So, my post-sxsw hibernation of concerts is over.  It’s been a long time: about two months.  A lot of stuff has happened and i’m excited about the developments during this time.  Apparently, lame is the new cool.  Rather surprised as it may be, i assert that there is plenty of evidence for this in the last two months.

Essential to this article, there was Elvis Perkins at the Parish.  Before you interpret me as saying that Elvis Perkins is lame, i am not.  I am primarily saying that the Parish is lame.  Why?  They had decided to fill their venue with chairs… CHAIRS… at the Parish; perish the though.  However, the crowd LOVED it.  They loved it… Elvis Perkins AND the chairs.  

Aside from Elvis Perkins & the Chairs performance as and exhibit, there is also the lineup for ACL Fest that came out over these months.  Alright, so on Friday there is the Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Thievery Corp, and Mos Def.  This is a pretty decent lineup, but it is on Friday… not Sunday…  Saturday features Dave Matthews Band and Sunday has Pearl Jam and Ben Harper.  

Now, obviously there are some good bands in the lineups toward the bottom, but Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam, and Ben Harper?  Is this 1996?  I assumed it was, but my friends assured me that is wasn’t, not realizing that i was implying that the lineup was weak, and proceeded to tell me how excited they were for the show.  While this confused me at the time, possibly a result of the post sxsw hibernation process, i now realize that they are just more hip than me.  Thus, knowing that lame is the new cool, i am naturally anticipating the Saturday and Sunday shows over Friday’s.

So trying to catch up with the hip new style of calmly seated rocking out, and awesome mid 90′s alt-rock/jam-band tunes that are now en vogue, I decided to publish this review, one full week late, and with no photos.  A full two months after sxsw, about which i wrote two weeks late…  

Badass…

–Best Live “Performance”: Monotonix

Live, these guys rule.  I really have no idea how their music sounds, but i would def check them out if they are in your city.

Caution: Nudity… and Disgusting… … … and awesome.

– Best Musical Performance about Feet – Foot Patrol

No Image Available

I forgot my camera this night, but consider yourself lucky.  The band’s lead looked and sounded like some sort of sweet castrato eunuch, and looked like a bit of a pedo, but their music was made it all worth it.  I’ve never seen anyone cover prince the way they did… enjoyably.

–Best Girl-sings-unintellegably-while-guy-sits-by-a-laptop—totally-no-ripping-off-crystal-castles-at-all… group:  Kap Bambino

I actually really enjoyed this show.  I thought it was good energy, and the crowd was loving it (though most people in the crowd were photographers… (i don’t really understand why exactly).

–Biggest DOUCHEBAGS: Peter, Bjorn, & John

I hated every minute of this “show” which involved everything from starting 20 mins late to technical difficulties throughout.  Thanks for being totally ungratious, and not giving a shit.  Your show ruined my night, i can’t even listen to your cd now without feeling disgusted.  

–Best Overcrowed Show:  Black Lips

Runner up:  all the Dept of Eagles shows, none of which i got into.

–Best Local Retro Group:  Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

I always feel for the local’s shows packed with locals getting little to no exposure to the forign crowds (go back to williamsberg!!!… actually, you know what, hang out, but see OUR bands next year)

–Best Superfluous Use of Sunglasses: Von Blondies

Their show was actually suprisingly good…

–Best band I didn’t think was that good but my friends loved: the Bronx (they are from california btw)

It’s just not my thing i guess…

–Best Local Headliners:  Okkervil River

This was a good show… but damn you had to wait so long to see it… that place filled up…

–Best (Comically) Terrible Performance:  The Paper Chase

I was honestly taken aback by this show… I was terrible, on so many levels;  Laughably bad, but the crowd was LOVING it.  Sometimes life is confusing.

