Conor O’Brien of the Villagers

By Big Vic Smith

Austin,TX(Hollywood Today)3/23/2010–Day and night, 10+ blocks in the heart of Austin Texas are closed down for 4 days while the hippest kids and eager to party industry execs run their mojo high strolling threw the spectacle that is 6^th Street during SXSW.  This is music business spring break.  Disneyland.   But may I say, we could do with some rides.

Ray Davies SXSW Solo Artist

You only see a fraction of the shows you set out on.  Even with the highest order platinum badge and photo press pass you are not given any precedence over other badge holders.  Even though you can only shoot the first 3 songs, you get your ass in line and you never get in on time.  You have to get there a couple hours early to be sure you get in. This means you miss 3 other bands on your list.  Thank god for my babysitter that was Virgin’s Free House.  Located directly across the street from Stubb’s, the king of  ‘yeah you ain’t coming in’, was a little shabby white and red house and if you were on their list to be babysat you got open bar baby.. 3pm-3am every day.  This was headquarters.

Micko Larkin of Hole(Courtney’s Lover)

Who I wanted to see and never saw:  The Black Keys, The Walkmen, Wanda Jackson, VV Brown, Band of Horses, The xx, Stone Temple Pilots, Jakub Dylan, The Mighty Steph, Thee Oh Sees,  Adam Green, Miike Snow,  Broken Bells, Metric,  Robbie Krieger,  BP Fallon, The British Showcases and the unknown pleasant surprises that I’d stumble into.

Who I got to see:  Gavin Glass, The Law, Sharon Jones, Hole, Ray Davies, Villagers, Nas & Damian Marley, Smokey Robinson, The Cool Kids, Harlem and The Label Whores.  Let’s include all the souls that set up on the street and ripped.  A single drummer covered in sweat rocked beats for hours like Neil Peart.  Another man played an electric guitar and sang raunchy blues telling us the story how the rest of his band just got arrested in Oregon for gun possession but he made it to represent Black Top Demon.  Kids set up on the sidewalk, in parking lots and where ever and belted out or hula hooped or preached Jesus or ate a hot dog to the folks passing by or nobody.   Pedicabs (bike powered chariots) are your best bet for getting from A to D but otherwise, your feet are your friends and comfortable shoes are a must.  Fashion always comes first but you are so drunk so early in Austin nobody can see your feet.

Jannis of Choir of Young Believers

My friend Gavin Glass came over from Ireland in an extreme last minute to play two shows solo.   He’s Americana from Ireland, crooning about heartbreak with distinct influence from Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Levon Helm.   He’s a handsome devil and just finished a record in Nashville with members of The Black Crows and Wilco, titled Myna Birds.   A writer friend of mine, David Johnson Igra, came to Austin to write about SXSW.  After the week with Gavin, his piece for SF CRITIC is all about him and that ride instead.

Stevie Anderson of The Law with Gavin Glass on piano

Having toss ups between shows is a few times a day occurrence.  I had to toss up between, Ray Davies and Stone Temple Pilots.  Davies won out.  I had to see him once.  The Kinks man!  I said hello to Bob Gruen in the photo pit and invited him to the hot tub.  I stayed until the fourth song, which was ‘Victoria’.  I had been satisfied but not satiated.  There was Band of Horses to see at Stubb’s!  Off I went with plenty of time, and couldn’t get in.    Back to the babysitters I went!  Friends joined me and we bantered while time passed and further bands were missed until we stumbled out together.  To the mansion!

Courtney Hole Lot of Love/SXSW Artist

I was staying in my best friends mansion (proper) equipped with over flowing hot tub into a heated colorful swimming pool, fireplaces inside and out, booze stocked, fresh and delicious cuisine’s prepared, jam room electrified, grand piano and the hostess with the mostness’s, Lorna at the hilt (whom is a drummer).   An eclectic crowd of musicians (Geographer (San Francisco), Dappled Cities (Australia), Gavin Glass (Ireland), The Law (Scotland)) and music folks  (managers, producers, label and studio owners) breezed in and shuffled out.  It was a hard place to ever leave.  The days were melting together.   Was SXSW happening to us at all?  We sure liked to live in our own creation of atmosphere especially from a festival that seems to work against its patrons.    I didn’t make it to any event before 3pm and averaged only 3 shows a night.

