South by Southwest (SXSW) 2009

[darin3]

Ah yes, one of my new favorite times of the year. For those that don't know, South by Southwest (or SXSW) is a week-plus long music/film/etc. festival here in Austin. It's generally a week or so where all of the "hipsters" from LA and other "hip" places come and listen to the best in "unsigned" talent. There are some "bigger" acts that make their way here, too... which makes for a great few days of music.

 

I'd appreciate the input from fellas such as clubby, Atomic, bushwacked, GTS, loaf and anyone else that is into the indie/underground scene.

 

In years past, I've compiled the best music I heard (and some random music found while "on the streets") into a 2-disc set that I make available for all Huddlers (I just ask you donate $5 or something to a charity to be determined).

 

So, here are a couple resources for you to use for my query:

 

The schedule - You can browse alphabetically or by day. I started looking by day, formulating my personal schedule (see below) and then went back and double-checked the alphabetical list to make sure I didn't miss anything.

 

And second, my schedule, so far:

 

Wednesday, March 18th

 

Time TBA: Fastball – Ace’s Lounge (222 E. 6th)

Time TBA: The Von Bondies – Vice (302 E. 6th)

10pm: The Circle Jerks – Emo’s Main Room (603 Red River)

11pm: Del Castillo – Antone’s (213 W. 6th)

12:30am: Brother Ali – Back Alley Social (305 W. 5th)

 

 

Thursday, March 19th

 

8pm: Katy Perry – Stubb’s (801 Red River)

9pm: Meat Puppets – Stubb’s (801 Red River)

11am: Lil Cap’n Travis – Lamberts (402 W. 2nd)

12am: The Von Bondies – Cedar Door (201 Brazos)

OR

12am: Brother Ali – Habana Bar Backyard (708 E. 6th)

OR

12:30am: Ben Harper and RELENTLESS7 – Stubb’s (801 Red River)

1am: Band of Heathens – Antone’s (213 W. 6th)

OR

1am: Peter Bjorn and John – Emo’s Main Room (603 Red River)

 

 

Friday, March 20th

 

Time TBA: Peter Bjorn and John – Cedar St. Courtyard (208 W. 4th)

Time TBA: The Shys – Red Eyed Fly (715 Red River)

1:00am: Okkervil River – The Parish (214B E. 6th)

 

Saturday, March 21st

 

Time TBA: The Used – Cedar Door (201 Brazos)

Time TBA: Marcy Playground – Cedar St. Courtyard (208 W. 4th)

Time TBA: The Crystal Method – La Zona Rosa (612 W. 4th)

9:00pm: Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir – Momo’s (618 W. 6th)

11:00pm: Bowling for Soup – Spiro’s Amphitheater (611 Red River)

12:00am: The Shys – Prague (422B Congress)

1:00am: The Mother Truckers – Continental Club (1315 S. Congress)

 

For the most part, I really enjoy most kinds of music and open to just about everything. But I find that I enjoy alt-country, punk, house and good old fashioned rock n' roll the most.

 

I'd appreciate the input of any of you esteemed Huddlers! TIA

 

[Clubfoothead]

I'm crossing my fingers we will make it down near. I'll give you my wish list in a couple of days. Got my hands full right now.

[darin3]

I'm crossing my fingers we will make it down near. I'll give you my wish list in a couple of days. Got my hands full right now.

Thanks for the bump... almost forgot about this.

 

Would love to have you in town... wish I could offer up our guest room but it'll be occupied. Feel free to bring your tent and set up in our backyard, though!

 

Looking forward to what you have to say...

 

What say the rest of you?

[SheikYerbuti]

Is that the same Circle Jerks that used to play the Brooklyn punk circuit back in the early 90's? Damn, I must have seen them at Lamour a half a dozen times back in high school.

 

I read a review of Okkervil River in the NYT and checked out their myspace page. I found it on the "meh" side.

