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DAILY REPORTS FROM SXSW 2004
FRIDAY March 19
Austin, Texas-- Austin, Texas-- Although there were a few poorly-attended panels at
South By Southwest (SXSW) on Wednesday afternoon and the showcases
kicked off Wednesday evening, for many conference delegates, the
music fest doesn't really begin until SXSW managing director Roland
Swenson gives his annual gee-gosh commencement speech to set-up the
keynote address.
This year Swenson was unusually solemn and seemed to speak from the
heart about how he felt basic constitutional rights and freedoms
could no longer be taken for granted. Without overtly condemning the
Bush government, he pointedly noted that "there was once a time when
the separation of church and state was seen as a good thing for both
church and state."
He closed by urging delegates to become more politically active
within their own communities saying "taking a posture of disaffected
cynicism and dismissing the political process is a luxury we can no
longer afford."
Rock writer Dave Marsh appeared to be moved to tears as he took the
stage to welcome keynote speaker Little Richard. But as he began his
fawning introduction, it became clear that finally getting to meet
one of his childhood rock 'n' roll idols backstage is really what
made him misty. Feigning embarrassment at Marsh's gushing praise,
Little Richard gasped "Ooooh my!" then launched into a rambling,
often hilarious sermonette peppered with revealing showbiz
reminiscences and useful career advice.
The extremely well-persevered 70 year-old "architect of rock 'n'
roll" held the audience spellbound as he riffed on a young Jimi
Hendrix's insatiable sexual appetite, James Brown's early problems
with the law - "we were his first bail bondsman!" - and a
regrettable mistake of declining Brian Epstein's generous offer of a
50% share in his new group, the Beatles, in exchange for securing a
U.S. record deal for the group.
As Richard explained, "I thought they sounded like the Everly
Brothers. But we already had two of them, what do we need with four
more?"
It was an hour of classic Little Richard. In contrast, the Big Star
panel which followed was a huge disappointment. Co-founder Alex
Chilton was a no-show, as was producer Jim Dickinson and rumoured
moderator Peter Buck. Which left Big Star's survivors Jody Stephens
and Andy Hummel to exchange puzzled looks and shrug "I don't recall"
while Posies members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow seemed just happy
to be there. Ardent engineer Terry Manning reluctantly filled in some
of the details but was very careful not to let slip anything
controversial. Ho hum.
As it turned out, Autumn Defense proved to be much better at
channeling the spirit of Big Star at the Vibe. Across the street at
Coyote Ugly, auto-harp strumming Los Angeles country chanteuse Grey
DeLisle smoldering set was hot enough to blow a fuse at the bar. The
otherwise dismal Matador showcase was topped by a wired-up reunited
Mission Of Burma who smoked the competition with a spirited thrash
through their 20 year-old faves.
Afterwards I cabbed it to the Continental where Southern Culture On
The Skids were finishing their raunchy-rockin' six night stand.
Meanwhile members of Ozomatli and their manager were being hauled
away in handcuffs by police for making the mistake of taking their
Exodus show outside the club and onto Sixth Street. Ahh, Austin.
Outlaw event picks for Friday:
Def Jux showcase w/Aesop Rock, El-P and Murs at Waterloo Records from 2 pm
Billy Joe Shaver (with Kris Kristofferson rumoured) at Jo's Coffee
(1300 S. Congress) 7 pm
Official showcase picks for Friday:
Comets On Fire at Blender Bar 8 pm
Joss Stone Town Lake Stage 8:45 pm
Flatlanders La Zona Rosa 10 pm
Knife In The Water Cedar Street Courtyard 11 pm
Big Star Austin Music Hall 12:30 am
Fatal Flying Guilloteens The Jackalope 1 am
Tim Perlich
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