Young the Giant
The last time Young the Giant went to South by Southwest, they were known as the Jakes, a band started seven years ago when current members Sameer Gadhia (vocals) and Jacob Tilley (guitar) were Orange County, Calif., teens. This year, Young the Giant arrived at the festival a few months after the release of their first full album, a self-titled issue from Roadrunner Records. "Going into the record it was all about keeping the energy that we bring to the live set and actually being able to record it," said drummer François Comtois. That energy came alive in both the disc and their live showcase at SXSW, where they rocked with the precision and ease of much older and practiced musicians, but with a vitality that matches their 20-something ages.