REVIEW OF DAY FOUR SATURDAY

With one of our troupe departed back to South Korea, Gordon, we soldier on for our grand finale. We decide to have a leisurely start and go hand around Waterloo Records and buy some discs or ten. Then it’s a drive to my favourite venue which has no official showcases but which today is the setting for Mojo Magazine’s showcase. It’s the Mean Eyed Fly which is basically a tiny stage in the pub car park.

Whilst they tinker with the sound system we step inside to hear the new Bob Dylan, mark 178, FIONN REGAN. It is a pleasant enough half an hour but he is not the first to look phased by playing odd venues at odd times.

Then it’s another SXSW moment. Live on a stage not big enough to lay out a Twister game setup, on crowd the same nineteen folk of THE POLYPHONIC SPREE. And they go wild, giving it some real stick in front of about 150 assorted punters. It’s a rare thing to see something which is Big Arena up close and intimate. They are excellent and afterwards all hang around and mix with the crowd –who turn out to have a large number of friends & family amongst them as they are a Dallas group. An ordinary group of people making extraordinary spectacle.

Then it is BLANCHE with their well worn Adam’s Family goth country & western. They looked great buit the Handsome Family were there half a decade ago. They snuff out the atmosphere for us so we brave the traffic jams and antiwar protest matches and head back to the environs of SXSW, where we quickly get separated. Whilst my two friends, Al & Perry go to see Mew and The Fratellis. I have a walk around town and go see some different stuff from that what I would normally catch.

First to Emo’s lounge to see the vitriolic GALLOWS continue their foul mouthed assault on SXSW. The crowd love them.

Then onto Habana Calle where I go to the New York To London ( NY2LON) showcase. Just missing Malajube , I see JONNESSE, a drum and guitar power pop set up, not bad. Then a full show from ANTIBALAS, with their full on funk filling folk’s famished faces famously, Fine.

Time to catch half of the anarchic electro punk of WE ARE WOLVES before heading off for some much needed sustenance. Then time to hook up with the guys again.

I head over to yet another restaurant commandeered as a live venue, Jaime’s Spanish Village, to see Perry’s top pick, DEAD MEADOW. Fearful for my ears I strive to get as close to the group as possible and behind the amps. It works, I am virtually the fourth member of the band and they turn out to be more trance like than thrash like. Less Sabbath, More Kraftwerk with no electric beats or synthesisers, just the repetitive driving & anthemic slow building wall of pleasant then thunderous sound.

Hard act to follow so we elect to go for a long walk to the downtown restaurant area and off the beaten track in Lamberts to see the one group who I had met most often during the week., all the way from Aberdeen, THE NEEDLES. A decent crowd had been enticed out of the usual haunts and they were treated to a rollicking Olivers Army of a time from the Scottish lads. Despite amps malfunctioning, guitar strings snapping and ceiling panels falling down, the band strode on and smiled through a set which could only appeal to even the most jaded SXSWer. They also get the cockiest band award, only worthy of being presented to folk who are as good as they think they are.

Then to avoid the general rugby scrum that is SXSW Sixth Street, we decide to park ourselves at one venue for the rest of the night. The lucky recipients of this are Buffalo Billiards, but this time in their main room. We grab a seat at the bar and let SXSW gently wind down in front of our own eyes. FIONN REGAN comes out for his second session in front of us today, more comfortable in a large crowd, late night setting, but more nice than anything else.

Then its part one of the Denton crowd. ROBERT GOMEZ shows why there is a growing clamour for his stuff. He comes over like another indie songwriter in the Sufhjan mould but with a more polished lean towards California AM friendly rock. The end result is surprisingly attractive and he gets a big crowd reaction.

Then the final set for us for SXSW 2007, It is the group of whose album the NME, no less, said that it might change your life. None other than MIDLAKE, also from Denton. I’m all descriptive word-ed out now. They were my type of band. Irregular patterns, a bit country-ish, tremendously tight playing. Catchy melodies and scruffy to look at. They didn’t change my life but they did make it pretty perfect for about 40 minutes.

