South By Southwest 2012 | Day Two

Concerts Music Festivals Photos
Mr. Gnome performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at Red 7 during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
Mr. Gnome performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at Red 7 during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
White Arrows performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
White Arrows performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
Typhoon performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
Typhoon performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
Forest Fire performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
Forest Fire performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
La Sera performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
La Sera performs at the ForceField/Terrorbird day party at the Red 7 Patio during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
Apparat performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
Apparat performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)
Hospitality performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012.
Hospitality performs at the Paste Day Party at The Stage On Sixth during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2012. (© Michael Katzif – Do not use or republish without prior consent.)

HOSPITALITY @ The Stage On Sixth

Many songwriters have mulled over the rootlessness of their youth, but few describe it with as much whip-smart and wistful sentiment as Hospitality’s Amber Papini does. Hospitality’s very fine debut is full of well-crafted songs such as “Eighth Avenue” and “Liberal Arts” that serve as intimate snapshots of living in New York City and the complicated feelings that come with transition. But “Argonauts” is the standout, for its lovely depiction of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol for the promise of reinvention and searching a new direction. This year saw so many songs that charted new ground, were perhaps more innovative, or took on weightier topics. But for me, “Argonauts” hit a certain joyful and sweet tone that I kept returning to again and again in 2012.

For more photos, visit Flickr.

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