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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Live Review Day One - SXSW 2011

Posted by Ezra Ace Caraeff on Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 8:34 AM

A really poor photo of the Four Fists
  • A really poor photo of the Four Fists

DAY ONE - SXSW 2011

Total Number of Bands Seen:
Only 9. Lord Huron, Screaming Females, Quiet Life, Tennis, Obits, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the Four Fists, Summer Camp, and Josh T. Pearson.

Total Number of Tacos Consumed:
Zero. But I did attempt to eat something called an Enchilacho (nachos inside an enchilada, naturally) yet couldn't get more than a couple bites in. That's what we get for eating in a Mexican restaurant located inside a head shop. We saw Aziz Ansari reluctantly walk in this place earlier in the day and assumed that if it was good enough for Tom Haverford, it was good enough for us. Turns out, he was probably purchasing a vaporizer.

Notable Shows That I Was Unable to See:
Three. Okkervil River, tUnE-YaRdS, and Veronica Falls. Worry not, I'll see these three in the next day or so.

Celebrity Sightings:
Three. John Norris, the middle kid from Hanson, and Aziz. Also, by skipping the Okkervil River show, I missed the NBA's finest three-point shooting ginger, Matt Bonner. Damn.

DId you know Sparks no longer has caffeine in their silver cans of unhappiness? Well, they do. I wasn't aware of this until I polished off my first can before noon, and then it was all down hill after that...

The two main highlights of the day were the early day set from the Screaming Females—whose pint-sized, female singer really does look like Joey Lawrence from Gimme a Break!—and the haunting return to the Lone Star State of Josh T. Pearson. The mysterious former frontman of Lift to Experience—a band we are not shy about expressing our love for—Pearson is now based out of the UK (where he was an integral part of Bat For Lashes' debut, Fur and Gold) and is finally releasing his oft-rumored solo material. Fittingly, Pearson performed in Texas for the first time in about a decade under a gigantic cross at the Central Presbyterian Church. Opening with a stripped bare version of "Rivers of Babylon" (which was a surprise choice, but fit Pearson well) his chilling voice was the centerpiece of an acoustic performance full of minimalist guitar work and some harrowing lyrics. If last night was any indication, we're all in for a treat when his Last Of The Country Gentlemen LP comes out later this month.

Another performance of note was the debut show from the Four Fists, the new project from P.O.S. and Astronautalis. It's just your average hiphop collaboration based around the short stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (seriously), but technical issues shortened their brief three song set.

I'd write more, but my mom coincidentally happens to be in town (she's in Odd Future) and she wants to take me to lunch. Or maybe we can go back to school shopping. I hope this is the year she finally caves and buys me those Reebok Pumps.

 

Comments (4) RSS

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1
You saw THE Matt Bonner! Apparently, he's really into the indie rock: http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/altreport/201…

Also we need a picture of the Enchilacho! (How long before the Blazers are giving this away after 100 pts?)
Posted by Sūṕër Ḉḩüñdŷ on March 17, 2011 at 9:38 AM · Report
2
Why do I hate Tennis even though I know nothing about them except their name?
Posted by ROM on March 17, 2011 at 12:43 PM · Report
3
EZ - perhaps add something to the format:
"Best band today"
"best band so far"


mc
Posted by Matt Caldwell on March 17, 2011 at 4:24 PM · Report
4
Dude, "(she's in Odd Future)" was a genuine LOL moment. Kudos.
Posted by Garbage Monster on March 17, 2011 at 11:50 PM · Report

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