SXSW 2008 Round-Up
Last year I had planned to do this whole big “how I spent my summer vacation” book report-type post on my trip to SXSW, but the enormity of the task got in the way of finishing it, and I never posted anything. That’s how these things go sometimes. So this year, I’m just gonna keep it simple:
Favorite Bands I Already Knew I Liked: Shelby Lynne, R.E.M., Chuck Prophet, The Cynics, The Meatmen
Favorite Bands I’d Never Heard Of Before: Jet Lag (from Spain), Mink (from Australia by way of Brooklyn), The Ettes (from LA, I think)
Favorite New Bands From Athens: Madeline, Dark Meat, Dead Confederate
Pleasant Surprise: Alejandro Escovedo playing a full-on fist-pumpin’, ass-shakin’ rock-n-roll show like I haven’t seen him play in I-don’t-know-how-long.
Sorta Disappointing: Syd Straw, who apparently didn’t rehearse for her showcase, and even botched up her biggest hit, “CBGB’s”
Special Achievement in Gratuitous Name-Dropping: Chris Stamey, who seemed to think his set was being filmed for VH1 Storytellers.
Missed Opportunity: On Tuesday night at the Hole In The Wall there was a very warm and casual night of music and beer, with too many bands to count performing short sets of 2 or 3 songs apiece. Every member of R.E.M. was there — the setting was perfect. If they could’ve just got it together to play a couple of songs, they would’ve been the talk of the town all week long. Oh well.
Only In Texas: Thurston Moore opening for Roky Erickson, who was then joined late in his set by Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.
Best Rumor: That Rhino is working up some super-deluxe reissues of the Replacements’ Twin/Tone catalog, and that a reunion tour is being planned in support.
Best Beer (Non-Shiner Bock division): The various flavors of Coopers being served at the Australia day party. I’d had their pale ale before — turns out everything they make is awesome.
Best Line From A Crazy Drunk Dude: “You gonna throw away that whiskey? You in a band? I used to be in a band. KC and the Sunshine Band! Do a little dance…. Make a little love….”
2nd Best Line From A Crazy Drunk Dude: “Hey — remember when my Dad molested your wife?”