Frank Smith

As you may recall, Frank Smith is the whole reason this little blog even exists. So I guess you can say that I kind of have a soft spot for this band. Just warning you.

A few things you should know about Frank Smith: No one in the band is named Frank Smith. The vocals alone - which somehow manage the feat of being simultaneously smooth and rough - will hook you. The arrangements - clean, sweet, fun country - will guarantee that you stay. In conclusion: Rent a Texas dance hall, queue the Frank Smith, and prepare to fall hard.

In case you hadn't noticed,

I rather dislike using a flash. So much so that "I Hate Flash" would be an acceptable alternative title for this blog. But, yeah, it makes the pictures blurry. Sorry.

Caleb Coy

I'm 99% sure that this is a picture of Caleb Coy performing at Mohawk. It's definitely the Mohawk. And it's definitely the artist preceding Frank Smith. But since I can't remember the date of the show and I never knew the band name to begin with . . . well.

This is excellent bed time and/or stare-at-the-stars-on-a-quiet-night music. I have to admit that I'm a sucker for that echo-y sound effect, especially when combined with an acoustic guitar. There's a song called "Acoustic Guitar" so I know I'm not alone on this. Purr.

Goran Bregovic & His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra

I found myself sitting outside a concert hall on a breezy midsummer eve, waiting for a friend to share a free ticket with me. I was about to see Goran Bregovic & His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra*. They had made the long trip across the pond to party Eastern European style in the ATX and the crowd was fully prepared. There were gypsies, hipsters, debutantes, and professorial-types but they all had an element in common. Their clothes flowed in that free and casual way that left no question about it - they were ready to dance. And dance they did. The whole lot of them. Because that's what Bregovic's music begs you to do. The all-male choir is spot on, the female vocalists are haunting, the brass and string players are mood setting maestros, and the drummer/vocalist is dreamy. Bregovic expertly guides you through it all. You clap, you dance, you sing along if you understand the language. You are merry.

Thanks be to Kasia.

*Sadly there's no music site but the Wikipedia article is a fairly intersting read.

The Lost Pines

After a backyard performance like that, I just had to see the full act, live and in-the-flash. The show proved once again to be quite charming, packed with all the good stuff -- boot stomping, smiles, and solos aplenty. And the venue cannot go unmentioned -- a quirky little lodge that serves as home for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an altruistic fraternal organization. What a combination!

The Lost Pines-ish

Pictured below is Talia Sekons, her brother Akon (hope I got that spelling right), and Christian McAdams. Talia and Christian are both members of The Lost Pines, a wonderful local bluegrass band.

Here's how the story goes: I was having a lovely time at a friend's house party when I happened to see these folks come bearing various instruments. Naturally, I chatted them up and quickly learned that they were bluegrass players. This was especially serendipitous since I had very recently decided it was a genre I wanted to get to know better. And on top of this, I was lucky enough to have made mention of my love of Gillian Welch, only to discover that Talia fronts a Gillian Welch tribute (or is it cover?) band! Being the kind people that they are, they broke out their instruments and played a beautiful set of music right there in the backyard. And I watched, hammock-side, as Talia did Gillian justice and then some. The setting was perfection, the instrumentation was magical, and the vocals were mezmerizing. It was, a small slice of heaven.

Cartright

Oh yes indeed! My b-day night was the first time I saw Cartright perform, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I truly felt that it was the PERFECT band for the occassion. Now, I'll admit that I know a couple of the guys in the band and so I was able to finagle two birthday shout outs but even without the shout outs I would still sing their praises. It's the kind of music that makes you want to throw your arms around your buddies' shoulders, beer in hand, and sing at the top of your lungs. It's drunken good ol' times music. It sways and stomps and every so often, soothes.

