SXSW reviews for Papa Mali and Dirty Sweet

Jambase's Sarah Hagerman recently reviewed (and nailed it we might add) both Dirty Sweet and Papa Mali's Saturday showcases during SXSW in Austin, TX on Saturday, March 21. Here is what she had to say:

Dirty Sweet- Stubb's- Austin, TX- 3/21/09

The challenge for bands playing SXSW is that they often have a truncated amount of time to show an audience what they can do. Playing tweener sets at Stubb's (indoors), San Diego's Dirty Sweet had a few 20-minute slots with which to win over the room, and they owned every second of that stage time - I was sold by the end of their first song! Ryan Koontz gives you everything you need in a frontman, his commanding vocals matched by his shimmying and shaking across the stage. This band rips, with a born-in-a-garage sound and an effortless Sunset Strip strut that also appreciates the rootsy side of the street (see JamBase's review of their debut for more). Most importantly, they have a damn good time up there, with their faces beaming as they assault you with a balls-to-the-walls approach. Just a fan-freaking-tastic rock band, keep on eye on them. Hot, sexy stuff baby!

Bonus Props: Papa Mali's Hoodoo Blues & BBQ

Papa Mali always knows how to party, and at Kenny Dorham's Backyard on the east side of Austin he worked his magic in a tight, raucous set that had the hippies spinning across the grass in some of the best dancing I saw all weekend. Joined by guests who hopped on and off, including Cyril Neville (who did a great take on Allen Toussaint's classic "Fortune Teller") and the powder keg sax playing of Topaz, Papa Mali's show was a real throw down. Plus, the proceeds from the BBQ, which had a great lineup of music going all day, were all going to help Diverse Arts, a local Austin organization that preserves and promotes the multi-cultural arts scene. Big props to Papa Mali for all the good work he's done for the local scene and his fellow musicians, especially those who resettled in Austin from NOLA after Hurricane Katrina. This is the supportive community music in action creates.



Link: http://www.jambase.com/Articles/17161/SXSW-03.21.09-Austin-TX-Day-4/2