One night in and I still haven’t heard the ghetto birds
In case you didn’t notice, I’ve once again jumped on a plane and headed over to the USA. What was going to be a one off “lets go to SXSW” is now in its fourth year (out of the last five) and right now I’m sitting in an apartment in Long Beach with the amazing Regans, listening out for Ghetto Birds (and hoping I see a raccoon).
The aim for this trip was it to be 100% derby stress and drama free, I spent the better part of the week before I left not sleeping so I could get it all done, however as these things generally do when it comes to derby that plan turned into an epic fail less than 12 hours off the plane. The new plan is to nail all the stuff I have to now do, and then enjoy the rest of my time with the Regans. But enough of that drama.
Today we road tripped to the San Diego Zoo and I got to meet an Okapi. Every time I visit another Zoo, I’m filled with a combination of “I wish we had that animal” and no matter how amazing the Zoo is, a lot of “I work in a pretty special place”. San Diego is one of the leading Zoos in the world in terms of conservation, but they still have enclosures where you see the bars and wires, and can’t take a good photo. They have an amazing collection of animals and the layout is spectacular, but theres something extra special about being able to kneel on the opposite side of the glass to where a Inkosana and Kaidi the Cheetah are pacing.
Okapi are amazing in real life, they really do look more like a Zebra than a Giraffe, until they stick their tongues out. There were also some amazing birds of prey, condors and eagles – all which make our birds of pray look like starlings. Some of the habitats were breathtaking, the monkey and tiger walks were the best in terms of horticulture and feeling totally immersed in an manmade environment.
The polar bears are also pretty amazing, especially when they get out of the water and you can see the black of their skin. The one in the photo below was having a great time doing flips and pushing off the side of his enclosure.
I can’t wait to come back and go to the Safari park and maybe do one of their slumbers. Not a very interesting update, too tired. I think either old age or not sleeping well the week I left has culminated into some form of jetlag.
When the grey ship calls, I am leaving today
I’ve just been reminded that I have this thing, and realised how long its been between posts, what can I say, I got caught up in the journey I was hinting at.
So now almost six months later and what more can I tell you? That content feeling has come and gone, but for the last few months its been more settled, my hours have been filled with cuba libres, good conversation and a distinct lack of a computer, and I’ve been loving it. I’ve seen some of my relationships for what they were – destructive, gone out of my way to avoid drama, and met some amazing new people that have made a world of difference, not to mention made me see things very differently. I digress though, this isn’t what this blog post is going to be about.
Colleen posted on my wall a week or so ago about a new Australian movie called “The Hunter” . Now I’m not sure why, but Colleen is way more likely to take a chance on an Australian film than I am, I think being forced to study The Castle in high school by an American teacher because in her belief it was the “truest representation of Australian Culture ever committed to film” kind of broke me.
Every so often though, an Aussie film blows me away. Last year I was creeped out and fell in love with “The Loved Ones” It really was Pretty in Pink meets Wolf creek, but it still didn’t *quite* hit the mark, in the way that so many Australian films do. Its like they know what they want to say, but somewhere between the second and third act they lose their way.
I didn’t know much about The Hunter before I watched it, other than Tasmania needs to rethink their marketing. In a nutshell, its about a guy who is hired to find and hunt the Tasmanian Tiger for a big corporation. Now I am one of those people who would like to believe, that somewhere in the wilderness that is Tasmania that there is a population of these animals, and that our mismanagement of our wildlife didn’t see us wipe this very unique species off the face of the earth, I mean, there’s enough wilderness in Tasmania that is old growth forest and impossible to get to that there is a sliver of hope for the species.
They captured everything perfectly though, the attitude of Loggers towards Greenies (or people they perceive to be greenies), the town which survives on logging and the possible threat of people studying the local wildlife, the opposing views of greenies, the beautiful and often deadly scenery of Tasmania, and the type of turmoil one would expect when going hunting for an animal that’s believed to be extinct. The movie was beautifully shot, and the soundtrack captured everything perfectly, it never interfered with the film only added to the overall feeling. Not to mention the little boy who never audibly spoke a word but whose face gave away so much.
