Our SXSW 2008 Diary – Part 1 (live review / feature)
Something very strange happened in my life on March 11, 2008. It was like I was standing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the best music festival ever, with no expectations. I had never been to SXSW before and the most gigging I ever did was in June last year when I was literally at a gig every other night, but even that couldn’t prepare me for the madness that would turn out to be SXSW 2008. Technically, I saw 25 sets but in reality, I saw a few bands more than once. I was like a kid in a candy shop, there is just so much aural stimuli and music coming from every direction, “indie star sightings” (I put that in quotations because to most people they are just another person walking down the road), disgusting food, and no sleep. All in all – it is the most completely exhausting, exhilarating, wonderful, magical week of the year.
March 11, 2008
Tigercity @ Emo’s Indoors
I had only heard of Tigercity from the time that they played at the Echo in Los Angeles before one of my favourite bands, Scissors for Lefty. I was assured by my cohorts (Colette and Robyn) that I would love them. I certainly did, although they aren’t in the running for my favourite band of the week, I’d still go and see them again when I have the chance. They were really fun dancing music. Most of the funny is because their lead singer is a kind of taller, not pudgy but not fit, bald man and their songs border on raunchy. I mean, “She comes! She comes again”, really? But they were really great Disco-2000 dancing fun. Tigercity are out of Brooklyn, NY and are currently on tour. Check them out at www.myspace.com/tigercity.
Scissors for Lefty @ Emo’s Outdoors
What can I say about Scissors for Lefty? Well, I can say that I owe a lot to Dirty Pretty Things for having them open for them way back in August 2006. Since then I’ve seen Scissors for Lefty about 15 times now, and I just don’t get sick of them. First of all, they are 5 of the nicest guys out there – you know what they say, these guys really deserve the success they are getting. Their live show is fucking fantastic! They’ve begun to use these newfangled technological gadgets that allow them not to have their instruments on wire to the amps, which leaves them the option of dancing around like wild men, which is what they all do. Bryan Garza, the lead singer, was going for the Jarvis Cocker look with a little bit of Johnny Borrell (white pants) and Kate Moss (the boots). He has charm and charisma on and off stage like no one I’ve ever seen. I defy you not to see the band and completely fall head over heels for him. His brother and the bassist, Steve Garza, usually takes a walk on the wild side jumping across stage, routinely falling over and wailing about. They have a really great LP out now called “Underhanded Romance” where they really fulfil what they began with their first LP. It’s a collection of really great songs you can’t help bouncing along to and possess a certain sense of wonder and innocence just an absolute joy and passion to be living. I’m sorry; I can’t help but ramble on about the band. They are finishing up with a new EP that should be out in June and they played two new songs from that, one titled Ornamental (although fans will know it as “Almost Sexual”. Basically, I can’t talk about this band enough. They are just so wonderful and made with awesome. Check out Scissors for Lefty at www.myspace.com/ScissorsforLefty
March 12, 2008
The Evangelicals @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
I didn’t watch much of this band- we were too busy watching These New Puritans fiddle with their gear, gawking at how young they looked. However, what we did catch was great. First off, I didn’t expect that anything great could come out of Oklahoma (outside of Evangelicals, I’m still waiting for that to be proved wrong!). They were really decadently dressed, and really, uh, out they’re in their outfit choices. They were sort of psych-rock, but not in the same vein as say Black Lips. They were pretty good, I approved of their sound and their look. I wish I had been able to see more of them. The Evangelicals are currently on tour, check them out at www.myspace.com/evangelicals.
These New Puritans @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
First of all, this band is really intense. But in a really good way. They all come out on stage, unsmiling and unforgiving. They are like, super-Aryan looking all blonde hair and pale skin – but it works on them, really. Then the lead singer, Jack Barnett, walks out on stage in this really great costume-y piece that looks like Roman gladiator gear. They immediately launch into their songs, which I had really liked when I heard “Beat Pyramid” but it hadn’t been on my play list in a while. I was shocked because I was so into it. They hail from the Southend, just like friends the Horrors, but their live show is no where near as hectic as the Horrors and it works out in their favour. They let the tribal-war beats and angular guitar riffs speak for themselves. They played Colours, Numerology aka Numbers, (the amazing b-side) fff, Infinity Ytinfinity, and I believe they ended with Sword of Truth. Either way, I was totally hooked and planned to see them later on at their Domino Records showcase. Check These New Puritans out at www.myspace.com/thesenewpuritans.
