Ever since I first caught wind of the project a couple months back, I’ve been counting down the days until Fanfarlo’s iTunes session become finally available, and today is the day! Included in the EP are live recordings of five hits from their Reservoir LP as well as a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins track “We Only Come Out at Night”.

I was first introduced to the band through a post made by IGIF this past spring and was subsequently turned into a rabid fan when NPR posted an amazing Tiny Desk concert (which, with five performers, wasn’t that tiny). Although the band has been rigorously compared to Arcade Fire or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and vocalist Simon Balthazar has gotten plenty of Zach Condon-like references, they have still been able to carve out a niche for themselves, bringing in flocks of fans who appreciate their complex, smooth sounding full-band arrangements.

You can check out Fanfarlo’s version of the classic Smashing Pumpkins’s song as well as a past cover of Bonnie Prince Billy’s track “A Minor Place” below:

Fanfarlo // We Only Come Out At Night (Smashing Pumpkins Cover)

Fanfarlo // A Minor Place (Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Cover)

Well if you didn’t know it by the Beach House and Toro y Moi leaks, 2010 is just around the corner. Although we should have some idea about what’s going to happen next year, there are still a series of unknown events yet to be experienced. Well one such gap that has been filled this past week is the initial line-up for Austin’s annual massive cult-like gathering disguised as the South By Southwest Music Festival.

In typical SXSW fashion, most of the 230 bands slated to descend upon the Lone Star State capitol next spring are unknowns, however, after sifting through the 4+ pages of acts, I’ve found some well respected names that are guaranteed to put on a good show. When it comes to bands, you have the whole gamut to choose from. You like international acts, you say? Well they have obscure Norwegian singer/songwriter Julian Berntzen, popular Scottish indie-rockers Frightened Rabbit, and Colbert-approved Swedish swing/hip-hop/jazz group Movits! to choose from. Like the blog-buzzed bands? Well IGIF-approved acts Arms and Fanfarlo are scheduled to appear as well as GorrillavsBear-ed band Fergus & Geronimo and Aquarium Drunkard’s fave Warpaint. Looking for local flavor? Austin has that too with great homegrown acts Harlem and Daniel Francis Doyle.

As for my own personal favorites, quite a few caught my eye. Although I’ve been disappointed with his latest effort Summer of Fear, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson put out one of my favorite albums of 2008 with his self-titled debut, so I wouldn’t mind checking out his unsteady vocals live. The all-girl Atlanta garage rockers The Coathangers are another act that would be cool to check out since I missed their performance in Lubbock earlier this year. However of all the groups, the two bands I am most looking forward to see are the Vermont female folk trio ironically named Mountain Man as well as San Fran indie-rockers The Mantles. Both feature some incredibly thought out, easily listenable tunes that I think would work great offsetting the hustle-and-bustle nature of the festival itself.

No doubt, about a million more acts will start popping up on the schedule (both officially and unofficially), so I’ll keep you posted on any recent developments.

Mountain Man // Animal Tracks

The Mantles // Don’t Lie

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson // Buriedfed