Alexander

Alex Ebert, better known as the messianic frontman of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, released his solo effort Alexander back in March. Scaling back from the 10+ piece enthusiasm of the Zeroes, Ebert still delivers on blissed out, 70's inspired psychedelia. "Truth," with it's Caribbean flavors, licks of Paul Simon and maybe even a little Citizen Cope for the more contemporary of our contemporaries? whistles and trips just enough to mask politically-minded lyrics. You don't get serious until you GET serious.

Alexander // Truth

Rafter

Found this firey-flamey haired reggaetonite on my shuffle play, and started to do a little shuffle me'self. Rafter Roberts hails from a nontraditional upbringing in Sebastopol, CA - I mean, obviously. His name is Rafter. And for the record I think it's total crap that I come from equally hippie-dippie parents and ended up with KATHRYN. Why couldn't I be Luna Sailcloth or something?

Roberts did all kinds of musical things to lead to his 6th and most recent release, Animal Feelings, and win the tip of the hat as "Best Alternative Album" at the San Diego Music Awards. A few items of note; playing instruments in-utero. Partnering to start the successful commercial music house, Singing Serpent, with whom I have worked in my illustrious advertising career (weird!). And getting signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records. He has a far wittier blog than mine, which I will not share with you so you can cross-compare and stop reading ES. And I'm hedging my bets that his shows are as fun as a steamer chest of lemurs.

{disclaimer: this may or may not be our man, but those bun-bun ears are pretty slick}

Rafter // Paper

K'Naan

Truth time. I didn't get to catch K'Naan's set on Friday, still on a plane to Austin. But I've heard from reliable, upright citizens that it was siiiick. So he's going up anyway; please excuse my second-hand enthusiasm.

A Somali-Canadian hip hop artist who's name means "traveller" in his native language, Keinan Abde Warsame lived through the Somali Civil War as a child. Coming over with his family to eventually settle in Toronto, Canada, his past is the inspiration for much of his American and African politically conscious lyrics. The featured track off his latest album, "Troubador," features him rapping in both Somali and English with Mos Def and Chali 2Na chiming in.

Sidenote: Mos Def's cover of Radiohead's "All I Need" on Saturday was one for the ages.

He calls to mind Bob Marley and has similar loops to Eminem, but he's eight miles away from Slim Shady. K'Naan's craft is "urgent music with a message" calling for an end to the bloodshed in his homeland.

K'Naan // America

Sean Bones

Not to be confused with Mike Bones or Skeleton Bones, Sean Bones is a collective of three quiet guys and the somewhat douchey frontman, Sean Bones. Ha I'm joking, stop taking me so seriously. Douchey is a relative term. See for yourself in the IFC behind-the-scenes SXSW clip below.



Sean Bones // Dancehall