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← back to Blog Archive	SXSW 2017. It only seems like a few months since the last one and here we are again.With the added bonus of sharing much of the week in Austin with Eve flying in from Edinburgh and Elliot flying in from Boston, I was particularly looking forward to this one, my eleventh. I had done all my usual over the top preparation and narrowed down the 2000 or so acts appearing to a healthy 225 or so that I wanted to see, made all the more manageable by my new ratings system, with an A list, a B list and C list, all topped by an A+ list - the definitive must sees. I also intended to try to see more acts from as many different countries as I could and finally wanted to stick to my own rule of only going to see acts that I had never seen before. And off I went. Day One Monday. Monday I arrived in Austin early afternoon and by around 3pm I was already at an afternoon party. I wanted make sure I did not jinx my week by seeing an band unworthy of the First Band Seen At SXSW status, as happened last year when I had the misfortune to kick start SXSW with one of the most hyped bands of the week, Diet Cig, who were dreadful. I carefully planned a fool proof first band to see - Michigan Rattlers, a great Americana duo. In slightly out of the way Hotel Vegas I arrived a bit early and walked around to see what was happening in the two other stages at this venue. Imagine my horror to walk into none other than Diet Cig on the main outdoor stage. I averted a crisis by ensuring I did not watch two songs, as there is an unwritten rule amongst my friends and fellow SXSW attendees that you cannot say you have seen a band unless you watch a minimum of two songs. So I never saw them, but it was close. Inside to the little stage in the lounge and Michigan Rattlers got the week off to a blazing start. Only made even better to find out later that they are managed by my son Elliot’s friend and former university colleague. Small world etc. *Michigan Rattlers. From Michigan* Next door in the Volstead Lounge I saw the band named by the New Musical Express as the Buzz Band to Watch, High Waisted from NYC. They were not bad, perfect little pop songs. *High Waisted.* It is a cool venue Hotel Vegas so I hung around there and caught Hoops next, an Indiana band for all Go Betweens/Triffids fans everywhere. Excellent. *Hoops* Back to the outdoor stage to start my world travel. Boogerins from Brazil easily won the award for lengthiest jams of the week. I think they only played three songs in their 30 minute set. A throwback to prog rock and moccasins, with a most charismatic lead singer. Another early highlight. *Boogerins.* Walking back into the downtown area, Al and I had the first of what turned out to be a nightly evening meal, breaking the breakfast and alcohol only schedule of my previous ten trips to SXSW. The more mature me then headed into the British Embassy, the resident venue of Latitude 30 was taken over for the week by either British bands or showcases by British media connections. The NME had selected the first night and the first band was one of the other many hyped bands, Forth Wanderers, named after a Scottish football team, the band were from, yes, New York. Don’t ask. Underwhelmed I went to see if I my eyes had played at a trick on me when I spotted something at the Swan Dive. No, I was right, it was called the New Dutch Wave night. Now Holland and popular music go together like oil and water. Aside from Golden Earring, Sailor and maybe some other band, there is not a lot over the last forty years or so. But here in Austin there was a Dutch New wave night. I was curious. Even more so when I realized that the next act was on my list of acts to see. Lou Rebecca was pretty good, lightweight electro pop, but a decent show. Sanity however was regained when I found out that she was actually French. The poster backdrop was for the next day. *Lou Rebecca* We needed to get back to Hotel Vegas as one of the most talked about bands the week, Weaves, one of my A+ picks, were playing the outdoor stage in theback garden. However when we go there the queue was enormous and they had a one in one out policy. As an unofficial showcase our official badges made no difference. But, you can’t waste time in a queue. So we walked around to the lane at the back of the hotel, where there was a gate where the bands took their instruments through. It was wide open, with a security person to ensure no-one walked in, but anyone could just stand there and so we watched the whole show from there, whilst the rest of Austin queued around the front entrance. Pretty good view too. An SXSW moment. Weaves. Brilliant. The NPR lead music guy Bob Bolien described them as a “Sonic Treat”. Catch them. *Weaves. From not actually inside the venue.* Back to the epicentre and into Sidewinder to see Annabel Chairlegs. Not on any of our lists but a real find. Swirling geeetars and an intense stage presence on a tiny stage. They were good. *Annabel Chairlegs* Al, who is a jazz aficionado then made me expand my music horizon by getting me to go to Empire Garage to see Robert Glasper, the jazz pianist who was playing a jam set with his friends. It was packed and was probably the furthest from the stage I watched a show all week. Different and energizing. Suitably educated I had to go find some indie pop music elsewhere. How about a three sister band from Sweden. Baskery was their name and they were a wild skiffle/country/pop thang. They must have impressed me as I went back to see them with Eve later in the week. *Baskery on the inside Swan Dive stage.