SXSW Report: Part Three
(Roadside Graves @ Mohawk)
The last day of SXSW just came to a close and I have very few regrets. Though there were a few key shows that I missed (I can’t stand waiting in lines) overall everything seemed to work out for the best.
(Mason Proper @ Mohawk)
(Mason Proper @ Mohawk)
(Viva Voce @ Mohawk)
(Viva Voce @ Mohawk)
We started out Saturday at Gene’s Po’ Boy restaurant, where hamburgers are served with gag inducing dollops of mayonnaise slathered all over the top and bottom buns. Afterwards we headed over to the Mohawk for the Hot Freaks day party. While Saturday’s lineup wasn’t as strong as Friday’s Hot Freaks party, we saw several terrific bands including Roadside Graves, Mason Proper and Viva Voce. A band I had been looking forward to seeing, Amazing Baby, were also on the bill, playing an extremely loud and drunk glam rock set. The highlight of the day had to be Peelander-Z though, the absolutely insane Japanese trio. The three band members came out dressed in all manners of brightly colored costumes and proceeded to put on one of the most entertaining shows of the entire weekend. While they may not be good at playing their instruments, Peelander-Z more than make up for it with stage antics that included crowd bowling, playing bass while hanging by the feet from the ceiling, as well as letting the audience take over the instruments.
(Amazing Baby @ Mohawk)
(Amazing Baby @ Mohawk)
(Peelander-Z @ Mohawk)
(Peelander-Z @ Mohawk)
(Peelander-Z @ Mohawk)
After leaving the Mohawk I took one look at the line for Echo and the Bunnymen and decided that it was time to get dinner instead. An hour later with a belly full of pineapple curry (thank to the Mekong restaurant) I went to the Beauty Bar for a showcase that included, amongst others, my favorite freak folk artist Jana Hunter. Unfortunately Hunter’s set was a bit of a train wreck. Several Canadian bands saved the day with some great upbeat pop however: Gentleman Reg, Boats, and Hollerado. Boats were particularly good, though their big bearded frontman’s squeaky, almost cartoonish voice takes a little getting used to. Another band of note was Spindrift, a sort of grindhouse rockabilly country outfit that seemed more Texan than any other band I saw all weekend. Before we took off we also caught Hopewell: a loud guitar driven rock band whose saccharine vocals make a nice contrast to their hard riffs.
(Jana Hunter @ Beauty Bar)
(Gentleman Reg @ Beauty Bar)
(Gentleman Reg @ Beauty Bar)
(Boats @ Beauty Bar)
(Boats @ Beauty Bar)
(Hollerado @ Beauty Bar)
(Spindrift @ Beauty Bar)
(Spindrift @ Beauty Bar)
(Hopewells @ Beauty Bar)
It was at about the time we left the Beauty Bar when things started to get legendary. First off Ty Segall‘s set at Red 7 was absolutely bad-as-fuck (in a good way). The solo artist had a bassist and drummer, and played hard edged garage rock that was straightforward yet extremely catchy. Props to Josh Keller for first letting me know just how good this young man was—I am certainly glad that I caught him and expect to see great things in the future.
(Ty Segall @ Red 7)
(Ty Segall @ Red 7)
(Ty Segall @ Red 7)
The last set of the night was über girl-of-the-moment Janelle Monae. I caught Monae on her last tour through Minneapolis and was astounded at how talented she is. While her set at the Vice Bar started off with absolutely terrible sound problems, the young pompadoured soul singer overcame technical difficulties to put on one of the most engaging sets of the whole weekend. I have said before that I believe Monae will be an enormous star in the future and I still believe it; her blend of R&B and Hip Hop is sassy and bold, and it got nearly everyone in the entire club crazy as hell.
(Janelle Monae @ Vice Bar)
(Janelle Monae @ Vice Bar)
(Janelle Monae @ Vice Bar)
(Janelle Monae @ Vice Bar)
Finally it was time to bring things to a close. Walking out of downtown on Saturday evening I was tempted to try and come up with some ode to the weekend for my last report—something overblown and melodramatic. I am actually too tired to come up with anything of the sort however, and don’t believe it is even necessary. I heard a lot of great bands over the weekend, ate some interesting food, and drank massive quantities of cheap beer. It was fun. I can’t wait to do it again. It’s good that they only do stuff like this once a year though, since I am not sure if my body could take any more.
Ty Segall!!!!
The pics of Janelle Monáe are awesome…
Glad to hear it was a good weekend…I think I may have to plan better and find a way to make it next year.
Way to bring it to a close, Jon. Glad that the weekend turned out great for you-and your brilliant pics belie the amount of beer you consumed. Way to stay steady. Get home in one piece, my friend.