Plus One - Live Music in Austin

SXSW - Fri. 03/13/08 - 3rd Day

2008-03-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

So, it's finally Friday, and our offices are closed. This means I slept until about noon, then headed over to the Levi's/FADER Fort. This is one of the many "unofficial" showcases at SXSW. There are tons of these all over town during the day. The only way to get in is to RSVP for them, but most of them are pretty easy to RSVP to: you just go to the SXSW page on their site and give them your name and email address. This one boasts free Stella Artois and Southern Comfort! Yes!

Fri. 1:45pm: I got to the Levi's/FADER Fort a bit early because I wanted to make sure I was early enough to see the Lemonheads. However, I got here early enough to see what would turn in to one of my favorite bands at SXSW, and a band I had never heard of before. That would be Denmark's The Fashion. They can best be described as, I don't know, a dance-rock band fronted by a guy who kind of looks like a cross between Jack Osbourne and Pete Doherty? Anyways, their live show is awesome, so please check them out!

The Fasion at the Levi's/FADER Fort

Fri. 2:30pm: The band I came to see, The Lemonheads, cancel before even fully setting up. The reason? Lead singer Evan Dando "lost his voice." I suspect he just had too much fun at the Playboy party the night before, but time proves me wrong, as they end up canceling the rest of their sets as well. On the plus side, I recognize their drummer. Of course, I can't think of his name, but he used to play in a great little band from Indianapolis called The Pieces.

Time for a break for some lunch, and then it's off to a meeting for work at 4. Don't worry too much, I think each of us at the meeting had 3 or 4 beers, so it's all good! The bad thing about the meeting? I missed Dizzee Rascal, who I really wanted to see.

After the meeting I get a call from Mori who wants me to come check out a band he's managing. They're playing at a place called the Troubador Saloon on 6th Street. It's more or less where I'm heading anyways, so I go check out another band I've never heard of.

Fri. 6:00pm: I make it just in time to see Mink take the stage. They can certainly play, but they win me over with a kick-ass cover of Suffragette City. That, and their really good, really cute, and really funny chick drummer. Mori tells me the infamous (at least in this blog) Tom Morello and Flea are trying to get her to play drums in a potential side project. Whoa.

Mink at Troubador Saloon

After Mink I head to 508 to relax and hopefully grab some food. Well, the relaxing is there, but the food doesn't arrive until at least 8:30 and I'm starving. After stuffing ourselves silly, we head across the street to Stubb's, for what will end up being the longest stretch of time I spent at any place besides 508 all SXSW. However, it takes us nearly thirty minutes to get in (even with badges!) because the venue is at capacity.

Fri. 10:25pm: Of course it is, because one of the hottest bands at SXSW, MGMT, is playing. We make it inside 25 minutes in to their set, so we only get to hear a few songs, but what we hear is really good. At first I didn't care for MGMT, but they've really grown on me, and they will on you too. I mean it. Check them out.

Fri. 11:00pm: The Cribs take the stage. Who is this band? Beats me. How are they? Eh.

Fri. Midnight: Sia takes the stage complete with neon animals and people/aliens? She plays a great set, and I'm really glad I got the chance to see her. However, it isn't until her last song that I put two and two together. She plays a hauntingly beautiful song that I didn't know was by her. If anyone is a fan of Six Feet Under and you've seen the final scene of the series, you know this song. Absolutely amazing.

Fri. 1:30am: It's finally time for the band we came to see in the first place! And they're only 30 minutes late! It's time for N*E*R*D! Their set is a pretty good mix between their first album (awesome!) and their latest (not familiar with!). They truly know how to bring the rock with their hip-hop. I heard they played until 2:15, but i was d*o*n*e at 2.

There's still one more day to get through!

SXSW - Thu. 03/13/08 - 2nd Day

2008-03-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Finally, we get to the second day of SXSW. This is about the amount of sleep I wish I'd had before actually getting to day two. We still had to work at least part of Thursday, so I rolled in to the office around 11, and around 2 I was heading out to go home and take a nap. Well, that plan didn't work out, as I got a call from one of my friends to go see Ingrid Michaelson but by the time we found where she was playing, she had already played. No big deal, as now I could actually go home and take a nap. On my way back to my car though, I ran in to a guy named Mori. Mori was my first boss ever at my first internship for a company called takeoutMARKETING.

I finally make it home, and after a lovely two hour nap I head back up to Stubb's...