Aaron Behrens and The Dirty Banquet

Normally this is where I would insert a hyperlink to Aaron Behrens and The Dirty Banquet BUT alas, a band site does not exist. Here is how I know this:
I googled Aaron Behrens (because I couldn't remember the rest of the band's name) and came across nothing but Ghostland Observatory pages. As awesome as Ghostland is, this was not helping my cause. I was about to give up when I noticed that google offered two other search suggestions, one of which was "aaron behrens married". I thought this was funny seeing as how I myself was a teensy bit heartbroken when I noticed that he was donning a wedding ring. I mean the man oozes sex; every move he makes practically screams, "I will 100% blow your mind, rock your world, change your life, after just one night in bed." Apparently I'm not alone in this thought but I digress. I decided to see what popped up when I tried this search and low and behold I found this brief interview. Armed with a name I tried once again to search for a band site but still no luck. Pretty sure it doesn't exist. What I can tell you though is that The Dirty Banquet also records as Prayer for Animals. I think I caught a bit of their show the following week and I think I liked it quite a bit. But seeing as how no photos of this exist, I can't be certain. Plus I was drunk. The recorded stuff I've heard is solid Texas psych-rock-country.
Back to the show at hand, yes? It was good but it was also country which when you consider the sound of Ghostland is . . . well, shocking. And Aaron Behrens not dancing on stage seems almost criminal. Still, the show was fun enough that I'd recommend checking it out just to see what else Aaron has up his sleeve.

The Theater Fire

The Theater Fire is a heart-warming, lovely blend of country, folk, mariachi, and rock. Despite the eclectic mix the songs are simple. I've seen the band twice now and both times I found myself rather charmed by them. Perhaps the venue (Lambert's) played into that. And it certainly didn't hurt that the crowd couple-danced the night away. Still, starry eyed was I.

Brazos

Again with the Brazos.

This is from an ACL taping. There's only two photos since apparently picture taking is frowned upon there. Who knew?

PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey strikes me as eccentric. Ditto for her music. She is quite theatrical in her presentation and it suits the vibe. Pretty bird.

Razorlight

FINALLY posting the final day of SXSW 2009. And it's only August.

Fortunately for me there are only two posts left.

Here we have Razorlight -- low-key punk pop. The show is BIG, the lights are bright, the frontman is expressive. I have to admit I found myself focusing more on him than anything else. Insert girly sigh.

King Khan & the Shrines

Of all the shows to have a near dead camera! Good GOD these kids rock. Well-done funk is always dance inducing but this is a whole different beast. King Khan & the Shrines bring the . . . everything, cheerleader included. Imagine if James Brown was of Middle Eastern descent and if his music was a pinch more rock, and there you go. Show highlight -- one band member stood atop an amp, dropped trou, tucked his "snake" between his legs, and proudly wiggled and danced about with a full on man-gina. It sadly didn't last too long. A SXSW volunteer was sent out on stage to stand in front of him. Ha!

GZA and Black Lips

I've already made mention of this show. I think that pretty well covers it. Here's a link for GZA, for fun.

Camera Obscura

Would it make any sense to describe Camera Obscura's sound as pretty happy/melancholy? 'Cuz it is.

Jason Lytle

Jason Lytle, formerly of Grandaddy, is flying solo. His music now is only slightly less electronic-pop-y.

Chairlift

My strongest memory of Chairlift is of a fan blowing Caroline Polachek's hair in slo-motion. It was a bit hypnotizing.

Of course it's probably fair to say that the music played a part in that. Chairlift has a pretty strong 80s vibe to them, which p.s. is more than okay in my book. The vocals however are very much the 00s, and by that I mean super cute and female a la Regina Spektor, Feist, or Zooey Deschanel.

Loney Dear

So as it turns out Loney Dear is really just a one man show, the Swedish Emil Svanängen, who travels with a backing band. You'd never know this by watching them perform together; I certainly didn't. They genuinely seemed to enjoy themselves, they played cohesively, and there was no spotlight hogging to be found.

Since I'm in the mood for band comparisons I'm gonna go ahead and call them/him a happier, more melodic Postal Service.

Viva Voce

Well. I sure am taking my sweet time with this. And I gotta say that this does not make it easy on the old memory.

I'm finally on a new day. The day my camera was close to death. Boo.

Anywho, here's what I can recall of Viva Voce. Their look said hip mod rockers AND so did their sound. They reminded me of a less produced, less heavy, less glam version of The Raveonettes.

Beach House

Beach House could maybe be described as somber chamber rock . . . or that description could be way off. What is certain though is that both the band members and myself were "tipsy" for the show. Victoria Legrand (vocalist) dropped lyrics and I dropped my camera. Still, I think it's fair to say that a good time was had by all.


P.S. End day two.