South by So Tired

Let’s just get it out of the way – we had a blast at South by Southwest last weekend. Thanks to all the folks at Guero’s and Live Music Records for putting us on the showcase as well as all the folks that showed up to catch our set.  We had a great crowd and we played pretty damn well.

SXSW is so nuts. It’s a really interesting thing to see streets closed down and so many musicians pushing gear around.

George, Chris and I all got to Austin Friday. Chris and I shared a room both nights we were there, so we hung out early evening in Austin getting some pizza at Home Slice and eventually making our way to Jo’s Coffee where we met George and caught the set by the Jayhawks. It was a simple acoustic set, but they were phenomenal.

Chris and I bailed on Alejandro Escovedo in favor of the Arc Angels right on Town Lake. We did hear Escovedo warm up on a George Jones song we had stuck in our heads the rest of the weekend. I refuse to name it for fear it may end up back in there. Arc Angels were fantastic as usual. Doyle Brammel Jr. is such a ridiculous musician although it was interesting that bassist Tommy Shannon was not with them on this gig. He and drummer Chris Layton form one of the best and most underrated rock rhythm sections (Double Trouble) of all time.

We were pretty burnt by the time that was over and decided to make our way back to the hotel and crash.

On Saturday, Chris and I headed down to Guero’s around noon. We people watched. I can personally say I girl watched – everyone else in the band is married, so they would NEVER eyeball another woman…ahem – and sweet hairy monkeys of fire there were some hot women in Austin, but I digress.

We caught a couple of bands before us – all from Houston – and then went on right around 1:30pm. It was nice to see some of our friends in the audience! The band before us was acoustic and at SXSW, you really have to be loud to draw people into a venue – or onto a big open patio like where we played next door to Guero’s. Once we got started, the place started to fill up and we got a really warm reception from the crowd.

We did out 40 minutes or so, including a ridiculously awesome long guitar solo at the end of Suzanna to close out the set. We hope to have some audio and video available soon.

After the show, Chris, his wife and I went back to the hotel to drop off gear and get some lunch. We had an excellent lunch at Kerbey Lane. If you’ve never been, go. It’s teh awesome. I don’t remember our waitresses name, but she was great too.

Once we got back down to South Congress, we split up and I headed down to 6th Street while Chris stayed back to catch a few bands on Congress including Fastball. I wandered around on 6th and 5th for a number of hours, hanging out with some friends from Houston.

I also caught the set of an excellent pop/rock band from Baton Rouge called We Landed on the Moon. I had exchanged emails with the guitarist last year and he sent me their music. I took a bunch of pictures and talked with him afterwards about exchanging some gigs, so hopefully you’ll see them on a bill with us sometime this summer.

My friends and I went back to Kerbey Lane for late night breakfast – yum – and then it was off to bed.

Overall, a really fun and productive weekend for the band and for us as individuals. We hope to be back and playing even more shows next year. Oh, and you can catch some of my photos from the weekend here. Enjoy!

SXSWTF!

It’s the most festivalst time of the year. There’ll be inide bands playing and hipsters a-swaying to music and BEEEER! We’ve never played in Austin during the crazy, cluster**** that is the South by Southwest Music Festival, but that will change this year.

We were invited to play as part of the Live Music Records Houston Showcase at Guero’s on Saturday. We go on at 1:30pm. This is one of the MANY day parties going on during the festival though not part of the “official” festival.

We’ll be playing at 1pm and you should come early and get some of Guero’s excellent tacos – 1412 S. Congress Avenue.

Nearly as much fun as playing will be going to catch all the shows. Several of us are going up early to hit some of the other day parties going on. Some of the bands we’ve talked about wanting to see include The Hold Steady (GOT to see them), Alejandro Escovedo, The Decemberists, Superdrag, Ra Ra Riot, Lucero, Gomez, We Landed on the Moon and a TON of others.  I missed the Damnwells who are playing tonight, but there are plenty more great acts to see.

If you are in Austin, swing by Guero’s and say “hi.” Should be loads of fun.