The Books/Wire Friday Night

Like most weekend nights here in Austin, there are (at least) TWO excellent shows to check out tomorrow night. The first one I want to mention is happening at Central Presbyterian Church, which is always a great place to see a show, The Books will be performing. If you want to get tickets, you should do so today while they're $15 as opposed to tomorrow when they'll be $18. The Books are a duo from New York City who have been performing together since 1999. Their music has been described as "folktronica", which kind of makes me want to throw-up. Not the music itself just that word, "folktronica", sadly it's a pretty apt description. The two of them play guitar and cello with electronic beats and textures added, I feel like Central Presbyterian Church will be the perfect place to enjoy their music. The Books' latest release is their first in 5 years, it's called The Way Out and is a 50 minute sound-collage of beautiful folk-inspired electronic music. If you haven't heard it yet, it's definitely worth checking out either in-person tomorrow, or here.


The Books - A Cold Freezin' Night video via YouTube

So, while The Books are holding things down at the church, there will be a completely different kind of worship service over at the Mohawk. Seminal English post-punk band, Wire will be schooling a packed house tomorrow night. While the band has been around since 1976 and influenced/inspired a whole bevy of bands, they are actually touring behind an album that came out THIS year. Don't worry though, chances are they will still play the old songs you want them to play but they'll also be tearing through a lot of the tracks from Red Barked Tree. If you ask me, that's not really a bad thing. Old or new Wire just writes and performs some really kick-ass songs. For some reason, tickets to see Wire are still available but you can bet they won't be much longer. So, if this is your first time hearing about the show and you want to go click that effing link NOW! If you're reading this and you've never heard of Wire, trust me, the bands you listen to HAVE heard of Wire and would be making completely different music if Wire never existed. That's some metaphysical shit right there.


Wire - Adapt video via YouTube

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Papercuts Play Emo's

The only genre I like more than indie-pop is sad-tinged-indie-pop. That's right, I said sad-tinged! So, what? If you, also, enjoy some sad-tinged-indie-pop then you should join me in enjoying San Francisco band, Papercuts as they grace Emo's inside stage tomorrow night. Their third album is their first for Sub Pop, so they're about 3 degrees from Dave Grohl. Tickets will set you back $10 but will earn you loads of street-cred when next year your friends are all like,

"Hey have you heard of this band, Papercuts?"

and you're like

"Bro, I saw them play Emo's INSIDE back when you were listening to Rebecca Black! In fact, now that you know about Papercuts I can't like them anymore, thanks alot!"

That's pretty much, verbatim, how it will go down and your hipster-street-cred will sky-rocket and you can trade that shit in for some new mustache wax!


Papercuts - Do What You Will video via YouTube


Starting things out tomorrow night, will be Banjo or Freakout whose self-titled album is out now via Memphis-Industries. The band is based in London and their PR info refers to their music as shoegaze-pop, which makes me wonder what drugs are best to take when listening to them? I'm leaning towards some sort of dis-associative but will probably just stick to Lone Star. You should probably just stay away from drugs and alcohol altogether so you can, like, totally stay in the moment.


Banjo Or Freakout - Upside Down video via YouTube

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Scissor Sisters Bring High Energy, High Camp

For those of you who missed the Scissor Sisters at Stubb's last night I assure you a good time was had by all. I have only seen Stubb's as packed as it was last night on a couple of rare occasions and never on a Sunday night. Toward the end of the set I made my way toward the back to get a little extra moving, breathing room and I was surprised to see the venue packed in pretty tightly from the stage to the back wall. Generally, there is a pretty big gap toward the back but not last night. Not only that, the back section is usually where the patrons are the least engaged, texting, chatting, generally acting unaware of the concert taking place but I can tell you I saw people dancing and clapping along even in the back toward the porta-johns.