['canes2004]

A couple of acts I would want to see, besides some of the ones you mentioned (The Used, Marcy's Playground, Meat Puppets)

 

Silversun Pickups @ Antone's

The Devil Wears Prada @ The Cedar Door

The Hours @ Dirty Dog Bar

Your Vegas @ Maggie Mae's

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Ace's lounge

Dinosaur Jr. @ Cedar Street Courtyard

PJ Harvey @ Stubbs

Pelican @ Emo's Annex

Shiny Toy Guns @ Vice

[godtomsatan]

Goshdang this thing is so freakin' huge. So many great shows, you think with all the cocaine flowing through the city on this week they'd schedule shows earlier in the day so you could go see more.

 

Quick scan:

 

Wednesday:

Ima Robot, HR Band, Circle Jerks, Juliette & the New Romantiques, Echo & the Bunnymen @ Emo's Main Room

 

The HR Band features the singer for Bad Brains, though he does reggae stuff as a solo artist, it's still pretty good. The Juliette in question is Juliette Lewis; I saw her last band, the Licks, and they weren't terrible. Echo & the Bunnymen do a heckuva live set.

 

Otherwise:

Grant Hart, Fastball @ Aces

M Ward, Camera Obscura @ Central Presbyterian Church

The Cynics, The DT's @ Habana Calle 6

Tokyo Sex Destruction, Division of Laura Lee @ Opal's Divine Firehouse

The Bronx @ Red 7 Patio

Glasvegas, The Von Bondies @ Vice

 

Thursday:

 

Katy Perry, Meat Puppets, Gomez, Ben Harper @ Stubb's

 

What is Katy Perry doing on this bill? She is pretty hot, way hotter than the Kirkwood brothers of the Meat Puppets who are one of the great underappreciated American bands of the 80s.

 

Red Red Meat, No Age, Blitzen Trapper, Obits @ Radio Room Patio

 

Sub Pop showcase. RRM is a fantastic band that sounds like a heavier Wilco. No Age are a couple of kids who do loud guitar and drums, kind of an even lazier Pavement. Blitzen Trapper is a great band out of Portland that falls into the indie rock variation, but not so wussy. If I had to choose which one I'd prefer to see, it would be this one, but I'm not a huge Ben Harper fan.

 

Otherwise:

The Von Bondies, Jaguar Love @ Cedar Door

Black Lips @ Cedar Street Courtyard

BeauSoliel, The Iguanas, Dave Alvin, The Gourds @ Continental Club

King Khan & the Shrines, Priestess @ El Sol y La Luna

Tori Amos, Lil Jon @ La Zona Rosa

The Thermals @ Red Eyed Fly

Earthless @ Room 710

Reflection Eternal @ Scoot Inn

Red Fang @ Spiro's

 

Friday:

 

Black Lips, King Khan & the Shrines, The Sonics @ Emo's Main Room

 

Probably the one I'd shoot for more than others, given the great garage rock stature of the headliners, but a great night of music all over the place.

 

Tricky, DEVO @ Austin Music Hall

Peter Bjorn & John, Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur JR @ Cedar Street Courtyard

Camera Obscura, The Proclaimers, Glasvegas, Primal Scream @ La Zona Rosa

John Wesley Harding @ Maggie Mae's

The Hold Steady @ the Mohawk Patio

The Willowz @ the Parish Downstairs

Cursive @ the Radio Room

The Cute Lepers, The Girls @ Red 7 Patio

Magic Christian @ Red Eyed Fly

Mos Generator, Valis @ Room 710

 

Saturday:

 

Jimmy & the Webbs @ Prague

 

This would be a total dream show. Not sure if anyone else is into Jimmy Webb, a songwriter of renown (think 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Macarthur Park'), and his sons, the Webb Brothers, a band that hasn't put anything out for awhile, but not too shabby themselves, and apparently his dad, an 85 yr old former Baptist preacher.