The Raveonettes @ The Terrorbird Party – Emo’s Outdoors
The Raveonettes were great. I think at this point they are a lot bigger than the term “buzz band” but that is what they were to me because I am like, eons late on the Raveonettes train. They were filled with magic and wonder as well. It was all dreamy vocals, pretty people and great guitar riffs. They are just so badass! Sharin Foo is absolutely beautiful and I love it when chicks can actually play guitar! And don’t even get me started on Sune! His pants! His shoes! Everything about his persona! He’s just amazing. I wish I had a chance to see them more because I really enjoyed the set but the photographers are fucking assholes at SXSW. We buy our $600 badges and take the time to come to Austin to wait; wait wait wait to see our favourite bands just the same as everyone else. I do not approve of being pushed past by nasty fat old men just because they have a green tag on their camera saying someone in the press wanted them to take pictures at SXSW! Needless to say, I used my elbows the way they were meant to be used and we ended up with a great spot for the amazing set.
YACHT @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
YACHT, or Jonah Brecholt, was originally in a little band that I love to love, The Blow, before leaving to form YACHT. Now the Blow was a partner ship between Brecholt and Khaela Maricich. Now, as I see it, The Blow is doing a-OK without Jonah whereas YACHT is just nowhere near as good as the Blow was. I liked some of the beats YACHT was laying down and could really get into some of it, you know, the kind of beats where you can’t help but move along. But half of it was just really awful and it was more hit and miss or miss and miss, whereas the Blow is totally 100% perfect all the time. I also felt like, I wasn’t hipster enough to enjoy his music. But, whatever, the man had a big hand in the Blow who obviously I love, so I can’t fault him too much.
Simian Mobile Disco @ The Domino Records Showcase – Antones
For a while, we were sure they were just iPod DJ’ing, basically just standing there and bopping along pressing a button every few minutes. That kind of pissed us off because we had been standing all day in the heat and just wanted to see These New Puritans again. However, halfway through their hour-and-ten-minute long set they really got into it and had half the room jumping around. Sadly, it was mostly nasty older dudes, but it was making us laugh really hard, so I wasn’t too unhappy. However, the showcase was such a bust! It was one of the most popular showcases, so naturally there was a bunch of industry people which meant my roommate couldn’t get in with her wristband. But anyway, onwards and upwards!
These New Puritans @ The Domino Records Showcase – Antones
What can I say? Seeing an incredible band twice in one day is one of my favourite things. They played the same set as earlier in the day, but I enjoyed each of the songs just as much as I did earlier in the afternoon. Jack came out in the same gladiator outfit as before and it was just as incredible as before. I wonder where I can pick one of those up, it just looked so good. I can’t talk enough about how good this band are. The music is just so rhythmically driven, especially when Thomas (bass, other noise maker thingy) and George played tandem drums on Infinity Ytinfinity. The repetition of the songs is really great and the almost spoken way that Jack’s vocals pound on over the beats is just entrancing. I made a mental note to see them as many times over the next few days as I could.
Mahjongg @ The K Records Showcase – Emo’s IV
This band were the first that I had no prior knowledge of whatsoever. They were basically a noise explosion that was not so welcome after a day of standing in the heat and no rest. However, I ended up really enjoying their set. Again, Mahjongg (based out of Chicago) are not a band I’d probably listen to on a daily basis, but they did inspire a crazy dance party. The dance party provided endless amusement for me, as there were quite a few, uh, hippies dancing around like crazy people. It was awesome. However, I welcomed the end of their set and emotionally prepared myself to see the Blow.