Fresh off their tour with Lady Gaga the Scissor Sisters were sounding well-rehearsed, while looking well-choreographed and fit. Personally, I haven't seen them perform since their first album when they were doing a club tour and I can tell you that their show really hasn't changed a whole lot. The only difference is it's much more exaggerated now than it was then. Instead of wearing just some leather pants, now Jake Shears dons patent leather chaps paired with matching underwear. Instead of just gyrating, now they thrust with vigor. Visually the biggest difference is the band just looks so much more polished than they used to. They were always going for a high-camp, super-fun time but now their back-up dancers have choreographed routines and Jake and Anna seem to have honed what sort of rock 'n roll stage moves get the best reactions. In other words, the club-band I saw has become an arena-band and they did it without compromising their music or their show.


Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire video via YouTube

As far as the setlist goes, bands always walk a fine-line when promoting a new album. Do you play all kinds of new tracks and risk losing the audience or stick with the classics and hope they become aware of the new songs by the time the next tour comes around? Scissor Sisters managed to blend the new with the old quite nicely. The first part of the set seemed to alternate between the familiar hits and the new tracks. The crowd reacted to the new songs just as well as they did the classics although there was a lot more singing a long to the classics, obviously. I will say that no matter what they played last night people were dancing like no one was watching.

I didn't bring my Bloggy Cam so, unfortunately, I don't have any live-video for you to enjoy but something tells me Austin might see the Scissor Sisters again around Austin City Limits festival time. That is complete conjecture though, I have no connections to the folks who decide those things, I just feel like it would be wise.

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Del, Scissor Sisters, Get Yer Weekend On!

Oh man, TGIF like a mo fo y'all! I can't wait to watch a new Urkel tonight, see what Stacy Keach is up to on Step By Step oh wait a second. That was me from 1991 talking for a minute there. What is Stacy Keach up to these days? Meanwhile, back in 2011 you should hit the Mohawk tomorrow night to see a free show with Del The Funky Homosapien. I'm not sure why it's free and I don't really care, all I know is there is no cover charge I love me some Del and I'll get to "go ham sandwich" with the Knuckle Rumbler crew. Del's going to be backed by a live-band with a DJ so even if you're a rock-head not a hip-hop-head you should enjoy the show. Besides, it's Del not some lame-ass emcee, so you should enjoy the show anyway. Doors for this show open at 8pm and I only know of one opening act but chances are there will be more than just two sets. Either that or Del is going to spit his whole catalog, to be honest I would not be surprised by either scenario.


Del The Funky Homosapien - Get It Right Now video via YouTube


So, now we've got your Saturday night all sorted out over at the Mohawk, let's talk about Sunday. Well, as mentioned earlier in the week, you could spend all your rent money to watch Janet Jackson lip-sync her ass off over at ACL-Live or you could get yourself over to Stubb's for the Scissor Sisters show! Y'all know I love me some Janet but I'm not trying to spend all my money on that performance. For $200+ bucks I could hire a VERY convincing tranny to perform Janet covers for me and Miss Paws all night. That's why you'll find me shakin' my ass to Jake Shears & Co., drooling over Baby Daddy and, generally, losing my shit at the Scissor Sisters show. It doesn't LOOK like tickets are available at the moment but you can always head down there and negotiate with people in the street. Also, I've definitely gifted tickets to strangers outside venues on more than one occasion so don't give-up hope y'all!


Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light video via YouTube

Since it's a Sunday night the Scissor Sisters show will be over pretty early in the night but fret not! My homegrrrrrls over at The Glitoris are hosting an after-party at Barbarella that night. You get in free with evidence that you attended Scissor Sisters and/or Janet Jackson. No, covering yourself in glitter is not enough evidence, they're going to need to see a wristband or ticket-stub. Nice try tranny-Ke$ha.

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Akron/Family w/Delicate Steve

I feel like it's been ages since I've been to a show at The Parish and I feel like that is partially my fault and partially their fault. In any case, tomorrow night Akron/Family make their return to said venue with Delicate Steve in tow. I have actually already seen Akron/Family at The Parish before and the room really suits their style. Their shows feel very communal and there is something about the intimacy of that space that really lends itself well to that vibe. I'm not going to lie to you though, last time they played there I left before they were done. Not, specifically, because I wasn't enjoying myself but because Brendan Benson was playing at the same time over at the ND and I always choose power-pop over whatever you'd call Akron/Family. Power-folk? In any case, I know it's ancient in blog-years but I still think Running, Returning is one of the greatest songs of the century! #Hyperbole


