South By Southwest 2014
Here's how my SXSW went this past week, show by show. |
| 1 | | Tuesday
Pitchfork's Show No Mercy at the Mohawk Outdoor Stage. |
| 2 |  | Iron Reagan
Worse Than Dead
Some really solid crossover thrash. They put on a really entertaining performance, had good banter, and are definitely worth
checking out later. |
| 3 |  | Windhand
Soma
Interesting doom. The female vocals were nice (especially since I wasn't aware of that before the show), and some slow
burning riffs that lent themselves to head-bobbing. |
| 4 |  | Christian Mistress
Possession
This 30 minute set was the best 30 minutes of the week. A perfect performance by a band that should be a much bigger deal
than they appear to be. Spectacular. |
| 5 |  | Power Trip
Manifest Decimation
Another new band for me that was impressive. Blackened thrash with great atmosphere. Their set was made more poignant by
the lead singer's dedication of the set to his friend who had only passed away the day before. R.I.P. Marshall Watts. |
| 6 |  | Kylesa
Ultraviolet
Finally got to see these guys live. The only downside was that Laura Pleasants' cabinet blew out right before they went on, and
had to be replaced. Although the rest of the band had to compensate by lowering their volume, it was a great set. Some great
professionalism by these veterans of sludge. |
| 7 |  | Indian
From All Purity
My friend who was at the show with me put it very well with "it sounds like Sunn O))) with rhythm". Although it should be noted
that he has a strong distaste for that band, it accurately describes the feeling of the music. Monolithic riffs with vocals from
hell. I will surely be picking up From All Purity soon. |
| 8 | | Wednesday
One part of a show at the Music Ranch. |
| 9 | | Prism Cloud
Prism Cloud
One of my friends bands was playing a show about 20 minutes outside Austin, and despite a scant crowd and stage
malfunctions due to wind, it was cool to finally see them perform. This was also the day of the tragedy outside the Mohawk
where the drunk driver ran through about 25 people, my friends and I were waiting to get into that show, and by some stroke
of good fortune, we gave up waiting after Les Claypool's Duo De Twang started their set. |
| 10 | | Thursday
MTV Woodie Awards (some parking lot). I'm not exactly proud that this was the show I went to that day, but The Ocean were
playing the Dirty Dog Bar, which enforces the 21+ rule fairly strictly, so I spent the day watching some pretty generic, but
college student pleasing acts. |
| 11 | | Wild Cub
Wild Cub
Started the trend of the indie band with extra drums on stage to be beaten by people other than the drummer which plagued
the day. |
| 12 |  | Vic Mensa
INNANETAPE
Boring hip-hop. |
| 13 |  | Echosmith
Talking Dreams
continued the extra drum tradition, but with an attractive front-woman. |
| 14 | | Bleachers
Bleachers
Got food, and ignored them completely |
| 15 |  | London Grammar
If You Wait
Good vocalist, and maybe even worth some more research, but they were definitely in the wrong venue. Would've been more
appropriate in a club setting. |
| 16 | | Sam Smith
Sam Smith
A good vocalist with no sense of original songwriting, even when compared to his own songs. Ended up hearing the same
Goddamn ballad for half an hour. |
| 17 |  | Phantogram
Voices
Interesting, but not that memorable. |
| 18 |  | American Authors
Oh, What A Life
Terrible mass market indie. |
| 19 |  | The 1975
The 1975
Less annoying than I thought they would be. The guy's live vocals aren't as incessant as the studio I had heard. Still too
sugary, and a little same-y to re-listen. |
| 20 |  | Iggy Azalea
Ignorant Art
Complete shit hip-hop with the most cellulite-ridden ass I've ever seen on a performer, and the dumbest face as well. |
| 21 |  | Childish Gambino
Because The Internet
Was actually very enjoyable, the live band definitely added to the experience, and Donald Glover put on a solid show. |
| 22 | | Friday
Butler Park (Ate some peanut butter cracker edibles about an hour before the show). |
| 23 | | Young & Sick
Young & Sick
It was at this point that the edibles started to kick in. Don't remember much, but they were very fun from what I can recall. |
| 24 |  | Washed Out
Paracosm
It was very cool to see Washed Out live. In the state I was in, every note was just a force pressing in on my body, and of all
the bands I saw, it was probably the most appropriate for my then state of mind. It was a great set, however, it reinforces my
policy of not being under the influence at a live show, since I only really remember bits and pieces (however awesome they
were) |
| 25 |  | Foster The People
Supermodel
Right after Washed Out finished, I left to basically roam the streets after we couldn't get into another show (that I totally
forget who was playing at, but I didn't know them anyway). Everything was an absolute blur, and I ended up walking around 6-7 miles stoned as hell. |
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