Posted in SXSW 2008, Music by Scott Smith on March 13th, 2008
Not even a full day in and I have already violated the most important rule I was ever given about going to SXSW: don’t forget to eat. Freed from your usual schedule and in the thrall of day parties, free beer and sun – oh the glorious sun! – it’s way too easy to forget about basic human needs like nutrition. Though skipping lunch means I’m missing Georgie James in favor of an early dinner (and not passing out), it also gives me time for a mid-day update from the Rhapsody Rocks Austin party.
I assumed the Rhapsody event was going to be a corporate whorefest, but was pleasantly surprised to see that they were letting in scads of kids who had neither a badge nor a wristband. Sure, SXSW is bigger now than it used to be, but anyone who says it’s only open to jaded industry types is at the wrong shows.
The lightweight pop of Cut Copy’s first album, Bright Like Neon Love, did nothing for me as the songs often felt like they were floating around in the air, with little to ground them on the dance floor. The Aussies’ performance at the Rhapsody party was the exact opposite, making for an engaging, insistent show that had the 21 year olds dancing and saying “Depeche Who?” The band closed out its set with “Hearts on Fire,” a song that’s typical of the more anthemic sound of their new record.
Following them was the throwback punk of Sons & Daughters from Glasgow. Mixing together 60s British R&B, acid rock sleaze and Russ Meyer’s femme fatales, it’s an unapologetically dirty sound, particularly evident on “Gilt Complex.” Lead singer Adele Bethel and guitarist Scott Paterson certainly looked the part, he in a rockabilly pompadour and she in a gold sequined minidress over black hot pants and leopard print leggings. As Paterson dug into his guitar, Bethel’s banshee moan carried over the powerful rhythm section of David Gow on drums (whose efforts almost had him knocking over his kit twice) and Ailidh Lennon on bass. After the show, Patterson said he was hoping the band could reschedule its cancelled Double Door show before the summer festival season kicks in (though I’m betting Lollapalooza already has their eye on them).
Tonight I’m planning on seeing The Whigs and the Secretly Canadian showcase with Jens Lekman, Bon Iver and Black Mountain. For a report on Lou Reed’s unsurprisingly combative keynote interview, I’d direct you to Jim DeRogatis’s blog.