SXSW 2010: Part Three
Posted 03/24/2010 06:16AM by Dan Goldin as Show Review
The sun was shining as Dead Confederate kicked off the star studded Little Radio day party at Red Eyed Fly. After headlining the previous night’s official Billboard Magazine party, this Athens, GA quintet packed the large outdoor venue completely full as the day was just beginning. The band played a mixture of songs from their self titled EP, full length debut Wrecking Ball, and their upcoming sophomore release to riotous applause from the audience. The seething venomous bite of their accessible gloom soaked grunge could be felt as they tore through wailing guitars and keyboards. There is a reason this band has attracted the following they’ve amassed in the past few years, and their live show is a clear example of it. Gorgeous ethereal soundscapes lead to thunderous layered punches as singer Hardy Morris howls with bleak melodies and an undeniable honesty in his tone. Highlights included “The Rat,” “Tortured Artist Saint,” and “Start Me Laughing”. For your own chance to hear the band live, Dead Confederate recently released a live album entitled Dirty Ammo available for free download here.
Darker My Love took the stage next for the packed audience, which included Malia James of DirtyLaundry.TV, performing a slew of new tracks for their next record. California’s psychedelic pop masterminds delivered an infectious and catchy set full of memorably tripped out melodies and warped effects. Organist Will Canzoneri seemed to have a great time as he grooved with the spaced out jams. Mesmerizing drum rolls compliment the band’s reverberating vocals and warm buzzing guitars. This was jangly pop music played with stylistic attitude and hook laden vocal melodies from Tim Presley and occasionally bad ass bassist extraordinaire Rob Barbato. The band closed with two of my favorite tracks from their first two records, the triumphant “Talking Words,” and the psych static of “Summer is Here”.
Violent Soho guitarist James Tidswell announced, “If you have anything illegal, we’re looking for it,” and right away I knew the audience at the Molotov Lounge was in for a treat. These four Australians are the living, breathing, most honest sound of grunge music the world has seen since 1993. Just having released their Ecstatic Peace (Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth’s record label) self titled album, and their single “Jesus Stole My Girlfriend” gaining major radio play, Violent Soho were out in full force this SXSW, slaying audiences one at a time with their rough and raw grunge. Influenced by bands like the Pixies, Nirvana, and The Jesus Lizard, the raw angst and attitude in their songs rides hand in hand with the undeniable catchiness and unmistakably heavy hook lines. The band moved to Brooklyn in the past year and has spent the majority of their American residency on the road touring with the likes of Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., The Bronx, and Dead Weather. Violent Soho played a riotous set of genuinely unrefined grunge music straight from their punk rock souls and exploded on stage into a frenzy with every hypnotically stomping riff. These guys have quickly become a favorite of mine and should continue to revive a much needed movement back into the mainstream alternative scene.
Killredrocketrecords pool party continued for its second day with an incredible lineup of up-and-coming artists creating a scene with a strong community feel to it. Having rushed to park downtown earlier in the morning in order to catch Dead Confederate, we had a bit of trouble finding the car when heading to the showcase at Metropolis Apartments, just outside of the city’s center. Sadly we missed Boston’s The Dirty Dishes, but I can assure you from seeing the band many times over the past few months, their set was an eclectic mix of shoegaze and progressive rock, highlighted by wildly shifting drum patterns and the gorgeous guitar playing and voice of singer Jenny Tuite.
Arriving shortly afterward, I was able to catch the entire set from one of the windy city’s finest, Apteka. The four piece played an absolutely scathing set of grunge fueled shoegaze music, recalling the glory days of Swervedriver and The Smashing Pumpkins, while implementing their own hypnotic fuzz that would make The Black Angels proud. Apteka’s sound may lurk beneath the shadows, but their ultra-sonic guitar noise comes bursting out with stunning intensity as driving drums pound through the shimmering wall of sound, nailing their studio tracks with absolute perfection. The band broke out “Traitors” and “Aragon Sound,” both songs from their limited edition 7” released just in time for SXSW. If Silversun Pickups can experience the success they have, Apteka are easily gunning for a very promising career. If you have yet to check them out, the band are offering several free downloads including a digital copy of their 7” and their entire tour CD on the band’s official Myspace page.