Lorna (mansion owner) in hot water with The Law

Soulful Sharon Jones/SXSW Artist

Spin held its 25^th annual party at Stubb’s.   Sharon Jones brings a bit of James Brown soul back to life.    The woman broke it down with her bigger than life attitude, boogie and old school showmanship.  I hadn’t heard of Sharon before, though she is obviously a queen.    Hole was next.  Courtney Love took the stage with a cigarette and Harlow-esque garb.  ‘Here she comes’ warned the feedback from the amps.  While introducing a ballad on her new record she started singing Poison’s ‘Every Rose has its Thorn’ saying “Brett, pick me!” (Referring to Bret Michael’s of Poisons contestant show on MTV called Rock of Love.)   I ‘m supposing it was sarcasm.  The ballad was brilliant; my friend next to me teared up.  It sounded honest.  It made sense.   It was legit.  She introduced her band and at her lover’s introduction, 23-year-old Micko Larkin, described him as “my love counselor”, amongst a list.   She swore, she was direct; I think she’s learned a thing or two.  She has got something.  A lot for me to admit as I went into the show thinking ‘witch’.  She’s a bit of an icon isn’t she?  Yeah, there’s something to it.  OK Courtney, you’re back in the ring.   She didn’t perform Doll Parts at Stubb’s however she did at the Dirty Dog’s performance later that night but it was ‘at capacity’ and I missed it.  Hole’s new record Nobody’s Daughter is set to release in April.

Music on The Streets of Austin/SXSW

Ireland’s Villagers, recently signed to Domino Records, sent over their lead singer and songwriter Connor O’Brien.   He was force to be reckoned with at the performance at Friends.  Singing stories with passion, conviction and control in the vein of traditional story telling (that seems innate in Celts) with a fresh and sharp approach, it breaks your heart.  It gave me daydreams of belting out redeeming tunes on a cliff to a moody ocean under a bruised dusk sky.

Smokey Robinson/SXSW Artist

The Law of Dundee Scotland is another side of the spectrum producing upbeat dancy rock n roll.  The front man Stuart Purvey brings rock star persona to the stage like a mix up of part Richard Ashcroft (Verve) and Tom Meighan (Kasabian) but with a smile and more energy.   The band as a whole, whether in front of 6 people or 20,000 give it all and play like rock stars loving every minute.   All the players, Stevie, Martin and Simon are aces.  Their debut album A Measure of Wealth is out now.  The singer repaid me a debt two years old.  A good show of character, I say get their album.

Gavin Glass/ SXSW Artist

I got to speak to some artists during interviews.  I had wanted to get a hold of VV Brown because I saw her play in LA months ago and she was like a punky Grace Jones and I was stroked.   The first artist in a year I wanted to help.  Looked her up online and it was pop shit.  These were 2 different girls.  I asked her if the label was shaping her.  I sensed and expressed she was a top talent that could have it all for a very long time but could crumble under label shaping.  This is a concern of hers as well though she feels she is balancing it.  She said she doesn’t tolerate ‘yes’ people around her and compromises to a degree that she feels comfortable.  This girl is explosive and raw on stage.  What is out in videos she might as well be licking a lollipop.  It isn’t her and it isn’t her potential that’s for sure.  Let’s wish her well and everybody for that matter.  If we all be true, who knows, there could be a movement again.

VV Brown

The singer of A Choir of Young Believers, Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, out of Denmark is a thoughtful man, an artist all the way.   He’s pants were naturally teared, his feet on top of each other.  He tried to say so much and he took the time but the English was not there.  One thing I got is he loves music and the process and is as passionate and deep as anything.  He was always in thought trying to paint his expressions with words so sincerely that his eyes never really saw me.

Geographer

While it was a treat to see Smokey Robinson it didn’t hit my spot.   It was showbiz baby complete with cheerleaderesque type dancers, all types of background players and bright lights.  Hearing ‘You Really Got a Hold on Me” pulled a heart string but all and all I wasn’t feeling it.  The soul, the history, it didn’t hit me like I had hoped and I cruised out to see Broken Bells in vain.  It was back to the Babysitters (Virgin Free House) for me.  Another drink and another question of what I was here for.

SXSW Pedicab Driver

SXSW is much different for me than others.   For me it is about seeing friends and getting them all together, handling rock stars hot after me (it’s a cheap yet acceptable sweeten to my ego) and mostly documenting the goings on at the mansion.  This is my 6^th year of this affair.   I went to a party at the Four Seasons; I went to a party in fancy loft; I was on lists to every thing and attended a sliver of it.  Home is where the heart is indeed when your friends make all your wildest dreams come true, even bran new friends.  Late nights soaking in the hot tub with drink and smoke and belly full of perfect food leaves you not wanting.  If you are a mere punter, a music fan who bought a wristband wanting to see 100 bands, or even 25, forget it.  Stock up on your vices, save your money on buying a wristband and just hang at the plethora of free shows going on and with the parade of new energy in the city and freedom in your heart let magic find you.   Me, I’m a spoiled brat, but I deserve it.

Austin, Texas SXSW 2010, So long until we meet again

Goodnight Y’all and Thank you Austin.

www.victoriasmithphoto.com