SXSW has become somewhat of a staple event for people who want to get signed (but most often end up coming home empty-handed). Labels know this too, so they’ll either scout SXSW or snatch them up beforehand so they can show off their brand new signee to the industry fest that is SXSW. Case in point: Chicago’s Light Pollution, who have recently signed to Carpark Records (home to Dan Deacon, Beach House, Toro Y Moi, and a bunch of other artists) just in time for SXSW. The group’s debut full-length album, Apparitions, is due June 15 and will include “swirling analog synths, shimmering arpeggios, and washed out tape noiseembedded into combinations of 90’s shoegaze, chillwave, and vocal psych-pop.” You can check out what that sounds like at the Chocolate Grinder.
The group is currently on tour, and what do you know, they’re playing a bunch of shows at SXSW, including one in which they’ll join up with fellow Carpark artists for the SXSW Carpark/Paw Tracks showcase. Here are the dates:
03.16.10 - Denton, TX JnJ’s
03.17.10 - SXSW No Words / Day Bow Bow @ Ghost Room
03.18.10 - SXSW Hype Machine’s Lose Control @ Vice
03.18.10 - SXSW Two Syllable Acoustic Show @ Hideout Cafe
03.18.10 - SXSW Carpark / Paw Tracks @ Wave
03.19.10 - SXSW @ Justine’s
03.19.10 - SXSW Consequence of Sound @ Republic Live
03.20.10 - SXSW In-store @ End of an Ear Records
03.20.10 - SXSW Fast Folks @ The Gas Pipe Smoke Shop
03.21.10 - Wichita, KS Rock Island Live
03.22.10 - Springfield, MO The Outland Ballroom
03.23.10 - Columbia, MO Mojo’s
03.24.10 - St. Louis, MO Off Broadway
03.25.10 - Indianapolis, IN Local’s Only (MOKB & Scion event, free show!)
03.26.10 - Chicago, IL Mopery Loft
03.31.10 - Columbus, Ohio Wexner Center &
04.01.10 - Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge *
04.08.10 - Minneapolis, MN Hexagon Bar
04.09.10 - Northfield, MN The Cave @ Carlton College
04.17.10 - Bloomington, IN WIUX Culture Shock #
04.26 - Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
04.28.10 - Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage !
04.30.10 - Brooklyn, NY Glasslands $
# Best Coast
% Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
& Deerhunter
* Woodhands
! Willowz
$ Memoryhouse
• Light Pollution: http://myspace.com/lightpollution
• Carpark: http://www.carparkrecords.com
[Photo: Coach House Sounds]