Once we arrived we were given bracelets and told that they would get us in for free at both that show and whatever show was going on at the Beauty Ballroom, a venue that shares a parking lot with Emo's East. It seemed like we would have awhile before we Deerhoof was going to play, so we decided to mosey over to the Ballroom to see what was going on there. And, as it turned out, it was a hip hop show! Specifically, a showcase for the label Fool's Gold, and it was a damn fun time. Saw a bunch of rappers and DJs, most of whom I never really caught the names of. I can't pretend that at times I did not feel a bit uncomfortable and out of my element, what with intoxicated people dancing all around me and me without the money to spend on anything but 40s (and there were none to find at the bar, believe it or not) and so feeling a bit sober and awkward. But it was still refreshing to be at a show where people were actually moving and engaged, rather than just standing, arms crossed, staring (even if thats still what I was doing).
This showcase also provided a rare SXSW experience for me (rare both because of the shows I was deciding to primarily go to and because of the nature of SXSW these days, which seems more interested in already established bands than legend says it ever was) in seeing a band I knew nothing about that absolutely blew me away. Cubic Zirconia were a four piece, with two guys on keyboards, one on drums, and perhaps the sexiest and most powerful front woman I've ever seen. Her attitude, voice, willingness to scream with said voice, red dress, and the body that was under that red dress all had me mesmerized. I fell in love immediately. Their bands sound could be described as Soul, but their was also plenty of hip hop elements, as well as rock tempos and pretty crazy breakdowns (which lead to the aforementioned screaming). They were extremely confidant, and the crowd ate them up. One of the keyboardists knew it too, proclaiming himself the "coolest white guy in the world," presumably because he was the only white person in the band.
This picture I took does in no way do this lead singer justice, so here's another one I didn't take:
I hope those guys really break out. Or, at least, I hope I get to catch them again.
After Cubic Zirconia we headed back over to Emo's East, where Japandroids were finishing up, or, more accurately, trying hard not to finish up, as the guitarist in the band was passionately arguing with the sound guy that they could NOT end with a new song, and that they had to do an old one for the fans (of which their were many), and eventually they got their way. I kind of wish Teengirl Fantasy had done that when they got caught off early, but that could perhaps be credited to the difference between a laptop based show and a good ol' fashioned rock n roll concert.
Renée and I pushed close the front for Deerhoof, which unfortunately meant, because this was a BIG venue, we were rubbing up against a pair of overweight middle aged lovers, very keen to both make friends with all of us, and to prove their love for each other (via- making out, caressing, and even some lovely motor boating.)
I had never seen Deerhoof before, or even listened to them too much, and, unsurprisingly, they ruled. They played in a straight line on the edge of the stage, all dressed awesomely. They seemed to be just straight Grade-A weirdos. The guitarist was just making hilarious frog faces throughout the whole show, the other guitarist was wearing a suit that depicted a battle between bull and matador, and the drummer displayed an amazing about of noise and dexterity for a kit that was amazingly small. I was a little confused as to how this strange band could possibly command such a large crowd, especially one that includes middle aged motor boaters, but I chalked it up to the fact that it was free, and the fact that the older members of the audience probably wouldn't have been bothered if it was Lightning Bolt up on stage so long as it was something that made them feel young.
Of Montreal came on after and, having seen them once before at UVM, I kind of knew what to expect. This time they were going for a sort of Lawrence Welk vibe, with each member of the band (at least 9 of them!) behind his/her own little bandstand. This fit the music well, which for the most part was quite dreary and slow, and which also took your already very sleepy narrator even more out of it. They did have some cool costumes/ light shows, and their guitarist did look amusingly like this muppet, but it just wasn't enough to keep me engaged. At least they ended with Gronlandic Edit.
Tomorrow, Friday, was the biggest and most crazy night of SXSW for me.
Get ready.
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