B E S T / O F / 2 0 1 4

FYF 2013

I just got back from an amazing trip to Los Angeles where I attended the FYF fest on its 10th year anniversary. A review on this amazing fest is coming up soon, but in the meanwhile here are some photos of whats to come.

TY SEGALL

DISCO BALLS

DEVENDRA BANHART

ARTSY STUFF

DEERHUNTER

THEE OH SEES

YEAH YEAH YEAHS

MOSH PIT TIME

NO AGE

YO LA TENGO 

THE MELVINS

MGMT

MY BLOODY VALENTINE

So get ready, because there´s more to come!
Photos: Ximena G. Romano

SXSW bound.

Last March I was lucky enough to head up north to the city of Austin, Texas and attend one of the most exciting festivals I've ever been to. South by Southwest is the name of it and it takes place every march in this lovely city since 1986.

To get started I would like to tell you what this so-called festival is all about. First off, this is no Coachella, no Lollapalloza, no Glastonbury. This festival takes place on the streets of a city, and what a city it is. It's five days full of music from day to night, having as much as forty or more bands playing at the same time. Moving from pub to pub through the city having the chance to listen to some great new bands from all over the world.

If you fancy seeing famous bands and singing along to their lyrics without having to stand in line for two hours, this might not be the place for you. For what SXSW is all about is showcasing up and coming bands all the way from Norway to Uruguay. Just to clear things up, there are a lot of famous bands playing at SXSW, specially this year, such as Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Vampire Weekend, The Flaming Lips and even Prince. So yeah, at Souht you might get the chance to see Devendra Banhart perform at a small presbyterian church, which is amazing. But the catch is on that might since most of this shows are really hard to get into or in some cases (i.e. Prince) almost impossible.

Now, if, on the other hand you are really keen to listen to new bands whom you've probably never heard of before, support the music industry, and make amazing new friends in a lovely city, well, what are you wainting for? This is the place to be!

Ok, so even though this was my first time at SXSW of hopefully many more to come. Throughout my daily experiences, new friends and sore feet, I managed to learn a couple of things. So here they are, some tips for whenever you make it to Austin during this amazing time of the year.

First off, pay special attention to the bands playing during the day. Even though the official showcases are at night some of the bands also perform during the day. This is how I managed to see Jake Bugg, Alt-J, JBM and Atlas Genius without having to sacrifice watching some other bands that played at night at the same time these were playing. I also saw some new bands whom I wasn't planning on seeing and they were quite amazing to say the least.

Jake Bugg

Alt-J

Atlas Genius

Another thing I learned is to just go with the flow, don't make any plans and don't worry that much if you missed an specific band you were planning on watching. If you are having a good time just stay and continue having a good time. Now, if you are not having that much of a good time, go and find some good times someplace else. That worked out just fine for me as well. Just try and have a great time at all times, that's what you went there for. If you can, before arriving to the city, RSVP to all of the parties that diferent brands are throwing, just go on Tumblr and check them out, a lot of bands are playing in those and you get a bunch of free shit, now, who doesn't love free shit, right?

Also, give yourself the chance to meet new, amazing and interesting people. You have no idea how many of these specific and sometimes rare kind of human beings are roaming the city streets during this five day mayhem. Last but not least, here are some life saving tips that might come in handy. Bring a jacket, during the day it might be sunny and swell but at night it gets quite windy and the shivering look is just not sexy anymore. Use comfortable shoes, you spend around thirteen hours walking around the city, sometimes sitting it down, sometimes dancing it up. Drink lots of water or beer or whisky, just drink, you do not want to find yourself dehidrated in the middle of a kick ass gig.

IMMANU EL

Mikhael Paskalev

Franny Glass

I would also like to take this opportunity to give a shoutout or recommend some of my new found and favourite bands whom I was so so lucky to hear and see during this festival. Now, they all have different sounds to them but that's the beauty of it! There's so much to listen to and everything is new and exciting, now, whats not to love about new and exciting? Exactly!
Here is a list of them, in no specific order:

• Disclosure (U.K.)
• Caveman (USA)
• IMMANU EL (Sweden)
• Franny Glass (Uruguay)
• JBM (Canada)
• Palma Violets (U.K.)
• I can chase dragons! (Mexico)
• Thee Oh Sees (USA)
• Max Capote (Uruguay)
• Mikhael Paskalev (Norway)
• Laura Muvla (U.K.)

