DC Does TX 2010

Well, it's almost that time again...the most wonderful time of the year: SXSW. There are many things I love about living in Austin but SXSW is at the top of the list. Thousands of bands descend upon the city, play a fuck load of free shows (often w/ free beer), and turn all of Austin in one giant party. God I love it. This year will be extra magical-special because Jimbromski and family are coming down to partake in the activities. It'll be interesting as we balance time with the wives and kids riding the choo-choo train at Barton Springs with time drinking beers at Emo's with BabyStew Steve and Mr. Malitz. Fortunately, we have a lot of experience parenting while hungover.

As you might imagine, Sacklunch (remember him?) and Potsy are insanely jealous they won't be at SXSW. Jimbromski, being the devious and clever man that he is, surreptitiously made his trip plans w/o informing Potsy and Sacklunch, thereby ensuring free room and board at La Casa del Jumbo Slice. Once again proving that in a game of Rock Club Survivor, Jimbromski would win the million dollars.

As I mentioned there are more shows and parties than I can keep track of but one show I'm sure to attend is the DC Does TX party:



I'm especially excited to see Title Tracks for the first time (I missed their Austin show last month) and I always look forward to Deleted Scenes. Of course, it's a solid lineup from top to bottom. And if that's not reason enough to attend, there will be free beer compliments of Doghead Fish Craft Brewery. Here are the set times:

12-12:30 - Vandaveer
12:45-1:15 - Pree
1:30-2:00 - Deleted Scenes
2:15-2:45 - Title Tracks
3:00-3:30 - Le Loup
3:45-4:15 - US Royalty
4:25-4:55 - Middle Distance Runner

The Club de Ville Triple Bill

Austin and DC collide on Saturday night as Deleted Scenes comes to town for a great triple bill at Club de Ville. Opening the show is Loxsly, followed by Deleted Scenes and then La Snacks. I've written about each band before so I'll keep this brief: if you're in Austin Saturday night, get your ass to the show. I'll even buy you a beer. Now enjoy perhaps the only Deleted Scenes video I've not yet posted:

Saturday Scenery: The Deleted Scenes-Black Cat 3/28/09

I am going to keep this pretty brief, as I think we have written enough about this band over the last few months. We saw them play on the BC Backstage back in December and Jumboslice recently saw their SXSW show down in Austin and subsequently interviewed the band. In any case, the DC contingent ventured out on Saturday (with the addition of Mrs. Sacklunch and Potsy's affable friend from the Great White North) to check the band out again.

We missed the first opener as we were busy watching the US vs. El Salvador WCQ (that's World Cup Qualifier for all you hipster doofuses out that that are above watching sports), but caught a bit of 2nd opener The Drones. I enjoyed the first song I heard, the second one a bit less, and the by the third song, I was downstairs enjoying a smoke. I heard they played a really awful tune (at least to my wife's ears) while I was gone. Anyway, I am neither here nor there in regards to The Drones. Kind of meh. Also, the bass player played with her back to the crowd most of the set. I don't get that. Stage fright? Breakout of acne before the show? Shriveled twin? Turn around please, I don't want to see your ass all night.

Deleted Scenes came on around 11:30 to a decent crowd, about a 1/2 full upstairs, is my best guess. I have to say, I kind of like this band, one of the better DC bands out there. (Sorry, Telograph). I listened to a bit of their debut album, "Birdseed Shirt", and I think the live shows are much more interesting than the disc. Lead singer Dan Schuerman seemed really pleased to be playing on the main stage and the crowd seemed to be full of superfans. Probably the best song of the evening was "Turn to Sand", here is a little taste:

Definitely a band to watch. I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but the bass player has a striking resemblance to Lou Diamond Phillips with a "Berries and Cream Lad" haircut. I don't really get the "I Am Sam" reference, but Dan S. does look a slight bit mentally challenged when he sings, more Corky than Sam. Just sayin'....

Show Preview: Deleted Scenes

We interrupt this post-SXSW coverage to remind you about the Deleted Scenes tomorrow night at the Black Cat. Opening for them are two very solid bands: The Drones and Pretty & Nice. Check out this little video that was posted at BYT. I love that everyone on the Metro just completely ignores Dan (lead singer of Deleted Scenes) while he plays. It's very DC:

Finally, here are Dan's thoughts on headlining at the Black Cat, taken from our recent interview:

DCRC: You have a headlining show at the Black Cat's mainstage on Saturday, March 28th. That's a goal that almost all DC indie rock bands aspire to but few realize. Was that a goal of yours? Any other goals you've set for the band?

