SXSW Music: Day Two, Grading Crowd Noise
by Phil Gallo/The Set List
Every venue on Thursday had its fair share of interesting audience response, which seemed directly proportional to audience preparedness.
Local trio the Evangelicals were greeted initially with caution and Jens Lekman and Bon Iver found attentive and appreciative crowds. But it was Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers that were greeted with over-the-top enthusiasm, a spirit that remained throughout their 35 minutes at the Thirsty Nickel.
Playing music rooted in the work of the Band and filtered in away that makes one wonder if a lighter version of the Counting Crows is commercially viable, it makes perfect sense that this act would appeal to a post-collegiate crowd in Texas.
Au contraire. Kellogg detailed seven years of submitting applications to SXSW only to be rejected six times. Last year they received a thumbs up, but the band was forced to stay home in Massachusetts due to bad weather. Thursday was not only their first show at SXSW, it was their first show in Austin. Kellogg half jokingly referred to the Sixers as a "buzz band," using finger quotes, on the heels of positive reception for last year's album "Glassjaw."
HOURS SEEING SHOWS: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
PERFORMERS SEEN: Eight
ACTS INTERVIEWED: Eight
BEST SET: Jens Lekman at Emo's
CRAZIEST MEDLEY OF COVERS: Stephen Kellogg uses as a conceit, the music that might have been playing while audience members were conceived and delivers the marathon number decade by decade. I think I have them all - "That's Amore" / "Great Balls of Fire" / "Age of Aquarius" / ""Always on My Mind" / "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" / "Physical" / "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" / "Pour Some Sugar on Me" / "Hero" (That last one has him speculating about underage drinkers.
TV PARTY: Mick Jones and Tony James of Carbon/Silicon - or more rightfully the Clash and Gen X, respectively, are huge HBO fans. Both say "The Sopranos" and "Deadwood" are their favorite shows; James is more keen on "Entourage" than Jones" and both were thrilled by the "Extras" Christmas special.
JOHN ZORN NAME-CHECKS: Lou Reed, My Brightest Diamond
L.A. BAND TO CHECK OUT UPON RETURNING: Bodies of Water
WORST BAR SERVICE: El Rio
More observations on music and parties.
Every venue on Thursday had its fair share of interesting audience response, which seemed directly proportional to audience preparedness.
Local trio the Evangelicals were greeted initially with caution and Jens Lekman and Bon Iver found attentive and appreciative crowds. But it was Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers that were greeted with over-the-top enthusiasm, a spirit that remained throughout their 35 minutes at the Thirsty Nickel.
Playing music rooted in the work of the Band and filtered in away that makes one wonder if a lighter version of the Counting Crows is commercially viable, it makes perfect sense that this act would appeal to a post-collegiate crowd in Texas.
Au contraire. Kellogg detailed seven years of submitting applications to SXSW only to be rejected six times. Last year they received a thumbs up, but the band was forced to stay home in Massachusetts due to bad weather. Thursday was not only their first show at SXSW, it was their first show in Austin. Kellogg half jokingly referred to the Sixers as a "buzz band," using finger quotes, on the heels of positive reception for last year's album "Glassjaw."
HOURS SEEING SHOWS: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
PERFORMERS SEEN: Eight
ACTS INTERVIEWED: Eight
BEST SET: Jens Lekman at Emo's
CRAZIEST MEDLEY OF COVERS: Stephen Kellogg uses as a conceit, the music that might have been playing while audience members were conceived and delivers the marathon number decade by decade. I think I have them all - "That's Amore" / "Great Balls of Fire" / "Age of Aquarius" / ""Always on My Mind" / "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" / "Physical" / "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" / "Pour Some Sugar on Me" / "Hero" (That last one has him speculating about underage drinkers.
TV PARTY: Mick Jones and Tony James of Carbon/Silicon - or more rightfully the Clash and Gen X, respectively, are huge HBO fans. Both say "The Sopranos" and "Deadwood" are their favorite shows; James is more keen on "Entourage" than Jones" and both were thrilled by the "Extras" Christmas special.
JOHN ZORN NAME-CHECKS: Lou Reed, My Brightest Diamond
L.A. BAND TO CHECK OUT UPON RETURNING: Bodies of Water
WORST BAR SERVICE: El Rio
More observations on music and parties.
Michael Jones is the film festival editor at Variety.com. 
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