Night 1, after the break…
My Journey To Austin:
The Story of a Guerrilla Photographer at the 2013 South By Southwest Music Festival
Part 2
“Garage Bands”
Need to address a really cool moment, before I forget, when I turned the Yardis into beast mode for the first time. The previous passengers left the radio on a local country station. Naturally, our faces lit up. Twang blasting from the speakers around us. As they should. We were in Texas. Officially now.
Back at the Motel we readied ourselves for the first night of fun. Charging cameras, getting ready, but majorly trying to decide who was going to be our first subject. We knew going in Day 1 of the festival didn’t have many major moments.
K-Pop Night & CMT/MTV/VH1 Artists to Watch Showcase were two best choices. The later was being headlined by Ashley Monroe, Elle King, ZZ Ward, Youngblood Hawke, and Jim James. Handful of bands that both Pixie & I agreed would be suited to our styles. If the K-Pop was J-Pop this would’ve turned out differently. What’s the difference, you ask? *scoffs* If you only knew.
MTV/CMT/VH1 Artist Showcase, streamed live, featured a select group of artists to spotlight Viacom’s musical assets. All it was missing was prize money and/or point system…otherwise, this could’ve been confused with a network battle of the bands. CMT had the country sweethearts, MTV the indie rockers, and VH1 the soul. A formula that ended up rocking all night long.
The Empire Control Room & Garage off 7th Street . A surprisingly small dive bar that I imagined hosted some really rad shindigs when hosting locals. The spacious bar seduced you when you entered — leather seats and dark intimate lighting. “Just one drink” it whispered. Happily, our wristbands gave us two freebies just by walking in. The stage was behind the bar in a separate room decorated with rows of flower lights [See Above] and TV flood lights. Yes, this bar was also a TV studio.
All around the stage the Viacom group were busy recording the opening act, Striking Matches, who just started their short showcase.
Country music in a country bar. That’s I wanted. Something to substantiate the mythos of this new west town. What’s the fun in seeing LA bands in a different town? Wanted new bands. Unspoiled…Spine tingling new sounds…not a lot to ask, right? Like a fast ball, straight down the middle, on the first pitch of the game — that’s exactly what I got from Striking Matches. The freshest modern country band this side of the Mississippi.
The country duo, made up of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, were a long way from their native Tennessee where they had made a name of themselves after their magical classroom encounter some years ago. They met in a classroom. (How cute.) Been making music ever since. Couldn’t agree more. A fated duo meant to make music together. Knew it instantaneously as they performed for the thousands watching around the world.
Modern country has given a big boost by the show Nashville and you can find much of Striking Matches’ material featured on the ABC drama. You didn’t even know it, did you? Love ballads. Angry Girlfriend howlers. Tire slashing Anthems. Soap Operatic melodies. They have it all. Delivered with added passion. You can take it for your own soundtrack. Here’s a sample of their amazing “When The Right One Comes Along”.
Did you like? Remember, not a huge fan of band critics or reviews. Prefer to let the music speak for itself. Whether they were great live or not shouldn’t matter. Emphasis on the music. Happily, they did rock. You can re-watch their SXSW Showcase here or check out their social media stuff starting on their facebook.
If this what SXSW was offering…knew already I was out of my league. At the same time countless bars were housing equal standout showcases. Oh man, was wishing that cloning was a everyday thing. 10 versions of me might be a much. Sadly, all 10 would’ve found ourselves at Empire watching that country ‘rose’ Ashley Monroe.
The highlight, for me, was going to be The Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe. Saw her assist Miranda Lambert last April at Stagecoach. That was a quick teaser and wanted the real, solo artist that I heard on her just released sophomore effort — ‘Like A Rose’ (Out now!). Despite being younger than me, Ms. Monroe is a staple of country music since she began at the tender age of 19. Being apart of one of the most successful female country group in country history is a minor bonus.
Ashley had Striking Matches provide the much needed twangy backing as she proceeded to spell bind the Control Room audience with her hits.
Her five song set showed off the many sides of the woman behind the lyrics. She told us, in-between the country blues, that most of the songs (“Like A Rose” & “Weed Instead of Roses”) were inspired by real life events. Powerful thoughts and feelings she needed to express & share externally than internally. Making it impossible to not fall for her Dolly Parton angelic country voice.
The LP is riveting. Couldn’t recommend it more and experiencing it live made it that much sweeter. Check out a sample by watching her Empire Control Room SXSW Performance here!
At that point I began to check out, saw the first big major artist of my list and it couldn’t be topped. However, Pixie convinced to stick around for Elle King & ZZ Ward. Like a natural disaster raging outside, sometimes it’s just nicer to just stay inside…you know what you’ll get. Plus, love being surprised by his great choices. If he says Elle was great…then I better open my ears.
Elle King’s performance was a major standout in his books. Read Picksysticks’s Day 1 recap here. Thought it was okay showcase. The Ohio export had a very rough bluesy…whisky-ish…vocal. Like a piece of raw meat. Just the songs didn’t speak to me with bland connection with the audience. She can rock a guitar though.
After Elle was the R&B soul, LA staple, & VH1 You Oughta Know Artist — ZZ Ward. One of FUSE’s 30 must see acts at SXSW. Can’t help but laugh at the ranking. Sorry. ZZ is a artist that you come across quite often out here in LA. She’s opened for so many huge acts. Still is. Opened for Delta Rae a month ago. My ZZ story is I saw her kill it last March at the Troubadour before Allen Stone made the walls come down… figuratively. Got nothing but love for our LA Artists, ZZ Ward included. If we had anyone to represent the eclectic performers out here in LA, happy it was the multi-talented ZZ.
If you’ve seen her live, then you know she’s a natural. Put her in the same book as Tegan & Sara. Veteran talent, overlooked by the mainstream for so long, and now is finally get some buzz & recognition.
She was MTV’s champion this night. Bringing all the soulful hits found on her 2012 release — ‘Til The Casket Drops’. Yes, dark title. A theme that flows through the record. If you pay attention. Hidden quite well in the vibing beats, thunderous guitars, beating drums, profound raps…flowing from a soulful bad girl orchestrating four very talented musicians.
Seriously, love her band. The solos are one of the best aspects of her set. Feet will be tapping. Others will be grooving. The Empire Control Room lost control during this Showcase. Part of me was hoping Kendrick Lamar, who is featured on ‘Casket’, would’ve made a cameo from the backdoor under the ‘Live in Austin’ sign. That didn’t happen though.
ZZ’s set ended our musical part of Day 1. Afterwards, Pixie & I took the partying streets and witnessed the crazy nightlife that was Downtown Austin during SXSW. 6th street was completely shut down for us and it was one of the coolest sites to witness. Music and people everywhere. A collision of sounds trying to out due each other on the clear Tuesday night sky. My soul left my body briefly gazing upon everything — full bars highlighted by rocking unnamed bands…lines of people waiting for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis…Felt so out of this world.
Here’s a sample of what I Instagram’ed out to my click.
Only got worst by Saturday.
We walked up to the Belmont beyond the edge of the sanctioned off area of 6th. All in preparation for Day 2’s final battle. Our target was Paramore’s only SXSW show. The first major history making event of the Festival and longest day of our whole adventure.
End of Part 2…sorry for typos and check out all our Pictures here!