SXSW 2008

Photo by Callie Richmond

This rockin’ Memphis band has been called everything from rock to “cow-punk” to alternative country. Whatever you call ‘em, they throw down a great show every time (and lead singer Ben Nichols has been known to throw down a few, too), and this show at Molotov Lounge on West Sixth Street was no different. This show was, without a doubt, total debauchery.

Photo by Callie Richmond

The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust album was co-produced by Trent Reznor and got more than a lot of hype, so this was not surprisingly a must-see at the Vice party. Vice carries the rap of being more-than-crazy every year, and when Niggy went on at 1 a.m. ish, the expectation held true this year, and the photo speaks for itself. This music is freaking complicating in the way that it will make you want to rip your hair out and love every second of it.

Photos by Callie Richmond

This party, sponsored by INDIEPIX, completely dominated Speakeasy lounge and all its glamour March 9, and proved to be not only a great opening to the SXSW festivities but quite possibly the most impressive party for creative-types all year. Aside from the slew of new products launched (oh, and party-goers received a complimentary TV B-Gone remote device that turns off any TV, any time, anywhere) the L.A. hip-hop icon People Under the Stairs put on crazy-kinetic show that’d even get your grandma groovin’. If you weren’t lucky enough to be there, you likely won’t see such an intimate show by these L.A. hip-hop masters again, unless this talented bunch of organizers (Launchpad Creative, Self Assembly Films, Reversal Films, Voodoo Highway Music, Watchmaker Films, Indirect Records, Fiveway Parties, City On Fire) happens to throw another bash next year (fingers crossed!).

Here is the first installment in the Daily Texan’s True Inspiration podcast series. This is an interview I did with Chad, Hugo and Skateboard P of N.E.R.D. on Friday, March 7. The band talks about the new album, the upcoming tours and much more. Ya heard it here first.

 True Inspiration- N.E.R.D. Interview: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

It’s Monday, the first day back in classes. Spring Break sailed away at approx. 5 a.m. this morning. I’m in the process of unpacking, getting back in study mode and I thought I would share these assorted SXSW notes that I just found.

GHOSTHUSTLER (Denton, Texas)

The Gorilla vs. Booze party was at the Peacock, an east 6th venue with a nice turquoise décor theme and a tiny ballroom for the cramming of bodies. As mortals are doomed to err, the 2:30 Ghosthustler performance didn’t take off until near 4 p.m. The band was plagued with technical difficulties both before and during the performance but the lead singer seemed to be having no technical difficulty in leading his one-man army of booty shake. Video would not kill this radio star, ladies, he’s pretty foxy but he doesn’t look old enough to be legal. Ghosthustler’s unglamorous Denton roots are thoroughly shed by their convincing moog wizardry and sly facial hair, but I think this group still has some tightening up to do before we can call them fully baked.

TALES OF EXHAUSTION

Here is a fable about what happens to spoiled young rabbits who sleep on couches: they get free drinks. After the Cool Kids performance, I felt pretty sapped of the energy that lots of sips from the flask will give you and I was feeling nappy. I ambled down sixth street, looking for refuge when I received a digital telegram offering drinks and food at no charge at Union Park. It was easy enough to get in, the drinks truly were free, free, free and so was the calamari… However, the most alluring aspect of the set-up was neither of the former but rather the fine Italian leather sofas calling out to the weary body. I set up shop on a vacant, full-length affair and before I knew it, I was cruising into R.E.M. territory. (Don’t wake me up for their performance tomorrow, please.) After only a few cloudy moments of bliss I was being tapped, tapped, tapped on the shoulder, ma’am please get up I, we, we can’t have this going on in here. You would have thought I was up to something more sinister with the type of language they were using but either way the dream was over. I hit up another free drink, a quesadilla and then I was out, off to see… Kidz in the Hall.

((((KIDZ IN THE HALL INTERVIEW T.B.A.))))

Percee P, I just don’t know what went wrong but I just couldn’t get into it… About 15 minutes into the act I went off in search of the Killer Slits, who were up to no good, as usual. I wasn’t in Beerland for 10 minutes before I saw Ari Up moon the crowd! Her hair was like the opera diva’s in the Fifth Element, holla back if you love that movie like I do. It looks like the new band members have gotten more comfortable since the last time they played in Austin, and that little drummer girl is seriously sick.