Its interesting, if this was another cryptozoological film about hunting Bigfoot or a chupacabra, then it would be received completely differently but the possibility that there are still Tasmanian tigers out there is plausible enough that this felt realistic.
If you get a chance, hunt this film down, I honestly don’t think there will be another Australian movie this year that will top it. For me at least, it didn’t put a foot wrong at any point. In fact I have an overwhelming urge to watch it again already.
ship of beers
I have been thinking about a post about self, and the universe and the journey I’ve found myself on. But I think that’s a post for another time, because tonight something spectacular happened. I, for once, let myself get lost in the moment.
Ruby brought me a ticket to go see Frenzal Rhomb for my birthday. I avoid birthdays like the plague, and today I was in no mood for a punk show. Everything seemed messed up today, I got a phone call saying “thanks but no thanks” for a job I REALLY wanted, and then spent the next 2 hours of my life singing and dancing on a bus of toddlers, whilst cuddling a giant lion puppet. It was very much a “this is your life and its ending one minute at a time” kinda vibe (also, nobody should need to sing “I’m a Meerkat, not a pussycat” first thing in the morning to a bunch of small people).
So, needless to say, I was a bit flat and not really in the mood to go out. But I’m totally glad I did. Maybe it was skulling a Jameson as I came in the door, or maybe it was just the energy of a venue I generally avoid. But I truly felt like I had been transported back to being 16 and in a Frenzal Rhomb moshpit for the first time (although this time I kept my top). The new songs, whatever. But when they played those old songs I was transported back to 16 and what it felt like to get in a mosh pit and scream along to a band who have silly angry lyrics.
I must mention, I never go in mosh’s here in Australia. My normal position is somewhere near the mixing desk, chilling and enjoying the show, but always having half of the “this is a job” hat on. I find it hard to just forget everything else and just *be* (forgive me for the forays into universe talk, and just being. this is part of a post which I’m sure I will get around to).
I haven’t felt so energised in aeons. I honestly can’t remember the last time I got in a pit of any type in Australia. At SXSW, I’m more likely to (but I’m also more likely to be drunk). It was amazing for me to just forget the world, scream along to some old songs, and to a lesser extent reminisce about what it was that got me interested in the music industry in the first place. It was that feeling of being in that surge of people who are all there for the same reason and somehow get it. Being pushed over and helped up, being part of the seething mass of people and not caring whose sweat you’re covered in or if anyone thinks you’re a dickhead. This is what I miss.
I got home and the wind was blowing and the sky was clear and full of stars and for the first time in weeks, I felt 100% alive, like I can deal with any of the bullshit that is no doubt going to be thrown my way in upcoming weeks. Not getting the job didn’t matter, my confused headspace didn’t matter, derby dramas didn’t matter – everything felt like it had fallen into place and was going to be okay.
Lets just hope, when I wake up tomorrow that it all still feels like this.
Mardi What?
If you haven’t picked up on a general theme in some of my posts, or if you don’t know me very well. You may not have noticed that I am in LOVE with New Orleans. Music, Food, Culture, just the FEEL of the place. I often put on my Rebirth Brass Band CDs and wish we had this genre in Australia. Oh how I want to participate in a second line.
So, If I’m in Australia for Mardi Gras next year, I decided I wanted to have a Mardi Gras party – king cake, costumes, beads, Cajun food and music (maybe just Al Johnsons “Mardi Gras” on repeat).
But then I realised, I live in Australia. And here the only connotation Mardi Gras has is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. When I came home from the US last time and told people I went to Mardi Gras people actually asked why I went there if I’m straight.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with the term Mardi Gras being appropriated by the Gay and Lesbian population of Australia, but it would be nice if people could look further than that event here, and understand that Mardi Gras and Carnival happens all around the world. And that our version is not the only one.
I love Australia, but sometimes the lack of depth of culture horrifies me. Yes we are a young country by most others standards, but for somewhere so multicultural, sometimes there is just a galaxy of misunderstanding. I know this happens everywhere – I was told when I was in Seattle that none of the musicians had come back to New Orleans and it was a waste of time going there. It happens, there will always be miscommunication and misunderstandings, this one however, just frustrates me.
