If you’re heading out for MidPoint on Friday (9/24), we highly recommend you get yourself to these shows ASAP.  Friday finds a bit more atmospheric rock than Thursday, but the lineup is poised to please the indie fan in everyone.

Surfer Blood
Cincinnati Club at 11:30PM

Top off your night with one of the acts that many are looking most forward to, Surfer Blood. The band is the closer for Saturday at the Cincinnati Club, following the secret show (have you figured out the secret show artist yet?). Fresh off the release of their list-topping 2010 debut, expect to see a band that combines traditional indie influences with certifiable noise. They never disappoint.

Seedy Seeds and Caribou
Grammers at 8:30PM/9:30PM

Grammers is yet again the place to be with Cincinnati’s own Seedy Seeds taking the stage early. This three-party team mixes influences as far as electric noise to sweet pop, and everything in between. The band fills the stage everytime, and will most certainly be your new favorite band to “take home” from the festival.

Stick around for another buzz band, Caribou. Mixing countries of residence, Dan Snaith is layered, lush, and complex. Fans of paying attention to every flawless musical detail will tip their glasses (unless they’re at the Secret Show!).

Lions Rampant and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Southgate House 10:00PM/11:00PM

Take a trip over to the historic Southgate House for some good ole down and fun rock with the Lions Rampant. Playing the Party on the River this summer for Q102 is definitely the vibe that fits this fun band that ties R&R with a more authentic Maroon 5 feeling.

Afterwards, DC’s seminal political-punk band, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will challenge every portion of your brain. Not in the mood for that? Round out your night absorbing the bands passionate soundtrack. You’ll thank them come election season.

The clock is ticking on the Midpoint Music Festival coming out of Cincinnati. There are less than 24 hours left to purchase 3-day wristbands (after that, you’ll have to buy individual passes). With so many talented bands, where should you divide your festival time? Here are our top five bands you shouldn’t miss if you still want to keep your hipster card.

Colour Revolt

Hailing from Oxford, Mississippi, Colour Revolt has seen numerous line-up changes but is coming out strong with their latest release on Fat Possum Records. With past favorites like “Mattresses Underwater” and newer tracks like “A Siren,” the band is looking to expand on their radially increasing fan base.

Be there Saturday at Jack Potts Tavern at 9:00PM. Come a little earlier to be entitled to a front row spot.

Surfer Blood

One of the bigger buzz bands of the year, Surfer Blood is ready to ride the Midpoint Music Festival, closing out the Cincinnati Club on Friday at 11:30PM after the hyped Secret Show. For Pitchfork Media fans, the band has been buzzed about for quite sometime.

If you’re still looking to fill the void since Built to Spill’s last Cincinnati appearance, don’t look any further than Surfer Blood.

+/-

Bands like +/- always come off a bit obscure. After all, how do you really pronounce their name? Whether or not you knew that to pronounce the bands name as ‘plus/minus,’ the band is set to rock Artworks at 8:00PM on Saturday. The band has been buzzing around the New York area for years but are now ready to take their grinding electronic-meets-pop noise to the Cincinnati tri-state.

The Sundresses

Popular for numerous appearances during the MPMF Summer Fountain Square Indie series and four tours of SXSW, the Sundresses have been one of the bright spots of the Cincinnati music scene for some time. Playing Below Zero at 12:00AM on Saturday, expect to be moving on your feet with some big-band meets ska type sounds.

Don’t miss the largest band trying to break out of Cincinnati! Your indie cred card can’t take a hit like this!

Lower Dens

What’s that you say? You haven’t heard of Lower Dens yet? Well get ready for this band who sound like a mixture between heaven and Unwed Sailor (who are also playing MPMF this year). Relaxed, ambient and hailing from Maryland, the band will be quieting down the night on Friday at MOTR at 11PM.

Don’t forget to buy your three-day pass before Tuesday at 5PM. Otherwise, you’ll have to find a retail venue still selling them or buy individual tickets. With so many great bands, you’ll be shelling out a lot more than the bands affordable price if you try to pay individually.

UPDATE: Just announced – $20 single-day passes will be on sale at all MPMF venues. If you can’t make it to all three days, this is a good opportunity to still roam the festival for a day.

The Internet had it’s panties in a bundle recently as Treasure Island Festival rumors circulated like farts on an airplane. Well, it’s official now. The good people at Noise Pop and Another Planet have announced the lineup for San Francisco’s coolest music extravaganza and once again this is looking like the place to be. First of all, it’s on an island. Sorry Outside Lands. And there’s no performance overlap, so your chances of seeing every act are good. Stay tuned for MP3s to get you motivated. As if you need them.

