I went down to LA on Saturday for that ExMS Swedish Showcase at the Troubadour and it was fantastic. Not only did all five bands (Kristofer Åström, Holden, Kamera, Hell on Wheels and Hardcore Superstar) put on a good show, but everyone was tremendously nice and fun to hang out with. Big ups to everyone involved involved, including Christer at ExMS, Fredrik from Startracks, Alf the tour manager, HS' label folks and so on and so forth. I'm so glad I made the trip. Look for a full write-up soon. I'll try and post some of the pics I took, too.

PopMatters writer Terry Sawyer gets it partially right by hailing Hell On Wheels' SXSW performance as "my best surprise find, a three piece outfit from Norway that, played it loud and proud." Sweden, Norway, whatever. Scroll to the bottom: http://popmatters.com/features/sxsw2004/index-2m.shtml

Some of these have already been mentioned, but here's the complete list of acts from around Scandinavia heading over to Austin, TX in March for the SXSW festival: Kristofer Åström (SWE), Alamo Race Track (NL), Bettie Serveert (NL), The Defectors (DK), Demons (SWE), Division Of Laura Lee (SWE), Thomas Dybdahl (NOR), El Caco (NOR), Janne Haavisto & The Farangs (FIN), Hardcore Superstar (SWE), Hell on Wheels (SWE), The Hives (SWE), Holden (SWE), Hush (DK), The (International) Noise Conspiracy (SWE), The Jessica Fletchers (NOR), Junior Senior (DK), Kamera (SWE), The Latebirds (FIN), Randi Laubek (DK), League of XO Gentlemen (NL), Learning From Las Vegas (DK), Erja Lyytinen (FIN), Marynka and Some Lovely Girls (NL), On Trial (DK), Persil (NL), Powersolo (DK), St Thomas (NOR), Silver (NOR), Singapore Sling (ICE), Tasha's World (NL), Venus Flytrap (NL) and zZz (NL). And no matter what they say, Danko Jones is not from Sweden. Read more, get artist profiles and listen to samples: http://www.sxsw.com/music/

Dead Frog Records act Holden is yet another act that's been selected by EXMS to go to the US for SXSW. That makes the lineup: Hell On Wheels, Kamera, Kristoffer Åström and Hardcore Superstar. Anyone else?

Well it looks like Hell On Wheels is the first confirmed act for the Export Music Sweden showcase shows around SXSW. Just look at their updated tour schedule (incl. South American dates):

03/17 - Mercury Lounge, NY, NY
03/19 - Emo's, Austin, TX
03/21 - Trobadour, Los Angeles, CA
03/27 - Teatro Guararapes, Recife (BRA)
04/03 - SESC Pompeia - Chopperia, Sao Paolo (BRA)
04/04 - Atari Club, Sao Paolo (BRA)

New acts added to the City Sound Festival lineup: Marit Bergman, Hell On Wheels, Niccokick, Deportees, Strip Music, Monkeystrike, Racing Ape and Douglas Heart.

Streaming playlist: Guest DJ: Orosco

Upcoming Swedish Showcase-sponsored dates in the Baltics:

01/28 - Depo, Riga (LAT) w/Hell on Wheels
01/29 - Jelgavas Balti Krekli, Jelgava (LAT) w/Hell on Wheels
01/30 - Zabadaks, Kuldiga (LAT) w/Hell on Wheels
01/31 - Putnudiena Festival, Limbazi (LAT) w/Hell on Wheels
02/12 - Depo, Riga (LAT) w/Filled
02/13 - Jelgava (LAT) w/Filled
04/01 - Depo, Riga (LAT) w/Nervous Nellie
04/02 - Varjaend, Tartu (EE) w/Nervous Nellie
04/10 - Mózg, Bydgoszcz (PL) w/Hell on Wheels
04/13 - Ucho, Gdynia (PL) w/Hell on Wheels

Here's the nominees for the Swedish Manifest awards:

