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.
Back inside, its a Canadian favourite...Ron Sexsmith. Figured since we sat and ate breakfast beside him this morning, we should make an attempt to fit in one of his shows. Ron comes on and immediately takes requests from the crowd..who does that these days? Guess Ron does..and not that he had to win over the crowd but they are having a hoot. He really is similar to many story tellers we have seen..like Bragg and Hitchcock..just much more subdued. Amazing after all these years, Ron gets more and more confident on stage and his songs are brilliant as much as they are beautiful..great to see.
Next band up is a new band On an On. Don't know much about them other then they use to be in a band called Scattered Trees. They are on the outside stage, and we stand in the sun listening to their bass, keyboard driven summer sounds and it works well. They are a dreamy bunch and hard not to like them..pretty happy bunch.
Now the party is starting to get busy..and inside is St Albans own...Zombies. The place is packed for their set ...inside and outside looking in and the band push through a hits laden set which sounds pretty good. While it looks like the boys on stage are labouring a bit they start off with "She's not there" and "Time of the Season" and its good to see..but..I have to bolt and get across the street to see another band I have been dying to see, so I leave Sandra at Paste and off I go
Amazing how I can just run out across the street from Paste Party to see one my new favourites Girls Names. This band from Ireland are fantastic. Sometimes Gloomy, post punk, gothic ,joy divisionish, hard rocking 8 minute songs..I love their sound. Lead guitarist is fantastic, his voice is very emotive and reminds me of many but stands on his own and plays straight ahead, no stopping..just creating a buzz in the bar and getting peoples attention is no problem. They are a very good band and well worth the quick trip across the street!
Now its back to Paste party to find Sandra enjoying the sun as the 1975 come on ! Great to see these youngsters again and no apologies on this one..i really like these guys. They are playing their 11th show and lead singer is looking a little tired but he pushes through and gets the crowd moving. The band play another solid 40 minute set and we now take off for the comfort of the Convention Center
In the Center and we get upstairs in time for the 5 song Vampire Weekend set. One of only 3 shows the band did at SXSW..root canal surgery apparently affecting their ability to play more so this is our chance. They play a new song which sounds rather good and it fits well with the old classics but it seemed it took them longer to set up then the time they actually played on the stage. They do sound great and you would expect that, guess its good to know that their new stuff will fit in with what many of us have loved from their classic songs.
Quick trip back to the hotel reveals the exciting news...I have won one of only 250 passes to see Prince and A Tribe Called Quest on Saturday night. Sandra..not a fan of either..is equally as happy that she didn't win! Now my plans have changed for the evening. Saturday is going to be a long day ....and night (little did I know how long) so I reworked our evening to get a little rest.
After dinner..we head back to British Music Embassy to see the very lovely singer songwriter Luke Sital Singh. He is not going to overwhelm you with his energy or threaten your eardrums..is just very lovely, depressing, songs sung on his own centre stage.
Then we are off to more beautiful music at the Stages on 6th and the Readymade Records party (Brendan Benson's label) first off is the lovely Irish duo The Lost Brothers. This Irish duo is a wonderfully simple, engaging and sweet sounding band. They have had years together to perfect their sound and with the help of Brendan Bensons label..their new cd has done that. This really is a fantastic duo if you like the indie/folk sound
Next up is the Howlin Brothers. Big buzz around Austin about this three piece and is a must see. They mix their love of Americana with bluegrass and gospel and come up with a hybrid that keeps you guessing. One minute they are harmonising on a Dixieland tune and the next, one of the band members is using a board to kick out beats on while using a harmonica and playing guitar..they go everywhere and it sounds great. Great to watch plan was to head toward the British Music Embassy and get a bit closer to our hotel for an early night but after Howlin Brothers got off the stage....Eric Burdon came on. As soon as he hit the stage..knew I had to stick around for a few songs. This guy can still sing and has one of the best back up bands so the songs sounded fantastic. He still has the attitude and he rocks the stage...surprising both Sandra and I.
We get a few songs in and we drag ourselves away, Sandra to head back to the hotel and me..to see China Rats again. China Rats are even louder at the night time showcase and British Music Embassy is packed. These guys are quite good and glad I got to see them again.
Stick around long enough to watch The Crookes. Compared to China Rats..The Crookes are much less threatening! Quieter and more melodic and sweet sounding, they are a solid band and they please the crowd with a strong set of high energy, synth laden songs.
Plan now was to watch Jamie N Commons but he is ill...and my knees are feeling it and knowing now that Saturday day is going to be spent hanging out at the Rolling Stone mag party and the evening...Prince, it was time for this old guy to go home and get some rest.
Jim