Hey everyone,
Nerdkween is the 2011 WINNER of Readers pick for Best Local Experimental Music Act for Creative Loafing Atlanta’s Best of 2011.
hey everyone,
here is Nerdkween’s tour diary from SXSW 2011. This was reprinted from the Dead Journalist Blog
Editor’s Note: On the heels of her first SXSW as both an attendee and performer, Monica Arrington (AKA Nerdkween) provides this first-hand account of her sojourn to Austin with Nick Black. This continues our series of artist-written Op-Ed’s that bring you the undiluted voice of the artist the best way possible: directly from the source
SXSW Recap
by Monica Arrington
We were super excited about making our first trip to Austin and to make an appearance at SXSW. For a few weeks before hand, we talked about it like kids would about Christmas day. Our journey would begin with a drive of almost 17 hours.
Monday Night/Tuesday
The trip started off well enough, even though we drove through thunderstorms, all night, in the mountains, and at times, on one-lane highways. Yet several hours later and within a hundred miles of Austin, neither one of us could keep our eyes open or speak coherently. But we reached the Austin city limits and made a mad rush to find the convention center.
Luckily it was right off the highway, we were able get our wristbands and badges because we planned on going out that night to catch some bands. However, our fatigue lead us to get lost between the convention center and our hotel only six miles away for nearly two hours. That night we had no choice but the stay in and recharge ourselves for the start of the festival.
Wednesday
The first show was with local and traveling bands at a lovely coffeehouse away from the frenzy of the festival. We were able to meet and reacquaint with some creative and interesting characters living in town. However even before I hit the stage, I fell off a curb while unloading my equipment.
I was all right and a couple of Austin folk were kind enough to come pick me up off the street. I played my set and watched one of my friends perform afterward. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon. Later that night we hit the convention center to pick up another wristband and “claim” posters we liked from the columns.
Then we went to see a couple of recommended acts, which were mind-blowing. Came in around 2AM.
Thursday
We spent this day going to panels and attending one day show. Not very eventful, just the heat and tired feet taking hold of our bodies. We got a second wind to join up with our friends again to attend an early showcase. It was beautiful music, which was a great way to start off the evening. We parted with our friends to go catch different showcases. We decided to turn in after that. Came in around 12am.
Friday
Got an early start to catch more panels, some we were almost turned away from because the rooms were full. But we also spent some time promoting my showcase and looking for free food and drinks. I think I was starting to feel over whelmed with the music and hung over people everywhere and worried that my showcase wouldn’t be well attended. We turned in WAY early around 11pm.
Saturday
We had another early start as we headed toward the convention center for last minute promotions. Then we met up with other friends for lunch on Lake Austin. Next, we went to a day show on the river. It was a great time, spending a few hours there but we had to race toward my showcase. The showcase was in a small but really nice hotel. I had nothing to worry about; the showcase was well attended however it was mostly people having dinner at the restaurant we were performing in.
Nonetheless, the audience was nice. I ended up speaking with a few people afterward, finally meeting an Internet buddy and leaving to find some food. Ironically, we could not afford to eat there! We found our dinner and went back to the hotel. Came in around 10pm.
Sunday
Our last performance was at an intimate gallery opening (Greehouse, Austin). Again, ran into our local friends and had a lovely afternoon. I played my set in the “backyard” and I loved it.
And stayed long enough to see my friend perform another amazing set. I enjoyed the fact that we spent our last hours in Austin amongst good friends who live there and love that town year round. We are definitely coming back, if not for SXSW, but for seeing our friends again.
Here is a live video of that final SXSW performance at Green House gallery:
Hey everybody,
Nerdkween performed live on WSBF 88.1 FM Clemson on Thursday, March 31st, 2011.
You can watch her live performance right here:
hey everyone,
Nerdkween is performing at SXSW 2011. Below are the shows that she will be performing at so if you are in Austin for SXSW please try to go see her perform at one of these events.
Wednedsay, March 16 4pm FREE
Cherrywood Coffeehouse
1400 E 38 1/2 St
Austin, TX
Saturday, March 19 8pm Official Showcase
Stephen F’s Bar and Terrace
701 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Sun. March 20 5pm FREE
Green House
701 E 53rd St
Austin, TX
Original article on Creative Loafing right here
by Kristin DiOnne Thomas
Nerdkween has just informed me that she is heading to SXSW this spring, but needs our help to get there. Although sending her money no-strings-attached would likely be appreciated, she’s also opted to tap into another creative outlet: baked treats for animals.
“I grew up on my family’s farm and I have a great love and respect for animals. I also enjoy cooking and baking. So what better way to stretch my creativity and reconnect with helping animals grow healthy and happy than with homemade treats. ”
Proceeds will cover transportation and hotel accommodations while at the festival.
To order go to her website Nerdkween Bake Sale site This sale will continue until March 1st so get it while you can people.
Hey everyone,
Fieldhouse Recordings has released Nerdkween’s new album “ProfitandLoss”.
“Profitandloss” is Nerdkween’s sophmore album which features seven new songs.
Here is what others had to write about Nerdkween:
“Surrounding herself with what I’m going to call “seriously analogue looping mechanisms” (actually tiny, portable boomboxes) she used to create walls of ambient sound, Nerdkween matched jaw-dropping white-noise soundscapes with lo-fidelity acoustic songs, all seemingly themed on the concept of moving and searching for…something. Doesn’t matter-I, literally, found myself with my head back, eyes closed, utterly lost in her sonic world.” – Resonator Magazine
“When I’m asked about “who my favorite Atlanta bands are”, my list almost inevitable includes the enigmatic Nerdkween. Those conversations usually end with me saying something along the lines of “you’ve got to see her live to understand…”. In a city which showcases so much exceptional indie, country, hip-hop, blues, and rock music; Nerdkween manages to be all of those things, yet none of them at the same time.” – Matt Jarrard / Atlanta A List
“We have heard many sparse and simple artists over the past few decades…but rarely have we heard an artist as stark and naked as Atlanta, Georgia’s Nerdkween. Whereas nowadays in the twenty-first century the usual idea is to inundate the listener with layers upon layers of digital multi-tracking…this young lady instead takes the exact opposite approach. Hearing this, the only possible comparisons that come to mind are Nico and Lisa Germano…mainly because all three share a strange, ultra-serious sound that is somehow distant yet profound.” – Babysue
Hey everyone,
The Fieldhouse Recordings blog is now live.
