After a long ordeal trying to catch a cab, I'm finally back to my hotel. My feet hurt enough that I kinda want to cut them off. Oh well... I'll live.
I was at Maggie Mae's for most of the night for the Saddle Creek Records showcase, which was split with the Nicodemus Agency. Nicodemus bands went on first and I didn't much care for them. The last band, Pomegranates, had some decent stuff, but I wouldn't rush out to buy their album.
It was a fun atmosphere when the SC bands started: the room was loaded with SC folks, a few Omaha fans and a bunch of Omaha "scenesters." Everyone was talking and hanging out like an old family reunion.
Mynabirds started everything off and they sounded better even than when I saw them at the Haiti benefit at Slowdown recently. Laura Burhenn's voice has a soulful energy to it that really lends itself to the country-folk kind of stuff that they do. (Side note: She got some laughs from talking about Dan McCarthy's mustache: "It's made from 100 percent pure mustache.") The small crowd enjoyed the Mynabirds, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they would have drawn better if their album came out before SXSW rather than after (April 27).
UUVVWWZ was up next. I don't really know what to say about them. If you've seen their show before, you've seen its avant rock-ness in all its glory. This was pretty much like any set I've seen them do.
Up third was the one I was looking forward to the most. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson produced the album that was at the top of my top 10 of 2009, so I was very excited to see him live. He set up with two guitars and a keyboard for what turned out to be a solo show (no band). Apparently, his band couldn't/wouldn't/didn't come with him on this tour, so his choice was either to cancel all the shows or do it solo. He decided on doing them all solo.
I can see how much better he'd be fleshed out with a few fellas behind him. But he made do, rocking his guitar with both rhythm and melody. He also dropped pre-programmed drum beats that fit surprisingly well into his songs. Still, someday I'd like to see him come through Omaha with a full band,
Then Rural Alberta Advantage came onstage. They are a great live band and I was also looking very forward to seeing them again. They delivered once again and this time included several new songs that weren't on last year's release through Saddle Creek. Good stuff, all around. Now, I must get to bed if I'm to have any energy tomorrow.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
SXSW: Moving on to Maggie Mae's
After I hoofed it to see The xx and waited in line, I found it wasn't really worth it.
it's not really that they had a bad set. It was actually good music, but it's the kind of thing that would be better for listening to while sitting down and sipping a Rolling Rock at Slowdown. Middle of the day, outside and in front of about 1,000 people' the mellow music kinda washed over me and didn't really stick with me.
I was one of the few that thought so, I guess. Everyone went nuts when thei set ended and a bunch of people were dancing their hearts out.
I made it back to 6th Street and into Maggie Mae's Gibson Room, where Saddle Creek has its showcase. They share it with the Nicodemus Agency whose bands, so far, have been lackluster.
I'm excited to see Mynabirds at 10 and then Rural Alberta Advantage and Miles BA Robinson. I mean no offense to UUVVWWZ by leaving them off that list. I just see them a lot, so it's not like I'm "pumped" to see them. I'm sure they'll put on a good show, as usual.
I'll have a final update for the day and photos when I get back to the hotel.
it's not really that they had a bad set. It was actually good music, but it's the kind of thing that would be better for listening to while sitting down and sipping a Rolling Rock at Slowdown. Middle of the day, outside and in front of about 1,000 people' the mellow music kinda washed over me and didn't really stick with me.
I was one of the few that thought so, I guess. Everyone went nuts when thei set ended and a bunch of people were dancing their hearts out.
I made it back to 6th Street and into Maggie Mae's Gibson Room, where Saddle Creek has its showcase. They share it with the Nicodemus Agency whose bands, so far, have been lackluster.
I'm excited to see Mynabirds at 10 and then Rural Alberta Advantage and Miles BA Robinson. I mean no offense to UUVVWWZ by leaving them off that list. I just see them a lot, so it's not like I'm "pumped" to see them. I'm sure they'll put on a good show, as usual.
I'll have a final update for the day and photos when I get back to the hotel.
SXSW: Play like it's your last
I got a late start today because of some issues with my hotel (note: if you ever come down here, stay as close to downtown as you can).
I write this as I stand in an epic line to see The xx. They sounds decent from outside.
Anyway, I caught Digital Leather this afternoon at Beerland, which looks like someone's garage, complete with cinder block walls, faded paint and manga comics lining the stage wall.
They were good, blasting out synthy punk and Shawn Foree writhing all over the stage. They played some new stuff, which Foree said is on a completed new album. Foree hopes (he used more colorful language) the Fat Possum will release it, but he's confident that it will see the light of day with or without them.