Akron/Family - Running, Returning video via YouTube


For the record, the above video is completely sanctioned by, both, Disney, and Akron/Family. #Lies


Akron/Family - Silly Bears video via YouTube

I haven't seen Delicate Steve perform live yet but according to a press-release I received it will be one of the most energetic sets to hit Austin in recent memory. Having listened to his 30 minute album, Wonder Visions I wonder how that is possible. Not that the album isn't good, in fact, I thoroughly enjoy it but it's not the most energetic music I've ever heard. It's mostly chill, cheap-sounding keyboards with Pure Moods bass-lines and simple/gentle drum parts. Clearly whomever thinks these elements equal super-high energy have never seen Big Freedia perform Ass Everywhere. However, as I mentioned, I have NEVER seen Delicate Steve live and maybe he shakes his ass and does David Lee-Roth high kicks while snorting blow off his Casio? Maybe I won't send a link of this post to his PR reps? Does this sound less-than glowing?


Delicate Steve - Butterfly video via YouTube

If you want to watch Delicate Steve do blow off a Casio (unconfirmed) or be a part of the communal Akron/Family experience there are still tickets available! So, you should probably get on with the purchasing of those today, as the price will increase tomorrow.

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Big K.R.I.T Hits the Mohawk

So, when it comes to what is hip in urban music Bloggy is no authority, which is why it's nice to have friends over at Knuckle Rumbler who can give me the heads-up on what I should be paying attention to. Those cats know what's going on and have never steered me wrong, which is why I'm giving YOU the heads-up about a show they are producing at the Mohawk tomorrow night. It's the last day of March and what better way to celebrate than to shake dat ass to some dirty south hip-hop music from Big K.R.I.T? His mix tape KRIT Wuz here helped to catapult him into XXL Magazine's 2011 Freshman class feature. If you want to see him here in Austin tomorrow night a ticket will only set you back, $15 (if you buy one TODAY, it becomes $18 tomorrow.)


Big K.R.I.T - Hometown Hero video via YouTube

Not only do you get, headlining act Big K.R.I.T for your $15 but Freddie Gibbs is also on the bill, not to mention Smoke DZA. In other words this show is an anti-dote for all the pop-hip-hop that is invading the radio. An answer to those of you who pine for the days of early, classic hip-hop. Just like with indie-rock there are still people making great music, you just won't hear most of it on the radio.


Freddie Gibbs - Serve or Get Served video via YouTube

This is why it's great to have people like Knuckle Rumbler who seek-out great music and bring it to our city to hit our ears.


Smoke DZA - Continental Kush Breakfast video via YouTube

Doors for this EVENT open at 6:30pm and since this show is outside on a weekday it's going to be over pretty early so I'd arrive early enough to catch Mookie Jones and Roosh Williams who are scheduled for the earliest sets.


Roosh Williams - Beautifully Simple video via YouTube


Mookie Jones - Forever video via YouTube

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Miss Jackson (Oh, you know I'm Nasty)

I just heard about this really cool indie artist at SXSW y'all might be familiar with already, her name is Janet Jackson and I guess she already has a couple of albums/songs you may have heard? No, but seriously Austin, I can't believe there are still tickets available to see Janet at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Granted, the tickets are more costly than what we are used to seeing in Austin but, for one, it's Janet muthaphuckin' Jackson and for another thing, I'm sure the production is going to be pretty over-the-top. At least over-the-top for those of us who are used to seeing bands fall out of van and onto Emo's destroyed bomb-shelter-looking stage. Who knows, maybe she'll have a puma in a cage for Black Cat, that would be pretty dope. Lord knows there's gonna be some Velvet Ropes up in thurr too. As a waiter who doesn't make any money from blogging I can relate to your financial woes and shelling out $100 or more for a concert ticket seems kind of crazy but do you really think you'll get another chance to see Janet? Especially at a spectacular, intimate venue with amazingly awesome sound? Personally, I think the odds of that happening twice are low.


