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Music

No Stages: The Real SXSW 2014

Patios, bridges, and all of the young bands we could handle.

Destruction Unit photo by Steven Michael Ruud

I hate Jay-Z and Lady Gaga.

OK, I really don't, but this past week in Austin during SXSW, I really, really thought I did. It has nothing to do with them as artists, or their work, or their ability to draw crowds, or what brand sponsored them to play what other brand's show. I'm not concerned with any that. What I do hate is when an artist of their profile swoops into a town bursting at the seams with industry sorts and music die-hards, and takes the attention off of the pulsing heartbeat of SXSW, young bands.

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As far back as I can remember, the process for SXSW was that a young band would play the festival as many times as they could, try to kill it at an early set, and as people began to talk about who they've seen and enjoyed, the buzz would build during the week. But in recent years, SXSW has grown by leaps and bounds, with labels, artists, and brands swooping in for a sort of arms race as to who can create the most attractive bill, which naturally lends itself to bigger and bigger artists. It's not the fault of any of these larger artists, it's a natural progression that unfortunately leads to natural selection, and neglects the crux of why many journalists go to SXSW (besides the, uh, networking, I mean beer).

So my goal at SXSW this year, and every year, was to JUST see the young, buzzy and the hopeful, surpassing invites to many of the giant names that swooped into Austin. Of the over 50 bands that I saw (some several times), the following resonated the most and of those, many took place in odd spaces like the Beerland patio or South Lamar Pedestrian Bridge.

WHO: Destruction Unit

WHERE: The Owl, Beerland Patio, and virtually everywhere else in the world

WHY: With a new noise-guy in tow, the Arizona psychedelic punk team went after it at SXSW this year, playing such an obscene amount of shows that I saw them virtually every day without ever seeking them out. Except once… a "patio show" which had them facing the street and playing to the crowd walking on Red River. Incendiary.

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WHO: Nothing

WHERE: S. Lamar Pedestrian Bridge, Fader Fort, and every venue in Austin

WHY: Following the D Unit school of booking, the Philadelphia shoegaze band also went for the jugular with shows and were probably at their best and with the strongest response at the Pedestrian Bridge.

WHO: Tony Molina

WHERE: S. Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

WHY: Arguably, Weezer's "Blue Album" is their best mix of punchy, almost-Slayer-y guitars with sugar-coated melody, and Molina follows that with solos straight out of the Thin Lizzy playbook. Fantastic.

Migos

WHO: Migos

WHERE: Brisk Bodega Showcase at The Jr.

WHY: I have to admit, I wasn't much of a fan of Migos until I saw The Jr bursting with energy for hits like "Hannah Montana" and "Versace". The band's live show isn't exactly electric, but they make up for it with a quiet cool and rabid fans that bring the energy in the room.

WHO: Perfect Pussy

WHERE: S. Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

WHY: Meredith Graves was dressed in a ball gown for the occasion, and the band ripped through a short and highly illegal set within 300 yards of the cops, capping off the set with a bass toss into the river below.

WHO: Yautja

WHERE: Show No Mercy Showcase at Mohawk

WHY: I recently called them a band to look out for, and their live show is absolutely no fucking joke. Killer mix of grind, technical death metal and sludgy riffs that seem like they were conjured from Through Silver-era Neurosis.

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WHO: Cloud Nothings

WHERE: Jansport Showcase at Cheer-Up Charlie's

WHY: Cloud Nothings have done good with their new LP, and their live show just drives home that fact.

Ex-Hex (via)

WHO: Ex Hex

WHERE: BrooklynVegan Party at Red 7

WHY: Mary Timony, duh. Well, her amazing guitar work coupled with the excellent songs that meld disparate influences from Runaways to Fugazi.

WHO: Radioactivity

WHERE: Chaos in Tejas party at Beerland, S. Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

WHY: As we've discussed several times, this new band featuring members of the Marked Men carries on their legacy, delivering perfectly crafted gems in easily swallowed pop-punk form.

WHO: Power Trip

WHERE: Ground Control Day Party at Beerland, Show No Mercy at Mohawk

WHY: I'm convinced that Power Trip is not only one of the best metal bands going right now, but also one of the greatest young bands period. Their intensity and ability to command the room is beyond impressive.

Other favorites: Sannhet, Pup, Ex-Cult, Eagulls, Obliteration, Viet Cong, YG, Windhand, Potty Mouth, Speedy Ortiz

Who I wish I saw: Bad Sports, Ty Segall, OBN IIIs, Young Thug, Coathangers, Cheetah Chrome, Unholy Two

FULL LIST OF BANDS I SAW

Against Me!

Always

Amanda X

Back to Back

Beth Israel

Black Lips

Black Tusk

Bleeding Rainbow

Bronchos

Christian Mistress

Coachwhips

Creative Adult

Deniro Ferrar

Destruction Unit

Diarrhea Planet

Doughbeezy

Eagulls

Empress Of…

Ex Hex

Ex-Cult

Fucked Up

Future Islands

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Gardens & Villas

Gnaw

Indian

Iron Reagan

Kurt Vile

Kylesa

Migos

Nothing

Obliteration

Overdoz

Parquet Courts

Perfect Pussy

Potty Mouth

Power Trip

Primitive Man

Psalm Zero

Pup

Radioactivity

Ringworm

Ruby the Hatchet

Sannhet

Seahaven

Sick Feeling

Sophie

Speedy Ortiz

The Front Bottoms

The Gotobeds

Tony Molina

Touche Amore

Trash Talk

Trust

Tyvek

TY $

Video

Viet Cong

Vulgar Display

Windhand

Yautja

YG

Youth Code

Side note: the two most common topics at SXSW this year seemed to be both Future Islands and the unspeakable tragedy at Mohawk. My heart goes out to the families of those at Mohawk that fateful night.