The Blow @ The K Records Showcase – Emo’s IV
The reason I had to emotionally prepare myself to see the Blow was that she is one of the only singers I’ve loved longer than a year that I haven’t gotten to see live. And her songs came to me at a point in my life where I really needed them and had a great emotional connection to my life. But anyway, enough with my angst filled blather! Khaela Maricich came out and was just fantastic. The stage was extremely minimal – just her and a microphone, but she filled up the entire room. She began with a totally acoustic version of Big U, and then talked for a while about the origins of the song and she spoke so intelligently and coherently so we could understand her headspace. Then she played the Big U with the beats that Jonah Brecholt created for their album “Paper Television”. Not only was she playing all the songs that I wanted to hear but she was just speaking about life and love and dropping what I call “wisdom bombs” because Khaela doesn’t even really know how wise she is. She also talked about her process of songwriting, and I can’t express how incredible her thoughts are and how much of a genius she truly is. Finally, she was speaking about love again and her love for a person and then she sang possible the best Guns ‘N Roses cover of “Sweet Child of Mine” that has ever been played. Seriously, it made me like a Guns ‘N Roses song…. And I thought that was pretty impossible. Then she played one of my personal favourite songs “Parenthesis” and its timing after her speech about love in her life…. It was fucking incredible. Her voice is just so amazing; I don’t even know that she knows just how amazing it really is. If you have the chance, I implore you to go see the Blow because it’s just so much MORE than just a concert.
March 13, 2008
These New Puritans @ The French Legation Museum
I know I’ve talked a lot about These New Puritans, but SERIOUSLY, you need to love them as much as I do. This time, my roommate and I went to the French Legation, which is supposedly some historic thing in Austin. I know this because there is a sign for it off the 35W South. Anyway, we don’t know if it was a private party or if it was 21+ (the wine bar was kind of a giveaway) but we just strode in and the huge tent was on this sloping grassy yard and it was just beautiful. The day was amazing and we were just sitting on some chairs relaxing and we actually got interviewed for something by someone – but it was awesome. Just another likeness of me that’ll be running around on the Internet that I won’t get to see. Anyway, These New Puritans. So awesome! They played one of my favorite songs “En Papier” for the first time at SXSW, and it was just the perfect environment to see them, because of the day and we basically just went into a trance – that’s how good they are! And today Jack wasn’t wearing the Roman Gladiator costume, but he was wearing this really cool t-shirt with a vaguely gladiator theme to the top of the shirt. That kid is a stylish boy for only being 20.
Los Campesinos! @ AV Saddle Ranch Party – Emo’s Indoor
I pretty much knew what to expect with Los Campesinos! I knew they would be fun and super energetic and really cute and easy to dance to. However, I didn’t know how cute they would be by attempting to fit 7 people and all their plethora of instruments. And I was right! There would be You! Me! Dancing! They were really adorable and twee and filled with energy and wonder. However, they didn’t play my favorite, “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives” but they did play songs like “Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(s)” and “This Is How You Spell "Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics" and “2007, The Year Punk Broke (My Heart). They were really great, but I wasn’t able to stay because we had to jet off to another show, but it’s SXSW and these are the choices one must make! I also am really excited about seeing them in June at one of my most favourite venues in LA, The Troubadour.
Scissors for Lefty @ The Enchanted Forest
I know I just wrote about Scissors for Lefty for about a year earlier, but I cannot get enough and I can’t stop talking about how great they are. First off, the Enchanted Forest is the coolest place I’ve ever seen a gig. It was actually a forest just outside of Downtown Austin and they had all this avant-garde art and modern art and just all sorts of cool displays with magical lighting all over the forest. The stage was like, built over this river and seemed pretty shoddy so no one danced, but it was okay. The extra room on the stage gave Bryan Garza a chance to bring out some elaborate, rhythmical dancing and twirling in his Minnetonka boots. The magical Enchanted Forest was the perfect place to see Scissors for Lefty because they are from Northern California, which for those who don’t know is totally different from LA and the desert surrounding it. They seemed so at home and adorable in the forest. Again, their dance worthy tunes always put a smile on my face, and I know everyone that I’ve ever forced to listen to them or see them live comes out completely different than before they saw Scissors for Lefty. They are truly epic.
