The South-by countdown clock reset around 2 a.m. on the morning of Monday, March 23, as the last chords of Alejandro Escovedo’s traditional closing night South-by show at the Continental Club rang out. The wake concluded with a typically majestic reading of “Sway” (a song that Al stole from the Rolling Stones many years ago […]
SXSW: My ears and heart are full
This festival has been amazing and overwhelming, in a very good way. I’m barely alive (among other things the Hold Steady nearly killed me last night, two shows from them in one day) so what I can offer right now is a look through my lens these last three days. Words to follow when I […]
Austin Here I Come: Mayer’s SXSW preview
Recession, what recession? The 2009 SXSW Music Conference and Festival begins this Wednesday and, as far as I can tell, the event shows no signs of a slow down. Over 1,800 bands are expected to descend on Austin Texas for nearly five days of non-stop activity. The day parties are as plentiful as ever, filling […]
SXSW 2009 Preview
March madness is upon us once again. Not the kind that involves a hoop and a ball, I’m talking about the Austin version of madness that is SXSW. Every year in the middle of March tens of thousands of musicians and fans settle upon the Longhorn town to celebrate the best of American music festivals. […]
Listen Up: Nakia & His Southern Cousins
In a small room off the beaten path at this year’s SXSW I found a big voice. Austin singer-songwriter Nakia took possession of the room that night, his rich and brawny voice shifting effortlessly from a soulful ballad to a R&B rave-up. Ably backed by his top-notch band the Southern Cousins, it was a highlight […]
SXSW 2008: Say What?
“More vocals? I’m glad you actually want to hear me. I wish my mother did.” ~ Elia of the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir Drunk guy: “Do you guys know where the bridge party is?” Non-drunk guys: “Well there’s a bridge but I don’t see a party.” ~ Overheard at 3am as I crossed the bridge […]
SXSW 2008: The Sounds Part 2
Alejandro Escovedo Escovedo’s Sunday night show at the Continental is the traditional unofficial closing of SXSW and this year he served up a special treat. With co-conspirator Chuck Prophet on guitar, Alejandro and company performed the entirety of Real Animal, his forthcoming release. Lyrically it finds Escovedo in a reflective mood but musically ready to […]
SXSW 2008: The Sounds Part 1
X Legendary Los Angeles punk band X authoritatively declared that they could still rock hard after 31 years together. I caught them twice and the band pounded through both shows without a set list. The band merely called out out songs that captured their mood and responded to audience requests. Their influence on modern rock […]
SXSW 2008: The Scene
I’m delirious from lack of sleep, I can barely stand due to the soreness burning through my legs, I’ve got a blister raging on my big toe and a small scratch has mysteriously appeared on my left hand. Ahh, it must be another Sunday morning at SXSW. Now, many of our colleagues in the media […]
SXSW 2008 – John’s Sunday Night Highlight: Alejandro Escovedo
For all intents and purposes, SXSW turns into a pumpkin at 2 a.m. Saturday night, but true aficionados know that it ain’t really over until the legendary Alejandro Escovedo leaves the Continental Club stage after his unofficial closing night show on Sunday. We knew going in that this year’s set was going to be something […]