Ok so we woke up very early today on very little sleep with lots of anticipation. First and foremost we were returning the car Mr. Bailey so generously dontated to us and finally picking mine back up and somehow after 5 days getting back to some type of normalcy. For Jessica, it was all about today – today we were meeting Nick Cave & seeing him perform later tonight and seeing all the bands she wanted to see in between, today is her day. Lastly for me was also the first of our many showcases this year, this time with IFC & Psychic Friend so I wanted things to go well.
Day 5 – Mar 13th
So we left the house early at like 9am after going to bed at 4am – We get to the dealership and here is where things are going to get even stranger. They had called me and told me that they only thing wrong with the car was that I needed a new battery – Huh? After seven hours that Bruce guy over at the place in Georgetown couldn’t decipher that the reason why the car wasn’t properly charging was it was because I need a NEW FUCKING BATTERY?? –
Ok, so what about the alternator it was clearly shot? – Did Bruce put on a brand new alternator and didn’t charge us?? Lots of questions.
Ok so we pick up the car and I had no reason to complain but since when did a new battery cost $250? – I didn’t question it- we had gotten out of Bruce’s for nothing, managed to miss two towing fees, received a free rental car and now we were finally getting mine back – I wasn’t gonna rock the boat.
We get into my car, and drive off into the sunset, aching to finally be free of this nightmare. All that we had been through and all the stuff that was still going on daily at Cecilia’s, I had the mind to go get our stuff and head for home right then and say fuck the rest of the week, biz, everything. At the same time we had been through so much to give up now and this was Jess’s day so onward me marched.
You had to take a long exit North before you could begin to head South once again and once we were on the freeway I cranked the stereo on just in time to hear Aerosmith’s Back in the Saddle – cheesy but appororiate – and we were headed for Round Rock Donuts, a place I’ve taking up since Jess and I have met and she’s never had them – so as we are approaching our donut victory celebration right as we are exiting to glory, the fucking battery light in car comes on – I wanted to puke – when will this ever end?? – I had a mechanic work on it for 7 hours, and then took it to the fucking dealership & THEY can’t fix it? –
I just wanted today to be great and get back to normal and now I’m right back to where we started with constant worry.
I wasn’t gonna let that stop us – I was getting Jess to the things she came for –
Waterloo Records SXSW Party w/ performances & signings from Nick Cave, Tegan & Sara and many more – Waterloo Records – 6th & Lamar St.
I was afraid to turn the car off as I feared that once I did, it wasn’t gonna start again. I called the dealership immediatley asking wtf? and all that said was, “Oh than it must be the alternator” – Did we have a new alternator or not?? – I asked them how long we could go and he said not long. A more mature man would have drove straight to a body shop – I instead drove to a record store – The right woman will do that to ya –
I drop her off so she could get in line to meet Nick Cave – sure we were acting like teenagers but this was her thing and I just felt like we needed to be redeemed.
I take on the task of trying to park and I seriously circled the same 6 blocks for half an hour when she calls me to tell me that she had to buy something from the store in order to participate in the signing but her ID and stuff was with me – so I drove back to the store – handed them to her and after driving around some more, resigined myself to a spot I knew of way across South Congress Ave & walked the almost two miles back.
It was hot as shit and that long walk and the stress left me drenched when I finally made it back to the store. While she was in line we saw a bit of Thurston Moore’s new band Chelsea Light Moving –
Pretty decent and we had Moore on our minds after seeing Residual Kid yesterday and they covered the song 100% – and the 14 yr old singer was dressed and had his hair cut just like Thurston’s.
After an hour or so she comes bursting out of the record store more animated and smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen her – I wish we could say that she met him socially at an event as compared to meeting him formally at a signing, but she didn’t care and with her beaming smile, it all seemed worth it
Next up was one of the band’s she wanted to see most Tegan & Sara –
They were perfect for the mood we were in and on such a bright shiny day. I coudln’t believe how many people were here to see them, but as we were leaving right after they finished, I got a full education on something.
Not only were their fuck all people inside the little outdoor gated area where they performed as we were walking out we almost got knocked down by the twice as many people that were trying to get in. – Who was next that they wanted to see so bad? – Here came the answer and it put something in our vernacualr that I wish could have left as soon as it entered – They were all their to see something or somone called Macklemore & Lewis – and just like that – that name was inescapable.
We walked all the way from Waterloo Records down to Red River to a place called Swan Dive and then I had an Aha! moment as this place was next door to Barbarella where we were for last night’s exhibitionist shananingans (see last entry) – and I realized that this place was the old Barbarella and they just moved it next door. We were here to see a band from Austin called Ume – They came to NYC last Summer with my old pals the Toadies and just totally ripped my head off – They were hands down the best rock show I saw last year and I was very excited to see them again.
