DC ROCK CLUB
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

SXSW: Day Four

We've made it to Day Four - finally! It seems like I've been writing these SXSW recaps forever. This one is going to be brief, I swear. Saturday I went to one party: the Mess With Texas party at Waterloo Park. It's an all ages show so we brought my daughter and made it a family day.

Mess With Texas is awesome. Check out some of the bands they had this year: The Black Lips, The Circle Jerks, Monotonix, The Thermals, Vivian Girls, Thao & The Get Down Stays Down, Cursive, King Khan & the Shrines, Akron Family, Soft Pack, Japanther, and Vetiver. Huh? Yeah, I thought so.

Pretty in Blue - Thao Nguyen

We arrived as Cursive was on the main stage. I only caught a few songs since we were busy meeting up (and catching up) with friends. The main goal was to see Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. They're my wife's favorite band and my daughter loves their album, We Brave Bee Stings And All. Seriously, she's 10 months old and the she shakes her little tambourine while the CD plays on the stereo. It's really quite cute.

Pretty In Pink - Willis Thompson

Before Thao & The Get Down Stay Down took the stage we were hanging out with them backstage. Willis said he had a big favor to ask: "Can I wear your shirt during our set?" I said sure, no problem (see above photo). It is ghey that Willis and I share clothes? Perhaps. Is it ghey that I own multiple gingham cowboy shirts with pearl snaps? Absolutely. Not that there's anything wrong with pearl snap shirts. Moving on...

Pretty in Pink Headphones

Here's my wife and daughter relaxing during the Vivian Girls set. On Twitter I said, "Vivian Girls not very talented but I dig the sound nonetheless." A lot of friends were unimpressed with the band at SXSW but I'd definitely pay to see them again. The next band was The Thermals. God I love those guys (and girl). I found myself shouting out the lyrics, jumping around, and having a blast. Some bands whither in a festival setting, some thrive. The Thermals are the latter.

The Slice Family backstage at the Mess With Texas party

Hanging out backstage was a lot of fun. My wife was happy because there was plenty of shaded seating and you could carry on a conversation without yelling. I liked the free beer and seeing tons of people I recognized. I resisted being a total jock sniffer and taking pictures of (and with) every indie rocker I saw. I mostly talked with friends and watched bands like Lucero, The Bronx, Japanther, and Trash Talk from the side of the stages. Although I did see the lead singer of Monotonix standing around in his tighty-whities and Hutch Harris of The Thermals enjoying a post-performance doobie.

After a while we all left for dinner where my daughter engaged in some hilarious staring contests with Dempsey (sound man for Thao). She was fascinated with his big beard. We discussed the evening showcases but I had such a great day I decided to bring my SXSW adventures to a close. It was without a doubt the best time I've had since moving to Austin. I've already started my campaign to get the rest of Rock Club down here for SXSW 2010 - assuming the blog lasts that long.

4 comments:

sacklunch said...

That'sa funny picture of Mia with the big ass headphones.

It reminds me of when we saw Sleater Kinney and there was that small girl sitting on the stage with her jumbo size phones on.

Even w/o snapping a ton of photos, I am sure you were still a jock-sniffer....

I am coming next year, no doubt.

Jumbo Slice said...

We picked those up for her at the local gun shop. Little kids with headphones at shows is not an uncommon sight in Austin. There were 3 or 4 other kids near where were sitting.

I pointed about a bunch of musicians to the wife but she had never heard of the bands. She'd just say stuff like, "What's a Circle Jerk?"

Anonymous said...

What else were you doing in a local gun shop? Did you buy a six shooter since you've been a Texan for a year?
--Swetty

Potsy said...

Japanther is a killer name for a band.
I'm liking the backstage insight.
I'm guessing those headphones are more effective than saying "earmuffs."