I’m pretty sure my need to throw a party has been fuelled by Sookies talk of the amazing celebrations and parties she has thrown in the past, and continues to throw in other countries. But I really just want to get together with my good friends to listen to some amazing New Orleans music, eat some good old New Orleans food, drink Cafe du monde coffee and don’t forget the Mint Julep for the drinkers. Just Laissez le bon temps rouler.
So again, I’m contemplating fleeing the country for Mardi Gras, and maybe checking out Cajun Mardi Gras. Chasing a chicken and all that, but I also put in an application to go work at Jazzfest. One or the other.
Will any of you come to my mardi gras party?
Home is where the hearth is.
Dad finished his contract in Eildon this week which gave me a great excuse to go home. Home as in the mountains, not the sea where I live now.
I haven’t lived in this town for 12 years, but as soon as I crossed over the spur and saw the towering trees, on a road just as crazy as the Great Ocean Road but lined with trees and cliffs instead of water (with a much higher speed limit) I felt like I was on my way home. I truly believe that home is surrounded by mountains and trees, and not the ocean – It’s just down the road from where I live, yet I haven’t actually stepped foot on a beach in ages.
Its funny how you go back and everythings changed but at the same time, nothings changed. The trees are bigger, my old front fence has been moved, the copse of trees around where we buried Stubby has been removed (I wonder if they dug her up), our neighbours mini golf course is all grown over and hidden by tress, but it still feels the same, instant calm.
When I got to town yesterday I wandered into some shops, and even 12 years on, people remembered me. I think what I miss most about Eildon is that it is a community – Clifton springs is full of faceless nameless houses, but in a town like Eildon, everyone remembers and knows you if not your family. (It probably helps that Dad is erm. A character). If you lived in Eildon and didn’t leave your house for a week, it feels like SOMEONE would notice and come and check on you. I feel like when I’m in Clifton Springs, I could not leave the house or talk to anyone for a month and other than people wondering why derby work isn’t getting done nobody would really notice. Actually scrub that, someone from derby would notice because without 3 refs they can’t scrimmage.
Dinner at what used to be Obriens pub (and I can’t break the habit). No Jameson in sight but they had that lovely strawberry and lime cider so I drank that instead, then back to Dads house to sit by the fire in the lounge and read. I miss having a real fire, heaters just aren’t the same. I like the woodsmoke smell and the natural heat the fire kicks out, and theres nothing better than sitting next to a fire reading, or just relaxing in the glow from the flames.
Today I got to catch up with one of my oldest friends and her two amazing kids (I think I’m in love with Charlize’s big gummy smile*) and hung out and talked crap for a few hours, some of it was remisicing, but a lot of it was talking about what we want to do now and in the future. She is one of the most amazing people I know, strong in ways I never could be.
After that I went to visit the cemetary to pay my respects to some lost friends and family. To be honest, If i were to be buried anywhere I would choose the Darlingford Cemetary. Its on the hill up near the spillway and is one of the most serene places I’ve ever been. The cemetary is filling up fast, there were a few years when I’d visit and nothing would have changed except for the color of the leaves, but the population is aging and there are more and more headstones appearing. Its almost split into two, the newer headstones and an area of old headstones with rusted iron fences and barely legible engravings, some of which were relocated when they had to move the entire town to make the lake bigger (and one that used to be on the top of the hill behind my house).
As I was nearly at the Spillway, I then decided to go check the level of the lake – which was lucky because when I parked the car (about 1.5km away from the cemetary) it overheated… This was the view I had. The waters up over 80% and the fullest its been in years. It was an amazing sight, as I recall when the water was lapping the top of this spillway (They have since made slightly higher walls)
While I waited for Dad I was lucky we’d packed for the drive, and had a boot full of beer. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to break down, on a sunny day AND have a beer.
