SXSW - 12 bands, 12 hours, Pure Bliss

[scentopine]

Just the small sets - more or less in order. Catch SXSW before developers plow down the last remaining bar in Austin and replace it with condo's and high end clothing boutiques.

Its hard to describe the event - everyone carrying gear around, you might pass by someone completely famous, everyone just blends into the crowd, some paparrazi follow the famous types but, generally, it is low key and a completely fun event.

I think this is everything. I generally stay away from the mainline acts since they tour regularly and lines can be hours and hours.

Rusty Spurs
1. Deadbeat Darling http://www.deadbeatdarling.com/ Great rock'n band
2. A 3 piece trippy band from LA - (Note to bands - put your name on the drum kit or something!)
3. Elizabeth Cook - http://www.myspace.com/elizabethcook - first class twang kick'n alt-country (which is simply country music that doesn't suck)
4. Joshua James - http://www.joshuajames.tv - whoa, this was an intense set - really great songs, lyrics, amazing

Rusty Spurs is a gay cowboy bar in Austin. Yep. During SXSW it has nothing to do with gay or straight and it is simply a great venue for SXSW and every act is first rate, Daddario is main sponsor of acts.

Lovejoys
5. Beach Fossils http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils - Great set - guitars, reverb and it is a bit retro-surf
6. javelin - http://www.myspace.com/hotjamzofjavelin - trippy electropop, very cool, very swinging

Lovejoys brews own beer and is one a few bars left in Austin that is about old Austin before multi-national corporations started tearing down the bars and putting up $300K condos whose residents complain about the music and UT kids so they passed a noise ordinance. Sorry to say it really isn't the music capital of the world anymore, but sxsw still is great. You should catch it before they strangle the life out of downtown and it becomes just a clone of Dallas/Houston.

Nunos
7. Catfish Daniel's w/ Pinetop Perkins http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/index/catfishdaniels#tab=show_bills Seriously crazy guitar and blues.

Nuno's is the only dedicated blues bar in Austin. I don't think they have an special sxsw showcase but still feature great bands all the time.

The outdoor tent that used to be a bar that I can't remember anymore
8. We Were Promised Jetpacks http://www.myspace.com/wewerepromisedjetpacks

Back to Rusty Spurs
9. Grace Potter & Nocturnals http://www.gracepotter.com/ - Holy Smokes - is this really the Grace Potter I remember from years ago? Un-f'n - believable. Kick Ass. Seriously gifted musician, singer, knock out gorgeous, who is perched on serious rock star status. If you were lucky enough to see this, you witnessed and extraordinary show that blew the doors off and was one of the best real rock shows I've seen in years. Does White Rabbit in new Alice and Wonderland movie.

Texas Rockfest
10. Watch a metal band from Washington State whose bass player had a 12 string bass guitar. Said it takes 45 minutes to restring.

Darwins Pub
Jeffry David Goldford - http://www.jeffreydavidmusic.com/tour.html, great songwriter, great backing band, r&b - a bit of a rarity at sxsw. Red Gorilla had several good R&B acts.
Darwin's is a popular pub with good stage for good view and good sound system.

Treasure Island
11. Liquid Kids http://www.myspace.com/theliquidkidsband - howling vocals, howling guitars, nice blue Ibanez Artcore, exactly like mine except mine needs to be put out of its misery.

Agave
12. A crazy metal band from buffalo(?) - Did not catch their name. Huge amps with Sovtek head driving right into a brick wall. I listened from outside :-) Really crazy sound but completely awesome and tightly synchronized and a bit terrifying (was that a skinned weasel hanging from the mic stand?).

Shout out to all the musicians who make the pilgrimage - thank you all for hard work and dedication. You are all amazing!

[dave29]

1. saw Zookeeper last night

loved it. I can't be out in live music for too long (serious ear issues) -- but had a great time downtown last night. :) Thanks for youe report!

[hobbit709]

2. I was at South By Shut The Hell Up at Trophy's last night.

[scentopine]

6. Cool - an interesting thing was coming out of a metal show

and there are these two bag pipers in the middle of the intersection in full Scottish regalia playing at full throttle, while in the background the sound of muffled telecasters and fender bass thumps drifting around - there were about 30 or 40 people watching them and they just were starring (in disbelief?)

sort of surreal, but it worked :-)

[Initech]

3. That settles it, I'm going to SXSW next year.

I've been hearing about how awesome this thing is for the last week and now I'm ready to pack my bags.

[scentopine]

5. If you love all types of music, you will not be disappointed !

[Initech]

8. I do love all types of music.

Fuck my vacation this year involves going to New York to go see Iron Maiden. :headbang:

[Arctic Dave]

4. Niiice.

[Sugarcoated]

7. I envy you.

We're gonna get down there one of these years.

[Yunomi]

9. Huh. Yeah, I know...

I've been stuck in my house since Wednesday. I can't even walk to the corner bar for the crowds... Oh well, it'll be over soon.