03.18.2001 - Day Overview
David Bryne, Mogwai, Split Lip Rayfield, Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash, Brassy, Idlewild
We returned to the hotel and rested for a short while and
then started out again on our musical odyssey. We headed over to La Zona Rosa and
tried to get in to see David Byrne but after realizing that the
line was going to be too long we jetted over to the Austin Music Hall.
The Scottish band Mogwai was
rumored to be a really cool band, but to me it sounded like heavy metal meets Bach and
didn't do a thing for me. After about 15 minutes of listening to songs with no words, when
the musicians changed instruments during the song for reasons lost on me, we took off to
the next venue.
We passed by La Zona Rosa and managed to get in and work
our way close to the stage for the last 20 minutes of David Byrne,
which was a real treat. His finely crafted song structures and the instrument variety that
he brings to the performance really make him a musician of note.
Not finding the upcoming act interesting to us, we took off
to see Split Lip Rayfield over at Waterloo Brewing
Company. The crowd loved their brand of Kansas Rockabilly and it was really hard
getting close to the stage. The band obviously connected with the crowd and was playing to
a big audience.
After listening to Split Lip Rayfield
for a bit, we raced upstairs to get prepared to see The Bastard Sons of Johnny
Cash. We figured whatever their music, we had to see and hear the band that
had the guts to take the name.
We weren't the only ones, I met the photographer from
Rolling Stone there to do a photo story on the band. The band produced a good rock and
roll show with a definite country flavor and presentation. Their enthusiasm was
tremendous and they were very entertaining. After about 30 minutes of their set we took
off for the 1am opening of the SPIN Magazine party. Ok, so it was almost 2am by the time
we got there.
That's where we partied with the band Brassy,
and what a show they are! Hip-hop influenced rock included a DJ with turntables. The
singer Muffin is a hoot. She has so much swagger in her stage persona you just start
to believe the girl is all that. Great catchy danceable songs with entertaining, if
not thought provoking, lyrics trumpet the greatness of the band.
We wandered out to the outside tent area and found the food
and drinks and parked for a while to catch our breath and recharge our batteries. On
the way back in we chanced upon David Byrne at the bar in
conversation with what looked like a reporter. He was very gracious and appeared
willing to submit to photographs. I chose to just make a positive comment on his show
rather than subject him to the intrusion of a camera when he was having a good
time. After all, he was just one of a hundred musicians, at least, in the room having
free drinks and enjoying the music.
After the change over, Idlewild
took the stage and started their high energy show. Some of the British bands lyrics
were hard to understand but the definite industrial quality of the gritty brit band
persona came through. Looking a little tired it took them a couple of songs to get the
energy level just right so the band members were working the same show.
By that time, I was exhausted and it was about 3am and we
had the barbeque and softball game Sunday afternoon.
Rick & Richard at SXSW
