Small Eyez Checks in from Austin:
Wednesday, March 18, 8 p.m. – Janelle Monae at Stubbs
My beautiful homie, Janelle Monae, performed a new joint called Walking on a Tightrope. I personally heard straight from one-half of [her production crew and home base], Wonderland [Arts Society] that the new album is officially dropping [this] summer.
Wednesday, March 18, 1 a.m. – Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head at Dirty Dog Bar
When looking over the list of acts playing this year’s SXSW, many considered the name “Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head” to be more than a little humorous. Well, the last laugh appears to belong to the Seattle quintet, after they tore through the Dirty Dog Bar’s ASCAP Showcase with a blistering 50-minute set.
Those who attended the show not knowing what to make of NPSH were soon let in on the joke, as the band’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics, power pop hooks, and glossy new wave instrumentation helped crown them as a force to be reckoned with at this year’s conference. These traits, combined with a commanding live show, served to convey one very important message: these guys (and girl) are deadly serious about what they’re doing. (Additional reporting by Norm Robinson)
Emman “Small Eyez” Twe is a writer/rapper based in Atlanta who loves all genres of music. He’s opened for everyone from Monica to Talib Kweli and his new album is due out this summer.
