SXSW'08: Thursday

Some British friends had tipped me off that one of my top 5 bands right now, British Sea Power, were playing a noon gig, so I dutifully got up and went to see them. They were great as always, and any of you should jump at the chance to see them when they are in your town. I saw them three times this week, and they got better each time. So that's my commentary on this show -- it left me not wanting to see any other music for hours afterward because I knew it would only disappoint me, and this was the weakest of the three sets I saw them do.

Following that eye opener, I headed to the New West Records party, and caught a few songs by Ohio folky Tim Easton and Texas country picker Buddy Miller, but couldn't really get into either, so I waited it out until later in the afternoon when Dallas's Old 97s took the stage. The once-alt-country-now-more-pop band have been up and down in my books over the years. Frontman Rhett Miller is a great songwriter, butI find the band's live performances are uneven. Back in the heyday of alt-country (think 1997) they were unstoppable, but then I thought they got a little stale through 1999's "Fight Songs" release. It wasn't until a year or so after the release of 2001's "Satellite Rides" that I gave them another chance, and started liking them again, but then in 2004 they went off the rails for me again. They have a new record coming out this spring or summer, and I think they are on the upswing for me again. I enjoyed their set, and stuck around to see The Drams play their own set. I really like them and they didn't disappoint, and as they finished up a friend turned to me and said "Oh yeah, as if I'm not seeing them at 1 tonight. That was incredible!"

I then took a rest break at the hotel, I went with my roommate to see Spoon at the big outdoor stage they have by the river in Austin. He had scored us VIP badges so we got to watch from the side of the stage -- we stayed for about 45 minutes and then headed to see the Whigs, a power trio that were one of the bigger buzz bands at the festival. I really enjoyed their intense, loud rock music, but wonder if it might be overwhelming or tedious for 90 minutes. Still, I picked up their record and want to spend more time with their music.

Following that set, I had an hour where nothing was really grabbing me, so I decided to check out Hong Kong Blood Opera, based solely on the name. They turned out to be a dancier version of the Hives, wearing red muscle t-shirts, from Mexico. Weirdly entertaining, though I only stayed for about four songs before going to the other stage in the same venue to catch half a set by Cincinnati's Wussy. They were a pretty good rock band, though fairly unremarkable.

I went across the street and checked out Saskatoon's The Blood Lines. I met their bass player, SJ, the night before at the Horseshoe BBQ, and had seen this band, I realized, last year at NXNE. I had an open window because the next band I had marked off wasn't on until 10:15, so that gave me enough time to see 3-4 songs by this pop-rock band, and I dug them (as I recall I did in June.) I then went to see Glossary play a full set, and they met my expectations of providing some tasty, authentic rock for my ears.

Suitably rocked up, I ventured across 6th St. to see what the line was like for Carbon/Silicon, the latest musical venture from the Clash's Mick Jones. There was a line that didn't look too bad so I decided to wait it out and got in "just in time" to see them at 11:30 except that they didn't start until 12. So although I had to endure 30 overcrowded, hot and uncomfortable minutes with a bunch of industry types schmoozing, the band did ultimately play and were pretty enjoyable. I'd place their music somewhere between the energy and politics of the Clash and the pop and groove of B.A.D. I ended my Thursday night with a good set by the Drams, marred by being in a terrible venue on the 18th floor of a hotel. Very few people attended. Still, the Drams were great as usual, so I cannot complain.