very memorable with an acapella in the audience, after getting over a small issue with strict stage times, and Grammatics were pretty excited to be at SXSW, playing a storming set at the Yorkshire party.

1. Here are Pontypridd's Straight Lines, who recently recorded a session as part of the BBC Introducing Maida Vale Weekender. I grabbed them for a chat just after their set at the Welsh party:

2. More 6th street madness now. Pictured here: a carboard 'snog box'. Girls offered to kiss you for free (or was it performance art?!)

Later on I saw some amazing bands, including Toronto's DD/MM/YYYY. I can only liken them to a more primal Foals, but they really got the blood flowing. Next door to them was the highlight of my night, LA's Local Natives, who are possibly the tightest band I've ever seen. They seem to be able to shout four-way vocals in perfect unison. They're the next Vampire Weekend, I reckon; really special.

Tonight finished with a bit of a street party outside Latitude 30 for the lovely Estelle. She was fresh and fabulous. Great day - and still two days bombardment to come!

More posts from SXSW 2010:

Huw's musings from SXSW - Day 2

Bethan's SXSW Photo Diary - Day 1

Huw's musings from SXSW - Day 1 

Bethan's SXSW Photo Diary - Day Zero

South by Southwest, here we come...

Bethan Elfyn presents BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1.

1. Broken Bells were the first band I saw. In a parking lot.

2. Just down the road, in a venue called Red 7, I saw a pile of good bands including Oh No Ono, The Fresh & Onlys, Choir of Young Believers and Neon Indian.

Here's a chat I had with Alan Palomo from Neon Indian after their first SXSW 2010 performance:

4. Later I visited a local gallery/urban art space/shop with attitude named Fifth Gallery and spoke to an artist named John Gomi:

Previously:

Huw's musings from SXSW - Day 1 (Huw Stephens)

Bethan's SXSW Photo Diary - Day Zero (Bethan Elfyn)

South by Southwest, here we come... (Bethan Elfyn)

Bethan Elfyn presents BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1.

Today was all about the admin and chilling, getting passes, prepping a water-tight schedule and having a wander before the first band strum the first chord.

SXSW is beast of a festival, one of the biggest, craziest, best organised events I've ever been to. Tonight the hot gossip is that Motörhead might play a secret show in a tiny venue, and there's a Lemmy Q&A, so we'll see about that later. First, I had some admin to contend with. In previous years, I've queued for hours in this hall for my music badge, but today the rain has kept a few away. Time for a few photos...

1. Austin Motel. An icon on the Austin skyline, this small kooky symbol is the gateway to one of the coolest streets of the City, South Congress. I wandered down to check out the best vintage shops, grab some great tacos, and kill some time before my first gig of SXSW 2010.

3. First gig of SXSW 2010 and the highlights included Unicorn Kid and Fenech Soler. Here's the Fenech Soler boys wigging out in their spangly outfits. They sound like a young hungry LCD Soundsystem or a band nipping at the Friendly Fires' heels. Great dance/rock with great strong soaring vocals.

I caught up with 18 year old Oliver Sabin, aka Unicorn Kid after his first night of gigging activities at Latitude 30. No sleep 'til... Austin!

Previously:  South by Southwest, here we come...

Bethan Elfyn presents BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1.

This year, Huw and Bethan Elfyn will be in Austin once again to check out the bands that are the talk of the town. The music festivities run from Wednesday to Sunday this week and they'll be bringing you daily blog updates right here.

To kick things off, here's Beth with some photos of her trip to Austin via New York.

Richard.

---------------------------------------------

Hi folks,

Welcome to my special photoblog from SXSW. Thought I'd post three images a day, from the forthcoming adventure. Feel free to comment on any that grab your attention. They're only phone photos so quality might vary. 

1. NYC catching a connecting flight. Photo from Empire State building.

2. The iconic Frost Bank Tower aka otherwise known as The Owl Building, such a visual symbol of the city. This view from the side so it looks more like a canary!

3. The calm before the storm. Wet Austin streets were a bombardment of noise tonight as always, but the throng of people arrive tomorrow and the music schedule officially starts on Wednesday.

There'll also be some band reviews and hopefully some videos over the coming week from me and Huw, so keep checking back every day!

Next: SXSW Day Zero

Bethan Elfyn presents BBC Introducing in Wales on Radio 1.

Does It Offend You Yeah at Stubbs?

After catching the last song from Does It Offend You Yeah? at Emo's big outdoor barn, and watching them swing their guitars dramatically around to the backing track (he he!), I took a bit of a blind risk on Telepathy, a band who Huw Stephens has already described on the blog as over-stylised hype - but I was enraptured by them. Three girls jerking in the darkness of an unlit stage, rapping, singing, screaming randomly, rhythmically, mesmerising. I felt it was engaging, different, charming, and certainly from below the stage had quite a few of us jiving along. The simultaneous and spontaneousness nature of their set was the most unusual sight of the weekend. The boys in my company though weren't so enamoured and commented that they needed telepathy the mics were so quiet!