I ran into Chris Aponik there (he writes for The Reader) and also local singer-songwriter Brad Hoshaw, who is in town as a fan, not a performer. Most Omahans that I've seen in one place.
Next, I headed to The Jackalope where I caught the tail end of Little Brazil. They're busting their asses this year, handing out download cards and recruiting for their shows. Guitarist Greg Edds (who is playing on a broken foot) talked about how they treat these shows like any other - "play like it's your last," he said.
At the same time, Edds talked about how it's important to get people to watch you - you never know when someone important is watching (booking agents, equipment reps, bloggers, record label people). That's why it's good, he said, to play your ass off. You never know when the right person is watching.
I write this as I stand in an epic line to see The xx. They sounds decent from outside.
Anyway, I caught Digital Leather this afternoon at Beerland, which looks like someone's garage, complete with cinder block walls, faded paint and manga comics lining the stage wall.
They were good, blasting out synthy punk and Shawn Foree writhing all over the stage. They played some new stuff, which Foree said is on a completed new album. Foree hopes (he used more colorful language) the Fat Possum will release it, but he's confident that it will see the light of day with or without them.
I ran into Chris Aponik there (he writes for The Reader) and also local singer-songwriter Brad Hoshaw, who is in town as a fan, not a performer. Most Omahans that I've seen in one place.
Next, I headed to The Jackalope where I caught the tail end of Little Brazil. They're busting their asses this year, handing out download cards and recruiting for their shows. Guitarist Greg Edds (who is playing on a broken foot) talked about how they treat these shows like any other - "play like it's your last," he said.
At the same time, Edds talked about how it's important to get people to watch you - you never know when someone important is watching (booking agents, equipment reps, bloggers, record label people). That's why it's good, he said, to play your ass off. You never know when the right person is watching.
SXSW Little Brazil guest blog: Still getting to Austin
Another update from the gentlemen (and I stress that word) in Little Brazil, who finally got to Austin last night around midnight...
* * *
In true Little Brazil form we've slept through our wake up call and are now are four hours behind schedule. Its okay we've got Dan "Nascar" Maxwell behind the wheel and there are no such things as "speed limits" in his vocabulary.
We are about three hours into a ten hour drive and we have the Tom Cruise set at Jerry Rice and the time is slowly passing by.
To get through the boredom we've picked up our usual Penis Game. Just add the word "penis" to any Omaha sxsw band name and you're a pro. This not only makes time fly by, but it keeps us young and immature at heart. Some of the best we've come up with are; It's Penis, Thunder Penis, and we wish they were playing in Austin, Little Black Penis. Ohhh maturity.
It's hour five and we've come to the conclusion that Oklahoma City has the most break lights per capita. Hour six and we've just finished changing our first flat tire in about two years. Something about driving down to Austin and pieces of our vehicle not wanting to come with.
We roll into Austin around midnight and head to the Longbranch Inn, a staple for Little Brazil. This place also turns into the Omaha meet and greet as friends and other bands make their way to our location because I'm a gimp. We check out Jeff and The Brotherhood and a couple other acts at the Impose showcase, pound a couple more beers and head back to the casa for some rest.
It's gonna be a long day tomorrow.
Greg - Little Brazil
* * *
In true Little Brazil form we've slept through our wake up call and are now are four hours behind schedule. Its okay we've got Dan "Nascar" Maxwell behind the wheel and there are no such things as "speed limits" in his vocabulary.
We are about three hours into a ten hour drive and we have the Tom Cruise set at Jerry Rice and the time is slowly passing by.
To get through the boredom we've picked up our usual Penis Game. Just add the word "penis" to any Omaha sxsw band name and you're a pro. This not only makes time fly by, but it keeps us young and immature at heart. Some of the best we've come up with are; It's Penis, Thunder Penis, and we wish they were playing in Austin, Little Black Penis. Ohhh maturity.
It's hour five and we've come to the conclusion that Oklahoma City has the most break lights per capita. Hour six and we've just finished changing our first flat tire in about two years. Something about driving down to Austin and pieces of our vehicle not wanting to come with.
We roll into Austin around midnight and head to the Longbranch Inn, a staple for Little Brazil. This place also turns into the Omaha meet and greet as friends and other bands make their way to our location because I'm a gimp. We check out Jeff and The Brotherhood and a couple other acts at the Impose showcase, pound a couple more beers and head back to the casa for some rest.
It's gonna be a long day tomorrow.
Greg - Little Brazil
SXSW: Day one wrap-up
I'm finally back in my hotel, safe from the chaos that is 6th St. after midnight. That place turns into a madhouse with all the SXSWers and college-age kids running around. And you're about as likely to find a taxi to get home as you are to see Haley's Comet.
