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← back to Blog Archive	This was always going to be a different SXSW, as it was the first one where one of my kids joined me. Eve flew in from Scotland to spend the week together. It was special. There were other things different this time too. It poured on Friday and Saturday. I mean, absolutely bucketing down. Plus there was a noticeable absence of big “rockstar” names getting their hands dirty and playing a few secret or invitation only shows unlike the last few years where it got a little crazy. So, just Eve, the rain, quite a few of The Burning Club, led by Al, Dave and Simon, and about 2000 acts to pick from. A volatile concoction! Grab a chair, you will need some time. Monday I got in at midday. Checked in to hotel and just wandered about to see what was happening. Things were happening. A day party at the Empire Control room got my SXSW off to a start. First band honor of 2015 SXSW went to The Wild Adriatic, a three man out and out rock band, like a bluesier Thin Lizzy. Good start. I then nipped off to find a bathroom and instead saw another band playing indoors at same venue. The band describe themselves as "A landscape of tranquility and commotion; comfort and alienation; gentleness and savagery”. You are probably thinking that sounds like Vio/Mire and you would be right. Pleasant chamber music. Two bands in and already achieved a SXSW moment. Both bands are three pieces and……..each band has a completely different set of instruments! Wild Adriatic - drums, guitar and bass. Vio/Mire bass cello, mini organ and normal keyboards. There you go. One of the other changes was the apparent domination of pop up venues by the Social Media/Music streaming service crowd. Spotify had a big set up on the east side. I had a walk up, saw queues as long as my dodgy eye could see and decided to pass. I carried on walking along the queue to the end where I knew of a little food truck parking lot. This turned out to back on the the main stage of the Spotify venue. So I walked in, right over to the fence and watched The Vaccines play their set without anyone near me and no queue to get in. 24 hours later this was all blocked off. But for now, I enjoyed the irony, after all isn’t Spotify supposed to make finding new music easy? Next the grand arrival. Eve, via a Boston weekend with her brother Elliot, arrives. One hour later we are back at the Empire Control Wheel to see the impressive Hello Wheels, a poppy americana fun band. Whilst Eve went off to cope with jet lag via bed, I hooked up with Al and we ventured to Flamingo Cantinas where there was a Punk v Rockabilly night. Danger Cakes, an all female troupe stole the show with a spiffing cover version of Blitzkrieg Bop!! We also saw an average punk band , Sober Ways, before heading to see an old Austin indie favorite, The Octopus Project. They were very clever, very original and very dull. A gentle start, but then again nothing officially kicks off till Tuesday Night Tuesday Al recommended we go see Lo Cut Connie, so we headed out for a midday party start at the Side Bar. Great reco, lead by a wild piano madman, a rollocking bar blues band. A favorite SXSW past time is checking out the Scottish bands that travel over to play each year. Despite finding out that this crowd come from Kilmarnock, the litter tray of Scotland, and having a daft name, Fatherson, we went to see them at the Blind Pig Bar. Just what I expected driving jangle guitars with great hooks. Dodgy beards and obvious Scottish accents. They could go far. Next of to the Daytrotter music website’s private studios. They takeover a studio every year at SXSW and have about thirty bands in for a few hours each recording some tracks for the site. We are lucky enough to have access into the studio to watch these recordings.The studio is set inside a villa. One room for drums. One for geetars etc. Today we say Holy Child, a sort of TuneYard like thing. Great vocalist. In the vocals room. Then back to The Blind Pig to see the first act picked out from my long list of bands to see. Great Caesar. They were a kitchen sink ensemble, a bit of everything and finished by invading the crowd and doing their last song unplugged. Excellent. Another thing different his year, is that I officially waved my rule of not intentionally going to see a band that I had seen before, as I wanted to share some of the bands I knew with Eve. What a father, I hear you say. Yes, indeed. So Scotland began their SXSW takeover as we headed to Red Eye Fly and watched Holyesque. They were stunning, could be, should be huge. Afterwards Eve asked lead guitarist if they would be coming to Aberdeen, where she studies, anytime soon. The answer “ Shouldn’t have thought so”. Charmer. Tuesday then hit what the sailors amongst you would call a time where we were becalmed - nothing much happened. We saw four of the touted bands from various quarters, London’s Gengahr at Buffalo Billiards, then off to Mohawks to connect with Dave and Simon and see Waxahatchee, followed by Speedy Ortiz and then Angel Olssen. I don’t want to take too much time here to describe them, one word for each - Safe, Moribund, Pleasant and Sleepy, Speedy Ortiz being the Pleasant one if you are struggling to line the words up with the bands. Here is a late night view from the deck inside Mohawks looking down on the Speedys on stage with Red River