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March 16, 2006
SXSW Dispatch, Wednesday's shows
I covered three venues yesterday and last night: the Canadian consulate, The Fader/Levi’s Dry Goods store, and Emo’s showcase.
The music never stops here... The placid "geeky" calm that pervaded the interactive and film festival has been replaced with guitar squeals, much more open consumption of the "spirits", and celebrity look-alike spotting.
Even the sports bar that I relied on showing the NCAA games had an Irish music showcase (the nerve!) and only the UWM-OK game.
First
Oh, Canada? North by Southwest Tent: 3-7
I caught the first two acts of the showcase.
The Trews
It played a lighter version of Southern rock. Faux-Southern, Northern rock? If I were a Venn Diagramming man, I would say that they stood in the middle of Kings of Leon and Black Crowes, if both were Canadian.
Overall grade: B+
Song of merit: Tired of Waiting, a multi-tempo plaint
The High Dolls
Favoring a Secret Machines form of spaced-jam rock. They also mixed a little Music, The-crunchy guitar loops. One song seemed much influenced by fellow Canadian’s Broken Social Scene’s Cause-Time.
Overall grade: C
Song of merit: These days mean nothing to me
Onto to the Fader/Levi’s show.
I got in at the last song by La Rocca. What I heard sounded very promising – a more up-tempo Elvis Costello.
Overall grade: N/A
Song of merit: N/A
Tapes N’ Tapes
I know this is the buzzed about band, but, to be honest, I didn’t dig their set. Lead singer’s mic wasn’t loud enough, or he didn’t sing loud enough. The band sound wasn’t crisp. I would love to give them another shot, even here, but not something to write home about.
Overall grade: B-
Rumble Strips
Band is a three-piece set consisting of a sax and a trumpet. Now wait, don’t gloss over the rest. They were good. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but definitely a decent band. They played like more generic CYHSY, to be honest.
Overall grade: C
Cities
Here was the first band that made me take notice. They played like the Rapture if they weren’t all that interested in making you dance. The song structure was pretty tight, and the crowd seemed to get into them more than any other band I saw. They have an album coming out, and I could see it doing some damage to those who like the Killers or Rapture or otherwise Cure-like emotive braying.
Overall grade: B
After the jump, Emo’s showcase
Kiss Me Deadly
Really, really good. A Canadian dance punk outfit helmed by a great female vocalist replete with gold lame sweatsuit and WWII Army cap. They played a very solid show. Going through a number of fast-paced songs, then breaking for one slower one, realized that it wasn’t as enthusiastically received, and then moving back to the goods.
Show: A-
Voxtrot
Austin boys do well. You could tell that the Austin flock (those sans badges) was in full-force to see its hometown boys bring their A game. For all those internet fans at home, they played “Start of Something,” which, by measures, received the largest applause of Wednesday. Cover of Talking Heads’ Heaven was also received well.
Show: A
Song of merit: Start of Something
Field Music
I just flat-out got disinterested. I don’t have anything to report. I know it’s unfair, but I went to get something to eat so I could make it through a Serena Maneesh show (see below). This week has taken a lot out of me.
Show: C-
Serena Maneesh
Excellent. A perfect mix of distortion, preening, and great music. Drain Cosmetics, a favorite 2005 song, was even better live as the two singers traded off vocals, harmonizing perfectly. Un-deux was another highlight.
Show: A-
Song of merit: Drain Cosmetics
All in all, a good day. Pictures likely to come in another post.
Today should be likewise busy, if I can drag myself away from the basketball games. We shall see. Should I get out to see more bands, I promise I will get more descriptive than “Known band-esque.” I promise.
Tags: SXSW, The Fader, Canadians, Serena Maneesh, Voxtrot, Kiss Me Deadly
Posted by Keith O'Brien at March 16, 2006 01:32 PM
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