The Black Keys "Everywhere I Go" 3-20-10

Dan Auerback and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys owned Austin last Saturday afternoon as they played their one and only SXSW show at MOG's Unofficial Day Party at Mohawk. The duo were in perfect form as they played their own brand of heavy blues rock to the packed courtyard. Fresh on the news of a new album in the works, the Keys ran through a set list of hit songs that spanned their entire career while the crowd understandably went nuts.

Broken Bells "Mongrel Heart" 3-20-10

"Hello, and welcome to Portland, Oregon," James Mercer joked as he and Danger Mouse greeted the frozen crowd at MOG's Unofficial Party on the final day of SXSW. The strange weather wasn't enough to stop hundreds of excited fans from converging on Mohawk early Saturday morning for a chance to see several amazing bands. The newly formed super group Broken Bells played several songs from their self-titled debut album including "Mongrel Heart." Enjoy!

MOG's SXSW Party at Mohawk - March 20, 2010

With a line-up featuring Broken Bells and The Black Keys, MOG's unofficial SXSW Party was the place to be Saturday afternoon in Austin. Despite the overnight drop in temperature I arrived at Mohawk to fine a quickly growing line of about 300+ shivering but excited people huddled together outside the bar. Spirits were still high an hour later as the crowd slowly entered the small courtyard where the Philadelphia band Free Energy was about to begin their set. I didn't know it at the time but this was going to be the best concert I would attend during my time in Austin, and arguably the best concert I have EVER been too so far.

The show started with a bang as Free Energy launched into their set. Jumping around on stage the band entertained with a collection of karate kicks, drumstick twirls and ham-fisted lyrics. "We're breaking out this time, making out with the wind this time," frontman Paul Sprangers sings, "and I'm so disconnected, I'm never gonna check back in." Like a strange Cheap Trick/Spoon love-child, Free Energy embrace all the cliches of 70s glam-rock while still giving their music a modern indie-rock edge. With songs like "Hope Child" and the catchy "Bang Pop" its only a matter of time before Free Energy invade mainstream radio stations nationwide. The group ended their show on a high note handing out free cassette tapes of their new debut album, Stuck On Nothing, to the excited but frozen crowd.

Next on stage was the strange super group Demolished Thoughts, a hilarious combination of hardcore punk sprinkled with comedic one-liners. "We need a place to crash tonight", Frontman Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth told the crowd in-between songs, "we'll be in the van in the back later tonight." The crowd began to mosh as the band shot off dozens of silly 45-second songs with names like "I Hate Kids" and "I Hate Sports," complete with matching lyrics. Formed as a side project with J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and Andrew WK, Moore describes the group as a punk/hardcore tribute band. On this particular event Jonah Falco of Toronto band F--ed Up played bass for the missing Andrew WK and Moore took over vocals.

The James Mercer/Danger Mouse super group Broken Bells took the stage next backed by a full supporting band. Seriously this show was a treat for all music fans as Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, stepped away from the soundboards to jump between drums, bass and keyboard on various songs. "What amounts to a dream anymore," Mercer chimed on "Vaporize", "A crude device; A veil on our eyes." The chemistry onstage was perfect despite this only being Broken Bells sixth ever live performance. The group covered many of the tracks from their debut album including "The High Road," The Ghost Inside" and the uptempo psych-rock jam "Mongrel Heart." The highlight however was the synth accompanied "The Mall and the Misery," one of my favorite tracks from their self-titled album.

The Brooklyn indie-pop trio The Antlers were up next with a sound system so powerful my internal organs vibrated with every note. Known for soft keyboards and a very mellow sound on their albums I was surprised how much The Antlers rocked live. The band kicked it to eleven with screaming effect-heavy guitars, overlaying keyboards and hammering drums. While most of their songs call for delicate artistry what the crowd ended up with was a pulverizing wall of sound and feedback. The most dramatic shift from album to live performance I have ever seen, if The Antlers put out a live record in the near future I would pick it up in a heart beat.

Finally, what I consider the best show of the week, The Black Keys took the stage to play their one and only SXSW performance. The crowd surged forward as drummer Patrick Carney and guitarist/singer Dan Auerbach filled the courtyard with their classic blues-heavy sound. Covering the gamut of their entire career, the band played many of the songs that have made them world famous. Like a best of hit list they ran through personal favorites such as "Strange Times," "Stack Shot Billy," "Your Touch" and one from their very first album "The Breaks." The place was completely packed as people crammed into every corner of the bar trying to catch a glimpse of the Ohio band. The music even pulled in celebrities such as Mary-Louise Parker who was seen rocking out next to the stage with James Mercer and Danger Mouse who stayed behind for the show. I've been to a lot of concerts over the years but I have to say, hands down, this one takes the cake.

There is more video from the Broken Bells and Black Keys sets on YouTube, the show was so great that anyone with a recording device probably got some footage.

21st Street Co-op - March 19, 2010

After a day spent bouncing through event parties and bars the decision was made to go off the beaten path for Friday nights activities. Word had gotten around about a show at the 21st Street Co-op on the University of Texas campus featuring Ume, one of my favorite Texas bands. Located just a few blocks away from Guadalupe Street, aka the Drag, the student housing building resembles a giant tree house.

Crisscrossing staircases and balconies lead to a smokey dark room where a large group of coeds were gathered as the band ZORG finished their set. "This next song is very dark," they told the crowd, "if you have pot on you now would be a good time to smoke up." Hazy air with a hint of cannabis filled the room as the crowd were mesmerized by the heavy beats and trippy light show of the two man psychedelic rock group. One of the more bizarre performances of the trip I was almost sorry when the set was over and lights flooded the room. The crowd scattered in search of beer and food as the next band set up their instruments.