Thu. 7:30pm: I meet up with a few friends who are already in line to get in to Stubb's for the Body of War showcase. Basically, a handful of artists will all play 2 or 3 songs from the soundtrack and/or their own protest songs (I think?). Unfortunately I didn't get to stay for the whole thing because I had to leave for an impromptu dinner. What I did see what good, but I wasn't blown away. For the record, I saw: RX Bandits, Serj Tankian, Billy Bragg, and Ben Harper.

Thu. 11:00pm: I head over to the Cedar Door for a band that I've always wanted to see. Not because they are a great band, but because I have succumbed to some 90s nostalgia. The band in none other than Wheatus! Singers of the great 90s anthem "Teenage Dirtbag!" Of course they place this song last, and it is as good as I hoped it would be.

I thought the guy in the middle was the singer. It wasn't. It was the guy on the left (not pictured). Oops.

Thu. Midnight: Trying to get in to the C3/Playboy Party. I have my wristband already, so it shouldn't be hard to get in and not wait in the estimated two hour wait of a line. But hey, maybe I will have problems, as I spot "famous" blogger Perez Hilton also having trouble getting in. However, after a little while I spot a friend, and I have no trouble getting in.

The party is very hot, and very crowded, and I miss seeing MGMT because I'm waiting in line to play Rock Band, and these two Playboy Bunnies cut in line for a photo op, and then proceed to play Rock Band terribly.

Thu. 2am: Moby takes the stage for a DJ set, and is amazing! There are enough lights on stage for a freaking stadium show it seems like, and at the end of his set a few of my friends make it up on stage.

I shot that! That's my video! Woot!

After Moby was done, my plan was to stick around to see Justice, who everyone seems to be talking about. But I'm too tired. It's almost 4 and I need to go home and get some sleep! I'm actually going to try and see bands during the day tomorrow...

SXSW - Wed. 03/12/08 - 1st Day

2008-03-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Ahh. The first day of South by Southwest. Four days filled with music from over 1500 bands around the world, and it's in my backyard. I've always wanted to go to SXSW, but never had the chance to before. For those who don't know about SXSW, there are two ways to get in to the official showcases:

1) Badges - These are pretty pricey, but you have priority getting in to venues. But having a badge doesn't guarantee entry. Lots of people have badges.

2) Wristbands - These are only around $100 or so. However, if you have a wristband and there is a hot band you want to see, you better get in line early. Wristband holders have to wait in a separate line, and can only get in after all badge holders are in.

Lucky for me I had a badge! But what I didn't know what how early I still have to get to shows. I learned this the hard way.

Wed. 11:00pm: The first band I see at SXSW is a band called Earl Greyhound, a band I've never heard of before, at a place called Vice. However, I ran in to an old friend and told me I had to go check them out with him. One thing I learned is that some of the best bands you see are the ones you never meant to check out in the first place. This was the perfect way to kick off my first ever SXSW!

Wed. Midnight: First celebrity sighting of the week. Saw Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine just walking down the street.

Wed. 12:30am: My first badge casualty of the week. Since I didn't get in line early to see R.E.M. at Stubb's there is no way I'm making it in the show as the badge line seems to go on for miles. Luckily I've got a wristband for 508 across the street. They've got Stubb's shows on the tv all week long, and I watch some of R.E.M. from there.

The best view of R.E.M. I could get

Wed. 1:00am: My second badge casualty of the week. Since I couldn't get in to Stubb's, a few other people and I try to go over to Emo's to see The Black Keys. Once again, the badge line is ridiculous, and we decide to just head back to 508 and get a few drinks.

Wed. 1:15am: Pretty good idea headed back to 508! Who am I standing next to for at least twenty minutes? None other than Tom Morello again! Also spotted in attendance: Moby; Britt Daniel of Spoon. The rest of the night is spent here, talking to people, drinking vodka & vitamin water, and staying out entirely too late for a Wednesday!

Stay tuned for SXSW Day 2...

First Post! Woot!

2008-03-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Jeff, and this is my brand spanking new blog: Plus One - Live Music in Austin (and other various places). I just moved to Austin about a month ago, and plan on seeing copious amount of live music.

South By Southwest just came to Austin, so we're gonna start there. Unlike "professional" bloggers, I'm obviously not live blogging, and the earliest I've gone to bed since last Wednesday is 3:30am. Luckily, I've been emailing myself updates, and hopefully I can recreate the sensory overload that is SXSW.

Stay tuned...