SXSW Review
In short- it was a blast. I'm probably not gonna get a wristband next year. Too much of a pain to deal with.
Day 0-Tues March 13
Red Eyed Fly Pre-Show
-Human Being Lawnmower-I remember them being loud.
-Youngmond Grand- Halfway decent. I think they were going for the Wilco vibe.
-Tia Carrera-always with the kicking ass
-New Disaster- Fronted by a former co-worker Rich, who was also in Natchet Taylor. They were rockin', I just didn't dig them that much. Sorry.
-Lions-I really like the new songs, but they were a little off tonite.
-Rockland Eagles-I didn't technically see them play (I've already seen them a few dozen times), but I could clearly hear them from where we were drinking and talking at Sidebar.
Day 1-Wed March 14
Spoon supposedly was playing at Antones that night. When I was driving in at 8.30 or so, there was already a line about a block long. No thanks.
-Lodger- Finland night at "Uncle Flirty's Loft" (yes, that's a real bar here on 6th street)- They were pretty rockin'. They played a cover of Bowie's "Modern Love" where the only thing in common with the original was the lyrics.
-Moros Eros at Emos Annex-I thought this band had potential because as I was walking by, the venue was playing Refused's 'The Shape of Punk to Come' as the 'pre-show' music, which is probably my favorite punk album after Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. I wasn't very impressed with the actual band. I left after a few songs.
-Fatal Flying Guilloteens at Red Eyed Fly- High energy punk band.
Went over to my brother's- he was hosting a band called the Hearers from Kansas City (where we grew up). The bass player for the band was in my brother's high school band, so I, by extension, have known him for 15+ years. Much drinking and discussion was had.
Day 2-Thurs March 15
Anodyne, the record label in Kansas City that the Hearers are on, threw a day party at the Parish. I got there too late to see the Hearers (parking during SXSW was obscene. Most of the lots I usually park at were full and/or charging $18 for parking. I eventually parked about 10-15 blocks away and walked down.
-Architects- Good rock band from KC. Check em out.
-Meat Puppets-pretty famous band from Austin. I would say that they were 'loose' or out of practice with their new stuff. Curt Kirkwood, their guitarist, is still pretty fantastic.
Went down to the Lucky Lounge, which is kind of a swank club. They were having a quasi-private party, although we had no problem getting in. Free beer and food (they had some chilled noodles and sammiches and stuff).
-Greta Gaines- Alt country type stuff. I wasn't paying too much attention.
-Young Heart Attack-Loud rock band that broke up for a while, and has now re-formed with most of their previous members. They didn't seem to have the punch they used to, and they aren't playing any of their older material.
Day 3-Friday March 16
Whoopsie Day Show at Trophy's
-The Action Is- Probably one of my favorite Austin bands. 2 guitar rock, good songwriting, great people to hang out with.
Pok-e-Jos
-+/--Had to go see +/-. Probably one of the top 5 bands that I've 'discovered' at SXSW in the 10 years or so that I've gone. Their stuff live is just as tight as their recorded stuff.
Back to Trophy's for more of the Whoopsie Day Show
-Open Hand-Pretty decent rock band. Chick keyboard player was a real cutie.
-Lions-They came in and tore the place up.
-Valient Thorr-These guys are bearded and long-haired and their lead singer looks like a Tolkeinian dwarf. Hard rock. These guys were on the good side of Spinal Tap's goofiness.
-Public Enemy at Auditorium Shores-One of my friends that was at this show said that there was a couple near him that stomped off in a huff when Public Enemy exhorted the crowd to chant 'Fuck George Bush'. Yeah, I wouldn't think that PE would be playing any UT Young Republican meetings any time soon. They were great. Political music that I can shake my ass to. The place was packed.
-You Am I at Dirty Dog (one of the Austin bars that constantly is under new ownership)- Aussie post-punk. Decent stuff. Supposedly David Cross was in the crowd, and my brother spent 15 minutes walking around in order to kiss his ass.
Red Eyed Fly-
Dios- My brother thought this was a great punk band. It was neither a punk band nor great.
Day 4-Saturday March 17
CDFuse.com/Fifth Column Day show @ Red Eyed Fly
-Sounds Under Radio-I caught the tail end of their set. I'll have to check them out again.
-Driver F- High energy rock band. I think half the band is under 21, and all of their fans were. Music was pretty decent.
Bourbon Rocks
Blackhearted Force-These guys were okay. They took forever to get off stage, tho. SXSW gives about 15 minutes to get the previous band offstage and the next one on and miked, etc. This band took over 10 minutes to get their stuff off stage.
Lions-Another good showing. I was kinda disappointed at the turnout. They weren't letting cash only people into the venue even though it wasn't near capacity. Bah.
Habana Calle Patio
+/-- I hurried down 6th Street to catch this show. They booked them at a really small venue, maybe 100 people. There were probably as many outside waiting to get in when they started playing. Not a chance. Luckily, they were playing outside, so I stood outside and listened to a few songs before leaving.
Back to Bourbon Rocks (I went back here because that's where my brother was hanging out, and there was this really cute bartender there, too)
Brazil- Decent stuff. The drummer had one of the largest ride cymbals I've ever seen.
