SXSW Day Four: MOG Party

On day four of SXSW Dale and I stood in line for over an hour to see The Black Keys play at the MOG party. Lee stayed home and continued to sleep and J3 had to attend meetings like a grown-up.



Before The Black Keys played, we had the opportunity to see a handful of bands and drink just as many alcoholic beverages. I started with bloody Mary's (since the venue opened at noon this was the obvious choice) and ended on beer.

First up: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers

Loved them! She had an unusual singing voice and It agreed with my ears. Dale said she looked like a soccer mom until she opened her mouth at which point her vocal growl would kick you in the nuts. I didn't get the "soccer mom" vibe from her, but I understood what he meant.

After Shilpa, The Dum Dum Girls took the stage.



This one made me want to get bangs. My little sister told me that if I did, it would look like I had 80's hair so I refrained from taking a trip to the salon.


RYE RYE was up next:


OMG! I loved her, her DJ, and her two dancers. It was very reminiscent of early 90's dance hip-hop. She had the entire crowd dancing and asking for more. Very fun!

Dale and I were starting to feel the buzz at this point:


I am going to print the above two photos out and hang them in the guest bedroom.
Ha!

Freelance Whales performed next:


Lot's-o-people in this band. They were pleasant but we had to cut out of their set early to get outside for The Black Keys. I will tell you about that in the next post.

Until then, ya'll be good.

SXSW 2010: Day Three (Night Show)

On day three of SXSW I knew that I wanted to check out Royal Bangs. Patrick Carney of The Black Keys released their album on his record label (Audio Eagle) so I was curious.
(You know I love me some Black Keys. You should too.)
Here they are....Royal Bangs from Knoxville, Tennessee:

For about 15 minutes, I was right by the stage taking photos and enjoying the show. The lead singer has a great voice and their drummer was fun to watch.
Dale, Jeff, and Lee hung back by the bar. When I returned to the fellas,
Dale said "guess who I was just talking to?"
"Who?" I asked
"Patrick Carney" he replied.

Shit.

I looked around and sure enough, Patrick was right by the bar. See-


I did not want to approach him so I made Dale take a picture of us like this instead:


And then, I ran into some friends. I suggested that we take a picture together. Hey, it's another opportunity to get a picture with Patrick. Watch as I point at him-


At this point, the miller lite had worked it's way deep enough into my blood stream to make me think I should go up and meet Patrick. I walked up to him, stuck my hand out for him to shake, and said "hello, my name is Sarah. Could I please take a picture with you?" I did not make eye contact. I think my head was tilted slightly towards the floor. I'm not sure why I was so awkward and nervous, but I was. I mean, I have been listening to this fella play his drums since The Big Come Up was released back in 2002.


Pat (I think I'll call him Pat, now) was very nice. He said, "sure" and proceeded to smile for the photo. After the flash went off and the moment was over, he clapped me on the back and said, "alright then" or something like that. I mumbled a thank you and scooted away like a dork-ass.

Here is the pic:

He's all cool with his head cocked to the side and his cheshire grin. I look like I am constipated.


I will now divert you from my bad photo with these four pics:

Jeff knows people


Shoot to kill


Lee can make his chin disappear


Jeff can make his face crooked

In other news:
Yesterday, my friends Cody and Marna tied the knot. I wore a pretty pink dress. Pics to come.

My sister and her family stayed with me over the weekend. I bought her 3 and 5 year old girls their very own wigs. One is pink and one is purple. Pics to come.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I think I will celebrate over the weekend.

That is all.

SXSW 2010: Day Three (day show)

The boys stayed up until 7:00am so I ventured out to a day show by myself. I decided to go to the Mess With Texas Festival,happening on the east side, to see Hacienda play. I had my parking angel with me and got a spot only a few blocks away from the outdoor venue.
Hacienda took the stage at 2:30.

Dante kicked things of by saying something like, "we're Hacienda and we're from Antarctica."




I kind of want his entire outfit.

I always enjoy a Hacienda show. This time around, the boys had to work extra hard due to a sound problem. The mics and monitors went kaput (not their fault). Without skipping a beat, they switched to playing instrumentals when their vocals could no longer be heard. I hear they are playing at Antone's with Heartless Bastards on April 17th. Gotta go to that one. Also, you can get their new album Big Red and Barbacoa Here
I already have a copy. It's grittier than their first album. Good stuff.

One more thing...check out these two adorable little girls. Twins, I think.

Of course, from this angle they look like a single two headed girl. They were so dang cute! They stood next to me and we enjoyed a few songs together.

Up next- a night time show where I meet "the drummer."

SXSW 2010: Day 2

Ah, the night belongs to the purple tights.

LeeAngelo Angel-of-Death Martinez-Palomos made it into Austin a bit later than expected. This little bump in the schedule prevented us from getting to see The Whigs. I was a little bummed, and I think I cussed Lee out. It's ok, I apologized later on. I also may shouted at him something along the lines of, "I don't understand why you didn't buy a fu*&ing wrist band!" I apologized for that as well.

