Arts & Entertainment

Austin SXSW music fest ends on good note

By Amber Lanphier
The Daily Cougar

Last week, record executives, hipsters, pretentious indie-rockers, punks, celebrities and just about anyone else who cares about music descended on Austin for the annual South By Southwest music festival. 

On Friday, while wandering the streets that intersect the infamous Sixth Street, we stopped at Buffalo Billiards to check out the impressive New York-based band French Kicks. The lead singer and drummer, Nick Stumpf, sounds a lot like Art Alexakis from Everclear; however, French Kicksi music has much heavier bass. Stumpf hired a touring drummer for the group's SXSW debut in order to concentrate on singing.

A lot of buzz circulated Saturday about the free day show at Emois. Titled StreHess Fest, the show was a combination hardcore and art festival featuring some relatively established bands. 

Highlights included acts such as Scarlet and The Rise, who lured MTV personality Carson Daly to the show. The secret headliner was the emo-punk band Taking Back Sunday.

Later that night was the Sub Pop Records Showcase at the Red Eyed Fly. The crowd was anxious to see what the legendary independent label, former home to bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden, had in store. 

The first band that played was called Holopaw. The lead singer was decked out in the all-too-common trucker hat and sounded extremely whiny with the rest of the band backing him with music that can only be described as emo-folk. 

Next was a band called The Fruit Bats. The Chicago-based band was definitely a lot better than their predecessors, but their set, reminiscent of Beck's Sea Change, wasnit what one would expect from Sub Pop.

After the first two bands, the crowd was getting antsy and yearning for something to make the audience move a bit more. They found that in the Baptist Generals, a band from Denton. 

Afterwards, the one-man band Iron & Wine played an amazing set. Sam Beam strummed a banjo and a menacing slide guitar, and it all conjured up a striking mood of melancholy and reflection. 

The first four bands were OK, but nothing could prepare the crowd for the fifth ­ and by far the best ­ band on the bill. Hot Hot Heat came blazing onto the stage with their opening number, but it was the catchy "Le Le Low" that really got the crowd on their feet.

The band from Victoria, British Columbia, sounds a lot like Elvis Costello and the Attractions might if they had a jam session with The Cure. 

It played a number of songs from its Make Up the Breakdown album. It was an incredible set, but when singer/keyboardist Steve Bays announced the band would only play two more songs, the crowd wasnit thrilled. Guitarist Dante DeCaro went into their last song "Bandages" with the famous riff from Nirvanais "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Afterward, the crowd chanted for more, and when the band declined because of time restraints the crowd booed them. Drummer Paul Hawley cheekily replied "Your boos only make me stronger!" 

Overall, the Sub Pop Showcase was interesting and featured some good bands, but the event isnit pumping out the quality of musicians that it was 10 years ago. 

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