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SXSW 2012 - Diary re-visited for Fatea

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

Thursday 15-3:

The morning started with a breakfast gig care of the out of place health food company Belvita. Kaiser Chiefs were the guest of honour plus a free healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt. Not really in keeping with SXSW, ah yes, forgot to mention the side cocktail bar and several Bloody Mary's later and all was good in Austin and the world.

The KC's were okay but short and sweet and it was too obvious that they were not interested in being there. Obviously management had insisted. My guess is that the Billy big bollocks from Leeds thought, 'what the f*** are we doing here, do they know who we are?

They told us we'd be playing a college football stadium!'. A severe case of we are bigger than this get us otta here. Anyhow, it was good whilst it lasted but it brought home how average a band they are given their success.

Okay, so the next venue was better than anticpated, the freebie open air gig sponsored for the Woodie awards which kicked off with Ed Sheerhan. Well, what can I say about this geezer other than superb. A great session which had the enthusiastic crowd really getting into the fast paced acoustic folk/ hip-hop poet. Brilliant.

This outdoor venue was actually working already and it had only just started. Not bad for a freebie party. Only in the US. Not sure this would ever be seen in the UK. Anyhow got chatting to two friendly dudes in front who unbelievably were from Muswell Hill of all places.

This was Orange Hill, a DJ Set playing gigs at this year's SXSW. Gig details exchanged and off we veered to an adjacent stage to see Kimbra. An attractive young female from Hamilton, New Zealand, whose alternative soul and great voice wowed the crowd. A mix of similarities to other female artists that was difficult to pin down.

In amongst the confusion in trying to disect the tones you are transported to the 50's and 60's with a modern alternative feel that brings together a pleasant unique sound of old and new. A fresh sound that will appeal to most.

ASAP Rocky up next and oh dear, my fear is this guy will be a hit. A most unappealling set from a personal perspective. The Hip-Hopsters will probably love this guy but an escape tunnel was dug on hearing the first track!

Away from the Woodie awards, it was time to re-ignite the Texas Freeloaders Club tradition of blag the swag from the poor unsuspecting stallholders at the music show in the Conference Centre. It's a particular favourite of this attendee to engage in inane conversation with the aim of blagging a photo, t-shirt, piece of SXSW memorabilia or any toot going. This is a haven for bullshit and entrepreneurial acumen. Once fully laden with all things unusable, some scran was in order.

Yet another trip back across the river to the hotel and a fleeting visit to Hooters did the trick before moving on to the Lucky Lounge and Ian Mclaghan. Obviously better known for his time with the Small Faces, the annual visit to the Lucky Lounge bar to see this now resident slot was no different to previous visits. Good sound and clearly this had a more mature audience than most venues.

There were even some offspring brought up on a diet of the older music from the late 60's and early to mid 70's. Seems to me that as long as Mr McLagan will be playing in Austin our party will pay homage to the man and duly oblige in a few drinks to his honour at the bar whilst taking in the pleasantries served up by the adopted son of Austin. This is four out of four visits to Austin, so keep it up Ian!

The final venue on this day saw a trip to The Bedford @ the Creekside Hilton Garden hotel. This has to be pound for pound the best venue when standing on your feet all day at various venues then walking to the next and so on. Why, I hear you say, it's simple, seats! Elle King was first up, a US American Folk singer from Ohio. A great voice and personality that lit up the stage and had the audience in her palm. Mesmorising infectious aura which draws you in and doesn't let go. I became an instant fan and want to hear more.

Clearly the songs Elle has written are based on a difficult childhood, upbringing and life experiences and the feeling is expressed in the delivery of these many uncomplicated songs. A big thumbs up.

Sylvie Lewis an acoustic folk singer from London now living in the US. A self-assured dry humoured story telling folk singer songwriter. In her adopted soft American accent, there is a charm and cheakiness to her story telling songs. The set was good, strong, had meaning and purpose plus some comedy thrown in for good measure. A likeable entertaining session.

Sion Russell-Jones a multi-instrumentalist folk singer from Wales who gave an excellent performance way beyond his years. A great unique voice, this singer can hit the choirboy high notes at will and frequently uses this in some of his self styled written material. To make comparisons is somewhat unfair but given Ed Sheeran had been seen earlier in the day, there were some similarities.

Live, this guy was awesome and having spoken to him at the end whilst handing out free copies of his CD, I was eager to listen again to some of the wonderfully delivered material provided by this gig. Alas, subsequently having played the CD several times and whilst very good the rawness and freedom of the stage has been shackled in the recording studio and the uniqueness lost in the process.

Kiernan McMullan an acoustic lyrical guitarist who focuses on pointing to some light-hearted and sometimes poignent serious subjects in his work. Not being overly qualified to comment on whether this type of music will succeed on a large scale but I know what I like and this falls short. The session was ruined totally for me when a female friend was beckoned on stage to help out and what came next was nothing more than a jam session rather than a showcase.

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