Casa de Love

Two Takes on The Bronx

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:38:05 -0500

Two Takes on The Bronx

Streets and Music of Sxsw on Vimeo (via Vimeo)

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:35:00 -0500

Streets and Music of Sxsw on Vimeo (via Vimeo)

Joe Jack Talcum

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:46:07 -0500

Joe Jack Talcum

SXSW Night #4: Band Review

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:02:00 -0500

Rollo Tomasi @ Latitude 30

Lurple says:

Only caught one song. Very loud, screaming metal with a female singer (screamer?).

Sky Larkin @ Latitude 30

Lurple says:

They started their set by explaining that they had “shit out their livers last night”. The lead singer/guitarist has a forgettable voice and their sound is a bit sloppy. I’d probably have more fun drinking with them than listening to them.

Andre Williams @ The Continental Club

Lurple says:

Old-school rock ‘n roll and blues. From the lead singer’s snazzy red suit and hat to the be-tasseled and underdressed go-go dancers, you can tell that these folks believe that sex, drugs, booze, and rock ‘n roll are the way to go. After watching them, I’m pretty sure they’re not wrong. If you don’t enjoy this show, I’m not sure you like live music.

Dash Rip Rock @ The Continental Club

Maura says:

I <3 Dash Rip Rock.

Mojo Nixon @ The Continental Club

Lurple says:

I’ve been to SXSW numerous times but always missed Mojo’s bash. It was nice to see that Mojo and the Toadlickers had “come out of retirement to get drunk.”, in their own words. If are easily offended you may dislike Mojo Nixon, but there’s no denying that the man can be entertaining. He’s got charisma to burn and his act is a lot of fun to watch.

Stereopony @ Japan Nite at the Elysium

Special Thanks @ Japan Nite at the Elysium

Alaska in Winter @ Submerged

The Resignators @ Fuze

StickyC says:

Fuze must be a salsa/hip hop joint when it’s not SXSW as door security was extremeley heavy (pat-downs) and there were a lot of lost-looking folks in way too much makeup and hair product. Only a dozen or so people looked like they’d actually come to see a ska gig (and had a great time dancing unmolested in the front). The Resignators are astraight up ska from Melbourne, they were trying hard, but just didnt quite get into a groove. The crowd sucked the life right out of ‘em. I imagine they were also pretty jet-lagged.

Asakusa Jinta @ Japan Nite at the Elysium

Lurple says:

These folks are pretty unique- a hard marching bad. Lots of brass instruments- French horn, trumpets, plus a clarinet and some kind of custom bass or cello looking thing. Very fast paced, and the leader singer used his machine-gun vocals and the band’s skilled backing to pound out some rocking tunes and even a rock polka. It was an electric performance. I believe it’s a sign that the performance is good if I find that I’m really into the show even though it’s not a kind of music I’d usually listen to.

Quaff @ at Japan Nite at the Elysium

Lurple says:

Theatrical and partially made up like KISS or Detroit Metal City, but they’ve got a tight technical sound to back up their theatrics. Good upbeat rock ‘n roll. They covered Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” towards the end of their set, and the entire band moonwalked simultaneously. The crowd ate it up.

StickyC says:

Reminded me of a lot of almost-made-it 80’s ultra-big hair metal bands with a whole lot of Aquabats-esq stage antics and back-story, made even better by their minimal English skills (to their credit, they had on-stage subtitles for some of their bits. A definite crowd-pleaser.

Saturday's Band Lust

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:48:00 -0500

Rollo Tomasi @ Latitude 30
Sky Larkin @ Latitude 30
Andre Williams w/ the Allen Oldies Band @ the Continental Club
Dash Rip Rock @ the Continental Club
Mojo Nixon @ the Continental Club
Stereopony @ Elysium
SpecialThanks @ Elysium
Ezra Firman & the Harpoons @ Submerged
Alaska in Winter @ Submerged
The Resignators @ Fuze
Asakusa Jinta @ Elysium
Quaff @ Elysium

SXSW Night #3: Band Review

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:19:00 -0500

My Latest Novel @ Latitude 30

Lurple says:

Generic British folk/pop with a violin. Low-key and bland. Nothing you haven’t heard 100 times before. They’re technically sound there’s nothing wrong with their music, but I’m not inspired to write any more about their music, or seek it out.
They looked like they’d been awake for days, and I can empathize with that.

