Headphones On

----- Day Shows ------

Mohair - Cedar St. Courtyard
Holy screechy Batman. I'm not entirely sure why I'd expected some melody but there wasn't a whole lot to be found here. On to...

Silverlakes - The Belmont
I have no idea why Silverlakes didn't book an official SxSW showcase but this day show was better than nothing. It was also rather nice to see in a band in a rather posh little patio instead of the dirty grime of Emo's or the several disgusting parking lots of trash we've been hanging out over the past few days.

Rosebuds - Club Deville
I had heard bits and pieces of the new Rosebuds record but I didn't expect the fantastic dance party they offered up live. One of the best surprises I experienced during the whole festival. I feel like this band is criminally under-rated, hell even by me (up until now). I had listened to them before and thought they were alright, but I didn't really "get it" until seeing them live.

Mew - Cedar St. Courtyard
This shouldn't even make the list, I am cheating a bit by even writing this down. 4th St outside of Cedar St. had been taken over with a gigantic Fado tent but even without it the venue was PACKED with people who couldn't get in, therefore leaving no room to move for anyone who could have gotten in. It was a bit ridiculous really. We heard a song or so and then took off rather than be lost in the crowd forever.

Waxplanet - Latitude 30
As a Liverpudlian (whom shall remain nameless) stated "This may be the worst band I've EVAH seen." A bit harsh but erm... a bit not.

The Wombats - Latitude 30
I expected more from the Wombats. They weren't bad, but I didn't experience the same level of joy coming through their live set. It's a bit hard to quantify really. I suppose it's a good thing that while they were playing I was pondering how much more prepared most English bands are for festivals like this compared to the baby American bands who more often come off as unpolished. I guess that part's not so bad.

Apples In Stereo - Red 7
Popped my head in for just a second to check em out again, I can't ever get enough Apples in Stereo. Unfortunately my friends got stopped at the door due to an overwhelmingly packed room so I didn't even pause long enough for sample the free alcohol.

----- Evening Shows ------

Art in Manilla - Beauty Bar Patio
Wow, was I bored by this. She was pleasant enough but just not my thing and wayyy too sleepy like Cowboy Junkies on downers perhaps? I didn't dare leave so that I could see Field Music though as this stupid little tent was packed to the gills. This "venue" is/was horrible. I'm sure the inside of Beauty Bar isn't as bad but the "patio" actually consists of a slanted 6 car parking lot next to a bunch of dumpsters and port-a-potties with a tent over it. How in the hell one of the hottest showcases of the festival ended up in this rent-a-hole-in-the-ground I have no idea. The tent wasn't even set up right.. as the stage was pointed only at about 3 parking spots. leaving 50% of the people packed into this looking at giant stacks of amps and no band.

Field Music - Beauty Bar Patio
I will be honest, I am in a bit of a state about this show but I'm glad this wasn't my first (nor will it be my last) Field Music gig. Technical problems weren't the best way to start this off... but they did pull it together in the end. The reviews of their performance I've read were not bad but this certainly wasn't the best Field Music show I've ever seen. Peter looked like he was trying to bore a hole into the head of the sound guy in the back. It was nice to hear a lot of the new material they didn't focus on last year at SxSW.

Softlightes - Blind Pig
Grrrr. I was really looking forward to the Field Music/Softlightes combo to bring Saturday night to a good place. No dice. I don't think either Skippy or I realized this venue was unofficial therefore impossible to get into cos the bar was full of local kids just out to continue the St. Patrick's day drunkfest. I hope the Softlightes had a good show and somebody got in to see them.

The Draymin - Maggie Mae's Rooftop
We wanted to wait for the Hazey Janes to play at Maggie's Roof but the space up there was a) sucking out our energy and b) full of the locals who were either showing up to see Presidents of the United States of America or Bowling For Soup. Ermmm ok. So instead we made a strategic jump down the street to Habana Calle cos it isn't really a bar or a live music venue and therefore wouldn't be full of angry drunks, not to mention I can't ever refuse dancing about to The Changes.

The Changes - Habana Calle Annex
I am SO GLAD we hit this show. The boys were SO ON tonight it may have actually been perfect ALL CAPS kinda PERFECT. Darren was the ultimate showman, even as Skippy was a bit skeptical they'd pull out "Her You and I" in the end (which is should be noted they nailed *perfectly*).

Prototypes - Exodus
After four solid days of running all over Austin the hunt was on for a venue with chairs (especially since we couldn't get into the Midlake show). Hello Exodus! Prototypes sounded pretty good for 50 ft away in the back of the venue with a whiskey in my hand. I can't claim they were anything other than background music to a conversation though. Next time they come through I will have to give them a real listen instead of letting them be a resting phase before...

Junior Senior - Exodus
Now let the actual dance party begin! Go Junior! Go Senior! Go Junior Junior Senior! We were about midway back on the floor and even from there couldn't see a damn thing. I'm kinda sure they were onstage, kinda? It could have all been pre-recorded and I'd have no idea though. I was glad that we actually got to follow through on my initial plan of ending the "official" parties with Junior Senior. It had been far too long since the last time they'd come through Chicago (3? 4 years ago?). I was a bit surprised though that we only heard a few songs from the last record. I was hoping this showcase was because the band had finally decided to release 'Hey Hey My My Yo You' outside of Denmark. Doesn't seem like that's gonna happen unfortunately. :-/

Buy some: Silver Lakes, The Rosebuds