We limped the car back to Syd and Chris’ and while Tex and Dad looked at the car I went for a walk along the river and just chilled out in the beauty that is this area. Syd and Chris were our closest neighbours, this is a photo from their front drive, the house in the distance is where I grew up. Also the road thats the intro scene from Houseboat Horror (also filmed on our neighbours houseboat)
I’m pretty sure the universe wanted me to stay longer and thats why the car broke, but I have been reminded that If I want to get away and be neutral and just relax, I can always go here. And hang out with old friends and get away from anything I want to. Its not hard to find an area with no phone reception. Some days I see this as a massive plus. Also I totally owe Joey a night filled with booze – I mean nobody else gets to call me Sare bear.
*Note: I am not getting Clucky.
I wish I was like you, Easily Amused…
I’ve been listening to a lot of music I listened to when I was in High school, Partly through coincidence, and partly (tonight at least) due to the fact its 17 years since Kurt Cobains body was found, actually without even realising that this morning I decided to rock out to Nirvana on the way to work.
The first rock bands I remember getting into were Silverchair, Everclear and Nirvana. Thanks to a pretty amazing friend (or someone who should be slapped repeatedly) I ended up with tickets to see Silverchair in 96 at Festival Hall. At this stage I wasn’t really into the band but I soon fell in love with them, and music in general.
I guess I should blame Niff for my trip down the rabbit hole into the music industry, but I’m not sure if that should be blame or shower with gifts for the rest of her natural life.
Anyway. I digress.
I’ve been thinking a lot about music, and the way it used to make me feel vs how it makes me feel now. I remember when learning a song on my guitar was the most amazing feeling in the world (even if it was a hole song with only three chords), or learning how to play something simple on drums. I remember having to hunt to find a new band to listen to, or finding them through interviews in magazines with other bands I liked and then having to trek to Melbourne to the nearest record store.
I’m not sure if it’s because technology has changed the way we find music, or if it’s just that I’ve gotten old (and jaded, I mean if you’ve ever been to a show with me, chances are I’m positioned behind the mixing desk instead of in the mosh so I’m getting the *best* sound in the room), but it seems that discovering bands that blow me away is happening less and less.
The Internet, Napster, Itunes, Youtube, Myspace, it all means that music is right at our fingertips whenever we want it, but there’s no quality control anymore. I could record my dog howling and upload it and it would be there. I love the idea of being able to access everything, but who has time to sift through all the Myspace pages in even a genre or location to find that one or maybe two bands that are gems.
Instead I rely on recommendations from my friends, word of mouth and if I’m at SXSW the excitement of being able to stumble into any one of a hundred gigs to see a band I’ve never heard of. It makes me wonder what I’m missing out on though.
If you look at my listening habits, I always go back to the same albums. Nirvana’s In Utero, Everclear’s Sparkle and Fade, Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream, Hole’s Live Through This. All albums from around the same time in my life, when I was really starting to discover music.
This isn’t to say that I haven’t found bands I’m in love with since the 90’s, but those bands just keep coming back. I don’t know the longevity of the bands that I’ve found recently, maybe in 10 years time I’ll still be listening to them as well, reminded of a feeling, a moment in time.
I’m watching the Nirvana MTV Live DVD and lamenting the fact I never saw Nirvana live, I was admittedly too young to go to any of their Australian shows, and discovered them far too late in their career, but even on DVD there is power in Kurts voice and lyrics. I can’t help but think that along the lines, had things not gone the way they did that they would have sold out and become in many ways, much less than they are remembered as. They still would have been the band that opened the doors for the scene, but there were other bands doing similar things at the time, the timing was just right for this one band. That’s what it all comes down to with musical success like that, not just the hard work but also some pretty good timing and a lot of luck.
I wonder how the internet has changed the way people will feel about music, downloading makes music feel so disposable, it’s different to having to trek to a record store to buy an album and before you get home opening it up to pour over the booklets. I miss that, I buy physical CDS whenever I can but I know they’re a dying breed.
It feels (or seems from the outside) that while people have more access to music and to the musicians themselves, that this makes the fanbase more fleeting. If you feel like you *own* a part of a band, what happens when the music develops in a way that you’re not happy with, does it feel more personal than in the past where there hasn’t been that personal connection to the bands. And how much of the person connection is real and how much is some intern being paid at the label to pretend to be the band.
