hitting it like a puff

SXSW2016 has come and gone. I managed to walk a marathon (legit 26 miles) in the 3 days from Thurs to Sat during the music portion. Still marched my ass off prior to this, but still!

Hailing from New Jersey, Wyland (http://www.wearewyland.com/) was a very cool and worthwhile surprise. Performing at the Big Bang Bar on 6th St. I stumbled upon them while waiting for another band to perform at a different venue. The great thing is they had fans here in Austin that were super excited to see them. So watching a new band with a crowd that is excited to see them makes it really fun.

Where as I hate throwing out my opinion of what a band sounded like to me, it seems like it is mandatory in this situation. So you can picture them in your mind and and determine whether or not you would like to find them, here we go. Wyland, ABSOLUTELY reminded me of Coldplay, in the best possible way. The vocals, the guitars, and the keys. It was not just good, it was pretty damn good. With a crowd of adoring, cheering fans, it was easy to get pulled into their sound. I enjoyed hanging out and listening. If if you like that pop, rock, synth sound, find Wyland on the 'net or on tour.

Stephen Castillo (http://stephencastillo.bandcamp.com/releases) was the next performer I saw, at Touche, right next door. Just a man and his guitar entertaining quite a large crowd. I am not certain if he was part of the RedGuerilla Music Showcase or not, but there he was! Playing some Americana style originals. A little bit country, some back roads, and Johnny Cash, is what Stephen Castillo reminded me of. Not the deep rumbling sound of Johnny, but the story telling and guitar playing while talking to the crowd in his sing song voice. This was very cool! I loved Stephen Castillo and with a bar full of people the applause was right! The fact that he is located in Austin is even better. This gives me the chance to see him again without the insanity of CrazyXCrazy2016. I look forward to catching him again and let me know you heard about him hear when we see each other out!

Lets jump to the last artist I will chat about here. This was my mind blowing experience of the entire week. SIRSY (http://www.sirsy.com/) was my mind OH MY GOD and WOW! moment. On this particular evening, while hanging out with the one and only Dave Prewitt of DaveTV (https://www.facebook.com/davetvtx/timeline) fame, while waiting for another particular band on his hit list, we wandered in to see this duo! OH! MY GOD! This is EXACTLY what the heart and spirit of SXSW has always been about. That unknown artist, at a free to walk in, venue. Pouring their souls, out and rocking the shit outta the crowd, was SIRSY...phenomenal! Even on a simple Instagram picture, I had had someone looking them up, contacting me, and telling me they were planning on catching them at their final SXSW2016 performance.

My first impression was hearing them before I saw them. The music sounded good and rocking, I heard the vocals and looked at Dave and sighed "girlie vocals...lets check this out." The music brought us in. Their performance had us scrambling to grab our cameras and record the moment like this was the end of it all. SIRSY is NOT simply a two piece, they are a head scratching, WOW! Dave even surmised at the beginning of a shock and awe moment, they were running a bass track behind them.

Oh no! Just check this out. The guitar player is flawless and raw. Clean enough to be enjoyed, and just edgy enough to make you grin. The lead singer/drummer/bass player was stunning. With a great voice and an even better smile, the drummer is the center of attention, as she should be. Singing and playing drums has always been an impressive task. Now throw in the drum machine for the bass tracks and work that AT THE SAME TIME...DAMN! This is the complete package in a fun sized, rock and roll, smiling laughing, have a good goddamn time with your friends, band!

Thrilled to think the next time they are hear, i can go see them on purpose and take my wife for a performance to die for!

5 days wasted

although I was invited to hang out. Some how the fact that I am NOT a rockstar, I do not sing in a band, play drums in a band, or play lead guitar, did not escape me. I seriously wanted to spend time with my friends from Chicago, but alas, work and family over rode the freelance will to go balls out. Instead I lived vicariously through the band Black4. For 5 glorious days of them recording in one of Austins newest studios (SkyAcre Labs - although I think The Spank Bank sounds cooler) and then watching them travel around Austin and enjoying our city. All while killing their livers...NICE!

To Bryan (Audrey), Brian, and Curtis...Thanks for making yourselves at home in Austin. We were happy you were here. Me personally, I can't wait to take my wife to Chicago and return the favor.

The Hole in the Wall (http://www.holeinthewallaustin.com/) on Guadalupe has been a mainstay and local college hang out in Austin, Texas for as long as I can remember. Punk, hip hop, rock...this place has seen it all. But alas, it seems it may have seen the end times as well. With developers doing their job to make a buck on the backs of the common man, it appears it may be going down for the count.

Located right where Dean Keeton dead ends into Guadalupe. If you miss it, it's cause you crashed into it. When you walk in the front door it opens to a small, dimly lit lounge are with a bar immediately on your right. Walking a little farther in you go past the bathrooms on your right, down some steps, and there you are by the stage. 

