By the end of the first day of SXSW, it’s always hard to believe that there are four more left. In part, because of how many amazing artists you’ve seen, miles you’ve walked, and venues you’ve attended in a single day. However, at least to some degree, the disbelief is because you’re so damn tired. But a few more days and a few dozen more beers usually provide a second wind.
Pop Press International started off the day by checking out Dog Bite at the Terrorbird Media party; Dog Bite is a band we’ve been impressed with before and they sounded great early in the day playing on one of the best day show lineups Tuesday had to offer. The band will also play our day show on Saturday at The New Movement and you can still RSVP!
From there, we headed over to the day show we sponsored and curated (along with friends No Play Music) at Cheer Up Charlie’s. We were damn proud of the lineup and were stoked to get compliments on it all day long. Since our biased opinions could keep us gushing for sentences on end, we won’t. Suffice it to say that all the bands we saw delivered killer sets, including Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Harlequins, The Tontons, The Blank Tapes, Social Studies, Dana Falconberry, and Frank Smith. We will say that Social Studies continues to be one of the most impeccably rehearsed live bands we’ve ever seen. We told you in our pre-coverage of SXSW to see them, and we weren’t kidding–they’re outstanding. Tontons continue to receive a ton of buzz, and rightfully so–Asli Omar’s stage presence is downright enchanting. Tontons play several more shows this week (info here), and you should make plans to see them.
As the evening showcases commenced, we left our day show in the hands of No Play Music and PPI’s Chris Witte and Bryan Parker parted ways to be official SX journalists. SXSW has gotten to the point where there are an uncountable number of high profile parties with mega-famous bands. It almost seems like there’s an evening headliner playing at any given minute of the day. This is how I ended up swinging into the Red Bull party to catch a few minutes of Best Coast’s set. Though curiously uncrowded, the band sounded as the ever do live–solid and enjoyable if a little detached.
Continuing to Valhalla for the Antenna Farm Records showcase, I found the venue to be well attended but easily accessed and showed up just as Agent Ribbons was finishing. I did get the lowdown on a new project though. It seems that Agent Ribbons will be a band no more, as frontwoman Natalie Gordon will be teaming up with former Voxtrot member Jason Chronis in a new band called Tele Novella. Actually, the news goes further, since Austin’s beloved Belaire will be on a break again, with Cari Palazzolo and Matt Simon supporting Chronis and Gordon.
Body Parts took the stage at 9:00 and set the bar incredible high for the rest of the week. Although avoiding a Talking Heads comparison would just be forced, the band manages to channel that sound in their own way. I’ve seen Talking Heads done horribly, and this isn’t that. Frontman Ryder Bach mesmerizes onstage with awkward dance moves and impressive vocal range. The entire lineup remain focused, tight yet energetic. I wrote that this was a band to see at SXSW this year, and I nailed it. They play several more times, so check out showlistaustin.com and get to it.
Since I’d already caught Dana Falconberry today once, I headed up the street to have a beer with PPI’s Chris Witte and watch a few songs from Marnie Stern, who I had personally wanted to catch. Chris will tell you more about the set here. The standout moment from the small sampling I saw was Stern saying that the feedback buzz onstage sounded a lot like a sound that emanated from her vagina. I couldn’t resist missing all of Falconberry’s set back at Valhalla and I headed back over to catch the last half. She sounded impeccable as always and tour has only sharpened her already outstanding live set. Falconberry remains one of Austin music’s greatest assets.
The Blank Tapes were a band I had also seen previously in the day, but I hung around to watch again because they’re just so much fun. I was rewarded since they sounded tighter and were able to play a few more songs than at their day show, allowing them to develop the set. Matt Adams is the brains behind the songs and clearly acts as the conductor of the live set, which is most notably supported by Pearl Charles’ upbeat dancing. If you missed them, you can see them at our day show Saturday.
I’ve seen Social Studies twice in as many months and they truly are one of the best live bands touring right now. However, I wanted to try to see a few bands I’ve never seen, so I planned to see the first half of DIIV’s set at Red 7 before returning to catch the end of Social Studies. After making may way across the street, getting up to the front to shoot photos and the time rolling past their midnight starting point, the stage crew began setting up for Polyphonic Spree, never announcing the obvious DIIV cancellation. I guess I learned my lesson. I watched most of Social Studies back at Valhalla before Chris texted me that Local Natives were the unannounced band at the Mohawk that night.
I found Mohawk crowded but not unbearably so, and it was decently easy to get down front to snap a few photos. Mohawk seemed to be pushing the sound system a little more than might be desired, resulting in a little distortion and murk. However, Local Natives’ bombastic and frenetic live set overcame any sound issues. The crowd loved it, as they pumped their fists and danced wildly. Local Natives are one of the biggest buzz bands this year, and waiting in line to see them is worth the wait.
I ended the night back at Valhalla for the quirky, punky pop of So Many Wizards. Energetic and fun, the set served as a good way to close the evening, although it was getting to SXDrunk O’ Clock–that hour when the bar begins to fill with folks who never go to live music, have no idea who they’re watching, and can barely stand. At least we’re all having fun. My culminating retrospective opinion on the night is that the best sets were delivered by Body Parts, Dana Falconberry, Social Studies, and Local Natives. Though, any of the bands I mentioned are good bets for the rest of the week. 13 bands and not a lousy set in the bunch made for a great first day. We’ll be back tomorrow with more from day 2.
All photos © Bryan Parker and Pop Press International. Click any image to open set in slideshow view.