Anyway... I left off with Everybody Is In The French Resistance... Now! It's Eddie Argos of Art Brut's funny little project where he created responses to pop songs including "Gold Digger" by Kanye West, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" by Bob Dylan and "Vaseline" by Elastica. They're funny, poppy and Argos spruced up the set by telling stories about each one and where it came from.
Apparently, we were lucky enough to see the first set the band had ever performed in the U.S. and they did a great job. Argos even jumped into the crowd and sang at people.
My next quandary was to decide whether I wanted to see Broken Bells (Brian Burton/Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley with James Mercer of The Shins) or Codeine Velvet Club (Scottish rock band). Broken Bells won that fight because, performing at the same venue (Stubb's) was Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and Spoon.
Over at Stubb's, after waiting for nearly an hour to get in, we got some music presented by NPR (two things: 1. you can re-broadcast the whole show at npr.org/music and 2. I kind of nerded out when I saw Bob Boylan from NPR's All Songs Considered). If you've never been to Stubb's, it's basically a sloping dirt lot surrounded by beer booths. At the low end of the hill is a stage. It sounded surprisingly great, which apparently differs from how it was last year (according to some folks I talked to).
The first two artists were Visqueen (female-fronted alternative) and Walkmen (mellow, Modest Mouse-esque stuff), who both did OK.
Sharon Jones proceeded to knock the roof off of the joint. I was never impressed with what I saw of her and the Dap Kings when they performed on TV. But the band was solid while she rocked, rolled, strutted and danced all over the place.
Broken Bells were also fantastic. No surprise here, but it basically sounds like Danger Mouse producing a bunch of Shins songs (which is kind of what it is). On that note though, the songs had much more layered instrumentation and much quirkier melodies and sounds than would probably ever make it on a Shins record. Most everyone was very impressed and I loved them. Their album came out last week and I wouldn't be surprised if they began a slow roll to big things.
Spoon was really good, although I have to admit that I didn't stay for the whole time. SXSW takes a lot out of you and I had to call it a day. More to do tomorrow... Stay tuned.
* * *
In addition to this blog, check Omaha.com and The World-Herald every day for summaries of each day.
Anyway... I left off with Everybody Is In The French Resistance... Now! It's Eddie Argos of Art Brut's funny little project where he created responses to pop songs including "Gold Digger" by Kanye West, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" by Bob Dylan and "Vaseline" by Elastica. They're funny, poppy and Argos spruced up the set by telling stories about each one and where it came from.
Apparently, we were lucky enough to see the first set the band had ever performed in the U.S. and they did a great job. Argos even jumped into the crowd and sang at people.
My next quandary was to decide whether I wanted to see Broken Bells (Brian Burton/Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley with James Mercer of The Shins) or Codeine Velvet Club (Scottish rock band). Broken Bells won that fight because, performing at the same venue (Stubb's) was Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and Spoon.
Over at Stubb's, after waiting for nearly an hour to get in, we got some music presented by NPR (two things: 1. you can re-broadcast the whole show at npr.org/music and 2. I kind of nerded out when I saw Bob Boylan from NPR's All Songs Considered). If you've never been to Stubb's, it's basically a sloping dirt lot surrounded by beer booths. At the low end of the hill is a stage. It sounded surprisingly great, which apparently differs from how it was last year (according to some folks I talked to).
The first two artists were Visqueen (female-fronted alternative) and Walkmen (mellow, Modest Mouse-esque stuff), who both did OK.
Sharon Jones proceeded to knock the roof off of the joint. I was never impressed with what I saw of her and the Dap Kings when they performed on TV. But the band was solid while she rocked, rolled, strutted and danced all over the place.
Broken Bells were also fantastic. No surprise here, but it basically sounds like Danger Mouse producing a bunch of Shins songs (which is kind of what it is). On that note though, the songs had much more layered instrumentation and much quirkier melodies and sounds than would probably ever make it on a Shins record. Most everyone was very impressed and I loved them. Their album came out last week and I wouldn't be surprised if they began a slow roll to big things.
Spoon was really good, although I have to admit that I didn't stay for the whole time. SXSW takes a lot out of you and I had to call it a day. More to do tomorrow... Stay tuned.
* * *
In addition to this blog, check Omaha.com and The World-Herald every day for summaries of each day.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
SXSW: Finding my way around
What a day. I'm finally starting to get my bearings around this place. I've made my way up and down 6th St., had some pizza from a street vendor, seen several bands, found places like Emo's and Stubb's and listened to a bunch of bands.