street in the background. By now Eve had given up and headed back to the hotel (a recurring event as the week progressed, the young what can you do?). Al and I, in passing Cheer Up Charlies, were cheered up sufficiently to go and see who was making the cheery noise. Turned out to be New York City Queens. They had an electro-tinged retro Pop thing going on with some driving guitars. Great way to end the evening after the smoothfest of the last few bands. Tuesday over. Let the real SXSW begin!! Wednesday Into the convention centre itself to see a band who had obviously heard their mum and dad’s Pogues records. Skinny Lister from London woke the mid day crowd up. I watched a bit of Ranglekoids on the International Stage then headed to meet Eve in the tent at Brush Square where the annual Canada Blast showcase was taking place. First up - Wet Secrets. The costumes hid the fact that they were a great rock crowd reminiscent of the early Flaming Lips sound We then got our boots made for walking on and darted about. To the Parish to see Wild Ones and Quiet Company, the latter the first of the acts who could be a new Coldplay/Imagine Dragons type of the future, that is, they were extremely commercial. Then back to the tent to see one of the hottest bands to play SXSW , July Talks, but they had travel problems and instead a hardcore punk band, Single Mothers, replaced them, good but not what I wanted. Then back to The Parish where we went on on of those mazy runs where everything we touched turned to gold. First up the wonderful On an On. Tremendous art rock. Ones to watch Then we hit the first of two in a row from Eve’s picks, Jukebox The Ghost also at the Parish. Sparkling pop songs, brilliantly played with great stage banter. A special 45 mins. Eve watching them bottom right. After a short meal break, bliss, we stepped out of hotel to the venue which was nearest us the Cedar Door. Eve was keen to see Robert De Long and all was going well until we actually tried to walk close to the stage to be told that the area was cordoned off for a private party VIP thing. The only place you could watch from was some way from the stage and way over to the side. To make it simple, we were pissed off. A small disagreement with the management followed. Views were exchanged. Opinions shared. Venue’s explanations dismissed. Five minutes later we were escorted around the back way and into the stage front area. ( This was the straw that broke the etc and everyone was let in shortly afterwards). It was worth it. The guy played with joysticks, nintendo wii controls and had his own little film presentation on surround screens happening at the same time. Great show. To get your bearings, it is not even 8 PM Wednesday night yet. Now it is and we are at Maggie Mae’s to see Walking Shapes. There is something about the downstairs stage at Maggie Maes because over the years I have seen so many stunning acts play there, always in front of an almost empty room. In the past Jonathan Wilson and Motopony played to about ten people. Same this time, great band worth following. Can the roll continue. Off to St David’s Bethel Hall to see The Family Crest. Amazing band. Spectacular voice. First vinyl of the week purchased at the gig, even though I had to carry it around for the rest of the night. Must say something.. So at this point it is Six Great show in a row. Can this continue, as this is not a common thing at SXSW. There are plenty of duff things you tumble into. Not this time. Eve’s pick Public Service Broadcasting at RED 7 patio, a guaranteed hit! Brilliant. It is time to visit the best venue Esther’s Follies to see The Lonely Wild who describe themselves as making music "that reflects upon the times in which we live while taking the listener on a sonic journey of impressive heights”. Don’t know about that, but they did impress. Nine great shows in a row is almost impossible, but we had been in training so we decided to go for it. My pick, the top prog rock band from Japan, called Lite, at The Hideout. A sort of heavier yes with ten minute long instrumental pieces. What could go wrong? Everything said Eve - she hated it. Nothing said I - brilliant. And natural order is restored as Father and Daughter find something meaty to disagree upon. As far as I am concerned its the ninth in a row. More vinyl purchased. Eve bailed out after that one. I headed to Madison to see Frank Kalkbrennar. He is a Berlin DJ/Producer who has made a fantastic electro dance song, Void, recently, and I wanted to see him perform it. He did a ten minute version. It was special. Then I hurried over to join Al at the Parish where one of the buzz acts was playing, BORNS. This guy is probably going on to world domination. A voice between Michael Jackson and Prince, tremendous pop songs, huge star stage presence with a few killer cover versions. Remember the name. Here is a poor quality video of him covering Benny and The Jets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwCdrHE9YpQ How do you follow that? By taking it up a notch, obviously. To Sledgehammer to see an amazing show, by July Talks. A gruff Nick Cave-ish male lead interacting with his wild female partner. By the end of the night she had managed to get about half the crowd to take their shirts off, as I quietly slunk back from the vantage point of where I took the photo. Coward. A great Wednesday at SXSW!!! and end of Part One!