Words & photos by Brianna Sareceno
Continued….read part 2 CLICK HERE
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Tigercity @ Emo’s Indoors
I had only heard of Tigercity from the time that they played at the Echo in Los Angeles before one of my favourite bands, Scissors for Lefty. I was assured by my cohorts (Colette and Robyn) that I would love them. I certainly did, although they aren’t in the running for my favourite band of the week, I’d still go and see them again when I have the chance. They were really fun dancing music. Most of the funny is because their lead singer is a kind of taller, not pudgy but not fit, bald man and their songs border on raunchy. I mean, “She comes! She comes again”, really? But they were really great Disco-2000 dancing fun. Tigercity are out of Brooklyn, NY and are currently on tour. Check them out at www.myspace.com/tigercity.Scissors for Lefty @ Emo’s Outdoors
What can I say about Scissors for Lefty? Well, I can say that I owe a lot to Dirty Pretty Things for having them open for them way back in August 2006. Since then I’ve seen Scissors for Lefty about 15 times now, and I just don’t get sick of them. First of all, they are 5 of the nicest guys out there – you know what they say, these guys really deserve the success they are getting. Their live show is fucking fantastic! They’ve begun to use these newfangled technological gadgets that allow them not to have their instruments on wire to the amps, which leaves them the option of dancing around like wild men, which is what they all do. Bryan Garza, the lead singer, was going for the Jarvis Cocker look with a little bit of Johnny Borrell (white pants) and Kate Moss (the boots). He has charm and charisma on and off stage like no one I’ve ever seen. I defy you not to see the band and completely fall head over heels for him. His brother and the bassist, Steve Garza, usually takes a walk on the wild side jumping across stage, routinely falling over and wailing about. They have a really great LP out now called “Underhanded Romance” where they really fulfil what they began with their first LP. It’s a collection of really great songs you can’t help bouncing along to and possess a certain sense of wonder and innocence just an absolute joy and passion to be living. I’m sorry; I can’t help but ramble on about the band. They are finishing up with a new EP that should be out in June and they played two new songs from that, one titled Ornamental (although fans will know it as “Almost Sexual”. Basically, I can’t talk about this band enough. They are just so wonderful and made with awesome. Check out Scissors for Lefty at www.myspace.com/ScissorsforLeftyMarch 12, 2008
The Evangelicals @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
I didn’t watch much of this band- we were too busy watching These New Puritans fiddle with their gear, gawking at how young they looked. However, what we did catch was great. First off, I didn’t expect that anything great could come out of Oklahoma (outside of Evangelicals, I’m still waiting for that to be proved wrong!). They were really decadently dressed, and really, uh, out they’re in their outfit choices. They were sort of psych-rock, but not in the same vein as say Black Lips. They were pretty good, I approved of their sound and their look. I wish I had been able to see more of them. The Evangelicals are currently on tour, check them out at www.myspace.com/evangelicals.These New Puritans @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
First of all, this band is really intense. But in a really good way. They all come out on stage, unsmiling and unforgiving. They are like, super-Aryan looking all blonde hair and pale skin – but it works on them, really. Then the lead singer, Jack Barnett, walks out on stage in this really great costume-y piece that looks like Roman gladiator gear. They immediately launch into their songs, which I had really liked when I heard “Beat Pyramid” but it hadn’t been on my play list in a while. I was shocked because I was so into it. They hail from the Southend, just like friends the Horrors, but their live show is no where near as hectic as the Horrors and it works out in their favour. They let the tribal-war beats and angular guitar riffs speak for themselves. They played Colours, Numerology aka Numbers, (the amazing b-side) fff, Infinity Ytinfinity, and I believe they ended with Sword of Truth. Either way, I was totally hooked and planned to see them later on at their Domino Records showcase. Check These New Puritans out at www.myspace.com/thesenewpuritans.The Raveonettes @ The Terrorbird Party – Emo’s Outdoors