Following Telepathy was Portland's Panther. And its the campest Dave Grohl impression I've ever seen. Soon as I could get past this, the two-piece were certainly an inspired choice in the Emo's iV line up of kooky dancing! Panther is for fans of Bobby Conn, and slightly deranged but groove laden tunes.

Finally, before heading back to the Ninety Proof party, to see Kitty Daisy & Lewis again and Dan Le Sac I stayed at Emo's at the recommendation of Harriet from Los Campesinos who said that a brief glimpse of Mika Miko (from LA) were worth waiting for. Indeed Gareth and Neil Los Campesinos were there at the front waiting with baited breath. Mika Miko are the pure embodiment of teenage angst and cockiness. One vocalist shouts into her telephone handset, then thuds the floor repeatedly while on all fours, and the rest of the band shirk around nonchalantly! It is lots of fun!

Saturday Afternoon started at a in-store at Waterloo Records, at the far end of 6th street to watch Times New Viking, following a few enthused conversations about them last night. They were 'don't give a sh*t' fun, energetic, shouty three-piece but I did leave with the feeling that I'd seen it all before unfortunately.

Times New Viking

Duffy @ Stubbs

Duffy's debut US performance was next on the agenda, and it was the first time I'd seen the Welsh siren sing since a festival performance in North Wales a few years back, so it was quite a shock to see the full transformation of the 'new' Duffy. All Dusty Springfield moves, slick backing session musicians, and all the beauty and pose of something quite incredible, unfortunately the slickness and polish left me feeling slightly nauseous - not a bum note but all a little too set up for my liking.

Neon Neon feat Yo Majesty

Neon Neon feat Cate Le Bon

Saturday started getting into some kind of swing, as I got a bike courier called Stephanie to take me cross town to see Neon Neon at the Cedar Street Coutyard, and straight back to the Beauty Bar (with Stephanie) to catch New York band Apache Beat, the lead singer being an embodiment of Patti Smith circa '69.

I walk down to the NME commandeered Wave bar, to hear the ear splitting sounds of Crystal Castles. Even at the back of the room - it’s sooo painful! I catch the end of the Los Campesinos' Parish performance, a gorgeous venue, where Gareth, lead singer, is in a feisty mood, refusing to get off the stage before doing a quick megamix of their hits at the end of a rushed set.

The whole festival ends on an amazing high watching the Dodos at Mowkawk bar on the Sunday night, after a chilled night of catching up with everyone else I know out here, and hearing different stories from around the four day feisty. But my body and mind are ready to call it a day, but here's to another good SXSW - the best festival in the world - probably!

Spotted: Joe Lean jiving to Telepathy, Lightspeed Champion raving to Apache Beat at the Beaty Bar, Stuart Maconie and Steve Lamacq at MGMT, Gruff Rhys and Los Campesinos at Cate Le Bon, Los Camp's Gareth and Neil at Mika Miko. Um. I'm even worse than Huw at spotting!

More photos and blog this way...

Back to duty and the first band on the party bill are very familiar with Austin and toured extensively in the United States, from Porthcawl, People in Planes.

Then another established Welsh act, Christopher Rees, who'se set up his own label, recorded three albums off his own back and now coming back to play and tour the country that first helped him find his musical voice - he first started playing while travelling around San Francisco.

An artist who has suddenly found herself at the centre of a Neon Neon attention storm, since singing 'I Lust You' with Gruff Rhys is Cate Le Bon from Cardiff. I've long been a fan of her haunting, crystal, swooping vocals and stunning guitar playing. Its folk at its late 60s best, and despite the party chatter, and apparently one hour's sleep since rehearsing in L.A with aforementioned band, she was on top 'effortlessly cool' form.

Celtic roots are a funny thing around the world, and I also met a lovely musician from Toronto whose named his band, Birds of Wales. We caught up to chat about Gruff Rhys' imaginary family tree and all things Welsh.

Closing the Welsh party were the art rock, punk, crazed but lovely threesome, The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club. Drummer Emma kick started the party by parting the crowd in her neon coloured pink ball gown, and clanging a big school bell. What a fine, fun party! Whoop!

Indeed, the whole day was turning into a home international as I then drove off to watch Neon Neon aka Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip featuring Har Mar Superstar and Cate Le Bon, on a rooftop terrace overlooking the lights and Owl tower of Austin. What a view? What - free drinks? A bucking bronco? A big strong man mallet? A skins style rave upstairs? !!! Indeed, and all set in a slightly sinister American style working men's club. "Elks, sign in your friends" said a sign on the door!

From the pool party to the biggest cue of the week award. MGMT were playing Steve Lamacq's hand picked Introducing night at a fab nightclub called Rio. The band weren't what i expected initially, more musically intense that I'd been led to belive from the thousands of articles I've read on them recently, but the weirdness escalated, intensified, dropped, charged and throttled its progness into the night. Totally beat, it was time to drive home - back to the solitude and peace of the rancho relaxo, ah bliss!