Shiny Toy Guns @ Bat Bar at the Convention Center

StickyC says:

Just like all the other recent cookie cutter pop bands. The twist on this McBand was the stand-out female vocal contributions. Also, they need to sue DirecTV for having such a miserable sound mix for such a “professional” presentation. I guess if it sounds good on TV, that’s what counts.

Hammell on Trial @ Soho Lounge

Lurple says:

Solo performer that does half standup/ half guitar and song. Very funny, personable, and vulgar. Some of them are really vulgar, but they’re still very funny.
He reminds me of Shel Silverstein’s more adult work, perhaps combined with a bit of George Carlin. As the man himself said, “I drove 1,800 miles to get here, you don’t think I’m gonna kick some ass?” Good stuff.

Dirty Old Men @ Elysium’s Japan Nite

Lurple says:

Pop/punk group tending towards pop, but usually not as sappy as your generic j-pop. They did have some sappy bits in a song or two, though.
More enthusiastic than skilled; the longer they played the less I liked them.

Honeysac @ Elysium’s Japan Nite

StickyC says:

Very high energy mainly female Japanese hard rock. Their first gig in the US and they grabbed the Texas bull by the horns and ran with it. They had all the prime pop ingredients, but very abrupt transitions (both in audience participation and key changes).

Lurple says:

REALLY high energy pop/rock girl band. The lead singer exhorted… nay, demanded that the crowd clap, hop, and sing along. Most of the crowd responded but I think these girls would have given it 100% even if only 3 people showed up.
Very charismatic and talented lead singer, and the rest of the band is really skilled too. Fun, upbeat, and hard working. I fully expect one of their songs to end up as an anime theme (which is not an insult-there are some very cool anime theme songs).

The Urges @ Red Eyed Fly

StickyC says:

Freaking amazing. Maybe the new #1 of the gig. Very early Byrds with a completely wrecked early (pre tights) Mick Jagger. Best quote of that gig “I wrote this song so I could get a big prick in my arse”. Great intensity and competence. If the British Invasion starts over again, these guys will be kicking the balls of anyone who gets in the way.

Grapevine @ Elysium’s Japan Nite

StickyC says:

Channeling a slight (very tiny) bit of Stone Roses twinkly bits but with more wailing vocals and half-as-long jams. Mix in a bit of Styx + INXS + late-era-slower-Cheap Trick and smack it with the generic pop hammer and you’ve got Grapevine. In Japanese.

Detroit 7 @ Elysium’s Japan Nite

Lurple says:

Wow. This trio- guitarist/lead singer, drummer, and bass rocked! One of the most technically impressive bands I’ve seen, skill-wise, and they give it their all. I wasn’t sure if I liked the singer at first- she has a bit of a low, growly voice. When she opens up and really sings, she’s great.
The drummer plays like she’s having a seizure but she’s also really, really good. The bass player would only be called layed-back in comparison to the other two, since the whole band plays like they’re possessed.
Music ranged from good ‘ol fashioned rock ‘n roll to metal, and a mosh pit broke out at one point. Highly recommended.

Friday's Band List

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:55:00 -0500

Gabriella Gilmi @ Bush Square Park (Aussie BBQ)
My Latest Novel @ Latitude 30 (British Music Embassy)
Shiny Toy Guns @ Bat Bar-Austin Convention Center (Craig, StickyC, Maura)
Hammell on Trial @ Soho Lounge (Keite, Lurple)
Whitechapel @ The Cedar Door (Craig)
Proclaimers @ La Zona Rosa (Craig)
Killola @ Smokin’ Music (Keite, Craig)
Dirty Old Men @ Elysium (StickyC, Maura, Lurple)
Honeysac @ Elysium (StickyC, Maura, Lurple)
The Urges @ Red Eyed Fly (StickyC)
Grapevine @ Elysium (StickyC, Keite)
Devo @ Austin Music Hall (Craig)
Detroit 7 @ Elysium (StickyC, Keite, Lurple)

SXSW Night #2: Band Review

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:02:00 -0500

James Harries @ St. David’s Episcopal Church

Lurple says:

A solo singer/guitarist. Very low-key performance, and I’ve got to say it was a nice break from the faster-paced shows and general SXSW hustle and bustle, and I enjoyed it. This is the only show I’ve attended so far where I’ve felt comfortable removing my Etymotic earplugs.
He’s got a good voice, and he’s got passion. Look for his songs on Grey’s Anatomy soon.

