SXSW Music: Friday & Saturday Report

Well, the train went off the rails and I stopped posting, so here's the catch-up. First Friday:

Caught David Yow (Jesus Lizard) on the street, startled him by running him down and talking to him. Wanted to know if he was playing any more for the fest (he played with the Dicks on Wed.). I was hoping to see a surprise Jesus Lizard performance, but he said he was going home that night. Damn.

Day parties brought Crystal Antlers: good, but not ready for prime time.
Cursive: something is missing, more straightforward, but not as nuanced and interesting.
Hold Steady: I get it now. And Craig Finn looks like he knows he is in the catbird seat. Happy guy, good musicianship. Fun, fun, fun.
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness: Probably better than I give them credit for, but vocals are weak, and I thought I was going to see Explosions in the Sky. Wrong place, wrong time.
Hamell On Trial: Talked to him, asked him how his STL date went on Wednesday. He said the people at the Wedge are nice, hopes they make a go of it, had about 50 people at that show. Was worried that no one would show up for him, but he had a rabid following of about 50 people that gladly sang along and laughed at all his jokes. A highlight, especially the face solo. You heard me right.
Tricky= B.O.R.I.N.G.
DEVO: Good show, fun graphics that were simple but sophisticated at the same time. Full blown show. Thank you.

Saturday:
Crowds becoming overwhelming, feet covered in moleskin, must hold on for one more night. Sounds like fun, right? right!
Echo and the Bunnymen: Eh. Sorry.
Lucero: Better than expected. Would like to see them at a small club some time. They had also partaken in some adult beverages, but held it together.
Monotonix: Broken english, excited fans in front. I was not up front.
Circle Jerks: I felt like I was back at the afternoon punk shows at 1227. Felt good, felt right. good stuff.

On to the Scoot Inn, on the North side of Highway 35, somewhat away from the crazy crowds of 6th street for some hippity hop:
2 Mex: 2 angry, needed better flow.
Scroobius Pip: Talked to him before, Dan Le Sac couldn't make it, back in england sick. He had to scratch Thursday's show with out a turntablist, but now performed a shortened set with beats sent to him DLS. Also had a great story about Dan being attacked at a petting zoo and being quarantined by the U.S. Had the crowd going.
Buck 65: got a chance to talk to him also. Just call me Chatty Cathy. This Canadian follows his own muse, and for someone who doesn't seem to be well-know in the States, he sure had a lot of folks singing along. Must be the Old Skool love I throw his way. Don't you think? No?

Goodbye Austin.
Thanks for another good time.
See you soon?

Pictures coming, maybe later. If any of them are worth a damn. Stupid camera.

SXSW Music: Wednesday Report

SXSW Old Skool Rules:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Don't worry about the other 6 bands that you want to see at this exact time. Enjoy the moment and where you are at.
3. If there is a place to sit, then sit.

Here are some quick mini-reviews of some of the bands seen on Wednesday night.
We started off the day with some Stubbs BBQ, and then ended up at the Radio Room, one of those clubs that spring up just for the fest, in the emptiness of some defunct club.
Heartless bastards are better than average, with a strong female singer, and tight band.
Lonely Dear tried to get the crowd chanting right out of the gate, and it didn't work. You have to win us over first, or you may end up looking the fool. Jaunty, did not likee.
Black Joe Lewis, who I had seen before, was even better than I remembered. Tight, fun musicians, all young, a three-piece horn section, some call and response. A soulful set enjoyed by all. They should open up for Sharon Jones, especially since she dances like Tina Turner and he bears a more than passing resemblance to Ike Turner. Just sayin'.
Justin Townes Earle was OK, in the vein of Hank Williams vocally, musically had a bit of a bluegrass bent.

Went to the Austin Music Hall to hear some music, caught some talking and performances, and missed an opportunity to talk to David Yow (Jesus Lizard) as he walked right by us. The old brain wasn't processing fast enough to realize I was missing out until after he was gone.

Warren Hood was at Antone's and his band had a bit of an old-time grand Ole Opry feel to them, very well done, and some nice musicianship.
Next on the bill was Redd Volkaert. Santa Claus + plumber + bulldog + shit-hot country blues licks= awesome.

Back to Stubbs, for the meat of the action. After getting in surprisingly quickly, we saw the Heartless Bastards agian. Still good, even more Rock with the big sound system, but I do think I've seen them enough for a while.
The Avett Brothers came out to an unforgiving mix and were, for this reason and others, alternately bad and awesome. It felt like they felt the need to rock out as much as possible to over-compensate for the large venue. They succeeded only when they let the melodies get quieter and heart-felt.
The Decemberists play what they want, nd have no need to over-compensate in any way. The new release, which they played in it's entirety, was even more prog rock, and bigger than anything they have done to date. All indications say it's a monster, and they were a joy to watch.

Tired beyond belief, it was good to leave them to be united with my sleep number bed. I tried 80, and slept like a rock.

No pictures, because some yayhoo brought his camera, but no way to connect it to his computer.

The Jesus Lizard Return, Old Skool Feels Like Christmas Just Came Early

The Jesus lizard were one of the best/scariest bands I have had the privilege to see. A band that ran with military precision musically with David Yow screaming like a rabid cat over the top of it all. Yow without the solid underpinnings of Duane Denison, David Wm. Sims, and Mac McNeilly would have seemed unlistenable. The band without Yow would have run the risk of being pedestrian. This is truly an example of chemistry that worked extremely well.

The only details so far is that they will be appearing at All Tomorrow's Parties in May, and will end their brief reunion with a final show in Chicago, their home town, in November. Will they come to St. Louis? We will have to wait and see. Until then, here they are at the Side Door, performing "Gladiator":



That David Yow can't seem to stay on the stage. man, they were a great live band. I found this comment on Youtube to be right on, in the best possible way: Michael Azerrad writes that "on the Jesus Lizard albums Albini recorded, singer David Yow sounds like a kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth; the effect is horrific."

Monitor your internet-viewing devices! Do not miss this opportunity to rock with the Jesus Lizard! HAHAHAHAHAHA!