THE END.

REVIEW OF DAY THREE FRIDAY

Day Three. Friday. A feast once more lay ahead, but where to eat? We had invitations to the Scottish Arts showcase ( The Fratellis, My Latest Novel , The Twilight Sad & Others), to the Welsh Music Showcase ( The Automatic & others), to the Sinister Records showcase ( live appearance by the Texas Lonestar Roller Derby Girls !!!), to the Little Radio showcase, the Pure Volume showcase, the Filter party, and a bunch more....We decided to go to the Paste Magazine party foreeasons which will become apparant.
We started off outside the Paste party at 11.30am but they were late opening so I ran along to the Current live radio broadcast at Buffalo Billiards and saw ANTIBALAS doing a ten minute song. Uplifting but too short and too early in the day to hit the highest points. But a nice opener. Back to Paste party to get confirmation that a few hours later one of the biggest buzz bands who had played a killer official showcase the night before, would in fact be playing this party. So a few hours to kill.
We go to Emo’s, again , and see the sassy PIPETTES. The outfits were loud, their aura was up front and funtacular, but the songs were a bit drab and the dance routines were not the slickest you will ever see. Still the hormones in the packed crowd were visibly rising and they had a good fun set, but not someone whose music you would get out and listen to , anytime soon.
From the ridiculous to the sublime was my expectation as next up were one of my must sees, THE PONYS. But, they were terrible. Poor sound. Poor stage presence. Little interaction with the crowd. Not a showcase which they were too enamoured with. I heard they played a great official showcase , well they wasted little effort here. My Dud of the week.
Back to Maggie Maes to catch our private party and prime viewing spot for….THE COLD WAR KIDS. The tightest set of the week, they were at the peak of their game with their swirling epic rock songs tinged with music from the South, more bluesy than punk. Great to see a band smile and fool around a lot too. This was a band who knew they were about to complete global domination. A treat to see in a small venue.
Then it was time to go with the SXSW flow and go out and see what was happening . This took us firstly to the Red Eyed Fly to see another Gang Of Four acolyte in TOKYO POLICE CLUB , who had a fair number of fans their already. Jerky geetar indie shoegazing. It actually worked very well.
On the way out caught a couple of songs from BUCK 65, a rapper for our times with a very diverse portfolio of backing tracks.
Then we popped in to the San Francisco music showcase and caught THE LOVEMAKERS a harder, less forgiving version of early Boy/Girl Human League. I hung around for a while as I was enjoying it so much.
This meant I got separated from my pals once more. So I headed off to the conference centre to catch DANIEL JOHNSTONE & THE NIGHTMARES on the Day Stage , as charming, provoking and introverted as I had imagined. He played to a packed hall with many people unable to get in. He also played one of the songs of the week, his own version of Wings’ Band On The Run. He slaughtered it in his own distinctive style.
Back to the ACL studio to see BEIRUT again.. Different setting brought out a more mellow sound from the band, but Zach was still crooning in style. Catching them twice was a delight.
This is the middle of the hottest run of bands for me at this SXSW. Next up we headed to the Dirty Dog Bar and saw the tail end of ISLANDS before seeing yet another brilliant breaking Canadian group, ROCK PLAZA CENTRAL. Troubadours with a twist, the loose looking ensemble gave us rendition after rendition of stripped down folk building up to rock out excess. At one point their drummer crashed out from his drum kit to give a soliliquy about chaos theory. The band, suitably interrupted, built a lovely rhythm behind his eloquent and heart felt rant and turned back into their song once he exhausted his thoughts. A classic moment.
Next we had our first real queue, which was a good sign for the relatively new band we were off to see, VICTORIA ENGLISH GENTLEMENS CLUB. This young Welsh group were a complete ball of energy unleashed once more at little BD Rileys. The three piece Girl Drummer, Girl Bass, Boy Guitar, spikely power pop thrashed around in a manner which showed the packed bar that they will be a name to drop in years to come. "I saw them at BDRileys at their first SXSW." Difficult to categorize, with shades of Delta 5, Devo and, of course, Gang of Four, all at least a generation before them, they carved out their own identity on some great three minute tunes.
And the night just kept rolling. To The Rio to see Californian latin indie geetar group LOA ABANDONED , one of Al’s picks. In a Mexican restaurant with a little stage and in front of maybe 100 folk, they played as if it was their last gig ever to thousands. Just a great sound with the female latin lead giving a different outcome to the normal punky pop foursome.
Then we went back to The Dirty Dog Bar on the recommendation of Rock Plaza Central who said we had to go back to see SLOAN. Great reco, great show, turns out they have been around for donkeys years and none of us knew of them. They had reformed recently and were just electric on stage. Like a less laddish Oasis with better tunes but a Gallagherish lilt to the voices. They were not new just one of the best new finds. And we have a big back catalogue to catch up on !
This lead to another typical SXSW moment when we all got separated from each other. As the loose plan was to head to the Austin Convention Centre Ballroom that’s where I went to see THE POLYPHONIC SPREE 19 piece line up put on a dazzling lights & sounds big venue show with their Fragile Army wall of chilled sound. Switched away from billowing gowns to more darker imagery in the form of their black uniforms they were parts cabaret, parts Queen type excess, parts big orchestra and parts schoolband having a laugh. Great way to finish a great day.
But it wasn’t finished!! I walked back up along Sixth Street to hear a familiar sound coming from Emo’s outside tent. I went there , big queue, so I stood in the smaller one, for the privileged with badges and 15 minutes later I got in to see the last fifteen minutes of….THE WALKMEN, again. Fresh from spending 12 hours in custody that day, Hamilton scorched along and the band really flew. That over I walked back to the hotel only to hear more familiar sounds from Bourbon Rocks. Inside I went and watched the last half of THE REDWALLS, again. Now this Kinksy early Who four piece California skinny guy group are really growing on me.
Then I went to my hotel room. It was way after 2.30am. Day had started at 11.00am. Too good for attempted words.