The Raveonettes were great. I think at this point they are a lot bigger than the term “buzz band” but that is what they were to me because I am like, eons late on the Raveonettes train. They were filled with magic and wonder as well. It was all dreamy vocals, pretty people and great guitar riffs. They are just so badass! Sharin Foo is absolutely beautiful and I love it when chicks can actually play guitar! And don’t even get me started on Sune! His pants! His shoes! Everything about his persona! He’s just amazing. I wish I had a chance to see them more because I really enjoyed the set but the photographers are fucking assholes at SXSW. We buy our $600 badges and take the time to come to Austin to wait; wait wait wait to see our favourite bands just the same as everyone else. I do not approve of being pushed past by nasty fat old men just because they have a green tag on their camera saying someone in the press wanted them to take pictures at SXSW! Needless to say, I used my elbows the way they were meant to be used and we ended up with a great spot for the amazing set.YACHT @ The Terrorbird Day Party – Emo’s Outdoors
YACHT, or Jonah Brecholt, was originally in a little band that I love to love, The Blow, before leaving to form YACHT. Now the Blow was a partner ship between Brecholt and Khaela Maricich. Now, as I see it, The Blow is doing a-OK without Jonah whereas YACHT is just nowhere near as good as the Blow was. I liked some of the beats YACHT was laying down and could really get into some of it, you know, the kind of beats where you can’t help but move along. But half of it was just really awful and it was more hit and miss or miss and miss, whereas the Blow is totally 100% perfect all the time. I also felt like, I wasn’t hipster enough to enjoy his music. But, whatever, the man had a big hand in the Blow who obviously I love, so I can’t fault him too much.
Simian Mobile Disco @ The Domino Records Showcase – Antones
For a while, we were sure they were just iPod DJ’ing, basically just standing there and bopping along pressing a button every few minutes. That kind of pissed us off because we had been standing all day in the heat and just wanted to see These New Puritans again. However, halfway through their hour-and-ten-minute long set they really got into it and had half the room jumping around. Sadly, it was mostly nasty older dudes, but it was making us laugh really hard, so I wasn’t too unhappy. However, the showcase was such a bust! It was one of the most popular showcases, so naturally there was a bunch of industry people which meant my roommate couldn’t get in with her wristband. But anyway, onwards and upwards!These New Puritans @ The Domino Records Showcase – Antones
What can I say? Seeing an incredible band twice in one day is one of my favourite things. They played the same set as earlier in the day, but I enjoyed each of the songs just as much as I did earlier in the afternoon. Jack came out in the same gladiator outfit as before and it was just as incredible as before. I wonder where I can pick one of those up, it just looked so good. I can’t talk enough about how good this band are. The music is just so rhythmically driven, especially when Thomas (bass, other noise maker thingy) and George played tandem drums on Infinity Ytinfinity. The repetition of the songs is really great and the almost spoken way that Jack’s vocals pound on over the beats is just entrancing. I made a mental note to see them as many times over the next few days as I could.Mahjongg @ The K Records Showcase – Emo’s IV
This band were the first that I had no prior knowledge of whatsoever. They were basically a noise explosion that was not so welcome after a day of standing in the heat and no rest. However, I ended up really enjoying their set. Again, Mahjongg (based out of Chicago) are not a band I’d probably listen to on a daily basis, but they did inspire a crazy dance party. The dance party provided endless amusement for me, as there were quite a few, uh, hippies dancing around like crazy people. It was awesome. However, I welcomed the end of their set and emotionally prepared myself to see the Blow.