Wires covered the stage as the Austin trio Ume - Lauren Larson, Eric Larson and Jeff Barrera - started their scorching set. A band of few words, Lauren gave a quick "We're Ume" before jumping straight into the music. Hypnotic rock hooks paired with moments of static drenched guitar noise, what more do you need? Ume played a mix of old and new songs for the crowd including the fan favorite "Conductor" from their Sunshower EP. The new tracks were a pleasant surprise leaving me hopeful for a new album in the near future.

Pronounced 'ooo-may' the threesome has been an Austin favorite ever since the band moved to the area back in 2007, quickly becoming known for their heavy live shows as well as Lauren's lush vocals and her ferocious flailing guitar riffs. Forged in the fires of the the punk/grindcore scene Lauren is a ball of energy on stage, jumping and dancing to the music all the time trashing on her guitar. Almost every photo taken at their shows are branded with a golden blonde blur as their front-woman's hair is tossed around while she rocks out. It is a true spectacle to behold, even more so when you consider the fact that her fingers never miss a chord.

There is some video from Ume's set on YouTube but the audio isn't the best. I think I was standing way too close to the right speaker tower. Might also explain why I've been hearing a high pitched buzzing sound for the last week. Oh well, sometimes music involves sacrifice.

Salesman @ Hole In The Wall 3-18-10

Another video from the Thursday show at Hole In The Wall in Austin, this time featuring the local rock band Salesman. The four man group - Devin James, Clayton Guns, John Houston and Patrick Patterson - play a mixture of alt-country and pop-rock full of unsettling lyrics about ghosts, sex and UFOs.

Obsolete Machines @ Hole In The Wall 3-18-10

My camera phone was spilling over with video from last weeks Austin trip. Above is one of those many videos, this one in particular from the Thursday show at Hole In The Wall featuring the experimental Austin group Obsolete Machines. The trio - Adam Diener, Shanna Teresinski, and Jesse Contreras - have a very dark and theatrical sound fueled by duel keyboards and some serious chops behind the drum kit.

Hole In The Wall - March 18, 2010

SXSW is one of the largest music festivals in the United States, every Spring the city of Austin is overrun with enough bands, performers and record labels to make you go cross-eyed. This year I took a drive down to Texas with a friend of mine to see what all the fuss was about and to just outright have a blast. The journey was tedious and the nights were long but in the end I had one of the best concert going experiences of my life. Over the course of three days I took in more shows than most people do in an entire year. From big cooperate sponsored event parties like FILTER Magazine's: Showdown at Cedar Street to small college parties at the 21st Street Co-Op. I wandered all over the city taking in as much music as I could without passing out or dying. Some days it was sunny and warm, others it was cold and wet, but all were amazing.

After driving through the night, and being up nearly 36 hours straight, I hit Austin around noon on Thursday. My first destination was a bar, appropriately named Hole In The Wall, where a dizzying tag-team music event was taking place. Bands were rotating sets on two stages, one in the front and one in the back. When I arrived the New Jersey band Makeout Party were on the back stage finishing up their set. Less than a minute after they were done the Austin natives Through The Trees were playing in the front room. The bands flipped in and out like this for the rest of the event, think speed dating only with music and you'll have the idea.


One thing to understand is despite the whiplash pace of bands setting up and tearing down the overall quality of music was amazing. Through The Trees took the stage with some hard rock riffs and heavy beats before the focus switched to the back room where the guitarist from Most Ghosts was doing a solo set full of reverberating, fuzzy guitar and cryptic whispered lyrics. Later the Austin foursome Salesman took the front stage with some mesmerizing alt-rock about ghosts, sex and UFOs. Frontman Devin James Fry's searing vocals perfectly compliment the alt-country guitar riffs and twisted lyrics. Their new album is called SKULL and I highly recommend checking it out, most of the songs are streaming on their myspace page.

The Deaf Ears took the back stage next with some catchy piano-pop full of heavy Beatles/Kinks influences. One of the most polished bands to perform at this particular event, The Deaf Ears came together from the broken pieces of Joel Mullins' previous band Tammany Hall Machine. THM was booking some good shows and building a decent amount of buzz in Austin before it abruptly fell apart. Instead of calling it quits Mullins picked up Scott Oliphant on drums along with former THM bandmates Mick southerland and Geoff Dupree to form The Deaf Ears. Walking the fine line between polished rock-pop and bar band rock, TDE blend stomping rhythms and lush piano with emotion heavy lyrics about relationships and drowning your sorrow in whiskey.


Obsolete Machines took the front stage next with their engaging brand of atmospheric, experimental rock. Armed with only two keyboards, one drum set and a mic, OM are just different enough to set them apart from the rest of the pack. And once they have your attention their moody brand of dark prog-rock will seep into your mind and swirl around in your head for weeks. Think Amnesiac-era Radiohead only darker. The band has plans in the works to leave Austin on a national tour sometime in the next year, so keep an eye out for them at a venue near you. Their 'new breed' of music may be to dark or orchestral for casual listeners, but if you open your mind and give it a chance you may find something you didn't know you were looking for.

I made it through several hours of great music and a few beers before sleep deprivation caught up with me and I was forced to either hit the sack or start hallucinating. While option number two seems fun in theory I had a big day of shows ahead of me so I decided to head to the hotel and pass-out for the remainder of the day. Walking down the streets in Austin I was surrounded by great music calling from almost every open door making the decision to walk away one of the most difficult of the entire trip.

There is video of several of the sets from Hole In The Wall up on YouTube for anyone who wishes to explore these bands further.