Mar 30
Prog Rock, Psychedelic No Comments
They were fantastic until their psychedelic/prog noodling became never ending. The 80s throwback lead singer had the voice of Ric Ocasek though Rockboy disagrees. They were very uncharacteristic of the Hole which is a good thing.
Mar 30
Americana, Bluegrass No Comments
The woman is bizarrely ON – either on drugs or no separation between stage self and reality. She plays the sultry Southern bad girl. I did enjoy her voice, as well as the looks of her man or at least her co-vocalist. His voice, though, was average. Rockboy thought they were ‘vanilla,’ but I think they had a nice repertoire of oldish country stuff. They were recording this show. Jane Bond was a local show, but she is fairly established in the city.
Mar 17
Rockabilly, Surf Rock 1 Comment
They’re from Phoenix and were in town for South by Southwest. Surf with a Nick Cave voice (at times). Bit rockabilly. Nice measured intensity. Sample lyric: “if you’re young and female you’re likely to get balled” at my shack. A touch misogynistic. They lack finish, especially in the vocals — definitely rooted in punk. Another sample lyric: “kill kill kill for the thrill thrill thrill, thrust thrust thrust for the lust lust lust.”
Mar 17
Adult Contemporary, Classic Rock, Punk No Comments
They’re from Los Angeles — in town for South by Southwest. Like Bob Seger on speed or, as Rockboy says, a punk Van Morrison. The lead singer has a very distinct persona — dances in native-man circles howling like a wolf in his feather earring. Just a mystic cheese rocker in the end — terrible but loveable. Seemed close to the young punk in the band. They sang one great blues song that was taught to him by an old Lousiana man named Percy.
Mar 16
College Rock, Grunge, Indie Rock No Comments
90s rockers from Boston — in town for SXSW. Might as well have been the godfathers of Counting Crows, i.e., they were horrid. Rockboy insists that they used to be grungier but I doubt. Their official SXSW showcase was at the Parish at 9pm on Friday — good day and location but embarrassing time.
Mar 16
Alt-Country, Prog Rock, Psychedelic No Comments
Hail from New York City and in Austin for SXSW. Lovely deep melodious voice. Country music with mystery. Per Rockboy, lead singer looks like Joe Strummer and Elvis Costello. Sometime noodly, as in My Morning Jacket but with a solemnous sonorious voice. Nice diversity, trippy moments, alt country rockers on acid says Rockboy.
Mar 16
An Austin band — looks like it’s made up of record store employees. Their name is literally their exclusive focus. Lead woman singer has a great persona going – robotic but pretty. The girl is much better vocalist than old man. Art punk. I totally buy their message (service jobs will suck the soul and life out of you). Diverse and can’t pin down their sound. People that know rock writing these songs, lots of influences, rich. Rockboy didn’t like them.
Mar 16
Detroit band in for SXSW. Grrrl voice with punk garage. Immediately striking and maintained the intensity with quality control. Just old school good rock a la Hole. A balls out girl, very much of my generation (Babes in Toyland). Character of a lead singer, Wendy Case — touched me with a comment reaching out to the misfit kids of America. There were times when she screeched a bit too much — Rockboy says she has a voice like Brody of the Distillers.
Mar 16
Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic No Comments
They were big in the nineties, and are from Australia. Their official SXSW show was at 11:30pm at the Blender — the fairly late time indicates that their status. Punk Pink Floyd oldies and then Cramps, Cramps, Cramps. Charismatic lead singer who sucks the crowd in — weaves back and forth back and forth — possibly a visionary.
Mar 15
Old hand at the sound (this was a rockabilly showcase). Didn’t try to win with loudness like the young guys – knew their stuff was good enough to play at regular volume. Bassist used to play with Reverend Horton Heat.
Mar 15
Outlaw Country, Punk, Rockabilly No Comments
Very good punk country. Upright bass player who looked the part. Short intense guitar/lead vocalist. Old friends from Tennessee who just moved to Austin. Rockboy compared them to locals, WT Special, though I would say they’re better and harder.
Mar 15
Alt-Country, Americana No Comments
Winsome middle-aged rural Texas girl with all the spunk of her youth — very cute and knows it. Great full throaty voice. Played guitar and used a foot-pedal on a suitcase as the drum set. Creepy guitar partner with yellow hair and a red coat. Lonesome country and then rollicking country. Ended with a Cash Zeppelin medley.
Mar 15
Psychedelic, Southern Rock No Comments
Mostly exciting because set up on a piece of cardboard being pulled by a truck — inventive way to participate in South by Southwest? Seemed a good band as well — young, psychedelic. Experimental says Rockboy.
Mar 14
Outlaw Country, Rockabilly No Comments
Straight rockabilly. Great look. Extremely glam rockabilly girl bassist. Rockboy describes as hopped up Johnny Cash. Varied from jumpy to slow to hard – I enjoyed the great dark country. All of them were good guitarists. rockboy also describes as Flat Duo Jets and Legendary Shackshakers and Gun Club (he had a bit of a thing for this band). The band livened up as show went on into darlings and even the ice princess smiled.
Mar 14
Really brassy and loud. They’re dull as shit. Candy pop with faux hard rock overtones. British mophead lead keyboard. Radio band — little bit power pop punk but mostly Rick Astley. Official SXSW showcase was for 9pm at Cheers on Friday. They’re from Minneapolis. Are they emo? Rockboy says they’re influenced by Fastlane from the 80s and are generally nonthreatening metal.
Mar 14
Contemporary garage rockers from Detroit. 60s inspired and all female. Bad ass lead vocalist – very sexy with her strong facial features. Cutesy side guitarist in a white leather dress that rode up as she played to show ruffly black panties. Older plainer and wiser drummer. Curly haired round bassist. Intense and worked hard to put on a good show. Nobody yelled, “Show us your tits!”
new fiction by Andrew Marx
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