Free Energy was my first taste of the day, a band whose members looke like they were transported here from 1974 (via a Delorean traveling 88 mph, no doubt).
Really, though... Their drummer has the best mustache I've seen in a long time. Not to mention that they're a good band. They do really bouncy rock songs that are a mix of blues riffs and power chords. They really remind me of Thin Lizzy, both in appearance and sound. And I mean that, wholeheartedly, as a compliment.
Next, I wandered around downtown Austin, wherein I located those landmarks and ate that pizza.
Eventually, I made my way to Creekside, a venue that (surprise!) is right by a creek. Basically, I wanted to see Everybody Is In the French Resistance... Now! and ended up watching a bunch of other bands.
The best of those was Ezra Furman and the Harpoons. Furman either sounds high or slightly unstable (maybe both?) and his songs channel the honesty and vulnerability of that disposition. It's good stuff. (This might be random, but it makes me think of what Ben Kweller would sound like fronting a garage rock band.)
EWITFR...N! is onstage now. More later...
Free Energy was my first taste of the day, a band whose members looke like they were transported here from 1974 (via a Delorean traveling 88 mph, no doubt).
Really, though... Their drummer has the best mustache I've seen in a long time. Not to mention that they're a good band. They do really bouncy rock songs that are a mix of blues riffs and power chords. They really remind me of Thin Lizzy, both in appearance and sound. And I mean that, wholeheartedly, as a compliment.
Next, I wandered around downtown Austin, wherein I located those landmarks and ate that pizza.
Eventually, I made my way to Creekside, a venue that (surprise!) is right by a creek. Basically, I wanted to see Everybody Is In the French Resistance... Now! and ended up watching a bunch of other bands.
The best of those was Ezra Furman and the Harpoons. Furman either sounds high or slightly unstable (maybe both?) and his songs channel the honesty and vulnerability of that disposition. It's good stuff. (This might be random, but it makes me think of what Ben Kweller would sound like fronting a garage rock band.)
EWITFR...N! is onstage now. More later...
Little Brazil SXSW guest blog: On the road to Austin
The first of several updates from Omaha band Little Brazil during their trip to Austin. Without further ado, I turn it over to LB's Greg Edds...
* * *
Not even 15 minutes before leaving Omaha we are already heading in the wrong direction. Seems Oliver, our drummer, wants to go to North to the colder climate instead of i35 south. Problem solved and we are on our way to the first show in Kansas City, Mo.
During the drive we got stuck in an extensive argument about what car manufacturer makes the most police vehicles and how big the worlds largest vaccum cleaner is. These conversations last about an hour before we decide to stop for some of grandpa's road sodas and cookies. We actually run into another Nebraska band, the Lepers, at a random gas station in Missouri. They buy beef jerky and make fun of me for wearing a very non-fashionable foot cast.
The foot cast is whole other story that I will get into at a later date and coffee break.
Fast forward to the Czar Bar where we just finished our first set warming up for SXSW. We keep the songs short and sweet and somehow manage to stay sober for most of the set. The other touring bands killed it on stage and the pre-festival excitement is definitely in the air.
We buy a couple more road sodas and head over to a friends house for a late night pizza party. Before we fall asleep Landon has awkward sexual encounter with a puggle that crashed our pajama jam.
Night one is in the books and we are one day closer to Austin.
Greg - Little Brazil
* * *
Not even 15 minutes before leaving Omaha we are already heading in the wrong direction. Seems Oliver, our drummer, wants to go to North to the colder climate instead of i35 south. Problem solved and we are on our way to the first show in Kansas City, Mo.
During the drive we got stuck in an extensive argument about what car manufacturer makes the most police vehicles and how big the worlds largest vaccum cleaner is. These conversations last about an hour before we decide to stop for some of grandpa's road sodas and cookies. We actually run into another Nebraska band, the Lepers, at a random gas station in Missouri. They buy beef jerky and make fun of me for wearing a very non-fashionable foot cast.
The foot cast is whole other story that I will get into at a later date and coffee break.
Fast forward to the Czar Bar where we just finished our first set warming up for SXSW. We keep the songs short and sweet and somehow manage to stay sober for most of the set. The other touring bands killed it on stage and the pre-festival excitement is definitely in the air.
We buy a couple more road sodas and head over to a friends house for a late night pizza party. Before we fall asleep Landon has awkward sexual encounter with a puggle that crashed our pajama jam.
Night one is in the books and we are one day closer to Austin.
