SXSW 2014: Spotify House Day Party – Vance Joy

Vance Joy packs the House early in the day. With free drinks and such a promising lineup, it is no wonder that Spotify House has become this year’s treasured day party stop at SXSW.

The entire crowd flocks to the stage in anticipation of finally hearing some of Vance Joy’s dearest songs live. Singer James Keogh provides a smooth and sweet set, starting with “Emmylou.” The second the bass drops, the rich sound thickens the air in the outdoor patio. His syrupy acoustic version of “From Afar” maintains the tasty mood. He continues to shed light on his EP “God Loves You When You’re Dancing” throughout the set. Certainly, the singer-songwriter is bringing more to the table than he was a year ago when the EP released.

Keogh closes his short performance with fan favorite “Riptide,” which reminds everyone that this song still has so much farther to go. Though many in the front of the audience space surrounding the stage may follow his work, the rest of the crowd still has knowledge to gain. Hopefully, Vance Joy’s full-length album out later this year will school them a bit.

The free drinks, beautiful weather and free food (available midday) are all icing on the free showcase’s multi-layer cake. Each day at Spotify house illuminates more up-and-coming artists, and enriches the spirit of SXSW. Without a doubt, this is the best place to start a day of music adventures in Austin.

Rachel Zimmerman: Rachel Zimmerman (Long Beach, CA) joined the mxdwn team in 2011 as a Live Concert Reviewer. It was the perfect intersection of two of her greatest passions- music and writing. Her love for anything artistic manifested early in life as she designed clothing, created ceramic sculptures, and curated personal playlists for her peers in elementary and high school. As an avid fan of live music, she always found a way to see her favorite musical artists play, whether it was by babysitting enough to pay for tickets to shows or by winning tickets on the radio. Several years, concerts and festivals later, she worked her way up to her current position as Concert Review Editor for music.mxdwn.com. She especially enjoys sharing her love for music with her young nephew who has an affinity for rock and roll and jazz. Rachel continues to review concerts, interview artists and annually attend SXSW in Austin, TX on behalf of mxdwn.
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