REVIEW OF DAY TWO THURSDAY

First show is at 11am, its the showcase ran by The Current radio show. So we head for Buffalo Billiards, which is exactly what you think it is. We are a bit late but luckily there has been a power outage and we get there in time to see PETER BJORN & JOHN do a few songs, including of course, Young Folk, with whistling but without Victoria Bergsman. The band are in jocular form, plenty of anecdotes and the sound is superb. Note to tell the sound guy at Emo's tent to come for a listen. It's Day Two and we're off to a flyer.

The setting is so good we decide to hang around and see the next act , who are not known to any of us, the Frenach group, The PROTOTYPES. They are considerably less relaxed, but perhaps the emptying of the room as soon as the Peter Bjorn & John finished has not helped. They play to about a few dozen people and their pop rock is fine but the female lead singer would obviously rather be somewhere else.

We stay and get a real treat next with the UK's own THE YOUNG KNIVES. One of the Brit bands to see this week, they also enjoy the play- a- few- songs, answer- a-few- questions format. In great form for both and they give us a great half hour.

I travelled to SXSW with three friends and this was the point in the week where it became OK to go see different groups rather than go with the group decision. I headed off to the Found Magazine launch party at Bourbon Rocks whilst they went to see Sparklehorse and Lili Allen play live in Waterloo Record store. I was not disppointed with a great afternoon and my favourite day set of the whole week. First up I saw another contender for Best Band In Austin title, OKKERVIL RIVER. This crowd are on the verge of a major breakthrough with their layered songs and dazzling guitar sound, punchy rythms and wild lead voice. Just a great live show and one of the highlights of SXSW for me

The next two bands are fine, the humour of TALLY HALL, and the majestic songs of The GREAT LAKES MYTH SOCIETY, but then the day explodes.

I was excited when I had heard that this band would be in Austin this year and I was determined to go see them a few times. So my expectations were high and proved to be justified. The WALKMEN were stunning. Moody frontman, Hamilton Leithauser, stormed his way around the stage and the band were right on the button. They previewed a few new songs not yet recorded and got a raucous reception. Must go see them once more.