Schoolyard Heroes-The singer had an Evanescence sort of voice (yes, it was a woman).
Day 0-Tues March 13
Red Eyed Fly Pre-Show
-Human Being Lawnmower-I remember them being loud.
-Youngmond Grand- Halfway decent. I think they were going for the Wilco vibe.
-Tia Carrera-always with the kicking ass
-New Disaster- Fronted by a former co-worker Rich, who was also in Natchet Taylor. They were rockin', I just didn't dig them that much. Sorry.
-Lions-I really like the new songs, but they were a little off tonite.
-Rockland Eagles-I didn't technically see them play (I've already seen them a few dozen times), but I could clearly hear them from where we were drinking and talking at Sidebar.
Day 1-Wed March 14
Spoon supposedly was playing at Antones that night. When I was driving in at 8.30 or so, there was already a line about a block long. No thanks.
-Lodger- Finland night at "Uncle Flirty's Loft" (yes, that's a real bar here on 6th street)- They were pretty rockin'. They played a cover of Bowie's "Modern Love" where the only thing in common with the original was the lyrics.
-Moros Eros at Emos Annex-I thought this band had potential because as I was walking by, the venue was playing Refused's 'The Shape of Punk to Come' as the 'pre-show' music, which is probably my favorite punk album after Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. I wasn't very impressed with the actual band. I left after a few songs.
-Fatal Flying Guilloteens at Red Eyed Fly- High energy punk band.
Went over to my brother's- he was hosting a band called the Hearers from Kansas City (where we grew up). The bass player for the band was in my brother's high school band, so I, by extension, have known him for 15+ years. Much drinking and discussion was had.
Day 2-Thurs March 15
Anodyne, the record label in Kansas City that the Hearers are on, threw a day party at the Parish. I got there too late to see the Hearers (parking during SXSW was obscene. Most of the lots I usually park at were full and/or charging $18 for parking. I eventually parked about 10-15 blocks away and walked down.
-Architects- Good rock band from KC. Check em out.
-Meat Puppets-pretty famous band from Austin. I would say that they were 'loose' or out of practice with their new stuff. Curt Kirkwood, their guitarist, is still pretty fantastic.
Went down to the Lucky Lounge, which is kind of a swank club. They were having a quasi-private party, although we had no problem getting in. Free beer and food (they had some chilled noodles and sammiches and stuff).
-Greta Gaines- Alt country type stuff. I wasn't paying too much attention.
-Young Heart Attack-Loud rock band that broke up for a while, and has now re-formed with most of their previous members. They didn't seem to have the punch they used to, and they aren't playing any of their older material.
Day 3-Friday March 16
Whoopsie Day Show at Trophy's
-The Action Is- Probably one of my favorite Austin bands. 2 guitar rock, good songwriting, great people to hang out with.
Pok-e-Jos
-+/--Had to go see +/-. Probably one of the top 5 bands that I've 'discovered' at SXSW in the 10 years or so that I've gone. Their stuff live is just as tight as their recorded stuff.
Back to Trophy's for more of the Whoopsie Day Show
-Open Hand-Pretty decent rock band. Chick keyboard player was a real cutie.
-Lions-They came in and tore the place up.
-Valient Thorr-These guys are bearded and long-haired and their lead singer looks like a Tolkeinian dwarf. Hard rock. These guys were on the good side of Spinal Tap's goofiness.
-Public Enemy at Auditorium Shores-One of my friends that was at this show said that there was a couple near him that stomped off in a huff when Public Enemy exhorted the crowd to chant 'Fuck George Bush'. Yeah, I wouldn't think that PE would be playing any UT Young Republican meetings any time soon. They were great. Political music that I can shake my ass to. The place was packed.
-You Am I at Dirty Dog (one of the Austin bars that constantly is under new ownership)- Aussie post-punk. Decent stuff. Supposedly David Cross was in the crowd, and my brother spent 15 minutes walking around in order to kiss his ass.
Red Eyed Fly-
Dios- My brother thought this was a great punk band. It was neither a punk band nor great.
Day 4-Saturday March 17
CDFuse.com/Fifth Column Day show @ Red Eyed Fly
-Sounds Under Radio-I caught the tail end of their set. I'll have to check them out again.
-Driver F- High energy rock band. I think half the band is under 21, and all of their fans were. Music was pretty decent.
Bourbon Rocks
Blackhearted Force-These guys were okay. They took forever to get off stage, tho. SXSW gives about 15 minutes to get the previous band offstage and the next one on and miked, etc. This band took over 10 minutes to get their stuff off stage.
Lions-Another good showing. I was kinda disappointed at the turnout. They weren't letting cash only people into the venue even though it wasn't near capacity. Bah.
Habana Calle Patio
+/-- I hurried down 6th Street to catch this show. They booked them at a really small venue, maybe 100 people. There were probably as many outside waiting to get in when they started playing. Not a chance. Luckily, they were playing outside, so I stood outside and listened to a few songs before leaving.
Back to Bourbon Rocks (I went back here because that's where my brother was hanging out, and there was this really cute bartender there, too)
Brazil- Decent stuff. The drummer had one of the largest ride cymbals I've ever seen.
Schoolyard Heroes-The singer had an Evanescence sort of voice (yes, it was a woman).