DS: I'm not sure how much of an accomplishment it is. It's very scary. I've seen a lot of bands that fail to draw there, and it's one of the saddest things. That huge checkered floor just gapes at you when the place is empty. I hope people show up! We're pretty psyched about it though. We're releasing a cassingle at that show that is dubbed over old cassette singles I bought from Ebay. So people will be able to hear us with Gloria Estefan or Tag Team faintly audible in the background, which is really the way we've always intended our music be heard. Other goals? We want to stop working and be on tour for an indefinite number of months...maybe like 9 or something. And keep writing weirder and prettier songs.

EDITED TO ADD: be sure to read the article on Deleted Scenes in today's Going Out Guru section of The Post. It's another example of Dan's sense of humor and why we like the band.

SXSW: Day Two

Wednesday was the busiest day for me. I saw a total of 18 bands. In SXSW terms, that's really not that much though. I started the day at the Gorilla vs. Booze party. They had free Red Stripe beer so it was worth riding my bike out there. I only got to see one band: Harlem. They play fun-loving, sloppy, lo-fi tunes with names like "Psychedelic Tits". Needless to say, I'm a big fan.

After Harlem I headed to the A Blog and a Band party. Felix Obelix, a twee band from North Carolina, played first followed by Deleted Scenes. It was great to see Deleted Scenes one last time before they headed back to DC. Don't forgot to join Rock Club at Deleted Scenes show the Black Cat this Saturday night.


Next up was a meeting with Steve from BabyStew.com. We met at the French Legation in East Austin which is a cool venue for SXSW shows. It has lush lawns for you to sprawl out, relax, and enjoy the music. It's perfect for a mid-day siesta or a game of Jarts. While there I saw Efterklang, Alela Diane, and Camera Obscura (pictured above). Efterklang was odd in a good way but Camera Obscura was disappointing. Their set just seemed blah so I decided to bolt after about 4 songs and go see The Wrens.


I arrived back at 6th St. in time for The Wrens but the line at the Radio Room was massive. I decided to suck it up since Thao and The Get Down Stay Down (pictured above) were also playing after The Wrens. So I waited. And waited. It was almost time for Thao's set and the line was still super long so I said, "fuck this." I left the line and was walking to my bike when I ran into Thao (we're friends from back in the day). When I pointed out the line she snuck me into the club by telling the security I was her roadie. Once inside I grabbed a beer and vowed never to waste my time like that again. SXSW offers too many bands to spend time standing in line.


After Thao's set I went to another bar to see The Homosexuals. The rest of Rock Club had seen them play just a few days earlier. The band delivers short, blistering post-punk songs followed by long winded rants about past Presidents and the perils of drug use (Just Say No!). I was especially amused by lead singer Bruno Wizard railing on the first President Bush. Reagan I can see. W? Absolutely. But George H. Bush? It just struck me as funny. It's like hating an insignificant NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks. People know they exist but no one really has strong opinions on them one way or another.

After The Homo show it was time for dinner with my friend Carol Bui (conflict of interest alert!). We grabbed some awesome Tex-Mex at Manual's on Congress and then I raced to The Mohawk. I met a friend there for what I thought was Bishop Allen's time slot. Wrong. It was Richard Fucking Swift. A few years back we saw this ass clown at the Black Cat. He sucked then and he sucks now. To be fair, I gave him another shot. I stayed for three songs, decided I still hated his music, and then moved to the inside stage for Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band. I alternated stages for while and watched Bishop Allen, Julie Dioron, and Phosphorescent. I wish I had been closer to the stage for Julie Dioron because I love her album, Woke Myself Up. I had to watch from the adjacent room. I'm hoping she'll play Austin again soon when it's not so packed.

The rest of the evening was spent hanging out with friends at different venues. After seeing Crystal Stilts and a few other bands at the Red Room (no, not the Black Cat bar), we met up with Willis the drummer of The Get Down Stay Down. He suggested a showcase of Portland bands. When he and Thao had recorded their new album in Portland they became friends with many of the bands living there. The Upsidedown played some awesome psychedelic rock. Horse Feathers followed it up with a mellow set that was a calming way to wrap up a crazy day. However, about half-way through I was falling asleep so I called it a night. I still had two days of SXSW and I didn't want to be too tired.

SXSW: Day One

I started the first day of SXSW the same way I began the night before: watching Carol Bui, this time at the DC Does Texas party. She delivered another great set. I was especially impressed with her new songs that have a strong middle eastern influence.


Middle Distance Runner was up next. I'm digging their new song, "The Unbeliever". It seems destined to be used in a commercial at some point.


After seeing MDR I left the DC Does Texas party for the Bitch Magazine/Kill Rock Stars party at Club Deville. I arrived in time to catch the end of Horse Feathers. I was in total fanboy mode for Thao and The Get Down Stay Down. I was hoping to hear some of their new stuff but wouldn't have cared if they played "Jazz Odyssey" by Spinal Tap. They started a little sloppy but really came together as the set progressed. They debuted one new song called "Body". Thao had almost a hip-hop delivery with the lyrics which was a new direction for her. The crowd loved the set and Thao's amusing stories about stealing soup from Whole Foods.