← back to Blog Archive

This was always going to be a different SXSW, as it was the first one where one of my kids joined me. Eve flew in from Scotland to spend the week together. It was special.

There were other things different this time too. It poured on Friday and Saturday. I mean, absolutely bucketing down. Plus there was a noticeable absence of big “rockstar” names getting their hands dirty and playing a few secret or invitation only shows unlike the last few years where it got a little crazy.

So, just Eve, the rain, quite a few of The Burning Club, led by Al, Dave and Simon, and about 2000 acts to pick from. A volatile concoction!

Grab a chair, you will need some time.

Monday

I got in at midday. Checked in to hotel and just wandered about to see what was happening. Things were happening. A day party at the Empire Control room got my SXSW off to a start.

First band honor of 2015 SXSW went to The Wild Adriatic, a three man out and out rock band, like a bluesier Thin Lizzy. Good start.

I then nipped off to find a bathroom and instead saw another band playing indoors at same venue. The band describe themselves as "A landscape of tranquility and commotion; comfort and alienation; gentleness and savagery”. You are probably thinking that sounds like Vio/Mire and you would be right. Pleasant chamber music. Two bands in and already achieved a SXSW moment. Both bands are three pieces and……..each band has a completely different set of instruments! Wild Adriatic - drums, guitar and bass. Vio/Mire bass cello, mini organ and normal keyboards. There you go.

One of the other changes was the apparent domination of pop up venues by the Social Media/Music streaming service crowd. Spotify had a big set up on the east side. I had a walk up, saw queues as long as my dodgy eye could see and decided to pass. I carried on walking along the queue to the end where I knew of a little food truck parking lot. This turned out to back on the the main stage of the Spotify venue. So I walked in, right over to the fence and watched The Vaccines play their set without anyone near me and no queue to get in. 24 hours later this was all blocked off. But for now, I enjoyed the irony, after all isn’t Spotify supposed to make finding new music easy?

Next the grand arrival. Eve, via a Boston weekend with her brother Elliot, arrives. One hour later we are back at the Empire Control Wheel to see the impressive Hello Wheels, a poppy americana fun band.

Whilst Eve went off to cope with jet lag via bed, I hooked up with Al and we ventured to Flamingo Cantinas where there was a Punk v Rockabilly night. Danger Cakes, an all female troupe stole the show with a spiffing cover version of Blitzkrieg Bop!!

We also saw an average punk band , Sober Ways, before heading to see an old Austin indie favorite, The Octopus Project. They were very clever, very original and very dull.

A gentle start, but then again nothing officially kicks off till Tuesday Night

Tuesday

Al recommended we go see Lo Cut Connie, so we headed out for a midday party start at the Side Bar. Great reco, lead by a wild piano madman, a rollocking bar blues band.

A favorite SXSW past time is checking out the Scottish bands that travel over to play each year. Despite finding out that this crowd come from Kilmarnock, the litter tray of Scotland, and having a daft name, Fatherson, we went to see them at the Blind Pig Bar. Just what I expected driving jangle guitars with great hooks. Dodgy beards and obvious Scottish accents. They could go far.

Next of to the Daytrotter music website’s private studios. They takeover a studio every year at SXSW and have about thirty bands in for a few hours each recording some tracks for the site. We are lucky enough to have access into the studio to watch these recordings.The studio is set inside a villa. One room for drums. One for geetars etc. Today we say Holy Child, a sort of TuneYard like thing. Great vocalist. In the vocals room.

Then back to The Blind Pig to see the first act picked out from my long list of bands to see. Great Caesar. They were a kitchen sink ensemble, a bit of everything and finished by invading the crowd and doing their last song unplugged. Excellent.

Another thing different his year, is that I officially waved my rule of not intentionally going to see a band that I had seen before, as I wanted to share some of the bands I knew with Eve. What a father, I hear you say. Yes, indeed. So Scotland began their SXSW takeover as we headed to Red Eye Fly and watched Holyesque. They were stunning, could be, should be huge. Afterwards Eve asked lead guitarist if they would be coming to Aberdeen, where she studies, anytime soon. The answer “ Shouldn’t have thought so”. Charmer.

Tuesday then hit what the sailors amongst you would call a time where we were becalmed - nothing much happened. We saw four of the touted bands from various quarters, London’s Gengahr at Buffalo Billiards, then off to Mohawks to connect with Dave and Simon and see Waxahatchee, followed by Speedy Ortiz and then Angel Olssen. I don’t want to take too much time here to describe them, one word for each - Safe, Moribund, Pleasant and Sleepy, Speedy Ortiz being the Pleasant one if you are struggling to line the words up with the bands. Here is a late night view from the deck inside Mohawks looking down on the Speedys on stage with Red River street in the background.

