Saw Idiocracy last week. I find myself thinking it would make a fine double bill with WALL-E: each depicts a future in which aspects of modern culture have spun out of control, leading to mammoth piles of garbage, an unholy fusion of big business with government, and an agriculturally barren landscape. One’s a cult classic, …
Like Maria, I’d had no idea that there was any conflict (short of moshing) happening at last Saturday’s bridge show. This report from the Guardian seems to disagree — though the handful of inaccuracies in it does lead me to scratch my head somewhat.
Specifically: the reference to “the $650 all-access wristband”, which conflates two different …
Walking down Sixth Street felt a bit like passing through a football field the day after a big game. Other parts of the city — Las Manitas, the area around Waterloo Records and Book People — were about as crowded as one might expect in a city late on a Sunday morning. Passing the bars …
The efficiency of many a SXSW day party left me impressed: nearly every minute was accounted for, with multiple stages and sound systems in use at some venues and spaces. Something that seemed noticeably absent, though, was any kind of literary presence. This might seem strange at first, as there’s no SXSW Book Festival to …
The Thurston Moore illustration that appeared on the front of the tote bags sported by many a SXSW Music attendee tossed the word “damage” among “art” and “music”. That didn’t seem too far off, from either an aesthetic or a musical sense. Some of the best bands I saw during those four days in Austin …
My last night of live music in Austin was spent at the Pretty Activity/Flameshovel showcase: two labels who have released a fair amount of fine music in the last few years. I arrived there during Ume’s set — Ume being the one group playing that I hadn’t been all that familiar with prior to the …
Took in a handful of bands at yesterday’s Mess With Texas bash in Waterloo Park. I arrived to catch Shearwater, a band of whom I’ve been fond for a while, but haven’t seen much live in recent years. Their set encompassed a fair amount of songs from Palo Alto and their forthcoming Rook, haunting vocals …
Oh yes.
Brutal Knights, Fucked Up, and No Age played. It was a punk rock show on a pedestrian bridge. It was amazing.
Sub Pop showcase, Friday night. Ruby Suns had the task of translating catchy, energetic home recordings into a live setting. I’m a fan of their latest album, and was curious to see how this would work out. Ultimately: it was good, though a few times the charm factor was turned on high. Pissed Jeans were …
Friday afternoon was spent at the Pitchfork/Windish Agency day party at Emo’s. I arrived too late to see High Places, but had plenty of time to catch Jay Reatard. And, damn. The door guy was throwing out Jerry’s Kids references, which seems pretty right-0n; my first impression was “garage rock Bad Brains”. Or: amazing.
Fleet Foxes …
My first stop on Thursday night was Beerland, for the What’s Your Rupture? showcase. First up: Vivian Girls, a Brooklyn three-piece with energy and feedback aplenty, who ran through a set of a dozen or so songs in less than twenty minutes. Just enough noise was present to keep me on edge; just enough melody …
Saw new Sub Pop signing Fleet Foxes at a Brooklyn Vegan shindig at Emo’s IV on Thursday afternoon. Until about an hour before the show, I’d had no idea that Christian Wargo (of Crystal Skulls, a band I have some history with) was at all involved. (He plays bass and some guitar, and lends harmony …
Wednesday: the day’s highlight’s included Frightened Rabbit at Emo’s Annex and, later, Why? at Emo’s proper. The former? Blisteringly noisy rock from Scotland; not too far removed from circa-A Good Ground Oxford Collapse in places. Why? live had a vastly different feel: subdued arrangements that brought Yoni Wolf’s lyrics to the fore, yet intense enough …
Last night, went to Club de Ville for a party promoting The All-For-Nots, an internet video series (a “scripted web docu-comedy”, quoth the ‘about‘ page) from the Michael Eisner-run Vuguru. Therefore, I like to imagine that my three Lone Stars were ultimately paid for by a man who I inexplicably visualize as Phil Hartman in …
Sunday night brought with it a trek to the Austin City Limits studio, where Lightspeed Champion and The Spinto Band were set to play. (Also, free tamales.)
I’ve seen a good amount of press for Lightspeed Champion, but hadn’t actually heard anything of theirs before Sunday. I wasn’t sure what to expect, to be honest; what …