How many great moments have I had at SX over the years? Many. But today/tonight was one of the most memorable ever. Here's why:
Day two highlights:
The NPR Music day show at The Parish was, as they say, off the indie-rock hook. Sorry if you were one of those folks waiting in that almost two block wait to see Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer, Jens Lekman, A.A. Bondy, Shout Out Louds, and Bon Iver. If you made it in to the room, you'd have been in agreement that all the bands delivered some excellent performances. NPR followed that with a blistering, mind blowing show with My Morning Jacket, The Whigs and Yo La Tengo.
Earlier in the evening, wedged between the NPR day show and the big Austin Music Hall MMJ experience I had the honor of being at the Fader Fort for a 2 & 1/2 hour tribute to Lou Reed hosted by XPN's Jim McGuinn. The show featured some incredible performances by Joseph Arthur, Ezra Furman, Philly's own Dr. Dog, Yo La, My Morning Jacket, Oh No! Oh My!, Thurston Moore and it ended with Moby being joined by Lou. Hanging around backstage you could feel some pretty strong VU love amongst the bands and admittedly was one of the coolest hangs and SXSW events I ever experienced.. Here's the complete set list:
Complete set list:
What Laura Says Thinks And Feels - Run Run Run
Paper Route - Vanishing Act
Oh No! Oh My! - Sunday Morning, Candy Says
Yo La Tengo - She's My Best Friend, I Found A Reason
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - Heroin, New Age
Mark Kozelek - Caroline Says, The Kids
'My Morning Jacket - 'Head Held High', 'Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
Joseph Arthur - Pale Blue Eyes, 'Venus In Furs'
Dr. Dog - 'Who Loves The Sun', 'Ride Into The Sun'
Thurston Moore & the New Wave Bandits - 'I'm Not A Young Many Anymore'
Moby w/ Lou Reed - 'Walk On The Wild Side', 'Femme Fatale'
So, how do you top a day long like that? Well, you stick around for N*E*R*D at the Fader Fort, then head down to see The Heavy where the room was filled with some A&R heavys and the band completely rocking it up. Lead singer Swaby is a fucking star straight up and by the end of their set they had the crowd pretty much consumed by their soulful Curtis Mayfield rawk.
Post Heavy, the crew and I headed over to see MMJ in which they played some new songs from their album due in June. Wait till you MMJ freaks hear the studio versions of "Highly Suspicious," and "Thank You Too," "I'm Amazed," and "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream" and when they played them tonight mixed in with some of their older classics, we're now talking MMJ moving to yet another giant step ahead musically on record and as a live experience. Someone touch me - I'm going to scream.
Ended the night rockin it up with The Wombats from Liverpool who were charming and fun and pumping out one great little rock tune after another. Viva la rock. Viva la sleep. Day three is going to be even better. If you're at the Paste/Stereogum/World Cafe day party on Friday make sure you stop by and say hello...
Pale Blue Eyes - REM
Day two highlights:
The NPR Music day show at The Parish was, as they say, off the indie-rock hook. Sorry if you were one of those folks waiting in that almost two block wait to see Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer, Jens Lekman, A.A. Bondy, Shout Out Louds, and Bon Iver. If you made it in to the room, you'd have been in agreement that all the bands delivered some excellent performances. NPR followed that with a blistering, mind blowing show with My Morning Jacket, The Whigs and Yo La Tengo.
Earlier in the evening, wedged between the NPR day show and the big Austin Music Hall MMJ experience I had the honor of being at the Fader Fort for a 2 & 1/2 hour tribute to Lou Reed hosted by XPN's Jim McGuinn. The show featured some incredible performances by Joseph Arthur, Ezra Furman, Philly's own Dr. Dog, Yo La, My Morning Jacket, Oh No! Oh My!, Thurston Moore and it ended with Moby being joined by Lou. Hanging around backstage you could feel some pretty strong VU love amongst the bands and admittedly was one of the coolest hangs and SXSW events I ever experienced.. Here's the complete set list:
Complete set list:
What Laura Says Thinks And Feels - Run Run Run
Paper Route - Vanishing Act
Oh No! Oh My! - Sunday Morning, Candy Says
Yo La Tengo - She's My Best Friend, I Found A Reason
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - Heroin, New Age
Mark Kozelek - Caroline Says, The Kids
'My Morning Jacket - 'Head Held High', 'Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
Joseph Arthur - Pale Blue Eyes, 'Venus In Furs'
Dr. Dog - 'Who Loves The Sun', 'Ride Into The Sun'
Thurston Moore & the New Wave Bandits - 'I'm Not A Young Many Anymore'
Moby w/ Lou Reed - 'Walk On The Wild Side', 'Femme Fatale'
So, how do you top a day long like that? Well, you stick around for N*E*R*D at the Fader Fort, then head down to see The Heavy where the room was filled with some A&R heavys and the band completely rocking it up. Lead singer Swaby is a fucking star straight up and by the end of their set they had the crowd pretty much consumed by their soulful Curtis Mayfield rawk.
Post Heavy, the crew and I headed over to see MMJ in which they played some new songs from their album due in June. Wait till you MMJ freaks hear the studio versions of "Highly Suspicious," and "Thank You Too," "I'm Amazed," and "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream" and when they played them tonight mixed in with some of their older classics, we're now talking MMJ moving to yet another giant step ahead musically on record and as a live experience. Someone touch me - I'm going to scream.
Ended the night rockin it up with The Wombats from Liverpool who were charming and fun and pumping out one great little rock tune after another. Viva la rock. Viva la sleep. Day three is going to be even better. If you're at the Paste/Stereogum/World Cafe day party on Friday make sure you stop by and say hello...
Pale Blue Eyes - REM
