sxsw diary part one

Throughout an hour long conversation with record producer Hal Willner, Reed is thoughtful, erudite and witty. The former Velvet Underground man portrays himself as being an artist who has spent the past forty years pursuing a pure vision which has often brought him into conflict with record companies. No mention is made of his collaboration with Rolf Harris on the 2000 remake of ‘Perfect Day’. When asked about the instruments he most enjoys playing, Reed states that the first time he to played a Moog synthesiser it was comparable to God coming down to him and saying “Here’s 9,000 new sounds which you’ve never heard before”. Lou at SXSW: “I have a B.A in dope” Later in the day J. Mascis manages to squeeze that many sounds out of his acoustic guitar during every song using only an effects pedal, nimble fingers and possibly some black magic. Every male in the audience watches the Dinosaur Jr. front man’s solo set in silent awe as he pulls off the sort of audacious fret gymnastics that they all dreamed of performing as a 13 year old but couldn’t - because they weren’t J Mascis. On the same bill as the silver haired guitar god are jolly L.A. four piece Bodies of Water and un-jolly Southend four piece These New Puritans. B.O.W. bounce their way through a short but undeniably sweet set. They harmonise as though their lives depend on it, bounce around the stage with infectious enthusiasm and make being in a band seem like a rather ace way to spend your time. The ‘Puritans, on the other hand are a frustrating and knowingly cool bunch. Each song starts off sounding like it’s going to be spiky, dangerous and exciting but lead singer Jack Barnett’s voice isn’t strong enough or distinctive enough to cut through the electropop noise made by his band mates and the whole thing set feels a bit flat. After such an anticlimax something strong and powerful is required to cleanse the system and it arrives in the form of New Zealand’s mighty Die! Die! Die! They play cathartic, visceral rock and are a stunning live band. Performing in Austin’s legendary Waterloo record shop, lead singer Andrew Wilson refuses to be confined to the tiny stage and takes his music to the masses, striding purposefully among the crowd as he sings angry songs of shattered dreams. It’s like Bono at Live Aid but with a better haircut and better tunes. On this evidence they might by the future of rock and roll and they’re most definitely as good as it gets in the present. * * * TUNES OF THE DAY * * * Blowin’ It – J Mascis It Moves – Bodies of Water Blue Skies – Die! Die! Die! READ PART TWO READ PART THREE