After having to cancel in both 2020 (one of the first things to do so) and 2021, South-by-Southwest thankfully returned to Austin last year (QRO recap), but it was a decidedly smaller affair. And if it didn’t reach the ‘Drake & Lady Gaga’ ridiculous heights of the last decade, SXSW ’23 was bigger & better than the year before, with more acts, more sponsors, more places, and more drink tickets, Monday-Saturday, March 13th-18th.
Hump Day is really when SXSW Music kicks into gear, with label showcases, national parties, and even some open bars.
New Zealand party @ The 13th Floor
While most sponsors come & go, the most reliable backers at South-by are countries, foreign cultural export programs who want to both give their local acts some American attention, and get their home countries some American tourists. That’s even double the case since COVID, so often your best bet for events are those from somewhere else, such as the other side of the world, New Zealand, which brought its small acts (and an open bar) to The 13th Floor during day. There was the eighties pop (and one of many with charming accents) in Georgia Lines, big electro-pop of Foley, Afro beats from a different Antipode with JessB, and the sweet solo musician Lontalius.
Georgia Lines
Foley
JessB
Lontalius
Innovation Bridge Europe party @ Wax Myrtle’s
Homestead Fashion Show
But if you’re going to put a spotlight on a country, make it Ukraine. Last year at SXSW, it was weird to be partying as Russia’s horrific invasion started to take place. This year, we all stand with the blue & yellow, and Innovation Bridge Europe held a classy event upstairs at Wax Myrtle’s. This included not only a spread of great traditional Ukrainian food, but a runway walk of traditional Ukrainian fashion thanks to Homestead.
This was soundtracked by Ukrainian-Canadian Balaklava Blues, who then played their own set, which included a killer ‘sitting on a big drum’ epic, not to mention stories of a brother fighting in Ukraine, plus meeting a bandmate for the first time in Kiev’s 2014 Maidan Square Revolution.
Balaklava Blues
Sentric/Rough Trade Publishing/Academy Fight Songs showcase @ Mohawk
But you come to official SXSW for the official label showcases, where you can see bands you already love – and ones you’re just discovering. Sentric, Rough Trade Publishing, and Academy Fight Songs held one both indoors & outdoors at Mohawk.
Divino Niño
Outside, there was the Latin-influenced indie-rock of Divino Niño, more aughts-expansive than expected, if also now-synthy, plus the fun girl indie-punk of THICK, who reminded of both the nineties and today hit Wet Leg (two great things to be reminded of), though their sound quality suffered at Mohawk.
THICK
M(h)aol
It was super packed in the small Mohawk inside for Ireland’s M(h)aol, while later fun punks Teenage Halloween thanked their crowd for being at the smaller stage, “a grower not a shower…”
Teenage Halloween
be your own PET
One of the must-sees of SXSW ’23 was the return of be your own PET. They came up in the same ‘return of rock’ aughts scene as The Strokes and The White Stripes, and indeed played Jack White’s Third Man Records party at Mohawk the next day – this day, they had also played Brooklyn Vegan’s day party at Mohawk, and Marshal’s the day before (“We’re the house band of Mohawk…”), perhaps limiting their crowd, but still nicely wild.
Superchunk
And also still wild are the ultra-vets Superchunk. The nineties alt-rockers are still going strong, even if having lost bassist Laura Ballance to hyperacusis (though she still records with them), and recently exiting drummer Jon Wurster, but singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan and guitarist Jim Wilbur still rock up there, alongside touring bassist Jason Narducy and their fill-in drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner of Telekinesis.
Other notes:
~ On the long line for Antone’s (see below), was told about the Dolby House, where you could get a few free drinks, so headed there instead. Saw their new gear, but prefer it Dubly.
~ Yes, your correspondent went up to Jason Narducy without any invitation, told the hard-working bassist (also of Bob Mould Band and his own Split Single) that he should have a two-stage festival with fellow hard-working bassist Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr, Sebadoh, solo), with one stage dedicated to each’s bands, even mentioned interviewing first Narducy (QRO interview) then Barlow (QRO interview) during COVID.
~ Also met comedian Dave Hill, of Narducy’s awesome “Untry Love” video.
Unfortunately missed:
~ The Zombies @ Waterloo Records, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
~ Thao and Michigander @ High Noon, 2:40 PM – 4:40 PM.
~ Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness, Brian Sella, and Michigander @ Antone’s, 8:45 PM – 11:45 PM.
~ The Zombies @ Stubb’s, 11:00 PM.
