Entries Tagged With: day parties

What It Was Like: Film School, The Acorn, A Place to Bury Strangers, Sea Wolf

By Pete Freedman At 06:36pm Mar 17, 2008

A Place to Bury Strangers was L.O.U.D. (Pete Freedman)

Saturday saw another slew of impressive day-time shows. I spent most of my afternoon at the Hot Freaks party at Mohawk, then made it to the Convention Center and, finally, found my way over to the Cedar Street Courtyard for the tail end of the Filter party. It wasn't has hot as Friday was--but it wasn't exactly chilly either. Anyway, here's What It Was Like...

Band: Film School, loud indie rockers from San Francisco
Where: Mohawk's outdoor stage
What It Was Like: Listening to a band that takes itself a bit too seriously. Maybe it's because it was hot out, or maybe that's just how this band is (I've never seen them live before), but Film School wasn't too exciting to watch on stage on Saturday afternoon. The bass was loud and the post-grunge art rock/shoegaze sound was fine. But it wasn't anything to go ga-ga over. Maybe if the band looked like it was having a little more fun up there, that would've carried over a bit to the crowd, who looked every bit as bored as the band did.
Verdict: Undecided, really. Film School doesn't have a bad sound--I've liked their recorded efforts so far. But their live performance wasn't really suited for an outdoor day-party, and the bass was too turned up on the sound system to really give this band's live show a fair judgment. At moments they were amazing, at others they were deathly boring. I'm still up in the air. (Note: I was so unsure I nearly hit the band's night-time performance at Bourbon Rocks, but backed out at the last second in an effort to see as many bands as possible.)
Random Note: It might not have been as excruciatingly hot on Saturday as it was Friday, but it seemed like enough of the audience had learned its lesson the day before. Wherever possible, the crowds packed into the shaded spaces beneath the tents at the outside venues.

Tags: What It Was Like, day parties, SXSW, music

What It Was Like: The Black Keys, The Little Ones, Helio Sequence, British Sea Power

By Pete Freedman At 06:22am Mar 15, 2008

British Sea Power does it epic at the Mohawk. (Pete Freedman)

Oh, Friday. You weren't as hot as hyped weather-wise. But, musically, you were simply en fuego. Delightful stuff again, Austin. Here's What It Was Like on Friday afternoon...

Band: The Black Keys, the greatest blues rock duo to ever come out of Akron, Ohio.
Where: La Zona Rosa
What It Was Like: Listening to any Black Keys record. Seriously, these guys are tight live.
Verdict: It was entertaining stuff from this duo...to an extent. Maybe I'm jaded from seeing some 15 sets (or more? I've lost count...) over the past two days, but sounding like you do on the record ain't enough, fellas. You've got to be visually stimulating.
Random Note: The Keys' next album--Attack & Release, due in April--was produced by Dangermouse.

Band: The Little Ones, the poppiest little noise poppers in Los Angeles.
Where: Red Eyed Fly (inside)
What It Was Like: Rooting for the benchwarmers to score a bucket during garbage time in an NCAA tourney game. The Little Ones were having serious sound trouble--the sound system at the Red Eyed Fly's inside stage picked up only the slightest amount of this five-piece's lead vocals. Yet the crowd managed to remain entertained, enjoying the backing chorus efforts, the summertime/beach pop and the effort lead singer Edward Nolan Reyes gave in spite of the technical difficulties. It was tough not to root for them to do well, given the circumstances.
Verdict: The sound stuff was a drag, but it could've been worse for these guys. I still dug their vibe--and the fact that they ended their set with the super catchy, super poppy single "Lovers Who Uncover". If only every wannabe indie pop group produced such sugar-y tracks...
Random Note: I just noticed that "Lovers Who Uncover" is up for download on the band's Myspace page. Get to it, folks.