Next Best Records Blog

Part II of the SXSW 2008 Diary.  Part I is available here.

Friday, March 14

• 12:03 p.m.: Getting ready to roll.  Word is there's an El Jesus de Magico set at the Trailer Space record store at 1, so we going to park at the Convention Center again and head in that general direction.  Wandering off the map to catch bands from Columbus -- this is SXSW 2008.
• 12:28 p.m.: For the second day in a row, we're greeted at the Convention Center parking garage by The World's Friendliest Parking Attendant Guy.  He totally rules, and Lüc says he might get a tip tomorrow.
• 1:17 p.m.: Lüc just got done playing a game of Metal Slug at Trailer Space.  I'm really impressed with their arcade games here -- one thing Columbus record stores don't have is arcade game action.  At least we've got pinball tables at the clubs.  Anyway, time for El Jesus.
• 1:48 p.m.: Not many people ventured up to Trailer Space.  They missed out on an ace El Jesus set.  I might seem like a dolt for driving to Austin to see a ton of bands from Columbus, but I don't care.  All's I know is that for the half hour or so that El Jesus just played, they were the best band in Austin.  Can't wait to hear the new record.

El Jesus de Magico at Trailer Space. (Bigger pic)

• 2:48 p.m.: We're at the Vice Party down the street from Trailer Space, and we've just caught Monotonix for the second time.  Seriously, you've got to see this band play.  It looked like the majority of the crowd had never seen the gang from Tel Aviv before, and maybe they were a bit wary at first, but by the end of the first song they were all on board.  There's a lot of security here for whatever reason, and it sure was a hoot to see the guards getting a little uneasy as the Monotonix singer scaled the stage scaffolding.  

Monotonix takes over the Vice Party. (Bigger pic)

• 2:59 p.m.: Across the street, in the Longbranch Inn, the Moonrats have just left the stage.  They were so-so I guess.  Their name prompts me to make a bad joke how I prefer the Lab Rats -- not the Columbus version but the Cleveland version who had a bad cover song on the Cleveland Confidential LP.  Anyway, maybe the highlight of the Moonrats set comes after the set is actually over, when we're standing near their merch table and the girl working it says that she's friends with the guy who designed both Lüc's Big Business shirt and the Moonrats t-shirts.  Like I said, the set was just so-so.  Anyway, speaking of Lüc's fashion sense, Torche is up next, and I'm kinda bummed they don't have any hooded sweatshirts for sale.
• 3:48 p.m.: Torche just finished.  The bar was jammed, and everyone was getting down.  I don't usually go for this kinda stuff, but Torche was so solid I could help but dig it.  Really good heavy rock.
• 4:46 p.m.: Saw Jay Reatard back at the outdoor party for the second time.  The set was pretty much the same as yesterday, but he's growing on me.  Still not gonna by the record, but still gonna check out the show whenever the band's in town.
• 5:11 p.m.: Just heard Tweak Bird at the Longbranch Inn.  A decent heavy, groovy riff-rock band.  Lüc says they're his "diamond in the rough" so far.  A-ok.
• 5:51 p.m.: Still at the Longbranch, where we caught Wooden Shjips.  I've heard a good amount of buzz around this band, but never actually heard any of their music.  I came in a bit skeptical, but quickly came around.  Nice loopy stoner-psych type stuff.  Somebody told me Horseshit's up next, but the schedule says otherwise.  We'll see who's up next, and maybe head back outside.
• 6:20 p.m.: Back at the outdoor party, where we caught the end of what was apparently Dark Meat.  It was pretty ho-hum, until for the final song they did a badass cover of "Fun House" with about 30 people on stage.  Lüc refuses to leave Austin without seeing a black metal band, so it looks like we're sticking around for Enslaved.
• 7:51 p.m.: Enslaved wasn't really my thing.  I think Lüc liked it, but the only thing I really found enjoyable was their keyboard player, who sorta was the sore thumb of the band . . . I guessed that he's somebody else in the band's little brother, and their parents wouldn't let them have a band unless little bro got to play too.  Anyway, after Enslaved's set we were all set to head back toward SXSW central.  As we were leaving the outdoor venue, though, familiar strains are heard from the Longbranch, and Lüc asks, "Isn't that Psychedelic Horseshit?"  It is, so without missing a beat, I dart across the street (amidst oncoming traffic) and into the bar.  It was worth it, as Horseshit was finishing up their second to last song and totally ruled with an extended jam version of "What's In Store."
• 8:04 p.m.: Walking down Red River, we pass Brian Posehn wearing an Iron Maiden shirt and chatting with his crew.
• 9:28 p.m.: Lüc and I are enjoying beers at a random sports bar on 6th Street.  What are we doing in a sports bar, you ask?  Without going into too many boring details, we had unwittingly planned our respective evenings using a schedule of last year's SXSW shows.  Since we had written down everything we had wanted to do based on that old schedule before we left this morning, we neglected to bring along any schedule of what was actually happening.  After making a few phone calls to confirm that we had completely messed up the night, we decided to hit a place where we could regroup.  We had noticed Weedeater is playing at the place where I had intended to spend the bulk of my night, we're planning on checking out that.  Actually, the sports bar is a pretty decent place for us to recollect our thoughts in a relatively quiet setting (aside from a large contingent of Rockets fans watching the game).
• 9:52 p.m.: Before we left, I subscribed to these text message alert thingies, and I finally got a useful one, reminding me that there's an Ecstatic Peace showcase going on tonight.  I had written it down and completely forgotten about it.  When I was living in Pennsylvania last summer, I had actually driven to Philadelphia to see Thurston Moore but couldn't get in because the show was sold out, so maybe this is my chance to make up for that.  We're off to the Mohawk.
• 9:55 p.m.: Walking down 6th Street, we see MTV's Matt Pinfield perched atop the TV interview crane getting ready to interview some rocker.  The producer's behind the camera encouraging everyone at street level to make some noise.  I comply by shouting out, "You rule, Black Francis" and "Frank Black, I love you!"  I always thought Matt Pinfield looked like good ol' Charles Thompson, so there ya go.
• 10:15 p.m.: We're in the Ecstatic Peace show.  For those of you keeping score, last night's Siltbreeze showcase cover was $13.  Tonight's Ecastatic Peace showcase cover is $15.  That's $28 for the all the rock I've seen over these two days -- not too shabby.
• 11:11 p.m.: So far, I've seen Tall Firs and Be Your Own Pet here at the EP shindig.  Tall First were pretty straightforward rock -- not really what I was looking for.  Be Your Own Pet were kinda interesting -- basically high-energy high school punk -- and I was digging the set before the power went out on stage.
• 11:54 p.m.: Be Your Own Pet just finished their set.  I dunno, after the power situation was fixed and they came back on, I was sorta over it.  They're sorta a one-trick band, and I think the one trick was good for the first few songs, but I guess I got bored with it after that.  I actually was under the impression we'd be getting some experimental bands here, but I guess not (ed. note -- there actually were experimental bands inside the mohawk.  oh well.).

