March 18, 2007
SXSW 2007 ... Almost Over
To call the talent present and the performances going on at South by Southwest "world class" is an understatement. A better word is just "RIDICULOUS," as it is completely mind-blowing and amazing how you can witness a world-changing performance by one artist, walk next door to another club and see another one that's being performed with "all or nothing" intensity, grit, and passion. It's a downright wonderful experience to take in. Yes, if you choose poorly you can see one crappy band (of the "trying to get signed when they should really try to find something else" variety) right after another, but you can also see nothing but buzz bands and discover why they're moving up charts "with a bullet." Kudos to the musical selection committee.
Pete Stewart played a set with his band that he coined "The Plastic Saviors" for this show. On drums behind him was his former Grammatrain partner Paul Roraback. He was showcasing songs from his new solo album, I Gave You A Desert. A few of them were kind of mellow, melodic songs, like "No One Can Save Me," which lamented: "Nobody hears me cry / they all just watch me die..." He rocked things up with his second song, which showed him punishing his low-slung guitar as he bent his knees to lower his towering frame over the mic stand to sing the words. During the song a girl came down the stairs at stage right and threw something on stage. I turned to a fireman next to me (Jay Greer) and wondered out loud what that was she tossed at Pete. "It's been awhile since a played and someone walked by and threw a condom at me," Pete shared from the stage. He then launched into "I Don't Need You," which asked the question: "Just tell me what I am supposed to do?" It was a straight-ahead low-end heavy rocker. It had a Southern Rock vibe in the bridge section with a "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" short solo section. "He then dedicated a song to "a psycho," where he wailed away with that great voice of his, singing like he kinda meant it. During "I'm Free" his guitar amp gave up the ghost and Paul Roraback and the guitarist and bassist laid out a groove and kept on playing, buying time to jam out a sweet extended section. Once plugged in, Pete turned his attention to the extended jam and it really took off, breathing that blues acid rock lifeblood that flowed through the veins of Hendrix, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. Pete then closed the set thanking Paul for playing drums for him and then he switched to acoustic guitar for a spirited version of "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You." He was certainly treading dangerous waters by covering Led Zeppelin, but he really made it his own.
The Heroine, which used to be known as Naos Project, has evolved into an even better, heavier, and more intense band. They were playing a couple clubs down from the Stewart gig, making it easy to check out afterwards. Zeke, the frontman, threw himself up and over the railing around the stage, raised his hands and basically sweat out enough bodily fluids to wash a car. I know this cuz he gave me a hug after the set.
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