Live Review

SXSW Day One! – Austin, Texas

• 13th Mar 2008

Van Morrison hates photographers; he loves Pete Burns! It was either Pete Burns who was swishing through the crowd and in front of the barriers or an extremely ropey hooker. Watching Van Morrison is an experience. The man has become so full of self importance that the show around the gig has become bigger than the music. As we queued – as you must do at sxsw, it’s a religion – two limos pulled up with a little Hitler ordering us back and as the second drove straight into the venue we saw the back of the very badly haircutted ‘king’. It must be the reason for the hat.

Right at the front and with the photographers – minus the flash – sent away after the three song limit the view was perfect. He has the voice to match all others but he really doesn’t need to surrround himself with a middle ageing, dad rock big band complete with fake smiles to sooth the man’s ego. He even has a roadie to turn his song sheets. When a fanatic calls out a request the response comes quick “fuck off”. The event was worth it but it’s just not so much fun. Van Morrison closed the bar while he played.

Some of the real highlights at sxsw come from the day parties where you can catch the bands you’ve missed and get a red tan, nicely complemented with free beer and food. Just out of town but cool as hell was the Scissors For Lefty show at Hotel San Jose. A good time band to open up the festival with electro, distortion and a world of great tunes. This week is all about seeing the weirdest music you’ve never heard and two bands at the Convention Center showcases provided both for us. Akron/Family play beautiful music but can literally climb the walls with a mix of instruments getting more and more demented and ugly. Ra Ra Riot came and played but were none too impressed with the sit down and ponder audience, making comments that this just isn’t rock and roll. If you come to whore yourself out at sxsw you’ve just got to roll with each show or don’t play.

After a few hipster bands who sound just the same we stumbled apon a real treat. The Young Republic from Boston play some of the most uplifting, off the wall gypsy rock this side of Beirut . Violins, keyboards, guitars and the most eclectic of troupes brought the atmosphere right up in a rammed Lattitude 30 venue hosting all British Embassy acts. One of the most exciting came next but Kitty, Daisy and Lewis almost blew the biggest opportunity of the week as they fiddled and complained over all the sound and setup. They finally played with too many interuptions but still won over the crowd with the simple fun of their rockabilly revival. They are only fifteen after all.

The line for REM was ridiculous so with sad hearts we trudged instead to Emo’s Main Room for Joshua James who warmed us up perfectly for the big card draw of the Black Keys who were almost as good as they are on record. But the new stuff didn’t compare. There’s only two of them you know?

The days start to flow into each other as the four day music and drink-aton continues.