 

The High Dials, Echo & the Bunnymen @ Rusty Spurs

 

The High Dials are a psychadelic rock outfit from Canada that are pretty good. And another opportunity to see E&TB

 

Otherwise:

Silversun Pickups @ Antone's

Explosions in the Sky @ Auditorium Shores Stage

The Mother Truckers @ Continental Club

The Evaporators @ Habana Calle 6

The Whip, Crystal Method @ La Zona Rosa

AIDS Wolf, Monotonix @ Mohawk Patio

PJ Harvey & John Parish, Third Eye Blind, The Indigo Girls @ Stubb's

Shiny Toy Guns @ Vice

[darin3]

Is that the same Circle Jerks that used to play the Brooklyn punk circuit back in the early 90's? Damn, I must have seen them at Lamour a half a dozen times back in high school.

 

I read a review of Okkervil River in the NYT and checked out their myspace page. I found it on the "meh" side.

Yup, they're actually from SoCal and were hugh out there.

 

And ... Okkervil is a clubby recommendation and I hold his suggestions in pretty high regard. Haven't seen them live yet, but they're local-ish and I'll post a review at some point

 

Dinosaur Jr. @ Cedar Street Courtyard

PJ Harvey @ Stubbs

Thanks! Those are two I certainly considered.

 

Goshdang this thing is so freakin' huge. So many great shows, you think with all the cocaine flowing through the city on this week they'd schedule shows earlier in the day so you could go see more.

 

...

Yeah, I imagine there are a few snowstorms here during SXSW.

 

Thanks for the input. Will have to digest all that.

 

Oh, forgot to mention.... the music starts around noon. The SXSW.com site only highlights the "showcase" bands, whatever the eff that means. Just about every bar downtown and otherwise has live music (and in many cases, free booze and grub) starting around noon. Trust me, I'll be downtown Wednesday and Thursday with buddies... and then Friday/Saturday with the wife and our group of friends.

Edited February 17, 2009 by darin3

[Azazello1313]

I'd be interested to hear what grant hart is up to.

[loaf]

once through the list: sorry if I duplicated any you have chosen.

M Ward

Silversun Pickups

Circle Jerks

Echo & The Bunnymen

The Dt's

Outrageous Cherry

The Decemberists

Glasvegas

The Von Bondies

 

on a related note, I can't believe how many of those acts I've never heard of...

[Dutch Oven]

Bowling for Soup is a fun band if you have never heard them, you might want to check them out. I used to go to their shows all the time in college. I will say I like their older stuff a lot better than the new stuff.

[darin3]

Bowling for Soup is a fun band if you have never heard them, you might want to check them out. I used to go to their shows all the time in college. I will say I like their older stuff a lot better than the new stuff.

Yup, they're on the docket for Saturday. They're from Dallas, I think. Where'd you go?

[Clubfoothead]

Still haven't had the time to give this thing a proper looking over but bands I've seen and would see again:

 

Circle Jerks, Meat Puppets,

Marcy Playground

Echo & the Bunnymen;

the Drams (f/k/a Slobberbone),

the Thrift Store Cowboys (really good, IMHO)

Okkervil River, although I haven't warmed up to their new album from last year.

Daniel Johnston, Emo's TBA Saturday which kind of sucks.

Deer Tick - don't miss them if you are still going strong at 1:00 am Friday/Saturday. Trust me on this one.

 

I've either never seen the following or never even heard of the following until the link:

the Silos,

Overcasters,

the Mother Hips (really good)

Black Tusk (metal),

Blitzen Trapper (Tailgate recommendation),

Jason Isbell (Driveby Truckers) and the 400 Unit,

I'd love to see Cary Brothers no matter how many drunk 20 year old jocks I'd have to fight in the bar,

the Chesterfield Kings would probably be great except they play Friday night

 

Again, IMHO, Deer Tick and Daniel Johnston are can't misses.

 

Edit - Phosphorescent on Wednesday or Thursday would be pretty good too.

Edited February 18, 2009 by Clubfoothead

[bushwacked]

I'd appreciate the input from fellas such as clubby, Atomic, bushwacked, GTS, loaf and anyone else that is into the indie/underground scene.

 

 

That used to be me....I use the tailgate a lot anymore to hear of newer bands. I can't offer up any past the many recommended. I'd really like to see Blitzen Trapper.

