WEDNESDAY (The Olive Group, We Talked About Murder, dewey defeats truman, and Egon)

THURSDAY (Sing Sing and Holly Golightly)

FRIDAY (Rebeca Gates and Shannon Wright)

SATURDAY (Swearing at Motorists, Okkervil River, Grand Champeen, John Vanderslice, American Analog Set, The Mendoza Line and Actionslacks)

MORE PICTURES by Joanna Plus her SXSW Journal here!

THE SXSW SUMMARY

So I am sure it will not come as any big shock to you my faithful readers, that well I slacked on my SXSW diary. I did upload new pictures daily, but my reports lagged. Between being hung-over and sleeping till noon then heading out for a free day show then coming home stuffing my face and going out for the night, there just was not much writing time. You forgive me right? At least I am about to give you this summary, and there were all those cool pictures I was religious about uploading.

So where were we? Ah yes, Friday. Well I skipped all day shows and parties. I needed a music free day. My house guests left so I opted to spend the afternoon in my jammies. Friday night started early, 8pm at The Hideout with Rebecca Gates. The hideout is a coffee shop on congress and all the way in the back was this puppet show like theatre. Ms. Gates had started by the time we got there, but we snuck into the bleachers. The nose bleed section as you can see from my pictures. I am a HUGE Spinanes fan, probably one of my favorite bands of all time, so Rebecca Gates could take a shit and I would be impressed. She seemed nervous and shy and it was just her and a guitar. She even sang an acoustic Spinanes song. She made my heart hurt as always.

Did I mention on the way to her show we passed by Wild About Music on Congress and there in the window display was one of my bracelets. I made Chris take my picture in front of the window. I have never done anything that has been in a big store front, woo-hoo.

OK so we had to haul ass to the next joint. We left Erin there to either see Calvin Johnson who was up next or go home sick. We picked up Naughty Secretary Club staff writer Dave Morgan and we were off The Scottish Rite Theatre for Shannon Wright at 9pm. Those old men that work at that place were so cute. Saying hello and telling us to let them know if we needed anything. Precious. The stage was really cool and was set for a play in a forest scene. So Shannon Wright playing underneath all the faux foliage was prrrfect. There is something so intense about Shannon Wright I am taunt and on edge the whole time she is performing. Next to Peaches her performance at Emo’s last year was one of the best shows of 2001. Anyway, Shannon was wonderful, just not long enough. She left the drummer at home and it was just her alternating from organ to guitar.

Back in the car for a mad dash downtown. We were planning on trying to catch Shearwater at Hickory Street, but alas by the time we found parking there was no time. So we opted to head for The Tiger Style showcase over at Buffalo Billiards. Mostly I just stood there and talked to friends and drank. The Rye Coalition were like metal background music. I did pay attention to Her Space Holiday and they sounded like something I need to look further into.

At 1am I opted out of the Tiger Style headliners, American Analog set and made my way to Emo’s for Chicks on Speed. Bad choice. They were GOD AWFUL. I guy walked by me and I heard him say to his friend “This band gets the award for largest crowd, worst band”. Amen brother. They were just goofy and danced around to samples and twirled scarves you had to wonder how they got a headlining gig at the outside stage at Emo’s. Home bed.

SATURDAY. Sweet Jesus, thank you that it is the last day of this I couldn’t take much more. Today started REALLY early, 12pm. My buddy Tina and I headed for Yard Dog on S. Congress to see our friend Jenny’s art. There was free beer and a band too. Woo-hoo. After coveting Jenny’s embroidered creations we headed for Club Deville for The Glurp Records/KVRX party. Swearing at Motorists was playing when we walked in, and I was sad I had missed any. They were super good, although I later learned that they do not usually sound the way they did that afternoon, apparently due to broken equipment they were forced to tone the whole thing down. Either way, they should work the almost acoustic thing, it was damn fine.

Next was Okkervil River, who I had come for. Since I missed Shearwater the night before I decided to make it up this way (they share members). I was so impressed with these guys. Their record blew me away and to be able to convey that sound live was a something to behold. Have you ever seen someone rock out with an accordion? Its like really intense folk music or punk, not alt, country. Good stuff and you should check them and their record out.

