Buzz Buzz Buzz Rock 'n Roll

No,this is not a retro Jonathan Richman/Modern Lovers post, but rather a look into the (gosh!) present and possible future. Since I'm a music blogger, I get lots and lots of emails from band publicists for new buzz bands, especially those headed to South by Southwest this weekend.

Here's a quick rundown about a few of the bands I've been hearing buzz buzz buzz:
- We Have Band - The promo words say "We Have Band (mixes) dark dance rhythms, washy electronic synths, post punk funk bass and individual pop vocals from each member, layered in a way that really makes them sound like nothing else today." It's not bad, in a sort of updated Sheffield British Electic Foundation way.

- Ringo Deathstarr - An awesome name? Maybe. Their bio reads...
"Ringo Deathstarr are from Austin, Texas...
Ringo Deathstarr like to play short sets...
Ringo Deathstarr are very loud...
Ringo Deathstarr fucking rock..."
The band was profiled in MAGNET Magazine last fall and it's here for the reading. More punk rock than shoegaze. That totally works for me.

- Montreal's The HighDials will be playing The Musebox party, right before Echo & the Bunnymen (sure to be a good crowd for 'em). I like their elegant pop, sucking on that 1966-1968 teet for Zombies-Who inspiration. The High Dials most recent CD "Moon Country" got great raves, including...
"Psych pop perfection" 8/10 - NME (UK)
"The golden era of Canadian cool continues apace" The Sun (UK)
"(Songs) breathe new life into pop's romantic lexicon" 4 stars - The Independent (UK)
"Dazzling second album" 4 stars- UNCUT

- Dublin band The Urges picks up on Van Morrison's early earthy Them sound and cranks it up to 12. The band just backed up The Soundtrack of Our Lives in New York, and is playing about 18 separate shows at SXSW. Perfect sound for the garage rock days of 2009.