So it’s that time of year again, the time when thousands of bands and hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world take over downtown Austin, Texas for the country’s biggest music festival, South by Southwest. I still have yet to put together the appropriate funds and much-needed discipline to make the trek to my favorite destination spot, but I swear that one of these days I will finally make it. Actually, I’d rather move there because I like to think of Austin, Texas as the “Las Vegas of Music.”
I figured I’d just quickly go through my daily picks of where I might be if I were there. So for all of you who are out there, getting ready for the greatest non-stop four day party on earth, enjoy yourselves and be safe, ya lucky bastards. I kid.
The Crowded Hot Spots
The first two full days of SXSW (Wednesday and Thursday), I think I would find myself at one of the best outdoor music venues I’ve ever been too, Stubb’s BBQ. Yes, it’s not just a music venue but also a barbeque joint, most famously known for their sauce, although I hear you can’t go wrong with the fried green tomatoes, onion rings or smoked duck quesadillas. Wash it down with a couple of cold Lone Star beers or Texas teas. I can almost taste it now.
It’s sure to be one of the harder venues to get into during SXSW, because as always, they’ve got quite a bill of amazing bands. On Wednesday night, hometown heroes Spoon are headlining the show, and will be joined by the Danger Mouse/James Mercer collaboration Broken Bells, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, The Walkmen and Visqueen. Thursday night, Stubb’s has Broken Social Scene, Band of Horses, The Drive-By Truckers, The Soft Pack, The Besnard Lakes and Robert Francis. I really wish that Cincinnati would get a place like this. Watch a concert while eating some of the best eats in the city. I mean we are famous for our own brand of barbeque, so maybe they could make some changes to the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. Or how about Skyline or LaRosas?
If you think the lineups for the first two days are great, have a look at Austin’s Music Hall on Friday. Honestly, I think this will be the best all-around show all weekend. Smokey Robinson, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Raphael Saadiq, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and Mayer Hawthorne and the County. Undoubetedly the greatest showcase of R&B and Soul music. You’ve got the King of Motown in Robinson, while the remaining four are easily among the very best of newer R&B/Soul acts.
On Saturday, I think I’d be heading just south of the Colorado River, to the Auditorium Shore Stage on Lady Bird Lake. I’ve never seen a show at this venue, but I have a clear image of it sitting in the back of my mind when I first visited the town for the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2006. Playing this outdoor venue are She & Him (the duo of M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel), Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve Earle), Lucero, Deer Tick, Dawes and Kimya Dawson.
It Might Be Easier to Get In
If I were going, I thought I’d also add a list of places I might go that probably won’t be as crowded as my picks above.
Wednesday night, I’d probably find myself at Maggie Mae’s for Everest, Jets Overhead, Pegi Young (Neil’s wife), Jason Yates (of Ben Harper’s band the Innocent Criminals), Infantree and Lost in Holland or in the Gibson Room at Maggie Mae’s for Johnny Cooper, The Ettes, The Young Republic, Matthew Perryman Jones, Ten Out of Tenn and Madi Diaz.
Thursday night, I might find myself at the Hilton Garden Inn for Harper Simon (Paul’s son), The Chapin Sisters, Julie Freeney, Correatown, Nive Nielsen, Sahara Smith and Julian Berntzen or Emo’s for Delta Spirit, Adam Green, Local Natives, Rogue Wave, Miles Kurosky and Peter Wolf Crier.
Friday night I’d probably head over to the Emo’s Annex for one of WOXY’s first official showcases, featuring Bear in Heaven, Crystal Antlers, Cymbals Eat Guitars, French Miami, Twin Tigers and TV Torso.
Saturday night, I would probably head over to the Soho Lounge for Stardeath and White Dwarfs, The Uglysuit, Colourmusic, The Non, The City Lives and Gum.
Going to SXSW? Let me know what you think of my picks, who you plan on seeing and how your trip to Austin went this year. Email me at nate@brokenmic.com