I'm going to sign off with a quote from the speech Dave Grohl gave this year at SXSW as he was the guest for the keynote speech.

"... This was fucking real... so in love with life and so in love with music... I was free."


Words and Photos By Ximena G. Romano

THERE'S MORE THAN MARIACHI

Mexico is a country best known for its traditions, sombreros and, well, tequila but lately it’s been making quite some noise surrounding its music scene and I’m not just talking about mariachi bands. With a C.V. of several Mexican bands performing at international festivals such as SXSW, Coachella and even Glastonbury the up and coming Mexican bands still have a long way to go but they’re getting there.

In between great Mexican bands such as Cafe Tacuva, Molotov, Rodrigo and Gabriela, amongst others and amazing music festivals with headliners as big as Suede, NIN, Pixies and even Iggy and The Stooges, the Mexican music scene has been determined to continue growing in the last six years.

It all started back in 1998 with the first edition of the Vive Latino, a three day long festival which mainly involves Latin-American bands and just a couple of international acts. This festival has been going since the late nineties until nowadays with the exception of 1999 and 2002, giving exposure to bands of different genres such as rock, rockabilly, surf, ska and reggae. In 2005 came the Corona Music Fest which was held right outside the Estadio Azteca, the biggest football stadium in Mexico City. On its first year it had a total of ten bands from which, only two of them weren’t Mexican. The next edition on 2006 had a total of twenty three acts with five international bands. It’s in this exact year when you can start getting an idea of what was about to happen in the next six years to come. On 2007 two great festivals happened in the city, first off, a newcomer had its chance, it was called Motorocker Fest and it had bands as internationally acclaimed as The Bravery, The Killers and Incubus. Next up was the third and last edition of the Corona Music festival bringing down massive cult bands as Iggy and The Stooges and The Futureheads.

With the continuum festival rage, the extensive growth in different Mexican music bands and genres and the great amount of influence from the indie and hipsters subcultures, it all started happening. On 2008 the second edition of the Motorocker Fest happened, showcasing bands for the likes of all people. Nine Inch Nails, MGMT, Stone Temple Pilots and The Kooks are just some of the big names on that years and final line-up. This is when it all started. From this point on, it was only a matter of time before Mexico had festivals as big as this year’s two day long Corona Capital in which a total of seventy bands performed with more than fifty percent of them being international acts and around seventy thousand attendees. Having now the international press looking down to Mexico as a new music platform as important for international bands as it is for the national ones.

As for the Mexican sound that I believe would appeal to anyone as much as it appeals to me, well, I would have to recommend the likes of The Plastics Revolution. This band was formed in 2007 and has already played at Vive Latino, this year’s Corona Capital and SXSW. With a peculiar sound that could be described as pop meets electro beats with a couple of weird instruments in between. They will for sure make you want to put on your dancing shoes and dance away to rather happy melodies. But don't be fooled by the nice and easy going sound of their songs, for they also have some rather obscure lyrics.

By Ximena Gonzalez Romano

Music meets art.

My very own reinterpretation of Kandinsky´s "Several Circles"

T E N D E R !!!

Here´s a video of Blur playing their amazing song "Tender" live at Glastonbury 2009, when they reunited....
ENJOY!!!

FOUNDATIONS!

Now that Kate Nash came back with a new punk styled album, I figured it´d be nice to remember how she used to be with one of my favorites song from her. 

Here´s some good music and a great video!!!

:)

L O V E !

Les dejo una playlist para hoy, 14 de febrero. 

Para todos aquellos que estén enamorados, no enamorados o simplemente sean indiferentes ante esta festividad! 

Independientemente de que sean canciones románticas, son MUY buenas canciones!!!

¿Cual es su favorita?

HANDS DOWN

I had already showed you a video from this band in this post... But just because I like them so much, here´s another one  =)

This video is for their latest (but not so new) single called "Hands down" and even though it´s a bit different from the one I showed you before it is still rather amazing! Right now they´re filming the video for their new single called "Two devils" and I just cant wait for it!!!
I´ll post it when it´s out!

