GIVERS
Just try not to smile or dance (or both) when GIVERS sing the bouncing lyrics "Up, up, up for the glow show." I bet you can't. Even if you closed your eyes and denied yourself the pleasure of seeing them play their hearts out at their final show at SXSW, the Afrobeat subrhythms and buoyant melody probably had you on your feet regardless.
These five young musicians from Lafayette, La., are, as their name says, givers. And what they give is bubbly, fun and energetic while showing some serious musical chops. Their talent was honed on tour with David Longstreth and his Dirty Projectors, who clearly had an influence on this band's intricate musicianship. GIVERS recently landed a deal with Glassnote Records (the label for Mumford & Sons and Phoenix) and a new album — their first full LP — comes out in May 2011.