SXSW 2009 ARTIST ALERT: Your Vegas
One of the great things about South By Southwest is that, to unintentionally quote Radiohead, meeting people is easy. And re-meeting people is easy, too: You can just be stumbling down 6th Street and run into random rocker friends from around the globe.
I first met Leeds-bred, New York-based band Your Vegas at SXSW 2008, when I interviewed them and had the privilege of catching a private acoustic performance at Gibson Studios on Congress (see second clip below). At that point I openly predicted that they would be huge. Like, U2-huge. The guys looked like heathrobby rock stars, had fabulously windblown/widescreen epic anthems, and the singer, Coyle Girelli, could reach octaves that even Justin Hawkins might struggle with. I was convinced that Your Vegas was the Next Coldplay.
Well, then Coldplay got around to releasing Viva La Vida and spoiled that plan. I have no other logical explanation for why Your Vegas is not planet-conquering, stadium-selling-out massive yet (especially since they were so well-received on their 2008 tour opening for Duran Duran), and why they were back at SXSW this year looking for a new record deal. But I am glad that I randomly re-met the band at the Carrera Cafe in Austin on Saturday (like I said, bumping into people at SXSW is inevitable), and I'm still convinced that arena A-list status is in Your Vegas's future.
I mean, just look at the magnetism in this impromptu Coyle interview at the Carrera. The guy's totally a star:
stop trying to act american, be yourself and appreciate your loved ones.
your music is good, but you guys have changed so much like your the jonas brothers. in my opinion, i think you guys did not tour at all. so many other bands tour so much more than you guys. your album hasnt even been out for a year yet. your wasting your record labels money by making a new one.
love you