It feels like this was going to be the coldest night of an oh so freezing winter in Vienna. It’s the night of the annually fm4-fest , an always sold-out festival organised by the public radio station that comprises indoor as well as open air shows. “We are lucky not to play outside,” Thao says and adds smilingly, “we are more used to the climate in San Francisco.” Before their performance at the close-by festival venue Thao and her band members Willis and Adam, who make up The Get Down Stay Down, warm up with an ambitious session at their hotel rooms. While for the energetic performance of “Know Better Learn Faster” the trio lines up around the bed, they further step into the bathroom for “Body”. And thus prove that they don’t need much room or equipment for a vibrantly rocking show. Thao puts her backs into the frontwoman ro...

Howe Gelb sits in the backstage room of Porgy & Bess with a big grin. He has just finished soundcheck for his headline show at Blue Bird Festival and seems to be satisfied with how things are going. We didn’t really get through to him with our request to do a session before, but it looks like the right time to introduce the idea to him. And indeed, he likes it, but wants a piano. So we head out to find one and finally are able to eve...

It is no news that UK is a fruitful country for breeding young „classy“ indie-bands, who know how to write a perfect pop song. Everyday lyrics sung by a cultivated voice melt with staggered harmonies played by skilled instrumentalist to an inescapable catchiness. Worthy of mention is their early professionalism and general accomplishment. Their performance always sounds good. They have hardly ever been caught out of tune, even when doing an im...

Aria C. Jalali and his friends, who accompany him on his European tour, are having a late breakfast, when we meet them the morning after the Vienna show. Railcars is the solo work of San Francisco-based Jalali, who tends to involve friends for live performances. With electric guitar and various gadgets as loop pedals, drum boxes, feedback loops, noise pedals, synths, and an old Nintendo console Railcars create an uplifting air in an abrasively...