SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Tammi’s Recap

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sxsw2011d4tammi.jpg" alt="SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Tammi's Recap" />If anyone tells you they're not feeling the wrath of SXSW by Day Four, they're lying. ...
SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Tammi's Recap
SXSW 2011 Day 4 : Tammi's Recap

The massive music industry festival that is South-by-Southwest fell into some bad timing this year, coming right after the Japanese earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis, and right before the United States and her allies joined the fight in Libya by bombing Muammar Gaddafi (Day Two of the festival was also St. Patrick’s Day, but SXSW knew that going in…).  It all threatened to make the festival, and music in general, seem irrelevant, what with the world going to hell in a handbasket.  But ensconced in the cocoon that was downtown Austin, on your smart phones and Twitter, with wristbands and free drinks galore, SXSW proved to once again be an engrossing, all-encompassing musical clusterfuck of an experience.

 

If anyone tells you they’re not feeling the wrath of SXSW by Day Four, they’re lying.  Or superhuman.  Seeing as this was not only the last day of the festival, but also out last day before heading home on Sunday, we wanted to make the best of it.  It wasn’t until I grouped my photos by days that I realized that ‘making the best of it’ oddly didn’t include a ton of music.  Just three Texan groups and a Canadian duo to be exact.

 

[Note: QRO had a number of correspondents at SXSW this year; this is just the Day Four recap from Tammi J Myers; click here for Ted Chase’s Day Four recap, click here for Amanda Krieg’s, and click here for Robin Sinhababu’s]

 

Trumer Pils party @ Shiner’s Saloon

Suite 709
Suite 709

Suite 709Click image for full gallery

Most of our afternoon was spent at Shiner’s Saloon after stumbling in just looking for a place to grab some lunch.  It was very Texan – wooden wagon wheel tables, cowhide-covered chairs, animal heads mounted to the walls – but also a little rock and roll.  I embraced the intimate atmosphere and the lack of a real stage and was ready to experience some unknowns who turned out to all be pretty local.

One thing that Shiner’s Saloon did that I wish all of the venues did was they had a booklet on every table and bar that outlined the participating bands – including a bio, photos, etc.  It came in handy right away to identify the band already on stage as Suite 709.

Two immediate reactions that took precedence to the music itself: the band’s energy and the band’s style.  They get the best-dressed award from me for the weekend – all in dress shirts and vests or ties, all looking best-dressed of South-by-Southwest?very sharp.  And although I felt it was probably inappropriate to ask, I really wanted to touch the lead singer’s hair.  Or at least just examine it closer to figure out how it was balancing and staying so perfect as he jumped around and danced with the beats.

If you asked me to identify Suite 709’s style of music during their set, I probably would have changed my answer every time they played a new song.  It often went from funk to pop to hip-hop to rock and roll to soul… catching on yet?  All of the songs were catchy and I think the unique style probably helps them reach all kinds of fans.  It didn’t matter what kind of music you’re normally into, you were bound to hear something you liked from this Austin band.

In addition to best dressed, I’d also give this band the award for our best stumbled upon unknown artist and that is what SXSW has always been about for me.
Suite 709

 

Sundress
Sundress

SundressClick image for full gallery

After such a pleasant surprise with the first band, we were in no rush to leave this saloon.  Sundress played Sundressnext, another Texan group – this time from Denton.  Their stage presence and dynamic were much more relaxed and laid back but seemed to come with a dose of confidence that was nice to see with such a young group of musicians.  The dream pop beats blended well with lead singer, Ryan McAdams’ soothing vocals, creating a fuzzy, sometimes hypnotic sound.  If they had trouble standing out and gaining recognition at all at this year’s SXSW, I’d guess that this band is going to have plenty of future opportunities as it seems like they’re just getting started.
Sundress

 

Zlam Dunk
Zlam Dunk

Zlam dunkingClick image for full gallery

At a festival like SXSW, you’re bound to end up not only watching a band you wouldn’t normally go see, but Charlie Dayalso actually enjoying one.  Zlam Dunk was that band for me.  Their name fits their personality pretty well – quirky, energetic and pretty much in your face.  While they initially come off like a typical garage punk band made up of college kids, their songs definitely have a carrying the Daydance influence that makes them catchy even when combined with the hardcore vocals.  I’m not saying a straightforward garage punk band is a bad thing, just not MY thing – so Zlam Dunk’s don't jump, Charlie!dance-y beats kept my attention when I had little expectations. 

They certainly know how to put on a show and while the small space of Shiner’s Saloon probably wasn’t ideal, they made the best of it.  Frontman, Charlie Day never stopped moving – jumped off amps, performed to the streets in the open window and even leaped into the crowd.   He also added a bit of percussion by hitting anything and everything with a pair of drumsticks and shared his microphone with the true fans up front who screamed along with every lyric.  The whole show was kind of chaotic but in a rhythmic kind of way.
Zlam Dunk

~

 

Brooklyn Vegan/M is for Montreal party @ Barbarella

PS I Love You
PS I Love You

PS I Love YouClick image for full gallery

After leaving Shiner’s Saloon and a few other quick stops, we ventured to Barbarella to catch PS I Love You… which, PS… I loved better on the album.  I think a lot of that can be attributed to the day, the venue and the venue’s sound – it definitely didn’t seem to be able to keep up.  And as the last band of Barbarella’s day party on the last day of SXSW, the crowd seemed to be drained of all energy and gathered in the back of the room, several feet away from the stage.  I assume the true fans would have had caught the band on one of the first three days, so this was kind of a leftover crowd.  The two-piece band definitely knows how to rock though, so the fact that the sound system and the tired crowd couldn’t keep up, shouldn’t be reflected on their talent. 

~Sixth Street

 

The rest of the night was spent meeting up with friends and enjoying the night more as our last night of vacation.  Although I experienced such a teeny tiny percentage of everything SXSW had to offer, its hard to not at least feel successful for avoiding all the mainstream acts that seemed to be more prevalent than ever this year.  There were a ton of bands I would have liked to catch, but our no-plan stumble approach kept me from feeling any true regret.  My "unfortunately missed at SXSW" list quickly turns into my "would like to catch when they come through Chicago" list, so it all works out.
So long, South-by-Southwest

 

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Concert Reviews
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