This week, the Song of the Day features SXSW 2016 artists. Catch up on last week’s picks here.
The first time I heard the Heavy, I think the exact words out of my mouth were, “what is THAT?!” Their 2009 song “How You Like Me Now?” got a second life as the go-to soundtrack staple, helping sell cars and Ted to the unsuspecting public. But the Heavy’s commercial appeal and artistry aren’t mutually exclusive. The British band takes the best parts of funk and psych and, well, makes them heavier, emphasizing the groove to an infectious degree.
Of course, it helps when you have a born showman like Kelvin Swaby as your lead singer. He helped baptize our Studio 1A a few years ago when it was brand new, leaving us all a little slack-jawed with his performance. We’re excited to have the Heavy play the SXSW Radio Day Stage tomorrow–you can hear their broadcast live on KUTX 98.9 or watch it live via KUTX.org and VuHaus. To get you ready, here’s a track from their new album, Hurt & The Merciless, out April 1. Listen to “Since You Been Gone” below.
–Art Levy
The Heavy at SXSW 2016:
Friday, Mar 18: SXSW Radio Day Stage, Ballroom D, Austin Convention Center — 2 p.m.
Friday, Mar 18: Empire Garage (Baeble Bounce House, RSVP here) — 4 p.m.
Friday, Mar 18: Waterloo Records — 6 p.m.
Saturday, Mar 19: Stubb’s (official SXSW showcase) — 11:05 p.m.
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