We were excited to see American Analog Set reunite at this year’s SXSW for the Insound party, and the AmAnSet guys were happy to get some new sneakers from us. It was a good day all around!

Although the Analog Set may have retired, front man Andrew Kenny is going full-force now with his new band The Wooden Birds. They have the same breezy, lightly rockin’ quality as his old outfit, which you can hear for yourself — Brooklyn Vegan has shared some MP3s including a few from a WOXY live broadcast. Like what you hear? Catch them on the road this summer!

The Wooden Birds - 2009 Tour Dates
May 27 Phoenix, AZ - Modified
May 28 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
May 29 San Diego, CA - Bar Pink
May 30 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door
May 31 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
June 2 Vancouver, BC - Media Club *
June 3 Portland, OR - The Doug Fir *
June 4 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
June 6 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
June 7 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
June 18 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Saloon *
June 19 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
June 20 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
June 21 Cleveland, OH - Beachland *
June 23 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bears *
June 24 Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House *
June 25 Philadelphia, PA - North Star *
June 29 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
July 2 Houston, TX - Walters on Washington *
July 4 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
* with Other Lives

Photo by Aubrey Edwards 

During SXSW we hooked up the band Akron/Family with some Saucony Originals gear including a new “Winner!” sweatband to update singer/guitarist Seth Olinsky’s look. The dude is always wearing a sweatband, and now he’s always a Winner! thanks to us.

Nearly two months after SXSW and Olinsky was still wearing that sweatband when we saw them play last night at The Middle East in Boston. Since, let’s face it, that sweatband is probably pretty nasty after weeks of touring, we made sure to give the Akron/Family guys some fresh wearables. Thanks for rockin’ our winning Originals gear fellas!

Akron/Family’s new album Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free is out now!

top photo from Il Motore in Montreal by Eva Blue on Flickr; bottom photo from Union Pool in Brooklyn by Da Coolest on Flickr

You know who black Jazz O’s look good on? Ninjas. Especially if that ninja is a member of the band Local H. Check out Local H’s new video for “Machine Shed Wrestling” and see how good Saucony Jazz O’s are for ninja vinyl warfare.