[Dutch Oven]

Yup, they're on the docket for Saturday. They're from Dallas, I think. Where'd you go?

 

I went to a small school in Central Missouri about 20 miles from Columbia. They used to play in Columbia a lot at a place called The Blue Note.

[Big John]

I went to a small school in Central Missouri about 20 miles from Columbia. They used to play in Columbia a lot at a place called The Blue Note.

Westminster College in Fulton, MO

[darin3]

Bump. Bands kick off on Wednesday.

[darin3]

 

Got a full day of bands lined up, headlined today/tonight by the Circle Jerks and the Von Bondies. Our local favorite, Hayes Carll, is supposedly playing but we're not 100% sure. If y'all like singer-songwriter / alt-country, I highly recommend checking him out. If he's not playing, we may check out the White Ghost Shivers.

 

Will be compiling free CDs to put into a big ole mix for y'all.

Edited March 18, 2009 by darin3

[Trojanmojo]

Come check out some bands from my label if you get a chance

 

Concord Music Group at SXSW

 

[darin3]

Come check out some bands from my label if you get a chance

 

Concord Music Group at SXSW

 

Looks like we may be at Raul Malo's Friday show. Any guy whose last name is "Bad" has to be good.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, will try and check him out and report back.

[Trojanmojo]

Looks like we may be at Raul Malo's Friday show. Any guy whose last name is "Bad" has to be good.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, will try and check him out and report back.

 

Hey Darin, if you want a preview of the show, you can stream his new album here: Lucky One album stream

 

And here he is on Leno a couple night ago: Raul Malo on Leno

 

[Bring Back Pat!!!]

I'd agree with a few others, Silversun Pickups would be someone I'd wanna check out.

 

Kind of a cross between the Breeders and early Smashing Pumpkins, Gish era. Pretty cool sound.

[twiley]

Will be compiling free CDs to put into a big ole mix for y'all.

You say this every year, you owe me 2 years so far.

[darin3]

You say this every year, you owe me 2 years so far.

I don't remember you asking for one the first year, and I swear I sent you one last year. Make sure to send a request via PM with your address (even though I have it, the PM request serves as a checklist for me to make and send the CDs).

[darin3]

One day and night down, three to go.

 

Highlights of tonight would have to go to...

 

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour from Denmark. I swear I've heard their Sun Ain't Shining song before. Great band. Since I had several pops in me and am 51% Danish, I decided to go talk to the hot little lead singer after their set. She was cool as chit and we're gonna go see them at their next show tomorrow night.

 

And the White Ghost Shivers ... all I gotta say to these guys is.... WdaF? Vaudeville meets bluegrass meets jazz meets ragtime. Ridiculously unique... and their music may zoom right over your head, at least it would to me, but seeing them live was a total experience.

 

Tomorrow's "hopeful highlights" include the Von Bondies, Meat Puppets, Ben Harper, Peter Bjorn and John and Brother Ali.

 

[AtomicCEO]

One day and night down, three to go.

 

Highlights of tonight would have to go to...

 

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour from Denmark. I swear I've heard their Sun Ain't Shining song before. Great band. Since I had several pops in me and am 51% Danish, I decided to go talk to the hot little lead singer after their set. She was cool as chit and we're gonna go see them at their next show tomorrow night.

 

And the White Ghost Shivers ... all I gotta say to these guys is.... WdaF? Vaudeville meets bluegrass meets jazz meets ragtime. Ridiculously unique... and their music may zoom right over your head, at least it would to me, but seeing them live was a total experience.

 

Tomorrow's "hopeful highlights" include the Von Bondies, Meat Puppets, Ben Harper, Peter Bjorn and John and Brother Ali.

 

 

Aww man. As a huge fan of Squirrel Nut Zippers, OCMS, and Sideshow Tramps... you knew I'd like that White Ghost Shivers stuff. Excellent.

 

And Asteroids Galaxy appear to have their songs in a lot of commercials. I recognized a few of those tracks too, but only from television commercials.