30 Days, 30 Artists
SXSW pop pick: Brooklyn's Hospitality grows up and shows a darker side on Trouble
Mar 7, 2014 | 9:52 am
City of origin: Brooklyn, New York
Genre: Indie-pop
In one sentence: Dark, smart indie-pop for fans of Spoon, Camera Obscura and The Delgados.
Why we chose them: Hospitality's self-titled debut was solid, if a bit twee and quirky. The band wasn't afraid to use horns and odd time signatures, but somehow the melodies and Amber Papini's voice made it all fit together. Some notable growth is shown on new LP Trouble, and the music of Merge label-mates Spoon comes to mind as a template. There's a sense of both economy and thought in all aspects of the music. The band seems to trust itself more, and the result is a sharp album that is destined to result in a larger audience. The new "Going Out" video also scores Hospitality major cool points by casting indie-rock icon Dean Wareham (Luna, Galaxie 500) in the lead role.
SXSW official showcase:Thursday, March 13 at 9:45 pm at The Parish (part of the Merge Records night)