Sensory Overload at SXSW 2013: A Recap by Kev Choice

The crowd at Waterloo Records (Outside Stage) shortly before The Coup took the stage 

“SXSW is insanity … Everything I love and hate about the music industry” ~ Kev Choice

Words by Kev Choice

This year I got to experience the craziness of SXSW in Austin, TX as a keyboardist with The Coup. We were scheduled for 6 shows in a 4 day span. The highlights of the shows were a taping of  Last Call with Carson Daly’s SXSW Showcase, opening for Talib Kweli and Dead Prez at the Ankh Marketing & Dead Prez Showcase; and March Into Softness 2013 presented by The A.V. Club and Flowerbooking.  I also jumped on a gig with Martin Luther playing key bass!

Usher joins The Afghan Wigs for a surprise performance

Besides performing, the benefit of being at SXSW is being able to catch other incredible bands and artist. Some of the best shows I was able to get a glimpse of were Haitus Kaiyote, Joey Bada$$, and The Pharcyde. I spent a couple hours at The Fader Fort – always one of the biggest attractions at SXSW — and caught a crazy afternoon of music and surprise guests. Texas artist Trae The Truth was joined onstage by T.I., B.O.B., and a host of others from The Grand Hustle team. Atlanta rapper Future then randown a set of his hits before the night was closed out by rock group Afghan Wigs. I heard Usher was in the building and that was confirmed as he jumped up with Afghan Wigs and did a 3 song set in a mash-up style with the live band. To the crowds delight, he came back on and performned 2 songs a cappella for an encore. It was a pretty dope performance. I didn’t get to make it to the Prince show, which everybody was trying to get into, but they only issued 300 tickets for the exclusive performance.

Hands up for The Pharcyde

This by far was the biggest SXSW ever and from the last time I had been about 4-5 years ago, it has grown exponentially. It seems the last time I went there were more artist and bands roaming the streets and mingling, this time it seemed to be just regular people roaming the streets, bar hopping, not really all that concerned on the hot up and coming bands performing around town. The socializing and partying aspect of SXSW seemed to have grown, but it may be drowning out the music aspect of it. It seemed over saturated. There are still a lot of jewels and dope music around town, you just have to search harder and deeper to find it. A lot of performances were announced last minute as some groups just show up and jump on whatever showcase or stage they can get on. Another thing I noticed is how the corporate sponsors pretty much dominate the big showcases. People didn’t seem to mind going to see their favorite band presented by Doritos per se, plus it means they may get Free stuff!

The Fader Fort following Solange’s performance (top), Martin Luther (l), Talib Kweli (r)

Overall, SXSW was still a blast, and next year the plan is to go with and rock as many shows as possible and see as many bands as possible!

Kev Choice & Carson Daly of Last Call with Carson Daly following The Coup’s performance

[Updated on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 6:50 p.m.]

Watch Kev Choice Playing Keys with The Coup on Last Call with Carson Daly — Airs on Wed. 3/20 & Fri. 3/22!

Many of you have probably noticed by now that Kev Choice has been performing live with Oakland’s The Coup as the band’s keyboardist.  On March 13th, The Coup embarked on an eventful — and literally lively — journey to Austin, Texas to play six scheduled shows for their SXSW debut. The first of these shows was Last Call with Carson Daly‘s SXSW Showcase, “this year emphasizing rock bands that have not made their television debuts” as reported by Billboard Magazine.

WATCH: Carson Daly on the Last Call Showcase – SXSW (Video)

The pre-taped on-location musical performance — also The Coup’s television debut — airs Wed. March 20th and Friday March 22nd.  Kev will hit the road with The Coup in April for their highly anticipated European Spring Tour.

