SXSW Recap
While I don’t often use this space for anything beyond news bits and spots, I thought it’d be nice to summarize my great adventure to Austin’s SXSW Music Festival with some list action.
Best Overall Concert Experience
The Decemberists debuting their new album, with Heartless Bastards and Avett Brothers opening up. The Decemberists’ new record is a rock opera and their energetic, seamless and complicated performance of it, instrument for instrument, was fantastic. Only thing is they were actually overshadowed by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, who sang several of the leads. Wow. And the openers put in headlining-worthy sets. I’m sure they will generally be headlining from here on out. Keep your eye on Avett Brothers, they’re produced by Rick Rubin and poised for some big stuff.
Best Ten Minutes of Live Performance
Eli “Paperboy” Reed — we caught the end of a set at the PureVolume house that has to be the best ten minutes of singing I’ve seen. He OWNED the room.
Best/Most Unique New (to me) Band
Dirty Projectors — I ended up seeing them twice as I missed part of their set first time. The vocals are otherworldly, the rhythms are slightly African, and the songs are intriguing.
Best/Guilty Pleasure New (to me) Band
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart — Yes they sound like a number of indiepop bands from the ’90s Teenbeat, Slumberland, etc scene. That’s why I like them!
Funniest/Craziest Band
King Khan and the Shrines. Visually he’s a cross between James Brown and a late ’70s Bollywood action star. Musically take James Brown, add bollywood kitsche vocal effects, some Iggy and MC5 and a fair amount of Chris Rock and you are there.
Best Meal
The trailer park themed Taco stand outside of town with Austin’s best queso… went down nice with friends and a case of Shiner.
Best Panel
Jarvis Cocker giving his thoughts on the importance of lyrics. It was thorough, witty, and enlightening.
Best Part of the Day
The 5 pm Shower before dinner. Highly recommended with the jam-packed day parties.
