SXSW 2017 Recap – Tuesday

As SXSW Interactive closed, SXSW Music began on Tuesday, March 14th....
SXSW

SXSW 2017 Recap - Tuesday

South-by-Southwest came at a difficult time in 2017. Of course, the country’s still reeling from Trump being in the White House, and you know how the music community feels about that (not to mention tighter immigration rules). More specifically to SXSW, the festival seemed to scale back this year, with some prior big sponsors either absent (Samsung, Hype Machine), less events (Vans, SPIN), or shrunk to über-exclusive private events that everyone wanted to go to and no one could (FADER Fort, Spotify House). Hell, there wasn’t even Über or Lyft this year! And on top of it all, there was a huge, late season snowstorm in the northeast on the first day of SXSW Music that kept a lot of acts (both nor’easters and those flying through) from making it to Austin on time.

Yet through it all, artists & events were able to shine through, Tuesday to Saturday, March 14th to 18th:

 

 

Before SXSW Music kicked off, there was SXSW Interactive, which included some musical events:

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 11th

SXSW Interactive party @ Hotel Vegas

Golden Dawn Arkestra

Golden Dawn Arkestra

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

Low Cut Connie

Low Cut Connie

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

OMNI

OMNI

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

Meatbodies

Meatbodies

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

~

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 12th

Tumbler/Planned Parenthood party @ Mohawk

PVRIS

PVRIS

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

Sleigh Bells

Sleigh Bells

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

~

 

MONDAY, MARCH 13th

British Music Embassy @ Latitude 30

Sykes

Sykes

Click image for photos by Chris Becker

Starting on Monday, British Music Embassy took over Latitude 30 with acts like Sykes.

 

Moogfest party & panel @ Cheer Up Charlie’s

Moogfest sights

Moogfest sights

Click image for photos by Chris Becker

 

North Carolina’s experimental music celebration Moogfest came to SXSW with a party and a panel on the future of music & more, ‘Future Thoughts’.

 

‘Future Thoughts’ Panel

‘Future Thoughts’ Panel

Click image for photos by Chris Becker

 

Professor Toon

Professor Toon

Click image for photos by Chris Becker

~

 

Pet Rescue party @ Cedar Street Courtyard

MSHO

MSHO

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

~

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 14th

Lagunitas party @ Scoot Inn

Lagunitas sights

Lagunitas sights

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

Lagunitas beer threw a well-run two-day party at Scoot Inn, which on Tuesday included Lizzo.

 

Lizzo

Lizzo

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

~

 

SXSW Interactive Closing showcase @ Stubb’s

Pennywise

Pennywise

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

 

Stubb’s is always a major space at SXSW, and it served as home for the SXSW Interactive closing party (which could be the SXSW Music opening party) with the relatively more mainstream Jimmy Eat World and Pennywise.

 

Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World

Click image for photos by Jessica Alexander

~

 

Other notes:

-The huge snowstorm hit your correspondent, whose Tuesday morning flight to Austin was cancelled, causing him to miss all of the first day.

 

Unfortunately missed:

-Split Single @ The Blackheart, 2:30 PM. Jason Narducy’s Split Single unfortunately only came to the first day of SXSW, behind their great new Metal Frames (QRO review).

-Spoon @ Buffalo Billiards, 5:30 PM, and The Main, 1:00 AM. One major must-see act at SXSW ’17 was Austin’s own Spoon, who had multiple performances (including three nights at 1:00 AM at The Main, formerly Emo’s), in the run-up to the release that Friday of their new Hot Thoughts.

-!!! @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop, 8:00 PM.

The Man In the High Castle showcase @ The Belmont, 8:00 PM. Just to see how Amazon Studios did up The Belmont to promote the second season of The Man In the High Castle, the series based on Philip K. Dick’s seminal ‘What If the Axis Won WWII?’ novel.

-Wu-Tang Clan & Thievery Corporation @ Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater, 11:30 PM. A great showcase that had a secret restricted photo pass sign-up that was only heard about after it was full. Not the first time a big-name official showcase was heavily restricted at SXSW ’17.

 

Categories
Concert Reviews
Album of the Week