SXSW Roundup - Far from the Madding Crowd!
A short drive out of Austin, is Lake Travis. I stumbled upon this colossal damned lake by following the Commanchi trail, down to Hippy Hollow (which turned out to be a 'clothing optional' recreational park), and down to Windy Point. It was absolutely stunning, a wide expanse of land, water, very little development, falcon's soaring overhead, and a refreshing change from the absolute chaos and bombardment of noise of 6th Street, and downtown Austin - especially in the heat of the day.
Friday night started with Cate Le Bon at Ninety Proof, a more minimalist bar opposite the overbearing Austin Convention Centre. She was followed at the Rob Da Bank and Friends party by Stockholm's Lykke Li, who I've heard a few records from and decided to check out. The kookiness of the broken electronics over tribal bass drums bedded under the innocent vocals of Lykke herself do not yet translate to the live scenario but it was interesting enough.
Does It Offend You Yeah at Stubbs?
After catching the last song from Does It Offend You Yeah? at Emo's big outdoor barn, and watching them swing their guitars dramatically around to the backing track (he he!), I took a bit of a blind risk on Telepathy, a band who Huw Stephens has already described on the blog as over-stylised hype - but I was enraptured by them. Three girls jerking in the darkness of an unlit stage, rapping, singing, screaming randomly, rhythmically, mesmerising. I felt it was engaging, different, charming, and certainly from below the stage had quite a few of us jiving along. The simultaneous and spontaneousness nature of their set was the most unusual sight of the weekend. The boys in my company though weren't so enamoured and commented that they needed telepathy the mics were so quiet!
Following Telepathy was Portland's Panther. And its the campest Dave Grohl impression I've ever seen. Soon as I could get past this, the two-piece were certainly an inspired choice in the Emo's iV line up of kooky dancing! Panther is for fans of Bobby Conn, and slightly deranged but groove laden tunes.
Finally, before heading back to the Ninety Proof party, to see Kitty Daisy & Lewis again and Dan Le Sac I stayed at Emo's at the recommendation of Harriet from Los Campesinos who said that a brief glimpse of Mika Miko (from LA) were worth waiting for. Indeed Gareth and Neil Los Campesinos were there at the front waiting with baited breath. Mika Miko are the pure embodiment of teenage angst and cockiness. One vocalist shouts into her telephone handset, then thuds the floor repeatedly while on all fours, and the rest of the band shirk around nonchalantly! It is lots of fun!
Saturday Afternoon started at a in-store at Waterloo Records, at the far end of 6th street to watch Times New Viking, following a few enthused conversations about them last night. They were 'don't give a sh*t' fun, energetic, shouty three-piece but I did leave with the feeling that I'd seen it all before unfortunately.
Times New Viking
Duffy @ Stubbs
Duffy's debut US performance was next on the agenda, and it was the first time I'd seen the Welsh siren sing since a festival performance in North Wales a few years back, so it was quite a shock to see the full transformation of the 'new' Duffy. All Dusty Springfield moves, slick backing session musicians, and all the beauty and pose of something quite incredible, unfortunately the slickness and polish left me feeling slightly nauseous - not a bum note but all a little too set up for my liking.
Neon Neon feat Yo Majesty
Neon Neon feat Cate Le Bon
Saturday started getting into some kind of swing, as I got a bike courier called Stephanie to take me cross town to see Neon Neon at the Cedar Street Coutyard, and straight back to the Beauty Bar (with Stephanie) to catch New York band Apache Beat, the lead singer being an embodiment of Patti Smith circa '69.
I walk down to the NME commandeered Wave bar, to hear the ear splitting sounds of Crystal Castles. Even at the back of the room - it’s sooo painful! I catch the end of the Los Campesinos' Parish performance, a gorgeous venue, where Gareth, lead singer, is in a feisty mood, refusing to get off the stage before doing a quick megamix of their hits at the end of a rushed set.
The whole festival ends on an amazing high watching the Dodos at Mowkawk bar on the Sunday night, after a chilled night of catching up with everyone else I know out here, and hearing different stories from around the four day feisty. But my body and mind are ready to call it a day, but here's to another good SXSW - the best festival in the world - probably!
Spotted: Joe Lean jiving to Telepathy, Lightspeed Champion raving to Apache Beat at the Beaty Bar, Stuart Maconie and Steve Lamacq at MGMT, Gruff Rhys and Los Campesinos at Cate Le Bon, Los Camp's Gareth and Neil at Mika Miko. Um. I'm even worse than Huw at spotting!
