The final day of SXSW came extraordinarily early for me. While others might have gotten a late start, allowing themselves to sleep in to ease the exhaustion, Pop Press International’s first SXSW day show began at 11AM. Although we helped curate the bill at Cheer Up Charlie’s on Tuesday as well as Sidebar on Friday, Saturday’s show was a more singular effort, though integral and immense help from our friends at No Play Music ensured the party was a success. We had around 600 people attend and gave away over 1,000 free beers. You’re wishing you hadn’t missed it, now, right?
We want to thank our beer sponsors: Lone Star, Adelbert’s, Indio, and Circle. Without them, the event wouldn’t have been the same. Obviously, you all know the iconic Texas beer, but if you haven’t tried the other three, you really should. Especially Adelbert’s and Circle who both brew local craft beers. Both companies make a particularly delightful wheat beer, “Naked Nun” and “Blur” respectively. You won’t be disappointed.
As for the music, I could spend pages about why each of the bands we chose are great, but I know my bias probably invalidates much of the coverage of the show. I can say this: the only reason these bands were on the bill is because I like them. When I booked the show, I simply thought about bands that I had enjoyed listening to over the past few months and this is the lineup that emerged. Further, the bands impressed me more than I expected, and that’s from someone who was already convinced of each group’s quality. You can still hear one track from each band at our Soundcloud playlist here.
Lastly, I’ll just say, we believe in each of these bands strongly, so do yourself a favor and listen to (or better yet go see): Cleanup, Good Field, Kendl Winter, Frank Smith, Ablebody, Tiger Waves, Brazos, Ravenna Woods, Love Inks, Sour Notes, The Blank Tapes, The Shivas, Pageants, and Dog Bite.
After barely getting to drink my own free beer and eating only a single bean and cheese taco all day, I literally ran up the street to catch the Sour Notes’ official SXSW showcase, making for the fifth time I saw them this year. For one of Austin’s best and hardest-working, band, it sort of seemed like they were marginalized for their showcase. They had a particularly short set time, even by SXSW standards. As they always do, they made the most of it, delivering the rock, bringing people nearer to the stage, and having the crowd completely engrossed by the end. They are a band that knows exactly what they’re doing. If you haven’t seen them, you need to change that soon.
Continuing to eschew food of any kind, I headed to the Red Bull Sound Select stage to see the Smashing Pumpkins. Thanking the stars for my press access, I bypassed the extensive line and got into the venue without a wait. Ringo Deathstarr was onstage performing their distorted yet approachable pop. When the band played the Pop Press Intl. and Side One Track One day show on Friday, they had a good draw, but it was still odd to see a band who just played our day party up on a huge stage preceding The Smashing Pumpkins. Red Bull has been working on concerts a good deal frequently, and they seem to be reaching out to local talent consistently, and it was great to see an Austin band get some love on the showcase.
Girl In A Coma followed with a hard-hitting set. The all girl group isn’t one in which I’ve ever had a particular interest and I can’t say this show change that, although they certainly delivered solid, blistering rock music. It’s not hard to see the appeal in what they do, and recognize their assets. All of these same descriptors could fit the next band, The Sword, although I did favor their set a bit more. I’ve seen The Sword before, most recently at Fun Fun Fun Fest this past year. It’s hard to choose a more intensely powerful band to pump up the crowd for you.
As the Red Bull and vodka kept flowing, time crept by, approaching midnight. Finally, the moment arrived for the Smashing Pumpkins to take the stage. Billy Corgan and his crew were my first favorite band in 6th grade. I must have listened to the first three Smashing Pumpkins albums (along with Pisces Iscariot) more than a few hundred times each. They are also one of the very few bands I’ve never seen. I’ve even seen The Pixies, another of my first loves, four or five times now, and they were broken up by the time I discovered them.
Needless to say, this moment filled me with nostalgia and an unusual joy. Performing many classics and a few new songs, the band only left off a few that surprised me, such at “Today” and “1979.” However, they performed a good number of quintessential Pumpkins tunes, including “Cherub Rock,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet with the Butterfly Wings.” I have some conflicted emotions about the dynamics of the original Smashing Pumpkins and the formation of an entirely new lineup behind Billy Corgan. But neither Saturday night nor this report are the places for that. This was simply a time to bask in the glow of my adolescent self. Seeing the Smashing Pumpkins felt like the perfect end to the best SXSW I’ve ever had. From some virtually unknown bands, to headliners, to musical pioneers, SXSW 2013 provided everything I could have hoped for and more. I’m already looking forward to next year.
