While the the film and interactive portions of the annual South By Southwest (SXSW) have been in full swing since Friday, the music portion of the festival officially kicked off on Tuesday, March 12th. As always, there was a smorgasbord of musical delights to be savored. These are the sets that impressed the Glide team on day one of SXSW, and a few that blew minds before the music “officially” started.
Ghostland Observatory at Mohawk
Last night’s performance by electro-pop juggernaut Ghostland Observatory at the Mohawk for the All Are Welcome Party (no wristbands required) highlighted vocalist and guitarist Aaron Behrens’ relentless energy as he preached, rapped and sang to the near-capacity audience. The Austin-based band reformed last year after a four-year hiatus, dropping See You Later Simulator to wide critical acclaim. The new set pieces featuring giant lighted triangles framing the band were on stage, providing a nice visual element to the show. The performance was their only appearance during SXSW. -Greg Ackerman
Oh Sees at Hotel Vegas
Night one ended just like it should have, with John Dwyer and Oh Sees at Hotel Vegas. The show was the second of a five-night residency at the popular East Austin club for the Los Angeles-based band, which has a rabid fanbase. Rabid enough to readily cough up $15 at the door for the show during a festival when nearly every other show is no charge with complimentary cocktails. Oh Sees are THAT good. Case in point, when Dwyer ended the set at one hour on the dot, we gasped at the sudden ending. It seemed like the crazed guitarist and his band had just begun. Those double drum kits, hypnotic beats and psychedelic, weird keyboard sounds, and bombastic, loud punk guitars all melded together for yet another incredible performance. -Greg Ackerman
Robert Ellis at Ray Benson’s Birthday Bash
Decked out head to toe in a striking white tux – complete with a matching hat – Austin-based songwriter Robert Ellis hit the stage at Ray Benson’s Birthday Bash eager to share his new musical identity with the crowd. This look of the swaggering, classy-yet-country entertainer has come to fruition on Ellis’ recently released album Texas Piano Man, and songs from the album made up the bulk of his short but sweet set. Songs like “Fucking Crazy”, “Passive Aggressive”, and “Nobody Smokes Anymore” were sweet, piano-driven ballads that came across as a lovechild of Elton John and George Strait (with a dirtier mouth). It also made sense that he squeezed in a cover of the Texas country classic “Amarillo By Morning” before going into a playful anthem about his favorite fizzy beverage, “Topo Chico”, a song that showcased his affinity for eccentric, piano-playing artists like Harry Nilsson. -Neil Ferguson
Low Cut Connie at Mohawk
Philly rockers Low Cut Connie have been on a steady rise over the last five years, and each SXSW has found them charming the pants off of larger crowds each year. Though the band has had a revolving door of members in the last year, you would have hardly known it from their packed set at the Mohawk as these seemed all in sync. Front man and Adam Weiner led the band through a tight, fast-paced set that veered from barroom party anthems like “All These Kids Are Way Too High”, “Rio”, and the hard charging rocker “Dirty Water”, to dance boogie favorites like “Shake It Little Tina” and “Boozophilia”. They even peppered in some new tunes that stirred up excitement for the follow-up to 2018’s Dirty Pictures Part 2, and by the end of their set the Connie crew had once again proven their reputation as the sharpest and most raucous live act in rock and roll. -Neil Ferguson
Ray Benson’s Birthday Bash
The birthday of true Texas legend calls for a celebration and Asleep At the Wheel’s Ray Benson pulled out all the stops for his 67th birthday bash. Accompanied on stage by a revolving door of friends and special guests, the show would honor not only Ray, but country music and its heroes as a whole. Asleep At The Wheel started things off with some Bob Wills-inspired, sophisticated Texas swing and their take on Johnny Cash’s “Big River” before songstress Jamie Lin Wilson would belt out a couple covers of her own including a Guy Clark and a Lefty Frizzell tune. Fellow Ausinite Dale Watson got the crowd two-stepping and singing along to his honky tonk classic “I Lie When I Drink” and his and Ray’s heartfelt ode to Merle Haggard “Feelin’ Haggard”. The Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett dedicated one to the Texas troubadour Ernest Tubb with “Walking the Floor Over You”, and Randy Houser stunned the audience with his operatic pipes and his new single “What Whisky Does”. Ray’s shindig reached an unexpected climax, however, when Ed Roland of Collective Soul came out to sing his holy trinity of 90’s hits- “The World I Know”, “Shine”, and “December”, making for an odd yet fitting ensemble onstage that took the crowd on a nostalgic sing-a-long trip. -Tim O’Neill
The Highwaymen party at Banger’s
One of the most anticipated activations at SXSW was Netflix’s The Highwaymen event at Banger’s new private event space on Rainey Street. Similar to HBO’s Westworld activation last year, actors played characters similar to the television show. Guests were given RFID bracelets on entry that gained points by interacting with the characters or by gambling at one of the card tables in the corner of the room. Points could be redeemed to grab jean jackets, chambray shirts and other cool swag in the General Store.
The speakeasy theme of the show that tells the story of Texas Rangers who caught notorious criminals Bonnie and Clyde was prevalent throughout the room with a long bar in the corner with costumed bartenders crafting period-style cocktails for guests. Opposite the bar was a stage where progressive rock act White Denim were set to headline the night following sets by the Texas Gentlemen and Quaker City Nighthawks. The latter features members from Fort Worth where White Denim lead guitarist and vocalist, James Petralli attended high school. Essentially, the musicians got to have a mini DFW reunion in Austin for SXSW, led by White Denim’s deliciously improvisational prog-rock set that had even casual attendees of the event paying attention. The group is slated to play the Brooklyn Bowl Family Reunion and their own studio party later this week. -Greg Ackerman
Stay tuned for more coverage of SXSW 2019!
