SXSW 2008

Spring Break has sadly come to an end and I am starting to get back into my normal routine of being a student (but lacking when it comes to my blog). I am stuck reliving the good times I had during that week in my head. SXSW was the best part of my spring break for sure. If you have never been to the festival you’re definitely missing out. Austin is unlike every other part of Texas for sure. Dallas and Denton can compare to it, but Austin surpasses them in all forms of enjoyment. The city is just jam packed with bars restaurants. The number of bars there are in Austin is the equivalent to the number of casinos in Las Vegas. Friday I went to the I Heart Comix! vs Mad Decent party. This party was so sick! From the free Dewars scotch mixed with ginger ale, actually surprisingly tasty, to the music, and everything in between. Simian Mobile Disco played a stellar set that night. A lot better one than I saw them play the following Saturday night. Diplo went off, although it only seemed like for 30 minutes. Luckily I had the chance to meet him after the show. Diplo was an incredibly chill guy, unlike JFK from MSTRKRFT who I met Saturday night and acted like a total douchebag. Saturday was awesome as well. I went to the Scion party at Stubbs BBQ. The vibe there was great. Digitalism played an impressive set followed by one hell of a performance by Chromeo. I can not wait to see Chromeo again at Coachella. Saturday we went to the party at VICE. The DJ sets were mainly hard electro. It was my first time to see the Bloody Beetroots. I was really impressed with their skills and showmanship. I don’t know how these guys play with those spiderman mask on. How are they supposed to smoke and drink? In the end, I would say SXSW was probably one of the funnest music festivals I have been to right next to Coachella.

CHROMEO

DIGITALISM

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO

ME AND DIPLO

THE BLOODY BEETROOTS

ME AND MR. TOO COOL TO SMILE OR THROW UP THE PEACE SIGN

ADAM FREELAND

Why is it that so many local DJs suck? Maybe it is just because I go to school in Tucson, but there should be good music everywhere damnit. Last night I asked the DJ at the local hipster/indie club, Club Congress, what style he is into and planning on playing tonight. The ignorant prick responded "why don't you just wait and see," and "I don't take request." Well he should. Of course he went on later and played dead jam after dead jam. Everyone was outside smoking cigarettes instead of inside dancing. The dj before him sucked too. The guys couldn't mix or beatmatch if their life depended on it. Being really into Crystal Castles at the moment, I asked him if he could play any of their stuff. I'm pretty sure he was lying when he told me that he couldn't because it wasn't his laptop. My roommate asked the next dj if he had any Mr. Oizo. Of course not. If only we had someone with talent playing here every weekend. Like an Adam Freeland spinning a set like he did for Global Underground: Mexico City? Now those are two sets that would fit the 'indie' and 'rave' crowd.

Holy Fuck & Super Furry Animals Tour

Super Furry Animals are one of the biggest Britpop bands of our generation. They have developed an extensive indie based following since their debut album "Fuzzy Logic" in 1996. Considering the Super Furry Animals have been around for so long I was somewhat surprised to see Holy Fuck blow them out of the water when it came to their live performance at Club Congress in Tucson. Holy Fuck played an action packed set that was able to get even the heavy footed indie crowd moving on the dance floor. They are one of the few bands, like Man Man, that after you see them live it is hard to listen to their album again because it doesn't compare to their live performance. Unlike Animal Collective, who I have seen twice live and was largely disappointed, that are saved by the production studio. Super Furry Animals set wasn't bad either; they just lacked the energy I look forward to when seeing a band live. They played the songs I wanted to hear as well as songs from their new album "Hey Venus!" that I haven't heard before. I mean who can't help but like when the lead singer Gruff Rhys starts off the gig with a giant red power ranger helmet on and later chomps on carrots to amazingly form a pretty cool beat. This show is definitely one to check out if you haven't seen them already.

Holy Fuck Tour:

03.22.08 Music Hall of Williamsburgh · NYC NY · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.21.08 Middle East Upstairs · Cambridge MA · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.20.08 Johnny Brendas · Philadelphia PA · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.17.08 Drunken Unicorn · Atlanta GA · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.11.08 Conservatory · Oklahoma City OK · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.10.08 The Bluebird · St. Louis MO · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.09.08 Waiting Room · Omaha NE · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.08.08 The Record Bar · Kansas City MO · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.07.08 Larimer Lounge · Denver CO · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

03.06.08 Urban Lounge · Salt Lake City UT · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.29.08 Noise Pop Festival - Bottom of the Hill · San Francisco CA

02.26.08 Chop Suey · Seattle WA · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.25.08 Richards on Richards · Vancouver BC · w/ Place to Bury Strangers

02.23.08 The Hi Fi Club · Calgary AB · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.22.08 The Starlite Room · Edmonton AB · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.21.08 The Exchange · Regina SK · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.20.08 Parkway Theatre · Winnipeg MB · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.19.08 The Aquarium · Fargo ND · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.18.08 Triple Rock Club · Minneapolis MN · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.17.08 Schubas · Chicago IL · w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

02.16.08 Mx Beat Soundfest · Guadalajara, Jalisco · w/ The Go! Team...

02.12.08 Neumos · Seattle WA · w/ Super Furry Animals

02.11.08 Doug Fir · Portland OR · w/ Super Furry Animals

02.09.08 Great American Music Hall · San Fran CA · w/ Super Furry Animals

02.08.08 Echoplex · Los Angeles CA · w/ Super Furry Animals

Holy Fuck - Milkshake


SFA - Hello Sunshine