PRESS RELEASE                                                     DATE: MARCH 1, 2004

POP CULTURE PRESS SXSW SHOWCASE

            On Thursday, March 18, 2004, Pop Culture Press is very proud to present a showcase of outstanding rock 'n' roll performers at SXSW. The show will be at The Vibe, 508 E. 6th Street, Austin, Texas, from 8pm-2am. It's an all-ages showcase, open to SXSW badge-holders and wristband wearers, and there should be a cover at the door for the general public. Here's a rundown of all the acts:

8pm The Nice Outfit (Milwaukee WI) The Nice Outfit is a powerhouse, paint peeling pop combo based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sometimes compared to The Plimsouls and early Buzzcocks. Boasting a fab guitar duo in Terry Hackbarth and Paul Wall and a top rhythm section in Jon Phillip and Nate Norfolk, the Outfit is the sound of a tidal wave crashing into Brian Wilson’s sandbox as if the summer would never end. Tough, good time garage mod, not afraid of doing a Monkees and a Magazine song in the same set. Although they've only been around for a short time, they've already snagged opening slots for The Zombies and The Figgs, and have released a debut EP on Easter Records. They're making their first big record industry appearance at SXSW this year, and we're proud to introduce you to them. www.easterrecords.net

9pm Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings (Costa Mesa CA) Walter Clevenger first made power pop history around 1995, via a low-key, limited edition cassette of his songs. Almost immediately, listeners and critics started comparing his material to Nick Lowe and Rockpile. He made his debut in 1997 with The Man With the X-Ray Eyes, an excellent album which began to attract notice and some rave reviews. 1999's Love Songs To Myself marked the debut of Walter's band, The Dairy Kings, and the record received rave reviews. After his label folded, Clevenger and the Kings released a stop-gap EP Around the Corner on his own Brewery Records in late 2002, to tide us over until the new release, Full Tilt & Swing, his most accomplished work to date. The American Nick Lowe? See for yourself. www.walterclevenger.com

10pm Susan Cowsill and the Midcity Ministers (New Orleans LA) Susan Cowsill got her start as the youngest member of '60s singing family sensation The Cowsills (on whom the popular TV series The Partridge Family was modeled). From 1979 until the late '80s, she performed and recorded as Dwight Twilley's harmony and backing singer, continuing to hone her magnificent voice and harmony skills. In the early '90s, she joined soul sister Vicki Peterson (Bangles' lead guitarist/singer) as half of The Psycho Sisters, performing original material for the first time. The duo started performing as backing singers with New Orleans ex-pats The Continental Drifters, before joining the group permanently just after Peter Holsapple of the dBs had also joined. As a lead singer and songwriter with the Drifters, as well as a still-brilliant harmony singer, Susan Cowsill started to really be noticed in her own right, releasing three outstanding albums: the self-titled debut of mostly covers in 1994, 1999's terrific Vermilion, followed by the equally fine Better Day in 2001, along with several fine singles and a CD of Fairport Convention cover songs. In 2003, Cowsill married Drifters' drummer Russ Broussard, and began recording demos for a debut solo album. Early this year, she formed a new band (and she stresses that it is a band) called The Midcity Ministers, with Broussard, Chris Knotts (guitarist/songwriter, formerly with The Ploughboys), and premier New Orleans bassist Rob Savoy (formerly the frontman for the Bluerunners, and later with Cowboy Mouth). This will be their debut performance outside of New Orleans, performing songs from their in progress debut album (mostly written by Cowsill). They've lined up a European label already, the album's tentatively scheduled for August, and they're hoping to pick up US label support and booking through performing at SXSW. Cowsill's one of the best singers around, and with this hot band of New Orleans all-stars, it should be an exciting set!

11pm The Autumn Defense (Chicago IL) John Stirratt is well-known as a member of the immensely influential Uncle Tupelo, and as a key multi-instrumentalist with Wilco. Pat Sansone has played with a wide variety of musicians including Josh Rouse, Matthew Ryan, The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Susan Cowsill, Garrison Starr, Swan Dive, and Joseph Arthur. The pair met at college at Ole Miss, and later came together in New Orleans after the recording of Wilco and Billy Bragg's Mermaid Avenue. Gathering influences from classic LA pop in the '60s (think Brian Wilson and Love), the pair came together under the name The Autumn Defense on 2001's The Green Hour, released on Stirratt's own label. Late last year, they released the excellent Circles on Arena Rock, a masterpiece of nuance and subtlety primed to drag West Coast rock into the 21st Century.    www.theautumndefense.com

12am thee Shams (Cincinnati OH) thee Shams are a hard-rockin' new garage rock band making their third appearance at SXSW. Together since ‘99, the family Sham has uniquely captured the edgy rawness of early garage, the drug-induced mysticism of yesteryear’s psychedelic rock, and the soulful blues reminiscent of Muddy Waters. With the pioneers of rock as a stepping stone the quad has pushed the limits of rock and roll without ever losing the essential elements created by maximum R&B’s greatest forefathers. Thee Shams’ debut The Shams Take Off, was compiled of recordings from basements, living rooms, and, alas, the studio. This album is testament to low budget blood, sweat, and soul-felt tears. Nationally voted one of the best top ten albums of 2001, The Shams Take Off led to touring with fellow Ohio natives The Black Keys, and brought them to the attention of Mississippi's Fat Possum records, home of Junior Kimbrough, R. L. Burnside, and Grandpaboy. Thee Shams are currently finishing their sophomore effort, You Want It, recorded in Water Valley, Mississippi. They've also got a new Stones cover to be released on Norton Records as a vinyl single. Bring your earplugs and get ready for some bluesy rockin'! www.theeshams.com

1am TBA

Pop Culture Press is based in Austin, Texas, and was founded in 1987. We've been championing independent music for more than 15 years, and our circulation has increased steadily over the last few years. We’re distributed nationally and internationally through Borders Books & Music, Tower Records, Books-A-Million, and countless independent mom-and-pop book and record stores nationwide. Our fall 2003 issue is on stands now, with features on the Flaming Lips, Steve Wynn, Lester Bangs, and a dozen more, plus Jay Farrar, Beulah, and nearly 20 more on our popular CD sampler. Our spring issue hits streets this March, featuring a cover story on the Shins, and great artists like the Von Bondies and Graham Parker featured on our CD sampler.

For more information, contact Kent Benjamin at kent.benjamin@tlc.state.tx.us, or Luke Torn at pop@grandecom.net. Press interviews are available with several of the artists. www.popculturepress.com

Stay tuned for more information on Pop Culture Press's free, open-to-the-public afternoon party at the Dog & Duck Pub, Saturday March 20, 2004, from noon to 6pm with The Trashcan Sinatras, Oranger, The Bigger Lovers, The Jessica Fletchers, The Golden Apples, and Walter Clevenger & the Dairy Kings