* The first night, which only had a handful of official showcases to pick from , was drawing to a close when I popped into to see the solo show by Cindy Lee Wilson at Sidewinder. You will know her as one of the two female singers from the B 52s. Pleasant enough, like a less interesting Debbie Harry solo show. I rounded off the night with the 1am show back at the NME party with another of the much talked about bands in advance of the week, Muncie Girls from Exeter, England. They were fine but a bit overawed by the packed house of folk wanting to see if they are the next being thing. They might be but hard to tell on this night. *Muncie Girls* Monday over and as I look back I count that eight of the acts were fronted by women of the twelve I saw. This was a recurring situation throughout the whole week. SXSW was owned by bands with lead female singers or lead female guitarists or solo female shows - more than any other year I had experienced. Day Two Tuesday. Modern technology is a wonderful thing. You can do anything with it. But is there anything better than your own handwritten schedule showing all the acts that interest you with a brilliant and easy to read rating system complete with timings and venues. Color coding. Yes that too. Here is one of the three pages I had for each day (afternoon/early evening/late evening) - I should sell these to the unlearned or lazy. Into midday show at BD Riley’s Irish Bar for their Australian party, where after, to be frank, being bored to tears by someone called Juanita Stein I saw one of the bands who were on my list just because of their name. There were three bands that I had to try to see because they had named themselves after members of my family. One was called Carol Says, who I do not eventually see, one was called Findley, after our dog but they spelt his name wrong and I did not see them either and then there was this crowd, The Elliotts, with a t extra. They were what reviewers would call a quirky pop group. Good way to have a pint of cider and fish and chips. Did I say it was in an Irish bar? *The Elliotts* A long walk along sixth street to The Dogwood who had some sort of Country and Western festival going on. In the middle of a bunch of dross there was a nugget. Bonnie Whitmore was excellent. Great stories, voice and tunes. Will be quite a player in coming years I reckon. *Bonnie Whitmore* Time for our first venture to Rainey Street, home to about a dozen different and impressive venues. Who should we bump into than none other then Britt Daniel, the main man from Spoon. He asked if he could get a photo of the two of us and also commented on my Wire Pink Flag t shirt. *My friend from Spoon* Into Blackhearts to see first Communist Daughter, this year’s Of Monsters And Men. *Communist Daughter* Then it was the band who the person flying into Austin sitting beside me recommended. She was an A&R person from Sony records. Sony and their subsidiaries had over 130 artists appearing at SXSW this year. I asked who were the best live band from their roster. She said make sure you see Ne-Hi from Chicago. I did. They were crazy on stage, call themselves a post punk band. Don’t know what that means. Must buy their album. You will get the picture from the picture. *Ne-Hi* Next door in the Container Bar, a Bar made from shipping containers, we saw Chinah an out and out dance pop band. The big crowd loved them. If I had been 17 I might have too. On to the night shows. To what would be an oft visited venue Cheer Up Charlies. First up one of my picks, Rainbrother, from Denmark. However there was a problem, they announced that their lead singer had been prevented from entering the country at immigration and had been sent home. They announced that he had then recorded his bits and they would play their set with his part projected through a screen. It was quite special, fuzzy folk rock and a great sound. They pulled it off. They were the first of may acts that we heard had some people refused entry into the old US of A. *Rainbrother with lead singer joining by video link!!!* Over the next couple of hours I saw a bunch of decent acts including Suburban Living, Terminal A, Deep Cuts and Houses of Heaven in a bunch of different venues. Then I went into Tellers and saw a special soulful solo singer. Heavily tattooed and face pierced he had a voice like a crooning George Michael. His name is James Droll. Super. His keyboard player had good footwear too. *James Droll* It was time to head for what I expected to be one of the top shows of the week, to The Belmont, to see Kevin Morby who had released one of the best albums of 2016, Singing Saw. Al convinced me to go earlier to see the act before which was Sam Cohen who happened to be one of the guitarists on that album by Kevin. When we got there we found out it was going to be a Revue show with a full big band, brass/wind/violins and would be excerpts from the Resitance Radio project which Sam Cohen had put together where songs from the sixties and seventies were reworked by a bunch of indie stars for the soundtrack to the TV program The Man In The High Castle, which portrays life in USA if Germany had won the WW2 and the US was living under Nazi tyranny. Funny thing was that the Trump press office thought it was a real radio station set up to protest against the new government and voiced its disapproval of it all. Weird getting weirder. The show was spectacular. Guest singers include Kesha, Jason Lyttle of Grandady and Kevin Morby himself. Another true SXSW moment. *Jason Lyle of Grandaddy does Resistance Radio. Sam Cohen is in the background.* This was followed by a solo show by Kevin Morby. All I can say is if you do not own the album get it today. Special. He has Dylan comparisons made but he has his own style too. *Kevin Morby* As the night fades away I check out some different things. Into Karma Lounge to hear Detroit’s Valley Hush, lush electronica with dreamy vocals and good footwear. *Valley Hush* Then one of the very many Nashville bands playing ,Kingsbury, an out and out three minute pop band before rounding off the night in Trinity Hall, Old School with Troker from Mexico. They describe themselves, accurately as a hard groove blend of jazz, funk, mariachi and psychedelia. Have to be heard to be believed. They even had a DJ scratching some sound in accompaniment to them. A rousing end. Two days in and still to have Eve and Elliot arrive from their travels. *Troker* A typical SXSW crowd if it is an unknown and/or international band. All twelve spectators were very enthusiastic and knew the material though. This would not be the smallest crowd I would be in!! Day three. The sun rises and I awaited my daughter's arrival. Eve had been delayed because of the eastern seaboard storms. Only four days left... The view of Downtown Austin from my hotel room!!! Two more to come plus a dropbox link to a selection of songs by the bands I saw. Cheers Ronnie

