Orgone
Orgone is good enough to perfect the Meters sound when they want; they can perfect Fela’s Afrobeat sound when they want; but their head, heart, and soul go into making their own unique Orgone sound. Visit their SXSW page and listen to their track “Who Knows Who”. Deserving of all the attention Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings get (if not more).
Weds 1am – Flamingo Cantina
Thurs 9:40-10:10p – Rusty Spurs
Sat 7pm – St. Vincent de Paul (next to Continental Club) http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/8487
http://www.myspace.com/orgone
Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra
These are the people responsible for the kick ass soundtrack to new blaxploitation film Black Dynamite. Think old 70s Superfly/Shaft sounds done with fresh ideas from a new band. They play at the Scoot Inn right after Ocote Soul Sounds, two great bands back to back.
Thurs 1am at Scoot Inn – 1 Show Only!
http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/7329
http://www.blackdynamitemovie.com/music
Breakestra 
8 piece funk band, members made up from a who’s who of the LA deep funk/soul jazz/hip-hop underground (4 Orgone members used to be in Breakestra). What are the are the first three letters of FUNK?
Fri 11pm at Karma Lounge
http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/973
Bruce James Soultet
12 years ago Bruce James killed it with his band Tunji. They always had ladies dancing and opened up for the likes of B-3 legend Jimmy Smith. Bruce preceded the current soul revival craze by a decade. Listen to his “Compared to What”.
Weds 2pm – The Shed BBQ (E. 6th & Chicon)
Thurs 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Sheraton Austin
Sat 9pm – Lamberts (Represent Austin Official Showcase)
http://www.myspace.com/brucejamessoultet
Diplomats of Solid Sound
Played the Funkybatz/Hammondbeat party at the Victory Grill last year but I missed ‘em. Not making the same mistake this year. Channeling the Ikettes and Raylettes, the Diplomettes feature not one soul diva, but two!
Thurs 12:30pm – KDHX Day Party at Jovita’s
Fri 1:30pm – Day Party at Peckerhead’s
Sat 2pm – B-3 Organ Summit at Continental Club
Sat 11pm – Maggie Mae’s Rooftop
http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/110
Fitz and The Tantrums 
The bassist from Orgone is playing with them, which is a good sign. Their studio work is a little too polished, but their live show comes recommended as high energy fun.
Wed 12am – Galaxy Room Backyard
Thurs 345p – Spaceland Party at Beauty Bar Annex
Fri 3pm – RM64 Blog Party at Dirty Dog – 505 E 6th St
Sat 9:20 – 9:45pm – Dangerbird Party – Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop
http://www.fitzandthetantrums.com/
Kashmere Stage Band 
Nickname: Texas Thunder Soul. I first heard of Kashmere Stage Band thanks to KOOP DJ Rick McNulty and his Excavation Nation show. In the early 70s, Kashmere High School, in Houston’s 5th Ward, put together a tight funk band to compete in school band championships. The result was national championship titles, TV appearances, and tours of Europe & Japan. Their music was forgotten for a while, but lived on via samples from crate diggers like DJ Shadow. The band’s 2008 reunion concert is the subject of an amazing documentary called Thunder Soul. Kashmere Stage Band makes a rare appearance Monday March 15th at the Austin Chronicle Film Party at La Zona Rosa.
http://thundersoulmovie.com/
Ocote Soul Sounds
A supergroup of sorts, featuring members of Antibalas, Grupo Fantasma, and Hairy Apes BMX. Started as a side project but things clicked so well the group is gearing up for their fourth album of psychedelic afro-latin groove. Pairing them with Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra at the Scoot Inn is pure booking genius.
Tues 10pm – Momo’s
Thurs at Midnight – Scoot Inn
http://www.myspace.com/ocotesoulsounds
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings 
The Dap Kings are well known by now, even KGSR is hip to them. No one owns a stage like Sharon Jones. I mean really own it, the way you own a house, and keep those pesky kids off the lawn. I witnessed the Dap Kings keep the groove going while Sharon lectured an audience member for dancing on HER stage without her permission. He hopped off stage, then Sharon brought him right back up (with permission this time). Music still rolling, Sharon makes nice by hooking him up with someone in the audience, and the song ends with everyone happy.
Weds 9:45pm – Stubbs BBQ
Thurs 2:50 – Mohawk
Fri 12:30am – Austin Music Hall
http://www.sharonjonesandthedapkings.com/
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
The New Orleans trombonist and his funky nation return to Austin for SXSW. Big Sam got his start with the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band, but now leads his own band. It takes something special to stand out in the crowd of New Orleans horn players, and Big Sam’s talent really stands out.
Weds 4:30-6pm – Momo’s – Export Nola: Presented by Louisiana Backbeat Foundation
Thurs 123pm – East Tent, Brush Square Park (Louisiana Showcase: Only In Louisiana)
Thurs 8pm – Opal Divine’s Freehouse
http://www.bigsamsfunkynation.com/
Soul Night at Austin Music Hall
If you are badgeless and want to pay one cover to see five great bands in one place, this is it. You won’t see this lineup together in one night ever again.
Fri March 19th
7pm Mayer Hawthorne
8pm Black Joe Lewis
9pm Raphael Saadiq
10pm Smokey Robinson
11:30pm Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Who’s the best singer-songwriter from the early 70s? You know the genre: one man, his guitar, and songs with a focus on thoughtful lyrics. In this town full of acoustic guitar slingers, lots will chime in and say Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark. No one can argue Townes or Guy shouldn’t be mentioned, but lots will overlook Bill Withers. You may ask, Bill Withers the soul guy was a singer-songwriter? Heck yeah he was! The man got his start writing songs on his acoustic guitar. When he played live, it was just Bill sitting still, singing and strumming guitar. Listen to “Ain’t No Sunshine”, it starts with acoustic string picking and tapping foot. His songs are great character stories, it can be the story of his “Grandma’s Hands”, or a neighborhood like “Harlem”. Want a folky anti-war song? Listen to “I Can’t Write Left Handed”. Granted, by his second album, Bill was touring with one of the most energetic backing bands in the business, complete with funky bass and clavinet, and making hits with danceable music like “Use Me”. Underneath all that production and instrumentation still lies a well written song.
Awesome interview!
