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SXSW Day 5 2013 - The Finale |
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Despite an early night..this day was still based around the theory that we both needed some rest. Breakfast and lounging started the day off and then the leisurely walk over to La Zona Rosa for the Rolling Stone party. La Zona Rosa also will be the site for the Prince show tonight and security is already there and they are setting up some new barricades for what would turn out to be the huge lineup to come tonight.
Thankfully...Badges allow us to wander in and get a strategic seat/picnic table outside to grab some free food/craft beer/and...makers mark bourbon based mixed drinks! Sandra is going all out as she knows her day is going to be an easy one so she dives into the bourbon based mixed drinks and all I can think about is how I have a huge show tonight..so I stick to beer!
The showcase today is not going to hurt us..push us in anyway. Really wanted Sandra to get to see Jake Bugg and Lord Huron is also playing and this is going to give us a chance to really hear them play and lounge about!
Surfer Blood come on, and yes..this could be the 6th or 7th time I have seen them but its good to see them up close and they again provide a solid set.
Next up...Gus & Scout. Had never heard of them before and while they perform really well..smooth alt-country songs I cant help but think there is more to this as the lineup today features a few popular artists and these guys (while still putting on a solid set) are really new to me. A little google search answers that question, as Gus..is Gus Wenner (son of Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner) and Scout Willis is daughter of Bruce and Demi. These two hung out together as kids and grew to love the same music and thus...Gus & Scout.
Next up...Jake Bugg
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SXSW Music Day 4 2013 |
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One thing to note before day 4 begins..the lottery. There were a number of lotteries this year at SXSW. Started last year to award lucky winners a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen, this year, the showcase list that required a lottery winning was longer. There was Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Green Day, Sound City, Depeche Mode, Prince, and Justin Timberlake. Sandra and I entered all the lotteries and we did not have a lot of luck. One thing to note, it was clear after the Nick Cave and Sound city night at Stubbs..if you hung around outside in a badge line long enough..you could eventually get in, which is what some friends did. You really have to want to go though as you miss a lot of music standing outside and it was for that reason that we chose not to..
Friday has another leisurely start..after breakfast we roam the city getting some sun and waiting for the Vegan party to start. Had to catch Half Moon Run there as this would be our last chance. Got inside for some free vegan food and a quick drink and on came Half Moon Run. The band is comprised of British Columbia kids that moved to Montreal when they got signed to a label there and ..this band sounds airy and dreamy like you would expect from a west coast band. Though the lead singer has been sick for over a week now, you cant tell from his voice. According to label friends at this show..the band just keeps getting better and tours in Canada with bands like Muse and Mumford & Sons is hurting nothing..their reputation is growing. They are quite polished and the set is tight and sounds great..if you get a chance, go see them.
Next up is another must see here in Ausin. Toy hit a lot of my friends Top 10 cd's of the year. What I had seen online and what I heard was certainly nothing new and I liked it so if they put on a good rock show, fine with me. The band comes on and they played some loud rock n roll! The band is tight and its spot the influence time but the band is really good.. turns out lead singer is Rose Elinor Dougalls brother and the band..they are the "Jin Jang Jong" from Joe Lean and the "Jin Jang Jong"..they make no apologies for sounding like a lot of different bands and its a quality show.
Now a quick lunch and its back to Paste party on 6th street. Starts with an old favourite..The View. Little Scottish kids have gotten older but they play a set that is strong in new and old songs and looks like they have plenty of fans still.
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SXSW Music Day 3 2013 |
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At one point, our plans for every morning in Austin included a run and the early morning radio station sponsored shows..well, that didn't happen. Turns out wandering around the city and standing at gigs all day and night tires out this old guy so...our first band of the day on Thursday..is
Billy Bragg at 11:30 am at Mellow Johnnys. Again, this has quickly become one of my favorite places to see shows and if bands are playing there that I have any interest in, I am there. Bragg, like Robyn Hitchock, is a story teller. He is a funny guy, even when he is trying to be politically serious, and his songs are well written and he can still put on a solid, amusing show. He played a number of songs off the new album and some classics, including Great Leap Forward that has been completely re written to include modern politics and it was quite clever.
Thursday was always going to be the day Sandra and I spent primarily at the Paste party, at Stages on 6th. It is a fantastic venue with an inside and outside stage with shows back to back. When the band inside is off, head on out into the sun, grab a beer and watch another band that is just about to start
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SXSW Day 2 2013 |
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Day 2 and another sunny day in Austin
Get up for free breakfast and realise..I am getting old. The early morning flight..then a night full of rock n roll have combined to make my poor old legs feel like Crap!!!
But..show must go on and we have a plan
First show of the day is at Mellow Johnny's bike shop and some great story telling from Robyn Hitchcock. In between the wild and wacky stories he told, some of whom went on some weirdly wonderful tangents, there were great songs. He is an entertainer, sometimes a very odd one, but an entertainer nonetheless and when you can watch him in the comfort of the bike shop setting, it makes it even better.
Now, off to Waterloo records and their lineup this year was immense! Today, it was a quick trip over to check out Thurston Moore's new band Chelsea Light Moving. Band comes on to a full house...place is packed, and the band is loud!! Just like Sonic Youth, they play hard and they play well and it is all about rock n roll. Every song seems to be a protest song....and announced as such. Looks like Thurston is on a mission. People are enjoying the show and new album is really strong and it comes across in the live show.
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SXSX Music - Day 1 2013 |
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After much planning and stress over planning, we hit Austin on March 12th to 80 degree temperatures and a city full of music. After the usual trip to Opal Divine's for a beautiful micro brewery beer..then Whole foods to pretend to buy groceries that were good for us, quick pit stop at our hotel and then Moonshine Restaurant for a Day 1 feast of tasty steak and more beer Then...Latitude 30 for the start..the British Music Embassy;.
The Huw Stephens hosted....Tuesday at British Music Embassy is always fun. Everyone wants to start off well, up first.. Y Niwl Welsh Surf Instrumental band. Wicked little band, no vocals, in fact no words at all (Huw pointed out before they played that there will be no banter...just 30 minutes of surf punk instrumental music...tasty way to start
Lucy Rose ..have been following her since her time with Bombay Bicycle Club..her performance started off with sound issues as they often do in Austin but the set built up nicely and the last two songs were perfection...she does have a lovely voice!
Tall Ships were up next..solid psychedelic rock with plenty of tempo changes. Good change from Lucy Rose..needed a bit of a boost
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