SXSW
Day 3: Thursday, March 14, 2014:
Wait, did we just see Soundgarden?
Like going into Barton Springs, I like to ease into my music for the day. A normal morning setlist might include BeachHouse, Air, Small Black…something along those lines. I guess Spin Magazine doesn't follow my same mindset. Being the enabler that SXSW is, my first beer came compliments of the Spin party at Stubb's BBQ as did my first ear bleed. I only exaggerate slightly, but the day did start with raucous sets from both Radkey and The Orwells. I just was NOT prepared for such energy yet, nor was the crowd that was more intent on lining up for food than they were for paying attention to the bands screaming their hearts out on stage. The Orwells put absolutely every ounce of energy they had into their set, but only somewhat got the audience's attention even when they ripped into "Other Voices." Put punk, indie and garage rock into a blender and that is what this extremely young band comes out sounding like. As they age they will have to refine their sound because there is a fine line between maturity and obscurity. Realizing that the beer in my stomach was quite lonely, we moved on in search of food that wouldn't take 40 minutes of waiting in line to get. I should have remembered that I was at SXSW and not Cedar Park. There will be lines.
The line at the Spotify House on E. 6th was hours long. That's right, I am now measuring distance by time. I'm serious though. I'm still not quite sure how we cut the line, but I can assure you that it had nothing to do with my good looks. We had just missed Austin phenom, Shakey Graves, but little did we know what we were in store for. I'm not quite sure what the line was waiting for because, once inside, you realize that the venue is tiny and is almost exclusive in nature. In other words, they'd never get in because no one was leaving. The Peached Tortilla, one of our original food trucks, did not disappoint with their free Brisket Tacos and Bahn Mi Tacos. They may have disappointed some once they started charging for food, but hey…we shouldn't have had food of that quality for free in the first place. We had just enough time to get through that line before Streets Of Laredo took the stage and they set the tone: today, but not tonight was going to be chill. After their short set, playing from last September's "God Love You When You're Dancing" EP, the Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy won over the house with songs the likes of which I haven't heard in a very long time. He only has one EP to his name, yet Atlantic just signed him to a 5 record deal. He's going to be kind of a big deal. The lineup seemed, and was, pretty much Americana, singer-songwriter up until St. Paul and the Broken Bones. I have NO idea why they are still playing venues of this size. I mean, how many dues does one band have to pay? They were the standout act and one that deserves to be acknowledged. Just plain soulful. Our legs would only allow for one more band so we closed out our day at the Spotify House watching The Districts before heading to Manuel's.
Wait, did we just see Soundgarden?
Like going into Barton Springs, I like to ease into my music for the day. A normal morning setlist might include BeachHouse, Air, Small Black…something along those lines. I guess Spin Magazine doesn't follow my same mindset. Being the enabler that SXSW is, my first beer came compliments of the Spin party at Stubb's BBQ as did my first ear bleed. I only exaggerate slightly, but the day did start with raucous sets from both Radkey and The Orwells. I just was NOT prepared for such energy yet, nor was the crowd that was more intent on lining up for food than they were for paying attention to the bands screaming their hearts out on stage. The Orwells put absolutely every ounce of energy they had into their set, but only somewhat got the audience's attention even when they ripped into "Other Voices." Put punk, indie and garage rock into a blender and that is what this extremely young band comes out sounding like. As they age they will have to refine their sound because there is a fine line between maturity and obscurity. Realizing that the beer in my stomach was quite lonely, we moved on in search of food that wouldn't take 40 minutes of waiting in line to get. I should have remembered that I was at SXSW and not Cedar Park. There will be lines.
The line at the Spotify House on E. 6th was hours long. That's right, I am now measuring distance by time. I'm serious though. I'm still not quite sure how we cut the line, but I can assure you that it had nothing to do with my good looks. We had just missed Austin phenom, Shakey Graves, but little did we know what we were in store for. I'm not quite sure what the line was waiting for because, once inside, you realize that the venue is tiny and is almost exclusive in nature. In other words, they'd never get in because no one was leaving. The Peached Tortilla, one of our original food trucks, did not disappoint with their free Brisket Tacos and Bahn Mi Tacos. They may have disappointed some once they started charging for food, but hey…we shouldn't have had food of that quality for free in the first place. We had just enough time to get through that line before Streets Of Laredo took the stage and they set the tone: today, but not tonight was going to be chill. After their short set, playing from last September's "God Love You When You're Dancing" EP, the Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy won over the house with songs the likes of which I haven't heard in a very long time. He only has one EP to his name, yet Atlantic just signed him to a 5 record deal. He's going to be kind of a big deal. The lineup seemed, and was, pretty much Americana, singer-songwriter up until St. Paul and the Broken Bones. I have NO idea why they are still playing venues of this size. I mean, how many dues does one band have to pay? They were the standout act and one that deserves to be acknowledged. Just plain soulful. Our legs would only allow for one more band so we closed out our day at the Spotify House watching The Districts before heading to Manuel's.
 |
| Vance Joy |
On the
way I was accosted by an officer friend of mine who grabbed me and asked to see
some identification. Since I also was
greeted at the door of the Kettle One party last Friday night by another
officer friend of mine, this is the second officer friend of mine that I ran
into at SXSW. I hardly saw any officers
this week, yet I knew two of them. Oh
well, keeps me out of trouble...sorta.
Rest was just what the doctor ordered. Well, that, and copious amounts
of queso and sangrias. We were ready.
Finally on our way to see a band that is older than I am.
 |
| The Wild Feathers |
 |
| Soundgarden |
 |
| Soundgarden |
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