Independent is a funny word. It means “free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others; self-reliant.”
I thought I was pretty “indie,” until recently; in fact I wore this term as a badge and held onto it like a trophy. But kids — Austin kicks my butt in the indie category.
Having just got back from the South By South West (SXSW) music festival I can honestly say that I feel like the hippest 30 year-old around just for spending time within the Austin city limits.
Because it encourages small, non-affiliated businesses, Austin is gorgeously made up of thousands of independent stores, restaurants and experiences that you will only be able to find there.
Known as the live music capital of the world, Austin’s major import, and export, is sound and there is plenty of it. During the SXSW festival every bar, eatery, barn, park, outhouse, cat house and house of worship are retrofitted with stages, sound systems and lights.
Musicians from around the world, who carry with them that independent fire, descend on the scenery. They come to save and pay homage to an art form that in this digital age has been read its last rites, but fails to retire.
Rachael, being like many — excited and in love with the majesty that can come out of a guitar, horn or off a lip — invited a group of artists to join her for a celebration in Austin. The following are a few of those bands and others, whose performances we were able to catch while in Austin. I am not providing any reviews or star rating system — I figured this is your chance to search out something ‘not dependent on or affiliated with a larger or controlling entity.’ Click on the names for audio. Enjoy!
Download: Midnight Surprise
Download: Cappuccino
Download: Like Knives
Download: ‘78
Download: Right Hand on My Heart
Download: Frontwards
Download: Handsome Furs Hate This City
The Cringe w/ Billy Simmons of ZZ Top
Download: In God We Trust
Download: Inertia
Download: Nickles & Dimes
Download: Lovely Allen
Download: Helicopters
Download: Dead Sound
Download: Captain Kirk
Finally, if you get a chance to see Efren Ramirez (aka Pedro from the movie Napoleon Dynamite) do it!
Thank you Austin!
Giddy Up!
March 20th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Great post. I’ll be honest. This is my first time on your website and I came because I saw a video of you from cbc radio 3. Looks like quite a great party you threw and well done with the bands. Some terrific bands you had at your party! Especially the Whigs, Handsome Furs and Holy F**k of who I am a major fan of! Thanks for the post. I’ll watch your show tomorrow morning, and hope to see some bbq dishes you had served!
Keeep up the good work!
March 21st, 2008 at 1:36 am
Hi Rach! Thanks for letting me meet you and take a quick pic with you and your hubby Saturday night at Bob’s show at Threadgill’s. I wasn’t able to make any afternoon parties/shows this year but sounds like your party was pretty bad a**! Hope you can make it back next SXSW!! Next time your in Austin, come out to Bastrop (east of Austin). We own a restaurant, Big Mouth Southwestern Grill, and we would LOVE to have you! www.bigmouthsouthwesterngrill.com for our menu & stuff.
Thanks for ALL you do!
March 30th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
We’re happy to have shared our (not so much any more)little town with you, Miss Rachael. The last twenty years have been both a boon and a blight(1985 population was 300M, now Metro Austin is over a million and still growing), but we stil know fun from fretting. Your fans here would really enjoy a few live shows from, say…Threadgill’s (good call, Miss Breanna) or Cypress Grille…or Waterloo Ice House on Lamar. Or Miss Breanna’s joint. If not a live show, a brew and a burger would fly. Just give us a head’s up next time, huh? You will find a someone willing to show you the cool dark corners. “Keep Austin Weird!” Nick