Damien Abraham of Fucked Up
SXSW 2008. So many bands, so little time. Where else can you enjoy so many amazing bands while agonizing about missing so many other equally awesome shows at the same time? Thankfully since many of the performers played as many as ten shows throughout the five days of the festival- they were sometimes more impossible to miss than not.Here are some of the many highlights throughout the festival (listed alphabetically).
Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg (Various): It seemed that all I had to do in Austin was turn around and there was British political songsmith Billy Bragg, playing a tune and charming all who happened to listen. (Now how do I get that to happen in my “real” life?) Bragg seems as comfortable chatting up the crowd from the stage as one might be with their best friends, both in front of hundreds at the Cedar Street Courtyard on Thursday afternoon, and again when I happened to pass The Thirsty Ear on Saturday afternoon, where the Utne Reader was hosting a day party at the small, friendly pub. In between his own songs, he paid musical tribute to Woody Guthrie and the Shangri-La’s and gave the audience a firm lesson on the world view of American football (“runny runny catch catch”) versus soccer.
Coliseum’s Mike Pascal
Coliseum (Red 7): How many drummers have you seen that play so fast and hard that they have to stand up and catch their breath after each song? Only one comes to mind for me. Coliseum’s Chris Maggio, who often springs up from his drum stool to hit even harder and was unfazed by pseudo-heckling of the audience as they jokingly taunted “Faster, pussy!” Flanked by hair thrashing bassist Mike Pascal and brooding singer/guitarist Ryan Patterson, the Louisville, Kentucky hardcore trio blasted through their set of aggressive hardcore tunes fast enough to give their most hard rocking audiences a case of whiplash.
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson and the Explosives (Stubbs): In what many in attendance agreed was his best performance in recent memory (and you’ve gotta have faith in the die-hards), rock’n’roll legend and hometown favorite Roky Erickson shone on stage at Stubbs BBQ on Saturday night. From opening number “Cold Night for Alligators” through their triumphant rendition of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” Erickson’s unmistakable vocals and the band’s high energy set left everyone grinning like little kids at their first concert (at least in the front of the amphitheater- I later heard the sound in the back of the venue left much to be desired). Also in attendance was Erickson’s mother Evelyn, who watched behind the security gate in front of the stage.
John Brannon of Fucked Up
Fucked Up @ Solid PR/Sailor Jerry showcase (Scoot Inn): Forget the infamous after-hours Lamar bridge party- ALARM was front and center at the Solid PR/Sailor Jerry showcase when Toronto’s Fucked Up announced that they had a special guest, who turned out to be none other than legendary Negative Approach/Easy Action front man John Brannon. Fuck yeah! And this memorable moment preceded a lineup that included Brooklyn cabaret/punk collective World Inferno/Friendship Society, face-painted rockers Man Man, NYHC icons Unsane and spazz-rockers An Albatross, whose lead singer, Edward B. Gieda III was celebrating his 30th birthday in style.
Ezra Furman
Ezra Furman and the Harpoons (Habana Calle Annex): 21 year old Ezra Furman is an incredibly charismatic performer, as demonstrated not only by The Harppon’s set on Saturday night. With his blend of folk, rock and punk, Furman has even found a fan in rock icon and SXSW 2008 keynote speaker Lou Reed, who’s song “Heroin” he performed at a star studded “Tribute to Lou Reed” earlier in the week.
Graveyard (Tee Pee Records Showcase/Bourbon Rocks): The first band I saw at SXSW set the bar high for the rest of the week. Making their US debut at the Tee Pee Records showcase at Bourbon Rocks on Wednesday night, the Gothenberg, Sweden psychedelic rock four-piece gave an intense performance. Vocalist/guitarist Joakim Nillson’s voice captivated the audience, soaring over intricate guitar and bass lines. Other acts on the bill including San Diego’s Earthless, Annihilation Time, Hopewell, Ancestors, and headliners Witch, made the evening one of the best rock shows of the festival.
High on Fire
High on Fire (Relapse Records showcase, Emo’s Annex): Nobody at ALARM really believed me when said I was NOT going to see Oakland, CA’s High on Fire at SXSW. With all my running back and forth down 6th Street and Red River on Thursday night, the temptation proved to be too great for me to resist. It seems redundant to gush about what a fantastic band this is and how much I am in love with Matt Pike (in theory at least; I’ve never met the man), but suffice to say, if you only see one metal band this year, these are your guys. Here is a pic of members of Unsane watching as Matt Pike plays to the crowd at the Relapse Records showcase on Thursday night.
Monotix
Monotonix (Bourbon Rocks Patio): Streams of flying beer, crowd surfing band members and an impressive feat which involved moving the entire drum set off stage, into the crowd and then back again without missing a beat made the Tel Aviv based bluesy rock trio’s Saturday night appearance at Bourbon Rocks one of the most memorable of the week. Performing songs off of this spring’s Body Language EP on Drag City including crowd favorite “Summers and Autumns” they lived up to their reputation as one hell of a live band. If I went all high school again, and threw a party at somebody else’s parents’ house, Monotonix would be the band I would want to play there. Plus they all looked a little bit like Sacha Baron Cohen in character as Borat.
Pissed Jeans
Pissed Jeans (Bourbon Rocks Patio): Writhing and prancing around like a hybrid of David Yow and overgrown child Stewart from MAD TV, singer Matt Korvette from Philadelphia’s Pissed Jeans gave an irreverent, raunchy performance during the Sub Pop label showcase which also featured performances by Americana quintet? Love as Laughter and Band of Horses Mat Brooke’s newest project, Grand Archives.Raveonettes (Rachel Ray BBQ at The Beauty Bar): We braved the down-the-street and around-the-block line to get in here as much to people watch as to see the Danish pop duo with plus drummer Leah Shapiro. Under the outside patio tent we sipped on complimentary mojitos and tried to not get our hair tangled up in someone’s plate of macaroni and cheese (I don’t care who cooked it- you gonna eat that outside in 90 degree heat? Yuck). Guitarist Sune Rose Wagner and bassist Sharrin Foo’s infectious music was well worth the wait and claustrophobia inducing crowds.
Russian Circles
Russian Circles (Red 7): We tried and tried not to see any Chicago acts while in Texas (We love you, Chicago bands, but you know…) but when we realized we were in town until Monday morning and that Russian Circles was headlining a Sunday night show with Coliseum (see above) we couldn’t resist. A half hour of their heavy, instrumental rock after Coliseum’s earsplitting hardcore was the perfect way to cap off the festival.
YACHT
YACHT(NME Party at Wave): You couldn’t not have fun watching Portland based electro-pop act YACHT. Front man Jona Bechtolt and collaborator Clair Evans sang and danced like there was no tomorrow. Things got nuts, objects were hurled, drinks were downed, and everyone danced their asses off and had a great time.
-Jamie Ludwig