Pop/Rock:
Hell on Wheels - Oh my God What have I done
Radio Dept. - Lesser matters
Concretes - Concretes
Franke - Optimismens hån
The Knife - Deep cuts

Hardrock/Punk:
Arch Enemy - Anthems of rebellion
Burst - Prey on life
Cult of Luna - The beyond
Katationa - Viva emptiness
Nasum - Helvete

Hip hop/R&B/Soul:
Chords - The garden around the mansion
Speech Defect - Freshcoast gettin' rowdy
Soul Supreme - The Saturday nite agenda
Advance Patrol - Utskrivna
Kaah - Jideblasko international

Postrock/electronica:
Namur - Conquer me
Sagor & Swing - Allt hänger samman
Sophie Rimheden - Hi-fi
Slagsmålsklubben - Den svenske disco
Tape - Milieu

Dance/house/techno:
Hundarna från Söder - Hundarna från Söder
Forss - Soulhack
Plej - Electronic music from the Swedish leftcoast
Stateless - Art of no state
Steve Angello - ...presents tracks

Folk/World music:
Lisa Rydberg - Östbjörka
Frifot - Sluring
Anders Nygårds & Magnus Stinnerbom - Dalahyl
Anders Norrudde, Leo Svensson and Göran Fredriksson - Med hull och hår
Cerro Esperanza Band - Nubes del alma

Singer/Songwriter:
Ane Brun - Spending time with Morgan
Ulf Stureson - Allt jag ville säga
Christian Kjellvander - Introducing the past
Johan Borgert - Johan Borgert
José Gonzàlez - Veneer

Best live artist:
Looptroop
Moneybrother
Randy
Timbuktu med Damn
Killers

Best newcomer:
Miss Universum
José Gonzàlez
Shout Out Louds
Radio Dept.
Paris

Winners are chosen by the SOM (Svenska Oberoende Musikproducenter) (Swedish Independent Musicproducers) and will be announced at an awards ceremony on January 29 at Debaser in Stockholm.

Swedish webzine The Cricket has posted even more best-of lists and 2004 outlooks from various music figures including Jari Haapalainen (Bear Quartet), Mattias Alkberg (also in Bear Quartet), Niccokick, Hell On Wheels, Labrador Records and more.

Hell on Wheels has parted ways with manager Stina Lorentz. No reason was given for the split, but it's said to be a mutual decision.

I didn't make the connection when I first saw the dates posted, but that December 11 show at La Boule Noir in Paris with Moneybrother, User and Hell on Wheels is an Export Music Sweden sponsored showcase.

New at Rockfoto.nu: pics from the Access All Areas seminar including Bad Cash Quartet, Bear Quartet, The Concretes, David & The Citizens, First Floor Power, Hell On Wheels, José Gonzales, Kamera, Melody Club, Soak The Sin, Teenage Idols, Whyte Seeds and more.

Via pHinnWeb: International Helsinki/Manchester-based electronic music label Mate Recordings has updated their website with news of upcoming live events, Roger's "Art Schools, Art Students" tour, upcoming plans for Bynatone and a new Kompleksi CDR comp that's being circulated.

New pics are up at Musique One-Stop of Hell on Wheels, Switchblade, First Floor Power, Her Majesty and Cult of Luna.

Updated European tourdates for Hell on Wheels:

11/23 - Öst 100 OBS! Akustiskt, Stockholm
11/24 - Rockbåten, Silja Line
11/25 - Rockbåten, Silja Line
11/26 - Mondo - Access All Areas, Stockholm
12/05 - Barbacka, Kristianstad
12/06 - Deizel, Halmstad
12/10 - Svenska Konsulatet, Paris
12/11 - La Boule Noire, Paris
01/08 - Eurosonic, Groningen
01/29 - Depo, Riga
01/31 - Putnudiena, Limbazi
03/27 - Teatro Guararapes, Recife
04/03 - SESC Pompeia - Chopperia, Sao Paolo
04/04 - Atari Club, Sao Paolo