The first full SXSW night of showcases kicked off with almost 500 bands showcasing their music at close to one hundred venues. Since Edie Brickell was playing an eleven o’clock gig, I chose to go there early to be sure to get in. That also meant that I saw two bands before her that I have never heard before, nor knew anything about. (Photo above: The Waco Brothers)
Edie Brickell
That is the beauty of showcase festivals like SXSW. You get to her things by chance that is really good. I always make a schedule for the nights, with a mix of bands I have heard about and bands I like that I want to see again, plus bands I know from records, but have never seen live. And then I choose clubs where I know the lights and sound is good. The venue for Edie Brickell and the two other bands I saw there, Sweet Crude and The Comet is Coming, was St. David Church. It does the same cultural set up as the Jakob church in Oslo, alternating as a culture event.
Sweet Crude
Sweet Crude was good, Louisiana funk with a mix of creole and English words. The Comet is Coming is a modern, very funky, instrumental jazz trio with tenor sax, keyboard and drums. They really impressed me, and the saxophonist reminded me of Gato Barbieri in his playing. Edie Brickell And The New Bohemians were excellent, a nice way to reminisce the songs from some years ago.
Clara Reed
After Edie Brickell I went up to The Continental Club for some late night mayhem with The Waco Brothers. And as expected, it was a wild, semi-organized, high energy gig with broken amplifiers, falling drums and sister Clara Reed dancing with the band. A perfect closing to a good music night at SXSW.
Sweet Crude
The Comet is Coming
Edie Brickell And The New Bohemians
The Waco Brothers
All photos are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.