Janet Jackson - Up Close and Personal 2011 World Tour Promo Trailer video via YouTube

I didn't mention this above the break but, perhaps, the best thing about this Janet Jackson tour, is that it is in support of a Greatest Hits collection. In other words, the set-list won't be filled with songs you've never heard before, it's going to be wall-to-wall hits! Personally, I'm most excited about the songs from Janet. but I expect people to flip their collective lids for the songs from Rhythm Nation. That album was more hit singles than album tracks.


Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation video via YouTube

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Destroyer to Play Mohawk Tonight

So, who's up for some European-style blues, indie-rock with shoe-gaze influences?!?! Did I mention it's Canadian? Well if that description didn't make you want to shell out some cash to see Destroyer at the Mohawk tonight, then you should probably lose my number. I know, you went out a lot last week because of SXSW but that totally doesn't count because Austin is a foreign-land during SXSW. All of the prices are back to normal and the chief misses you at the 'Hawk. Not to mention, even though my description of Destroyer's sound was, somewhat, tongue-in-cheek they're effing awesome and you need to hear them perform. In this blogger's opinion, Destroyer's principle songwriter, Dan Bejar, is one of the greatest indie songwriters or our generation. His lyrics are so weird and cryptic yet, somehow, full of truth and he manages to write these hooks that become instant ear-worms. Also, I was hesitant to include this truth but in addition to being the principle songwriter for Destroyer, Dan Bejar is also a contributing member of the Canadian super-group The New Pornographers. I figure most of you already knew this but for those who didn't now you know. Also, I'm not sure if it's STILL true but one incarnation of Destroyer had Canadian band, Frog Eyes playing back-up. Spencer Krug of Frog Eyes went on to join Wolf Parade. How do you like that Canadian-indie-rock full circle of justice? Those Canadians, are so effing collaborative!


Destroyer - Kaputt video via YouTube


If you want to see Destroyer at the Mohawk tonight, you better shell out your $14 bucks for a ticket as soon as humanly possible. I can, pretty much, guarantee this show will sell-out before the doors open. Even my friends who don't go to concerts were talking about it today. Also, I may have mentioned this before but the 'Hawk has a minimum credit card charge but if you use Tabbed Out you can circumvent that. Just throwing that out there.


Destroyer - Hey, Snow White video via YouTube

Opening for Destroyer on the Mohawk's outside stage tonight will be, highly google-able band, The War on Drugs. I know it's tough to convey via words on the internet but that was sarcasm. It's like indie bands don't want you to know about them or find their web presence these days. Maybe that's the cool thing to do. Looking at you Weekends amongst a bevy of others!


The War on Drugs - Needle In Your Eye video via YouTube

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Thoughts (Rant) on SXSW 2011

Wow, so we don't have to think about SXSW again for another 8-9 months. Feels good doesn't it? I feel like each year I get a little better at the SXSW experience and each year I come up with ways to make my experience better for the following year. This was the first year that I had an official wristband, which was very exciting. That put me third on the totem pole to get into showcases, behind express passes and badges but AHEAD of people paying cash at the door. It was due to the luxury of my official status that I learned a lesson for next year. Basically, every year before has been about the day-party for me and/or the free evening showcases so it was hard to break that habit. What I learned was it's really hard to do day parties followed by evening showcases, I was all tuckered out y'all. So, my plan for next year is do less unofficial stuff and more official stuff. I'm going to be a have, not a have-not.

My other reasoning for this logic is going to be controversial, I know, especially since I've been a have-not for so many years previous but I'm just going to put it out there. The more unofficial stuff we do, the more platinum selling artists will team-up with gigantic, multi-national corporations to hijack the hype from SXSW proper. I'm not saying there is no place for the day-parties and such but when all anyone can talk about is Kanye Muthaphuckin West's ridiculous midnight to four am "party" at the power plant then we have a problem. It's hard to not get swept up in the hype of big names and celebrities at SXSW, I'm guilty of it too but there has to be a point where we say enough is enough. 2011 is the year that platinum-selling hip-hop artists took over and I for one do NOT approve. Do Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Big Boi etc. need the exposure from SXSW or are they just cashing in FAT pay checks to vaguely align themselves with an indie-spirit of, what was once, an indie-music festival?