We were early and I had to get to a pre-production meeting for tonight’s showcase so I planted Jessica there while I ran to my meeting just as a couple of the guys from Midlake were doing some acoustic thing –
The only thing I know about Midlake is that they are from Denton where I once lived, the actor Jason Lee has some odd obsession with them and lastly that I don’t give a single fuck about them.
I returned right in time as Ume was starting their set –
Not as effective as the show I saw last summer (but what could have been?) and singer/guiarist Lauren Larson seemed a bit winded from probaly doing a dozen shows in the last few days, not to mention it was riddled with sound problems that were beyond the band’s control so I didn’t feel like I got my fix but Lauren told us after they were playing like 5 more times so I thought we would try again before we leave.
Now it was time to head back over to Rainey St. once again.
Filter/Macbeth Footwear Party – w/ Chk Chk Chk – Lustre Pearl – Rainey St.
We get over to Lustre Pearl, this is a really neat place that just’s an old wooden home turned into playhouse with full bar and a stage in the backyard, very Austin. Now matter what, you never leave the feeling that your in someone’s house which is cool and initimate.
As we are getting our drinks, this being a Filter Magazine Party I see a copy of the magazine and right on the cover I see our new friends Macklemore & Lewis.
I was dissaointed, they looked like gay hairdressers and so we You-Tubed one of their videos and could barely get through the sea of cheese.
For all its Keep Austin Weird vibe, people forget that this is a huge college mecca and the people that are respoinsible for why 6th st gets blocked off on any typical Sat night isn’t the cool indie kids, it the hard drinking, hard partying fratty college types and that’s who’s been clogging the line to see this Mackelmore charachter.
I can hear Chk Chk Chk starting in the back so we make our way out there – Jessica has never heard of this band and has no idea what to expect –
I however know these guys personally and totally know what’s coming which is ample and we are excited.
After a chaotic and largely unsuccessful soundcheck the band just kinda threw their hands in the air and decided to start the show regardless. Singer Nic came charging out in boxer shorts that boasted the album cover to the Rollings Stones’ Some Girls LP, dancing up a storm in his own style that we have come to expect that is awesome.
He sang the entire first song through the MFC distorter along with his hilarious posing and contortions, but I have to say that and his always side-splitting between song commentarry was the only thing that propelled the show and kept its momentum. This band is always fun but you should def see them at night – secondly they used to tour with this girl Shannon who hits that awesome pre-chorus on arguably their most well-known song Heart of Hearts – in the last few years they have been performing without her. Just as I was telling this to Jessica, a girl appeared onstage that looked like Shannon so I was excited.
However, it was not Shannon but local Austin singer, who did not fare or carry an ounce of the power that Shannon does.
We still danced, laughed and had a great time, but I’ve seen this band literally kill consistently:
Their after-show at Emo’s from ACL a few years ago remains as one of the best shows I sitll have ever seen. So when you raise the bar that high so do expectations.
By now it was after 6pm and Jessica’s anticipation for the Nick Cave show in a few hours was growing to a fever pitch. We decided to head on over there and get an early look at the scene.
NPR.org Showcase w/ Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs & more – Stubb’s – 8th & Red River
We get over there 90 mins before show time and as expected, its already a total shitshow. With good reason but also in the spirit of one-up-manship.
This was the first time Nick Cave was touring the U.S. with the Bad Seeds in over 10 years and tonight was opening night.
If that wasn’t enough to cause a frenzy, then they decided to stir the pot by adding the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to the bill – Making their first performance in four years.
Both bands could sell this place out easily and together and with that kinda prestige, not to mention the compettive nature of people wanting in, even if they are not that into the bands, but they know that this is one of, if not the most anticapted event of the festival so now they gotta get in, made it riotous outside.
Potentially releiving the line of some punks with a decission to make, but certainly adding to the overall chaotic atmosphere (as well as a testament to what this festival was like this year) was that Iggy Pop & the Stooges were playing across the street at the Mohawk, a tiny place they could fill 30 times over.
So as we walking into the Valley of the Dueling Exclusive events, I wanted to give the staff a break with what they were dealing with out front so we decided to go eat and come back.
When we do, though it was even more insane and I’m grateful to say that the staff spots me and we are ushered in like royalty.
Very cool and hospitality that I do not take for granted –
So now we are in, and not a moment too soon because though it was annoucned as:
Opening Act –
Nick Cave –
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Right at the stroke of 8pm while still light out even, the first act is Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – we had been inside all of three minutes.
So us and other startled people who thought they had time all lunged forward –
Nick Cave in the light of day is kind of a shocking site, and he knows it as he declared “We’re going to begin with a long song and hopefully by the end it’ll be DAAARK,” with intentional hilarity as well as effectiveness. Gazing down at the audience with a death stare, he cued the band into as promised, the long dirge Higgs Boson Blues, from the band’s post-Grinderman return Push the Sky Away.