The stage is immediately on your right as you go down the steps and is located in the corner of the room. Housing a bar along the back wall in front of you and a pool table they have impossibly wedged in between the stage and the bar. There is an exit door to the back left, just in front of the bar that leads out to a very nice patio area.

Tonight was a list of 4 bands. With amazing tight set times, it kicked off just after 9:30 with Positive Disturbance (https://www.facebook.com/positivedisturbance). With their live hiphop stylings, Positive Disturbence was a nice, mellow way to open the evening. Easily in the top Five bands that has the balls to do hiphop with that jazzy type flair and do it live. The lyrics flowed well, the harmonies were dead on, and the lead guitar player was damn hot at what he was doing. It is impossible to not compare them to a couple of Austins great, live hiphop bands, and no doubt The GodFather of live hiphop music in Austin, MC Overlord, would be proud to share the stage with these cats. The place had a good crowd and all were grooving to the jams.

Hit By A Car hit the stage next (HA! - I made a funny). The one night only, reunion show, showed the ever growing crowed why this trio killed it back at the turn of the millennium. It was definitive, it was loud, and it was about as punk as it can be. Hit By A Car blasted through their set like there wasn't a stop sign in their way!

Black4 (http://black4band.com/) came all the way down from Chicago to have their sound permiate the every loving, ever living walls of The Hole In The Wall. In town to record some tracks for their upcoming album, Black4 used us as a practice mat for the musical assualt that is...well basically...Black4. This is how Rock-n- roll used to be and still should be. Not punk, not hardcore, not metal...just good old fashioned Rock and Roll.

This is what your daddy listened to and loved in the 70's and early 80's. Tight sound, but gritty and harsh. Shredding vocals that make you want to sing along at the top of your lungs, and lyrics you can hear and understand, amongst the kick you in your fucking balls sound! The crowd had swelled and it was fun watching folks throw their hands in the air.

SkyAcre (http://skyacremusic.com/) was the headliner. The hosts of the evening came out and did their thing well. The crowd was at capacity for this set. Blending the lines between that Black4 style of rock n roll I talked about and the Hit By A Car punk sound, SkyAcre is a smart blend. It was actually very cool watching those in the house break their necks to SkyAcre, and then smoothly drink a beer. The thing to watch out for with SkyAcre, is an amazing thing. How the hell does a 3 piece drop the big sound like these guys? Just watch'em!


Laters

Filter this

Out of the kindness and generosity of my friend Eric, I strolled into The Dirty Dog this fine evening to catch a favorite and maybe experience some new interesting sounds. BINGO! What a night it turned out to be.

The Dirty Dog (https://dirtydogbar.com/) on 6th st. not only happens to be one of my favorite little haunts to chill at, but one of my favorite places to catch any number of local and national shows. There are some TVs around to watch some sports. The bartenders are pretty damn interesting as well, so pull up a stool on a non-show night. The GM is about the most awesome, down to earth guy you could meet, just make sure you have on skates to keep up with him.  

I have described the place before. Awesome seats at the windows on the streetside that open up to let you take in the sights on 6th, or closed to keep all the badass music inside. For the adventurous type, there is a pole firmly planted in the first open area when you walk in. There is A Huge U shaped bar that allows for ample service to get you your beverage, NOW! The club then opens to another area where the stage sits facing the entrance. The back of the club and to the right of the stage is another bar that runs along the wall...and a lame ass attempt at a green room...LOL! - I'll get a dirty look for that comment next time I am in there.

This evening had a list of bands that represented from Austin, Houston, Round Rock, and of course the headliner from Cleveland. Here is the list of bands: Black Heart Saints, Resisting Vegas, Downfall 2012, Seek Irony, The Artillery, and Filter. This blog post is going to run the whole spectrum; The good, the bad ass, the shitty, and the "what the fuck where you thinking?".

Black Heart Saints (https://www.facebook.com/blackheartsaints), thanks to these guys, this is how I got in. My buddy Eric was working for them this evening and was filming their set. Now I don't know if they just threw down the gauntlet and put on a fucking hella good show and performance because of that, but I don't give a shit! Just fabulous! A charismatic lead singer that sings and performs as much as he performs as a front man on stage. Playing and performing as if they were in front of a crowd of thousands, Black Heart Saints were in the wrong spot this evening. Should've been at the top of the bill right before Filter. 

The crowd of very few (I hate the opening slot for a band - especially when they turn out to be really good) enjoyed the energetic rock/metal that these guys did. The lead singer looked like a model from a muscle magazine cover, but sang like a champion (yeah! that's a nod to the forever vocals of Freddie Mercury). The lead guitarist was just as much a showman as well. I had a chance to speak with the bass player afterwards and was shocked to find out this was only their third performance live!

