Sunday - And Then It Was Over

So, after a week in Austin, and 4 straight days of music there was only one way to end the week. First up was the Gospel Brunch at Stubb's. If you go to Austin and you're there on Sunday, make reservations for this, you won't be disappointed.

We were lucky to see the Bells of Joy. Great show, it's hard to explain on a blog, but it really is a great experience.


after Stubb's we headed up to South Congress to chill, watch some basketball, and do a little shopping as we waited for the great unofficial end to SXSW. At the legendary Continental Club every year Alejandro Escovedo brings the house down with an amazing show. Nothing will top the Alejandro show I saw at the Mucky Duck in Houston about 7 years ago, but these SXSW shows come close.




And with that SXSW is over until next March! See you there!

Saturday - It's St. Patty's Day

Okay, I like St. Pat's day and all, but don't expect to see any green beer here. It's been a long week, and Saturday will be a short day. But that doesn't mean it's not still tons of fun.

We started the day off at Daddy's Wings on 6th to watch XU 'almost' beat OSU. But alas, they choked and missed a free throw before collapsing in OT.

After that we headed out to some day shows. We went down to Club DeVille on Red River for a great set of bands put on by a collection of blogs.

First up was the Young Knives who put on a great set. They were followed up by the Rosebuds who we saw earlier, but they put on a better show outdoors.


Next up was the show I was really looking forward to. Margot and the Nuclear So and So's out of Indy (boy I wish they'd sign on to MPMF, and maybe the Washington Park Music Festival day show that I'm putting on). What a great set!



We then headed back for a couple beers and some more NCAAs. We thought about going to some shows that night, but instead decided to lay low and just go grab some dinner and hit up waterloo records. Made for a nice relaxing evening.

Friday - The Infamous Bloodshot Day SHow

Friday is always one of my favorite days at SXSW, and it's all because of the day show at Yard Dog for Bloodshot records. They had 9 bands playing in 5 hours, and the final set of the day is always the Waco Brothers and it's rip-roaring as always. The band has a bass, 3 guitars AND a steel guitar. You better like guitar or you're going to be in hell.

Before Yard Dog, we went over to Pok-e-Joe's on 5th (sad side note, they have lost there lease and this fantastic spot for music, along with the great food is soon to meet with the wrecking ball). The Merge Records day show was there and we saw a great set by the Broken West.



Then we headed off to Yard Dog. We saw the end of Danbert Nobacon, and then sets by Deadstring Brothers, Mark Pickerel, Graham Parker, The Silos, Gore Gore Girls, and the Waco Brothers. THe highights were definitely the Gore Gore Girls and The Wacos. The Gore Gore Girls have kind of a kitchy 'outfit' type thing going on, but there music is great. Here's some pictures from the day:


And the Wacos



We then went to grab some dinner at Doc's and tried to watch a little basketball, we head to Beerland at night and caught a few bands, with the highlight being Cincinnati's own Buffalo Killers.



One day left, and then on Sunday it's the Alejandro Escovedo show that is the official unoffical end to SXSW. Can't wait

Thursday - Free Mohawks

Thursday started off at a nice little Austin treasure- Birds Barbershop. There motto is something like Walk In and Rock Out. They specialize in 'rock' haircuts, and for their day show were providing free music, free beer, and free mohawks. And there were plenty of takers at the event.



We saw quite possibly the best 'find' of the week thanks to a recommendation by my buddy Royce. Bishop Allen was fantastic, and hopefully we'll see them again in the near future at Southgate House.


We also caught Mando Diao at Antone's, and the Annuals, before heading out for the evening showcases.

After dinner, we headed to the Lava Lounge Patio to see Austin Blues local Black Joe Lewis, who rocked out, and then caught some of the Sundresses, who had a great set. Also ran into Kari Wethington from CinWeekly at the show. She has a great review of the show, and some video footage on her blog.

We called it an early night after that and got ready for Friday and the always awesome Bloodshot Day Show at Yard Dog

Wed Kick-off at Yard Dog

It all started at my favorite SXSW day show venue - Yard Dog art gallery on South Congress. The opening day show featured a bunch of bands from the 'Bay Area'. Where do you think of when you hear 'Bay Area'? Well in this case you'd be wrong, as Bay Area referred to Tampa Bay.

Whatever, the bands were good, and we saw the Beauvilles and they rocked it out.


After that we headed to Emo's Annex to see Apostle of Hustle and the Black Angels. I have a love/hate relationship with the Black Angels. I enjoy them and their heavy sound, but they are just so damn loud!

