Feast of Music

House Party

2010-03-20T00:47:51-04:00

During SXSW, I've seen gigs in galleries, in grocery stores, even once in a Salvation Army store. But, this (free) show at the 21st co-op is something else altogether: it's some kind of 70s apartment complex that's been taken over by a bunch of former students and latter-day hippies who share all the upkeep, in exchange for what I'm sure is outrageously low rent. When they built the place, they had the foresight/dumb luck to put in a common room, which tonight has been turned into a more-than-respectable venue. Tonight's lineup would be the envy of any official SXSW showcase: Still Life Still, DD/MM/YYYY, Pattern Is Movement, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, even Andrew WK at 3am. If only I could last that long.

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Shangri-La

2010-03-20T00:28:08-04:00

Back on the east side, I wandered into the back garden of Shangri-La: one of many former drunk tanks that have been rehabilitated into hospitable boites, complete with trees and lights. I arrived in time to catch Fingaar Bangaar: an instrumental outfit that mixes rock with traditional Indian raga, complete with sitar and percussion. It sounded a bit like Santana with softer breaks, but no less intense. Actually, it was a totally new sound, which is why we come here in the first place, right?

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Tiny Time

2010-03-19T22:25:17-04:00

They call this the "Tiniest Bar In Texas," but the vibe is anything but. Nice, big outdoor patio with some fine country/blues onstage - not to mention some fine, friendly folks spread about. (The original bar is a red shack with a single window and is, in fact, pretty tiny.)

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West Austin

2010-03-19T21:41:06-04:00

East Austin may be this town's boho heart - with its art galleries and junkyards (some of which are indistinguishable) - but the west side has its share of delights, albeit with a more loungey vibe. Props to JBlack's for a generous happy hour of pint glass 'ritas and 1/2 price apps that have already given me my second wind. Which I'm going to need for the long walk back to my car.

But, before I leave, Austin's own Octopus project is performing their new album "Hexadecagon" in the parking lot of the flagship Whole Foods Market down the block.

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Positively 6th Street

2010-03-19T18:36:13-04:00

6th st at 5pm on the Friday of SXSW has this all-over din that seems to be exploding from all directions. It's a fever which is simultaneously thrilling and scary: like being at the top of a roller coaster right before you plunge down into a corkscrew, feet and arms flying.

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Positively 6th Street

2010-03-19T18:13:01-04:00

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TO in ATX

2010-03-19T18:00:20-04:00

The most amazing thing about Toronto's Holy Fuck, who are playing in a tent out back of the Galaxy Room on 6th St., isn't their beats, or their enthusiasm, or their impossibly catchy melodies. Its the fact that they make all these crazy electronic sounds LIVE. As in: no laptops - just a bunch of wires hooked up to keyboards, pedals and other noisemakers. Its almost like watching an orchestra perform, without the conductor.

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Peelander Fest

2010-03-19T17:50:05-04:00

I don't really know what to make of this day show hosted by Brooklyn/Japanese eccentrics Peelander-Z (who play later tonight.) It's at a house on the east side ambitiously named the "Typewriter Museum," coated in art and junk. In the back, a duo called This Horn of Africa make an ungodly sound on a stage built out of scrap metal, via guitars and some kind of noise machine. The PA is turned up so loud, its full of distortion. After they finish, a Peelander with a yellow goatee passes out 5 cent toys like kazoos and fake mustaches, cracking weird jokes in broken english.

I think I'll stay here awhile.

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Thurs SXSW Pics

2010-03-19T14:55:37-04:00

(Lots) more pics on the Fan Page.

East Side Nightcap

2010-03-19T13:18:52-04:00

After The XX played their set at the French Legation Museum, I stuck around to check out the various outdoor stages situated nearby (there were no fewer than six of them, hosting everyone from GZA to Fucked Up.) Todd P's on his way to Monterrey, Mexico for the first annual MtyMx Festival, but not before hosting his annual shindig in the parking lot at Ms. Bea's (now called Cheer Up Charlie's), which has the usual mix of good, bad and just plain silly. I was stopped dead in my tracks last night by Tamaryn: a raven-haired siren with a haunting, powerful voice backed by a super tight band of guitars and drums. The kind of new discovery that makes coming down here feel well worth the effort.