I had arranged to rejoin Al, Perry and Gordon at the New Zealand revue at the Brush Square Tent where they had planned on a whole bunch of bands playing for ten minutes each. I have always had a soft spot for NZ since the early days of Flying Nun and folk like The Chills and The Clean. They were right, ten minutes each. I saw GASOLINE COWBOY, who unfortunately seemed to want to be the NZ Coldplay, and then the dreamy guitars of DIMMER, from the ashes of Straightjacket Fits. The last two acts were mental. CUT YOUR HANDS OFF were a high energy cocktail lead by an attention deficit disorder lead singer who really did nearly pull the house (tent) down when he tried various acrobatic routines on one of the supporting wires. But they looked tame compared to DIE!DIE!DIE! The lead singer and lead guitarist, Andrew Wilson, is playing with a cast on his arm, but that does not hinder his maniac like performance, half of which is spent in the crowd. Out-Damning the Damned they make a great use of their ten minutes with at least five songs. Great.

Afternoon showcases over it's officially evening, we nip over to Stubbs to see GET CAPE WEAR CAPE FLY. Its one of the bigger open air venues and there is already a big crowd in waiting for Bloc Party and Razorlight later. Sam Duckworth, though is not at the top of his game for singing, not surprising as he has risen from his sick bed to play. An attack of bronchitis has laid low his voice but not his spirit as he manages to rail against the American health care programme and the apathy of the voting young all in the space of five minutes. Given that he is speaking to an audience split half and half between normal music punters and the music industry folk, he gets a sort of half and half response too.

Next Stop is the smallest venue of the week for us, BDRiley's which is just a wee pub. WE see THE JYROJETS, Inverness' finest. They look like death, especially Colin Fraser, the lead. Like a cross between one of George Romero's extras and the youth Jagger, he commanded everyone's attention as the band blitzed their way through their greatest hits, finishing with a thunderous "Favourite Thing About Jane". It's seeing the big potential of future huge groups in their infant stages up close and personal which is the signature of SXSW. A real highlight.

WE took a detour to check out OLD TIME RELIGION,at Emo's Lounge, a band that had been heavily recommended by another punter, turned out to be a fun California Ska-Punk and then found out that one of our team's picks was playing next door,in Emo's mian room, DENGUE FEVER. Hard to describe but basically an indie guitar band from LA, entirely populated by a bunch of varied nationalities with a tiny female Cambodian singer in a prom night dress. A bit like Cambodian Pop meets Rough Trade Records. The crowd know them and love them, but it takes a bit of getting used to for me, still another education.

A long walk out to La Zona Roza, meeting thousands streamimg towards us in the opposite direction. We just missed the Cold War Kids, everyone's hot ticket band, apparantly it was the busiest show of the week so far. But you can never have regrets at SXSW, you are always seeing something special. We go in and see ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI. A quirky and somewaht odd live band, their persona is quite removed from their recorded stuff. They kept a growing crowd dancing and just had a really poppy time but I am thankful for the forty minute set ruling.

What we came to this club for though was to see GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY for the second time. Yesterday was great in the studio but I wanted to seew what this wild dancey band would be like in front a of a few thousand of their hometown fans. They were outstanding. The sounds and lights were crystal clear and the two guys went over the top with their uniquely camp meets heavy metal whilst talking to Gorgio Moroder. Destined for the heights I believe and the single best frontman of SXSW for me , in Aaron Behrens.

Day Two Is over. Got to bed aerly at 3.30am.