We met up with J3 and he took us to see People Under the Stairs

That was a great show! Very entertaining. I wanted to make it back to the same venue later that night to see Sage Francis, but it was not in the cards.

Check out Lee and his Flea-Market copy of a Danial Johnston creation-


Here Here is the real deal:




Up next, we went to the Billboard Bungalow to see Those Darlins. Ran into Dante from Hacienda and chatted a bit before the gals took the stage. I told him his hair was long and that he looked all skinny. He laughed and said, "WHAT?" and I realized that telling a dude that he looks "skinny" is not the same as telling a girl that she looks skinny. Gals love to hear that. Boys, not so much. I should have said, "you look fit" because that is more of what I meant. I removed my foot from my mouth and J3 and I went up to the stage. Dale was right behind us but Lee could not get in (no wrist band...I told him to buy one! He went to the Red Eyed Fly instead).







The Darlins put on a hell of a show, once again. At one point, Nikki Darlin asked the crowd if we were going to sleep. The crowd cheered for the band and then she pointed to J3 and said, "quit laughing at me.....I know you are." J3 looked nervous after this, and rightfully so. I thought she was going to spit her drink in his eye or maybe give him a wedgie.

Those Darlins finished their set and Dale, J3 and I went to Lustre Pearl to see Dr. Dog.
BEST SHOW OF THE NIGHT!


I danced the entire time until the muscles of my lower back tightened up in protest. We had to walk the very far distance back to the car at a snails pace because I could not move any faster.
We picked Lee up at the Red Eyed Fly, got to the car, and got home. I went to bed. The boys stayed up until 7:00 am the next day.

No joke.

Dale and I were in awe that we got to see all of those amazing bands back to back...and the festival had only just begun.

SXSW 2010: Day One

SXSW
"It's indie rock spring break.-Patrick Carney of The Black Keys

Dale and I started out SXSW2010 experience At Emo's with The Strange Boys. They are an Austin band and we want to support live music. Plus, the lead singer has a voice that goes from glottal fry to pure tone in the same beat. At times, his voice sounds like somebody is slowly ripping a paper bag in front of a mike...but in a good way. The Strange Boys get two thumbs up. Here they are:


We will see them again.

Next, we met up with J3 and headed to the Speak Easy to see some DJ do his thing.

That's my buddy J3. "They are spinning 45s all night!"-J3
Speakeasy was super crowded, so we didn't stay long. Plus, that crowd was super grabby. Ew.

We popped into a few other places before making our way over to The Red Eyed Fly. Saw comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me) on the way to the club. Also saw a dog take a nasty poo on the sidewalk in front of the Flamingo Cantina. Once we made it into the Red Eyed Fly, we saw this band from England that we named "The Screaming British" or something like that. These guys played hardcore metal with the screaming and the shredding and the mosh pitting. At one point, I was afraid that I was going to get a foot to my face. Here they be:



Not at all in accordance with my taste in music but the dudes were full of energy and that was entertaining.

Up Next, Lions:



They had a new guitar player with them so they could shred, shred, shred your head.

We got home around 3:00. I slept in until 10:00 but did not get out of bed for another couple of hours after that. Dale and I managed to go to the gym and now I am lying on my bed, in my post-shower towel, trying to decide what I should wear tonight.
It gets cold once the sun goes down, but it is hot in those little clubs.

Tonight is going to RULE! We hope to see The Whigs, Dr. Dog, Those Darlins, Delta Spirit, and Deer Tick.

Spring Break 2010

Until 2:45 actually arrives, it will be on my mind. My spring break officially starts at 2:45. The day should pass quickly....I have plenty to do. Still, I know I will hear my mind clock ticking away the seconds to freedom.

tick, tick, tick.....(my mind clock only ticks. No tocks.)

SXSW is going to be a blast. J3 is going to be here. It is rumored that my buddy LeeangeloAngelofDeathMartinez-Palomos is going to make an appearance as well. There are some very talented bands that I am anxious to see. Some for the first time, and some I have seen before. Dr. Dog, Hacienda, Those Darlins, Strange Boys, The Black Keys, Deer Tick, Surfer Blood, The Whigs, Delta Spirit, White Denim, Royal Bangs, The Bright Light Social Hour, Patrick Sweany and More!


Come on 2:45!!!!!

Mad

Has anyone seen Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, yet? I have not. I prefer to let the crowds die down a bit before I go.


I am excited to see it, though. So excited, that I decided to do a little make-up experiment.

What you are about to witness is what I think the mad hatter's sister would look like.

















For the most part, I think the look turned out how I wanted it to.
I only wish I made my face whiter. Where is the clown face paint when you need it?
It's definitely not pretty...but it was not meant to be. I was going for demented...or addled.

Ok....I'll admit it. I washed down too many pain pills with some wine and this is how I got dressed and ready for a nice dinner with my husband.


I'm joking - you nut!