SxSW 2009 Preview: The Ettes

The Ettes have been riding the punk rock wave since '04 and along the way they've been compared to the likes of Blondie, The Ramones and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's.

The trio have gained a reputation for their explosive energy and stage performances. Fortunate SxSW attendees will be able to watch the Ettes combust for three nights in a row between the 18th-21th of March at the festival.

They have a new E.P coming out just in time for SxSW to follow their two widely appreciated albums since their debut in '06.

This will be our third year at SXSW.  The first year, we'd toured for two months leading up to it, and so we were absolutely wrecked, we didn't know which way was up the whole festival!  Last year we were better prepared, and tore up the streets day and night.  This year will probably be more of that.  We've got a lot of friends we always meet up with in Austin, and they don't really let us sleep.  We don't really mind, it's a GREAT party.

People say the barbeque, but I'm from the south, I'm quite particular about my barbeque.  I was referred to a serious joint in Memphis, which was enjoyable, but I'm a Carolina barbeque girl at heart, 4-eva!  We do like the Shiner.  There's a lot of Shiner flowing, which works for us.

We tour a lot, and SXSW is always a great time to hear our favourite bands and cause a ruckus.  Austin is a badass town, and the locals are some of the nicest people out there.  If they've got a seat at their table, they'll make room for you, stranger or not.  And that is always the best part of going to Austin, the people.  They love rock and roll.  What's better than spending a week with revved up drunk Austin rock lovers?  It's heaven.

We're doing a lot this year, lots of shows and events and interviews and things, but you can catch us (like every year) picking up LPs and playing in the corner at Cheapo Discs, where our man Jeff always shows us a good time.  Our official showcase is at Mohawk, which my friend at the Chronicle said is the place to be this year.  I'll take his word for it and we'll be there!

I haven't taken a look at who's going, other than our friends from the road, so I'll have to see the mighty roster before we pack up and head down. SxSW always has a good selection of music though, which is the point.  I'm not really interested in watching the VICE-wannabe hipsters parading down 6th street in their '80s throwback rags.  I really hope someone has a fire hose ready for them.  We go Mad Max on the banal purveyors of boredom.  I read that hipsters are the death of western civilization, you know.  That if you replaced every PBR in the hand of a hipster with a stone, you could start a revolution.  That's what we're here for.  We'll be handing out stones.

We always try to stop by, but again, the Shiner.  We can't be held responsible.

When I look at our schedule, I get dizzy.  We're releasing an EP, with two tracks (to be released on a limited edition 45) recorded with our friend Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys. That EP also has two live tracks and a previously unreleased track from our Toe Rag sessions with Liam Watson in London.  We're also finishing our third LP now, which we'll be recording in May. Then we've got another European tour (we just got back from a big one with Kings of Leon yesterday) and then we'll be releasing the LP and touring the US again.  We can't stay put, I tell ya.

The Ettes: Official Website / Myspace

Playing: 

19 March - Cheapo Disc's Instore @ 16:30

20 March - The Tap Room at 6 Lounge @ 15:15

20 March - The Mohawk / Take Root / Noisepop / Rockriver Showcase @ 21:00