I feel like cornering some of my friends kids and asking how they feel about music, does it define them like it defined a lot of my friends at their age, are there bands that they want to know EVERYTHING about, and I wonder if they will still feel that way in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years. I wonder how many of my friends will let me quiz their kids now and a few years down the track, it could make for a good paper. Or make those kids think I really am loopy Aunt Saff
Post trip blues
I’m home, I got home at 6am on Tuesday, due to traffic delays I hung at the airport til 8am, and am now suffering from what I usually refer to as post tour blues, which occurs when you get home and realise you have to stay in the one place for a while.
Took Bruise to derby training last night and in the car on the way home I realised that sometimes talking to her is like talking to myself at her age, I didn’t know if I should tell her to throw everything into the music industry or run now before she gets in too deep. Its refreshing though, a different, not yet jaded perspective. At least she’s being smart and learning live sound.
Words of wisdom from the 17-year-old, everyone was saying she should have a backup plan and her response was “But then Its like I’m expecting to fail”. This blew me away, I’m at the point where (after a few choice discussions with people of late) I am wondering if I should find a new path, I never had a backup plan that was solid, there where whims (going back to school and doing law, or forensics) but I never really thought of them as serious options, I definitely didn’t pick up units at highschool that would help me in those choices later on.
I honestly am finding it hard to think of something else I could do, I know it’s not too late in the game to make a change, but there is a lot I like about the fluidity of the music industry, I like being able to go away, jump in a tour bus and not look back until it’s over. The idea of being in an office for another year, with no chances to do that horrifies me. I’m sure it would be easier on my social life, but could I actually enjoy it?
Too much to think about right now.
The cats have been stalking me since I got home, I think they’re concerned I might disappear again, Mischief wont leave my bed and Smudge is following me from room to room trying to sit on me.
SXSW, and why you wear sensible shoes.
So SXSW 2011 is over, done and dusted. I don’t know where my handbook is that has the details of who I saw, so I know I’ll miss someone out and have to come back to it.
In terms of day parties, we got into Rachael Rays party, this is one of the good day parties, as there is free food and alcohol all day (vodka, tequila, spiced rum). Actually, spiced rum is much more prevalent here than at home, I have developed a liking for it though.
The main reason for attending this party wasn’t the free alcohol, it was because Wanda Jackson was performing and boy can she still perform. She regaled the crowd with stories of touring with Elvis Presley and the advice he gave her and she performed some amazing tracks with an all star local band. It’s always great to catch a star performance and Wanda was stellar, for a tiny lady she has quite a voice. The Bravery also played and we were lulled into thinking they were okay until they played their popular songs again.
After this we visited the Aussie showcase, saw Blue King Brown and Wolf & Cub (who were so active on stage Yogi had to keep racing across replugging them in) and then had dinner.
After Dinner Mel and I went our separate ways and I made the Trek down to AMC to see The Meat Puppets with Rocky Erikkson, unfortunately the sidewalks in this part of town aren’t great and I managed to roll my ankle (and double knee drop into the gravel), I figured it’d be fine and pushed on. The Meat Puppets where phenomenal, they opened with Plateau and it was part of the Austin Music Awards. This was also the venue where I saw Wu Tang and Filter play, it was one of the new venues used for this sxsw as well. No sound problems this time though thankfully.
After the Meat Puppets I walked to Moody Theater for the Perez Hilton Party, word was there was going to be good swag (lies), but due to this venue running late I got to see Liz Phair! And she played Polyester Bride, which was amazing. She’s a great performer as well. Then I stayed on to hear Pretty Reckless (the chick from Gossip Girls band), they would have been okay if it wasn’t for her looking like a stripper. The band and songs weren’t bad (not spectacular) but she seemed to be trying to be one of the backup dancers in a Motley Crue video.
