Heavy Hitters + Never Quitters
At long last, I've seen some live music! I've been at SXSW since Saturday. For the first few days, along with my fellow cast and crew members of Some Days Are Better Than Others, I sat in dark theaters, searched for inspiration and kept quiet. (Best movie I saw: American: The Bill Hicks Story.)
But now — and with a sense of relief and release — I can be in the sunshine, and I can be in the noise.
It only took me a few minutes to get pleasantly pummeled by guitars, bass and drums. I walked into Emo's and witnessed Philly-based, conically-bearded metal band Javelina. This band syncs up on guitar a la Judas Priest and lets the vocals be the sludge. It was the perfect way to start the festival for me: An obliteration of all that had come before.
Next, I walked over to Red 7 and saw The Fresh and Onlys, an awesome garage rock band from San Francisco with surf-infused catchy guitar leads and fantastic vocal melodies. Imagine Dion and The Belmont's "Teenager in Love" played through a rusty garden hose. I walked outside afterward and promptly bought the band's first LP, which they were selling from a brown suitcase, sitting outside their white Chevy Suburban.
On the outside patio at Red 7 was Choir of Young Believers. I'd never heard a single note of their music before but I loved how the songs sounded like they were traipsing through molasses. Clean spare guitar and soaring vocals. Also, a well-endowed mustache.
Choir of Young Believers.
Choir of Young Believers.
Carrie Brownstein
Choir of Young Believers.
Choir of Young Believers.
Carrie BrownsteinThe last band I saw before I hurried back to my hotel to write this was Woven Bones. The Austin-based band sets up on stage in neat row consisting of three musicians. They're close together, and it looks like it could be going in the direction of a group hug, except that the music snarls and stomps. I stood in the front and danced the entire time.
On the way home, excited to blog my little heart out, I ran into this guy.
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