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SXSW 2012 - Diary re-visited for Fatea

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

Friday 16-3:

After a breakfast at Magnolia's (worth a visit), it was off to Joe's Parking Lot (San Jose's Motel) and another freebie outdoor gig with some notable artists (how do they do this?). First up The Masterons a four-piece band husband and wife outfit from Brooklyn with some good Americana.

A good sound and ejoyable set. During the gig, Chris Masterson introduced the band and his wife who plays various string instruments. As for the most important bit, the music, loved it.

Dry The River next up from the UK who consists of a five-piece indie rock folk band. A lively bunch, whose crowd interaction leaves a lot to be desired and is not their strongest point. Avoid the story telling and un-amusing interludes chaps and stick to the music.

As for the music, loved it! Live they are quality and although really pinning down a clean genre for their style of music is somewhat difficult. I settled on folk rock since it was mostly indie folk but with bursts of rock energy every now and then.

There are three vocalists in the group and unfortunately for us one of them had lost his voice so a particular song was omitted from their set. I failed to get the title having subsequently listened a few times to their fine album titled Shallow Bed to try and work out which it could have been but alas with little joy.

Every year at SXSW there is a band in this genre area that I pick up on and this year, Dry The River was that band.

A quick detour and off to Threadgills to see Wayne Kramer (MC5) + The Good The Bad followed by Shearwater. TGTB are another band seen several times at SXSW, the trio instrumentalists have a unique style, which drives hard at the heart of a spaghetti western.

Two able guitarists and a drummer never fail to exceed expectations. So, when Wayne Kramer of MC5 notoriety stepped in to play alongside, we had a special moment and we were there! More great stuff! As for Shearwater this was a good a set as I have seen them and having listened attentively to their latest album, Animal Joy, it's well worth a listen.

Okay so back to the car park at the San Jose's Motel, primarily to see Alabama Shakes but we gate crashed the Kids These Days hip-hop / blues session from this seven-piece Trap house Rock ensemble. Not sure where I got this from but Trap house rock was what I noted when I saw this lot and this is how I choose to describe them.

I actually enjoyed this, which is kind of strange as I never like to diss a genre but Hip-Hop is one I tend to give a wide berth. It must have been the fact that this was live music (can't be beaten) and the Blues element that struck a chord. This was energetic and full bloodied. Good entertainment but a 'time and a place' moment I felt.

Next, the moment we had been waiting for and to think I had given up seeing The Cult for this lot, Alabama Shakes. Well, not impressed initially would be the feeling felt upon being introduced to this over-hyped US band. However, sometimes first impressions are not what they seem. Subsequent perseverance listening has allowed the power of their infectious singer Brittany Howard and soul-blues undertones to resonate and it is hard to believe this is not a cocktail destined for success.

The parking lot venue, which has seen sets from other fine artists was, at this point completely rammo, not helped to get a true perspective of this fine young band.

After being underwhelmed by Alabama Shakes, two of us scooted off to the much talked about Ironworks BBQ for some sustenance. Oh what a disappointment, if your trip takes in Austin for whatever reason, don't bother even though it's a main list recommendation. Not from this punter.

Rejuvenated and it was back up 6th Street to Maggie Mae's Gibson Room to see Sahara Smith. However, Hudson Moore were required to be endured first. However, the good news was that whilst this Texan band was getting ready, the delightful Sahara was at the next table and receptive to some mature music enthusiasts engaged conversation.

So onto Hudson Moore a rock-blues five-piece band from Fort Worth. A student at the university of Texas, the band played out a series of entertaining southern style catchy rock numbers, which were appreciated by a small, assembled crowd, mostly family and friends by the looks of things.

A spacious venue sparsely occupied saw Sahara Smith up next and she did not disappoint with some Smokey delta country blues numbers.

A dilemma ensued and basically there were choices of the next venue but we settled on the Driskill Hotel to see the reggae artists Natty. Well, would you credit it, but the warm up act was a Reggae DJ set we had met the previous day, Orange Hill and oh how average this was. But fear not, with Natty on all was salvaged. The bizarre venue in the hotel's Victorian ante room at the front of the hotel, this was simply great and does what it says on the tin. Modern Reggae at it's finest to a very small group of chancers and fans alike.

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