Arts & Entertainment
 

SXSW brings musical mix, excited crowds to streets 
of capitol city

By Dusti Rhodes
The Daily Cougar

A band takes the stage and thanks everyone in the audience for coming to see them, considering the thousands of other acts they had to choose from that evening. A person in the audience turns to the stranger next to him and says, "There isn't anyone else I wanted to see tonight more than this band."

"I know what you mean," says the stranger, "these guys are awesome."

The two turn their attention back to the stage — the first one singing every word from the songs he probably downloaded off the Internet, and the second one singing the few words he knows since his label signed the band a few months ago. Normally these two may have never met, but for the next couple of days they will relax and enjoy the one thing they both know they will hear — great music.

At a moment in time where major record labels are suing their customers because of file-sharing scandals, and music consumers and musicians are growing more suspicious of the music industry, there was one place where these foes could have rubbed elbows, South by Southwest, Austin's annual entertainment media conference.
 
 

SXSW is a great contrast of motives — during the day musicians and music industry hopefuls can attend forums to educate themselves on all aspects of the entertainment industry. This year there was also a trade show where participants could check out everything from the latest in musical technology to social causes they could support through music or musical endeavors.

In the afternoon and at night bands take the stage and either embrace the music industry or denounce it for being an enemy of art and controller of creativity. Music industry representatives are either left alone or mocked by those who have the power for the evening, the performers.

Regardless, SXSW is still an excellent chance to see an enormous amount of eclectic music. In four days fans can see a hip-hop act, an instrumental tuba-fronted band, an Irish folk punk band, a rock 'n' roll legend, a country legend and much more. 

Places like the Austin City Music Hall, Stubb's, Emo's and La Zona Rosa had lines out the door every night as fans waited to see some of the more notable independents, but with more than 50 venues participating, there were plenty of places to hear great music without the wait.

At Rockstars, Drums and Tuba from Ani DiFranco's label, Righteous Babe Records, played an interesting instrumental jam set. Audience members who were nearly asleep during the opening band's act got their second wind once the trio took the stage with their chaotic yet formulated set-up.

The tuba player was hooked up to distortion pedals that rest on a table at his hands instead of on the floor at his feet. The guitarist had two guitars set up to play. For the first part of the set he had a dinner knife weaved through the second guitar's strings that he would strike during the song to create an interesting percussion element. This band was probably one of the most innovative acts to watch and hear at SXSW.

Another noteworthy act on Wednesday at the Elysium, was I Am the World Trade Center, a synth-pop duo from Athens, Ga. The male/female pair plays with only a synthesier/drum machine, keyboard and two microphones but make use of extra stage space with un-choreographed dancing. The pair had an exciting chemistry.

Thursday night was an evening for underground hip-hop as the Definitive Jux crew and Vice Present held a showcase that lived up to its hype. The headlining act, Aesop Rock, only performed one song, "Day Light," from his classic album, Labor Days, but paired up with special guest El-P for a great show that most fans would not get a chance to see anywhere else. Jean Grae, the only female emcee of the evening, gave audiences a chance to see a diverse aspect of the male dominated hip-hop world.

Earlier in the evening another female act took the stage down the street at The Blender Bar at the Ritz. Elizabeth Elmore, formally of Sarge, played with her new band The Reputation. Fans of Elmore and Sarge were anxious to see the musician's return to the rock after she left to pursue a law degree. The band played songs from its new release on Lookout! Records, which hosted the showcase for the night.

The Posies closed the evening for concertgoers at Bigsbys. The group, which has not released an album since the early 1990s, should have felt more than welcomed as it played that evening.

The first two days were only half of what SXSW had to offer, so check back Tuesday for a review of free shows, free parties and the festivities of Friday and Saturday night.

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