This was where it all turned a bit tragic, after sitting down at the Perez Show (and possibly the Jamesons wearing off ) I stood up and realised how bad my ankle was. I went back to the hotel and they suggested I walk to Walgreens in SOCO (about 2miles walk) to get an elastic bandage. So I did what any self-respecting SXSWer would do, I went to talk to the Police and got them to call EMS For me. Unfortunately EMS in America have no idea what the term “strapping” or “elastic bandage” is and it took me 5 minutes to explain that I just needed my ankle “Ace wrapped” as they call it. They tried to convice me to go to the hospital, but I was pretty sure it was just a sprain so they wrapped me up and off I went (to get more Jameson).
The next band on the list was Quintron And Miss Pussycat from New Orleans (I know, it’s a theme). They opened their midnight set with a 15minute puppet show, I could describe them as the musical version of the Mighty Boosh, they were pretty good, musically they’re quite electro which isn’t my normal scene but for a 2 piece (with puppets) they put on an amazing show.
After this I stumbled to see Black Heart Procession (i think) who were one of Sookies picks and while not necessarily a 1am sxsw closing set band, they were spectacular. I’ll have to chase down their cds.
Mel ended up hitting the secret Death from Above 1979 show, at which the riot police rocked up at, but by this point I’d hobbled back to the hotel to put some ice on my ankle (only 5 hours later than I should have) and pack.
Sunday Morning Mel flew home (what a fleeting trip) and I got a lift to South Congress to go shopping (couldn’t buy cowboy boots coz my ankle was too swollen to try them on.. epic fail) and then lunch at Fado’s before heading to LA (via vegas, with a 2 hour storm delay).
Monday Sookie picked me up from the Airport hotel and her Bam and I spent most of the day at a coffee shop catching up. I can’t even explain how amazing it is to be hanging out with these two lovely ladies together again.
I’m staying with Bam and Mike in Long Beach (which is beautiful, I think I could fall in love with it here) and there has been board games, good food and games of “were going to the moon”, which I think is my new favorite pasttime.
Tonight Sookie and I are checking out the LADD Por Vida class, Ref Training (with GAMES!) and then the rec league flat track scrimmage. Thankfully Bam and I have the same size feet so I’m looting her gear.
Probably won’t be online a lot this week so expect sporadic to no posts. This is the “holiday” part of my holiday.
SXSW Thursday and Friday
One night of SXSW left and I must say my brains pretty full of everything I’ve seen/heard.
One of the strangest things about SXSW is wearing a badge with your name and photo on it, on a lanyard which has to be worn around your neck, it leads to strangers peering at your midsection to see who you are and where you’re from, often before they even say Hello, that said even though its strange, you catch yourself doing it too.
Thursday!
Thursday Morning Mel and I decided to do something we’ve never done at SXSW and attend a panel. The fact that this is our third year and we hadn’t made it to this integral part of the conference was pretty poor form, but we’re older and wiser now so we got up early to go and listen to Bob Geldof speak.
Theres been some interesting media about this panel, apparently a portion of the people in attendance didn’t listen to what Geldof was saying at all. The general gist of his talk was that Music (especially Rock and Roll) has lost its relevance and that we live in a culture of continental navel gazing. He lamented the fact that there doesn’t seem to be as many musicians trying to make a statement as there was when he was part of the musical revolution. We have musicians who are more focussed on making money than making a statement and he believes that now as much as any other time in history musicians need to say something. It’s this type of panel that kicks everyone into gear, he spoke for an hour and it all made complete sense. It will at some point be available on the SXSW website and I would suggest watching it, even if you aren’t in any way involved in the Music Industry.
After this panel we checked out Flatstock - somewhere very dangerous for both Mel and myself. Mel got off lightly, I went straight to Daniel Dangers stand (of course) and saw that he had one of the prints I’ve been drooling over since I first saw his artwork and of course had to rush to the ATM and buy it. I cannot describe how much I love his work, and he is absolutely lovely as well. Makes me feel much better about giving him all my money.
After flatstock we headed to the HBO presents Treme day party. Not only is there 1500+ bands playing at night at official parties, there are also day parties with bands who aren’t appearing at night. The day parties usually have free beer or food and are a great place to network.