The last little sliver of sunlight didn’t hinder his well-honed, iconic creepiness. He was hovering over the crowd like a praying mantis by the first song’s end, making gestures of controlled rage while his band swelled like a locust swarm behind him. The tune (which should be noted for its lyrics about Hannah Montana doing the African Savannah) set the tone for an unrelenting, undeniably captivating 10-song tour de force of sonic terror.
“It’s dark!” Cave happily proclaimed as night finally fell. “It’s a dark song,” he said of Jubilee,another menacing new cut that featured dissonant fiddle work from multi-instrumental savant, Warren Ellis. Drummer Thomas Wydler tribally matched the frontman’s mounting rage by speeding up the tempo with each of the song’s movements until it finally exploded in an ear-splitting, jaw-dropping crescendo.
Cave brought each lyrical, musical horror film to life. In the process, he probably set a record for the largest modern-day SXSW audience to go a full set without looking at their cell phones.
I knew nothing of Nick Cave really before this set – other than minor pedestrian things – I knew his status, that he was Australian, linked to PJ Harvey awhile back and that he was intense, that and he’s my girlfriend’s favorite performer. I tease her about the fact that I saw Nick Cave, albeit unworthy of so, 20 years ago at Lollapalooza, that time also in the daylight. But after this performnace I totally get it, – I will probably never have hit catalog memorized but this show was toally captivating, and the most animated I’ve ever seen Jessica. Good times.
Naturally we assumed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were next and though neither one of us are what you would call a committed fan, it would have been a crime not to check it out while we had the option, escpically since they were so many people outside who did not.
Instead of the Yeahs, in an exceptionally odd pairing, Cafe Tacuba followed Cave with their choreographed gestures, guitar faces, smiles and overall indomitable positivity, not to mention an unforgivably long set-up time.
I had seen Cafe Tacuba about 10 years ago at Coachella totally by accident and they were fantastic so I was excited to see them again. I should also mention that this was the band Cecilia had been bothering me about getting her into see at some point during the festical and so I devilishly was kinda savoring the irony that we were seeing them by accident.
After the first two songs I started to wonder if that band I saw 10 years ago at Coachella was this band, or that I had it wrong because this was at times fucking unbearable. I had to run over to the IFC house anyway for one our groups/ Psychic Friend’s showcase and then comeback anyway.
When I returned, it seemed that the entire festival was outside trying to get in here – That’s when I considered the hipster factor – their was alot of love for Nick Cave but this was why the Yeahs were going on after, not before.
I slip back in just as they are starting –
Karen O made her entrance (and quite an entrance it was) bearing light. Literally. Nearly blinded, and definitely startled, the audience when she crashed the stage sorta resembling George Clinton as the spotlight hit her sparkling cape, headband and bedazzled sunglasses.
This is a good band and I will always be grateful to their drummer Brian for loaning us his drums on several Amandla tours over the year. Speaking of Claude/Amandla, Claude is now the drummer for the Eagles of Death Metal who are doing several shows during the conference, the first of which was right after this show.
Dave Catching & BOC from EODM came over to watch The Yeahs, (the venue they were playing, was just around the corner) – and we met up with them and was pleased to be introduced to Brad Wilk from Rage Against the Machine. He came over early as well, in town for a show tommorrow night with Dave Grohl’s Sound City Players. Claude and Jesse were still over at the other venue.
Brad is also married to Selene Vigil, who was the singer for 7 Year Bitch, one of my all-time faves – she released a solo record last year that was really good, if you haven’t heard it, check it out here –
Anyway, we left with Catching and co. to get over to their show and to meet up with Claude.
Craveonline Party w/ the Eagles of Death Metal – Rusty’s – 405 E 7th St.
One of the funniest of the rumors of huge bands/playing tiny places was that Phish was going to be playing this showcase as a special guest. I joked with Claude that ever since they covered a Ween tune a few years back that he just can’t get away from jam band hippies. I even jokingly suspected Jesse as the one who started the rumor, which would have been genius as even if they were/were not there to see them, when we got over to the venue the line was stretched around the block.
We squeezed into a side door with the band and finally found Claude. We didn’t have much time to catch up before it was time for them to go on.
I was so exhausted by the time they went on that my ability to retain any more music had expired about two days ago, but they were fun as always and it was great catching up with everyone etc. We did meet Jesse’s super rad girlfriend Tuesday, who also plays bass in his solo band and hosts an awesome podcast on his Boots Electric Internet Radio station called Envy the Dead – She’s also an adult performer and was quite the charachter.
We finally had to start making it back to the car after 2am – A long walk to Congress Ave and even longer across that fucking bridge. I wasn’t sure the car was even going to be there when we arrived nor what state it was going to be in if it was. Thankfully, it was there and started up with no problems and we made it back after another long, weird and winding day.
Photos –
Roy Turner
Jessica Pardee
Chrissy Mauck
Stefan Berg
