SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Ted’s Recap

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sxsw2011d4ted.jpg" alt="SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Ted's Recap" />On Day Four, South by Southwest caught up with me. ...
SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Ted's Recap
SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Ted's Recap

The massive music industry festival that is South-by-Southwest fell into some bad timing this year, coming right after the Japanese earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis, and right before the United States and her allies joined the fight in Libya by bombing Muammar Gaddafi (Day Two of the festival was also St. Patrick’s Day, but SXSW knew that going in…).  It all threatened to make the festival, and music in general, seem irrelevant, what with the world going to hell in a handbasket.  But ensconced in the cocoon that was downtown Austin, on your smart phones and Twitter, with wristbands and free drinks galore, SXSW proved to once again be an engrossing, all-encompassing musical clusterfuck of an experience.

 

On Day Four, South-by-Southwest caught up with me.  It wasn’t just getting up late like on prior days, but had one of those rumbles in your stomach that you don’t know whether you’re hungry or sick – and don’t want to eat for the former, in case it’s the latter.  Also never got a confirmation from MOG, who handle the ads on QRO (see above & to the upper right), that I was on the list for their great daytime showcase at Mohawk.  So didn’t go to it, didn’t go out, ended up missing Atlantic/Chop Shop Records’ great early evening showcase at Brush Square Park (both of which I caught last year – QRO recap), and only got myself together and out the door for the evening, which consisted of big mainstream names at big places, and a final night at PureVolume House.

 

[Note: QRO had a number of correspondents at SXSW this year; this is just the Day Four recap from Ted Chase; click here for Amanda Krieg’s Day Four recap, click here for Tammi J Myers’, and click here for Robin Sinhababu’s]

 

Perez Hilton showcase @ Austin Music Hall

Selah Sue
Selah Sue

Selah SueClick image for full gallery

Last year (QRO recap), Perez Hilton had my favorite evening showcase at SXSW.  I heard about it, asked about it, and was approved all a few hours before it began on Night Four of SXSW 2010, was able to skip about four separate, long lines and enter without a wait, as they began the press line when I arrived.  It was in a dark, unused supermarket, with free drinks everywhere.  The line-up was tilted towards the mainstream and the dance, but caught the great Alphabeat (QRO photos) and bigger names like Macy Gray (QRO photos), Hole (QRO photos), and Snoop Dogg (QRO photos).  And I was able to bluff my way into the semi-backstage, which was the supermarket’s manager’s office, all fake wood walls, low ceiling, and no windows, making for a very smoky backstage – and that was before Snoop showed up; of course, when he did, everyone back there was kicked out, but that led to me tweeting that he was, “a fragile bitch.”  Also ran into the (very short) singer of Sum-41 and drunkenly told him they, “need to be more metal” (he didn’t think much of my suggestion, to which I tweeted, “Who does the singer of Sum-42 (sic) think he is, the guy from Blink-182?” – QRO photos…).  And ate a ton of cupcakes, discovering that it is the perfect showcase food – easy to get but seems like you baked, tasty, with sugar to keep you going, and one-handed so you can still drink while eating (or put it in your breast pocket for later, which I tried…).

So I pretty much had to go to Mr. Hilton’s event in 2011.  However, this year it was an official showcase, held not in an abandoned supermarket but the ultra-classy Austin Music Hall.  I had to wait in a line to get in, but not that long, and got into the VIP area upstairs, though the only free drinks were some sponsored vodka (and no cupcakes…).  The event was already going on when I arrived, with Selah Sue on stage, which I watched from the balcony.  She sounded nice, but it’s hard if you’re just a girl and an acoustic guitar at such a big place.

 

Zowie
Zowie

ZowieMDNRClick image for full gallery

Made it downstairs during MNDR’s DJ set (QRO photos), and discovered during Zowie that, since it was an official SXSW showcase, my regular SXSW photo pass was good enough for the SXSW volunteer on the house-left and got me into the photo pit.  The New Zealand electro-dance group wasn’t quite Alphabeat, but delivered, and the frontlady had a sweet flying V outfit.
Zowie

 

Kids of 88
Kids of 88

Kids of 88Click image for full gallery

At South-by-Southwest, just as sometimes you see a band that you didn’t want to because they were playing between other acts that you did want to see, you might see an act twice that you didn’t want to see once.  For me at SXSW 2011, that was Kids of 88.  Admittedly, at Austin Music Hall they were better than at Red River Garage on Day Two (QRO recap), but this also-from-New Zealand electro-dance group lost the kiwi prize to Zowie.  And only watched them for the first three songs, as the staff running the showcase (separate from the SXSW volunteers) moved the photographers into the loading dock/backstage after third song.
Kids of 88

 

Caitlin Moe & Mia Moretti
Caitlin Moe & Mia Moretti

Caitlin MoeClick image for full gallery

Mia Moretti was DJing between sets, and accompanying her was violinist Caitlin Moe.  Certainly more interesting than the usual DJ sets between acts, Moretti and Moe work well together, though it’s Moe who’s the frontwoman, with Moretti trapped behind the knobs and dials.  Wouldn’t go to see the duo for them, but definitely a strong in-between set act.
Caitlin Moe & Mia Moretti

 

Liz Phair
Liz Phair

Liz PhairClick image for full gallery

Liz PhairOnly saw three songs of Liz Phair, but she certainly did rock.  Didn’t think much of her new album, but as I was leaving she invited someone from the crowd who knew all the words to an old song on stage to sing backup.