← back to Blog Archive

SXSW 2017. It only seems like a few months since the last one and here we are again.With the added bonus of sharing much of the week in Austin with Eve flying in from Edinburgh and Elliot flying in from Boston, I was particularly looking forward to this one, my eleventh. I had done all my usual over the top preparation and narrowed down the 2000 or so acts appearing to a healthy 225 or so that I wanted to see, made all the more manageable by my new ratings system, with an A list, a B list and C list, all topped by an A+ list - the definitive must sees. I also intended to try to see more acts from as many different countries as I could and finally wanted to stick to my own rule of only going to see acts that I had never seen before.

And off I went.

Day One Monday.

Monday I arrived in Austin early afternoon and by around 3pm I was already at an afternoon party. I wanted make sure I did not jinx my week by seeing an band unworthy of the First Band Seen At SXSW status, as happened last year when I had the misfortune to kick start SXSW with one of the most hyped bands of the week, Diet Cig, who were dreadful. I carefully planned a fool proof first band to see - Michigan Rattlers, a great Americana duo. In slightly out of the way Hotel Vegas I arrived a bit early and walked around to see what was happening in the two other stages at this venue. Imagine my horror to walk into none other than Diet Cig on the main outdoor stage. I averted a crisis by ensuring I did not watch two songs, as there is an unwritten rule amongst my friends and fellow SXSW attendees that you cannot say you have seen a band unless you watch a minimum of two songs. So I never saw them, but it was close. Inside to the little stage in the lounge and Michigan Rattlers got the week off to a blazing start. Only made even better to find out later that they are managed by my son Elliot’s friend and former university colleague. Small world etc.

Michigan Rattlers. From Michigan

Next door in the Volstead Lounge I saw the band named by the New Musical Express as the Buzz Band to Watch, High Waisted from NYC. They were not bad, perfect little pop songs.

High Waisted.

It is a cool venue Hotel Vegas so I hung around there and caught Hoops next, an Indiana band for all Go Betweens/Triffids fans everywhere. Excellent.