Till tomorrow ...

The first day's afternoon though is a little frustrating - I cue for registration, I cue for the San Francisco's Noise Pop showcase featuring Die Die Die! from New Zeland and the Octapus Project, to no avail. I bump into Huw Stephens who'se standing in the most painfully loud Emo's Annex watching Scotish band Frightened Rabbit, who give it to the nachos eating fresh faced punters. I cue for the Levi's Fort, a rabbit warren of a buildings with various workshops, art installations and bands playing - only this cue also goes around the block and I make do with hearing the strains of the Kills booming around the neighbourhood's earthy walls. Last year's best kept secret is out obviously! So far so not so good on my Austin mission.

As a break, I decide to head up for lunch and a quick haircut for the hubby in a cool street of vintage clothes, boots and cafes called South Congress.

More from the day...

Back down to 6th street and I manage to catch the performance of the festival from Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - despite technical difficulties, they plough with holy vengence through the hits, Mean Son of A Gun, Honolula Rock and Roll, Blue Moon etc.

The evening ends for me back at Emos where Kimya Dawson from the Moldy Peaches makes way for the next best thing since Yeasayer. Indeed a band fans of LCD Soudsystem, The Whip, and mostly the aforementioned Yeasayer will get very excited about the exccentric, energetic, nonchelant, frenetic Mah Jong from Chicago. A revolving cast of two drummers, two programmers, guitar, bass, what seem to be electronic steel drums, and songs which range from silly raps to yelping punk noise even sung on one song in British accents!! Now i've heard everything, and its only day one!

Its a show I had to record before flying out in Monday's gales from Heathrow. I travelled for over 24hours, via an unscheduled stop overnight in Chicago in the end to arrive at my destination. Rather than opt for a corporate hotel next to a steaming highway, this year I've opted for some unlikely accomodation for this years festival - The Bed Rox Inn, a B&B on the outskirts of town, and now I feel like I've trully arrived in Texas!

Roadrunners in the garden, Coyote's howling behind the cactus trees and two lovely donkies called Juan and Santos to pet. So far so very Texas and not a party in sight.

More photos this way...

The stars of sxsw - Juan and Santos!

I'm off this evening to find the first of the free parties around Austin central, check back for regular reports of the sights and sounds from Austin from myself and Huw Stephens.

This week on BBC Introducing Wales we've invited multi-instrumentalist and nintendo-folk, casio-coustic magician Pagan Wonderer Lu to step into our "soon to be legendary Studio 3" to mess around and make some music and hopefully play his dementedly catchy number The Tree of Knowledge.

You can hear us Here
You can hear Pagan Wonderer Lu Here

We've also got breaks from Billy Gone Bad, electro from Neon Neon, dub step from Monkey Dubs, shoegaze rock from Capguns, indie from POQ, and pure genius from McMabon. Lots of brand new music you've never heard before ... probably! See from Midnight tonight!

Beth x

Despite webcams being a bit 1990s, I was randomly sent this image of us in the studio with last week's session, Cardiff drum and bass king and despicably young and talented producer Dan Marshall. Thought I'd share! Tonight we roll with lots of live rock and roll from last weekend's Swn festival (Cardiff's response to In The City or Sxsw, a festival of 120 bands across loads of the City's venues).

Last night on BBC Introducing in Wales we let the freaks take over, and roll with a nasty show of dark thoughts and squealing sounds. More photos...

A small part of the whole freakshow family.

Yorath, or was it Yorweth, alas!

Chuckk Norriss with the dark crazy laptop sounds.

About an hour into the show, you can hear the amazing talent of Broken Leaf. He sang murder ballads especially for the Halloween theme, one of his own and one traditional number. Broken Leaf is a prolific songwriter and has sung and played a variety of instruments in many Cardiff bands: Vito, Eugene Francis Jnr and the Juniors, Silver Spurs, and Secret Show (I've probably a few others too!) He has many new songs on his myspace if you want to hear more.

Listen to all that and tunes from Victorian English Gent's Club, Black Hand Laser Band, Lt Meat (a track especially for Halloween), Can We Have Our Ball Back, etc etc. Two hours worth of fun tunes basically.

Head to Listen Again HERE

We are hosting our first Live showcase at the Swn Festival next Friday night. More details this way...

I'm hosting a gig on Friday the 9th with the devastating The Duke Spirit headlining.

The support bands are all from Cardiff and although eclectic have a certain air of sinister thought about their music.

Truckers of Husk: (for fans of Foals and Battles) math rock that spirals out of control.

Heck: (for fans of Blondie, The Fall and Gang of Four) angular female fronted rock.

Black Cesar: (for fans of Queens of the Stone Age) menacing stoner rock that kills it!

Our night is followed by Dub Step till the wee hours of the morning.

You will need a festival wristband to come to the gig.

More about that on Swn Festival website