By now Eve had given up and headed back to the hotel (a recurring event as the week progressed, the young what can you do?). Al and I, in passing Cheer Up Charlies, were cheered up sufficiently to go and see who was making the cheery noise. Turned out to be New York City Queens. They had an electro-tinged retro Pop thing going on with some driving guitars. Great way to end the evening after the smoothfest of the last few bands. Tuesday over. Let the real SXSW begin!!

Wednesday

Into the convention centre itself to see a band who had obviously heard their mum and dad’s Pogues records. Skinny Lister from London woke the mid day crowd up.

I watched a bit of Ranglekoids on the International Stage then headed to meet Eve in the tent at Brush Square where the annual Canada Blast showcase was taking place. First up - Wet Secrets. The costumes hid the fact that they were a great rock crowd reminiscent of the early Flaming Lips sound

We then got our boots made for walking on and darted about. To the Parish to see Wild Ones and Quiet Company, the latter the first of the acts who could be a new Coldplay/Imagine Dragons type of the future, that is, they were extremely commercial. Then back to the tent to see one of the hottest bands to play SXSW , July Talks, but they had travel problems and instead a hardcore punk band, Single Mothers, replaced them, good but not what I wanted. Then back to The Parish where we went on on of those mazy runs where everything we touched turned to gold.

First up the wonderful On an On. Tremendous art rock. Ones to watch

Then we hit the first of two in a row from Eve’s picks, Jukebox The Ghost also at the Parish. Sparkling pop songs, brilliantly played with great stage banter. A special 45 mins. Eve watching them bottom right.

After a short meal break, bliss, we stepped out of hotel to the venue which was nearest us the Cedar Door. Eve was keen to see Robert De Long and all was going well until we actually tried to walk close to the stage to be told that the area was cordoned off for a private party VIP thing. The only place you could watch from was some way from the stage and way over to the side. To make it simple, we were pissed off. A small disagreement with the management followed. Views were exchanged. Opinions shared. Venue’s explanations dismissed. Five minutes later we were escorted around the back way and into the stage front area. ( This was the straw that broke the etc and everyone was let in shortly afterwards). It was worth it. The guy played with joysticks, nintendo wii controls and had his own little film presentation on surround screens happening at the same time. Great show.

To get your bearings, it is not even 8 PM Wednesday night yet. Now it is and we are at Maggie Mae’s to see Walking Shapes. There is something about the downstairs stage at Maggie Maes because over the years I have seen so many stunning acts play there, always in front of an almost empty room. In the past Jonathan Wilson and Motopony played to about ten people. Same this time, great band worth following.

Can the roll continue. Off to St David’s Bethel Hall to see The Family Crest. Amazing band. Spectacular voice. First vinyl of the week purchased at the gig, even though I had to carry it around for the rest of the night. Must say something..

So at this point it is Six Great show in a row. Can this continue, as this is not a common thing at SXSW. There are plenty of duff things you tumble into. Not this time. Eve’s pick Public Service Broadcasting at RED 7 patio, a guaranteed hit! Brilliant.

It is time to visit the best venue Esther’s Follies to see The Lonely Wild who describe themselves as making music "that reflects upon the times in which we live while taking the listener on a sonic journey of impressive heights”. Don’t know about that, but they did impress.

Nine great shows in a row is almost impossible, but we had been in training so we decided to go for it. My pick, the top prog rock band from Japan, called Lite, at The Hideout. A sort of heavier yes with ten minute long instrumental pieces. What could go wrong? Everything said Eve - she hated it. Nothing said I - brilliant. And natural order is restored as Father and Daughter find something meaty to disagree upon. As far as I am concerned its the ninth in a row. More vinyl purchased.

Eve bailed out after that one. I headed to Madison to see Frank Kalkbrennar. He is a Berlin DJ/Producer who has made a fantastic electro dance song, Void, recently, and I wanted to see him perform it. He did a ten minute version. It was special.

Then I hurried over to join Al at the Parish where one of the buzz acts was playing, BORNS. This guy is probably going on to world domination. A voice between Michael Jackson and Prince, tremendous pop songs, huge star stage presence with a few killer cover versions. Remember the name. Here is a poor quality video of him covering Benny and The Jets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwCdrHE9YpQ

How do you follow that? By taking it up a notch, obviously. To Sledgehammer to see an amazing show, by July Talks. A gruff Nick Cave-ish male lead interacting with his wild female partner. By the end of the night she had managed to get about half the crowd to take their shirts off, as I quietly slunk back from the vantage point of where I took the photo. Coward. A great Wednesday at SXSW!!! and end of Part One!