Hoops

Back to the outdoor stage to start my world travel. Boogerins from Brazil easily won the award for lengthiest jams of the week. I think they only played three songs in their 30 minute set. A throwback to prog rock and moccasins, with a most charismatic lead singer. Another early highlight.

Boogerins.

Walking back into the downtown area, Al and I had the first of what turned out to be a nightly evening meal, breaking the breakfast and alcohol only schedule of my previous ten trips to SXSW. The more mature me then headed into the British Embassy, the resident venue of Latitude 30 was taken over for the week by either British bands or showcases by British media connections. The NME had selected the first night and the first band was one of the other many hyped bands, Forth Wanderers, named after a Scottish football team, the band were from, yes, New York. Don’t ask. Underwhelmed I went to see if I my eyes had played at a trick on me when I spotted something at the Swan Dive. No, I was right, it was called the New Dutch Wave night. Now Holland and popular music go together like oil and water. Aside from Golden Earring, Sailor and maybe some other band, there is not a lot over the last forty years or so. But here in Austin there was a Dutch New wave night. I was curious. Even more so when I realized that the next act was on my list of acts to see. Lou Rebecca was pretty good, lightweight electro pop, but a decent show. Sanity however was regained when I found out that she was actually French. The poster backdrop was for the next day.

Lou Rebecca

We needed to get back to Hotel Vegas as one of the most talked about bands the week, Weaves, one of my A+ picks, were playing the outdoor stage in theback garden. However when we go there the queue was enormous and they had a one in one out policy. As an unofficial showcase our official badges made no difference. But, you can’t waste time in a queue. So we walked around to the lane at the back of the hotel, where there was a gate where the bands took their instruments through. It was wide open, with a security person to ensure no-one walked in, but anyone could just stand there and so we watched the whole show from there, whilst the rest of Austin queued around the front entrance. Pretty good view too. An SXSW moment. Weaves. Brilliant. The NPR lead music guy Bob Bolien described them as a “Sonic Treat”. Catch them.

Weaves. From not actually inside the venue.

Back to the epicentre and into Sidewinder to see Annabel Chairlegs. Not on any of our lists but a real find. Swirling geeetars and an intense stage presence on a tiny stage. They were good.

Annabel Chairlegs

Al, who is a jazz aficionado then made me expand my music horizon by getting me to go to Empire Garage to see Robert Glasper, the jazz pianist who was playing a jam set with his friends. It was packed and was probably the furthest from the stage I watched a show all week. Different and energizing. Suitably educated I had to go find some indie pop music elsewhere. How about a three sister band from Sweden. Baskery was their name and they were a wild skiffle/country/pop thang. They must have impressed me as I went back to see them with Eve later in the week.

Baskery on the inside Swan Dive stage.

The first night, which only had a handful of official showcases to pick from , was drawing to a close when I popped into to see the solo show by Cindy Lee Wilson at Sidewinder. You will know her as one of the two female singers from the B 52s. Pleasant enough, like a less interesting Debbie Harry solo show. I rounded off the night with the 1am show back at the NME party with another of the much talked about bands in advance of the week, Muncie Girls from Exeter, England. They were fine but a bit overawed by the packed house of folk wanting to see if they are the next being thing. They might be but hard to tell on this night.

Muncie Girls

Monday over and as I look back I count that eight of the acts were fronted by women of the twelve I saw. This was a recurring situation throughout the whole week. SXSW was owned by bands with lead female singers or lead female guitarists or solo female shows - more than any other year I had experienced.

Day Two Tuesday.

Modern technology is a wonderful thing. You can do anything with it. But is there anything better than your own handwritten schedule showing all the acts that interest you with a brilliant and easy to read rating system complete with timings and venues. Color coding. Yes that too. Here is one of the three pages I had for each day (afternoon/early evening/late evening) - I should sell these to the unlearned or lazy.

Into midday show at BD Riley’s Irish Bar for their Australian party, where after, to be frank, being bored to tears by someone called Juanita Stein I saw one of the bands who were on my list just because of their name. There were three bands that I had to try to see because they had named themselves after members of my family. One was called Carol Says, who I do not eventually see, one was called Findley, after our dog but they spelt his name wrong and I did not see them either and then there was this crowd, The Elliotts, with a t extra. They were what reviewers would call a quirky pop group. Good way to have a pint of cider and fish and chips. Did I say it was in an Irish bar?