The Treme party was great, brilliant vibe and some great people. The most interesting person I met was the editor for “The Big Uneasy” a documentary about why the levees failed in New Orleans after Katrina. This is a doco I’ve been hearing about for a while but it is yet to be distributed, from the sounds of it the content is amazing and went from hundreds of hours of interviews to under 90 minutes. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. He, like me fell in love with New Orleans after his first visit and we talked about how different the people are there compared to other places, and about being able to go out alone and talk to someone, anyone and it be easy.
After a nap (it was a long day of partying and you need to avoid the sleep debt that this conference creates) I went and caught Off! who consist of Circle Jerks/Black Flag/Rocket from the Crypt members. This was the band’s debut live show and it went off. Not only were they tight but they also had some amazing stories (as you would imagine)
We’d heard early in the morning that Lupe Fiasco had pulled out and been replaced by Janelle Monae, which was good news for us as both Mel and myself love Janelle Monae and were interested to see her live, for some reason the shows in West Austin were running an hour late a piece (not great) so we caught a little bit of Wu Tang Clan (who were having massive tech issues) and then went back to La Zona Rosa for Janelle Monae.
How to describe Janelle Monae’s show…. It was a performance piece and spectacular. She has an amazing voice, very classic and combined theatre with some amazing dancing. The show started off a bit slowly with more theatre and costume/stage changes between songs but once she got her stride it was exquisite. I’d love to see her in a theatre at some point, her backing band are phenomenal and everyone looks like they’re having a great time.
After this (which takes us to approx 2am) we got a slice of pizza from Stony’s (the staple diet at sxsw) and went back to the hotel to plan Friday (and watch Law and Order, which seems to be on the tv from 3am – 10am).
Friday
Okay, firstly I must admit I slept in til noon. Sometimes at SXSW you have to miss breakfast to catch up on some sleep to make it around all the gigs for the rest of the day.
After a quick brunch and almost dying when Fed Ex told me it would cost me $110 to send my Daniel Danger POSTER home (needless to say I didn’t send it home) I headed off to another panel called “Musicians Bringing Musicians Home after Hurricane Katrina”.
While not what I expected this panel was pretty amazing, with some great statistics from www.sweethomeneworleans.org and some speakers who travelled to New Orleans to take part in musicians retreats and helped rebuild and start music projects. This panel had two main points. 1 – America (and the rest of the world) owes a debt to New Orleans , it’s where most of American music has its roots. 2. New Orleans still needs our help. They showed the progression of music from the traditional New Orleans sound to more contemporary (even taking the second line brass band from its roots to Little Waynes rapping) and the stories the musicians had about what they experienced and have done to help New Orleans were great. It makes me want to go and work with one of these projects even more. (Work visa, anyone?… that said I did get a lead on that).
After the panel I checked out J Mascis at the Convention centre. This was an amazing experience, J was spectacular and it was a very intimate show. I think I prefer this to one of the bar shows that he has been doing. It seems like theres a lot of musicians of J’s era at this SXSW with their new acts, and I’m not complaining.
Later on I hiked over to the Easy East party at Vegas Hotel on East 6th street. I had two main reasons for going to this day party, given it was a decent walk. Firstly, they had Abita beer and I am an absolute sucker for Abita Strawberry. The second was I wanted to see the Lost Bayou Ramblers again. I lucked out on both counts, got my fill of Abita Strawberry (and some purple haze) and rocked out to Lost Bayou Ramblers. I managed to buy two of their cds before they left which I’m very excited to get home and listen to. I have no idea why I am so in love with Cajun music, obviously being in french I don’t understand any of it, but it makes me very happy.
After a cupcake and an afternoon nap I headed out to see the evenings bands. There are a crazy amount of bands on every night and it does take a lot of planning (and highlighting, and plans a b and c).
I stuck my head into the Sub Pop showcase, but nothing jumped out at me when I was there so I wandered down to the Austin Music hall to wait for Filter to play. Before Filter however were Duff McKegan’s Loaded. I must admit, having not ever heard this band I was very impressed, they did remind me of the Cult but they were tight and very rock and roll.