The Plastics Revolution/La Blogotheque

Last saturday I went to this club to see my friend Fernando and his band The Plastics Revolution play live and I dont know why but I´ve never written about them here, so I thought it´s about time!

This is by far my favorite video of them it was filmed by La Blogoteque which is a french production that goes around the globe filming diferent bands such as Beirut, Bloc Paty, Fleet Foxes amongst others on a "take away show". 

In this case they came down to Mexico to film The Plastics Revolution in a very traditional part of the city: Xochimilco. They´re on a "trajinera" which is the mexican "gondola" and if this wasn´t folkloric or traditional enough, on top of it they´re playing/improvising with some Mariachis they found on the way.

What I like about this video is the fact that you are watching a mexican band perform in a mexican enviroment so you end up getting a musical and a cultural experience all in one!!! Amazing haha

This song it´s called "Light of day" and I hope you enjoy it!!!

N I C E !!!

The moment we´ve all been waiting for is finally upon us!!! The Coachella 2012 lineup is finally out and boy is it a good one!!!

I´m way to excited for the reunion of bands as amazing as At the drive-in, Pulp and Mazzy Star those 3 bands are more than enough of a reason for me to already be planning my attendance and buying my plane tickets...

But there are still some other bands that I would die to see live, such as, The Shins, The Vaccines, Arctic Monkeys, Explosions in the sky, Cat Power, Bon Iver, Flying Lotus and well I could go on and on but ima stop right there!

So yeah so far 2012, festival wise, is delivering some good stuff with this Coachella lineup and of course the reunion of The Stone Roses who will be headlining Benicassim festival in Valencia, Spain and T in the park festival in Scotland. 

What are your thoughts on this years lineup? Let me know!

HOME!

Happy songs for happy times!!!
This is an old one but nontheless a good one.
Right?

"Jane, Alexander..."

HOUDINI!

So it´s saturday, I figured you guys could use some "Foster the People" to get your dance on!!!
Another great song these kids from California have delivered!!! They never disappoint me...
=)

SUN, FUN, LOVE!

One of my favorite songs of Noah and the whale, I can´t help but smile everytime I listen to this.

P.S. I´m trying to learn this song in ukulele.... Let´s see how that goes ;)

LIFE IN FILM!

Here's more Burberry acoustic!!!!

This time is british band Life in film performing a song called "alleyway" which makes me smile nonstop every time I listen to it. Hope it makes you smile as well!!!

Let me know your thoughts on this one.

SONGBIRD!

Can't stop listening to this song....
Seriously, how great is it?!?!

"I never felt this love from anyone, she's not anyone..."
OASIS is gonna LIVE forever!!!

Wild Horses...

One of my favorite songs (if not my favorite) from the stones, this was filmed back in 1995 when I was only 4 years old (funny), this song is called "Wild Horses" and I simply love it!

Traducción:

Una de mis canciones favoritas (si no es que mi favorita) de los Rolling Stones, esto fue grabado en 1995 cuando yo solo tenia 4 años (que chistoso), esta canción se llama "Wild Horses" y simplemente la amo!

HEARTBEATS...

Jose Gonzalez covering The Knife in this lovely version of "Heartbeats"....

Great job! I love this 

=)

Traducción:
Jose Gonzalez haciendo un cover a The Knife, en esta increíble version de "Heartbeats"....
Buen trabajo! Me encanta
=)

CHEMISTRY...

So... ever since I found out about the existance of Burberry Acoustic about 2 months ago, I've been completely and utterly in love with it! How amazing is this? I'll show you more videos of it and the diferent bands that participate in it later on...

But for now this song is Chemistry by One Night Only.

You too!

Last 14th of may, I went to the much talked about "360" U2 tour....

And here are some pictures of the already famous "spider", I believe that's how its called.

It was a good show a bit less than what I expected but still great!

Got the chance to sing out to some of my favorite songs and some good old classics such as:

Sunday bloody sunday (my favorite)

The city of blinding lights

One

With or without you

Amongst others....

Great night spend with some of my girlfriends :)