As I sit in the airport departing Austin, Texas for the second consecutive year, I begin the long process of looking back over the last six days, in which an overload of music was shot my way, courtesy of the fine folk at South by Southwest (SXSW).
First, it needs to be established that SXSW is an event without definition. It is a conference, a music festival, an opportunity to meet with the world’s music community – but it’s more than that. For fans of music, or film, or the interactive (which make up the three arms of the event), the event transcends something of a religious experience. Everyone who attends the event will have a different experience from the next – but all will tell you the same thing as they depart the city: There is no chance in hell I’m missing this next year. Perhaps this is the only true definition of SXSW: unmissable.
In its 25th year, SXSW threw its record breaking amount of attendees a week they will never forget. Perhaps it will be remembered for the madness of the free Strokes gig or the surprise (though anticipated) performance of Death from Above 1979 (insert riot here). But mostly it will be remembered for what it is remembered for every year: the packed streets, packed bars, packed stages, ringing ears, sore feet, broken arms, lost hearts, amazing food, beautiful people, unique city, free food, free booze, the hangovers and the great music – yes indeed, SXSW has it all.
I arrived on Tuesday (March 15th), the unofficial opening night of the music portion of SXSW, following a day flight from New York, getting updated by the minute on the rumoured Foo Fighters gig. I would later find out it was happening at Stubb’s, and quickly lined up. However, the gig was reserved for the interactive and platinum badges, and as such I was out of luck (our photographer, however, was thankfully more fortunate). Feeling rejected by one of my favourite bands, my first night was shaping up to be something of a disappointment. But always count on Austin to throw something pretty damn cool to even the most weary of travelers.
Ahead of the Foo Fighters shitfight, I made it just in time to see Sounds Australia put on their annual Block Party, featuring Dan Brodie, The Boat People and many more. Dan played an acoustic set, sans his band the Grieving Widows, providing us with a pretty special performance. The Boaties, meanwhile, provided the crowd with a taste of their latest record Dear Darkly. The event was an brilliant opportunity for the interactive and film attendees to listen to some wonderful Australian music – and the organisers were even kind enough to let us speak about the book and the site!
As the night progressed, and after I was denied the Stubb’s experience, I headed along to the British Music Embassy for the 7Digital party. Oxford’s Jonquil were well into their set when I arrived, a band who are probably sick of being compared to artists like Foals. Rather, I would say they blend a mix of Passion Pit, Two Door Cinema Club, and more notably (and vocally), Doves. Throw in instrumentals that place them on par with The National, in some sort of a 60s, 70s era, and you have yourself a damn fine young band. Like so many bands at South by Southwest, this is a band who worked their arses off with a pile of shows throughout the week, definitely tossing their hat into the “one to watch” category. Check out their record One Hundred Suns, much of which they played tonight.
London based buzz band Pulled Apart by Horses, followed and put on an absolute killer set – the first truly great performance of the event. They were rock and roll through and through – delivering the sort of high energy and intensity that Dillinger Escape Plan impressed me with in 2010. Jumping around on the bar, crowd surfing, screaming at the top of their lungs and playing some impressive music in the same breath, Pulled Apart by Horses are an amazing live band. How this translates on record, however, I am unsure, but plan to discover soon enough. Think Dillinger mixed in with a bit of Les Savy Fav and you get a taste of what they’re all about. Love it!
Craving a meal, we moved along to the CNN Grill next for some complimentary sliders (mini burgers), prawns and cocktails. Nom nom nom. Playing their second consecutive SXSW, J Roddy Walston and the Business were our entertainment on arrival. Playing tracks off Hail Mega Boys, among other J Roddy showed himself off to be an extraordinary musician, owning the piano and providing the crowd with a good dose of a unique brand of Southern American rock and roll. Single “Don’t Break The Needle” was a set highlight. Ponderosa followed, another band who played SXSW 2010, and another band with a good amount of piano in their Southern rock and roll mix. They were a brilliant band to pair with J Roddy – both providing a great kick off to my SXSW experience. I imagine there’s some video on the CNN website of the performances?
And with that, my week was off to a kick arse start. But with Queens of the Stone Age just around the corner, you better believe it had barely even begun…
