SXSW Day Two: Neil on 3/15/07

By: Neil Olstad

Okkervil River - Photo by Stacy Sandstrom

We awoke today to a warm but not hot, sunny day in Austin. Better weather could simply not be asked for on such a wonderful day as today. Today on our way into town, our quirky apache Indian cabbie “Rain” went from telling us about his girlfriend’s lung cancer to why he sleeps with other women in less than 90 seconds. It doesn’t get much better than that; I am already anticipating what ridiculous things will come out of his mouth tomorrow.

After being dropped off we headed over to the Found! Magazine party, which kicked off with a solid set from Austin locals Okkervil River. The quickly-filling room was swaying their hips to the band’s upbeat sound. Their organ-infused pop rock was a nice way to wake up (the drink tickets helped as well).

Next it was off to the My Old Kentucky Blog party at Antones. I went into the venue thinking that I would just see who was playing next, but ended up staying there all afternoon and taking in three sets, the first coming from Swedish rock and rollers Mando Diao.  The band pounded through 10 songs in 30 minutes, only stopping to say “thanks” before launching into the next tune. Their spastic, crunchy guitar-rock had a distinctly European flavor and their chops indicated they’ve been touring awhile.

Second was Annuals.  These guys (and girl) pack a punch. Their songs are anthemic and powerful.  Front man Adam Baker’s soulful voice is full of conviction. Synth sounds soar over the songs and help add to the urgency of Annuals’ songs. Two drum sets and two extra sets of toms onstage caused the songs to often take an impressive percussive form. What really impressed me about Annuals was the way the music evolved as the song went on. Plus, how many times have you seen a bassist play slide bass with a clave?

Antones sweltered in the heat of a jam-packed club in the middle of the afternoon, and after technical difficulties Blonde Redhead finally took the stage to close out the MOKB party. Singer Kazu Makino slinked around stage to the smooth grooves laid out by her two band mates (Italian twins Amedeo and Simone Pace).  Kazu’s voice, layered in reverb, took center stage, but their jet never really left the runway for me. After all that anticipation building up, Blonde Redhead was simply a letdown for me. Decide for yourself next month when they play First Avenue.

A trip to Austin is never complete unless you take time to dine at Ironworks Barbecue, home to what is considered to be Austin’s finest BBQ.  Stacy and I enjoyed a meal alongside fellow Twin Cities natives Matt Perkins (Vitriol), Lindsay Kimball (The Current), Erik Stromstad (Varsity Theater), Jeff Johnson (Cloud Cult) and my buddy Jim from school.  Jokes were had, Perkins ate an absurd amount of red meat, and Jeff is a stupid human trick maestro.

As we exited Ironworks, nighttime had fallen upon Austin. I took off for the Mohawk patio to check out JagJaguwar artist The Besnard Lakes.  The band put on a haunting yet intense show that centered around male/female combination vocals that pulsated with a captivating eagerness. This band had a knack for brilliant dynamics, and that is something I think we can all appreciate. The breezy patio was relatively empty, as they were the first band of the showcase, but they had the crowd in the palms of their hands nevertheless, as heads were bobbing throughout the venue.

Next up was Sioux Falls Warped Tour rockers The Spill Canvas.  I usually can’t stay interested for very long with this style of “heart on our sleeves” bands, but there is something about The Spill Canvas that keeps me coming back. Singer/songwriter Nick Thomas’ powerful voice leapt from hush to growl on a dime, crooning the whole way home as the band floated through their set, throwing in a few new songs from their TBA 2007 release.

Before heading over to the “Iheartcomix” showcase at the Beauty Bar Patio I stopped by Emo’s Jr. to see how local band Cloud Cult was faring in their set. I caught the first two songs that the band played and they pulled out all the stops, with live painting and a fog machine with onstage lighting. I can’t wait to hear the band’s new record, due out in April.

Kim of Matt and Kim - Photo by Neil Olstad

After waiting in line for about twenty minutes I made it into the Beauty Bar Patio just in time to catch Edmonton’s Shout Out Out Out Out.  These guys were the surprise of the night. I was blown away by their indie-electronic dance funk. Packing two drummers, and at least two (sometimes three) bassists, these guys have everything required to put that thump into the chests of everybody in the room. They were the most energetic band I have seen this year in Austin and simply turned the Beauty Bar Patio into one giant dance floor.

Directly following Shout Out Out Out Out was Matt and Kim, a synth-pop duo from Brooklyn. The premise is simple: Kim slams away on her three-piece drum set while Matt, who looks like a blue-era Rivers Cuomo, sings and creates catchy beeps and boops with his (apparently now industry standard) Nord Electro. Their infectious smiles were plastered on throughout their 30 minute set and apparently are contagious, because I and everybody around me could not wipe the grins off our faces. With childlike exuberance, the duo looks like kids playing with toys they just received for their birthdays. Matt and Kim’s music is admittedly basic, neither one of them are incredibly skilled at playing their instruments, but what they are skilled at is loving every note and beat they play—and that is what matters.

As soon as I purchased Matt and Kim’s record I hustled five blocks down 6th street to Buffalo Billiards to see Menomena close out the Barsuk Records showcase. As Aquaduct was finishing their set they let everybody know what was to follow, stating “get ready for Menomena Mania!”  Mania it seemed to be; as the trio set up their instruments, the crowd grew antsy to see the blog world favorites. The band uses baritone saxophone and lower octaves on a keyboard instead of bass guitar on most songs, and the unconventionality doesn’t stop there. Menomena’s songs are quirky and unexpected, with strange tones popping up everywhere. Unfortunately, the showcase had been running late all night, so the headliners could only get in six songs before the houselights came up to signal the end of the evening for the band. Luckily, they have two more sets coming up, one on Friday and one on Saturday. I will have to go check them out again, as this band is truly something special, and their new record is one of my favorites of the year.

Walking down 6th street at 2 a.m. to meet Stacy at the end of the night, I was reminded of how much this is a party for the entire city, not just the convention attendees that come in from around the world to experience SXSW. The streets at night are an absolute catastrophe, with trash and drunken University of Texas students everywhere. All of this on THURSDAY evening!  Tomorrow should be worse, or more fun, depending on your level of intoxication.

Artist Info: Annuals, Blonde Redhead, Cloud Cult, Mando Diao, Matt and Kim, Menomena, Okkervil River, Shout Out Out Out Out, The Besnard Lakes, The Spill Canvas

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