SXSW 2010 - A Music Diary

DAY FIVE - The Last Official Day of SXSW :o( - 20/3/2010

First up a re-visit to Katz's for brekky and a quick visit to Waterloo Records. Not much doing, so a trip downtown to Maggie Mae's Rooftop and the Aussie BBQ to see Sherlock's Daughter (http://www.myspace.com/sherlocksdaughter) a five piece alternative indie band. Good but not hugely exciting as the first band of the day, so clearly the next step was to hot tail it to the great venue known as the Mean Eyed Cat and the Mojo Party. Upon arrival the line up included, would you believe it, The Jim Jones Revue, but wait a voice from the doorman explained that they had cancelled due to Jim losing his voice! Damn! Oh well, who was that in the courtyard of the venue, but none other than Cosmo Jarvis. After a brief chat, I ask Cosmo, given they had no other commitments, to take the slot now vacated by Jim Jones. However, this seemed a bit of an effort too far for our young Cosmo to work out how this could possibly work out. A bitterly cold day, having dropped over 20 degrees Fahrenheit from the previous day, this outdoor venue was not the best, but first up were the Smoke Fairies (http://www.myspace.com/smokefairies) a British girl duo singing pleasant folk songs which would have been better had this been round a camp fire! Next up, The Unthanks (http://www.myspace.com/rachelunthank) formerly Rachel Unthank and Winterset, another established British folk band. This was doing nothing to help with the cold weather, so the proprietor kindly put the overhead heaters on, but halfway through the set, it got so cold, it was inside to the bar for some welcome heat and liquid refreshments. Once The Unthanks had finished they joined us in the bar, so it was time to check out the next band who were Dengue Fever (http://www.myspace.com/denguefevermusic) a lively alternative indie band. In the audience was Jim Jones himself with his partner, so couldn't resist to chat with him about how his voice was and share my experience of the two gigs attended. Really nice guy who seemed genuinely interested in sparing time to talk.

Having spoken several times previously before flying out to Austin of the chance of getting a trip out to the Continental Club, we finally left to do just that after eventually hailing a cab with a Moroccan driver who surprisingly follows British football and is a Man United supporter, oh what a surprise! Unfortunately, when we arrived at the Continental club, there was a large queue with 1 out 1 in going on, so it was simply back in a cab to the city. Shame.

First gig back, and to Latitude 30 and John Smith (http://www.myspace.com/johnacousticsmith) who played some good rock music, but decided not to stay too long and off to BD Riley's where there was some interesting stuff going on, but again unfortunately too packed, so was unable to really stay.

The day seemed to be getting colder and windier so we decided to take yet another cab out of town to the Broken Spoke and possibly see some Country & Western with local line dancing. Again, disappointment as the start was not for several hours after we arrived, so a quick burger and a visit to the most disgusting restroom ever experienced and back to the city, eventually.

First destination was the Creekside at the Hilton Garden Inn to see Susan Cowsill (http://www.myspace.com/susancowsill) a Country roots rock singer with an assembled set of musicians who actually worked out very well. Susan has a beautiful voice and is part of the famous Cowsill singing family who were the inspiration for the television series The Partridge Family.

Once done, onto Latitude 30 to see Nu-Jazz artist Cate Le Bon, (http://www.myspace.com/catelebon) instantly bored with this type of downbeat low tempo music, but stayed for a few songs before managing to get into Buffalo Billiards to see the very fine The Deaf, (http://www.myspace.com/thedeaf) a Dutch screamo grunge band trio with lots of energy and reminded me of The Jam in their early years, although the singer has definitely taken a leaf out of Mike Wiebe from the Riverboat Gamblers in terms of moves. Good honest entertainment. This was always going to be a stop gap filler before heading north to Momo's to see the superb The Good, The Bad (http://www.myspace.com/tgtb) a Danish Surf trio from Copenhagen comprising two guitars and a drummer. The music, purely instrumental, fast, slightly weird, but great. Feeling content in the fact I had seen a gig that excited me, I now wanted more, so next up the Central Presbyterian Church and the immortal Ian McLagan & the Bump Band (http://www.myspace.com/ianmclaganandthebumpband) playing some great new and old rock numbers. After the gig, noticed three members of the Jim Jones Revue band in the audience and got to speak to the guys for a while which was nice and even exchanged banter over football, marvelous, especially as the mighty Tottenham Hotspur had beaten Stoke earlier in the day. Spoke to Keyboard, Drummer & Bassist from Jim Jones Review.

Being one of the last to exit the church, it was off to Maggie Mae's Gibson Room for a quick look at The Chevelles (http://www.myspace.com/thechevelles) a four piece Aussie powerpop band who have been round the block a few times. Then finally back to the Creekside at the Hilton Garden Inn and a seat in the moody intimate room set aside by the hotel to form a small venue in one of the ground floor business conference areas to see Athlete (http://www.myspace.com/athlete). The UK duo did not disappoint, they were brilliant with acoustic guitars and keyboard, superb indie pop with some crowd banter thrown in.

This was the last gig and marked the official end of SXSW for another year.

DAY SIX - 21/3/2010

The blues setting in at the realisation that the official festival was now over and some members of our party were due to leave later that morning.

A quick breakfast at Katz's, a fond farewell and a walk downtown to look at the Austin Conference Center, but alas it was closed to the public.

After deliberating with the remainder of my party, we decided there was nothing for it, but to take in one of the top ten things to do in Texas before you die and a cab to Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon bar was our destination. Upon arrival, there was an uneasy air as to what lay ahead, however since we arrived early we perched up at the bar and had several Lone Star beers before Dale Weston came on to play some lively Country & Western. By this time the bar was literally heaving with an overspill into the rear car park where a large crowd gathered, some with deck chairs to take in the rays and listen to the music from outside. A bunch of bikers and their shiny Harley's had joined the fray and for the main event, which was the Chicken S**t Bingo - http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/696716. The idea, very simple, although I doubt whether this would catch on in the UK or indeed be allowed, however, this was fascinating, a crude board laid over the pool table with evenly marked out squares and numbers with a chicken coup cage covering the board. The idea is you bet on a number and then a chicken is placed into the cage through an opening and the first square it….Well you get the idea, winner takes all. Only in America!

A cab back to the city and a visit to Fogo de Chao for a veritable feast at the Brazilian steakhouse.

DAY SEVEN - 22/3/2010

After a shopping trip to the Barton Creek Mall back to the city for a few drinks at the Irish Bar next to Cedar Street Courtyard and a visit back to Momo's to see some local music: Jarrod Dickinson (http://www.myspace.com/jarroddickenson) a solo acoustic folk rock/blues singer, a tad downbeat but good, followed by The Sam Hill band with Dustin Welch (http://www.myspace.com/dustinwelchmusic) on vocals. A five piece band comprising a Cellist, keyboard player, two guitarists and a drummer. A good sound similar to the Crash Test Dummies although the keyboard was out of sync and somewhat unnecessary. Last up, Brandon Jenkins (http://www.myspace.com/brandonjenkinsband) a three piece Folk Rock band who were a pleasant end to the music for this SXSW trip.

SXSW trip officially over, thoroughly entertained but exhausted!

Gary Rose