Saturday, March 15

• 12:34 a.m.: J. Mascis's set was great.  Basically the same as yesterday, but with one of my old favorites, "Little Fury Things," as the opener.  I could listen to this guy solo all day.
• 1:46 a.m.: Thurston's set was solid.  The main set was good enough -- I think he played all songs off his solo record from last year, which I thought was ok.  The band sounded good and the live versions were fairly true to their recorded counterparts, so while there wasn't anything spectacular, there wasn't anything too disappointing.  It was good to see Steve Shelley and Chris Brokaw again, though.  Things really got going during the encores, though.  Setting down the acoustic guitar and getting serious with the electric, Thurston and the band ripped through a sizzling cover of Velvet Underground rarity "I'm Not a Young Man Anymore."  The night ended with Thurston delivering another loud kinetic jam.  So yeah, the last two songs were worth my $15.  I'm heading out now to meet Lüc, who ended up going to that Weedeater show at the Blender Bar.

Thurston Moore kicking it at the Mohawk. (Bigger pic)

• 2:48 a.m.: Back at the homestead after an action-packed drive back.  Lüc got pretty blitzed during the show at the Blender Bar, so my sober ass had to drive back.  I guess Weedeater ruled, 'cause Lüc is jacked up.  He plugs in his MP3 player and proceeds to shout commands at the Sync.  Trouble is, in his state, Lüc keeps yelling "USB" over and over, neglecting to tell the Sync what to play.  After a while, he finally gets it right with "Play artist Facedowninshit!"  So, there's sober me driving a trashed Lüc through downtown Austin with the windows rolled down and Lüc leaning out of the car screaming, "Man kind is unkind man!"  This lasts for about 10 minutes before Lüc's decided he's had enough Facedowninshit and switches to Regina Spektor.  To top things off, I can't remember how far down we have to go to find our street, so I end up turning around twice before finally getting it right.  On the plus side, I do get serenaded with an extended chorus of "Ron can write, but he can't edit. Edit. Edit."  I'm definitely ready to sleep.