Nellie McKay @ St. David’s Episcopal Church

Lurple says:

Solo singer/ piano/ ukulele player. Good voice, witty and fun jazzy numbers that sometimes contain pop-culture references. She also has a love of traditional jazz numbers.
She’s also funny when she chats and jokes in between numbers. I would have loved to see this show in a small, smoky bar, as that seems like a perfect fit for her style. Not that there’s anything wrong with the church; it’s an excellent venue.
She had a nice selection of different songs that effectively showcased her talents. I didn’t expect to enjoy this show, but I had a great time.

StickyC says:

The voice was a bit on the Tiny Tim side of things - works some places, but not others. Fortunately, it worked well in this place. Surprisingly mature in sound, lyric, and attitude for her age. It’ll be interesting to see where her life takes her.

Sgt. Dunbar and The Hobo Banned @ Esther’s Follies

Lurple says:

While I loved this band’s name I wasn’t so crazy about their music. They have an 8-person group and possibly 30+ instruments between them, often swapping instruments mid-song.
That’s fairly impressive, but the music felt a bit jumbled and off here and there, almost as if they were stepping on each other’s toes. They’re still fairly unique and I expect some people would enjoy their show; I liked their last song of the night which was simply all of them singing together with acoustic guitar.
I counted the following: trumpets, slide trombone, tubas, french horns, a bandsaw, maracas, guitars (electric and acoustic), drums, harmonicas… I can’t help but ask why they don’t have more cowbell.

StickyC says:

In their defense, they introduced themselves as all having crashed on some nice Austinite’s floor, so I can’t imagine any of them got much sleep before the gig. All things considered, for so many people changing so many instruments so quickly in such a small space, I’ve gotta give ‘em big kudos. Not entirely sure where their music was coming from, felt very gospel-sourced. Surprisingly comfortable, despite all the varied instruments.

She Creatures @ Esther’s Follies

Lurple says:

Blue-haired space girls that would be at home in a ‘60s sci-fi movie. The band includes a Theremin player.
They had a very theatrical entrance set to music and including a smoke machine. Kind of sets the tone for the show, since they put on a good performance but their songs are hit & miss.
I got a kick out of a couple of the numbers, like “Sexy Robot”, and their attempt to massacre the crowd with a ray gun.

StickyC says:

Blue-haired girls in silver 1-pieces with clear plastic skirts singing about sexy robots? What’s not to like! No, they’re not the tightest, most technically skilled band out there and they wont be winning any lyrical awards, but the lead singer’s Janice Joplin-esque pipes and the bands hooks still have me humming their tunes 2 days and 15 bands later.

Cary Brothers @ The Parish

Sara Bareilles @ The Parish

StickyC says:

Beautiful and confident on the mic, Sarah playfully re-imagined several of her popular tracks and a lovely cover of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. Wondferul, if short, set.

The Proclaimers @ The Parish

StickyC says:

We showed up at the Parish amidst a poorly handled dynamic lineup - the Proclaimers played one song, a top-notch cover of Kings of Leon’s “17”, I’ve no idea how long they’ve been performing this song, but they nailed it spot on and beautifully. Shame they didnt stick around for more

HotelCafe all-star jam @ The Parish

StickyC says:

A little bit disappointing for a jam. As we’d shown up partway throught the showcase, there were several band members on stage we didn’t recognize (and several notables that didn’t return, including the Proclaimers and Shara Bareilles). Sal on keyboards drove the closing group number, with the Cary Brothers’ guitarist and drummer keeping up. Most of the backup vocals apparently werent too familiar with the song or a bit too deep in the cups to keep up with the chorus. A bit of a let down outside of Sal’s enthusiasm. Made us all a bit sad that we weren’t able to make his own performance.

Thursday night's band list

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:57:13 -0500

James Harries
Nellie McKay
Sgt. Dunbar & the Hobo Banned
She Creatures
Blitzen Trapper
Cary Brothers
Sara Bareilles
The Proclaimers

SXSW Night #1: Band Review

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:50:00 -0500

Zolof: the Rock n’ Roll Destroyer @ Maggie Maes

Lurple says:

Fun, upbeat rock and roll. The lead singer (Rachael Minton) is more charismatic than talented, but the show was still a lot of fun. Bonus: they have a pirate song.
Second most enjoyable band we saw this night.

