Following a timely recommendation from a friend back in Blighty I head down to Frank’s Restaurant on 4th St and Colorado. Why? At the back of the store lies some hidden treasures; Jack White’s Third Man Records’ shop where limited SXSW editions of White’s assorted 13 and 8 inch vinyl could be had. Whilst it felt good to get some fresh air, this was more Aberdeen than Austin as chilly winds brought an icy air. Hands in pockets, it was back into town for The Big One at 4th St Fort for tongue-in-cheek bass driven funk from Copenhagen’s Who Made Who and some well deserved freebies.
After a short stroll across 6th St I stumbled into Stubbs’ for Rachel Ray’s (US daytime TV host extraordinaire, apparently) day party where the hard liquor flowed. Dutifully a second stage had been set up so in getting a good spot you could easily catch Tom Morello’s side project and supergroup, Street Sweeper Social Club. An excuse sufficient to stave off the free booze for some enthusiastic, charged rock ‘n’ roll. Then all you needed to do was simply turn around as, in a matter of minutes, tongues were wagging for Zooey Deschanel and her side-project, She & Him. Even the cold can affect A-list film stars with each band member having adorned tightly wrapped winter jackets with Deschanel proving that she may have chosen the wrong career. Her sweet, docile trawl gloriously draped songs of love and loss such as This Is Not A Test, which hinted at country, then doeful folk.
Time for something dirty, obligingly it’s The Aussie BBQ at Maggie Mae’s and a stirring set by Melbourne based Children Collide. Typified by lead singer Jonny and his yelping vocals though perhaps the upstairs stage was a bad idea. Brooklyn’s Lemonade at Vice promised pop and delivered tedium with lead singer Callan Clendinen flailing his microphone and singing extravagantly into the near, empty distance. For a band that hardly ever play live and this was, admittedly, their first US gig, Sheffield’s In The Nursery displayed an assured performance and an epic sound. Their output is mainly film soundtracks, which is barely surprising when they employed a drum kit and additional mammoth percussion for a cinematic feel. The drama is in the delivery with sweeping rhythms and considered vocals from Dolores Marguerite C.
As temperatures dropped the queues only seemed to lengthen; twice around The Whitley for Perez Hilton’s bash. Those with sense knew to stay indoors and after a few bracing beverages it was time to bid adieu. Until next time, Austin.