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SXSW 2012 - Diary re-visited for Fatea

Venue: Multiple
Town: Austin Texas
Date: 10th-17th March

Wednesday 14-3:

So here we are on the second day of SXSW and already there are more venues open with music than ever before. The wonderful Waterloo Records venue sees it open with Tribes a 4-piece indie rock band from Camden.

The lead singer Johnny Lloyd delivered an opening set which was pretty good. The closest comparisons can be made with The Mystery Jets.

Second up, Foxy Shazam a glam rock band from Cincinatti, Ohio. This 6-piece Adams family wannabe's served up a plate of pure theatre. Good sound, very entertaining with lots going on, too much to keep up with really. It was like watching Cirque du Soleil, eyes flicking everywhere trying not to miss the next weird act from the lead singers cartwheels to the keyboard player jumping on his instrument (ooh er missus) to the bassist trying his arm at acrobatics from the scaffold stage.

This band is very much in the same league as The Darkness and Eric Sean Nally the next Justin Hawkins.

As stated earlier, once done at Waterloo Records we headed off to the Welsh party at Latitude and a true look at Future Of The Left. I suppose you could classify these guys from Cardiff as Alternate or as I prefer, noise rock.

An excellent performance and live gig with front man Andy Falkous giving as good as he got from the crowd which provided for a good source of inter-song back chat especially to some drunk hecklers. Intelligent delivery of post-hardcore rock which, although probably not to everyone's taste, would win over more friends live than if not seen first.

The quite brilliant live Skindred followed. This Prodigy like genre confused band turned in a heavy metal set abash with reggae and hip-hop. An unusual combo excellently executed.

Benji Webbe is a real entertainer although his calls for audience participation can be somewhat overpowering, so we'll put this one down to the excitement of playing at the marvellous Latitude and a debut performance at SXSW.

Just when you think you have nailed the genre this band fits into they play another song, which throws you off guard. Just check this lot out on YouTube. Superb live no matter what your taste in music.

The sun was shining still when we left so a meander down to Brush Square and a quick blag into the Canadian Blast party. Each one of us taking on the role of someone else with a similar name on the guest list, poor form, but needs must when you forgot to RSVP!

Some free booze and grub and then into the main tent for a dose of Zeus playing average covers. This Toronto indie rock quartet were a poor follow on from Skindred. It was always going to be hard to follow entertainers. This was way too boring so a speedy exit was in order.

The team split up since there was a difference of opinion on gigs for the evening. So it was the Austin Music Hall to see the Austin Music Awards. The Quiet Company were on stage upon arrival. An indie rock band from Austin. No other comment since the priority was to find a space to stand/sit and not pay real attention to mild pleasant rock music. A space was found standing at the back of the seated area downstairs at the largest venue SXSW has to offer.

Joe King Carasco & The Crowns an Americana new wave band documented as Tex-mex rock and roll appeared ungracefully. This was a confusing mess of Mariachi, Ska and Country. Wow, not for me so early on in the evening. Get me the **** out of here and quick. Well, serves me right, a Bruce Springsteen and Robert Plant duet later on brought this baby to a close! Never mind.

So back downtown to the Red Eyed Fly to catch up with 2 other members of the party who were there to see Willy Mason an American blues folk singer songwriter from New York. Mr Mason served up a depressing cocktail of bruised romantic country music the opposite end of the spectrum which was not what was called for. Three songs later and offski to Latitude. Definitely one to listen for another time.

Latitude 30: The Xcerts I created a new genre for this 3 piece likeable outfit, Distorted Pop, it best described to me what I felt I was listening to. The front man Murray MacLeod seemingly has all the pop star good looks to woo a young female following which was evident at the gig at Latitude in Austin.

Next up Charlie Simpson (ex lead singer of Busted and current lead in Fightstar). This was a performance under his name. A trio Acoustic pop set. Completely out of place at this gig 'nuff said.

The night just got better with Turbogeist entering the fray. A punk rock, four piece high-energy outfit from London. That's more like it, raw punk although this was most definitely punk, hmmm, there was something missing, ah yes, the look, they did however resemble a pop band. Never mind, look away and they were great! Finally, although this was not supposed to be, since the main reason for coming down to Latitude was to see Cancer Bats who headlined, alas other than mingling with the band in the crowd, that was as far as it got having to leave early.

Not before watching Spycatcher from Watford who were made up of 5 members from other bands including a previous favourite, Gallows, namely the bassist Stuart Gill-Ross plus others from The Haunts and Cry For Silence. Okay this was a big disappointment, poor at best. The lead wannabe bad boy, Steve Sears was trying too hard to mimic the now infamous Frank Carter (Ex-Gallows) IMO. This was an awful set and it was time to call time on Latitude once more for the night.

A text and all four music lovers re-assembled at the local pizza dive (and what a dive!). Questionable hygiene, in fact I am amazed that any of us use this place other than for convenience and the fact the local five-o are also regulars.

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