Mostly, though, I was in awe at how good the forty-three-year-old Phair looked.  That might seem sexist and not about ‘the music’, but there is an age past which such comments are compliments (at least that’s what MILF/cougar-obsessed Hollywood keeps telling us – American Pie, what have you wrought?!?…); moreover, if I’m only let out for three songs, putting me right in front of the lovely lady, and then taking me away, can really only judge on appearance…
Liz Phair

 

The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless

Taylor MomsenClick image for full gallery

But the real ‘judging a book by its cover’ award goes to The Pretty Reckless.  The band is solely known for having as singer/frontwoman Taylor Momsen, a.k.a. Jenny Humphrey of Gossip Girl.  She was tarted up (and that’s about the nicest word for it) in stiletto heels, tight corset-like top, short-short skirt, and more.  Perez Hilton introduced her/the band by calling their upcoming record, “The best of… the first half of this year.”

Taylor MomsenDid it really matter how she/they played?  You can pretty much guess at what they sounded like, based on these photos, eighties-inspired hard rock with an ultra-blonde metal chick singer, who even rubbed up against her bassist early in the set (QRO photo).  And she’s not even the best singer on Gossip Girl – that goes to Leighton Meester, a.k.a. Blair Waldorf, who sang with Rivers Cuomo on Weezer’s “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” (QRO photo).

Should have really stuck around for the final act of the night, Oh Land (QRO album review), considering she would also be the best, but QRO caught her twice the week prior (QRO photos QRO photos), and I had experienced my fill of this showcase.  Certainly way better-run, much classier, and a much better experience for the ‘average fan’ – but lost that special ‘VIP’ feel…
The Pretty Reckless

~

 

Chevrolet showcase @ Stubb’s BBQ

Panic! At the Disco
Panic! At the Disco

Panic! At the DiscoPanic! At the DiscoClick image for full gallery

So after the likes of Perez Hilton & a Gossip Girl, who did I hit up next?  Panic! At the Disco – keepin’ it indie…

Playing Stubb’s, only watched Panic! for a few songs, which were about what I expected – Blink-182-esque pop punk with lots of faces from the singer.  The emo band’s new songs did fit in well with their old ones, which I suppose it what you’d be looking for if you were looking for something from Panic! At the Disco.  When I was leaving, after praising the brisket (had that right), they started “Nine in the Afternoon”, the only song of theirs I’d ever heard of, but never actually heard (and that’s still the case).
Panic! At the Disco

~

 

Stereogum party @ PureVolume House

Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett

Click image for full gallery

Owen PallettIf Day One at PureVolume House (QRO recap) was marked by confusion in entering & leaving, Day Two (QRO recap) had the strongest, and most ‘rock’, bands, and Day Three (QRO recap) was a dubstep showcase, Day Four had way too many bros in da House.  It being a Saturday night probably brought out the locals, who seemed more there for the booze than anything else, while festival attendees were either too tired, had already left, or were at something bigger/more exclusive (see below).

It all seemed tailor-made for a bad show for Owen Pallett.  The solo singer/violinist is already “flamingly gay” (his words – QRO live review), and it can be really tough for him to make his presence known over a chattering, drunk crowd.  Plus, it had to be his last show of a busy SXSW.  Yet Pallett made it work!  The closeness of Pallett on stage and the crowd a foot below/away from him let him interact with the audience, and he didn’t need to dominate the whole place.  He was in good spirits, probably surprised himself at how well things were going.  It still probably wasn’t like his usual good shows, but definitely a plus.
Owen Pallett & crowd

 

Cults
Cults

Click image for full gallery

I was wearing down by this point of South-by-Southwest, and really wasn’t that open to catching a new group.  Cults’ indie-pop sounded nice enough, if didn’t blow me away, and kind of just blew right by.
Cults

 

Gold Panda
Gold Panda

this guy cares about Gold PandaClick image for full gallery

Final act of South-by-Southwest was a DJ, Gold Panda.  I’m not a fan of DJs in general, because I really don’t think they ‘count’ as an artist in their own right in a line-up, more just filler (though can be good filler – see above).  If you’re not Moby (who DJed PureVolume House on Night One – QRO photos), who cares what’s on your laptop?