The Elliotts

A long walk along sixth street to The Dogwood who had some sort of Country and Western festival going on. In the middle of a bunch of dross there was a nugget. Bonnie Whitmore was excellent. Great stories, voice and tunes. Will be quite a player in coming years I reckon.

Bonnie Whitmore

Time for our first venture to Rainey Street, home to about a dozen different and impressive venues. Who should we bump into than none other then Britt Daniel, the main man from Spoon. He asked if he could get a photo of the two of us and also commented on my Wire Pink Flag t shirt.

My friend from Spoon

Into Blackhearts to see first Communist Daughter, this year’s Of Monsters And Men.

Communist Daughter

Then it was the band who the person flying into Austin sitting beside me recommended. She was an A&R person from Sony records. Sony and their subsidiaries had over 130 artists appearing at SXSW this year. I asked who were the best live band from their roster. She said make sure you see Ne-Hi from Chicago. I did. They were crazy on stage, call themselves a post punk band. Don’t know what that means. Must buy their album. You will get the picture from the picture.

Ne-Hi

Next door in the Container Bar, a Bar made from shipping containers, we saw Chinah an out and out dance pop band. The big crowd loved them. If I had been 17 I might have too.

On to the night shows. To what would be an oft visited venue Cheer Up Charlies. First up one of my picks, Rainbrother, from Denmark. However there was a problem, they announced that their lead singer had been prevented from entering the country at immigration and had been sent home. They announced that he had then recorded his bits and they would play their set with his part projected through a screen. It was quite special, fuzzy folk rock and a great sound. They pulled it off. They were the first of may acts that we heard had some people refused entry into the old US of A.

Rainbrother with lead singer joining by video link!!!

Over the next couple of hours I saw a bunch of decent acts including Suburban Living, Terminal A, Deep Cuts and Houses of Heaven in a bunch of different venues.

Then I went into Tellers and saw a special soulful solo singer. Heavily tattooed and face pierced he had a voice like a crooning George Michael. His name is James Droll. Super. His keyboard player had good footwear too.

James Droll

It was time to head for what I expected to be one of the top shows of the week, to The Belmont, to see Kevin Morby who had released one of the best albums of 2016, Singing Saw. Al convinced me to go earlier to see the act before which was Sam Cohen who happened to be one of the guitarists on that album by Kevin. When we got there we found out it was going to be a Revue show with a full big band, brass/wind/violins and would be excerpts from the Resitance Radio project which Sam Cohen had put together where songs from the sixties and seventies were reworked by a bunch of indie stars for the soundtrack to the TV program The Man In The High Castle, which portrays life in USA if Germany had won the WW2 and the US was living under Nazi tyranny. Funny thing was that the Trump press office thought it was a real radio station set up to protest against the new government and voiced its disapproval of it all. Weird getting weirder. The show was spectacular. Guest singers include Kesha, Jason Lyttle of Grandady and Kevin Morby himself. Another true SXSW moment.

Jason Lyle of Grandaddy does Resistance Radio. Sam Cohen is in the background.

This was followed by a solo show by Kevin Morby. All I can say is if you do not own the album get it today. Special. He has Dylan comparisons made but he has his own style too.

Kevin Morby

As the night fades away I check out some different things. Into Karma Lounge to hear Detroit’s Valley Hush, lush electronica with dreamy vocals and good footwear.

Valley Hush

Then one of the very many Nashville bands playing ,Kingsbury, an out and out three minute pop band before rounding off the night in Trinity Hall, Old School with Troker from Mexico. They describe themselves, accurately as a hard groove blend of jazz, funk, mariachi and psychedelia. Have to be heard to be believed. They even had a DJ scratching some sound in accompaniment to them. A rousing end. Two days in and still to have Eve and Elliot arrive from their travels.

Troker

A typical SXSW crowd if it is an unknown and/or international band. All twelve spectators were very enthusiastic and knew the material though. This would not be the smallest crowd I would be in!!

Day three. The sun rises and I awaited my daughter's arrival. Eve had been delayed because of the eastern seaboard storms. Only four days left...

The view of Downtown Austin from my hotel room!!!

Two more to come plus a dropbox link to a selection of songs by the bands I saw.

Cheers

Ronnie