SXSW Day Three Recap: Provoker, FCUKERS, La Securite, Grimelda, Pony Girl, HO99O9, and more

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Grimelda @ Chess Club*

Easing into day three, we went from rock show to dance party back to experimental/industrial hip hop. The multidisciplinary nature of SXSW keeps things interesting and it’s been exciting to hear a vast array of acts who are all uniquely pushing the genre boundaries. Whether it’s larger-than-life saxophone group O. or new up-and-coming acts like FCUKERS, we are excited to put a few on your radar. Read on to hear a few of REVERIE’s favourites.

Provoker / O. / FCUKERS

We took a short walk to 13th Floor where rock and roll magazine Creem were co-presenting a showcase with Third Man Records. They were giving away free copies of their next issue, fried pickles for those in need of a hangover cure, and music to incite a great time. First up, we saw dreamy no-wave band Provoker that brought us back to the days when we first discovered The Cure. With a new album on Year001 which is a label home to a few of the best acts in music right now like Bladee, Yung Lean, and Namasenda - Provoker stands out on the roster as a one to watch act.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Provoker @ 13th Floor*

Next up was O. Landing out of the UK, this was a new discovery that blew us away. Led by Joe on sax and Tash on drums, if your eyes were closed you would never think that their larger than life sound is coming from only two band members. The way Joe uses pedals and effects to amplify his saxophone that bridges experimental jazz with rock music and Tash’s impeccable timing leading the way, O. are making songs that demands your attention immediately.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - O. @ 13th Floor*

Before we hopped over to Hotel Vegas, we had to catch FCUKERS. Coined as your favourite band’s, favourite band - the group brings a 90’s dance flair that is a breath of fresh air. The group are known throughout the downtown NYC scene as experienced party-throwers — so we put this group on our list to check out again over the weekend because one time was not enough and we’d like to close our time in Austin out with a bang. They will be playing again at The Creek and The Crave where the rave can ensue, so stay tuned for more.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - FCUKERS @ 13th Floor*

Reyna Tropical / Sylvan Esso (unoffical showcase)

Once we arrived at Hotel Vegas, Reyna Tropical was on the outdoor stage dazzling the audience with their lush percussive Afro-Mexico inspired sound. Group member Fabi Reyna was responsible for the unofficial showcase as the founder of She Shreds magazine, which is dedicated to covering women guitarists and bassists. Grooving on stage, people crowded to the front of the stage to bootyshake to their infectious tunes, followed by an energetic DJ set by indie darlings Sylvan Esso.

Sylvan Esso are experts in the field of electronic music and we are just waiting for the day they get booked for a Boiler Room set. Weaving in UKG, brazilian house music, and hip hop remixes - the dancing never stopped with Sylvan Esso on the decks. While Amelia Meath is not a DJ per say, but her ability to hype the crowd alongside Nick Sanborn’s stylistic flair and production chops is what makes the group work in every setting whether it’s a live Sylvan Esso performance or a DJ set with a Central Cee track drop. The group also spun a new remix by Reyna Tropical that was unreleased - with Fabi Reyna witnessing it from side stage. Fabi’s jaw dropped in shock upon hearing it and it wasn’t long until she joined on stage to dance alongside Amelia with tears in her eyes. It was the first time Fabi had ever heard the track and we can’t wait for its official release one day. Ending off the set, the duo played AHNONI’s breathtaking track “Drone Bomb Me”, as an ode in support of Palestine.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Sylvan Esso @ Hotel Vegas*

Grimelda / La Securite

We escaped the outdoor heat and moved over to Chess Club, which ended up being even more hot than it was outside. The small venue quickly reached capacity and bodies were sweatily sticking together to catch a glimpse of Grimelda’s quirky punk energy. One of the most exciting live acts you will ever see, RANGE magazine brought the Saskatoon group on board to kick-off the show. The band shredded and yelled on stage (and even played a fun rendition of the King of the Hill theme song), but it was their witty banter and playfulness in between songs that really kept people on their toes. The group ended the set with the drummer changing into an office space outfit and proceeded to hand out business cards with digital downloads of their music to “network” at sxsw, handing one to an apple music rep saying “c’mon you especially NEED to take this”.

Following the art-punk group was La Securite who’ve had a decent run of shows this past week at SXSW. With people lining out the door to catch a glimpse of the highly anticipated act, their post-punk/new wave edge exude a cool factor representative of the current Montreal landscape. It wasn’t long before the group took a dive into the crowd of beautiful weirdos to keep the energy high despite the heat.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - La Securite @ Chess Club*

Pony Girl

We took a run over to Swan Dive to catch more of our favourite Canadian acts, which wouldn’t be complete without Pony Girl. Making fans wherever they go, the Ottawa group’s complex yet smooth sound melds with heartfelt lyricism to leave a lasting impression. With tracks that earworm their way into the brain, it is clear that their ability extends beyond just making a good pop song: they are professionally trained musicians. It is no surprise that their live shows never fail to impress (c’mon, we love Yolande’s clarinet).

A Giant Dog / HO99O9

We gave our feet a break and took a bike ride back to Hotel Vegas to catch some more hard-hitting rock. One of the first bands to re-open Hotel Vegas after the pandemic were A Giant Dog and the band made their return to gyrate and kick things into full gear. Lead guitarist Andrew Cashan is equally entertaining to watch as lead vocalist Sabrina Ellis, from the convulsing facial expressions to sticking his guitar in his mouth. Sabrina lit a joint on stage in true rock and roll fashion during crowd-favourite “Get With You And Get High”, which inspired a full on moshpit (this is the moment we’ve been waiting for at SXSW). We look forward to catching Andrew Cashan’s gimp-dressed and blood-soaked band TEAR DUNGEON on Saturday.

*Photo Credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - A Giant Dog @ Hotel Vegas*

The moshpit didn’t stop there though, as punk/rap group HO99O9 followed shortly after. It turned into full-on chaos with their carnival-esque performance style. We experienced genre whiplash going from an industrial-nine inch nails-style track to “Gypsy Woman” by Crystal Waters in 5 seconds flat, but we loved it. This is a groundbreaking group that has no fear in throwing techno into Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way” either. This colliding of worlds is what makes the band so unique, combined with their masked costumes, props, and frenetic energy. We will be catching them again tomorrow at the Third Man Records showcase for a more intimate (and most likely horrific) experience.