Wednesday SXSW Showcases
By Neph Basedow, Fri., March 18, 2016
Bloodshot Records
9pm, Continental ClubSince its 1994 inception, this Chicago-based label's grown known for debuts from the likes of Ryan Adams and Neko Case. Genre liberal, the company's hands-on founders, Nan Warshaw and Rob Miller, continue to champion grit-punk bands, alt.country acts, acoustic soul singers, and blues rockers for an eclecticism that's helped propel the indie label's perennial prevalence. Commencing a six-act bill plays banjo-wielding label newcomer Al Scorch, whose Bloodshot debut drops this spring. Birmingham's Banditos next stomp their honky Muscle Shoals-like spirit, before Denver's Yawpers counter via bluesy punk scuzz. Wildcard Lydia Loveless trails, the young Buckeye's take-no-prisoners 'tude paradoxically marring her Loretta Lynn lungs, and delightfully so. On the heels of new LP Going Down in History, Fest vets the Waco Brothers close. The enduring alt.country quartet remains fronted by Jon Langford of UK punk pillars the Mekons.