StickyC say:

Total 80’s girl band feel, which is right up my alley. I totally fell in love with Rachel (then again, Keite says it’s all in the wig).

Fool’s Gold @ Dirty Dog

Lurple says:

Hewbrew spiritual/drug rock. The band is fairly skilled but the lead singer isn’t at their level. It includes band members like a guy who randomly hits a drum pad (there’s already a drummer) when he’s not shaking gourds.
Several of the band members seemed really high, and I found myself wondering if I would enjoy their music more if I was taking whatever they were on.
Repetitive and dull, in the end I didn’t enjoy the show. Sure, people will dance if you have a decent beat, but if it’s just the same thing over for 5-10 minutes in a row only the really high or really drunk will appreciate it. I was bored.

StickyC says:

Aww Lurple just doesnt have rhythm (or understand Hebrew?). I fully enjoyed the sound and energy through the entire set. Heavy on the percussion side, blending a little ska and Carribean/island vibe (not at all what I’d call drug rock).

Dananananaykroyd @ Dirty Dog

Lurple says:

Super-high energy band, very good live show. These guys work! At one point the lead singer unplugged his mic while running around in the crowd.
Extremely friendly and cool group. Being infectiously enthusiastic, obviously having fun performing, and having the skills to back it up paid off: the crowd really liked them. So did I.
One of the singers gave me a hug at the finale, too.

StickyC says:

Best show of the night- punk-pop with two drummers and a frontman that looks like Tilda Swinton. The frontman and one of the drummers swapped up drumming/singing duties several times, with both making frequent forays into the crowd. Feet still hurt from the pogo-ing.

The Gay Blades @ Dirty Dog

Lurple says:

Bluesy rock. Only two members; guitarist/singer and drummer. These were some of the hardest working folks I saw all night; passionate and high energy. I wasn’t able to stay for the whole show, unfortunately.

StickyC Says:

I love seeing shows where the enterainers hold nothing back, these guys were terrific. Being a duo, they had plenty of free stage and the singer/guitarist used all of it, losing himself completely in the music and delivering a very passionate performance.

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head @ Dirty Dog

StickyC Says:

Just stuck around for the first two tracks of these guys before heading out - it’d been a long day. Also, I somehow ended up in the lead singer’s favorite pelvic thrust target zone. File under the blur of recent pop bands emerging from YouTube, GH/RB promos, and TV soundtracks.

Echo and the Bunnymen @ Emo’s

Lurple says:

Pretty damn good live show. I’ve known about this band for ages but never actually listened to them (don’ t shoot me, I mostly review movies), but I’ll definitely consider picking up one of their CDs based of this performance.
I guess I would call this alternative/indie rock. I am sure that they’ve already been conveniently labeled by many others.
By far the most technically impressive band I saw tonight.

Rock on, ye sweaty men!

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:13:50 -0500

Rock on, ye sweaty men!

Tonight's band list (so far)

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:26:41 -0500

Cut Off Your Hands at Vice
Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer at Maggie Mae’s

And then I lost steam, but the rest of the crew carried on…

Pecan Street Lofts

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:49:26 -0500

After three years, hotels in prime locations seem harder and harder to come by. This year we stumbled on condos for rent right on 6th street.

Although I’m pretty sure that someone is going to have an accident on that staircase by the time we’re through — so far the condo looks like it will work out just fine. Hopefully the rest of the crew agrees.

This cracked my shit up, so I hereby declare SXSW Music now in...

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:08:18 -0500

This cracked my shit up, so I hereby declare SXSW Music now in session.

See you in Austin! (caseydonahue, via dalasverdugo and jstn)

Let's get ready to party!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:15:49 -0500

I’m not quite packed yet, but soon I will be on my way to Austin. Who’s with me (besides Crab Goalkeeper)?

SCHED* and Donewaiting.com have joined forces to create a SXSW...

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:53:00 -0600

SCHED* and Donewaiting.com have joined forces to create a SXSW Blog on Tumblr. They are also offering an exclusive sponsorship of the whole empire (SCHED*, blog, newsletter, Twitter, etc.) to one lucky marketing department for ~~$100k~~ ~~$25k~~ $15k. (via gtmcknight)

@chrisweiss @keite @lurple @mauralyn Reading SXSWorld and getting excited! (via Twitter)

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:31:59 -0600

@chrisweiss @keite @lurple @mauralyn Reading SXSWorld and getting excited! (via Twitter)