Saturday, Oct. 16:

LCD Soundsystem

Deadmau5

Kruder & Dorfmeister (Live)

Miike Snow

!!! (Chk Chk Chk)

Die Antwoord

Little Dragon

Four Tet

Holy F—

Jamaica

Wallpaper

Maus Haus

Sunday, Oct. 17:

Belle & Sebastian

The National – “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

Broken Social Scene

She & Him – “Why do you let me stay here”

Superchunk

Surfer Blood – “Swim (to Reach the End)”

Rogue Wave – “Good Morning”

Ra Ra Riot

Monotonix

Phantogram

The Sea & Cake

Papercuts

Phosphorescent

The Mumlers – “Coffin Factory”

Saturday was the biggest day of NXNE in Toronto, with a free headlining show in Yonge-Dundas square by Iggy and the Stooges, the Raveonettes, Surfer Blood and Wavves.

At the same time, the Toronto Island Concert organized by Broken Social Scene and featuring Pavement, Band of Horses, Beach House and Timber Timbre also took place. BSS played a triumphant hometown set with appearances by Feist and Emily Haines.

Earlier in the day, Beach House provided the perfect soundtrack to a beautiful almost-summer day on the picturesque island.

Band of Horses released a new album last month, but they were wise to focus most of their set on material from their first two (much stronger) records, opening with “Islands on the Coast” and closing with “The Funeral.”

After BSS, Pavement opened with “Cut Your Hair” and played through their hits at an ear-splitting volume (even from a distance, with earplugs). The members seemed to be getting along well and enjoying themselves.

Later on at Lee’s Palace, Avi Buffalo played jaunty, country-tinged rock songs that would be enjoyable if it weren’t for Avi’s grating, unlistenable vocals.

Just when I thought I was getting tired of seeing Cold Cave, they surprised me with an especially powerful performance. Now playing with a drummer in addition to their three keyboard players, they tore through their set with an incredible and almost unsettling intensity, at a volume that made the whole room shake.

After a failed attempt to see Surfer Blood at their free show at Amoeba on Thursday (who knew that rock shows could start on time. 6 p.m., really?), and battling with a host of other writers, and even my editor, my quest was finally realized.  Surfer Blood! My favorite album of the year: all the hype, all the backlash — the truth would finally be revealed.

But first, The Turbo Fruits.

The Turbo Fruits blew up Bottom of the Hill on Friday. When Jonas Stein jumped in the audience for the last song of their set and whaled on his guitar as the audience formed a circle around him and gleefully jumped up and down, it was a foregone conclusion: nobody was topping this. With a blues sound that is big in the U.K. and a little reminiscent of Jack White, the Turbo Fruits played with swagger and confidence. With songs ranging from “Volcano,” an ode to a THC vaporizer, to a rocking rendition of “Bad Moon Rising,” the guys from Tennessee know how to throw a party.

Surfer Blood came on after a brief break and jumped into the Astro Coast opener “Floating Vibes.”  The guitar work was solid, and immediately it was apparent that lead singer John Paul Pitts traded in some of the softer vocals on the record for a growl. It was a good, visceral choice, especially following the Turbo Fruits. “Anchorage” and “Take it Easy” showcased the band’s ability to switch up the pace, while “Swim” had the place rocking. The guys lack any brooding, and seem to be enjoying the ride. They smiled at each other and the audience for most of the night, and genuinely seemed to be having fun. It transferred to the audience and made for a great show.

These words I write don’t mean anything. Especially to those of you that haven’t been to SXSW.

This year my hypothetical SXSW cherry was exploded (popped just doesn’t do it). You hear the stories about the insanity, the nonstop partying, the celebrity sightings (I saw the king of BRO-dom – Matthew McConaughey), the BBQ, the heat, and, of course the MUSIC. Those stories will never prepare you for SXSW. NEVER. And you will never bring enough earplugs, unless you’re one of those smart people that owns a custom pair.

A friend and I came to the conclusion that SXSW is a bunch of nerds and stoners converging in a musical Mardi Gras. The nerds making up for lost college partying time (they were too busy inventing things like email and Twitter) and the stoners, well, they just want a free party. Let’s just say the rampant “checking in,” status updating, packing of bowls, and Lone Star consumption was ubiquitous.

Take what ever you want from my list of the good and bad. Add your own items in the comments.

The Good:

Orgone: My favorite live music moment of SXSW. I had no idea what to expect when I stumbled over to the Flamingo at 1AM to catch one of @figurehead management’s rising bands. It’s so refreshing to see a band actually PLAY their instruments. Their infectious funk, Latin sound, a blend of Ozomatli and Curtis Mayfield was an escape from the banal and overexposed indie genre. Go see this band live.

BBQ: I don’t want to look at another pulled pork sandwich or stack of ribs for a long time; unless it comes from one of these eateries: Lambert’s, Iron Works or Stubbs.

ASCAP boat ride: The best way to disconnect from the madness. Free beer and bagels for a morning excursion along the river…at a hangover-friendly pace, of course.

Hottub @ the Bay Area Takeover: The good people @thebaybridged and @noisepop were at it again this year. Nothing better than watching the ladies of Hottub writhe on the floor in a puddle of sweat and spit. HOT.

Surfer Blood: Easily one of the buzzier bands at SXSW this year. My MVPs of SXSW.