Then there was The Mendoza Line. I had never heard them before and they were pretty damn good. I bet they are better on record. One of the dudes seemed a little on the tipsy side, whatever it’s a party why shouldn’t he be. I am always a sucker for bands with girl and boy singers.

Grand Champeen. Who are these people and how have a I missed them? They obviously had the biggest crowd of the day, people were coming out of the woodwork for these guys. They are Austinites, but I had never heard them or seen them. They were super fun pop rock stuff, with a cute dirty guy in the band. Their label, Glurp, was a co-host of this shindig. I’ll keep my fingers crossed they send me a CD to review (hint-hint). I’ll be keeping an eye peeled for when these guys play out. All three members of my party agreed that they were the band of the day worth looking into.

Next was John Vanderslice who was, pardon my French, Fucking Amazing. I had only heard a couple for MP3s by this guy, but he blew me away. I must acquire his whole discography. Then on top of that who the hell was that drummer on tour with him? He was so animated, singing along and miming the lyrics and at the same time he was kick ass impressive. I gots to get me some of dis.

Are you thinking at this point, damn doesn’t your ass hurt from sitting through all these bands, aren’t you getting hungry and cold sitting outside. Well we had the best table in the joint and I had come this far I was not about to miss American Analog Set twice in one week. Plus that who my buddy Erin had come to see. I am embarrassed to say, I have never seen American Analog Set. I have lived in Austin over 5 years and not once. I am not sure I have heard that much by them. Ya, ya, ya now I know I have been living in the dark. I am one of those asshole people that tends to snub local bands even ones with huge followings like American Analog Set. I see the error of my ways and now have crossed over into their dark side.

Quick ghetto dinner at Taqareia Arandas. Stop over at home to touch up my lipstick and put in my lip ring, because I needed to feel young again then we were off for downtown. My friend Jenny was playing with Harvey Sid Fischer at the Empanada Parlor. Well she warned me it would be crowded, and she was right. Between them on one stage and Mary Lou Lord on the other stage in the club, we could not even get in. we had to stand on rocks and watch and I couldn’t even see Jenny damn it. I was disappointed, but I did get to hear a song about the F Word.

So I thought Vermont was at Emo’s and I was wrong so we walked through these and on our way to buffalo Billiards were Vermont was really playing I noticed a long line at The Ritz where we were headed next. I decided to skip Davey and secure a spot for the Actionslacks and Post Parlo showcase. The upstairs part of The Ritz is small and that blows. Small equals extra smokey and that blows even more, plus the losers were all out of any kind of decent beer and I was subjected to Lone star. I pulled through.

First up was The Actionslacks, who I was really excited to see. I loved their last record and to my knowledge they had not been through Austin in a good long while. Thy were fun and poppy and had a lot of energy. Then as if I didn’t hate this club enough a middle aged man with a chip on his shoulder came over and told me I had to stop taking pictures because I did not have a press pass. ASSHOLE! So I pouted and sat through the rest of their set.

My buddy Ben and his band The Western Keys was next. The second half of the night was a showcase for his label Post Parlo. Western Keys did their mellow country thing. I really like Ben’s tug at your heart strings voice. Mainly through their set I had to keep watch on Ben’s parents for my sister so she could sneak and smoke her cigarettes without them seeing. Afterall, she does want to appear to be the perfect girlfriend.

Next up was Subset. I had just seen them like a week before. They are a great pop band. I was glad they were under a time constraint as there is an ongoing joke about their sets typically being a little on the long side.

Those Peabodys, Austin’s metal God’s headlined the night. By this time I am standing up front, drunk and contemplating throwing my fist in the air to the beat. However, they were deafening and I was tired and my ride was leaving. I opted to leave my car downtown, because drunk driving blows.

So that’s it. Its all over now. For as tired as I am on Sunday I felt kind of let down and sad the big party was done. Oh well I am going to need about a year to fully recuperate and get ready for next year!