About Music For Listeners

A radio show with Music …. For Listeners – Live on KRTU FM 91.7 and krtu.org

Friday nights into Saturday Mornings 12AM-3AM central time

See more SXSW 2024

Hello folks, welcome to Austin. Do you have your schedule ready? Are you here to watch a movie and wave to Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling in a convertible, network with AI, Cyber, Crypto masterminds at Panels or the Expo at the acc, or do you have your pocket schedule for rock n roll from Noon-2AM for 6 straight days. “Easy Answer.”

Rain, protests, and large annoying crowds were supposed to disrupt this year’s South By South West. We all know the Black Keys played two epic shows at Mohawk and Stubbs (I probably should have caught one from the street) and Janalle Monoe had a DJ set party, but we’re here to see fresh new talent from all over the world.

Catching bands in tiny intimate settings– from churches to backyards — is the reason everyone should attend SXSW. Discovering a band that’s about to explode once they meet the right people or getting the chance to chat with artists right after a set are just two of the many reasons to return every year.

My 12th SXSW in the last 14 years was quite the rush. If you’re looking to see music for 14 straight hours, I suggest staying away from the free Lone Stars at Hotel Vegas. Pick-up the free sliders at Shangri-Las for stamina. Flying around in a Lime was the way to go, for $15 that got you an hour in 3 days.

A $4 Lyft was the way to go at certain times. Still had to rock that straw hat in the outdoor heat, but a lot of the events were indoors or had decent canopies for shade.

Enjoying that cool Austin breeze on the East side of 6th Street felt pretty good too. This was my first year purchasing a wristband for $200, and still would spend about only 150 on covers but also got into shows where I needed the wristband to have a prayer to get in.

Every year I help out with a Music for Listeners party run by a great radio station based out of San Antonio (KRTU). Michael Thomas and Orlando Torres have booked and hosted a phenomenal event for 14 years now. This year was the 5th year at Lazarus Brewery of the east side of 6th just past Hotel Vegas and close to High Noon (Paste Mag Party). Some of the biggest bands they booked this year were Sprints, Ash, and Rameesh (Voxtrot’s lead singer).

Lazarus has an incredible hard-working staff that has been more than accommodating over the years. We will miss one of the best managers
in town in Marcus. Good luck in Maui!

Alright, let’s cut the chase and give you some bands to check out.

Top 20 Performances at SXSW 2024 (you be the judge but gave a quick
comparison)

Daniel donato cosmic country (antones) (Goose meets Billy Strings)
Neon waltz (BME downright Austin backyard) (New Style We Were
Promised Jet Packs)
Susan O’Neill (private Irish House Performance) (The next Norah Jones
but even better)
Airu (Lazarus Brewery) (spanish )
Folk bitch trio (Driskell/Lazarus) (The Staves, Secret Sisters)
The Vices (Cooper’s BBQ) (Netherlands version of The Hives unreal stage
performance)
Oh he did (Antones) (the next alabama shakes)
Balthvs (Mohawk/Parish) (Khruangbin Vibes)
Holly Macave (BME downright Austin backyard) (UK version of Lana Del
Ray)
Wilt (Mohawk/Creek in the Cave) (Way better Paramore, Unreal Vocals and
Stage Presence)
Voxtrot (Mohawk) (Austin Legends)
Lamont Landers (Empire Garage) (new St Paul and the Broken Bones)
Fieh (Lazarus Brewery/Backyard Boogie) (Jazzy Amy winehouse )
Angelica Garcia (BME downright Austin backyard) (London Grammer)
West 22 (Valhalla) (Beach Vibe Jamz)
Dave from Revivalists (paste mag party/high noon) (Awesome
Country/funk/blues)
San Antonio band (still working on band name from secret backyard boogie
show) (Spanish -Surf rock)
Bel Air Lip Bombs (swan dive patio) (Aussie indie Rockers)
Farmers Wife (Hotel Vegas) (New-Style darker Alvvays)
Ash (Lazarus Brewery) (Irish Legends)