Greg - Little Brazil
SXSW: I finally made it
One thing that I've noticed about everything here is the wait. My plane touched down about 3.5 hours ago, but I just now got to a show (Paste Magazine's day party, for the record).
Lines are everywhere and I only expect it to get worse as the day wears on amd more and more people get here.
Oh well... I'm not going to complain much. It's a beautiful day here and I'm surrounded by live music.
Lines are everywhere and I only expect it to get worse as the day wears on amd more and more people get here.
Oh well... I'm not going to complain much. It's a beautiful day here and I'm surrounded by live music.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
SXSW: I'll be there
Well, I start my journey to Austin tomorrow at 6 a.m. It will be my first time at SXSW and, I have to admit, it's a bit overwhelming (and not just the fact that I'll be waking up around 4 a.m. tomorrow... or the fact that I haven't packed yet... crap!).
Reviewing my schedule today and yesterday, I feel a little lost. There are hundreds (many estimate around 2,000) of bands there, hundreds of parties and showcases and just one of me. I have no idea how I'm going to pull this off. It's quite daunting. What if I miss someone? How early do I have to get in line to make it into a showcase?
On the other hand, the advice I'm getting from SXSW veterans is not to worry. Most everyone plays more than once, so if you miss someone, you'll be able to see them later. And everyone says that some of the best stuff you'll see all week are bands that you stumble upon, hearing their tones waft out onto Sixth Street or seeing a band at a day party while you wait for another to go onstage.
I wonder how many fans that I'll encounter during the festivities. The whole thing was really created so bands and other music industry folks could get together, so it doesn't really seem like it's for fans, or ever was. But I feel like there should be more access to this kind of stuff from fans. Your options are either a) watch all the coverage on the Web b) get a wristband as a resident of Austin c) buy a badge for $750 d) go down there without anything and hope you stumble on/into some cool stuff.
Here's hoping that I make at least some of the stuff that I want to see. Speaking of, I checked out a SXSW scheduling site to try to plan out my week on the recommendation of Tim McMahan.
You can check out my schedule, if you want. You'll notice that a lot of it is overlapping and it doesn't really cover a ton of groups. But it's more of a list of stuff I want to see, pointing me in several directions, should I need it. I basically don't expect to get into every party that I want to go to.
One of my goals is to go see as many non-Omaha bands as I can. It's not a slight against the area groups, but of the eight going (UUVVWWZ, Mynabirds, Little Brazil, Thunder Power, Brimstone Howl, Eagle Seagull, It's True, Digital Leather), they all play pretty actively around here and Lincoln. It's also my chance to see a lot of groups that don't/won't/haven't come to town.
Of those, here are some that I'm looking forward to seeing:
Free Energy
The xx
Miles B.A. Robinson
Titus Andronicus
Codeine Velvet Club
Miike Snow
Rogue Wave
Le Loup
Violent Soho
Broken Bells
Everybody Was In The French Resistance... Now!
I am tasked by the World-Herald with checking in with the local bands, so I will still be seeing a lot of them and doing some video interviews with groups while they're in Texas. You'll see those videos here and on Omaha.com.
A feature I'm really excited about is some guest blogs from Little Brazil. They'll be hitting me up with stuff while they do a little tour on their way down to Austin and while playing their SXSW showcases.
During this whole thing, I guess that I'll have to keep repeating a mantra: "It's going to be OK. You're in Austin surrounded by people like you. It's going to be OK. You're in Austin surrounded by people like you. It's going to be OK..."
* * *
In a nutshell, here's what you can expect from me while I'm down there:
• Those video interviews with local bands I mentioned earlier.
• Observations, stories and reviews from me AND guest blogs from Little Brazil throughout the week right here on Rock Candy
• Nearly constant updates through my Twitter
• A daily update in the World-Herald and Omaha.com, which will be different from what you see on the blog
* * *
Down in Austin this week? Want to meet up?
Not in Austin? Want to send me a band/taco stand recommendation?
Best way to get to me is by sending an e-mail: kevin.coffey@owh.com. I'll be checking it periodically while I'm at SXSW.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Best thing I've seen all week
In the midst of figuring out my schedule for SXSW (Yes, I'll be in Austin later this week), I was looking through Twitter. That's when I ran across this post:
bradhoshaw: A friend at the bar challenged me to cover TiK ToK by KE$HA.
He did. And it was awesome. Well played, Hoshaw. Well played indeed.
Here it is, folks, for your enjoyment...
bradhoshaw: A friend at the bar challenged me to cover TiK ToK by KE$HA.
He did. And it was awesome. Well played, Hoshaw. Well played indeed.
Here it is, folks, for your enjoyment...
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