Next up where the band I’d been waiting for (in fact been waiting to see for YEARS) – Filter. Unfortunately they had some serious sound issues, not just little ones, the computer setup they needed for their backing tracks for the new songs wouldn’t work, a bass died, a guitar died and a mic died. So we were lucky enough to have a very special treat – they played songs from Short Bus.
For a band who had some hardcore technical issues Filter did an amazing job, they turned a bad situation into a punk rock spectacular, taking all of the issues in their stride and generally having fun. There was a lot of audience involvement with Richard Patrick even grabbing someone from the crowds camera and taking some candid on stage snaps. Unfortunately I still don’t know what the new album sounds like, but after tonights performance I think I’ll buy it anyway.
To cap the night off I saw Wild Flag – an all girl supergroup, sounds cheesy I know but all of these women have been part in other amazing bands like Sleater-Kinney and The Minders. This band blew my mind, I hadn’t heard them before I went to see them, but couldn’t resist, its always hard to find a chick band that I get into but these ladies absolutely blew me away. So much so instead of leaving after half a set as I’d planned (So I could see another band) I stayed for the whole time. I’m desperate to get a copy of their album, and I”m hoping that it will spawn some more great chick bands.
It’s now 3.30am and time for sleep. Big day tomorrow, we got tickets for the perez hilton party and there’s some pretty good panels on, and the Australian BBQ, not to mention a tonne of bands. No rest for the wicked!
SXSW Day 1 & 2
So after LA, Eva went home and I came to Austin to meet Mel for SXSW.
For those of you not familiar with SXSW its a music conference in Austin texas with approximately 1600 bands playing over 5 nights/days. It’s the party music conference, more partying than business happens here.
We checked into our hotel (nice and close to 6th street where most of the action is) and ran into the dude that played Machete in the lobby.
So we arrived on Tuesday which is the slow start to SXSW. It’s the last day of Interactive (the conference is broken up into Music, Film and Interactive) and the biggest show of the night was the Foo Fighters and was for Interactive Badges only.
We ended up hitting up the British Embassy and catching Bright Light, Bright Light (electro badness) and Pulled Apart by Horses (freaking amazing).
Later we saw Canadian band PS I love you at the Pitchfork party at Emos (two piece amazing wall of sound, pixies style vocals) and MC frontalot at the Nerdcore Party. I must admit I’m a sucker for nerdcore hiphop and the beer was rather grand.
Wednesday we were lame and slept in. What you need to understand about SXSW is the biggest problem is sleep debt. The panels start at 11am and the bands go til 2am, take into acocunt you’re drinking for most of this and not eating and youll soon realise how much sleep debt/exhaustion occurs.
We spent most of the day walking around getting our bearings, getting fast passes for the evenings “to die for” show and then went to see Darwin Deez at Emos. This was one of Mels picks and I was a bit reticent at first – they are a party band with choreographed dancing, but they were really really fun.
We had dinner at Opal Divines, where I FINALLY got my first good Mojito since Seattle and then split up to see the gigs for the night. Mel hit up Queens of the Stone Age (who played for 2 hours and were apparently amazing). I went to see Lost Bayou Ramblers (oh my god, cajun, singer/fiddle player with a le loup garou tattoo. I’m pretty sure I fell in love the second he started playing, rats tail or not), then Flogging Molly at ACL.
ACL is where Willie Nelson filmed his tv show and it is an amazing theatre venue. Flogging Molly played as the clock ticked over to midnight and it was St Pats Day! They blew me away, I’d never seen them live but they were tight with an amazing stage presence.
After Flogging Molly I hit up a few other venues to see a variety of bands (some New Orleans rap/hardcore which was cool) and then settled for the Austin 2am must have – a slice of pizza from Stonys. This is a must do, every night. I mean what else are you going to eat at 2am, other than cupcakes from the cupcake van. That’s right, there’s a cupcake van that’s open after 2am. They position it on sixth street for all the drunk SXSW badge holders to get their sugar fix.
I’m going to try to keep this day by day so I’m going to leave what happened during the day today and do a full update. It’s currently dinner break on Thursday and were gearing up for tonights shows.