Wednesday night we headed out to Antone's (the famous blues club in Austin), and saw some of the Merge Records showcase. Oakley Hall and The Rosebuds were not as good as expected, but the Broken West were awesome...they are one of my new favorite bands... like an old school Wilco. (I'll provide pictures of Broken West from their Day Show)

Friday Plan/Schedule

Bloodshot Records party

• Waco Brothers, Clem Snide, Gore Gore Girls, The Silos, Graham Parker, Jon Rauhouse, Mark Pickerel, Deadstring Bros., Danbert Nobacon at Yard Dog Gallery (1510 S. Congress Ave., noon-6pm)
  Apollo Sunshine - MySpace - The Big One Day Show - Freddie's Place (1703 S. 1st St., free with registration and rsvp here)

WOXY.COM/lala/Noise Pop day party

• Bob Mould, The Little Ones, The Broken West, Alexi Murdoch, Aqueduct, and Snowden, with host Zack Galifinakis. (streamed live from 1-7pm EST) Emo's Annex

KEXP Live on-air performances

• Beirut (7pm), Under Byen (5pm), Okkervil River (3pm), TBA (1pm) at the Austin City Limits Studio (UT campus, near the corner of Guadalupe and Dean Keeton, open to the public)

Hot Freaks Day Show

• Insound presents Pelican (4:30pm), Shout Out Out Out Out (3:30pm), Walter Meego (2:30pm), The Black Lips (1:30pm), Apes & Androids (12:30pm) at Club Deville
  Shearwater (5pm), Annuals (4pm), Imperial Teen (3pm), Apostle of Hustle (2pm), Thunderbirds are Now! (1pm), Catfish Haven (noon) at the Mohawk (outside stage)
  TCM Underground presents Bishop Allen (4:30pm), Midnight Movies (3:30pm), St. Vincent (2:30pm), Sea Wolf (1:30pm), Briertone (12:30pm), DJs $elect and Sober at the Mohawk (inside stage)

Merge Records and Absolutely Kosher Records Party

• Frog Eyes (5:30pm), The Rosebuds (4:30pm), +/- (3:30pm), Oakley Hall (2:30pm), Chris Garneau (1:30pm), The Broken West (12:30pm) at Pok-e-jo's (1603 West 5th St.)

The Black Angels - Mess with Texas - Red 7
Margo & the Nuclear So and So's - MySpace - Showcase - 9 PM - Antone's
Dirty On Purpose - MySpace - Showcase - 9 PM Maggie Mae's
Clem Snide - MySpace - Showcase - 9 PM - Buffalo Billiards
Andrew Bird - MySpace - Showcase - 9:30 PM - Stubb's
Buffalo Killers - MySpace - Showcase - 10:30 PM - Beerland
The Black Angels - MySpace - Showcase - 11 PM - Antone's
You Am I - MySpace - Showcase - 11 PM Dirty Dog Bar - Thanks to Dave Purcell
Apostle of Hustle - MySpace - Showcase - Midnight - Habana Calle 6 Annex
Apples in Stereo - MySpace - Showcase - 1 AM - Dirty Dog Bar
Jon Langford - Showcase - 1 AM - Molotov Lounge
Peter Adams and the Nocturnal Collective - 1 AM - BD Riley's

Thursday Schedule/Plan

Birds Barbershop SXSLamar Blowout

• The Rosebuds (6:45pm), Friends of Dean Martinez (6pm), Georgie James (Q and Not U side project, 5:15pm), Hopewell (4:30pm), The High Strung (3:45pm), The Comas (2:30pm), 1986 (1:45pm), Bishop Allen (1pm) (outside stage, free show, free beer, free mohawks during the show!)
  Turner Cody (4:15pm), Dawn Landes (3:30pm), Secretary Bird (1:30pm) (inside stage)

The Black - MySpace - Rio Rita Lounge (1308 E 6th St., starts at 1pm, free)

Waterloo Records (free instore) - Albert Hammond Jr. (6pm), Busdriver (5pm), Ponys (4pm), Lily Allen (3pm), Sparklehorse (2pm)

Rhapsody Rocks Austin

• Peter Bjorn and John (5pm), Robin Hitchcock and Peter Buck (4pm), Oakley Hall (3pm), Oxford Collapse (2:10pm), Loney Dear (1:20pm), The Broken West (12:30pm) at the Mohawk

The 2007 Spaceland and LiveDaily SXSW day showcase in assocation with Aquarium Drunkard, Chromewaves and My Old Kentucky Blog present

• Blonde Redhead (4:15pm), Annuals (3:30pm), Mando Diao (2:45pm), Datarock (2pm), Dirty On Purpose (1:20pm), Tally Hall (12:40pm), Monsters Are Waiting (noon) at Antones (free)

KEXP Live on-air performances

• Apples in Stereo (7pm), Fujiya & Miyagi (5pm), TBA (3pm), Peter Bjorn and John (1:45pm), The Ponys (1pm) at the Austin City Limits Studio (UT campus, near the corner of Guadalupe and Dean Keeton, open to the public)

Shearwater - MySpace - Showcase - 7:30 PM Central Presbyterian Church
The Cassettes - MySpace - Showcase - 8 PM - Blender Balcony at the Ritz
Apollo Sunshine - MySpace - Showcase - 9 PM - Dirty Dog Bar
Black Joe Lewis - MySpace - Showcase - 9 PM - Lava Lounge Patio
The Sundresses - Showcase - 10 PM - Lava Lounge Patio
The Young Knives - MySpace - Showcase - 1 AM Friends