Sheeeeeiiiittttt! I would happily take my girlfriend to a show of theirs and don't mind telling all of you to go as well. Good stuff coming from these guys here, as far as a live show.

Resisting Vegas (https://www.facebook.com/ResistingVegasOfficial) was up next. With female lead vocals running the show, this was a decidedly different sound than the rest of the bands this eve. The crowd was about the same as with the first band, still REALLY early in the evening. Not what I was expecting from the female front of a metal band. I can't say if it was nerves or what, but in my opinion she seemed to lack the 'kick you in the balls' confidence needed to front a metal outfit, dude or chick. As a whole the band was really good and seemed vaguely reminiscent of Evanescene. Don't know if that was the inspiration, but it was the feel. All an all a good performance to warm up for the headliner.

Downfall 2012 (https://www.facebook.com/DF2012) hails from Houston and HOLY SHIT! This was a show. A true punk 3 piece with a bassist, lead guitarist, drummer, Mohawks, and dreads. All 3 sharing the vocal duties and much more!

I had wandered to the opposite side of the venue after the previous band, but then Downfall 2012 started. With a big, huge, smile I made my way right back to the floor to catch this trio do there thing. With the bass player fiercely attacking the vocals just as hard as he was killing the bass, the guitarist trying to rip the stings off his guitar, and all the while the drummer just sat back there smiling and dropping some very heavy beats. They rolled through their set like a fire in the Black Cat. Playing originals and covers alike. Owning everything they did like a strong band should. If you didn't originally write "Baby Got Back" but you have the balls to play that at a metal show as a punk band, then own it you shall.











Then Downfall 2012 did this crazy shit that made me flash back to the high school drum line. They broke out the homemade, paint bucket, 55 gallon plastic bass drum set AND TORE SHIT UP! Synchronized and all. Could seriously be viewed as some kind of joke, but then if you are serious about what you are doing and do it well, then audience knows and has fun with you! Ending with the most bad- assery version of "Folsom Prison" I have ever heard. All they did was prove Mr. Cash was decades ahead of his time!

Seek Irony (http://www.seekirony.com/en/index.php) is rooted in a pair of brothers that hail from Tel Aviv, Israel. This was yet another twist on the rock theme that was flowing like lava throughout the evening. Although they seemed to be the standard guitar, bass, drums, lead singer, 4 man set up, they were not. It became very evident, very quickly that they were something slightly more. With that technical, industrial sound, the digital sounds and synth coming from a computer somewhere on stage, this band launched into their set.





















Seek Irony seemed to have very deep and intelligent lyrics and the industrial part of their sound was very Static X (a great thing in my opinion). The crowd swelled and pushed forward at this point in the night. I savor the opportunity to check these guys out some more as the lead singer announced that they have recently relocated and made Austin their new home. Yay!

The Artillary (https://www.facebook.com/theartillery) was the last band up before the main event. With a full house, these guys launched into their set. I don't know if the crowd was really into these guys or just eager for Filter. The lead singer seemed like he was channeling Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon. I can't place their sound.

The depressing or aggravating thing is that these guys just didn't seem to get it. They were up on stage kinda acting like rock stars, but it was pretty bad. If I had my cordless mouse with me I would've strangled myself. I only had the thought of Filter coming up next to keep me from walking out. The vocal and antics of the lead singer is what brings me to say this. It was just bad enough overall where I am slamming the band as a whole, when I am unfairly doing this because I couldn't hear them over the sound of myself internally running my fingers on a chalkboard.

Filter (http://www.officialfilter.com/). Fucking rock star diva bullshit! I will get to that in a minute. To roaring excitement of a packed house on a Thursday night in downtown Austin, Texas on 6th St at The Dirty Dog, Filter mounted the stage. Kicking it off right with the hit song from the movie and soundtrack of SPAWN - Can't You Trip Like I do, Filter knocked everyone on their heels. They completely plowed through their set. Hitting their other big hit 'Take A Picture'.

After about 45 minutes on stage, Richard Patrick was attempting to play his guitar, with some technical difficulties. Nothing really drastic or massive, but after fiddling with his guitar and having the sound cut in and out a few times, a guitar tech appeared on stage and he handed off his guitar. AND THEN...the rock star, diva, bullshit! He picked up his pedal board and chunked it across the stage. Really you douchebag! WE, the audience, didn't really even notice, and honestly were having too much fun to give a shit, until you did that. What an ass bag!

So to wrap up the evening, Filter played the next song, hurriedly played their monster hit "Hey man, Nice Shot!" and ran off stage and out the back door to their awaiting bus. At least we didn't have to stroke any one's ego by cheering for an encore and "one more song!"

I had a nice shot, man, with Ben, the GM of The Dirty Dog, and my buddy Eric. Great evening, and memories I share here on the net with all of you in photo and words.

Special thanks to Anthony at Come and Take It Productions for a Hella good time!



Laters