REVIEW OF DAY ONE

Day One and we are off……..I am armed with my Alist my B list, my C list and my back-up lists. I have RSVP’d every day and night party that I could and secured invites to every party imaginable. Now let’s see what is going on. Between 12.oo midday today and 2am tomorrow, I will see some 18 bands and 14 of them almost unknopwn out of their own immediate geographies.
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12.00 and it starts , quickly seeing a few shiny new groups who ease us gently in but don’t catch fire, SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME play at the sedate Conference Centre Day Stage in front of about forty people, the sound is terrible and breaks down once. Not the glorious start SXSW was hoping for but they hustle on and have a rousing final song. Then we head to the IODA afternoon showcase at the outdoor tent at Emo’s. First up is THE FACTORY FIELD RECORDINGS but again the sound is dire,. The group were fine and underother circumstances would probably be quite intoxicating bur not today. THE AFFAIR follow them but it is all a bit of a damp squib start, now we have a poor sound and an average band who want to be Blondie, which might have worked if they had the tunes, but they don’t. But then things take off..
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Basking in the glow of all things Canadian come, CANADA, from, well, Michigan.They rise above the poor acoustics and give us a rollicking good show, They enjoy themselves whilst they are at it too In keeping with the fashion of the moment, they boast an eclectic gathering of xylophonist, two cello players, numerous percussionists and the like. A swirl of country meets old world knocked in to shape with a garageband ethos. Stunning..
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We escape the tent and go on in search of the best new Austin group. WE head to Austin City Limits Radio station to watch KEXP’s live showcase of GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY, not knowing what to expect, but the buzz in the crowd makes me feel something good is about to hit us. An odd couple, like geekier Soft Cell, they start off with a wall of electronic beeps and beats before their outrageous young front man, Aaron Behrens takes over. A hyper active spirited vocalist , he rips off some great old rock riffs and dances the crowd into a standstill. They can sing, dance and play, all at the same time. The locals love them like they are the second coming.. A find..
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Back to Sixth Strteet and Emus, we catch New York’s HONEYCUT, who still listen to their A Certain Ratio and Gang Of Four records, pleasant enough, then are treated toSAPOSTLE OF HUSTLE, good to see although they look tired and sressed – hey guys , not at the start of Day One, at the end of Day Four, come on….Still they are good playing lots of their new stuff..
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Then THE BLACK ANGELS, much touted andanother of the AUSTIN groups breaking through with their wall of psychedelic guitars. But my ears falling off and I am underwhelmed. I nip across the road and go into Emo’s to see who is playing there. It’s THE REDWALLS, California’s very own sixties brit-pop band. Great fun and worth catching. Next it’s off to the Canadian Showcase. Where we catch one of the hottest acts in North Anmerica now, MALAJUBE, from Montreal. A French speaking cousin to the Fire. They throw out a clattering symphonic challenge to the other 1399 bands at the start of the first evening. They will bring back the masses to French classes. The mix is a bit ropey but they are not put off and give a high energy 30 minutes which shows why they are much talked about..
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The Day parties over it is time for the official evening showcases to start. Noone has eaten since breakfast time, in what becomes the pattern of the week. 8.15 Emo’s Junior sees Leeds hot dogs ILIKETRAINS bamboozle the crowd with their majestic lowfi layering of songs. Starting slowly they win the pack over. One of many groups displaying a neat line in fascist uniform dress senses too..
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We cut through to the other stage at Emo’s and catch the last few songs of EMMA POLLOCK, formerly of The Delgados..
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Now they are coming fast and furious. And many people’s choice as band of the festival are next.,the wonderful landscape of BEIRUT takes centre . They are glorious, eastern fol rythms crash around unorhtodox fashion , they soar. Zach’s voive will not be bettered any time soon and certainly not at SXSW..
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A short look at The MOUNTAIN GOATS , capable but struggling to follow Beirut then its off to Antones where it is Midnight and it’s time for more stunning troubadours in the poppy shape of The BROKEN WEST. A west coast melancholy is infused with a scintillating splash of wild guitars and synths. Catchiest album title of the day too – I Cant Go On, I’ll Go On..
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In TRUE AUSTIN FASHION we finish with a guest surprise. It is SPOON the mainstream indie giants of college USA. Nice to see in a little club and fun but no better than scores of great indie UK bands who they obviously have a soft spot for..
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19 acts across about eight venues . It’s only day one..
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SXSW.