Austin’s own shoegaze duo Bloody Knives performed at their label's party once again, having delivered an all encompassing noise heavy fog the night before. Having partially missed the previous night's set due to time constraints, I was available with full attention this go round, as Jake (drums) and Preston (vocal/bass/electronics) once again pummeled the wide open apartment complex’s vast grounds with massive distortion and feedback. Students of My Bloody Valentine’s blistering approach, the band blasted through furious rhythms and abrupt contusions of processed guitar effects. Preston’s vocals are simplistic and gentle, riding just below the mix of sonic madness. As the soundscapes rose from ambient beauty to chaotic guitar manipulation, the band was certain to imbue each song with an instant blast of explosive digital noise, preceded by spastic rhythmic patterns and robotic precision that shaped and filled the songs. Highlights included “Buried,” “Set Me on Fire,” and “Sadist”.
Athens, Georgia’s very own Gift Horse are a very special band, and thanks to the close knit musical community rising from the city (courtesy of The Whigs and Dead Confederate), should be garnering a great deal of widespread attention in the coming months. The band played through a great deal of their debut album, Mountain of Youth, which the band recently self released digitally before heading down to Austin. The album will be released physically in early May, but until then will only be available at their shows, a win / win situation for the audience. Witnessing the quartet live felt like a near holy experience as the band sprawled out their entrancing guitars, keyboards, and vocals into the hazy soulful psych / grunge as only their southern roots can provide. Singer/keyboardist Hunter Morris sings with a calm but yearning intensity over the crashing waves of Mike Stokes' gorgeous guitar tone. Acquiring their album just before leaving for the festival, my obsession with the record is extremely fresh and thriving, giving me absurdly high expectations for their live show which were fully met and exceeded. Highlights include “Eyes,” “Missionaries,” and “Both of Me”.
The show was wrapped up with a headlining set from Exeter, my second chance seeing the band during the conference. I was able to watch the show with the owner of the band’s label, Pop Up Records, as we shared our high hopes for the band and their blossoming space rock sound. After catching their set on Wednesday night, I knew I could expect a great performance (check out their full review on the SXSW Part One article), and I was not disappointed. The band played songs primarily from their full length debut, as Ky (drums) and Rocky (bass) intricately grooved through the warped space of the massive guitars' soaring angular attack courtesy of Cam and Mike. Vocals sounded sharp and pristine over personal favorites “Bittersweet Vanity,” “Red Dress,” and “Widowmaker”.
Back in the heart of the city, the incredible Dallas based trio True Widow took the stage at Encore for a truly dazzling set of beautiful melodies, lackadaisical vocals, and melodic sludge. Imagine walking into your most stunning dreams, traversing through thick clouds of smoke, and reveling in the glory that waits with every twist and turn. Their live set is every bit as heavy as it is breathtaking, with a show fully realized in the culmination of post rock’s loud / soft dynamics and slow churning stoner expansiveness. The band’s debut album has been in constant rotation since its release nearly two years ago, and seeing True Widow live in action further strengthened my love for their “need-to-hear-to-believe” sound. The heavy parts are heavier, the serene ambiance becomes more beautiful, and the intensity and immediacy of their songs proves to be incredibly rewarding.
Demolished Thoughts was the collaborative project headlining Ecstatic Peace’s official showcase at Red 7, consisting of J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) on guitar, Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) on vocals, Jonah Falco (F**ked Up) on bass, Don Fleming (Sonic Youth producer) on guitar, and Awesome Allison (Awesome Color) on drums. With so many prolific artists in one group, my mind was reeling with the thought of what the band would sound like, with the possibilities seeming nearly infinite. What we got, however, was nowhere near what I imagined, as Moore arrived on stage with large sheets of paper in hand announcing, “We are a cover band.” Following the deceptively brief introduction the band proceeded to play an array of frantic, thrashy, 80s hardcore covers while Moore read and screamed the lyrics from his notes. Songs topped off at about a minute and a half with brutalizing speed, aggression, and unintelligible lyrics.