Superchunk: Still possessing true American indie rock chops that put most pimpled-faced indie fakers to shame. Not sure anyone rocked my face as heard as these vets.

Apes of Wrath @ the Rumble: Yet another San Diego band with promise that should be on your radar.

SF Embassy: Sure the location was perfect, right smack dab in the heart of 6th St but the locale paled in comparison to the good people staying there. We are indebted to @SonicLiving.

Courtney Love: Say what you want about her but Love is a spectacle. She’s a dying breed of artistry, a massive rock star persona that just doesn’t exist in today’s too cool hipster generation.

FourSquare: Simply the best way to find out where your friends were and at what stage of drunkenness they were at.

The Bad:

6th St pizza: Learn how to make crust Austin. I tried three different places and all of them had crust like baked tanbark.

Waiting to get into Hole: The SXSW badge and wristband meant nothing for this show. Neither did the SPIN badge if you got there late. I did and waited in line for close to an hour.

Forgetting to put sunscreen on, Day 2: I have a disgusting tan in the shape of a v-neck. HOT

ATMs: Do not use them. FEES = total thievery.

Delorean‘s captivating and danceable sound combines energetic drumbeats and prominent bass lines with otherworldly synthesizer sounds that sparkle and sing like ghosts.

Impressions of Surfer Blood: 1. Wow, they’re playing like 10 shows today. 2. Wow, they look really young. 3. Wow, they’re great! More than any other surf-related band around right now (and we all know there are a lot of them), Surfer Blood writes super-catchy, feel-good pop songs with memorable melodies, riffs and lyrics. All the attention they’ve been getting is well deserved.

Washington quartet The Lonely Forest plays songs are that easy to fall in love with. Their earnest, urgent anthems beg to be played for packed rooms of kids singing along with abandon.

Fronted by The Good Life and Desaparecidos alum Landon Hedges, Little Brazil carries on the Omaha tradition of writing honest, passionate songs that rock.

The Soft Pack‘s energetic garage rock may not be unique, but it gets heads bobbing, and as they found out backstage during the show, it just took them top of the singles chart in the U.K.

Whether or not you enjoy your rock with a side of twang, it’s easy to enjoy a Drive-By Truckers set, full of laid-back charm and just the right amount of swagger. Their new album, The Big To-Do, was released this week.

Band of Horses is always a pleasure to see live, with their winning blend of raw emotion, relentless waves of guitar and drums, and southern rock flavor. They played favorites including the careening, cathartic “The Funeral” and the lively stomper “The General Specific,” plus a couple of songs from their forthcoming album. They closed with a ferocious cover of Yo La Tengo’s “Sugarcube.”

“We have a new record about forgiveness and we’re going to play our guts out for you,” announced Kevin Drew near the beginning of Broken Social Scene‘s set. And that they did, with a stage-filling lineup including a five-piece horn section. As usual, Drew played the role of half-mad pop genius ringleader, sharing bits of wisdom and non-sequiturs like his instructions to the audience to yell “Fuck this” followed by “Thank you for my life.” Emily Haines and James Shaw of Metric joined the band for a soaring rendition of Haines’ signature song “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl.”

Another band with a hot 2010 album and a ridiculous number of SXSW shows planned, L.A.’s Local Natives play layered, well-harmonized, vaguely rustic pop that recalls Grizzly Bear
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Surfer Blood
Astro Coast
[Kanine Records]

Surfer Blood‘s Astro Coast is my favorite record in a long time. If ever there was a five owl record this is it. Combining so many rock touchstones of the past, Astro Coast somehow manages to sound fresh. The record starts with the heavy chords of “Floating Vibes”. Within the one song you have Pavement-esque swirling guitars, which then breaks into early Weezer hand claps and guitars, before a Built To Spill-styled guitar solo. This may sound overwhelming and cramped, but it’s not at all. It fits so well together. John Paul Pitts’ effortless melody carries the record, and his voice travels from falsetto to deep guttural scream. He has excellent patience, and knows when to ride the guitars, when to let his voice stand on its own, and when to let the instruments take attention. The album builds steady momentum with “Swim” into “Take it Easy”. There is a lyrical thread that connects many of the songs. Take it easy becomes a hook in the magnificent “Slow Jabroni”, which is preceded by “Fast Jabroni” which features some Moog synth. “Slow Jabroni” has the band exploring song structure, as it starts with an acoustic and electric guitar with reverb playing identical chords before the electric guitar goes off in its own and drums come in halfway through. The lyrics are lonely and isolated: “If I knew you’d push away so savagely then I’d back off. / Take it easy on me (5X) / they dumped us in the same boat, sinking on the same ship” before this explosion of guitars drums and keyboards. “Anchorage” has Pitts sounding most like the young man he is. Youthful sentiments are all over the record, but they feel universal enough that it’s not embarrassing or trite. Surfer Blood manage to evoke sentimentality through lyrics and rock ‘n’ roll for a debut record that more than lives up to the hype.

Find it at: Amazon