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alright… done for now, more to come… maybe

Hey Ocean!:
The MuseBox SXSW showcase: 
March 19th, 3:30 pm 
The Rusty Spurs, 405 East 7th Street 
*FREE champagne, beer, Vitamin Water & brunch all day long!*

Volume SXSW showcase: 
March 20th
Volume, 614 East 6th Street 
 

Dappled Cities:

Thursday March 19

The Ranch (Dangerbird Records / Bella Union Official Showcase) – 8.00-

8.45pm

710A West 6th St

Austin TX78701

Friday March 20

Radio Room – INDOOR STAGE (Canvas Media/The Onion AV Club SXSW Party)

3.10-3.45pm

Radio Room

507 E. 6th St.

Saturday March 21

B.D Reilys – 4.10-4.40pm

204 East 6th St

Austin, TX 78701-3626 

The Gin Riots:

no further details

Bang Bang Eche:

will be playing at Maggie Mae’s on Thursday, March
19th at 8pm, and they will also be playing a New Zealand Showcase at
the West Tent in Brush Square Park on Friday, March 20th at 6pm.

Dana Falconberry (who i think is fantastic):

Thursday, March 19
Murkville Music Dayshow
902 Spence Street
5:30pm
www.myspace.com/murkvillemusic  

Friday, March 20
Now Playing Austin Sound Dayshow
Creekside Lounge 
3:45pm
www.austinsound.net

Saturday, March 21
Flipnotics FXNC Dayshow
Flipnotics – Barton Springs
5:00pm

Remezcla.com SXSW Official Showcase 
 

 

Performing LIVE:

 

Chikita Violenta (Mexico, DF) 

Nina Dioz (Monterrey)

We Are Balboa (Madrid/NYC)

Pilar Diaz (Los Angeles)

Contramano (NYC/Buenos Aires)

Don Yojan y La Frescura (Austin) 

FRIDAY, March 20th 2009
CLUB FUZE 
505 Neches St (between 5th and 6th Sts)
Austin, Texas
7pm-2am
Ages 18+

If you were at this show, count yourself as one of the lucky few (please,  excuse me for being a little over the top throughout this post, i still can’t believe it happened).    This secret/surprise Willie Nelson appearance with Asleep at the Wheel was, hands down, one of the greatest concert experiences of my lifetime.  To see a legend in such an intimate setting is simply impossible, yet, it happened.  Yesterday i knew Asleep at the Wheel would be doing an in store performance to promote their new album, Willie and the Wheel.  I was thinking about attending the show anyway, but as the chatter on twitter started to indicate that Willie Nelson would be appearing, i knew i had to act quickly.  Those that bought the record that day got priority entrance, so i picked up the album and one of the last remaining wristbands.  Most thought the show would be at capacity from those who bought the album, but everyone ended up getting in.  Asleep at the Wheel played an immaculate show and Willie and Ray looked like they were having more fun than the audience.  Willie even stuck around after the show and signed autographs for everyone who wanted one.  I can’t say it enough, it was simply amazing.   

Willie enters and the crowd is ecstatic

Willie stuck around for a while…

The tour bus

tour bus artwork

thanks to P.M.T.B.T.E. for the heads up

Black Joe Lewis is fantastic.  Beauty Bar has terrible acoustics and is all around one of the weaker places to go in the area.  Still, you have to go see Black Joe Lewis if you can, so i did.  I really think they are one of the best bands in town.  I’ve heard different things about their albums, but live, everyone agrees they are one of the best acts around.  Give their myspace a listen if you can, and be there next time.  It was packed, but not packed enough.
 

The Shearwater show this weekend was pretty sweet.  Brazos played first and their melodic sound was a good intro to the slightly more intense Shearwater.  Also, Brazos and did some stuff i hadn’t heard before.  Shearwater was superb.  I was glad they did some new stuff too.  It went  so well there was barely a pause for the encore, since it’s was quite obvious that the audience wanted one.  A great time all around; the crowd was so huge, though, i can only assume that you were there too.
 

I don’t know what that thing is, but it sure looks cool… like a blow keyboard or something.  All i know is there is blowing involved… which is pretty intense.

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Brazos

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The Frontier Brothers played next door.  Since i just reviewed their album, i felt bad that i couldn’t make it, but i got this shot anyway.  I even listened for a bit from the Club de Ville end of Mohawk.  

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There was some band playing inside… i dont know who they are.