Won't you listen to Cassettes Won't Listen.
"Punk rock - we don't have that category in this country." Oh, the quotables already emanating from Austin, Texas - albeit from a boomer-rock-oriented radio commentator interviewing aging Aussie punk vets.
SXSW, here we go again. The plane was packed on the way from Denver to Austin. Baggage claim was filled with checked guitars and black-garbed hollow-eyed scenesters. Todd P already had a Juicebox show going at 2 a.m. at his party central, Ms. Bea's. And rumors are already swirling - has Dolly Parton cancelled? Is it possible to squirm into the already-closed-guestlist Playboy afterhours party Thursday night? Where is Perez Hilton having his ssseeecccret soiree (with Robyn no doubt working her rework of Snoop Dogg's "Sex Eruption")? Rachel Ray is having a party - huh?! You can spend more time planning your sked than actually seeing music, but the one-man band sounds of Cassettes Won't Listen drew me into the Austin Convention Center's dark, semi-depressing, school-caf-like Daystage.
Most disturbing news: so many longtimers aren't making it this year due to industry cutbacks. Most disturbing stuff in the fest bag o' fliers: an Armed Forces Entertainment card with a little green toy soldier attached ("Plug in your weapon, turn up the power and fire away. Your limo is a Humvee and your ride is a Blackhawk"). War is so cute - and glamorous! And a card announcing a casting call for Blue Man (I guess the blue face paint fits any ole one - except maybe women?).
What's up tonight? Free Yr Radio is throwing a bash with Simian Mobile Disco, Yeasayer (all the buzz here, natch), and Times New Viking (Ohio-ans do it so good) at La Zona Rosa, a black rock showcase with Lightspeed Champion courtesy of Vice, a Kills show at the Fader Fort, an Emusic showcase, White Williams at the Gorilla vs Bear party. Also drool-worthy is the Terrorbird/Forcefield PR party with Yacht, Raveonettes, Why?, These New Puritans, the Blow, Radar Bros., Bowerbirds, and the return of the Mae Shi. Kimya Dawson will likely be at the Keep Austin Good event at San Hotel's parking lot, and Dan Deacon and Deer Tick are making some very late-night noise - shhhh! - at one o' UT Austin's quads at, oh, 2 a.m. And most of those events aren't even official.
On that fest-approved front: I'm wishing I could make the Okkervil River with Roky Erickson get-together at the Austin Music Awards. But geez, you can also catch SMD, New Puritans, Lightspeed, Sons and Daughters, Kills, and White Williams at the fab Domino showcase at Antone's. Damn! Manchester hotties Ting Tings are playing with London's Duke Spirit at the KCRW.com's show, and David Karsten Daniels and Ola Podrida head up an intriguing event at the Central Presbyterian Church. Shellshag, the Slits, and This Bike is a Pipe Bomb throw a SF artist-heavy Starcleaner show. Longtime Guardian columnist Josh Kun's lady, punk en espanol vet Ceci Bastida, appears at Continental Club. Kimya Dawson alsoges with the uber-fab Mahjongg and the waifish Jeremey Jay at the K showcase at Emo's IV.
But wait, over at Emo's Jr. the show looks pretty rad: Paper Rad starting up a night including Extreme Animals, Free Blood, Meneguar, Japanther - ending with the amazing Wizardzz and Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche's Ultimate Reality (a great time at Great American Music Hall recently). That's gotta compete with the Texas hip-hop UGK Family/Hot 93/Ozone showcase at Fuze: whoa - Bun B along with Mddl Fngz and Hezeleo. Sounds like an all-nighter. Yo, and SF's own Hank IV is doing Bay garage imprint Hook or Crook's soiree, headlined by Greg Ashley's Mirrors. Cake Shop's showcase also looks awesome, as does the Orange Twin event with Athens' Dark Meat and, dang, the Steve Reich showdown at St. David's Church (never mind REM playing their smallest show in many a year at Stubb's as well as a free show by - holy mother of yacht rock - Daryl Hall at Austin Convention Center). Oh, to see everything at once.
Offloaded fliers and mags at the Austin Convention Center. The ghosts of so many dead trees silently scream.
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