For as long as SXSW has been around South x San Jose has been right there with them.  For SXSW 2019, South by San Jose will continue to be a staple for SXSW as it celebrates its 20th year with a four day party from Wednesday March 13th to Saturday March 16th at Hotel San Jose and Jo’s parking lot.  Some of the artists scheduled to play are; Mountain Man, Barrie, SASAMI and Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Mountain Man may have take an extended break to release their second album (eight years) after their first album but life happens which no one can fault them.  However at the Eaux Claires music festival in 2017, the folk singing trio reunited and captured the attention of the crowd and Mountain Man was back where they left off.  After the festival they got together to create their second album, Magic Ship and it doesn’t seem another extended break is on the horizon because with 2019 underway, they’ve already released two tracks, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and “Around and Around.” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” is the perfect song for any person with some country roots in them and in Texas, everyone has a little country in them so I’m looking forward to holding a cold drink, bask in the sun, and disappear in the soft melody of this song at SXSW if they choose to play it.  

Barrie from Brooklyn is a group that can put you to sleep but in a good way.  Their sound is so mellow that you can put on a pair of headphones and space out, which is probably why when you search Barrie, dream pop is the genre you’ll find them listed under.  If I had to choose I would have them play at night because, the Austin night with Barrie sounds like the perfect combination.

Give SASAMI an instrument and chances are she knows how to play it.  While staying in Los Angeles, she’s been making music in every way she can from touring and playing keys, bass and guitar for bands including Cherry Glazerr (also perfroming at SXSW), lending her voice to other bands including Wild Nothing or producing tracks there’s nothing SASAMI can’t do musically.  Now SASAMI is now going out on her own and will be making her solo debut at SXSW. Her first single, &Callous& was recognized by music website Pitchfork as &Best New Track.& All her contributions to her fellow artists have her made ready for her solo career.

One of the differences between SXSW and most music festivals is at other music festivals a band gets has one slot to play, they are done and then they move on to the next stop of their tour or most crowds at the festivals are waiting for the headlining acts.  But with SXSW, bands not only play multiple venues but they may play multiple venues the same day.  Most bands playing at SXSW have a decent following or regional favorites looking to expand their fan base just a little bit more and possibly hit mainstream status. For Edie Brickell & New Bohemians that is not the case because it’s achieved everything most SXSW bands are possibly striving for. Edie & New Bohemians have been around since the 80’s and achieved a Top Ten hit with “What I Am.”  I’ll admit I had heard the song but I didn’t know the name of the band until I searched Edie and the track popped up.  Although they didn’t achieve the same success from their first hit, Brickwell continued as an artist even as the group disbanded in the 90’s.  Life would go on until they reunited in 2006 for the album, Stranger Things and then again in 2017 for a benefit causing a rejuvenation and leading them to record Rocket last year.  It feels like Edie Brickell & New Bohemians have come full circle in their muscial journey.

South X San Jose Wednesday March 13th – Sunday March 17th at San Jose Hotel (1316 S. Congress Ave.)

South x San Jose is free to the public

Lineup

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13th

Black Pumas

Robert Ellis

E.B. The Younger

Mountian Man

Bailen

Madeline Kenney

Trudy and the Romance

THURSDAY MARCH  14th

Priests

HAELOS

John Paul White

Barrie

Puma Blue

Penelope Isles

The Beths

FRIDAY MARCH 15th

Broken Social Scene

Amyl and The Sniffers

Swervedriver

Sasami

Dylan Cartlidge

Gabriella Cohen

The Cactus Blossoms

Katie Harkin

SATURDAY MARCH 16th

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Ben Kweller

Combo Chimbita

Hayes Carll

Big Joanie

Dylan LeBlanc

Genital Panic

Tomar and the FCs