With that all being said, like with anything in life it is what you make of it. So, if you want to hang out in the Pepsi Max lot for Snoop or wait in line for 12-14 hours to catch Kanye at the abandon power plant, that's your business. My goal, for next year, is to not get caught in the hype wave and focus on well-curated, official showcases. Here's a video from one-such showcase I attended Thursday night:


James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream video via YouTube

People can hate on Pitchfork all they want but they put together a fantastic showcase at Central Presbyterian Church Thursday night. I arrived about 90 minutes before doors opened as I knew it would be a popular showcase and I wanted to be sure to gain entry. Some people were skeptical I would even get in with a mere wristband but I assure you I made it no problem and so did everyone lined up early in the cash line. I feel like anyone can get into any showcase if they arrive early enough. However, if you're paying cash it's a real crap-shoot as to how much you'll have to pay. For the Pitchfork showcase it cost the cash people $30 to get in, whereas the previous night's showcase at the same venue was merely $10 and lots of the smaller showcases cost only $5. In any case, whilst waiting in line I liked that the church had porta-johns outside that we could use, I was less enthused once inside to realize those were the only available bathrooms. They let us all in, then said oh hey just so you know the bathroom is outside and once you leave you have to get back in line. So, I spent the rest of the showcase parched for fear of the need to pee if I consumed water.

The acoustics in the church were amazing and the atmosphere lends itself to a quiet, respectful audience. There is no alcohol so there are no drunk people chatting and ordering Lone Stars and, obviously, there was nothing smoked in there. It was also quite nice to have seats after spending all day standing around at day-parties. I had heard of all of the artists but the only one I had seen before was Twin Shadow, whom I have seen twice and liked on both occasions. Unfortunately at the show Twin Shadow had the misfortune of following the one-two punch that was Glasser followed by tUnE-yArDs.

I have been a fan of the Glasser album since late last year. It ALMOST made my top albums list but I just hadn't heard it enough for it to rank but seeing the songs performed live with the acoustics of the church was jaw-droppingly, awe-inspiringly, out-of-this-world gorgeousness. It was, without a doubt, my favorite 40 minutes of SXSW 2011. The second song of the set earned the band a standing ovation. I know at a club show every song gets a standing ovation but in a church, with everyone seated in pews it is quite dramatic to see the entire crowd leap up cheering and clapping. Even just writing about it gives me goosebumps.

After Glasser's set I was just thinking, "Wow! What could possibly top that?" Then tUnE-yArDs came out and played one of the most wildly inventive sets of music I've ever seen. I wouldn't say it topped Glasser's merely because Glasser was SO dramatic but I would compare to my first time seeing Dirty Projectors. The songs were constructed in front of the crowd using vocals, samples, loops and live instrumentation. It all would have seemed really corny and gimicky if the singer didn't have a voice blessed by God. She yodels, she yells, she sounds like the opening song from The Lion King and somehow it all works. It was ridiculously fun and energetic and made me want to hunt down the CD as soon as possible. In other words it was exactly what you want in a SXSW showcase.

After those performances, Twin Shadow just seemed so ordinary. Also, the church setting was not ideal for their brand of John Hughes movie synthesized dance-rock. James Blake followed Twin Shadow and delivered a beautiful set of music that managed to stay true to the album while also giving it an interesting live twist. He was accompanied by two musicians including a live drummer using v-drums who was excellent.

It seems crazy to wrap-up four, twelve+ hour days worth of music in this one post but I really want to put SXSW to bed so other artists I saw who really impressed me this fest include:

• The Answering Machine
,
• Malajube
,
• Weekends
,
• Julianna Barwick


• Cults


• Givers


• Tristen


• Shabazz Palaces


• Anamanaguchi


• The Holidays

The Holidays - Heavy Feathers video via YouTube
There's also a slew of bands I would have liked to have seen but didn't so I'll have to catch them on their new trip through Austin! For those of you who have been reading this site because you were coming to SXSW thank you but thank you MORE to those of you reading this and every other post I publish. With that, I don't want to talk about SXSW anymore and if you ask me in real life about it imma refer you to this post.