The Blow @ The K Records Showcase – Emo’s IV
The reason I had to emotionally prepare myself to see the Blow was that she is one of the only singers I’ve loved longer than a year that I haven’t gotten to see live. And her songs came to me at a point in my life where I really needed them and had a great emotional connection to my life. But anyway, enough with my angst filled blather! Khaela Maricich came out and was just fantastic. The stage was extremely minimal – just her and a microphone, but she filled up the entire room. She began with a totally acoustic version of Big U, and then talked for a while about the origins of the song and she spoke so intelligently and coherently so we could understand her headspace. Then she played the Big U with the beats that Jonah Brecholt created for their album “Paper Television”. Not only was she playing all the songs that I wanted to hear but she was just speaking about life and love and dropping what I call “wisdom bombs” because Khaela doesn’t even really know how wise she is. She also talked about her process of songwriting, and I can’t express how incredible her thoughts are and how much of a genius she truly is. Finally, she was speaking about love again and her love for a person and then she sang possible the best Guns ‘N Roses cover of “Sweet Child of Mine” that has ever been played. Seriously, it made me like a Guns ‘N Roses song…. And I thought that was pretty impossible. Then she played one of my personal favourite songs “Parenthesis” and its timing after her speech about love in her life…. It was fucking incredible. Her voice is just so amazing; I don’t even know that she knows just how amazing it really is. If you have the chance, I implore you to go see the Blow because it’s just so much MORE than just a concert.March 13, 2008
These New Puritans @ The French Legation Museum
I know I’ve talked a lot about These New Puritans, but SERIOUSLY, you need to love them as much as I do. This time, my roommate and I went to the French Legation, which is supposedly some historic thing in Austin. I know this because there is a sign for it off the 35W South. Anyway, we don’t know if it was a private party or if it was 21+ (the wine bar was kind of a giveaway) but we just strode in and the huge tent was on this sloping grassy yard and it was just beautiful. The day was amazing and we were just sitting on some chairs relaxing and we actually got interviewed for something by someone – but it was awesome. Just another likeness of me that’ll be running around on the Internet that I won’t get to see. Anyway, These New Puritans. So awesome! They played one of my favorite songs “En Papier” for the first time at SXSW, and it was just the perfect environment to see them, because of the day and we basically just went into a trance – that’s how good they are! And today Jack wasn’t wearing the Roman Gladiator costume, but he was wearing this really cool t-shirt with a vaguely gladiator theme to the top of the shirt. That kid is a stylish boy for only being 20.Los Campesinos! @ AV Saddle Ranch Party – Emo’s Indoor
I pretty much knew what to expect with Los Campesinos! I knew they would be fun and super energetic and really cute and easy to dance to. However, I didn’t know how cute they would be by attempting to fit 7 people and all their plethora of instruments. And I was right! There would be You! Me! Dancing! They were really adorable and twee and filled with energy and wonder. However, they didn’t play my favorite, “We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives” but they did play songs like “Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(s)” and “This Is How You Spell "Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics" and “2007, The Year Punk Broke (My Heart). They were really great, but I wasn’t able to stay because we had to jet off to another show, but it’s SXSW and these are the choices one must make! I also am really excited about seeing them in June at one of my most favourite venues in LA, The Troubadour.Scissors for Lefty @ The Enchanted Forest
I know I just wrote about Scissors for Lefty for about a year earlier, but I cannot get enough and I can’t stop talking about how great they are. First off, the Enchanted Forest is the coolest place I’ve ever seen a gig. It was actually a forest just outside of Downtown Austin and they had all this avant-garde art and modern art and just all sorts of cool displays with magical lighting all over the forest. The stage was like, built over this river and seemed pretty shoddy so no one danced, but it was okay. The extra room on the stage gave Bryan Garza a chance to bring out some elaborate, rhythmical dancing and twirling in his Minnetonka boots. The magical Enchanted Forest was the perfect place to see Scissors for Lefty because they are from Northern California, which for those who don’t know is totally different from LA and the desert surrounding it. They seemed so at home and adorable in the forest. Again, their dance worthy tunes always put a smile on my face, and I know everyone that I’ve ever forced to listen to them or see them live comes out completely different than before they saw Scissors for Lefty. They are truly epic.Words & photos by Brianna Sareceno
Continued….read part 2 CLICK HERE