Rejoined my fellow blogger Reggie at Habana Annex and saw a few moments of Sean Price whose performance looked promising. (Sean, I’m diggin the hat.) We had to leave that show pretty early to go try and catch Bun B, which turned out to be a fiasco in and of itself. Basically, the front door was crowded from either side by Sharks on one side, Jets on the other. The Sharks had been patient—some even standing on the sidewalk waiting to get in since 8 p.m. for a 1 a.m. show, but they were working with a lost cause from the start. The Jets, much fewer in number, were either generally disgruntled or actively making a scene about their press credential/badge/wristbander rights. The doorman was steadfastly denying access to any and all people waiting at the door, and that no-go status was only further confirmed when a rowdy fight broke out inside. Doubly so when the cops, six deep, showed up and scattered both the Sharks and the Jets. Sorry folks no access tonight.
— Natalia Ciolko

Great Britain’s greatest rapper swung by the “Bat Bar” at the Austin Convention Center for a free live set. Definitive Jux is finally bringing Rascal’s latest album, Maths + English stateside this April, after being released in mid ‘07 in the UK. Dizzee opened by introducing some stock rappers from his Dirtee Stank label, but most of them were easily forgotten after a few less-than-impressive performances. Dizzee’s show was solid, even though he isn’t the most dynamic entertainer. There’s more to this guy than a thick, cockney accent and you could tell. He even brought back his original banger “Fix up, look sharp” to close out the show. The crowd was much obliged.

A little later in the afternoon, me and Natalia headed over to a Frank151 day party at The Whiskey Bar where we heard The Cool Kids, Kidz in the Hall, Mickey Factz and The Knux were hanging out. The guys were mad cool, and after seeing both Kids and Kidz perform the day before it was nice to see them in a more relaxed atmosphere. I was the only native Chicagoan in the house that wasn’t on stage, but it was all good. Chuck and Mikey were dressed like they were going to the beach in 1991 and Kidz in the Hall took the stage to kick some of the new tracks from their upcoming, star-studded album, The In Crowd. Watch out for it.

— Reggie Ugwu

The crowd was more than ready to get their Kwassa Kwassa on and the band seemed comfortable if a little self-conscious. They kicked things off with Mansard Roof and played most of the songs from their eponymous debut along with some covers and possibly unreleased tunes.

“The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance”
The music sounded really great live, especially Chris Tomson’s drums, which are a little impotent on the album. During the show, Rostam Batmanglij said that after SXSW the band is headed out to the West Coast to do some “vibe research” for their next album. I’m not quite sure how to read that, but if Vampire Weekend are looking for more foreign influences to their afro-pop sound, than things in Cape Cod are about to get very interesting.

Yesterday, Thursday March 13, the Clipse lit up the afternoon on the free stage at the Mohawk. The cold beer was flowing and the acts, all heavy hitters like No Age and Sons & Daughters, were all moving smooth on time. The Clipse took the stage at almost exactly 4:45, came out looking like the personification of hustla yin-and-yang: Pusha T in all black, Malice in White with a gold chain to knock you out with. (I’ll post the photo.) The crowd was incredibly hype from the beginning, and the Clipse took it zero to sixty. You could really feel them feeding off the energy the people were giving off, and they gave it right back.

The first song set the tone- Momma I’m Sorry. The set ended up being heavy on Hell Hath No Fury material, which the crowd sung along to–all the hits like the We Got It For Cheap intro, Keys Open Doors, Ride Around Shinning and Mr. Me Too. However, the Clipse also brought it way back to tracks like Grindin’, Cot’ Damn and if I’m not mistaken, Comedy Central.

After the show, Reggie and finagled our way backstage and had a celebratory drink with the Re-Up Gang. (Another ‘pinch me’ moment) Malice was laughing, Pusha T giving interviews… it was all good.

I am still craving live renditions of Ma I Don’t Love Her and When The Last Time. I really wish I could be in two places at once–Clipse and N.E.R.D. are performing at the same time tonight! No! I’ll let you know what goes down, as it goes down.

[photo courtesy of Panda Toes]

Signing off, Natty Ciolko

[photo courtesy of Craig Wetherby]

Oh, Santi. You’re so easy to love, with your baggy tank top and crazy dancers. (I almost expected that horse from the L.E.S. Artistes video to come onstage.) Santogold’s performance at Stubb’s Friday night was definitely a nice bone to throw to the rabid press who are chomping at the bit to see what she does next.

Her songs went off flawlessly, especially Shove It, but it was clear that she is still somewhat new to the stage. As an A & R woman, Santi has been in the music business for years and its an interesting transition to being in the limelight. I think she probably won some hearts in the crowd with her polite speech and genuine laugh, not to mention her insanely awesome vocals. If there were any undecided critics in the crowd, the choreography during Creator was just too much fun to ignore.

We heard two new songs at the show, one of which was a Diplo-produced banger and the other was a darkwave-sound demo. Both make me excited to have the entire album of different tastes to sort through.

Santogold will be performing tonight, Saturday March 15, at the Levi’s Fader Fort at 6 p.m.

— Natalia Ciolko