The Coup on Last Call with Carson Daly airs on weeknights on NBC at 1:35 a.m. / 12:35 a.m. Central.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #12 – Kev Choice – “Give It Up” Live at The Trinity Centre, Bristol (Video)

Kev Choice rocking and getting the crowd hype with his opening song, “Give It Up,” live at The Trinity Centre in Bristol, England.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #11 – Kev Choice – “Kill That/Blues Piano Interlude” Live at Mains-D’Oeuvres in Saint-Ouen, France (Video)

In this video, I bust into a blues interlude coming out of the song “Kill That.”  This footage was shot live at Mains-D’Oeuvres in Saint-Ouen, which is located right outside of Paris.  The journey continues on tour as opener and keyboardist for The Coup’s Sorry To Bother You European tour.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #10 – Kev Choice – “Brussels Hustle” (Free Download)

While chilling in Brussels, I asked the promoter what music was from Brussels.  He told me something about “New Beat,” a style of house/techno that came from Belgium in the 80′s.  I looked it up and came across this song “Phantasia Forever” by Belgian techno musician, Praga Khan.  I liked the synth intro so I took it and flipped it!

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #9 – Kev Choice – “Parisian Dawns” Feat. Emilie Lesbros (Free Download)

Missed a day of Daily Dosage yesterday due to technical problems at hotel in Holland, so today will be a DOUBLE DAILY DOSAGE DAY!!

Was at a club the other night, that didn”t start til 4am!!  They were rocking to a lot of dub step, techno, and house music.  That Euro vibe starting to sink in on me.  Had me thinking about making music to make people DANCE!!  Then, an adventurous night in the streets of Paris lead to this creation. I linked up with French vocalist/instrumentalist Emilie Lesbros, laid a beat and just let creative juices flow as the sun rose in Paris. The beat started off in one direction and I actually took it to a whole nother place.

Heres #1.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #8 – Kev Choice – “Windows” (Free Download)

Been taking long drives through France and Holland so far on tour. Looking out the window at everything from countrysides to inner cities to suburbia.  Also looking out my hotel window, seeing new environments, recognizing the similarities and differences between these places and back home.  Realizing the world is just full of people, trying to survive in their daily lives, and find a little sunshine.

I made this instrumental with those thoughts in mind, a cool sample and I added some drums, piano, and strings.  I made this beat while in Holland, and originally came across the song from this Dutch singer, Henny Vonk.  The version I sampled is from Dionne Warwick’s version, “Windows of The World.”

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #7 – Kev Choice – “Good As Gold” (Free Download)

After talking to one of the opening act M.C.’s in Nijmegen, Holland, and realizing that a lot of the venues we were playing at in Europe the DJs were spinning mainly old school hip-hop, it had me reflecting on the Golden Era of hip-hop and how much it had impacted the world and still does so today. The art of sampling, digging, finding drum breaks, and spittin hard, clever rhymes, is still very much respected in Europe, almost more so than in the States.  A Lot of artists who are long forgotten in the states still are revered in Europe and some can still make money touring here. It just had me thinking about the Golden Era of Rap, late 80′s to mid 90′s, when there was consciousness and a certain respect of the skill level heavily present in Hip-Hop.  So I found a classic drum loop, chopped up a sample, and just spit, Old School style.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #6 – Kev Choice – “My Life” Live at Le Periscope in Lyon, France

Had to take advantage of the Grand Piano at this cool venue, “Le Periscope,” in Lyon, France.  Saw the piano in the back at soundcheck and was like, “y’all gotta pull that out for my set!!”  Always love any opportunity to sit down at a real piano, especially when I get a chance to rhyme as well. The people weren’t expecting it, but I think they appreciated it.

Daily Dosage: Euro Edition #5 – Kev Choice – “Make Believers” Live at Ubu in Rennes, France (Video)

For the weekend submissions of the Daily Dosage Euro Edition, I will post videos rocking on tour live in Europe as opener for The Coup.  The first clip is from tonight’s show at Ubu in Rennes, France.  I’m performing a version of my soon to be released single, “Make Believers,” to a captivated French crowd.