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MtvU Woodie Awards 2011 Wrap-UP

Alright y'all, Sxsw 2011 has officially drawn to a conclusion, which means I can do my laundry and dishes and scoop Miss Paws' litter box. It also means I can do the stuff I should have been doing since last Wednesday, for instance, did I tell you I was going to the MtvU Woodie Awards? Yeah, I totally went, and not only that for some reason I was granted press credentials, which means I got to "work the red carpet." So, I put on my Jessica Rabbit dress and headed on down to the Austin Music Hall armed with a Flipcam, a point-and-shoot, my digital voice recorder and smartphone. I really had no plan of action, being an Austin music blogger I have very few opportunities to experience a red carpet scenario. It seemed so foreign. First, we were all gathered up and assigned numbers based on our importance, I was give the number 52 but the numbers went all the way up to the high 70's, so I wasn't in the bottom of the pack. The ironic thing was the lower the number, the older the person wearing that number. I suppose that's because the heavy-hitters have professionals with years of experience where as I have...a blog that my Mom really likes (mostly).

So, basically the way that it works is they put a label at your feet so the people walking the carpet know the name of your publication, then a press-agent comes down the line and discretely whispers the name of their client with a brief bio and asks if you want to talk to them. It was one part funny, one part sad and all interesting. A lot of the artists I hadn't heard of and/or knew very little about, while a few felt like old friends. I tried asking questions that would garner non-rehearsed responses. I ended up mostly asking the same family of questions revolving around the artists last day-job. So, here's the highlights and low-lights of my interviews. I didn't edit them so you'll hear my goofy voice and stupid laugh, also I didn't have a camera person I was just holding my Flipcam sort of beside my head so a lot of the shots are framed poorly and are shaky. With that all said, I give you the lovely Matt and Kim.


Matt and Kim - 2011 Woodies Interview video via YouTube

Matt and Kim was actually the last interview I did, so I'm posting these in reverse order. In other words my interviewing skills will get worse as you scroll down. Although, you can already tell from the Matt and Kim interview that my blessing and curse is I get just downright chatty and the interview format sort of devolves. That's part of the reason I have such a hard time transcribing interviews. Luckily, everyone was cool with the Flipcam.


Sleigh Bells - 2011 Woodies Interview video via YouTube

This Eliza Doolittle interview was funny to me for a couple reasons. Firstly, her press agent was walking down the line reading the names of the media outlets and he paused at AustinBloggyLimits and asked me about the name and what is it, who is it etc. I told him it's me and he said, "I like you, do you want to talk to Eliza Doolittle?" and I was like, "sure." The other thing that makes this interview funny to me is I asked her about her styling and then didn't show what she was wearing. Trust me, it was a valid question.


Eliza Doolittle - 2011 Woodies Interview video via YouTube

Ok, so I really didn't know much to anything about The Cataracs and I wasn't even planning to interview DEV but this ended up being one of my favorites. I really liked their answers and it was just fun to chat with them. For those of you who don't know, they are featured in that Fly Like a G6 song.


The Cataracs and Dev - 2011 Woodies Interview video via YouTube

I really love Two Door Cinema Club and I think this interview started out well but then I just sort of went off the deep end for some reason. Did I really need to bring up kitty-cats and Care Bears? Was it wise to insult Irish cuisine? Probably not.


Two Door Cinema Club - 2011 Woodies Interview video via YouTube

Oh Land is beautiful to look at and her music is really gorgeous as well but this was one of my first interviews and it really didn't go that well in my opinion. Although, it went better than the one I did with Nic Harcourt, which I won't even be posting.


Oh Land - 2011 Woodies Awards video via YouTube

So, there you have it. There's several reasons why Bloggy should not be allowed on a red carpet. As far as the show itself, it was cool to see a production like that behind the scenes. The performances were great, Sleigh Bells with a marching band was my personal highlight and I'm glad I can say I saw the Foo Fighters perform live. All in all, if they do it again next year I hope they allow me back and I hope they do it before or after SXSW so I don't have to miss any official showcases.

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