Since there is an overwhelming amount of things to see, do and hear at SX, I have been hard-pressed to get to a computer and keep our readers abreast of what’s happening! That’s Susan and I at the BUST table at Bird’s Barbershop. Like I said, it was a total success and we were thrilled to be part of the show.
Later that night, at the Mohawk’s Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguar/Dead Oceans showcase, I did an interview with one of my new fave up-and-coming bands, Seattle’s Mt St. Helen’s Vietnam Band , which will appear on BUST TV. They opened the showcase in matching brocade vests, and won over the crowd with their fuzzy, swooping guitars and straightforward rock ‘n roll charm. The band was super nice, probs because they are like a big family. Husband and wife Traci Eggleston and Benjamin Verdoes play keys and lead guitar respectively, while Benjamin’s stepbrother, Marshall Verdoes plays the drums. And he’s only 14-years-old!
There were a bunch of other way-cool bands at the Mohawk, click after the jump for more coverage!
(Photo by Alexandra Marvar)
Indeed, the talk of Thursday night was that Dinosaur Jr. (below) was the secret headliner! J. Mascis’ shiny grey hair was fittin
g for their "grandfathers of alt rock" status, and even over th
ree decades into their career, they aced it and blew away a packed venue. They were probably one of the loudest bands I’ve ever seen, as well. Ear-splitting indeed.
I was also really into Brooklyn-by-way-of-Chicago These Are Powers (left, below). The electro rockers got the crowd going at 11 pm, on the indoor stage, while Akron/Family rocked on the larger, outdoor stage. I couldn’t get close enough to get good pics of Akron/Family, because the audience was mobbing (though I should say show-goers in Austin are way more polite than in New York!) So I stuck with These Are Powers and was digging their crafty stage set-up with shredded t-shirts adorning everything, which added to the experimental vibe. I was really into the lead singer’s awesome stage presence. She tore it up and looked really cute, too!