I caught only the very end of the Deleted Scenes set at DC Does Texas. So after Thao ended I walked over to see them play at the Tronco/Monstro Party, a party sponsored by the Brazilian government (I think). Two things all true Brazilians love (besides going pube-less): good music and alcohol and there was plenty of both at this party. The Brazilians also loved Deleted Scenes. It was a fun day party and the best set for Deleted Scenes at SXSW.


I ended the day parties by going back to the Kill Rock Stars gathering for The Thermals. Hutch Harris, the lead singer, is one funny dude. He took the stage wearing tiny speedos that had some unfortunate holes in them. This isn't to say he's merely a clown onstage. Their songs deliver a punch - often to the religious right. Their latest single, "Now We Can See" is another winner and has me thinking their upcoming album could be their best yet.

After a full day I took it easy at night. I met up with friends at Ace's Lounge to see Dignan before hitting 6th Street. I met up with other friends and since they didn't have a badge or wristband we needed to find an unofficial showcase. We decided to see The Harlem Shakes...but didn't. Instead of staying upstairs with the bands we grabbed a booth downstairs to rest up and talk. Next thing we know there's a huge line to get back upstairs. No worries. There were plenty of bands to see on Day 2...

SXSW Spotlight: Deleted Scenes

If indie bands were stocks I'd invest my money in Deleted Scenes, Inc. They're young, talented and have the right approach to music. They forge their own path and don't just ape their favorite groups. It seems simple but it takes creativity and hard work. Deleted Scenes got it done though and people are taking notice.

For those of you attending SXSW you have a couple opportunities to see them perform:

Wednesday, 3/18 at 1:20 PM: DC Does Texas (Friends Bar)
Wednesday, 3/18 at 4:30 PM: Tronco/Monstro Party (Beauty Bar)

For those in DC, don't miss their headlining show at the Black Cat mainstage on Saturday, March 28th.

Recently Dan from Deleted Scenes agreed to answer a few questions for us:

DCRC: Previously I insinuated Deleted Scenes partakes in group masturbation. Privately (and now publicly) I've told you that you look like a retard on stage. My first question: Why are you still talking to me? I'm kind of a douchebag.

DS: I'm still talking to you because you bought me a Lone Star tallboy in Austin and won my heart. You also showed your soft side by kindly deciding not to publish the I Am Sam poster as our band photo. Being an ugly lead singer, which observation you nailed with the retarded Sean Penn comparison, may help explain why my self-esteem is so low as to continue talking to you.

Sorry Dan. I owe you at least a six-pack of tallboys now.

DCRC: During your last tour I saw you in both DC and in Austin. I was especially impressed at the Texas show. You played to a crowded room (on a Tuesday night no less) and received a great response. Was the rest of the tour as successful?

DS: Mohawk has always been a good spot for us. One of those great places, like the Slowdown in Omaha or the 5-Spot in Nashville, where people just seem to go. We'd come to anticipate about a 1-to-1 ratio of soul-crushingly empty shows to good ones like the one you saw. But this last tour was actually really inspiring. A lot more weeklies and blogs showed interest, and the shows were about 1-to-3 soul-crushingly empty. So, moving on up, I guess!

DCRC: What's been the response to the new album, Birdseed Shirt?

DS: Really great. Our girlfriends didn't dump us when they heard it, and they're all SERIOUS music snobs, so that was nice. All the DC press pissed themselves over it, to the extent that we're on the "banned" list at City Paper now, apparently. That whole month was like waking up to blowjobs every day. And other cities are slowly catching on. I'm told the Pitchfork review comes out tomorrow, so we'll find out then what the Universal Critical Opinion is.

Note: Since this interview the Pitchfork review was published and it was quite favorable. They gave Birdseed Shirt and 8.0 out of 10, the highest rating any band from DC has received from Pitchfork in years. I emailed Dan a quick follow up question:

DCRC: What was your reaction to the 8.0 Birdseed Shirt received from Pitchfork?

DS: This slays.

DCRC: What are your plans while in Austin, besides the festival, of course? I'd recommend a dip in Barton Springs (I go naked), breakfast at Magnolia's (also naked), Mexican Margarita's from the Cedar Door (Cowboy hat but no pants), and enough Lone Star beers to kill an armadillo. That's how I spend most weekends. You should give it a try.

DS: Is this a question? Oh, yeah, what are we going to do in Austin... Try not to spend any money, really. I've been couch surfing since we got off tour in February. Otherwise, go to free shows, try to get penitent journalists to buy me Lone Stars, catch up with some friends who will be down there, and give out 1000 cds. Jeez, that's not a fun answer at all! Take me to all these naked places!