Gold PandaEvidently some people care about Gold Panda, including a photographer for another site who was there for GP, and borrowed a camera battery from me.  Of course, I ended up having to track him down to get it back, with him in the semi-backstage area of PureVolume House that my press wristband/badge no longer got me into.  I might have paid attention to Gold Panda, or stuck around for the subsequent Das Racist (QRO photos), but my ‘pride’ had taken one too many insults – PureVolume doesn’t get me reporting on every act at their House if they keep me on the ground floor… (only almost every act over all four nights…)
Gold Panda

~

 

Perez Hilton & The Pretty RecklessOther notes:

-At least it wasn’t freezing on Day Four, like last year at SXSW (QRO recap).

-In the backstage/loading dock at Austin Music Hall, there weren’t free drinks, wasn’t even an open plug or a place to sit, but there was a photo backdrop for red carpet-style photoshoots.  The only people I saw there were coming to/from the stage (expect whoever this guy is – same thing happened last year with whoever this couple is…), including Perez Hilton himself.  More interesting was ‘watching the watchers’; observing the photogs who formed a scrum in front of it while we waited (including one large guy who you couldn’t move past him when in the not-that-tight photo pit), despite it being a long wait with few photoshoot moments.
photogs

fireworks-Saw fireworks coming out of Austin Music Hall.

-There were a lot of other things going on the final night of South-by-Southwest.  Diddy apparently was the secret special guest at FADER Fort – not that you would have known even on that night, as any coverage of him was swamped by all the coverage of Kanye West (the special FADER Fort guest two years ago – QRO recap), throwing his own event for his GOOD Music label (an imprint of Universal).  Both were undoubtedly nightmare scrums to get into/go to, only enjoyable if you’re someone who lucked into ultra-VIP treatment, but normally doesn’t (i.e., if I’d been able to get in, I would have said it was awesome, but didn’t even bother to try…).

I’m hardly against seeing big acts & events at South-by-Southwest (see what I saw on Day Four…), but do you go to this festival to see someone like Kanye or Diddy?  If you want to see them, by all means buy a ticket and go see them at Madison Square Garden (QRO venue review) or wherever; but any free/RSVP show by them at SXSW is going to be a nightmare that’s not worth the price of admission if you’re not a VIP (and screw the VIPs…), and can suck up all the air for all the struggling artists at the festival.  It’s not SXSW’s fault (neither were playing official showcases), and it’s hard to argue against anyone putting on a free show, especially people who charge serious $$ for a regular show.  But there’s a flaw in the system (at least if you’re a hater like me…).

-And at least artists like Kanye & Diddy didn’t have the biggest, most talked-about show of the night/SXSW – that prize went to Canada’s Death From Above 1979.  People were so amped up for their reunion show at Beauty Bar that the fence was torn down during it, DFA1979 begged the crowd to stay calm enough for them to finish their set, and it all ended with police coming to the scene – including police horses & mace!  While it’s likely been blown out of proportion and into legend by now (it wasn’t Altamont II…), still the major event of South-by-Southwest.  Those crazy Canadians…
DFA 1979 crowd, before

 

Unfortunately missed:

-MOG party with TV On the Radio (QRO photos at SXSW), Big Boi, Okkervil River (QRO live review), Wild Flag (QRO photos), The Smith Westerns (QRO photos), Yuck, and Twin Shadow @ Mohawk.  At least caught TVOTR the prior day – QRO recap.

-Atlantic/Chop Shop Records’ party with Portugal. The Man (QRO album review), The Joy Formidable (QRO live review), The Republic Tigers, Scars On 45 (QRO mp3 review), and Kitten @ Brush Square Park (East Tent).  Somehow missed The Joy Formidable throughout SXSW…

-J Mascis (QRO album review), Neon Trees (QRO photos), Chapel Club, and Meat Puppets (QRO album review) @ Waterloo Records, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.  SST Records reunion!  Though when I thought Grant Hart (QRO interview) was playing with Meat Puppets last SXSW, turned out to be false (QRO recap)…

-Bright Eyes (QRO album review), The Felice Brothers (QRO spotlight on), Middle Brother (QRO mp3 review), and Man Man (QRO live review) @ Auditorium Shores Stage, 4:25 PM – 8:30 PM.

-Vulture Whale (QRO album review) @ Annie’s West, 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM.

-The Autumn Defense (QRO interview) @ Momo’s, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

-Takka Takka (QRO spotlight on) & The Forms (QRO spotlight on) @ 512, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

-Oh Land @ Austin Music Hall. (see above)

-Deer Tick (QRO photos) @ Lustre Pearl, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM.  Not a huge Deer Tick fan, but this was the band playing the songs of Nirvana as ‘Deervana’.

 

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