SXSW Music! Geekscape Was There!
The first rule about the music portion of South By Southwest (or all of it, really) is that you must realize that it will be impossible to see and do all that you wish. There will always be a band you’ll miss due to distraction elsewhere, due to a really, really annoyingly long line to get into a venue even if you have a badge, or due to taking a disco nap so you can rage on through the late night. There will always be the coulda, woulda, shoulda. I say, let it go. These acts generally tour, a lot, and there’s always next year, right? Or later this year at another festival? Right?
You got it, dude.
My couldas included neglecting to catch Casxio, and their song, “I Just Wanna Have Sex With You” (insert teenage giggles). Very sadly, I missed A-Trak, both with Travis Barker and solo, I also missed Spoon, (but honestly, I just couldn’t make it, with Jonathan London was doing stand-up across town!) and I missed seeing Bone Thugs N Harmony with their assortment of Hennessy, beer and Grey Goose bottles onstage.
I hope you all enjoyed our daily video recaps! I saw more than I can list, from musicians playing on street corners, in clothing stores, in coffee houses, in tents, in hotel lobbies. Let’s hear the highlights!
TALLY HALL!
I had the chance to chat with Andrew Horowitz and Ross Federman from Tally Hall and catch their showcase. (Look for this on the site soon!) They are the hardest working, suit-and-colored-tie-wearing, quirky, harmonizing, indie-rock band in the business. You might have caught their cover of The Killers’ “Smile Like You Mean It” on the soundtrack to “The O.C.,” or recently on tour with Rooney, or were a fan of the ten-episode, music meets improv, meets sketch comedy, meets nerd-fun series, The Tally Hall Internet Show (found on their website). If not, get acquainted with Tally Hall. Their new record is in the can, and will be released sometime this year. Until then, pick up “Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Machine” and prepare to fall in love.
DR. DOG!
Big fan of this throw-back to the golden age of classic rock. They have a new album, (titled, Shame, Shame) and a new label putting it out (Anti-) on April 6th. They packed the day stage of the Convention Center with old tunes and new. One thing, though: Dr. Dog. Please stop wearing your sunglasses indoors. You have not a thing to hide behind with music this good. OK? Thanks.
COURT YARD HOUNDS!
Made up of two-thirds of the Dixie Chicks, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, (the fiddle/banjo/mandolin/etc/etc players, not the Chick who commented about W Bush and was condemned by the Religious Right) are also known as the Court Yard Hounds. Solid musicianship and iffy name choices are the name of the game. The sisters wrote songs that are at times bluegrassy (embellished by a top-notch backing band) and at times adult-contemporary-country. I was among the youngest in the crowd, and of the younger women, one of the few not wearing a cowboy hat. Their debut record is due May 4th, and they’ll be doing select dates on the Lilith Fair.
MIIKE SNOW!
This was good times, noodle salad, right here. Came highly recommended by someone I respect. The group (minus the American lead singer) are from Sweden, whose exports, be it clothing, furniture, music or Volvo automobiles…I’m always a big fan. Think I also became a fan of Miike Snow’s dance-rock. Check ‘em out.
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS!
She’s a solid singer and a bold-colored-dress-wearer, and her band probably breathes a sigh of relief when getting to tour with her over their other front woman. (The Dap-Kings, among other assorted projects associated with their Dap Tone Records, is Amy Winehouse’s backing band and responsible for the classic sound of the oft-heralded “Back To Black.”) They definitely never fail to put on a solidly fun, funky, horns-driven show…but, is that Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes onstage, dancing during their show? Brent Moore interviewed him on the red carpet for “The Runaways,” as well. Must be super-fun to pop up in the most random of places because you can?
HOLE!
Welp, it happened. After an introduction by Margaret Cho, who proclaimed that the band changed her life in the 90s, that she stopped wearing underwear and stopped eating cheese as a result, Courtney Love And Her New Band Members Because She Is The Only Original Hole-ster Left, took the stage. Ms. Love, bedazzled in a feathered headdress and fierce runway-ready outfit, made me wonder who was injecting her with Botox, and could this person please stop? To reference my favorite saying regarding keeping horses, “she looked like she was ridden hard and put away wet.” Despite appearances, and the way it sounded, the group opened with the most fitting thing of all: a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil.” No comment.
STEEL TRAIN!
Jonathan sat down with Jack and Evan for what was a very candid interview; that you will soon see, here on your favorite site! I caught a few of Steel Train’s marathon of SXSW performances, and was moved each time. Their new album drops June 15th, and based on what has been played live both at SXSW and on the road in the past few months, it is a creative, innovative step for the band.
The band performed acoustic for Spin, and you can catch two of their new songs here!
As you can see, we had a great time in Austin. Until next fest…