DCRC: You have a headlining show at the Black Cat's mainstage on Saturday, March 28th. That's a goal that almost all DC indie rock bands aspire to but few realize. Was that a goal of yours? Any other goals you've set for the band?

DS: I'm not sure how much of an accomplishment it is. It's very scary. I've seen a lot of bands that fail to draw there, and it's one of the saddest things. That huge checkered floor just gapes at you when the place is empty. I hope people show up! We're pretty psyched about it though. We're releasing a cassingle at that show that is dubbed over old cassette singles I bought from Ebay. So people will be able to hear us with Gloria Estefan or Tag Team faintly audible in the background, which is really the way we've always intended our music be heard. Other goals? We want to stop working and be on tour for an indefinite number of months...maybe like 9 or something. And keep writing weirder and prettier songs.

DCRC: What are you plans for 2009? Another tour?

DS: Yes, we're playing on the west coast for the first time in June and July. This Brazilian promoter whose day party we're playing also wants to get us down to Brazil, which will be AWESOME. Ideally, I'd just like to stop booking our own tours. As romantic as DIY is, it's so time consuming.

DCRC: Finally, there's an ongoing debate within Rock Club on which band is better: Steely Dan or Boston. What's your opinion?

DS: Hm... I can't say I've got the critical distance to answer this question, since Boston's my favorite city, and Steely Dan is my favorite vibrator.

Many thanks to Dan for answering my questions. If you haven't heard the new album read the Pitchfork review. Embedded on the page is a player where you can listen to the album from start to finish. Give it a try - you won't regret it.

Let's end this with a video of Deleted Scenes performing "Ithaca":

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DC Does Texas Details - FINALLY

Today I emailed the rest of Rock Club an open letter I'd written to the organizers of DC Does Texas. I criticized the party planners for not promoting the show and failing to even release the set list or announce which bands were playing. I mean, they haven't even updated their web site. My letter was very sarcastic and kind of dickish. Before I started an online bitch fight I wanted the go ahead from the rest of the guys. The unanimous response: post that shit.

Well, before I could post the letter, the poster and set list were sent to me! Finally! Here are the bands playing DC Does Texas on Wednesday, March 18th at Friends Bar from 12:30 to 5:00:

12:30 Laura Burhenn
1:20 Deleted Scenes
2:00 Carol Bui
2:50 Middle Distance Runner
3:40 U.S. Royalty
4:30 These United States

That's a great line-up! I give the organizers credit for putting together such a solid bill. However, I have to call them out on a few things.

I work on 6th Street in downtown Austin. That's ground zero for SXSW. Everyday I talk with different people about what parties and showcases they're looking forward to the most. Unfortunately, no one is mentioning DC Does Texas. Perhaps the best site for SXSW planning, do512, lists over FIVE HUNDRED parties and showcases. The DC Does Texas party isn't even one of them. Let's hope that doesn't mean a poor turnout because the bands who schlep their asses all the way to Texas deserve better.

SXSW 2009 : The Basics

SXSW is almost here. Over the next few weeks I'll be writing on the parties I'm attending and the bands I'm most looking forward to seeing. However, let's start with some background on the festival. SXSW is a gathering of people from the Film, Interactive, and Music industries. We're only concerned with the music so let's focus on that. This will be my first SXSW and the following is what I've gathered from friends (let me know if I get something wrong):

First, it's massive. Over 2,000 bands descend on the city to play as many gigs as they can book. Bands play everywhere - bars, grocery stores, clothing shops, warehouses, taco stands, random backyards, street corners, etc. You can't escape them.

The festival runs from Wednesday, March 18th through Sunday, March 22nd. The day parties are from 11 AM - 6 PM, evening showcases from 8 PM - 2 AM, and the overnight parties that last until 5 AM. It's almost 24 hours of music and drinking for 5 days. A recipe for disaster if you don't pace yourself.

How much does all this costs? There are three options:

A. Buy a badge for $650 and get priority access to all the official showcases.

B. Buy a wristband for $165 and get access to the official showcases but you'll have to wait in line for the more popular shows (if you get in at all).

C. Pay nothing and just attend the countless free parties and unofficial showcases.

I opted, as I usually do, for Plan B. Considering I'll go to a lot of the free day parties and fewer of the evening showcases, it didn't make sense for me to shell out the big bucks. Plus, they were selling wristbands to Austin residents for only $129. That's a no-brainer.


A while back I listed some of the DC bands I hoped would make it to SXSW. Of those on my list, only These United States is playing. However, that doesn't mean DC won't be well represented. Others performing include Carol Bui, Middle Distance Runner, Deleted Scenes, and The Hall Monitors (if I missed some please let me know in the comments). I'm told that there will be another DC Does TX showcase but I'm still waiting to hear the official band list.