Basia Bulat, The Kills Impress At SXSW – On Way To NYC

I’m a relative rookie when it comes to Basia Bulat but got turned on to her not so long ago by hearing her stuff on WFUV and began to fall under her spell. I saw BB when she was in town just last month for the Tibet House Show at Carnegie Hall. She was mesmerizing playing the auto-harp and singing unaccompanied so I was on the case when she turned up in Austin this month for South by Southwest. Parish was the venue on the 16th where she was in excellent form as you can see. Jim James produced her fourth and most recent album. Bowery Ballroom will be her home on Friday. You could go –

The Kills shows in New York have always been good and vibey. I witnessed a couple over a handful of years and catching them in the act at a solid little Austin joint was a highlight of the festival. (Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden on Rainey Street was the place and it was an obvious St. Patrick’s night call.) A new record, their 5th since ’03, hits in June. Hince, by the way, has split with Kate Moss and he’s had repeated surgery on his hand. (Possibly hands…and I can’t tell you the cause.) This report says he had to relearn how to play. Catch em at Warsaw if you can but that’s a tough ticket.

Video Review of Geils/Aerosmith Show Last Summer

Print Review of Terrence Blanchard & Dr. John from last year’s Jazzfest