Husky have the sort of sound which is difficult to place.
Soothing, honey tinged harmonies and acoustic guitars which melt out of your stereo, the band's output has a hazy, sunset feel. But then, no matter where you are on the planet you're going to find a sunset...
If you insist on details: Husky are a four-piece from Melbourne, Australia. Sub Pop have won their signature, with debut album 'Forever So' due to be released on May 28th.
With anticipation rising, the band recently breezed into SXSW. Writing a quick tour diary, Husky keyboard player Gideon Preiss reveals a little of what its like to travel to Austin, Texas as almost complete unknowns.
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My first impression of Austin Texas was that of a woman in a hot pink dress holding a hot pink sign above her head with large stencilled letters that read ‘HUSKY’. This was Ashley, our host, who would be putting us up for the next 6 nights during our stay at the famous South By South West (SXSW) music festival. SXSW is a festival where bands from all around the world come to showcase their songs often in the hope of gaining exposure and getting in front of industry folk. Some 8,000 bands come to play at the festival which apparently attracts around 400,000 punters over its duration. It feels like the city shuts down as hundreds of venues dotted around the streets host bands of all different sorts.
We arrived at Ashley’s house on our first night to find couches and mattress’s scattered across the living room floor, our beds for our five nights in Austin. For most of our time there it was the four of us, Ashley, Ashley’s roommate Kendra, Ashley’s boyfriend Dave (who I’ll talk more about shortly) and Ashley’s cat Baby Sister. Ashley often had friends popping by also. It Felt like we we’re gearing up to begin filming a new season of big brother.
I’d been told stories and read things about SXSW and how hectic it can be but I gotta say, my experience there exceeded any expectations I had…
The first time Ev met Dave:
When Dave (Ashley’s boyfriend) returned home we had all been anticipating his arrival. We’d heard a lot about him. At the time, Ev had locked himself in the bathroom as the door handle which had been deteriorating over the past few days finally gave up. Ev, from the inside conversed with Dave, who up to this point he hadn’t met, and after trying to remove the handle with a screw driver Dave thought it better kick the door down. I’d never heard a big southern man kick a door down. Sounded a bit like this.. “I’m a gonna kick that door down in three, two, one.. Crack! And then they embraced. A nice way to meet I think.
We did five shows over the festival and caught some really memorable gigs. Gary Clark Jr, Dr John and The Robert Glasper Experiment some of the highlights. At Every moment at that festival there was some wild gig going on somewhere, some freaky musician who I’d never heard of. Music and people poured out from every street corner. Even the guys busking in the streets were great. People from all walks of life paraded around proudly sporting their tats, bling, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, fake boobs, cut-offs, pets, Rockerbilly haircuts, piercings, flannel shirts, short shorts, horses and whatever else. We became accustomed to carrying our gear through swarming, drunken streets, jumping up on stage without sound checks, smashing out our tunes and hoping for the best. It was tough as one band amongst thousands of others but we managed to do ok I think. Our third and best show was part of the Sub Pop showcase and it was humbling to be included amongst the other great acts on the bill.
It’s our last night here in Austin and everyone’s drunk and exhausted. Husk is having a good old chat with Dave about George W Bush, Americans, the great songwriters and how Aussies supposedly have a reputation of being tough in the states. “Aussies are the one’s no one wants to fuck with” says Dave in his bellowing voice that resonates in my ears as I try to sleep on my couch only a few feet away.
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Husky are set to arrive on British shores next month:
May
10 Brighton The Great Escape (Festival Hub 4pm)
12 Brighton The Great Escape (Coalition 7:30pm)
13 London Cargo (Aussi BBQ)
15 London Kentish Town Bull & Gate
17 London Brixton Electric
28 London Rough Trade East