South-by-Southwest Tuesday nearly veered into an unwelcome early scratch day (especially with decent-odds thunderstorms looming later in the week) but ultimately was recovered. Surmountable obstacles dodged, tipples only tipped for, showcases attentively attended.
Party @ Hotel Vegas
BODEGA
Hotel Vegas isn’t big on sincerity, so sly NYC prank rockers BODEGA synced up splendidly for a nearly-sunset set. They urged any parents to combat the dystopian future by registering their child’s domain names, they interpolated “Roll Over Beethoven” into one of their jams, they pleaded for bands to “stick together” against the crushing scope of the music industry. New Album: Our Brand Could Be Yr Life
SXSW Music Opening Party @ Palm Door on Sixth
Nabihah Iqbal
Her single henchman alternating between guitar and sax, sporting on-the-nose “Free Palestine” shirt and sharing accompanying banter, acclaimed brit Nabihah Iqbal offered a no-frills version of her dancey-but-hummable guitar and drum machine ruminations. A talent capable of greatly expanding the singer-songwriter mold, she shared her glowing heart in originals and a Cure cover, but the bright-lights-under-a-patio-tent presentation paradoxically dimmed the vibe.
Showcase @ Cuatro Gato
San Gabriel
Bedroom indie sweetheart San Gabriel was hidden away in downtown’s newer nightlight quadrant, tacky bullshit banging away in the street loud enough for a concert patron to go rouge and close the open front door. Offering sunshine synth and confessional falsetto – with heartfelt guitar solos tucked in between – the one-man band charmed modest but attentive Cuatro Gato patrons. “Time is a helluva teacher,” he crooned. It is. And it was time to get to sleep. “Goodbyeeeee” he sang.
Unfortunately missed
-Free tacos at the Working Families Party Politics House. They ran out of food: just like actual communism!
